I am so thankful for Dan Warda, our new elder, and Ron Merrill, our new deacon. I'm also very thankful for our four other deacons: Brian Danielsson, David Hill, Cameron Moore, and David Sweitzer. These are gifted and godly men and I'm confident that the Lord will continue to use them to bless the ministry of our church.

However, we must not think that the responsibility for serving Christ in the church begins and ends with the church officers. All Christians are called to be ministers (servants). The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus that the ascended Lord Jesus Christ has given gifted men to the church "to equip the saints for the work of ministry" (Ephesians 4:12). Are you a saint? Are you a believer? Then the job of church leaders is to equip you to be an effective minister. The Apostle Paul adds in Ephesians 4:16, "the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." The idea is that the body of Christ (the church) will enjoy healthy growth when each member is engaged in the life of the body, effectively doing its part. Are you plugged into the body life of your church? Are you doing your part for the spiritual growth of the whole body? Are you being a faithful and effective minister?

John Farese, who passed away on March 9, 2014 at the age of 57 after struggling since birth with paraplegia caused by muscular dystrophy, accomplished more for Christ's kingdom than most physically healthy people. John used to include the following quote at the end of his e-mail messages: "I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."

I am thankful for all the members of Cornerstone who are doing what they can for their Lord and their church!