Wellspring, Christ Church, & Eucharist

Since our last update we have visited 3 churches beyond our home church at Grace Alameda: Wellspring in San Ramon, Christ Church in San Francisco, and Eucharist Church also in San Francisco. How did we choose these three churches to go and share our mission with? Well, as in many things Hands related, it all roots in relationships. Wellspring and Christ Church are the two churches that planted our church, Grace Alameda, a decade ago. They have supported our church over the years and we have partnered with them in our support to Hands at Work. One of the Fathers at Eucharist was our former lead pastor (Jeff Locke). He invited us to come share what the Lord has put on our hearts.

Each of these three churches welcomed us into their worship services to briefly share what we feel God has called us as a family to pursue in Africa. We shared about the rising poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, How the Hands at Work model is implemented, and why we need support both in prayer and financially to serve and support these brothers and sisters in Africa. We reconnected with spiritual family at these churches that we may not see often due to geography and the busyness of Bay Area life, and we had the privilege of worshiping together with other believers. As a worship leader, this is always my favorite part. I love getting to sing to God with other people. It's just such a foretaste of the glory to come when we will all get to endlessly sing His praises and worship Him together.

We gained a few new subscribers and many who told us that they would pray for us. Thank you to those who are praying for us. Here are some silly photos of the kids after service in the parking lot at Christ Church in San Francisco.

Thank you Christ Church for teaching Zaccheus about the Hebrew people returning to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, for welcoming us into your charming and beautiful school theater setting, and for reminding Eric and I the always-important truth of the power of the resurrection of Christ.

Thank you Wellspring, for emphasizing and affirming to Bethlehem the beauty of Pilgrim's Progress, for letting us share, for your love offering, for your prayers over our family, and thank you Sam for reminding us that while the miracles of God are amazing, they are merely the icing on the cake as we are to follow and keep close to Him before and after we witness His great power to feed the multitudes. Thank you for reminding us to enjoy Jesus in all times, not just when the big event miracles are flashing before our eyes.

Thank you Eucharist for your prayers, for letting us participate in the beauty of your space, for filling our children with Gospel Truth and snacks. Thank you Jeff for leading worship and for your teaching about God's grace and mercy to us as Gentiles who can also receive God's greatest gifts of life through brokenness and a relentless humble faith like that of the woman in Matthew 15.

My heart is full of gratitude as I reflect on the warm welcome and Christlike love that was shared with our family at each of these churches. Thank you for letting us worship God with you, for sharing communion with us, for welcoming us as family into your folds for the morning.