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Dear Friends in Christ, The Reverend Clay Stauffer, senior pastor of Woodmont Christian Church wrote an interesting article in the Tennessean recently. It was called, "What will Christianity's future in America look like?" In the piece he mentioned Dr. Frank Drowota, founding pastor of WCC. It was Frank's dream that the Church would "interpret truth in terms of the times, but also challenge times in terms of the truth." That's well said. I believe that is the Church's task. Last Sunday, I noticed the silence in the sanctuary as we read through the heart of the sermon on the mount. The text produced a good bit of pew squirming. Prophetic teaching often does! We forget sometimes that Jesus is not only our Savior, but also our Lord! He comes not only to reveal God's love, but also to expose God's truth. Sometimes the truth hurts before it heals. Truth, like iodine, often stings as it cures. The work of a disciple is both pastoral and prophetic; to interpret truth in terms of the times, and challenge the times in terms of the truth. Jesus is both compassionate and challenging. He accepts us as we are, but doesn't leave us where we are. His work in us is ongoing. We call it sanctification - God's ongoing grace, slowly but surely transforming us from the inside-out! As we continue to contemplate the radicality of Jesus' teaching, I am grateful to be a part of a body that is truthful and redemptive. Ours is a community that meets one another at the point of our need. Divorce Care, recovery ministries, A.A., Al-Anon, Cancer Support, Grief Support, Inclusivity Ministry, Domestic Abuse, Memory Loss Caregiver Respite (Sunny Day) Parish Nurse Ministry, are but a few