. . . and then the end shall come

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. --Matt. 24:14

We had a great kick-off to our 75th Anniversary Missions Conference yesterday. Former pastor Deane Keller opened God's Word from Isaiah 6 in the morning services. He challlenged us to look upward, inward and outward. The guy is smooth!

In the 9:30 & 11:00 AM services, Pastor Steve MC'd Grace Beyond, a panel discussion with all our visiting missionaries. I popped in for part of it. It looked like everyone was having great time, laughing and learning together.

And then 400 gathered again in the evening for our annual Missions Dinner. International food was incredible. Wycliffe missionary, Gary Peterson shared his heart and life at Grace with us and reminded us that God is doing some great things around the world. He challenged us to "Give Prego" . . . .that is "give, pray, go." We'll all remember that one! We ended the evening by singing "Happy Birthday" to Dr. Bob Johnson" who turned 81 yesterday. It seemed a fitting cap since Dr. Bob has been here for the entire 75 year history of Grace.

It truly was a sweet time together. When I hear all these visiting missionaries reflect on their time at Grace, I'm reminded of God's faithfulness in transforming lives and raising up workers. God wants to use us! He is using us. And I look around and wonder "Whom shall He send" next?

What were your thoughts, experience, challenge from the day?

Many thanks to Allie Cleath and our ACE Kitchen Crew, to our youth servers and especially Tom Phillips and the whole Missions Board for their excellent planning and execution.