Letter From the Director: Fall 2024

A message from HCBC director Jon Oldham:

My grandson once asked the question, “Why don’t we go to heaven right away once we’re saved?” As a 7-year-old, he was wrestling with a profound truth. And it was encouraging to see our daughter Katelyn help him work through it rather than simply give him an answer. After some thinking, he said, “Who would have told me about Jesus if you and my Sunday school teacher weren’t still here to tell me?”

I’ve told this story numerous times in the last year, and it continues to haunt me. It reminds me that the only reason we are still here on earth is to tell others about God and his love. We are often reluctant to share our faith. Some of us want to avoid being labeled as haters, while others are afraid of losing friends or family members. Unfortunately, this reluctance has resulted in the church being silent and holding back the greatest news of all: that Christ came to save people from their sins.

I want to challenge you to share the gospel with those you meet. This is the perfect time of year to start a conversation about Jesus and what Christmas is really about. People need to hear how he opened his arms wide and showed unconditional love to everyone he came in contact with. Jesus is the only answer to the division, unrest, and sin that are so common in the world we live in.

Remember that sharing the gospel is the most important thing for us to do while we are here. How else will this world hear of God’s love if we don’t tell them?

Sincerely,
Jon Oldham
Executive Director