Up until four days ago I had never met anyone from the Immanuel Community Church in Flushing New York. Now after spending Labor Day weekend as speaker for this congregatio’s annual retreat at Camp Deerpark near Port Jervis, New York, Ruth and I feel we have new friends which we will treasure forever.
Mark and Annabelle Perri pastor this amazing multicultural congregation in Queens New York. They truly are “defiant gardeners” effectively planting a visible community of God’s transforming grace in the midst of this confluence of the nations.
Mark recalls that in 2001, at the same congregational retreat, sensing an impending disaster coming upon the city and nation. Now 14 years later he has a similar sense. The congregation spent much of last night in prayer that God would prepare us to be faithful and victorious in these troubling times.
I face this fall season troubled by what may happen but somehow confidently expectant of a mighty manifestation of God’s grace.
And I stand amazed at the way God is connecting His people to work together in this great Harvest Time.
theexpandingshrink 