News Letter September 2026

Dear Fairview Community Christian Church,

I wanted to write to you this month concerning the topic of serving others. 

Recently, the Lord has put a burden on my own heart to better serve the members of my household—my wife and my children. It can be easy, especially as a man, to think that I have done enough simply because I have put a roof over my family's head. While providing for our families is a good and important thing, being a father, husband, and servant goes so much further than simply providing tangible things. I've been challenged to deny myself and do things that, in the moment, I may not feel like doing. Like jumping on the trampoline while I try to flip my children over like they're bacon. Or chasing a toddler around the house and wiping dirty butts. Or picking up the house for the fourth time that day. 

However, some of these moments have turned into some of my favorites as a father. Seeing my kids happy and satisfied simply because I am with them brings a joy that is like no other. It has also reminded me of something about our relationship with our Heavenly Father. God certainly cares about our obedience and how we live, but He doesn't merely want what we can do for Him. He wants us to know Him, love Him, and enjoy being in His presence. 

So, church, I encourage you to think about how you can serve those God has placed around you. It will require you to deny yourself. But what I have found is that some of the greatest joy comes when we stop focusing on ourselves and begin looking for opportunities to love the people around us. I am reminded of Galatians 5:13, which says, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” In our culture today, we are strongly encouraged to put ourselves first and satisfy our own desires, even sometimes to the detriment of those around us. I'm sure you've heard it said that you have to take care of yourself first before you can help others. There is certainly wisdom in caring for ourselves appropriately, but I wonder if, for many of us, we would actually benefit from spending a little less time focused on ourselves and a little more time asking, “Who has God placed around me that I can serve?” 

Serving others will not always be easy or immediately rewarding. Sometimes it will simply require denying ourselves and choosing to love someone because Christ has loved us. Yet there is a peculiar joy that comes from forgetting ourselves for a moment and loving another person for their good and for the glory of God. So, I encourage you to try it this month. Think of someone God has placed in your life and make it your goal to serve that person in a special way. Maybe it's your spouse, your children, a neighbor, a friend, or someone here at church. Look for an opportunity to put Galatians 5:13 into practice and “serve one another humbly in love.” 

I'm praying for the Lord's blessing over you all, and may His peace be with you. 

Sincerely, 

Pastor Ben