Dear Ministry Partners and Friends:

After a recent Sunday gathering, I was approached by what seemed the typical young Jackson Hole skier and happy outdoor enthusiast. As she started to speak, tears welled up in her eyes. “I’ve been struggling for a while.”

Her story was similar to many of us who moved to this outdoor mecca to get away from things and “live the life.” But, as God has graciously allowed many of us to discover, it did not satisfy, and it never will apart from Jesus Christ. “I never thought I would become that kind of girl. I don’t know if I can ever forgive myself for what I’ve done,” she said.

“You are not supposed to forgive yourself; you cannot do so. God made you, he is the one to whom you’re accountable, so he is the one who forgives,” I answered. “Jesus Christ took upon himself all your sin on the cross 2000 years ago; he paid for it all in his death so that you could be forgiven,” I added. “Embrace him as your Savior and Lord. Call out to him for forgiveness. All your guilt and sin is removed forever at the cross. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done.” The tears kept coming, but they were tears of joy and relief.

A life centered on fun and pleasure will collapse. Solomon said it 3000 years ago: “I said to myself, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.’ And behold, it too was futility” (Ecclesiastes 2:1). God’s grace is greater still and through the Lord Jesus Christ, all the guilt heaped on ourselves in such a life is forever removed by this death for us.

Though it was the week after Good Friday and Easter, the power of God through the cross of Jesus Christ continues to move by his grace alone. It is all we have. But, what we have is all.

Speaking of life collapsing, I had the privilege of meeting with a young man in a similar situation as the woman mentioned above. He was at the end; no longer wanting to continue. Perhaps many of  us have felt that way. This was God, again, giving another opportunity for the good news to go forward before yet another soul in need. The perfect life Jesus lived for us and his sacrificial death died for us are not merely reasons to continue living, but to continue celebrating. “To live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21).

And so, as the snow melts after a long, snowy winter, God continues to work through us here by his grace. Here is a quick fly-by:

Our Gospel Community ministry (community groups which break the church into smaller, more intimate, family-like clusters) continues to be a more effective shepherding move in our small but growing church.

God is using our ongoing men’s leadership training to raise up the next tier of young men. We are praising God for these guys who are reaching out to disciple others.

We had the privilege of our third ever wedding in the church, as Andrew Morrow and Tiffany Mumma were married on April 23.

Another round of membership has been completed by a handful of souls here.

However, discipleship and counseling requests are beyond what we can meet at the moment.

As is normal this side of heaven, God has us beyond our own abilities and resources. Please join us in prayer for the following:

1. Thank God for the ways in which he continues transforming lives through salvation and sanctification (Colossians 1:28-29). There is no way we could accomplish this on our own.
2. Praise Jesus that he continues to provide finances and facilities for us to care for the church and to meet for our various gatherings. Please pray for increased giving as we are unable to support our monthly costs from internal giving alone (Philippians 4:19).
3. Pray that all of us in the church would grow to really know that God’s love is better than life; that his love would overwhelm us and inform all we do in our lives (Psalm 63:3-4).
4. Pray that we all would grow in a higher, more respectful and reverent view of God, that produces a genuine humility and contentment in our lives (Proverbs 15:33).
5. Ask God to grow our knowledge of, love for, and submission to his word, especially in the leadership (Matthew 7:24-25).
6. Pray that the leadership continues to grow beyond our years in humility, being examples to the church, and for wisdom in the sometimes overwhelming shepherding privileges (1 Peter 5:2-3).
7. Beg God to raise up wise, humble, and compassionate disciple-makers, who embrace the need to shepherd others, both unbelievers and believers (Matthew 28:18-20).
8. Pray that we all as a church would grow in understanding and repenting of our sin, in light of Christ’s great work for us on the cross, and that we would not be self-deceived (Psalm 97:10, Galatians 6:7).
9. Ask God to cause us to be all the more zealous for gospel unity in the church (Ephesians 4:2-3).
10. Pray for the marriages and families, for Christ-like love toward one another, and for wisdom in raising our children (Ephesians 5:25, 6:4). Also, please pray for the many pregnant wives in the church.

Your financial gifts continue to be a needed blessing as we have a very young congregation, which typically means less giving. Currently, our internal giving is not quite enough to meet the monthly needs. The average church plant, if it does not die, takes about 3-5 years to become self-supporting. We pray toward becoming financially self-supporting soon as we are approaching our 3-year anniversary. In the meantime, if you would like to team up with us financially, please make checks out to “Cornerstone Church.” All of your offerings are tax-deductible and may be mailed to: Cornerstone Church, P.O. Box 980, Wilson, Wyoming, 83014.

For the advancement of the gospel,
Eric, on behalf of the church plant team: Leslie, Matt and Sera, Bryan and Ashley, Chris and Rebecca, Melissa, and Neill and Natalie