When Jim Webb asked me if I would write for the Weekly, I said no. I’m not a public person. I tend to be shy, and I prefer flying under the radar. Writing for Webb would put my thoughts in the public square and open them to misinterpretation and uninvited criticism. I just didn’t want to take that risk.

But Jim was persistent. It took about six months, but I finally gave in. My first article was submitted to the Weekly on May 28, 2015.

When I agreed to write, I let Jim know I would never mention the name of the church where I serve as the lead pastor. There were three reasons for making that promise:

First, I was determined to keep the Faith Conversations column about Jesus Christ and Him alone.

Second, I didn’t want to risk writing something that would reflect poorly on my congregation.

Third, I didn’t want this column to become a shameless plug for promoting me and my church.

Well, I am no longer the lead pastor of a church. As of June 30, 2024, Heather and I have entered a new form and stage of ministry. Maybe I’ll share more about that journey in a future article.

So, for the first time in nearly ten years, I’m going to share with you the name of the awesome congregation Heather and I have been privileged to serve and partner with for the past 23 years — Faith Wesleyan Church. It is located on the corner of Sherman and Tucker streets in Williamsport’s east end.

Faith Wesleyan began after successful tent revivals held during the summers of 1932 and 1933 in South Williamsport. A mission was formed out of those revivals, and its first rented home was the old Redeemer Lutheran church building located on the corner where Faith Wesleyan still gathers for worship. On July 11, 1935, the church was officially organized into an established Wesleyan church, and it would soon purchase the building it was renting from Redeemer Lutheran.

This amazing church will celebrate its 90th anniversary of serving God’s mission in the greater Susquehanna Valley next summer.

In 1967, the old Redeemer Lutheran building was torn down, and a new church was erected. It was during that season the church was given its current name.

Heather and I have served in full-time pastoral ministry for 38 years. We pastored at three amazing churches in three beautiful communities, but Faith Wesleyan in Williamsport was the only place we served as the lead pastoral team. For that reason, Faith Wesleyan and its people will always hold a very special place in our hearts.

The purpose statement of Faith Wesleyan is to be a place where anyone can believe, belong, and become in Jesus Christ. By God’s grace, they are fulfilling their purpose. In the past two decades, they have baptized 231 believers. I tell them all the time — you are just plain awesome!

In the lead-up to our final day of pastoral service, our precious church family went above and beyond in expressing their appreciation. On June 22, they held an event called A Celebration of Ministry. For about four hours, Heather and I were immersed in a flood of appreciation and generous gifts. As I write this, I’m struggling to find the right words to express how overwhelmed we felt.

The celebration came in the midst of heavy loss for Heather and me. My father passed away on June 4, and her sister, Laurel, passed away on June 17. Our church family poured out such kind expressions of care and concern for us. We experienced their genuine love and the power of their fervent prayers. They were our angels of joy, comfort, and hope — giving us strength as we walked through the valley of the shadow of death.

How do you say thank you for all of it? How do you let people know how much they mean to you and how grateful you are for all they have done to celebrate and comfort at the same time? How do you thank people for 23 years of sharing together in life and in the gospel of Jesus Christ? How do you fully convey to them what they mean to you and the impact they have had on your life?

I know — I can write an article about it in the Webb Weekly!

Well, that seemed like a good idea, but after hours of sitting at my keyboard, I have concluded that language simply falls short. It is not capable of fully describing the vast and priceless treasure of love and friendship they have given. That being understood, Heather and I want the awesome people of Faith Wesleyan to know they inhabit a cherished place in our hearts. They have become friends and family in the truest sense. And we thank them, even as we continue to live, serve, and worship with them, for giving so freely and generously of their love to us over the past 23 years.

Faith Wesleyan Church, you truly are just plain awesome!