I Commend You To God
"Now, brethren, I
commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you
up, and to give you an inheritance among all then that are sanctified."
Acts
The time has come for me to bid you
farewell. As I do so, my heart is more concerned for your souls than when I assumed the responsibilities of
being your pastor. I am concerned about those who may follow me in this office
and that which may be preached from this pulpit. Being confident that my God
has graciously brought my labors here to an end, I can do nothing more for you
than to commend you to God.
With confidence, I commit you,
my brethren, to the allwise and powerful care of our
God. May he direct your affairs, provide for your needs, and keep you from
error. And I urge you to remain steadfast in the gospel of his grace. Resist
every trend and teaching which tends to detract from the message of substitutionary redemption and efficacious grace. In a
word, I would have you to love and trust Christ with all your heart and soul,
and cling to the gospel of Christ as the truth of God. If God enables you to
holdfast the faith of the gospel, it will edify your souls and give you an
inheritance in eternal glory.
My family and I wish to thank you for your generosity and expressions
of love in our departure from you.
Don Fortner