Thanksgiving Week

Greetings, EVBCers of Mesa, Gold Canyon & AJ,

As I type this, I'm in between some extraordinary events. I just returned from a week of teaching Church History at a Bible Institute in northern Italy. Walking with 17 college students through the wranglings of the church over 1400 years reminds me that 1) God has truly been in control all these years, b) the church truly does have a penchant for making mistakes!, and, c) connection with your church heritage is a very valuable thing. It's much like our family album -- we have some wonderful relatives in the faith who have gone before us.

On the horizon is our family's upcoming Thanksgiving trip to Fresno, California. We do this every year - dinner at "Pop's and Grammy's." These are the most wonderful times of all, when we really do add photos to the family album. We'll tell the family stories, laugh at the same old jokes...and it will be terrific.

At EVBC, we continue to have the dream that the thousands that attend Sunday services will make that pilgrimage from attenders to family members. Many of us simply don't feel very connected. Area Ministries continues to help you establish that connection that will help turn your church experience into something richer - family.

We had many, many people make this first step through the "Taste of Community" program. The testimonies have been great, and new groups are forming as a result. Even if you missed the official 4-week program, it's certainly not too late to get involved in a Home Group in your area. If you're interested, please drop me or Rosie Pierson a note.

Who's Rosie Pierson?

Rosie is the new Administrative Assistant for the Mesa Area! You'll see her name often in our publications as a contact person for Area-related business. You'll also see her in person, in the office and at Area events, since she and her husband Don are full-fledged Mesans! We're very fortunate to have Rosie serving in this capacity, so make sure you say hello to her soon, and thank her for her willingness to help us build community in our Area (her email address is RosiePierson@evbc.org).

God's best to you all,
Bill

Bill Hartley
Mesa Area Pastor
billhartley@evbc.org