Love our City | Serve Our Community

Refuge Church Easter Celebration

Our mission at Refuge is simple. We desire to love God, love people, and love our world.

When we do we will actively engage in displaying and declaring the good news of Christ's kingdom so that those who are still far off from God can come to find their place in the family of God.

This Easter we will celebrate that good news of Christ's death and resurrection. As part of that celebration, the Refuge family is gathering and inviting others to gather for an Easter Egg Hunt and Fun Day on Saturday, April 19. This day is a simple and tangible way we want to love our city and serve our community.

I invite you to attend and serve. You can help provide pre-filled eggs for kids' age-graded hunts.  You can serve by being a parking attendant, assisting registration, volunteering at a game station. You can invite by extending an invitation to neighbors, friends, and coworkers. Especially consider those in your world who are disconnected from a church and those who do not yet have a personal relationship with God through Jesus.

For information on volunteering, providing eggs, or for any additional information, please contact Nanette Merritt at emtnanner@me.com.

Sunday, April 20 is Easter Sunday. It is still true that many individuals who do not attend church regularly will go somewhere on that Sunday. A simple invitation to Refuge may be all they need to join with us and hear about The Greatest Story Ever Told. Invite Cards available this Sunday at the Next Steps Table (but you don't need a card to invite).

The Joy of One Year

What a joy yesterday was to remember all that God has done in the last year among His people at Refuge Church and to look forward to what He can and will do! 

Over one year ago, Refuge existed only in the mind and heart of God who began placing the vision for a new church on the hearts of others. You have been part of that team on whose hearts God has impressed this work.

I pray we will each take heart and encouragement in the words of Paul to the Philippians. Paul knew of his life and the lives of the Christians in Philippi that they were not who they used to be but they were not yet who they were going to be. Jesus Christ had called them out of darkness and into the light of His kingdom by the gospel. They were disciples under construction. So Paul encourages them with these words: "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). 

We are individually as followers, and together as Refuge Church, a work of God that is under construction in Jesus Christ. We are "like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house…" (1 Peter 2:5). The house may not be finished, but there is joy because the Master Carpenter, Jesus Christ, is at work in us.

Finally, let me ask you to reflect on the previous 12 months of what God has done and what God is doing. But let me also ask you to pray, today, for the next 12 months. God desires to do a work greater than all we could ask or imagine. What are we asking and trusting Him for in these next 12 months? 

Will you pray that we display the gospel in tangible ways?

Will you pray that we declare the gospel for lives to be changed?

Will you pray for the areas of need at Refuge to be met in God's time by God's resources?

What would God have you to pray for Refuge Church?

It has been and continues to be my joy to be in this work and service with you.

Now Introducing

This morning Sarah and I welcomed into the world and into our family our fifth son. I am pleased to introduce you to our son, Titus Harrison Buchanan.

Titus was born at 9:10 AM weighing in at 8 lbs. 10 oz. and measuring 22 inches. Mom (especially), baby (too), Dad, and big brothers are all doing well. Big brothers have already made their trip to the hospital and have each taken a turn holding and loving on him.

Thank you for praying for us today and we look forward to you meeting Titus soon.