This has been another very busy year that has brought us both blessings and challenges.
I wanted to take this occasion to do a newsletter and to get you caught up with what has been going on.
Elaine and I are enjoying being grandparents. Our granddaughter was officially adopted this last spring.
Praise the Lord! She is now 3 1/2 years old. And our grandson is now 1 1/2 years old.
In May I took Elaine to the emergency and once again they found a leak in her intestine and had to do surgery
to remove 1.5' of the intestine. The surgery went fine but the healing had some complications. Fortunately she
has since healed and doing well.
It has been a full year of ministry with Haven of Hope and being a pastor to those God brings into our lives.
I am mentoring three men individually each month as well as another young man on occasion. On Wednesday mornings
I meet with a small group where I have the opportunity to mentor as well as be challenged in my own life.
This is a very rich time.
Once a month I am still going to the Burlington Colorado area to preach at a church there. The Hope Congregational Church.
It has now been over three years that I have been doing this. I have really grown to love the people there and God
continues to bless those times with them. There is a good possibility that I may be preaching at another church as well
when I go out. I am becoming a circuit riding preacher in my Ford F-150. Ha Ha!
I really do seem to be living out the life of a pastor more and more, even though it is a church with no walls.
I am ministering to those who are hurting. Sharing the Gospel. Mentoring. This year I have done funerals and weddings for
those I am a pastor to. I have also been a pastor to our Eldest board member, Ken Walden and his wife Char. Sadly, Ken
passed away about a week ago. He was a real blessing to this ministry and a big supporter to me personally, and to the
ministry financially. It is hard losing someone who has believed in you so much. He was a great man of God!
We have just brought Tim Hall on as a new board member. Tim was a missionary to Italy for 27 years.
I have come to know and love him. He will bring a lot to the ministry.
Thank you for your prayers and support. May you know and experience all that Jesus is this Christmas season and
throughout the new year!
God bless! Pastor Rick Messer / Pastor of a church without walls.
