We’re Here for You—In the Valleys and on the Mountaintops

Church family,

One of the great blessings of the local church is that it becomes a refuge when life falls apart. I’ve watched as many of you have come through our doors during the hardest seasons of your life—when the diagnosis came, when the marriage crumbled, when the job was lost, or when the grief was too heavy to carry alone. And I want you to hear me loud and clear: we will always be here for you in the storm.

That’s what the church is called to be—a place of healing, restoration, and hope in the name of Jesus. We rejoice in bearing one another’s burdens and lifting up the broken. That’s what Christ modeled for us, and that’s what we strive to live out.

But church, here’s the part we don’t talk about enough…

We also need you when life is going well.
We need your faith, your presence, and your praise—not just when life hurts, but also when life feels whole.

Too often, people begin to drift when the crisis passes. God answered the prayer, the marriage is healed, the job came through, the peace returned—and suddenly, church becomes optional. But that’s not how it should be.

The mountaintops are not meant to lead us away from God—they’re meant to remind us of His faithfulness. If the valley brought you to your knees, the victory should bring you to your feet in worship!

Your church family needs your joy. We need your testimony. We need your encouragement. Others are still walking through storms, and your presence might be the reminder they need that God is still good.

Don’t let the blessings cause you to forget the One who blessed you.
Don’t only run to the church when life falls apart—run to it when life is whole, so you can help hold up someone else.

Psalm 100:4 (LSB) says:
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.”

Gratitude isn’t just for the hard times—it’s for all times. Let’s be a people who show up, no matter the season. Because the Church is not just a safety net; it’s a family. And family shows up in the good and the bad.

We’re always here for you. Will you be here with us?

In love,
Pastor Jody