Sunday morning I was at New Life In Christ, Ducanville. This congregation has made a considerable investment in their building. Renovating their narthex/fellowship space as well as kitchen. They also fixed a long overdue problem with the roofline of the building that was causing leaking and damage to the facility. As often happens with investments we make, be they in people or in buildings, the most expensive and time consuming pieces aren’t the flashy things that are noticed but the investments in stable foundations and good roofs. I am grateful for them for making that investment.

It was fun to be there with Pastor Jeff Bergeron (who also played trumpet for the morning liturgy) and the people there. They are excited about their future. They are a small congregation in a suburb south of Dallas which has seen demographic shifts over time that have both helped and challenged the community. However, they see a bright future for their work and are intentionally reaching across lines of race and economic class. I am grateful for their work and intentional commitment.

Pastor Bergeron is also helping us as a synod as we engage a project in coming years with Luther Seminary. NT-NL is partnering with the seminary to work with a cohort of congregations and leaders to intentionally think about innovative ministry and how ministry is done today. What has changed and how do we be faithful in our work today. I am glad that we will be able to participate in this work and think critically about how best to be church for the future.