Together

Coming together is a beginning; staying together is progress; working together is success"

I came across this quotation from Henry Ford at the beginning of my pastorate and I’ve been thinking about it since. In March of 2023, we came together. In September of 2023, In a beautiful service of Installation, we made our coming together official. What a beautiful beginning.

It Is Important to know that beginnings are the easy part. Since that time we have engaged in the work of getting to know each other, and more importantly, learning to trust each other. You’ve seen my gifts and my growing edges. I have seen yours, Individually and corporately. This Is the staying together part. This is more challenging. It is also the space where we have worked through challenges and seen God use our ministry together to usher in amazing progress.

This progress has not been without pain and change. We have lost some, to death, relocation, and frustration. We’ve had new members join to the glory of God and had to adjust and readjust. I have noticed that with this progress, that some are growing weary. Some are quiet quitting. Some are stirring contention. Some are chattering and murmuring. Some are doing things I dare not type, but only bring before God. Even with my spiritual eyes on the vision that God has laid before us--higher, deeper, wider, and farther--I must confess that some of these things have broken my heart.

Yet, I still believe that successful ministry is our portion! But successful ministry can only happen when we are committed to moving from staying together to working together. So, as we move into the second half of an amazing year, may I encourage each of us, to commit to working together, to put aside personal preferences and egos, and in the words of the Apostle Paul, “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Pastor Donna Olivia Owusu-Ansah