This weekend, Calvary Baptist Church celebrated 50 years in service to the Elko Community.  I told Pastor Sam, that it was nice to see the younger churches come of age.

I truly appreciate Sam and all the folks at Calvary for what they do in spreading the Great News, and I value their partnership in serving the area.  In fact there are several churches that I consider to be friends of ours.  No, I am not going to name them, because they know who they are.  Once a month I get together with six of those pastors and we pray for our community.  It is an important date on my calendar.  Just as it is vitally important for us as individuals to belong to a church (yes, just one), it is also vital for the churches to band together as often as possible.  This is especially true in a place as remote as Elko – even though once a month I travel to Twin Falls to meet with pastors within our denomination (another important date on my calendar).

Proverbs 27:10 (ESV)
Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.

Calvary and the other churches in Elko are those near friends (not part of our denomination), that are a vital part of Greater Life Church existence in Elko.  We can count on them to pray for us, just as they can count on us praying for them.  Congratulations Calvary Baptist Church – as your days are, may your strength be!