“SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE”
The apostle Paul writes to the church at Corinth. “For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
“According to the grace of God give to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor: 3:9-11)
I am excited about celebrating the first fifty years of Portage Faith United Methodist Church in 2025. Together we will remember how in 1975 the congregations of Mantua Methodist Church and Shalersville United Methodist Church united to form Portage Faith United Methodist Church. We will remember the hard work and dedication of so many “saints” in our church. We will remember some of the important events and ministries that shaped the life of our congregation.
Paul tells us that one way to think about a church is as a building. A particular congregation of Christians, like Portage Faith Church, is constructed and functions like a building. We are a building when we all work together. Time and the elements are constantly testing a building. When we choose not to work together “our building” [read, “our congregation”] falls into disrepair.
Builders come and go. Old saints replace new saints. But if our foundation is Jesus Christ, and we continue to build upon that foundation with skill, our “structure” [read, “the life of our congregation”] will show that we belong to Christ.
Our purpose is not only historical. We look back to move forward. We remember the past to focus on the future.
The 50th Anniversary Committee has planned a year of events beginning in February 2025. Watch for announcements detailing these events. Our theme is “Building Our Future Founded on Our Past”. I invite you to participate in as many of these events as you can and then help Portage Faith United Methodist Church skillfully build our future.
Let the celebration begin! Here’s to the next 50 years!
Pastor Bill