The Next 25 Years

The Pastor's Windshield for May 2023

I look forward to celebrating our church’s 25th anniversary with you this Sun, May 21, 2023. For more than a quarter century, the Lord has worked through so many members of His body to build up this congregation and get us to this point. In Sunday’s service, we’ll remember all the saints of St. Matthew who have faithfully departed in Christ. At the same time, we thank the Lord for the saints alongside us today as we continue to look forward in faith and anticipate the work of the Lord in this place in the years to come. 

The writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews painted a picture of the saints who have come before us as well as those running with us when he wrote these words: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” (Hebrews 12:1-4a)

Like the first century Christians to whom those words were originally addressed, we, too, are surrounded by a great cloud of Christian witnesses. We are indebted to them for passing on the faith, generation after generation. And we especially thank the Lord for the saints who established and furthered the ministry of St. Matthew from the late 1990s up to today. Because of their faithfulness, stewardship, and commitment to Christ Jesus and His Gospel, we can not only celebrate the “Silver Anniversary” of our congregation but also look forward to the years to come!

So much has changed in the past 25 years. Back in 1998, who could have predicted the world of smartphones and artificial intelligence that we have today? Or how about the challenges our world has faced? 9-11-01 and the war on terrorism, the Covid-19 pandemic, increasing hostility toward Christians and biblical truth, and so many other changes could not have even been imagined 25 years ago. 

Much will change in the next 25 years. We don’t know exactly what our congregation, community, or society will face in that time. But we do know, of course, that no matter what is to come, our Savior will be the one constant with each of us and this congregation. God will continue to be “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”(Psalm 46:1), just as He has been in ages past.

Confident in Him and in His grace and strength for us in His Word and Sacraments, we forge ahead! Encouraged by the example of brothers and sisters in the Lord who have come before us and who serve together with us, we set our sights on future ministry opportunities. 

But whether we’re living in 1998 or 2038, we continue to “[fix our eyes on] Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2) and remember His cross and suffering for our salvation “so that [we] may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Heb. 12:4).

Because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, St. Paul wrote a similar word of encouragement for us: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Jesus lives and He reigns over us and for the sake of His church! Because of that, we can be sure that our service to Him and to His people is not in vain. Let’s commit ourselves to keep “abounding in the work of the Lord,” praying that for the next 25 years and beyond, this congregation might continue to build upon the one, solid foundation of Jesus Christ our Lord, that the lost may be found and the found may be fed by the Word of God …

Finally, I ask you to join me for a brief Bible Study this Sunday, May 21 from 9:00-9:30am as we do a little dreaming together about the next 25 years!

Peace in Christ,

                        Pastor Kory Janneke