One year ago we celebrated our 50th anniversary as a church community. The people gathered represented Kingsview’s past, present and future.
As we have concluded our Transition, wind down the 51st year of ministry at Kingsview and are in the midst of a preaching series called “Prayer is the Answer,” I’ve been reflecting on Psalm 66. This prayer-song has a past, present, future pattern to it and brings our church to mind.
God provided a way through the Red Sea for the Israelites (v. 6). Likewise, for us, He provided the land at 11, 15 and 17 Kingsview Blvd. and resources to build the parsonage and our place of worship. For His great power rules forever. He watches every movement of the nations (v. 7).
God has certainly watched the nations move into what was once the very mono-cultural outskirts of the city. And in His design, He has drawn people from the nations to Kingsview to be His voice in our community. You have tested us, O God (v. 10) especially over the last couple of years with a significant leadership transition and natural disasters – both a flood and an ice-storm – We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance (v. 12). It’s maybe only now, in the present, that we realize how much we’ve been blessed; how God has been with us and keeps our feet from stumbling (v. 10) during these challenges. Now we can tell others what He has done for us; God has completely renovated our building’s lower level. God is good, all the time.
What does the future hold for Kingsview? God promises to listen to us, when we confess our sins, and answer our prayers (v. 17-18). Our present and future response is to Praise God, who does not ignore our prayers or withdraw His unfailing love from us (v. 20).
In His wisdom, God has placed Kingsview in a very strategic location to reach people from around the world. He has blessed us with a new leadership and a renewed facility. My hope and prayer is that we will respond in faithfulness and tell others what God has done for us; we’ve got a great story to share!