My amazing Church family!
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Pura Vida! “Pura Vida” means the pure life and is a greeting in Costa Rica. Keep reading.
As I sit to write this, my heart is full—with gratitude, with longing, and with hope. I’m sitting in a hotel restaurant in the Alejuela Province of Costa Rica at 5:52am. Dustin Copenhaver and I are here with Pastor Daniel Azofiefa and his son (also Pastor) Roberto), and we are making rounds to several churches in the north country to see where God is taking you and me in Gospel partnership with Costa Ricans. I’ll tell the full story this weekend for those wondering, “What happened to Morocco?”
I thank God for the gift of community with you, for the hands that serve quietly, the voices that worship boldly, and the hearts that seek Christ sincerely. You are the Body of Christ—imperfect, yet holy; broken, yet made whole in Him.
We find ourselves in a time when the pace of life, the distractions of the world, and the weight of uncertainty can easily pull us out of rhythm with God’s best for us. In seasons like these, it is not uncommon for churches to lose their center, drifting from the heartbeat of what it means to be a faithful and healthy body of Christ. But I believe God is calling us back—not to a rigid model of church, but to a rhythm that breathes life into us and through us.
A rhythm of worship that isn’t just an hour on Sundays, but a daily posture of surrender and awe.
A rhythm of discipleship where we walk with one another, challenging and encouraging each other to grow in maturity, love, and holiness.
A rhythm of community, not based on convenience or common interest, but on the radical love that Jesus showed us—a love that serves, forgives, and endures.
A rhythm of mission, not as an obligation, but as a natural overflow of our love for God. That we would be a people who carry the gospel in word and deed, both to our neighbors and to the nations.
Church isn’t something we attend—it’s who we are. And like a body, we need healthy rhythms to thrive. When we lose those rhythms, we become fragmented, fatigued, and vulnerable. But when we move in sync with God’s Spirit, there is joy, power, and peace.
Let us not be driven by trends, pressure, or performance, but by the steady, unchanging faithfulness of God. Let our gatherings be marked by authenticity. Let our prayers be both bold and tender. Let our serving be joyful, and our love sincere.
And if we’ve drifted—whether as individuals or as a body—may we have the humility to return. There is grace for us. There is always grace.
May we remember the early church in Acts, devoting themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer—not out of obligation, but because they had seen the risen Lord. So have we. And He is worthy of everything.
So let us return, and remain, in healthy, faithful rhythms—not for comfort’s sake, but for Christ’s. For His glory, and for the good of all who will come to know Him through a church —a RIVER — that is truly alive.
I can’t wait to worship with you Sunday!
Pastor Brent