It is a privilege to watch the members of this church love one another. I am constantly amazed at the depth of your genuine love and compassion. It is a joy to watch the love of God flow through you toward others.

I watch you love people as I see your generosity being provided to support our Benevolent Ministry Fund. Your generosity is providing many times the life line that keeps individuals or families from going under. You are always giving an offering or sending some articles to meet whatever need has been placed before you. You would think that you would tire from all the offerings. But there are those among us who respond to this abundance of offerings by looking for more opportunities. You truly are living out God’s vision for God’s people. God told Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, “I will bless you . . . and by you all of the families of the earth shall bless themselves.” The world needs more Chapel Hills!

I watch you love children each Tuesday and Thursday at Whiz Kids, as tutors and volunteers gather to help children find hope. You ought to see the smiles on these children’s faces. Are those not the same smiles that our volunteers who helped with Project Transformation saw last summer? Each Sunday and Wednesday scores of volunteers gather at our church to convince our children and youth that Jesus Christ loves them. Their many hugs of gratitude that I receive on your behalf thrill my heart. We have great children and youth!

I watch our Sunday School classes support their dear friends as they go through a difficult transition in life. What tremendous love and support is being poured out weekly to people who are hurting or alone. Is that not the same love that our Grief Support Group and Cancer Support Group show to one another? Our Stephen Ministers provide countless hours each week walking with people through a difficult stretch of life’s journey. Each week we have lay people who are visiting in hospitals and nursing homes sharing their smiles and love. Have you heard the reports from those in our church who just worked a Kairos Walk? People in prison are experiencing God’s transforming power through the offering of your love and support.

For those of you who participate in one or more of our Senior Adult Ministries, do you not go away from each event so thankful that your life has intersected so many loving and caring friends? Have you talked to one of the many people who the first Sunday of each month take Holy Communion to one of our many home bound members? Each Thursday Mobile Meals deliver great meals to people who, not only love the food, but look forward to the company.

Chapel Hill is a praying church. There are so many members and laity praying for the needs that are shared with us. Prayer Bears are being shared with people who need to know that someone loves them and is praying for them. Chapel Hill is a missional church. There are so many people who only want to take care of their own. But you want to touch lives in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the United States and throughout our world. Wherever there are people whose lives can be touched, we have members who want to be there. We are forming more and more mission teams, and the number of people making up those mission teams is growing. We want to make a difference for Jesus Christ in our world! We are making a difference for Jesus Christ in our world! Chapel Hill is a serving church. Was your heart not warmed when you saw all of the ministries of our church lifted up during our M & M Fair? Chapel Hill is there with food for Skyline, backpacks for children, Christmas presents and food for families, care packages for our soldiers, financial support for future ministers while they are in school, and the list goes on and on.

Chapel Hill is a redemptive church. People are coming to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We have members sharing their faith every week with people they meet. I am meeting more and more of our members who are sharing with me about their joy of sharing their faith. Many times the smile on their face is only covered by the tears flowing down their cheeks.
It is good to be in a place where people are willing to let God meet needs through them.

Robert Rose