Since Sherri and I have been at FBF over 40 years, we have lots of memories! It’s so encouraging that the main thing about the fellowship has never changed — our strong sense of family and our amazing love for one another, fostered in part by so much fellowship time and our weekly meals. I’m hesitant to give examples of how we’ve been loved and encouraged, because I don’t want anyone who has helped us to feel overlooked, but I do want to list a few things representative of so many more.

• When we had our first baby shortly after coming here, and all of our babies for that matter, we were overwhelmed at all the people bringing food and helping out. We hadn’t experienced anything like it at our previous large churches.

• When we moved from town to the DeRegibus house so they could take an extended missions trip, we had to get the moving van up a very snowy/icy driveway. I thought our cars had carved a path, but the wheel span was wider on the van and we had to use axes to chip away at the ice. Four hours later we finally got it up the hill, and our many FBF helpers waited patiently the whole time!

• One Easter Sunday we headed to Richmond to visit family and the timing belt on our car broke, stranding us halfway. Lee Copeland came to our rescue. We felt so bad pulling him away on this big day, but we didn’t know where to find a taxi (and really couldn’t afford one anyway), and he came readily and happily.

• The Wellings family spent six hours at our house on a Christmas Eve while Keith tried to fix our faulty toilet. Success in the end! Through the years Keith showed up to help with many other “ventures” as well.

• We’ve gotten so much help through my cancer trial, but I must mention the gift of a little lap blanket knitted together over the course of the church calendar, “every stitch made with a prayer.” It has so warmed my heart as well as my body. Thank you Kendra.

• When Sam and Camille came, she told the elders he was prone to overwork by caring for others. We assured her he was coming to teach only. That didn’t happen! He spends countless hours caring for others, especially the most needy among us, many of whom started coming because of our push to reach the neighborhood.

Again, so reluctant to post these as there are so many others I could cite. Just know you are all so deeply loved and appreciated!

Jon