Pastor's Message

---

August 15, 2023

Greetings from Elah Today!

None of us are the way we used to be, before the pandemic, that is.

We are just beginning to realize how much people have changed.

Lives are being wrecked by Grief, loneliness, fear, depression, alcohol, drugs, pornography, and other life controlling issues. In fact, I know of no family connected to our church or in the community that has been left untouched.

Likewise, none of our area churches have escaped being radically impacted. All churches are grappling with an increase in depression, anxiety, alcohol, substance abuse, and other relational issues that were magnified by the pandemic.

Which brings us to why the opening greeting was from Elah Today!

If you remember, Elah suffered the loss of its sanctuary during Hurricane Florence. We were blessed to rebuild just in time to be locked out of it by the pandemic. Those two painful events back-to-back, were used providentially by God to really cause us to ask some hard questions about what was going to be the future of Elah, and churches in general, post pandemic.

During that time of reflection and seeking the Lord’s face, one thing became abundantly clear. The former community we had served all those years was disappearing right before our eyes. Elah was now setting right in the middle of massive population growth. With all those thousands of new homes come families with a lot of dysfunction. There is a lot of pain behind many of those new doors, as well as the older doors.

So, Elah Today! with God’s help is reaching out to our community with proven and comprehensive ministries to help families defeat the ever-increasing kinds of family destroying behaviors that come with every addiction, bad habit and hangup.

Elah Today! Is well on its way to becoming something like a “911” for hurting families that increasingly don’t know where to turn.

So, what are these ministries?

1. Celebrate Recovery™- This ministry to the whole family will begin later in the fall. While it helps those with life controlling habits, i.e., alcohol, drugs, and pornography, there will be support classes for children and teenagers. It will be weekly, on a night to be determined, beginning with a family meal and fellowship, then a worship and celebration time, followed by adult breakout groups. Call 910-371-2315 for more information.
2. GriefShare™- This ministry is for anyone dealing with the aftermath of losing a loved one. Grief does not go away, but this ministry can aid the inner healing process to the point that life is good again. We are starting our third series of meetings on Thursday night, September 14th in our fellowship hall. Call 910-371-2315 for more information.
3. Gateway Landing™- This ministry is a ten+ year old healing place for men. It is a one year in house Christ centered approach to helping men break free of alcohol and drugs for good. It is owned and operated by Rod and Connie Lattie from a local campus here in Leland. Rod and Connie are members of our church and all the men in the program are active in Elah Today!
4. Encompass™- Encompass is a recurring one-day training program open to everyone through Elah Today! Every addiction plaguing families in our community is addressed. Real help and access to resources are provided to those trying to navigate a loved one’s addiction. The program is led by local professionals and is open to adults who want to learn more about addiction. Learn more by calling 910-371-2315. Also, someone will be available at any regular church service or any of the weekday ministries above.

Some closing thoughts, while so much is new and different at Elah Today! much hasn’t changed and won’t change. Worship on Sundays still consists of straight forward exposition of the Scriptures and choir and congregation singing hymns and praise songs that accurately reflect the heart of God’s Word. There is still a vibrant Wednesday night prayer meeting and Sunday evening Scripture lesson and prayer time.

And, like all other churches, we say that we are a loving church. But the Sunday worship hour does not adequately show you and your family that love. Elah Today! chooses to come alongside you and your family in the messiness and struggles of daily life.

We believe that if you see our love through these weeknight ministries, you will believe us on Sundays.

Pray for Elah Today! as we grow toward becoming our communities “911” for hurting people.

We invite you to, “come and see if these things be true.” (Acts 17:11)

In Christ Alone,

Pastor Ken

Enclosures