THE BLOG
Veritas Church, you guys know that we LOVE baptism Sunday. It is a true joy to celebrate the saving work of Christ with you! If you were unable to celebrate baptisms with us in person on August 28, 2022, then you will enjoy seeing these photos. Check them out!
Photo credit: Kori Frazier
As we are coming to the end of a Month of Rest and into a new term for Community Groups, I’d love to take some time to reflect upon the impact of these groups within my own life and within Veritas Church.
When my husband and I first came to Veritas in late 2014, we attended a Community Group downtown and it was a totally new concept for me. I had grown up in a church, and my parents had many close relationships within that church, but for me it was just something we did on Sunday. The idea of ‘living life’ with people from church wasn’t something I had done.
Veritas Community Group NYE Party 2016; Jon and Gabrielle Dunn, Ashley and Pat King, Erin and Ben Cuentas, Emily Ruth and Trey Perry
Little did Trey and I know then that we were forming close, Christ-centered bonds that are still with us today. There have been dozens of other individuals and families that Trey and I have met through CGs that have left their mark upon us. Most importantly, we’ve had people to encourage us and point us to Jesus through the many sweet and hard seasons of life.
Just last month, we took a little time to appreciate the current and upcoming batch of Community Group Leaders we have with the CGL Appreciation Dinner. It was a sweet night of fellowship over a meal, worship, and heart-felt discussion. These dinners always help me to remember that many people in the body of Veritas are living within these smaller pockets of intimate community. That’s the Christian life though, our relationship to Jesus is what connects us to people all over the world through all of the ages - it’s a pretty awe inspiring thing.
Community Group Leader Appreciation Dinner; July 2022
Special Events Team Members helping with set up for the CGL Appreciation Dinner; Colt and Courtney Keefer, Julie and Rob Spencer, Ben Cuentas.
It can be challenging and draining being a Community Group Leader. We get the privilege of entering into people’s complicated and messy lives, and we do what we can (empowered by the Holy Spirit) to humbly point each other to Jesus through God’s word. Even with all of the hard work and challenges, I can honestly say I love being a CGL, and I also love having the opportunity to lead and serve all of our CGLs. I truly believe CGs are such an important part of our discipleship and sanctification.
If you’re not currently a part of a Community Group, I strongly encourage you to jump into one when they get started back up in September. If you’re in a Community Group and may feel called to lead one, join us for the CGL Interest Meeting on Sunday, September 18 after the gathering.
Best and blessings,
Emily Ruth Perry | Director of Community Life
EmilyRuth@veritasfayetteville.com
Have you ever felt that life is just a waiting game? When I reflect on my life, I can conclude that I have spent most of it waiting. Waiting on birthdays or vacations. Waiting for a husband. Waiting to become a mother. Waiting for God to reveal His purpose for my life. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. I have truly come to learn that life does not consist of “possible” waiting, but “perpetual” waiting. We are even told constantly throughout scripture to “wait on the Lord”.
At times, the waiting is exciting and exhilarating. Most people can reflect on moments in life that were full of thrilling anticipation. And throughout life, even in the little things, we can feel joy and elation while waiting for something. However, many of us can also relate to the brokenness, heartache, and desperation that can accompany waiting. My husband, Tim, and I got married fairly young, and we always knew we wanted a family. Within the first year of marriage, we decided we were ready for God to bless us with children. (When I look back on it now, I can’t help but smile. It’s so very human of us to let God know we are “ready” for something.) We waited, and waited, and waited. After a year of waiting, praying, and pleading with the Lord, we went to the doctor, only to be told that it was very unlikely we would ever conceive a child of our own. We were absolutely shattered. It’s hard to even articulate the amount of pain and sorrow we experienced. BUT GOD! While in the middle of an adoption process, God answered our cries, and we were blessed with our son Tytus. Much to the doctor’s surprise, we not only had one miracle baby, but our sweet Eden came along two years later. I would love to say that while I waited on the Lord during this time I was always vigilant in prayer and consistently trusted His promises. But that would be a lie. I doubted Him; I struggled with anger and jealousy of others; I shed many, many tears.
It wasn’t until recently that I truly started to reflect on what I should be doing in the waiting. Christ gives us the ultimate example in scripture as he waited on his crucifixion at Calvary. What did Jesus do as he awaited his death? He prayed! He set the ultimate example for us.
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” –Matthew 26:36-39
Jesus was awaiting the worst possible death anyone can imagine. I learn from this text that while waiting, especially in trials, I must pray and communicate with God about it. It also shows me that it is ok to plead with God, and to implore Him to rescue and relieve me from my situation. I think sometimes we must remind ourselves that God does NOT delight in our sorrows. He is a “Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” and “he comforts us in all our troubles” (1 Cor. 1:3-4). He is also a God that desires relationship with us. I have learned that I can’t be afraid to talk to him and pour my heart to him while I wait on Him to reveal His purpose in my life.
While prayer is essential to surviving the waiting periods of life, remembering His faithfulness and presence is just as important. God is in the waiting. He doesn’t send us off on our own to experience excruciating pain and loneliness. He also doesn’t want our waiting to be passive. While in times of waiting, He desires us to be active, growing, and trusting.
Maybe you find yourself in a season of waiting. Even as a church, we are waiting on God to provide a building. As cliche as it sounds, truly the greatest thing we can do is PRAY! Pray that God would provide for that need. Or as we read about Jesus, pray that God would strip away something we are dreading. Be open and honest with God. Invite Him into the struggle, and share your heart with the only one who can truly understand and bring comfort. And remember that waiting should just be our situation–not our mindset. Put away the urge to wait passively, and get busy on what God has for you now! Waiting can be difficult, but if we allow it, it can teach us, mold us, and create something brand new within our lives. Trust Him…even in the waiting!
A few weeks ago Sam Metheny, our Executive Administrator, put out a call to the Partners at Veritas Church for guest writers to be featured on our website and weekly emails. If this is your first time visiting our blog then I encourage you to visit our back catalog! There is some good stuff there by our staff and the other pastors! This is the third article in a three part reflection on Christ-like service, why it is important to develop new Service Teams, and finally why we serve.
[31] When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. [32] If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. [33] Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ [34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:31–35 (ESV)
During my time at Veritas Church Jesus has done amazing things in my life, especially in my understanding of service. Early on, I served because I wanted to meet people and make friends. As wonderful as those experiences were, because I am human, I also struggled with sin around my service. Often my sin showed up as pride for what I do, impatience with others, and a sense of being “owed” for my work. It isn’t surprising that I have felt this way, because my “why” for serving was grounded in my own desires. If I had continued to serve only out of my own desire, then I would have never been able to show Jesus’ love through my actions. Jesus has been gracious to me, and He has not allowed those sins to continue. He has radically changed me through His Gospel and the community of other Christians.
John 13:34-35 cannot be clearer, we are to love one another as Jesus loved us, and by this love all people will know we follow Jesus. This command is concise, but it is not a thing we can do alone. Jesus was addressing not just the individual disciples but the whole group. To follow Jesus is to be part of a community led by Him, the Church, locally and universally. Jesus used this community to change me so that I can begin to love others more than myself. I say ‘begin’ because the work is not yet complete, and I still struggle with sin daily. The pattern of a Christian life is one of confession, repentance, and joyful celebration alongside other followers of Jesus!
To fulfill this command we need the power of the Holy Spirit, not just in ourselves but also in others, to shape our lives. Without the Holy Spirit, my brothers, and my sisters, I would forget my one hope in life and death. The greatest way we serve is through a Christ-like life, loving others as Jesus loved us. This is the reason that over the years so many redemption stories begin with Christians loving an unbeliever. No one comes to God, He comes to us, and often it is through a follower of Jesus. The call to serve is the call to love, to share the whole of scripture and God’s redemptive plan.
The reason a follower of Jesus serves is because His love calls us to. That love drives and empowers us in all things. It can be easy to be discouraged by this broken world. That is ok brothers and sisters, but remember our hope is held on high. We serve as ambassadors to an infinite king with all authority in heaven and on earth. One day He will return and our joy will be complete, but right now we get a foretaste of that joy. Join me in service so that together we may taste and see all that Jesus has for us.
I hope these blog posts have encouraged you to join us in serving one another. If you have any comments or questions about how you can serve then you can reach me at trey@veritasfayetteville.com or life@veritasfayetteville.com.
For the fame of Jesus,
Trey Perry
Lay Pastor | Veritas Church
Recently Sam Metheny, our Executive Administrator, put out a call to the Partners at Veritas Church to guest write a blog post for our website and weekly emails. When she did this I realized that I have never written anything for the church. This is the second article in a three part reflection on Christ-like service, why it is important to develop new Service Teams, and finally why we serve.
[12] When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? [13] You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. [14] If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. [15] For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. [16] Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [17] If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. [18] I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ [19] I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. [20] Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” John 13:12–20 (ESV)
John 13:12 -20 is so powerful and humbling, because in many ways I can relate to what the disciples must have felt like. I don’t think I will ever fully understand what Jesus has done to me. The enormity of Jesus’ work, and the fact that it is historical and eternal often blows my mind. It is only through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and the subsequent indwelling of the Holy Spirit that I can begin to approach an understanding of God. Even so, when our Lord and Teacher tells us that just as he washed others we are to do the same, my first thoughts are “how” and “why”. It is a good thing that he has provided those answers!
John 13:20 informs us that we have been sent by Jesus to present the Gospel to everyone so that they may know God. This isn’t new information, as the whole Bible clearly shows us that God has chosen to work through His people. At Veritas Church we wholeheartedly believe that from the time a person shows up in the parking lot until they leave, we are to show them Jesus. Part of the development of a Service Team is about training a member the “how” of our roles, but the most important part is the “why”. Every team member will meet someone each Sunday at a unique moment in their life. We may meet a person in the depths of personal struggle or at the height of personal triumph. When we have those encounters, because of the Holy Spirit, we have the opportunity to share the love of Jesus through our service. For about an hour and a half every week we get to help others experience His love as a community. It is also a reminder for us to do the same everywhere we go throughout the rest of the week.
There will come a time when Jesus calls me away, either to serve elsewhere or to His side. When that day comes I hope that during my time at Veritas Church I have enabled others to take my place. So, I humbly ask that if you have not had the joy of serving at Veritas Church then reach out to us. Being part of a Service Team is more than just making sure Sunday morning happens. Serving others is an opportunity to connect to the mission of the Gospel in an intimate way, and it has brought me great joy these last 8 years. I invite you to join me in sharing Jesus with others.
In the final post we will continue to look at John chapter 13 and why we serve. I hope you join us in serving one another, and if you have any comments or questions you can reach me at trey@veritasfayetteville.com or life@veritasfayetteville.com.
For the fame of Jesus,
Trey Perry | Lay Pastor
trey@veritasfayetteville.com
