This week is the last weekend before our Senior Pastor Marc Rader returns from three months of Long Service Leave. Matt and I have enjoyed the opportunity to lead over the last season and we are so thankful to be a part of a caring vibrant community of faith, who have supported and encouraged us during this time. The Apostle Paul was frequently apart from the communities of faith he had launched and gives us the example of the kind of things a leader prays for and longs to see. In Col 2:5, even though Paul is not physically with the church he write that he "delights to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is". It is Paul's prayer that they "continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness" (Col 2:6&7). I imagine that when Marc returns, one of the first questions he'll ask before any building project, staff change or ministry program ops, he will want to know that our church stands strong in our faith in Christ. That's our prayer too, that through all changes and events, that the community at GBC will be strong in faith, and overflowing with thankfulness.