Dear McKnight Church Family,

As we prepare to make the move to McKnight Church, we come living into the promise of God that "All things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28 – one of those promises Shyrl and I cling to!)

For as I write, the boxes are piled ever higher, the rooms become more and more Spartan, and we know that this home will become another pastor’s and family’s home very soon.

So we look forward with eagerness to move our boxes and ourselves into McKnight Church, confident that this is the will of the Lord. We are grateful that we have a place to serve Jesus Christ. We are grateful for the opportunity to come and enter into partnership with each of you for the gospel, in which Pastor Scott has journeyed with you for so long.

We are grateful for a beautiful home in which to live. You have labored diligently to paint and spruce up the parsonage prior to our arrival. We thank God for Pastor Scott and Sylvia’s stewardship of the parsonage, which makes the transition to our arrival much less difficult.

Your concern and care for our teenage daughters, Karena (17), Chantal (16), and D’Ja (12), are greatly appreciated. Our oldest daughter, Sara, will soon be visiting. Sara is 22 years old, and is a senior at Clarion University. You will meet our son, Philip, in August. Philip is 25 years old, lives in Portland, Oregon, and works in a restaurant there. He’s coming home for a week’s vacation.

As we enter into this new beginning together, I am reminded of what Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth: "What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building." – 1 Corinthians 5-9

I am grateful for Pastor Scott’s faithful service. We indeed have a common purpose. I pray that as we journey on into the future together we will be true to the calling the Lord continues to stir in the hearts of we who are McKnight Church.

Sincerely,
Pastor LaVelle