Dear LTCC Family,

Have you ever experienced the kind of jubilation that led the prodigal son’s father to throw a party? Have you ever been as excited as the shepherd was about finding his lost sheep? Have you ever enjoyed the “gaining of a brother,” as a result of working the reconciliatory steps of Matthew 18? 

As a church body, we’ve been talking about reconciliation quite a bit lately. Well actually we’ve likely been talking about it since LTCC began. I know we have at least as long as my wife and I have been attending this church. Truth is that consistent teaching and leading on the topic has resulted in significant growth for us and girded up hope in our lives. We are in good company, because reconciliation was one of Jesus’ favorite topics, too. 

The topic though, often brings to mind a lot of hard work to be done: perhaps a large dose of humility, some continuous prayer, an unending faith in God and the real hard part: patience. At times in my life reconciliation work has resulted in me turning the situation over to God and following his guidance, but without receiving the outcome I desired from the other party. At that point I would wait on God and read Romans 12:18 as often as possible to console myself. It reads in the NIV, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” 

Recently I did experience the jubilation of the prodigal’s dad, the excitement of the shepherd and the “gaining of a brother” mentioned in Matthew 18 when a miraculous breakthrough occurred in a long-standing situation in my family. After five long years of disagreement, forgiveness was sought and granted. The outcome was an unspeakable joy for many inside and outside of our family. 

My goal in sharing this testimony is to encourage us all to keep at the hard work of reconciliation while trusting God for the outcome. 

Wayne Worthen
for the Elders and Deacons

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