Bearing Fruit in Its Season

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season…” (Psalm 1:3)
One of the many benefits of moving back to Minnesota is the opportunity to experience the four seasons in all their glory.  The summer is hot and dry. The fall is cool and colorful. The winter is cold and complicated. The spring is green and full of new life.  Each season provides its challenges and its opportunities.  Each season claims a period of around four months that will not be rushed or shortened by anyone.

The process of church revitalization also has its seasons.  Family Baptist Church just concluded a winter season marked by riots, a pandemic, and the homegoing of some of its charter members.  By God’s grace, I believe Family Baptist Church is beginning to feel the warm breeze of hope and is entering a spring season of growth.
 
Last Sunday we experienced the joy of witnessing the baptism of three teenagers and one adult lady!  The baptismal service ended a two-year hiatus at Family Baptist. The teens all came from solid families who attend our church.  God worked in each life to motivate them to individually pursue baptism and membership at Family Baptist.  In other words, all three of the young men approached me on their own initiative.

It is such a joy to watch God bless the faithful proclamation of the Gospel through my dad, their parents, their youth sponsors, and fellow church members.  What a reminder to not lose heart during the winter season.  God is constantly at work all around us drawing people to Himself. We must not doubt His ability to grab the attention of others and provoke them to take a step of obedience.
 
The adult lady who was baptized last Sunday came to Christ after wrestling with a drug addiction, spending time in prison, and eventually finding a home at Family Baptist Church.  It was a delight to hear Lindsey give praise to God for her spiritual transformation. She represents several adults who have been attending our services on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings who are looking for a place to belong.  We are continuing to pray that God will bring more fruit like Lindsey to our church at the right time.

We also took advantage of the opportunity to celebrate the baptisms by handing out FBC T-Shirts to everyone who attended the service. The shirts display our new logo and the discipleship process of BEHOLD. BELONG. BECOME. What a great way to remind us why we exist as a church!  We are praying that this simple gift will help us cultivate the fruit of unity in our body.
According to our church clerk, last Sunday we added our 99th member to the church! In addition to this news, we are currently in discussion with a handful of others who are praying about BELONGING to Family Baptist.  Praise God for the fruit of new members!  With all this excitement, I am also aware that we still need to prune some of the branches.  Like most churches, we have some on the membership roles who haven’t been in a service for the past year. Some have relocated to other cities. Others have relocated to other churches. A few remain concerned about public gatherings due to the impact of Covid-19.  We desperately need wisdom from God to know how to minister the love of Christ during a lingering pandemic.

Bearing fruit takes time.  Each year is marked by four distinct seasons: summer, fall, winter, and spring.  Let me encourage you to join me in the discipline of patiently waiting for God to bear fruit in its season. Between now and then, keep prepping the soil, sowing the seed, watering the ground, or simply waiting for it to thaw. 😊 Remain patient and watch God act.

3 Comments


Jeanne Armour - January 17th, 2022 at 6:22pm

Thanks so much Pastor Ormiston! It is a delight to read your messages! i am happy to hear your church is prospering. Praying for you and your Family and church members for health and Safety....PRAISE GOD...

Debbie H. - February 9th, 2022 at 6:21pm

Thank you Pastor Jason for your blogs. God is working. We thank Him for what he is doing.

Judah - March 11th, 2022 at 11:54am

Thx for everything you do as a pastor and dad.