Brethren,
Greetings in the LORD Jesus,
God’s Word promises us that Christ is with us and that He builds His church. This has been evident for Surrey Reformed Baptist Church in many ways.
In the first place, we found a more suitable location to rent. We had been meeting at Rosemary Heights Elementary school, but the Surrey School District chose to close all their rentals in March of 2020. After a few months in a private home, we sought other alternatives. In God’s providence, we were able to rent from White Rock Seventh Day Adventist Church beginning in June of 2020. The previous renters decided to leave because of COVID, which made it possible for us to rent it. This has been a haven for us especially since the Surrey School District has not allowed renters back in.
In the second place, we had unexpected numerical growth. We had more visitors and more new members during the pandemic than we did prior to the pandemic This is all without any advertising. We had spent money on social media ads and passed out thousands of flyers with very little interest. Who knew that our best-selling feature would be that we were open? Many of our visitors and new members are from a Russian-speaking background and they have been proactive in spreading the word about our church. Five of the new members were baptized on the same day in April.
In the third place, in August of 2020, our church added our first two deacons, Howie Jones and Drew Willms. Both of them were part of the core group that helped start SRBC. They have been faithful and diligent men in the office.
In the fourth place, we have had a comradery and a spirit of unity in our church concerning the COVID pandemic. With the exception of a few former regular attenders, all of the members and regular attenders were on board with remaining open. The brethren were increasingly appreciative of the theology and the importance of gathering on the LORD’s Day. This testimony is a gift as there was much tension in other churches.
In the fifth place, despite the threat of fines and public ridicule, the LORD kept prying eyes away from our church. Other than one visit from two by-law officers, the LORD protected our church and carried me through this stressful time.
Thank you for your prayers on behalf of our church. May God continue to glorify Himself through the preaching of the Word in worship on His sacred day.
In Christ,
