In the weeks following FEC’s annual convention at Grace Church Morton, our nation has been rocked with strife. Looking at the headlines each day is like staring at a giant exclamation point for the need for the forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, and restoration we discussed. Now more than ever, we are called to stand united and offer an alternative to a hurting world, an alternative that only comes from the freedom we find in Jesus.
Rich Ratts’ message on Friday night really set the tone, not just for convention but also for the days and weeks to come. And the fact that we had just one main speaker for the other three sessions gave us time to walk through the process of forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, and redemption Nick Stumbo presented. I heard multiple times how the spirit of convention this year was so healing and invigorating. Everyone appreciated the opportunity to put these messages into practice. Just hearing the resolve of people to live in that freedom and to be agents of that restoration and reconciliation was such an encouragement to me.
Of course, it was exciting to welcome three new churches into our fellowship, and hearing from our international team members was a great reminder that what we’re doing is bigger than our local churches and communities. We are making a global impact as we stand together as agents of change—for our neighbors, our country, and our world.
