When we talk about having a grateful heart, we usually start with the blessings we see around us—our families, our health, our jobs, our church. And those things are worth giving thanks for. But at the center of our gratitude—the foundation of everything we have and everything we are—is the cross. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” He’s talking about Jesus—the Son of God who gave His life for ours. The One who bore our sin, took

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s natural for us to start thinking about gratitude. But for Christians, thankfulness isn’t just a seasonal mindset—it’s a daily way of life. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” That’s a big statement. Give thanks in all circumstances, not just the good ones. Not just when everything’s going our way. But even when life is uncertain. Even when t

If there’s one thing the world is full of right now—it’s fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of standing out. But as followers of Christ, we are called to live differently. Not recklessly, but boldly, with a faith that stands firm no matter what comes. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” That means we don’t have to be afraid. Not of speaking truth. Not of living out our convic

When we hear the word “evangelism,” we often picture missionaries overseas or preachers in front of a crowd. But the truth is, evangelism starts right where we are. In our homes, at work, at school and inn our everyday conversations. Evangelism isn’t just about preaching, it’s about sharing Jesus with others through the way we live, speak, and serve. In Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus gives us our mission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...” That wasn’t a command just

Living out our faith isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to forgiveness. It’s one thing to talk about grace and mercy on Sundays but it’s another to actually offer it to someone who hurt you, disappointed you, or let you down. But Scripture doesn’t leave much room for debate. Colossians 3:13 tells us, “Bear with one another, and forgive one another if anyone has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” That last part hits hard: “as the Lord forga

One of the biggest truths we learn from Scripture is that faith isn’t meant to sit still. It’s not just something we believe in our hearts—it’s something we live out in our lives. James 2:17 says it plainly: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Real faith moves. It acts. It shows up in the choices we make and the way we treat people. That’s what makes this year’s Lads to Leaders theme—“Faith Works”—so powerful and so needed. Our kids are learning that Christ

Over the past month, we’ve looked at some of the most important foundations of our faith—prayer, Bible study, worship, and service. These aren’t just things we do to check off a list. They are essential habits that help us grow closer to God and more like Jesus every day. But now comes the real challenge: putting it into practice. It’s one thing to know why we pray. It’s another to make prayer a part of our daily lives. It’s one thing to say the Bible is important. It’s anoth

When you look at the life of Jesus, one thing becomes clear: He came to serve. In Mark 10:45, Jesus says, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” If that was His purpose, how can we live any differently? Service is one of the most basic—and most powerful—ways we live out our faith. It’s not about titles or recognition. It’s about humility, love, and the desire to reflect Jesus to the world around us. Whether y

Worship is one of the greatest privileges we have as followers of Christ. It’s a time when we lift our hearts and voices in praise, reflect on the cross through communion, and hear the Word of God proclaimed. But as important as worship is, we sometimes forget that it was never meant to be something we do alone. God designed us to worship together. Hebrews 10:24–25 reminds us, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembli

One of the greatest blessings we have as Christians is access to God’s Word. The Bible is how God speaks to us. It’s where we learn who He is, what He’s done, and how He calls us to live. But the truth is, the Bible isn’t always easy to understand, especially for kids and young people who are just starting their faith journey. That’s why Bible class matters. Our Sunday morning and Wednesday night classes aren’t just something extra, they’re an essential part of spiritual grow

Sunday mornings are often associated with a sense of tranquility and reflection. For Christians, this day holds a special significance as we gather together at our local church to partake in worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth. There are numerous trained reasons to attend services every week. Here are ten benefits of attending church every Sunday... 1. Spiritual Nourishment: Church services provide an opportunity for us to engage in meaningful worship, prayer, and medi

One of the most basic, but most powerful, spiritual habits we can develop is prayer. It’s something we talk about often. We open and close our services with it. We teach our kids how to do it. But if we’re honest, many of us still struggle to truly understand why prayer matters and how vital it is to our daily walk with God. In Luke 11, the disciples came to Jesus with a simple but profound request: “Lord, teach us to pray…” (Luke 11:1). They had seen Jesus perform miracles.

It’s finally here—Vacation Bible School kicks off tonight, and we could not be more excited! This year’s theme, Bible Boot Camp, is all about training up the next generation to be strong in faith, courageous in spirit, and ready to stand firm in the Lord. Every night this week, our young recruits will be learning what it means to “put on the whole armor of God” and join the Lord’s Army! For many of us, VBS brings back memories of laughter, snacks, silly songs, and unforgettab

There’s a phrase I want every young person in our church to hear and believe deep down: You belong here. Not just in the pews on Sunday morning. Not just at youth group events. But in the body of Christ. In the mission of the church. In the work God is doing right now. Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking young people are “the future of the church.” But the truth is—you are the church today. Your presence matters. Your voice matters. Your faith matters. You are not on th

Today we leave for Gulf Coast Bible Camp and that is something that, especially our kids and teens, look forward to all year: Bible Camp. There’s something about it that is just different. The songs hit a little deeper, the lessons stick a little longer, and the friendships formed often last a lifetime. It’s more than just fun and games, though there’s plenty of that too, it’s a spiritual high point. It’s a time when distractions fade and hearts are more open to hearing God’s

Today we celebrate Mother’s Day, and I want to take a moment to say “Happy Mother's Day” to all the wonderful mothers here at Summerdale! We are truly blessed by the love, example, and influence of so many Godly women in this congregation. Your faith, strength, and kindness shape not only your families but this church family as well. When I think about mothers in the Bible, I’m reminded of Hannah. She prayed earnestly for a child, and when God answered her prayer, she kept he

Today is a special day for our church family as we honor four incredible young people: Zoe, Cloe, Aubri, and Kile. It’s hard to believe that their time in the youth group is coming to an end and they are about to begin a brand-new chapter of life. We are so proud of the men and women they have become. Each of them has left a mark on our hearts. We have watched them grow—not just in age, but in faith, character, and love for the Lord. Their smiles, their service, and their spi

What an amazing weekend we had at Lads to Leaders! It was so uplifting to see all of our kids’ hard work pay off. We had several that were finalists in their events, including three that were participating in the competition for the first time! We even had two kids who won first place in the Mass Media competition and because of the year-round events every kid that went got at least one medal; most got several. Winning is always fun but when I was watching the kids this weeke

We just completed our yearly L2L convention in Orlando. As always, we had an amazing time, and everyone was truly blessed by the event. I...

In our teen class on Wednesday nights, we have been studying a series entitled “Finding Our Identity in Christ”. We have been looking at how we can identify ourselves by Christ’s standards and not the worlds. In Matthew 16:13–20, Jesus asks a question that echoes through the centuries: “Who do you say that I am?” It’s a moment of deep significance—not just for Peter and the disciples—but for every one of us. Our answer to that question reveals not only what we believe about J