Happy Wednesday to all! 

I’ve just returned from Michigan, where I celebrated my brother Toby’s 30th anniversary as pastor of First Baptist Church of Leslie. It was a grand occasion, with over 150 people gathering to honor his ministry. When Toby was first called to the church, there were only 21 members. At his interview, someone asked what he would change if he were to come. With tears in his eyes, he said, “I would change everything. Look around—there are 21 people here, and this church is dying. We have to change things now.”

They invited him to “come and change us,” and that’s exactly what he did. Together with his wife, Shelli, and their two sons, he built youth, music, cancer support, and grief ministries, and led the renewal of the church campus. Thirty years later, the fruits of that change are clear—God has blessed their faithfulness.

Saint Matthew had a part in their story, too. About five years ago, I asked you to pray for Toby when he was diagnosed with blood cancer. You prayed, and today he is cancer-free. I gave him a big hug from all of us and told him how proud we are of him.

Toby also preached a powerful message called “The Dirtiest Towel.” I’ll share more about that the next time I preach—it’s one you won’t want to miss!

Your prayers are mighty tools in God’s tool chest. Keep using them to do all the good you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways that good can be done.

I’ll leave you with a question: If you could change anything about Saint Matthew, what would you change?

Please share your thoughts with me at mary.teague@saintmatthewumc.com or in writing at the church. This is God’s church, and we are called together to care for it and for our community. Look around at what God is doing through us—and imagine what more He can do when we open our hearts to change.

Love and blessings to all,
Mary