Hello brothers and sisters;
The Church we attend had been dwindling prior to COVID and it was in 2020 their long time Pastor died from the virus. So this Church had been without a Shepherd for 6 years and the membership was down to 9.
Meantime, in 2021 I had stepped down as Senior Pastor of another Church in Daly City, CA (border of San Francisco) and a younger minister from Canada succeeded me in 2022. My wife and I didn't know whether to remain there or search another Church in the area. The Southern Baptist Association that we are members asked me to preach in and around the South Bay Churches (San Jose area / Santa Clara County) where some of them didn't have a current Pastor. One of them was the Church in Los Altos.
I had already preached at the Los Altos Church a few times when the Lord nudged our hearts to serve Him there. We started attending regularly besides preaching in the rotation of guest speakers. In June 2024 we became official members of this Church.
The only setback is our commute one way is 36 miles but on Sunday mornings our commute on the freeway is only 35 minutes with no traffic. No biggie.
The Association has a new ministry called Church Renewal, where the Association fosters and helps struggling Churches revitalize / replant, reconcile their finances, restructure their property while helping to sustain the membership and search for a new Pastor.
In 2022 our Church has been under the Church Renewal. Our financials were reconciled in 2022 and the property has been paid down for some time. The 9 members has a long history of attending this Church. One member has been there since infancy and today is the Church's pianist. This group remember the days when the Church thrived, people were getting saved, baptized, growth in their discipleship while outreach to their city. They had never experienced this challenging season and the Church Renewal.
I have witnessed the bond of the Church members and has grown stronger. Today the membership has grown to 24 and we just received a new married couple who struggled and made their way from Ukraine to New York and settled here close to our Church. Aside from myself we have two other Pastors who are staffed with our Baptist Association while serving in our Church Renewal and have bonded with members while inviting me to work with them and whatever I can do to serve.
God has sent a young Pastor candidate, his wife and 5 kids to our Church for an in depth interview process. They will be back end of June where we will have Saturday morning breakfast and Q&A. He will preach the next day and afterward we will take a vote. If he is approved he will complete one more process before being installed, God willing.
Aside from preaching 2-3 times a month I officiate funerals, weddings and visitations to the sick.
My wife Hazel and I never looked back and wondered if this was God's call for us to be members of our Church of 3 years. We truly believe it is. Today I feel I'm right where God wants me to be. Hazel has been my ministry and am spending more time with her, and being able to travel on our time.
Last Sunday in the beginning of my message (in Acts 16:12-32) I cautioned the congregation that what I had to say would require extra thought, "God loves us that He will trust us to undergo tough circumstances. At the same time He is with us and will guide us through every situation as He did with Moses, Job, Ezekiel, Paul, and ultimately Jesus who endured the cross" thus the Church Renewal.
My testimony to you all means a lot for me to share. I'm asking you for your prayers and your thoughts are welcome. There is still a lot of work ahead for our Church family in Los Altos, CA.
God bless you all, your families and thank you.
Bob
The Church we attend had been dwindling prior to COVID and it was in 2020 their long time Pastor died from the virus. So this Church had been without a Shepherd for 6 years and the membership was down to 9.
Meantime, in 2021 I had stepped down as Senior Pastor of another Church in Daly City, CA (border of San Francisco) and a younger minister from Canada succeeded me in 2022. My wife and I didn't know whether to remain there or search another Church in the area. The Southern Baptist Association that we are members asked me to preach in and around the South Bay Churches (San Jose area / Santa Clara County) where some of them didn't have a current Pastor. One of them was the Church in Los Altos.
I had already preached at the Los Altos Church a few times when the Lord nudged our hearts to serve Him there. We started attending regularly besides preaching in the rotation of guest speakers. In June 2024 we became official members of this Church.
The only setback is our commute one way is 36 miles but on Sunday mornings our commute on the freeway is only 35 minutes with no traffic. No biggie.
The Association has a new ministry called Church Renewal, where the Association fosters and helps struggling Churches revitalize / replant, reconcile their finances, restructure their property while helping to sustain the membership and search for a new Pastor.
In 2022 our Church has been under the Church Renewal. Our financials were reconciled in 2022 and the property has been paid down for some time. The 9 members has a long history of attending this Church. One member has been there since infancy and today is the Church's pianist. This group remember the days when the Church thrived, people were getting saved, baptized, growth in their discipleship while outreach to their city. They had never experienced this challenging season and the Church Renewal.
I have witnessed the bond of the Church members and has grown stronger. Today the membership has grown to 24 and we just received a new married couple who struggled and made their way from Ukraine to New York and settled here close to our Church. Aside from myself we have two other Pastors who are staffed with our Baptist Association while serving in our Church Renewal and have bonded with members while inviting me to work with them and whatever I can do to serve.
God has sent a young Pastor candidate, his wife and 5 kids to our Church for an in depth interview process. They will be back end of June where we will have Saturday morning breakfast and Q&A. He will preach the next day and afterward we will take a vote. If he is approved he will complete one more process before being installed, God willing.
Aside from preaching 2-3 times a month I officiate funerals, weddings and visitations to the sick.
My wife Hazel and I never looked back and wondered if this was God's call for us to be members of our Church of 3 years. We truly believe it is. Today I feel I'm right where God wants me to be. Hazel has been my ministry and am spending more time with her, and being able to travel on our time.
Last Sunday in the beginning of my message (in Acts 16:12-32) I cautioned the congregation that what I had to say would require extra thought, "God loves us that He will trust us to undergo tough circumstances. At the same time He is with us and will guide us through every situation as He did with Moses, Job, Ezekiel, Paul, and ultimately Jesus who endured the cross" thus the Church Renewal.
My testimony to you all means a lot for me to share. I'm asking you for your prayers and your thoughts are welcome. There is still a lot of work ahead for our Church family in Los Altos, CA.
God bless you all, your families and thank you.
Bob
