Weekly Greeting - May 7th

Dear Bethlehem Family,

Have you ever prayed for someone or something for a long time?

Bertha of Kent was a Frankish princess who moved to Canterbury in the English kingdom to marry its ruler, Ethelbert.  Christianity was not yet established in Britian and Ethelbert was a pagan King, but his new wife was a devout Christian. 

Bertha prayed for her husband’s conversion for 18 years.  In the year 597 a mission team sent by Pope Gregory the Great, and led by a monk named Augustine, arrived from Rome and succeeded in winning Ethelbert over to the Christian faith.  Within a year, it is estimated that more than 10,000 people had followed the king’s example and converted to Christianity.

Bertha left no writings, and there is no record of her ever making a public speech or exercising political power, yet through her faithfulness in prayer she had a huge impact on the people of England and ultimately around the world.

We are in the process of making important staff changes here at Bethlehem.  Rev. Kumar is projected to be appointed in the Cumberland River District, Steve Lefebvre is projected to begin his first appointment as pastor of Pleasant View United Methodist Church, and John Knorr’s last day at Bethlehem will be May 28 as he and his wife, Christy find a new church in their new home in Murfreesboro.

Please join me in praying that God will send us just the right people to continue our ministry here at Bethlehem.  Ask that God will bless the work of the SPRC (Staff Parish Relations Committee) and prepare the hearts of those God is sending to us to replace those God is sending to other places of ministry.  It is hard to say goodbye to those we have come to love, but we thank God for their ministry with us and all that God will do through them in their new ministry locations.

Peace & Blessings,

Craig