A few months ago, my mom wanted to do some painting around the house – changing the colour of the walls ever so slightly (my parents argued it was a drastic change). For the next couple months, I had to do a double take whenever I walked past the freshly painted rooms. Something was just off.
I don’t know about you, but I hate change. Maintaining status-quo helps me relax and feel safe. Change disrupts that. It forces us to reevaluate if the status-quo was good or a result of self-serving complacency.
If you have been with us at Jericho Ridge over the past couple years, you have experienced a lot of change. If you’re like me, you may have been trying to hold on to whatever you could so it doesn’t change too much.
The incoming change that we face this summer can definitely feel like a daunting one. A significant part of our spiritual lives is being turned upside-down. For many, Jericho Ridge has been a stable home that always welcomes “its people” back with open arms. Even though our location has changed several times, we have been a spiritual and relational fixture for many. For example, I think of Pastor Mike Olynyk’s message to us on Easter at our 20th Anniversary celebration. Despite now serving at South Abbotsford MB Church for the last twelve years, Jericho Ridge still feels like a spiritual home for him and his family.
In this season, it feels like we are losing our home. That’s because we are – at least as we have always known it. God is doing something here with us as a church family. He’s asking us to become remarkably different from who we have been the last twenty years. While we may be losing the home that we know now, God is ahead of us working on a place for us to dwell next (whether that’s here at NLCC Willowbrook or elsewhere).
I love Jericho Ridge. For those who do not know my story, I have been attending Jericho ever since I was a kid in 2008. I remember attending Kids @ the Ridge in the R.E. Mountain cafeteria, attending youth in smelly hockey dressing rooms at the LEC, and having to use the porta-potties in the Jericho Centre parking lot during renovations.
Jericho has been a part of many milestones for me. I said “yes” to Jesus as my Saviour and Lord here. I was baptized here by Pastor Brad Sumner. I became a pastor here. And best of all, I met Rachel (my soon-to-be wife) here.
Jericho Ridge has, and always will have, a close place to my heart.
When I look ahead to a summer of no worship gatherings at Jericho, I feel a sense of emptiness. One of my favourite things we have done over past summers at Jericho was focus on the Old Testament together in our worship gathering sermon series. Hearing the various stories of how God is preparing his people for Jesus, God with us, was a significant reminder for me.
When I look ahead to this summer, I am reminded from past summers about Israel journeying through the wilderness together (physically and spiritually) throughout the Old Testament. Like them, we now face uncertainty and longing for a place to call home. In the same way, however, we too trust in God that he is leading us forward towards something - bringing up moments of curiosity and anticipation of what is to come.
Remember the Lord’s words from the book of Isaiah:
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland…so my chosen people will be refreshed.” (Isa 43:19-20 NLT)
Friends, I know going into this uncharted summer, but the Lord is already at work on our behalf! He is making a pathway before us to follow that will lead to a new landing place. This summer is not a season to rely on the familiar, but to rely on God’s direction and presence, particularly for those of us who don’t like change.
I believe this brief hiatus will challenge us to reflect deeply on our own walks with Jesus. Are we willing to trust God completely during transition and uncertainty? Are we willing for him to shape who we are? Are we willing, as Proverbs 3:5-6 says, to let him guide our paths even if our destination is unknown?
So, Jericho, as we head into the “wilderness” together, let us remember that others have gone here before us. And, let us embrace the journey of these couple months that our God has us on. Join me in trusting God to guide us through our wilderness toward a renewed and vibrant expression of His Christ-centred community.
Journeying together,
Pastor Brady
