Thank you, Wesley Chapel

"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you..." 

                                                                      -- Romans 1:8a

            When my wife was just a little girl, every Christmas break her family would pack up and come to Florida for a week or two.  It was her favorite place to go – a tremendous change from central Michigan in December.  They came to visit her grandma in Sarasota.  Making their way southward, coats would go in the trunk as snow disappeared from the side of I-75.  Soon they could bike around the trailer park, swim in the pool or visit the shuffleboard courts, even take an all day cruise or hang out on the beach.  

            Her love for Florida is one reason we’re here.  In 2006, finally frustrated by the paralyzing cold and ice, Susan and I and our boys George and Brian received the offer to come live and work in the Wesley Chapel area.  We couldn’t pass it up.  Even with a rough first year in a tiny rental, we felt like we’d won the lottery.  Though State Rd. 54 was only two lanes, Wesley Chapel was booming and blooming with signs of the strong community that we’re still watching take shape around us. 

            Twelve years on, we have only fallen more in love with the area.  We love the beautiful diversity here.  Not just people from “up north” but from all over are making their homes around us.  The construction gets old sometimes, but it’s great seeing the number and quality of community resources continuing to grow, including houses of worship.  We are moved by the tremendous generosity from individuals, organizations and businesses that volunteer and donate to our food pantry.  Many of the homeless people I meet have told me stories of kind help they’ve received from locals. 

            So I want to thank you, Wesley Chapel… for being a generous community.  My hope for you in 2019 is just this: “Let mutual love continue.  Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:1-2).

Peace,

Pastor Scott