FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART May 6, 2024

The celebration of anniversaries continued at Cordova Baptist Church this past Sunday. First, my wife and I celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary last month. Then, we celebrated Bro. Ken and Cheryl Goldsby serving with us for 25 years. And then, we expressed our gratitude for the 43 years of faithful service as our Church Secretary by Joyce Tate on

Administrative Professional’s Day. We are also blessed to have Margie Whitney, who grew up in the church, serving as our Church Pianist and Treasurer for many years. God has assembled a great team and we are grateful for each of them.

Yet, the first Sunday in May was the 9th Anniversary of the union between Cordova Baptist Church and Cordova Korean Baptist Church. I liken the joining together of these two parts of the Body of Christ to marriage. There is no doubt in my mind that it was the hand of God that brought Pastor Shin to my door, in his search for a place to plant a new church. And it was the will of God for our CBC family to welcome these brothers and sisters in Christ to share our building and to help us in reaching this city for the Lord.

I often joke that God is pleased to see KFC and kimchi on the same table. Yet, I know that He rejoices seeing His children working together to spread the Good News of Jesus! We have found a way to overcome the language and cultural barriers, in order to clearly communicate the love of Christ to one another. And, we have clearly seen the visual evidences of God’s blessings being showered upon our united family. I was honored to join them for their Anniversary Worship Service and to offer a word of congratulations from our CBC family. While I could not understand all that was being said, I did feel the presence and power of God at work in the music and the message.

My prayer is that the Lord will continue to use this joint effort to impact the Cordova community, and the surrounding area, as we work hand-in-hand to show and share the love of Jesus Christ to all of God’s children. We want people to know that this is a place where everyone is welcomed, accepted and loved. Let me close with the verses that I read in the service from Hebrews 13:20-21: “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Serving in love,

Bro. Jim