Sweet Fellowship

Yesterday Juda & I had our last Sunday with the people of Vineland Road Christian Fellowship in Winter Garden. We started the first Sunday of March & told the people we'd be with them as long as they needed us. What started as a couple of weeks turned out to be four and one half months. So much happened in those months that it boggles my mind.

Last evening the people were encouraged by brother Keith Butts, leading church deacon & head of pastor-seeking committee, to stand and tell what our ministry among them had meant. Words fail me here but suffice it to say Juda and I were greatly humbled and blessed by the comments, (many of them made through tears,)made by the members of the little flock. After the Morning service a luncheon was held and the people presented us with cards that put their feelings in writing, as well as generous gifts.

Juda & I are still processing all that happen yesterday & we both agree that we don't remember in our combined experiences ever feeling the outpouring of love that we received from the people of Winter Garden. We will carry the glow from the services yesterday with us for as long as we live.

In the book of Acts we are given a picture of how those early Christian enjoyed fellowship.---They joined together with other believers & devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings & fellowship, sharing in the Lords' Supper & prayer....and the believers met together constantly & shared everything they had....they worshipped together at the temple each day, met in homes for the Lords supper & shared their meals with great joy & generosity---all the while praising God & enjoying the good-will of the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)

The people of Winter Garden are very much like these people in the book of Acts. They love God & each other & dearly love to fellowship. But they also have great hearts of love that can reach out to others, embracing them & enveloping them in the Christ's love. Again Juda & I would like to say to those wonderful people, Thank you Vineland Road Christian Fellowship. As you continue to love & enjoy the people of God, He'll do for you what He did for that primitive fellowship. He'll add to your group those who are bereft & in need of the love you have to share.

John & Juda