“Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me... The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them." Matthew 21:2, 6

The Unseen Burden
It is possible that many of us may sometimes feel like the donkey in the story of the Triumphant Entry. We spend our lives from sunup to sundown carrying heavy loads: the weights of responsibility, the mistakes of humanity, and the expectations of others. Often, we feel like "brute beasts," overlooked and under-appreciated, doing the hard work while the world moves past us without a second glance. We might even feel like "hybrids" who are caught between who we are and who the world wants us to be, living in a state of "mixing" that feels far from God's original, perfect intention for creation.

The King’s Choice
But notice what Jesus did. He did not send for a majestic stallion or a warhorse to carry Him into Jerusalem. He sent for the lowly donkey.

• He Saw the Animal: Before the crowds cheered, Jesus recognized the donkey’s existence and its purpose.
• He Gave Honor: By choosing this animal to carry the King of Kings, Jesus elevated the "lowly" to a place of royalty.
• He Loosed the Bound: Jesus gave the command to "untie him." He did not just want the donkey's service; He wanted the donkey’s freedom from its previous hitching post.

The Exchange of Weights
If you feel tired from carrying a weight that is not yours, remember that Jesus sees you just as He saw that animal. He is aware that you matter. While serving the Master in a broken world can sometimes feel like an "unfair burden," Jesus offers a divine exchange. He says: "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me... for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. "When we carry Jesus, the nature of the load changes. It is no longer a weight that crushes us; it isa weight that connects us to His royalty. We are not told what happened to the donkey after that Sunday, but we can be certain of this: once you have carried the King, you are never the same.

Praise God!
Pastor Z. Adderley

In the famous story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), we often focus on the one who left home and squandered his inheritance. But this week, the Holy Spirit is highlighting a different figure: the elder brother who stayed home. He was ”squeaky clean” on the outside, meticulous, hardworking, and status-driven, but he was rotting on the inside.

The Pharisee in the Field
The elder brother represents the “party haters” of Jesus’ day, the Pharisees. They were experts at executing the Father’s portfolio but had no room for the Father’s people. Like the elder brother, it is possible to be “in the house” but miles away from the Father’s heart. When we treat our faith like shift work, rather than a relationship we are enjoying, our joy evaporates. Service without love is not devotion; it is slavery.

The Father’s Heart Revealed
The most beautiful part of this narrative is not the brother’s performance, but the Father’s persistence. Even as the elder son stood outside in miserable, bitter resentment, the Father stepped out to entreat him. Despite the elder sons “squeaky clean” legalism and his judgmental spirit, the Father didn’t abandon him to his bitterness. He went out to meet him, pleading with him to come inside and share in the celebration. This is the heart of God: He pursues the religious legalist just as fervently as He pursues the rebellious runaway.

Why We Lose Our Joy
Disobedience is not always “riotous living.” Often, it is subtle alignment issues:

• The Trap of Assets: Valuing the “estate” (status, rules, and coins) over the “family” (people).
• The Contract vs. Covenant: Seeing God as a boss to be satisfied rather than a Father to be loved.
• The “Why” Gap: Being so busy managing a corner of the field that we miss the
  heartbeat of the whole house.

”Christian joy returns when we stop viewing people as interruptions to our work and start
viewing them as the point of our work.”

Are You Just Maintaining the Estate?
If our hearts do not break for what breaks His, and if we cannot rejoice when He rejoices, we are merely “estate managers” in a house we do not truly call home. Joy is the byproduct of shared values. If we find ourselves hardworking but miserable, it may be time to stop working for the Father and start walking with Him. After all, we are laborers with God.

A Provocative Thought:
If the Father threw a party today for the very person you find most undeserving, would you be found inside leading the dance, or outside explaining why they should not have been invited?

Blessings,
Pastor Adderley

I Co-wrote a song a few years ago called “What a Name”. It was released by a group called “Writing Rounds Worships:

No Father like ABBA, What a Name!
No Healer like Rapha…What a Name!
None keeps me like Nissi…What a Name!
There’s no one like God
There’s no one like Yahweh!

Listen to “What a Name”!

This is the inspiration behind the song…

Have you ever had a friend that surprised you with a talent or skill you had no idea they had? In my case, I went bowling with some friends and while we all showed up empty handed to the bowling alley, one of my friends had a whole suitcase that he took out of his truck. He had his own ball, his own special bowling shoes, etc. He proceeded to DESTROY the rest of us who were just trying to have some fun! While we had done lots of different activities together, we had never been bowling. We had no idea that he grew up in a family of competitive bowlers. It was by being in a bowling alley with him that we were able to become aware of this amazing talent and skill that he had. The best thing is, if we ever make an amateur team to compete, I know the first person to call to be on my team. (This person may or may not be a beloved leader in our church)! My new awareness of what he is capable of, affects how I walk into any “bowling difficulty” I may come across.

Throughout the scriptures, we find God revealing attributes of Himself to people who were in different situations.  In these difficult moments, they encountered God showing up in specific ways that were tailor-made to what they needed Him to be. After each encounter, both the person and the reader are left with a better understanding of who God is, many times summarized in a name of God.

In Genesis 16 we find part of the story of a servant, Hagar, who had a child with Abram at the behest of Sarai, her mistress. After being mistreated by Sarah, she flees to the desert while pregnant and begins a trek that would most likely have been a death sentence. In verse 7, the Angel of the Lord encounters her and gives her a promise that while the child she is carrying would not have an easy life, he would be the first in a long line of descendants that would become a great nation.

13 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen[c] the One who sees me.” 14 That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi[d]; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. Genesis 16:13-14 NIV

In human eyes, invisible, treated as merely an object. God saw her and knew her name and had a purpose for her. El Roi: The God who sees me.

In Genesis 22 the name Yahweh-Jireh is revealed after God provided a ram as a substitute for Abraham’s son Isaac. The Lord is my provider!

In Exodus 17:15, after winning what seemed like an unwinnable battle against the Amalekites, Moses declares, Yahweh-Nissi, the Lord is my banner!

In Exodus 15:26 we find God promising to be Yahweh-Rapha, the Lord who Heals.

Each name, a different revelation of the character of God. He knew that we would need every attribute and facet of who He is. This is why when He revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush, and Moses asks what God’s name is, the reply is all-encompassing: 13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.[c] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

I AM. This leaves it open for God to be EVERYTHING you could ever need HIM to be. He is all we could ever need and more!

I AM HEALER
I AM PROVIDER
I AM A PRESENT HELP IN TIME OF NEED
I AM REDEEMER
I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE
I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD

We need Him to be all of it and the wonderful news is that HE CAN BE and HE IS!

However, while there are names we may have heard, it is different when you experience that name for yourself. If you are going through a difficult time,  ask God, “What name are you revealing to me?”

I remember hearing about God as a provider, but there was a day where I needed Him to be that in my life and He came through. I now felt I could call on that name with confidence because we had gone through that situation together.

He is Abba - your loving Father
He is Rapha - your healer
He is Nissi - your banner

What glorious names our Lord has! Truly a name above all names!

• What do you need the Lord to be in your life? How do you see Him revealing more of His character to you?

In Christ,
Pastor Javier Batista

Romans 8:37 ESV
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. If it is so often that we make the statement of being “more than a conqueror” without taking into account that in order to identify as such, we must be people who have been tested, tried, and or pressed.

Conquerors and/or more than conquerors are those who have seen tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword (Romans 8:35)b and have come through successfully. We sometimes want to declare victory without having gone through anything; we want a medal for running a race we didn’t start or finish.

If we are going to live a life that shows how our God makes us more than conquerors, then we need to prepare ourselves to:

1. Live with a clear understanding that there will be times of opposition. The enemy of our souls is not playing dead, and allowing us to live our full and abundant life of promise. His entire job responsibility is to kill, steal, and destroy, and he’s been at his job for a while.

If we are living with this clear understanding that opposition will come, then we need to sure up our feet and be prepared to stand fast, stand strong, just stand, armored up in Jesus Christ. We can’t be easy and open targets for the enemy; we can’t make his job easy. Ephesians 6 tells us that we must be armored in prayer at all times. If we are in constant ready-mode, communicating with the Father through the Holy Spirit, then we have a greater opportunity to receive spiritual intelligence about what is going on around us – the Holy Spirit will keep us vigilant. Most times, if we apply hindsight, we will identify the time and location when the Holy Spirit gave us a heads-up on what is ahead. We can also note the times that we overlooked it, brushed it off as the devil, or just ignored His touch. As we walk through these moments that take us to being “more than a conqueror,” let us take comfort in the fact that it is not about us. These moments are so that Jesus can be lifted high, exalted, and receive all the glory!

2. When we find ourselves at the beginning, the middle, or the end of a battle, dry season, or struggle, we must be careful to declare what we know about our conquering status, not what the enemy wants us to believe.

Culture has taught us how to skip truthful speaking when we are being pressed by life. When we are asked, “How are you doing?” most times we give a generic response. A response that doesn’t give room for additional questions. The Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4 demonstrates for us how our words need to align with our status as a conqueror, even when the status change isn’t visible to others. This woman was given a miracle child by the Word of the Lord, through the man of God, and then the child passed away. In the midst of her emotional reconciliation as she went to visit with the prophet, her husband, and the prophet's servant asked her, “Is everything okay?” Instead of responding in defeat and despair, she responded from the place of victory and said, “IT IS WELL”. She was a great example of being more than a conqueror, even when what we speak and what is do not align with each other. We shouldn’t be afraid to speak His Word over our lives. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 states “8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies.”

3. Rest in God and trust that He will do what He says.

Romans 8:27 reminds us that as we are praying to the Father, the Holy Spirit is making intercessions on our behalf. The Spirit is reminding the Father of His perfect will toward us. This allows us to stop trying to make a plan to avoid trouble, and or redirect how things are going in areas of our lives. All we have to do is follow the Holy Spirit’s plan for our lives. Is it easy? No, it is not. Is it sometimes cloudy or unclear? Yes. Will there be moments of uncertainty, and will the flesh try to be the supreme decision-maker?, Yes. Let’s remember that we have the 4th man in the fire with us, so we can rest in Him. Rest in the fact that if the Word of God hasn’t been made manifest in our lives, then God is not done, so we can rest. Psalms 23 is another scripture that assures us to rest, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul.” A beautiful picture of resting in the Lord, knowing that you are more than a conqueror. When you know how the battle ends, you behave differently in the middle of it.

Let us truly walk in the fact that we are “More than Conqueror” through Him who loves us.

- Pastor Ro

In a world that grows louder, heavier, and more unpredictable by the day, many of us find ourselves searching for something, anything that will steady our hearts. But the greatest strategy for spiritual victory is not hidden in a new trend or a clever life hack. It is found in an ancient rhythm that still carries power today. When we look at Daniel in the lion’s den, we don’t just see a man who survived a crisis. We see someone whose life moved the heart of a king and the hand of God. Whether you are navigating pressure at work, tension at home, or battles in your own mind, the Daniel Strategy offers a pathway to deliverance.

Consistency: The Quiet Strength of a Daily Rhythm
Daniel did not start praying because trouble came. He was delivered because he had already been praying. In Daniel 6:16, even King Darius, who did not know God, recognized something remarkable: “Thy God, whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.” Consistency is the hidden engine of spiritual authority. It is the daily rhythm that builds a life God can trust. When we walk with God consistently, even unbelievers notice that something is at work in our lives.

Weaponized Prayer: Turning Devotion Into Power
Ephesians 6:18 calls us to pray “at all times in the Spirit.” Prayer was never meant to be our last resort; it is our first line of engagement. When the decree was signed outlawing prayer, Daniel didn’t panic. He didn’t retreat. He didn’t ask, “Why me?” He simply opened his windows toward Jerusalem and continued his rhythm. Daniel understood that prayer is not passive; it is power. Prayer is the spark that ignites the coldest heart, it is the weapon that breaks chains and brings Heaven’s fire into earthly situations. When we petition God, He will open waterways and shut the mouth of lions to rescue His children.

Consecration: The Depth That Releases Breakthrough
Daniel’s life teaches us that victory requires more than words; it requires a posture of sacrifice. He often paired prayer with fasting, creating space for God to move. His consecration was so compelling that it influenced the atmosphere around him. The king himself fasted and lost sleep, because he observed firsthand the power of Daniel’s prayer (Daniel 6:18). A consecrated life shifts environments. It softens hearts. It opens doors. It prepares the ground for God’s intervention.

Credibility: Integrity That Heaven Honors
When Daniel was lifted from the den, the text revealed that Daniel was unharmed because he was “innocent before God” and had done no wrong to the king. His enemies could not find a single flaw to exploit. They had to weaponize his faithfulness because his integrity was unshakable. Character still matters. Integrity still carries weight in Heaven. And credibility still positions us for God’s rescue.

The Heart of the Strategy
Heaven responds to believers who are consistent in prayer, consecrated in spirit, and credible in character. No matter how deep the pit or how loud the roar of the lions, God is still shutting mouths and opening doors. A praying church is a powerful church. A consistent church is a dangerous church, and a consecrated church is a church that sees results. Let’s embrace the Daniel Strategy, not as a story from long ago, but as a lifestyle that unlocks Heaven’s rescue today.

Blessings,
Pastor Z. Adderley

Last week’s Bible study concluded with a quiet but poignant mention of Uriah, named as one of David’s “Mighty Men.” What is striking about Uriah is that he remained faithful to the very king who treated him with the ultimate injustice. David’s abuse of power was so absolute that Uriah lost his family and, eventually, his life. To the natural eye, it would seem Uriah’s integrity was buried with him. This led me to reflect on Mordecai in the Book of Esther. Mordecai was exiled enduring harsh conditions alongside his cousin. In both stories, God initially appeared silent toward the plight of both Uriah and Mordecai. However, Hebrews 6:10 reminds us that God is not unjust, nor does He forget our work and labor of love.

The Quiet Integrity of the Oppressed
The lives of Uriah and Mordecai began in the shadow of absolute power. Uriah was a Hittite, an outsider by blood, but he became more “Israelite” in spirit than King David himself. Mordecai was an exile who had lost his sovereignty and found himself serving in the courts of a pagan empire. David included Uriah among his elite because Uriah chose duty over comfort, refusing to sleep in his own house while the Ark and the army remained in tents. Similarly, Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, prioritizing the honor of God over social safety. Both men faced “hard treatment” not because they were rebels, but because they were righteous.

The Pen of Wickedness and the Silence of God
In both narratives, "unjust circumstances” were orchestrated by wickedness in high places. David used his pen to sign Uriah’s death warrant; Haman used the King’s signet ring to decree Mordecai’s genocide. In their moments of greatest trial, Heaven seemed silent. Uriah died on the front lines, likely wondering why his king abandoned him in the “hottest” part of the battle. Mordecai sat in sackcloth, facing the extinction of his people, perhaps wondering if even Esther would forget her God as deliverance seemed to stall.

Divine Archives and the Great Reversal
As noted earlier, God is not unjust and He does not forget. In Mordecai’s case, God “disturbed” the sleep of King Xerxes, leading to a public reversal of fortune. This is the “God of the Breakthrough” who rights wrongs in the here and now. Although Uriah did not regain his wife or his life on earth, God ensured that in the final records of David’s reign, Uriah was not remembered as a victim, but as a Mighty Man. His vindication was etched into the Eternal Word.

Responding to the Sting of Inequity
What is our response when we are the “Uriah” working hard and staying faithful, yet losing anyway? Or when we are the “Mordecai,” waiting at the gate while the arrogant and wicked are promoted? Let’s us remember that we cannot lose if we order and operate our lives using Christ-like principles. Jesus said if we lose our lives for His sake, we will find it. Like Uriah, let us remain faithful even when the outcome is significant loss, trusting that our names are recorded in a Book that no earthly king can burn. Like Mordecai, let us act with courage, trusting that God remains Lord over every leader’s sleep and He cause our names to be remembered in due season.

The Writing of the King of Kings
Ultimately, we must remember that earthly ledgers are often flawed, but the King of Kings keeps a perfect record. The scriptures tell us of a day when “the books were opened” (Revelation 20:12). Unlike David, who wrote a secret letter to ensure a man’s death, or Xerxes, who needed a book read to him to remember a man’s service, our King is the Alpha and Omega who sees and knows it all. The injustices of this world including the betrayals by family, the social inequities, or the unjust behaviors by friends who turned their backs cannot thwart the plan of God concerning His children. God remembers you. He is the Great Scribe who records every tear and every act of hidden integrity. Therefore, we look past the temporary “hard treatment” toward a reality we cannot yet comprehend for “eye has not seen, nor ear heard... the things which God has prepared for those who love Him”(1 Corinthians 2:9). Your story is not being written by the pens of men, but by the hand of the Sovereign King.

Blessings,
Pastor Z

As another Valentine’s Day fades into memory, God’s people must resist the temptation of letting love be reduced to a once a year sentiment or a commercialized display. The love God is costly, consistent, and deeply sacrificial. It stretches us to love when we are disappointed by a spouse or wounded by a child. It steadies us to love even when death separates us from those we cherish. When God’s love is displayed through sacrifice, something remarkable happens; it multiplies, and it deepens.

We see this multiplication early in the Holy Scriptures. When Abram obeyed God and was willing to offer Isaac, his act of surrender created space for God’s love and promise to expand .By the time we meet God’s people in Goshen at the end of Joseph’s  life, they are described as “fruitful and multiplying greatly,” a people almost without number (Exodus, 1:7, ESV). Their growth was not without grief, as God often lamented their unfaithfulness, yet His love refused to let them go. Through Hosea, God declares, “I will say to those who were not my people, ‘You are my people’” (Hosea 2:23, KJV). Love multiplied again.

This same pattern reaches its fullness in Christ. Seeing our separation, our rebellion, and our inability to return to God on our own, Jesus willingly embraced the Father’s plan: “A body you prepared for me… I have come to do your will, O God” (Hebrews 10:5,7, ESV). Even as the weight of that obedience pressed upon Him, Jesus looked beyond the suffering to the harvest it would produce. He revealed the divine principle of multiplication in God’s kingdom: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24, ESV). Jesus invites us to follow the pattern of the Father and Himself: give from the heart, live sacrificially, and watch God multiply what we surrender.

John the Apostle later captures this breathtaking reality: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1, ESV). Like Hosea, John was probably in awe of God’s loving kindness, as he recognized that we were deserving of abandonment, yet God’s love reconsidered us, reclaimed us, and renamed us! Hallelujah!

It’s no wonder the hymn writer could only marvel:
“The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell…”

The song goes on to describe God’s love as so vast that if the oceans were ink and the skies were parchment, they still could not contain the story of His love. That is the love that multiplies. That is the love that found us.

A Call to Live the Multiplying Love of God
If God multiplies love through sacrifice, then our daily lives become the soil where His kingdom grows. Every act of forgiveness, every moment of obedience, every costly choice to love someone who has not earned it are seeds. Christ has already shown us that what dies in love rises in fruitfulness. So let us pattern our lives after His. Let us give in ways that stretch us, love in ways that cost us, and trust, by faith, that God will multiply every surrendered seed. The return may not look like what we expect, but it will always reflect the heart of the One who loved us first.

Blessings,
Pastor Adderley

For those who don’t know, I had a hip replacement back on December 10, 2025. Long story short, I have dealt with a small “catch” that would come up sporadically back in college and, about 2 years ago after playing in a student/staff basketball game at my school, I could barely move that evening. I went to the doctor, and they told me I was bone-on-bone and had a couple of bone spurs. They said it looked like I had been in multiple car wrecks. I’m only 41years old. This was devastating news, but I went through the process of trying to hold out without surgery for as long as I could with injections every 3 months. I was able to last with until this past September. I scheduled my surgery and, lo and behold, my injection wore off much earlier (within about 3 weeks instead of 3 months) than usual and I had to suffer miserably for 2 months until the procedure.

I had a conversation recently and their response was:

1. It doesn’t look like you just had a surgery (Praise God!)
2. I had no idea you were even in pain.  

I reflected on a scripture from Romans 12:1 - I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Paul is writing to the church in Rome and trying to help them understand the importance of giving their all in worship to God. It doesn’t say “Worship God with just enough on Sundays”. It doesn’t give instructions on how to put on a show for others. It talks about how we are to present ALL of ourselves as a sacrifice on the altar regularly. The Romans (and even pagans) knew what sacrifices were at the time. They knew of the ritualistic offerings left to be sacrificed – unblemished and perfect animals brought to be burned. These offerings were brought alive to the altar.

But as I looked at myself during this season, I knew there was no way I was unblemished OR perfect. I was BROKEN seemingly beyond repair and that was more than just the physical. It began to take a toll on my mental space. Not sleeping or being able to move without pain caused me to realize my frailty and I began to wonder if there was something I had done to deserve this torture I was going through.

But there is something about the Lord’s consuming fire that does something to the soul when you lay it on the altar. It purifies you - it MAKES you holy. When you “present your body,” it is not merely speaking about the physical – it refers to giving ALL you are to the Lord. One commentary I read says that God doesn’t want just your work, he wants YOU. And what good is it to do a bunch of “work” for the Lord and not give him your self?

I was very intentional about HOW I served during that season. I worked more in the background while still submitting ALL of me to the Lord in a way that was slightly different than the past. When I felt low, I would cry out to the Lord and ask him to give me strength to be a light where I went. I wore a smile and began to encourage others at my workplace EVEN MORE than I had in the past. My worship began to change because now I had no choice but to submit all I was and had to the Lord because I had nothing left to lose. He began to show others and myself how great his power really was. And my healing testimony is all the stronger from it.

My worship is now filled with a spirit of joy and gratefulness that it lacked before. My heart is full from the little things like being able to rest and being able to walk up stairs with no pain. My interactions with others point more toward the Lord as I help them understand where I came from and how far he brought me.

For some, going through tests and trials seems like it will never end. I want to encourage you in this season, and I want to challenge you. Have you submitted all you are to the Lord? Not just the things you do for Him but your entire being. Ponder on how you can change the narrative and ultimately be purified and justified in the eyes of God so that man, one day, will see there is HOPE even in the least of us.

Rooted In Love,
Pastor Thaddaeus

2 Kings 4:1-7
As we read the text, we encounter a widow and her sons in need of a miracle, an answer. Two major points are highlighted today.

Honest Faith
This story highlights the importance of honesty before God. We must be truthful about where we are, because honesty is required to move forward in the things of God. As His people, we must be honest with ourselves and honest with Him.

The widow had a clear narrative. She told the prophet plainly: your servant, my husband, is dead; the debt is looming; my sons are being sought after as payment. She did not embellish the truth; she stated the reality of her situation. When we have a need that requires God’s attention, we must make our requests known to Him (Philippians 4:6–7).
Like the widow, some of us find ourselves in situations not of our own making, with no clear way to “fix” them. Some of us may be saying, “God, I’m stuck in emotional bondage because of my past,” or “I’m living in cycles of anger because of family trauma,” or “I’m broken and need You to heal me, mend me, fill me, and use me.” When the widow shared her story with the prophet Elisha, it touched his heart. How much more do our prayers touch the heart of our Father God, who loves us and desires the best for us?

Elisha asked her, “What shall I do for you?” and then quickly followed with another question: “What do you have in your house?” If the Lord were to ask you today, “What do you have in your house that I can use?” would you have an answer?

Obedience Without Limits
As God speaks to us and gives instructions, we must be careful to hear everything He is saying and not mix our thoughts with His instructions. Our deliverance depends on it. The widow received clear directions: borrow empty vessels from her neighbors, borrow not a few; go into the house; shut the door with her sons; pour into the vessels; and set them aside as they were filled.

There are many ways our flesh would want to interfere with instructions like these. We would have questions, alternative ideas, or even limit how many vessels we gather. Yet God’s math is not our math. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.

As we hear the instructions of the Father, we must take the limits off of what He can do. Be encouraged to follow God completely and gather vessels, take the limit off. God may be giving instructions that feel out of the norm, but do not be afraid. Your willingness to release limits will determine the level and scope of your victory.

- Pastor Romeika Adderley

The Unexpected Descent
My journey through the scriptures recently brought me to the life of Joseph, the favored son of Jacob. In Genesis 37, we see a close-up of a young man whose faithfulness to his father and his God was undeniable. When God began speaking to him through dreams, Joseph had no idea that the assignment on his life was far greater than his teenage mind could grasp. Because of the magnitude of his calling, Joseph entered a season of intense refining that began at just seventeen years old. Driven by jealousy over their father’s favoritism and Joseph’s role as their supervisor, his brothers hated him. What followed was thirteen years of grueling hardship.

The Cry from the Pit
Throughout his ordeal, Joseph often reminded himself—and those around him—of his innocence. In the depths of an Egyptian dungeon, he pleaded, “…for I was indeed stolen out of the land of Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit” (Genesis 40:15 ESV).

Have you ever found yourself in a season of suffering so severe, and at such a high personal cost, that your soul cries out, “This isn’t right?” Like Joseph you have been faithful, yet you find yourself stuck, discarded or forgotten. In these moments, we must ask: What if the Lord is orchestrating these trials for our good and His glory? What if He is shaping my character in a "pit" that is actually a divine darkroom?

The Process of the Developer
In the days of film photography, creating a masterpiece required a specific environment: total darkness and precise chemical reactions. To bring what was hidden on the film into the light, the photographer followed a strict process:

• A Darkroom: The exposed film was placed in a light-tight tank, shielded from any outside interference.
• A Touch From Chemicals: A developer solution was introduced to reveal the hidden images.
• A “That’s Enough” Bath: A second chemical wash was used to halt the process, ensuring the photo did not over-develop or become distorted.
• Intermittent Agitation: Throughout the stages, the developer would shake the tank vigorously to ensure the chemicals coated every inch of the film before it was finally dried and presented as a finished work of art.

Toxic Elements, Divine Protection
Your journey may not mirror Joseph’s exactly, but we all face seasons of "development." God allows various "chemically toxic" events to touch our lives, but He never permits them to destroy us. He knows when to say “…devil that is enough!” It may feel as though you are trapped in pit, a dry place, moving from one crisis to the next. But remember, God is in the middle of the process. Just as He added grace to Joseph’s administrative skills and clarity to his visions, He is using your current trial to hone your unique gifts.

The Paradox of the Progress
There is a striking paradox in Joseph’s story. He went down to Dothan, down to Egypt, and down into a prison. By every worldly metric, Joseph was supposed to die. Yet, in the midst of this thirteen-year descent, the writer of Genesis makes a staggering claim: Joseph was a prosperous man (Genesis 39:2). While Joseph was going "downhill" in the eyes of men, he was actually moving closer to the ear and throne of the Pharaoh. Every step into the dark was a step toward the palace.

The Great Restoration
Do not be dismayed by the trials or the feeling of being stifled in a dungeon. Do not resent the "agitation" of the process or the "haters" who put you there. Release the bitterness over the demotion or the loss of status. God is with you in the darkroom. The "shaking" you are experiencing may have cost you the initial “coat” that you once wore, but God is preparing to bring you out for His glory. He will add to and multiply you just like He did for Joseph. In the end, Joseph did not just get his coat back; he received a signet ring, a royal chariot, and a position where the world bowed before the wisdom God had developed in him. Trust the Developer, He is making something beautiful in you! You have no idea regarding the glory that will be revealed in and through you!

Blessings,
Pastor Z Adderley

In my travels last year through the ancient cities of Turkey, I was struck by the sight of the olive trees. Some were lush and green; others stood bare and gnarled, looking almost lifeless against the dry hilly landscape.

Unlike the towering cedars of Lebanon, these trees aren’t known for their height. Their strength is in their base which is made of thick, twisted trunks (sometimes unsightly) with expansive root systems. In the arid climate of the Mediterranean, an olive tree’s roots perform a dual miracle: they spread horizontally just beneath the surface to catch the slightest morning dew, but they also push deep and vertically into the earth, searching for hidden water tables to survive years of drought.

David’s Desert Season
This imagery provides a profound backdrop for Psalm 52. When David wrote this, he was in the midst of a “winter” season. He had been betrayed by Doeg the Edomite, hunted by Saul, and forced to flee from cave to cave.
To the casual observer, David likely looked “bare”. He was likely disheveled, weary from hunger, and dressed in tattered clothes rather than kingly robes. He looked like an olive tree in the harshest season of dryness. Yet, while his circumstances were brittle, his roots were reaching deep into the character of God. While waiting for God’s deliverance David said, “…the steadfast love of God endures all the day…” (Psalms 52:1, ESV).

Sustenance in the Dryness
As David ran, he determined that the goodness, favor, and mercy of the Lord would be his portion. He understood the secret of the olive tree: the external environment does not dictate the my internal life. Even when the rain stops, the tree lives because its foundation is connected to a source the sun cannot reach. David’s “water table” was the promise of God, hallelujah!! This is why he could confidently write in the end:
”But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever”. (Psalm 52:8, ESV)

Encouragement For Your Season
If you find yourself in a dry season today, do not be discouraged by your “bare branches”.

• Trust the Root System: Just as David did, use this time to push your roots deeper into God’s faithful love. You can trust God’s character!
• The Season is Temporary: The same tree that looks dead in the winter is the one that buds with new life in the spring.
• Focus on the Source: Your sustenance doesn’t come from your circumstances, but from your connection to the Living Water.

Be encouraged. You may feel weathered, but because you are planted in the house of God, you will show green leaves again. Amen!!

Love & Blessings,
Pastor Z. Adderley

As we have entered a new year, many may have questions, and or concerns about what this year will look like. Some of us are looking at the previous year and saying okay God, please, I can’t handle another year like 2025. I am not sure if emotionally, financially, or spiritually, I can go through similar circumstances in 2026. Can I encourage us today to “walk by faith”? God is reminding us today that the only reason we are still standing is that He has been carrying us. I am convinced that the reason many of us feel disheveled, tired, and out of sorts is that we refuse to “rest” in God fully. Be honest with me, we all have phrases on autopilot to use if we are asked how we’re doing, in the middle of a “moment”.

When we look at the scripture, “walking by faith” does not denote that we always get to know the plan upfront. In Genesis 12, Abram and Sarai didn’t know what to expect when God told them to go. Abraham wasn’t given the outcome when the Lord asked him to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22. However, in Hebrews 11, we are given a wonderful template of how to respond in times of uncertainty. Not only does Hebrews chapter 11 confirm that a faith walk is possible ,but it also gives us the example of how to do it. This chapter uses two phrases that caught my attention, “by faith” and “through faith.”

In my investigation of the phrases, I learned that they are very similar, but they can have a slight nuance. BY FAITH leans toward the fact that faith is the source by which something is manifested, that it is the components, the substance. THROUGH FAITH leans more toward the fact that faith is the process, the gateway, the conduit. Both phrases are needed in our venture into the new. By faith, we will see things come together; come to pass, and through faith, we will do things differently; we will walk in the plan for our lives. I encourage all of us today to read through the entire chapter of Hebrews 11 for encouragement and then write a few statements of faith to speak out loud…why, because faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God.

So, begin to say into your own hearing, BY FAITH, I am the blessed man/woman who doesn’t walk in ungodly counsel. THROUGH FAITH, my soul is restored, as I am led in paths of righteousness. Throughout the year, allow this method of strengthening your spirit be a weapon against uncertain moments or uncertain seasons. Let this be a “walk by faith” year!

Love and Blessings!
Pastor Romeika Adderley

The story of Rahab in Joshua 2 is a powerful example of how a person’s response to a situation can change the trajectory of their life and the lives of their family in a moment. Before Rehab encountered the spies, she and the rest of Jericho heard about God’s deliverance of His people from the strong oppression in Egypt. Rehab heard the same message as the rest of people in Jericho; however, she decided to BELIEVE in the God of Israel. “And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11). The writer of Hebrews reports that although Rahab was a woman with an imperfect past, her FAITH caused her and family to live and not be destroyed like the rest of the citizens of Jericho (Hebrews 11:31). What are key takeaways from Rehab’s act of faith?

1. Awareness Over Apathy
Rahab mentioned that Jericho was gripped with terror because of what they heard about God’s power (Joshua 2:9-11). While everyone else was paralyzed by fear, Rahab used that same information to take decisive action and BELIEVE God by receiving the spies peacefully. Rahab’s "better life" began when she witnessed God’s power in the lives of God’s people and believed that His power could work in her life and circumstances as well. She experience the GRACE of a perfect God, although she was imperfect.

2. The Power of "Personal Intercession"
Rahab did not just ask for her own safety. In Joshua 2:13, she specifically names her father, mother, brothers, and sisters. Better living starts when, despite our own needs, we look beyond ourselves to show care and kindness to others. Rahab teaches us the value of spiritual and emotional advocacy. Just as she stood in the gap for her family’s physical lives, we can choose spiritual life for our families as well. The Apostle Paul challenges us to “… call into existence the things that do not exist. (Romans 4:17, ESV). Speak your children’s salvation into existence!

As we are in the time of prayer and fasting before the Lord, let us pray in FAITH that God will speak to and help us as we look to Him to do the impossible in our and in our family lives.

Blessings,
Pastor Zhivago Adderley

We had planned our week to include the family getting together, and going to Raleigh to attend a funeral for one of our senior’s family.   All seemed to be going as planned until Wednesday when my dear husband became sick and was admitted to the hospital.  All the plans and events were placed on hold.

I was reminded in the scripture about a couple, Mary and Joseph who no doubt were  preparing for a different life until everything changed for them.  We find in Matthew’s gospel chapter 1 where the Holy Spirit appeared to Joseph in a dream and changed his plans.  No doubt he planned to take Mary as his wife; they would have children and be like any other ordinary, Hebrew family.  But God had a different plan for their lives.  Mary, this young girl probably never dreamed she would be the one to carry the promised Messiah, and Joseph may not have considered, he would also figure into God’s plan to be the earthly father of the Messiah.

We sing a beautiful song at our church through this season,
“Jesus, Jesus oh, what a wonderful child.  Jesus, Jesus so lowly meek and mild.  New life, new hope, new joy he brings.  Won’t you listen to the angels sing?  Glory, glory, glory to the newborn king.

Today, we can rejoice in the words of this song due to a couple who were willing to have their lives and plans changed.

Sometimes, we can be resistant when the Lord changes our plans to accommodate his plan for our lives. But thank God, Mary and Joseph were willing to surrender their plans to accommodate the will of God not only, for their lives but for all who would come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  

- Pastor Thomas & Carol Johnson

In Matthew’s gospel, chapter 28, we read about the resurrection of Christ. The first few
verses depict how the event of the resurrection unfolded as recorded by St. Matthew.
In verse 6, he proclaims, “He is not here: He is risen.” In the final verses of this chapter
(18 – 20), Jesus states “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye
therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy
Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you….and
lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

In these verses of scripture, He empowers and commissions the disciples (church) to
continue the mission that He began. He concludes this discourse with the words “Lo, I
am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” In other words, “You are not
alone! I am with you!” Immanuel…God With Us!

Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold the virgin shall
conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Ahaz, King of Judah, was faced with enemies who desired to conquer Jerusalem.
(Isaiah 7:1) Isaiah prophesized to King Ahaz that God would give him a sign. A virgin
would bear a son, who would be named “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us.” This
prophecy assured Ahaz that God would be with him, and would save him from his
enemies.

Isaiah’s prophecy foreshadowed what happened with Mary, the mother of Jesus, when
an angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph seven centuries later in a dream telling him
that Mary’s pregnancy was from God. (Matthew 1: 20 – 21)

Mary’s conception was in fulfillment of the prophecy given to King Ahaz, that a virgin
would be with child and bear a son, who would be called Immanuel, which is translated
“God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Matthew confirmed that it happened just as Isaiah had
prophesied.

God with us! Christmas celebrates the reality that God came to dwell among us (John
1:14) “And the Word was made flesh.”

In the words of the old song, “He abides, He abides, Hallelujah He abides with me!” You
are not alone! He abides! God is with us always!

A.W. Tozer stated, “Nothing in or of this world measures up to the simple pleasures of
experiencing the presence of God.”

Blessings,
Bishop George Mclaughlin

Today is my 40th birthday. I can hardly believe that I am writing those words! I feel like I was graduating high school the other day (you can’t convince me 2004 was 22 years ago!) It was beautiful and moving to see so many of you surround the place Pastor Valerie prepared for a little birthday celebration for me on Sunday. I looked around and saw the loving smiles on your faces as you sang, and I can still feel the warm embraces and kind words. I think on it now and I feel this phrase bubble up in my spirit: What a blessing to grow older in the Lord and as part of a community of faith.

My entire life has been spent in and around the family of the faith. Every birthday, from my first to my 40th, has been celebrated in some way by not only my blood family, but by my church family. I am truly blessed beyond measure! The beautiful thing is that the faces have been different over the years. My first 13 birthdays were in New Jersey, all in the same church my parents pastored. It was the church that prayed for my parents to even have a baby after 9 years of infertility. It was the church that saw me take my first steps and play my first notes on the piano. It is the church where when I visit that region and they see me, they still call me “Little Javier” or “Javielito” in Spanish. They, like my parents, still see me as their baby. Valerie gets the same treatment when she goes back to the church where she grew up in Canada. I have seen for myself when she goes back and the church mother's literally call her "their baby".

My next 18 birthdays were spent in Puerto Rico, with a new COGOP community. A church that saw me grow into my own as a musician and encouraged me as I finally found “my voice”. It was where I learned to play guitar as a teenager and where I learned to lead God’s people in worship. It was the church that loved me through my awkward and confusing teenage years. It was the church that taught me about my roots and history as a Puerto Rican. It was that same church where I accepted the call to pastor alongside Valerie. It was the church that loved us and had patience with us as we made mistakes but gave everything we had to be faithful pastors to them.

My last 8 birthdays have been spent with you, Bridge. A church that welcomed us with open arms in August of 2018. A church that became family as we learned to love you and see the wonderful beauty and diversity of God’s kingdom. A church that has allowed me to lead you in worship over these years and occasionally share God’s word with you. It has been here at Bridge where God blessed our marriage with a miracle baby that so many of you prayed for and now you get to see the fulfillment of God’s promise every Sunday as Gracie runs through the lobby or dances on stage.

There is so much I can say but the point I am trying to make is this: All the above, though in different locations, and even languages, and cultures, is one family of faith where I have been blessed enough to be fostered in, starting with my parents and extending to everyone else. This does not mean that I have always been perfect, or walked blamelessly, but I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by a beautiful family of faith and a great cloud of witnesses that have helped mold me into who I am today.

To grow older in the Lord, in the family of faith is a beautiful thing. God walks with us and carries us through each step of the way. Isaiah 46:3-4 says:
Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born.
Even to your old age and gray hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

I already have quite a bit of gray myself, but it is wonderful to know that God sustains us from birth all the way to when we are gray and even beyond the veil. We are all useful in the body of Christ. At each age and every stage, there are new ways God wants to use us for His glory. I pray that the Lord give me many more years to serve Him and grow older in Him. If He tarries, I want to celebrate the next 40 birthdays with my family of faith while impacting the next generations as so many of you have blessed me and impacted me.

“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.” – Psalms 71:18

In Christ,
Pastor Javier

Did you know that the famous and timeless Christmas Carol, “Joy to the World” was not written as a Christmas Carol? In fact, it was originally a poem, not a song. It was a poem based on Psalm 98 and to be fair, that poem was written by one of the most prolific hymn writers of all time, Isaac Watts. However, it wasn’t until 100 years later when a music teacher from Boston by the name of Lowell Mason, discovered the poem and set part of it to music. It happened to be released around Christmastime and thus was born an unintentional Christmas staple.

The goal of the original book of poems by Isaac Watts was to reinterpret the Old Testament in light of what we know from the New Testament, looking for Jesus and the gospel reflected in OT scriptures. One of the lines of the poem and now song, “Joy to the World” that resonates with this time of Advent (the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas Day) is “Let every heart prepare Him room…”

Advent is a season of expectation. A time of preparation. A time for us to do what many in Bethlehem did not do on the night Mary and Joseph were looking for shelter… prepare and make room for Jesus.

It may have been inconvenient for those who were already cozy, and comfortable to start moving things around trying to make room for a pregnant mother and her husband. It was much easier for those in the Innkeeper and even family members to just say “There is no room”. What was also unsaid was “and I am not going to MAKE room either.” One of my mom’s favorite phrases that I heard quite a bit (much to my chagrin) was “When there is a will, there is a way!” This usually was said to me when I was frustrated with a task and was ready to quit. At the time, I don’t remember it being as encouraging as she would have hoped but I still hear it in my head when I need to push through something or make something happen. It is what I think of when it comes to this innkeeper and any others who turned the small family away.

Here is the kicker, the innkeeper has the benefit of not knowing who he was rejecting that night. Those in Bethlehem who did not make room can, to a certain extent, claim ignorance in hindsight. However, we cannot. We know who was in Mary’s womb that night and how he was born. We know who He grew to become and what He did during His earthly ministry. We know how He gave his life on the cross for our sins and how He resurrected in power. We know that all power and authority have been given to Jesus below, on, and above the earth. We know that is our soon returning King of Kings and Lord of Lords who is currently preparing a place for us to be with Him for eternity. We know this because of the Word of God and His Holy Spirit that have been left to us that we may know Him. In other words, we have no excuse if we don’t “prepare or make room for Him”.

The Enemy and the sin we at times pursue, do not ask for permission to make room in our hearts. It invades and permeates, infecting all aspects of our lives, some sooner, some later. Jesus, on the other hand says this in Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

He knocks…Like Mary and Joseph did on the door of the Inn in Bethlehem…I pray that this Advent season, we at Bridge will PREPARE and MAKE room for Him, even those of us who have walked with the Lord for years. The great thing is, Jesus likes to get his hands dirty. He was a carpenter and knows a thing or two about rearranging and sanding down rough edges. You don’t have to FIX everything yourself. You can open the door and say, "Jesus, I need help making room for you.” You will see Jesus roll up His sleeves and lovingly get to work, bringing true Joy to your world.

In Christ,
Pastor Javier

Both Valerie and myself have had the fun and sometimes crucial role of being language Interpreters for people who to need hear what is being said in their native language. Valerie can translate and interpret between Spanish, English, and French and I can translate and interpret from English to Spanish and vice versa. I even gave a class at GTCC for medical interpreting, preparing interpreters for hospitals. As you may have heard, things can be “lost in translation” and while that often is true, it is the role of the interpreter to ensure there is the least lost as possible. That is never more true than when you are engaging in simultaneous interpreting for a sermon, live in front of hundreds or thousands of people. Your brain is working a million miles a minute to register what is being said in English, in a millisecond, finding the correct translation vocabulary, putting it in the correct syntax, finding equivalences for any idioms the preacher used so that the audience will get it, and then delivering the message, all of this while simultaneously listening to the next sentences the preacher is saying to start the whole process again for each sentence. It is no wonder that professional interpreters, like truckers, have mandatory breaks. The brain simply cannot do that much processing for a long time without getting fatigued which leads to mistakes.

I say all that to say that an underrated part of an interpreter’s job, is not only getting the words right, but all also transmitting HOW it was said. Imagine the preacher is passionately bringing his/her point across, with dynamics in the volume and an energetic passionate cadence in their speech. If I as the interpreter am giving the correct translation but the delivery is deadpan, lacking the energy and even the movements of the original speaker, the congregation will feel like they are losing something. Even if they are getting the correct words, it is not considered effective interpretation. There is something similar that happens with us as ambassadors of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 says:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[c] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling[d] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

It mentions that God is making His appeal to the world He loves and sent His son to die for imploring with the world through us, BE RECONCILED TO GOD! The language here speaks of urgency: APPEAL, IMPLORE or to BEG. In other words, there is urgency in heaven for the world to be reconciled to Him. As His ambassadors, we have been tasked with delivering that message. The question is, are we delivering it with the same urgency as the original speaker? Or is the urgency lost in translation? Are we being lackadaisical in our approach to reaching the lost in our surroundings where God has placed us? God longs for his creation to be reconciled to Him, the world should feel that lover and passion coming from the Father and He has chosen us who have also been redeemed, to reflect the same passion for the lost since we know what it is like to be lost.

May we be effective interpreters and ambassadors for Jesus. May everyone around us feel the desire of God to reconcile them. As the song Build My Life says: “Show me who you are and fill me with your heart and lead me in your love to those around me”

In the love of Christ,
Pastor Javier

With the way our world is built, you would think that we, as humanity, would get used to changes. There are four different seasons every year that cause us to have to adjust our clothing, our thermostats, and even our clocks. Every 4 years, we are faced with changes in our political system here in America. As we get older our bodies change and, hopefully, even our mentality. Change is inevitable.

Even with all these things, we still find ourselves shocked when that first 30 degree day hits even though it’s clearly winter season. We find it difficult to deal with a loss even though we can see it coming sometimes. We are devastated by the turning of a relationship even when the red flags are there. We are surprised when, at 40 years old to the day, we feel a creak.

We are amid a season of change at Bridge. A new leadership is coming in and, like many of you, I grew accustomed to what we have had for the past 10 years. But today I reflect on when that change first happened. It was a scary time. Being a part of that transition team, we did all we could to make sure that we were getting who God had for us. We were met with opposition and maybe our own doubts at times. Pastor Trevor was different from previous leadership. He moved differently, he carried himself differently, and he led differently. These weren’t bad things but, like other changes, they took some getting used to. And eventually we realized that what we had was good for us for that season.

But now we prepare for new leadership again. For some this is a time of fear. For some it is a time of hope. For some it is a time of evaluation. Realize that change is not new to people of God. In this season, let’s come with a spirit of expectant joy. We can learn some lessons from the Bible.

• The children of Israel didn’t do so well with change when it came to leaving Egypt. Let’s not complain and grumble as they did when God is trying to lead us to new places.
• Jonah did not cope with change well. He tried to run away when given a task. Let us draw closer to God in this season as we process the change.
• Daniel showed us how to maintain our identity amid change. No matter what may come against us and our leadership, let’s not forget who Bridge is and what we are made of. We survived a pandemic!
• The disciples were willing to leave it all for the will of God. Let us learn from the disciples that all change is not bad and that we must follow the Father wherever he leads us. As we pray in this season, let’s look for the voice of God in the midst of the distractions that are sure to come.

I’m determined to avail myself to new things. I am fully aware that things will shift and change as no two people are the same. But that is okay. One thing I have learned in life is that change is going to come whether you want it to or not. What makes it bearable is how you react to the change. I’m digging my feet in. I’m not leaving at the first sign of adversity. I’m going to support the leadership in the best ways I can. I’m going to be positive in my speech and my actions. I’m going to draw even closer to God. And I won’t forget who I was made to be – an encourager, a friend, a disciple, and a disciple-maker.

Who’s with me?

Rooted in Love,
Pastor Thaddaeus

A deer tried to kill me last week. You read that correctly. I was on my way to church after school to pick something up and as I was getting off on the exit, a deer rammed the front driver side of my pickup truck. The massive collision caused both of my side airbags to deploy essentially totaling the truck. For those who know me, you will know that truck was a gift to me after my father passed away back in November 2021. It was the truck he owned before he passed and it was left to me. To me this was his final true gift to me.

Needless to say I was “wrecked” emotionally after the accident as I now had to deal with making a decision – let go of this truck or try to get a salvage title and get it fixed with a lesser check from the insurance company. There were so many emotions I faced – anger, guilt, depression, grief – all because of this loss of an item. My mom came down from Virginia to help me process and she said something so profound to me as I made my final decision.

“This is not a shrine you NEED to hold on to.”

Whoa! I began to process that because there was no way that I had created a shrine on Earth to my father. Or could I? Maybe I was holding on too tightly to this truck. Maybe, just maybe, I had placed it too high in my mind especially considering it is still just a “thing”. The Bible teaches about “things”.

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
- 1 John 2:15-17

I’ve never considered myself one attached to many “things” in this world. I’m the guy who is usually quick to throw things away and just buy something new. But for some reason this was different. I LOVED this truck. It “represented” my Dad in many ways. When I drove it, I felt connected to him again. I felt proud to drive it. Like it helped me “represent” him in this world.

But I realized something this past week. I don’t NEED the truck to connect to my father. His blood runs through me. His memories are etched in my brain so deeply I can still smell him sometimes. I have his smile. I have his laugh.  And that’s what will help me maintain his memory. Not the things. Not the materials. The memories that God allowed me to create with my earthly father are what comforts me in my moments of grief.

Maybe you are battling in this season. Maybe it is time to let some things (or even people) go in your life. Don’t let those things be taken from you in some painful way if you can hear the Lord clearly speaking to you today. If you have read this and began to evaluate some things in your life, listen closely to the Spirit. God will never lead you astray. And trust me…you know when it’s Him.

Especially when you get out of the vehicle and realize the only thing that kept you safe was the gift left to you by the one true protector you knew on Earth. I miss you Pop.

Let’s keep moving.

Rooted In Love,
Pastor Thaddaeus

This Pastor’s Note won’t be too much of my words. I want us to take this time to read the sobering words of James. With government shutdowns and with people who are facing food scarcity in and around our congregation, we must embrace our role as the hands and feet of Jesus. Where power embraces power and looks to scratch the back of others who can return the favor, it is not so in the church.

Let us seek how to help others, especially those who are not in a position to necessarily return the favor. This is the last thing I will say before I let you read the passage below: We have a Benevolence Ministry at Bridge we can donate to and that you can appeal to if you are in need. If you are in a financial place to donate, consider setting up a monthly or bi-weekly donation on our Bridge of Hope App. Those donations are stewarded by a faithful committee full of integrity led by Deacon Earlie Johnson. On a case by case basis, they help members in need. They take the time to lovingly and responsibly vet each situation so as to ensure the process is above reproach.

If you are in need, reach out to Deacon Earlie. He won’t be hard to find (You can reach out to the Pastoral Team as well).

Lastly, please take a minute to read the following passage with a humble heart. May we connect deeds to our faith to bless others. We are a family, and we must care after each other. We are indeed, our brother’s and sister’s keeper.

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In Christ,
Pastor Javier Batista

When I was around 16 or 17, our local church worship team started to get invited to other churches and events to sing and lead worship. As a teen, I was having a blast and was just coming into my own as a vocalist and musician and our hard work and talent was being noticed around the church body in Puerto Rico. I’d love to say that we remained totally humble during the process, but in all honesty, I think we started to get a bit full of ourselves. Not in a malevolent way, but just enough that God had to knock us down a few pegs, and the way He went about it is still engraved in my memory.
 
It was a Sunday morning, and we had led worship as usual. I don’t remember too much about what we sang or how it felt in the room as we sang but suffice it to say, apparently it wasn’t memorable (doesn’t necessarily mean it was bad but it is worth noting for the story). My pastor at the time, a man I honor and esteem till this day, Bishop Hector Figueroa, asked one of the church mothers, a bit impromptu, to sing a song before his sermon. That was back in the day when you could still ask someone on the spot to sing a special song if needed! (I jest!) This church mother did not hesitate and said, “Yes, Pastor!” Now, two things were going to be true whenever Sis. Julia was asked to sing:

1. She was going to sing on key.
2. She was going to sing the same song every time.

 
As a musician, this made life easy. We already knew what song she was going to sing and what key she would choose, and if we had to find the key, it wouldn’t take long because she sang well and on key. That day, however, things took an unexpected turn. Mother Julia began to sing the expected song, and the congregation began singing along as well. The piano player started looking to see what key the song was in and I noticed he was having trouble. I pride myself in having a pretty good ear, so I began trying to find the key on the bass which I was playing that day. When I tell you we tried every single one of those 88 keys on the piano (they repeat themselves anyway) and we could not find the key. She was singing on key through. It was like if God gave her a different key not found in our human frequencies. After a while, we stopped trying to accompany her and she kept singing, undeterred, focused on worshipping her God. As she and the congregation sang A Capella, the presence of God began to fill the church, a heavy and weighty manifestation of the Holy Spirit that was palpable. The worship team went from feeling embarrassed for not being able to find the key to falling prostrate before the Lord. In that holy moment, I felt the Holy Spirit clearly show me that this was a teaching moment. He said, “I want to use you, but I don’t NEED you to bring forth my presence and bless my people.” I have never forgotten that moment. I truly believe that God did not let us find the key she was singing on that day to show us Who is truly in charge and Who deserves all the glory, not in a mean way or shaming way. I felt the parental tough love of the Father who knew I would be leading worship many more times in my future and was like “We need to get this right now before you do damage to yourself and others.” Similar to when Peter had to be taught that if he was going to last long in the kingdom and be the minister Jesus was calling him to be, he was going to have to learn to serve i.e. letting Jesus wash his feet.
 
John the Baptist is a great role model for anyone in a leadership and people-facing position. He was very clear on who he was, and who he was not. John 3:28-30 ESV shows John’s clarity on the issue of who gets the glory: 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”[j]
 
It makes no sense for the best man to try to woo the bride (the church) and bring her attention to him when it should be placed on the groom (Jesus). As a worship leader, as a pastor, I am NOT the groom! I am just the friend of the groom and as such my job is to hype up the groom in the eyes of the bride. I am not going to tell or try to show the bride how good I am but do everything possible to bring to her attention how amazing, how wonderful, and how glorious Jesus is! John said it brought him joy to know the bride was encountering the bridegroom and when that happens, WE DISAPPEAR (as it should be). It’s when we see people in leadership make it all about themselves, and have the bride fall in love with the best man instead of the groom that we see churches where they follow the pastor but not necessarily Jesus.
 
Church, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the ONLY author and perfecter of our faith. We thank God for and celebrate our leadership, but we don’t worship them. Those in leadership, we thank God for the privilege of being able to serve God’s people as we remember that He wants to use us, but He does not NEED us to do what He wants to do. Let us walk humbly in that fact and rejoice as we partner with God to bring His bride closer to Him. God bless you!
 
In Christ,
Pastor Javier Batista

I’m an introvert. I truly enjoy my time alone. How introverted am I? I literally took a trip to the middle of the desert in the heat of July on the other side of the country in order to have a getaway experience with the Lord and myself. And it was a state of bliss.

I shared a testimony this past Sunday during worship. If you know me, you will know this is a big step for me because I am a very private individual. I don’t like people to know when I’m hurting, when I’m sick, or most anything else that may be going on in my home. This comes not only from being an introvert but also seeing so many people in the past who, I felt, abused the concept of “prayer requests” and used it as a platform to beg or plea for sympathy and attention. I never want others to pity me or my family. Some would say this is to a fault – they say things like “Don’t block your blessing!”

One of my brothers at the church came up to me Sunday and told me he had no idea what I have been going through. I told him, “That was the idea…”. He didn’t laugh. He said, “We NEED to pray for you.” That really hit me. I didn’t know how to take it, and I was immediately ashamed of how I have carried my burdens on my own for so long. There are literally people who want to pray for you and be there for you.

Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” When I read this I had to understand what this “law of Christ” was. Many Bible scholars consider this to be what Christ stated were the greatest commandments – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and all your strength” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:28-31).

When I selfishly keep some of these burdens such as bodily pain, sickness, grief, job situations, and other things that are not necessarily caused by me to myself, I deny some of my closest people that I call brothers and sisters the opportunity to help fulfill the law of Christ. In my own arrogance of saying, “I can do this on my own.”, I negate the fact that God has called us to community ON PURPOSE. This was not merely a suggestion; it was a command. There is nowhere in the Bible where God says his people are to be in isolation apart from the body. We are called the body of Christ because we are to work as one unit in spirit and in movement.

As a leader, I cannot feel like only I can help others carry their burdens – I have got to release something for others to help carry also. Such is THEIR fulfillment of the law. Give someone the opportunity to pray for you. This can be built into your discipleship of those around you. You may be discipling people you don’t even know just by this simple gesture. I’m not saying you need to expose your deepest darkest secrets to everyone in the world but what I am saying is we are called to this – to love one another, to help one another, and to pray for one another.

Begin to analyze your life and see what God is allowing you to release to allow someone to help you carry it. You may be surprised that your help that you have been praying for all this time may be right in front of you if you allow the Spirit to guide you in your testimony. God bless you.

Rooted In Love,
Pastor Thaddaeus

This weekend, I had the privilege of walking my younger sister down the aisle as she got married to the love of her life. If you have been to any typical wedding service, there is a part after the bride is escorted to the altar where the minister asks, “Who will give this bride away today?” I did not just say, “We do.”, I also gave her a nice nudge forward to signal to the groom, “She is YOURS now!”. In other words, she is yours to take care of and all responsibility has been transferred to you in this gesture. We will NOT be taking her back if things don’t go the way you expected.

I am very aware that, should anything happen, we would gladly welcome my sister and support my sister no matter what because she is FAMILY. But we wanted to convey the idea to both that this is a COVENANT that is not meant to be broken.

I began to think about the covenant that I made not only to my wife, but to my Lord. The Bible Project defines a covenant as “a relationship between two partners who make binding promises to each other and work together to reach a common goal.” Covenants are not just a binding legal agreement; they are personal and relational in nature. There was a point in my life where I made a true commitment to living a life that is pleasing to God. Where I submitted my life to be lorded over by the King of Kings. This was not an agreement that I took lightly, and it stands to this day. It’s something that at times I have even debated whether I should continue in this walk, if I’m completely honest.

I began to wonder what it would be like to leave and where I would go. My conclusion? I have no earthly idea what my life would look like without the Lord in it. In fact, we have become so bonded that I feel my life would be an utter mess in separation from him. Such is the covenant we have made. It’s not even a matter of if I desire to leave – I CAN’T LEAVE! No take backs!

I’m aware that I should not do any devotional that does not have a scripture so I will show the ultimate sign of covenant that was displayed in the Bible – John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” Not only was there a sacrifice of love that was given here, but there was a promise – eternal life with Him. There is one thing God can not do – He can’t lie. He never reneges on a promise. He doesn’t pull up all the wrongs we did and quit on us. Even if we walk away, he is waiting. He’s done it before. He hasn’t changed.

So what are you waiting for? Come back to your first love. Find the zeal you once had and experience renewal in your relationship with Him. Who knows? Maybe it will even influence a relationship you are having trouble with here on Earth. But always remember this – God can’t take back the love he has already showed for you. He loves you and there’s NOTHING you can do about it. So stop trying.

Rooted In Love,
Pastor Thaddaeus

I’ll say it again because with a statement that simple, the profound truth of it can be overlooked. The enemy DID NOT create us. And yet…it is amazing to think about how loud he can be when trying to speak into our lives. In 1 Peter 5:8, our adversary is described as a “roaring lion”, giving credence to the thought that he is loud and honestly, pretty intimidating. However, one thing I have noticed, is that people who don’t have the truth on their side, tend to be loud to make up for or distract from the fact that they are speaking lies and half-truths.

The tactic of the enemy is to say the lie loud and often enough, not until it becomes truth, but until it becomes believed. It would do us good to remember that the enemy is also described by Jesus himself in the following way in John 8:44 NIV: “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”  Lies are the Enemy’s native language! He can’t help himself. This is why I started with the statement: The Enemy did not create us. He was not there when you and I were “knit together in our mother’s womb”. He had absolutely nothing to do with forming you, breathing the breath of life into you. Only God. Only He creates. My question is, why then do we often listen to the lies the devil says about us? Why do we entertain his accusations, his temptations, and what he has to say about us? Let us instead imbue ourselves with the truth of what God, the one who actually formed us and knew our name before the foundations of the earth, says about us:

• He will never leave or forsake us (Deut. 31:6)
• Nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:38-39)
• We are forgiven (1 John 2:12)
• We are His and we are called His Children (Isaiah 43:1 and 1 John 3:1)
• We were fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14)
• We are chosen and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12)

 
And so much more! When the enemy tries to speak lies, even if they sound like truth, let God’s words for your life be your anchor that keeps you rooted in the truth. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, and the enemy had a lot to say, we don’t see Jesus trying to argue, or reason, much less entertain the devil’s offers. Jesus simply cites the Word of God, and it was enough to make the devil flee. The lies of the enemy always wither in the face of the truth of God’s word. The only voice that matters is the voice of the one who formed you and knows the plans He has for you.

“Sanctify them in your truth. Your Word is Truth!” - John 17:17
 
This reminds me of the chorus from a Casting Crowns song called, The Voice of Truth:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

In Christ,
Pastor Javier