Dear FBC Family, 

What a precious time on Sunday, to look back on the last 10 years, and look forward to the years to come!  Our decade as pastor and people has been blessed by the Lord.  When God called us back to Suffolk, times were very difficult in our church family.  Our church was hurting.  The past decade has been one of healing and unifying around the mission our Lord has given us.  Our family is so grateful for your warmth and love, not just this past Sunday, but for the past decade.  Thank you for your many expressions of love, your encouragement, and most of all, your prayers.  

As I said in this column last week, it is amazing to be able to pastor the church where your parents came to Christ, where you came to Christ and were baptized, where you were nurtured by godly leaders in children’s ministries and student ministries, where you met your wife and married her, and where you were ordained and sent out to preach the gospel.  Who knew that would ultimately mean being sent back to the church that sent you out?  How amazing!  

Looking back on ten years, we can see God’s hand in so many ways.  He has granted us healing and unity.  He enabled us to get our facilities renovated and positioned for the future.  He has enabled us to build a great pastoral team to serve alongside the great people here.  He has enabled us to persevere through a global pandemic and all that came with it.  Even as so many precious saints have gone to be with the Lord over the past ten years, God has blessed us with so many new people, who are now a part of our family.  People are coming to Christ and being baptized.  Our local and global missions are incredibly strong.  Our children’s and student ministries are healthy.  Young families are joining.  God’s Word is being preached, book by book, verse by verse.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed.  The future is bright, as we stand in unity, love one another, love the lost, and look to Jesus. 

This Sunday we will dig into John 15:7-17, as we talk about “Identifying Spiritual Fruitfulness.”  I will see you then, with a Bible in my hand.            

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations, 

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr.