Hi Newport Church Family,
We trust you have had a faith filled week and are experiencing a new and fresh measure of God’s grace.
Last weekend I was able to visit Memphis Tennessee, where I spent a few days with John and Leslie Siebeling, who pastor The Life Church Memphis and Wayne Francis, who pastors The Life Church New York.
John and Leslie have been long time friends of ours and for 24 years have led and pastored one of the finest examples of a racially diverse and integrated church that I have ever seen. Wayne is an African American Pastor who grew up in the Bronx NY, and has a wealth of experience and wisdom in leading a racially diverse church community.
The purpose of my visit was to take time to listen and learn from them and to have a conversation on how we can best respond as individuals and a church to all that is taking place in our nation at present.
During my time with them we filmed a one hour “Conversation on Race, Hope & Healing,” and we will be screening the Premiere of this conversation online on our Newport Church YouTube Channel at 7.30pm this Sunday night.
I believe and hope that this will be a helpful conversation for us all and I encourage you to take time with your family and friends to watch the conversation with an open heart and spirit.
Let’s continue to take to heart the words of the Apostle Paul when he spoke to the church in Ephesus, where there was division between Jews and Gentiles, “Make every effort to guard the unity that the Spirit gives, with your lives bound together in peace.”
Paul urges them and us to never forget that Jesus came to break down the dividing wall of hostility between all people and that He, Jesus Himself, is our Peace.
Jesus is the hope of the world and let’s do all we can to make Him known in this unprecedented season.
I am continuing with our new series “Jesus and Injustice” in our online service this Sunday and I hope and pray that it will be both faith building and inspiring to us all.
A big thank you again to all those who contributed to our Miracle Vision Offering last week and a reminder that you can still be part of giving in this offering by clicking here.
As we all do our part we can become an ever greater storehouse and blessing for our community and beyond.
We look forward to you joining us on Sunday at 10 am and connecting through the many Zoom meeting opportunities we have available during the week.
We love and appreciate you all greatly,
Jonathan & Dianne Wilson
Senior Pastors