Some of the things that I enjoy the most about our Presbytery are stories of transformation. A lady that had been living out of her car for months was lovingly received by one of our churches and became a very active part of its outreach; a church that previously had no children welcomes enough of them to hold a lively egg hunt; a congregation holds an Easter service that includes leaders from communities that worship in four different languages. Asylum seekers from the Middle East are being lovingly received by several of our churches.

Our Presbytery is all about new life. The events of Holy Week remind us that we are part of a movement that, although having been “one generation away from extinction” for centuries, one way or another, is recaptured by the depth of Christ’s love and the compelling power of his death and resurrection.

In the next few months, you will hear more about a campaign called “Growing Together in Mission” that will be implemented in the second half of this year. The idea behind it is to give as many people in our congregations as possible the opportunity to be praying and participate in concrete efforts to share the life-giving hope of Christ. Watch for more information about it.

Life is breaking through. Week after week, I hear how, despite real challenges, God is making it possible for our churches to experience the kind of vitality that draws others to meaningful lives of worship and engages people from different backgrounds.

Believing that Christ rose is true but is not enough. We are the people that affirm that he IS risen! His life has propelled previous generations of Christians to take new risks as communities of courageous faith. That is precisely the reason that, as a Presbytery, we will continue to grow “Together in Mission.”

*The Gospel in a Pluralist Society. (London: SPCK, 1989), 116.