Dan Cooper's Blog

What happened at our church last Sunday with the two missionary families (the Youngs and Hutchinsons) was truly amazing!  Were you as impressed as I was?  We heard a thought-provoking gospel sermon; heard an encouraging report from Craig about the on-going work of the Lord in France; 48 of us ate together (thanks to Troy and Judi) and laid out plans for our mission trip next summer; and then we were treated to a delightful concert on Sunday night.  Tears flowed as the two families joined to sing in their last concert as co-workers.

A high-light for me was our elders praying over the two families at the end of the time together on Sunday night.  Powerful!  Biblical!  Very New Testament-ish! Their partnership has accomplished so much good in ministry over the last twenty years. And God is not done with this work yet, although major changes are currently in the air. God gets all the glory for what He has done, is doing, and is yet to accomplish!
Then there was the prayer by our elders for three of our college guys (Devon, Johnny and Zach), as they head off to Chile for a semester.  This church is impacting people around the world!  I love it.

Have you watched a NASA shuttle land?  It is absolutely amazing to watch one of those big awkward birds land.  No engine, no power, so everything has to be just right; and she glides in.  We have missionaries who have just landed in New Jersey.  Garth and Diana Hutchinson and their children arrive in South Jersey this week.  After 20 years in a foreign country, Hutchinsons are gliding in for what we pray will be a safe landing in the USA.  I pray it will be a smooth landing, but there will be complications.  Garth broke a bone in his foot during his last week in France.  They have not yet closed on a house.  They have a shipping container somewhere between here and France.  Their kids start new schools in a new country, with a new language, in less than a month.  They have done all that they could do to prepare for a smooth landing but there will be surprises.  You be their support crew.  You can pray daily for their adjustment. You can have them to your place for a meal.  It’s time for some of that “extra mile” Christianity.  You can help the Hutchinsons land and adjust to American atmosphere safely.