Our Extended Family

Do you have a large extended family? A highlight for me growing up was getting together with my relatives during the holidays or for some special occasion. Since most lived nearby, I have fond memories of large gatherings with aunts, uncles, cousins, and close family friends at various homes. Regardless of the occasion, the scene was often the same: the women in the kitchen talking and preparing food, the men on the patio or gathered around the TV watching sports, and the kids running around the house or outside. Those were good times. Nowadays, our family gatherings are much smaller and only happen on occasion. But it's a joy to see each other when we can. Despite the separation caused by time, age, and circumstances, we're all still family.

At WCCC, we are a family. John 1:12-13 says, "But to all who did receive him (Jesus), who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." Though many of us may be older, we are still children of God (consider yourself an adult child). We are brothers and sisters. It's interesting how John makes clear that we are a family born of God, not of flesh and blood like the relatives that we grew up with. So, as a family, we gather together, worship together, celebrate together, and support one another.

As a church, we also have an extended family, a clan. We have other brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles born of God that we don't see very often because of time, distance, and circumstances. But when we do, it is a special occasion to reconnect with each other and share what God has been doing in our lives. At WCCC, we support over a dozen missionaries around the world. Most of them have been faithfully serving the Lord and sharing the Good News of Jesus for many years. They are an extension of our church family, and represent us and our Heavenly Father, in other places and to other peoples. When we have the opportunity, we want to see them, honor them, and support them.

This Sunday, we have that opportunity. The Young Family are missionaries we support. Daryl and Sun Young will be visiting WCCC this Sunday (Mar. 19). They served in Cameroon for 20 years with Wycliffe Bible Translation and have now relocated back to the US. The Youngs will be sharing in the Social Hall at 10am. Please come early on Sunday, grab a cup of coffee, and join us in the Social Hall. Like family, we will be blessed to reconnect with them, support them, and hear what God has been doing in their lives and ministry.

God bless,
Pastor Darren