The elders met for their monthly meeting on the morning of Wednesday, April 22. While the regularity of our monthly meetings was normal, the medium that we used to meet was far from characteristic.

As with many meetings these days and at this time in our life, we are gathering virtually through Zoom. Virtual meetings require some getting used to, as I'm sure many have already experienced. The silent staring, for one, is a strange phenomenon as we all wait on the host to invite each one to speak.

The household noises are a foreign experience to typical formal meetings. And if one Zoom member chooses to carry his device around the house to refill his cup of coffee, well, that too is a rare experience, shall we say, for observers.

Notwithstanding, we are thankful for virtual administrative meetings, counseling meetings, education meetings and the like, during these trying times of isolation and for many, a level of loneliness that we have not experienced. 

May these times remind us of many who are shut-ins because of bodily suffering, our brothers and sisters that experience great bouts of loneliness as they deal with depression, and those throughout the world who are suffering persecution in isolation from their church family for the sake of the gospel.

May we be moved to sympathetic prayer and ministry for our suffering family as we seek the comfort of God on their behalf.

May we be astounded that our Lord Jesus Christ took the road of a suffering servant when he was clothed in humanity and through his human nature endured ultimate abandonment at the cross, bearing the sins of his children, paying the separating guilt and punishment of his elect, receiving the God-forsaken wrath of God that his family might be brought into communion, fellowship, and the eternal enjoyment of God's blessed and joyful presence forever.

When Jesus cried out as our representative second Adam, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", it was that through Christ's resurrection, ascension, and glory in Heaven at the Father's right hand, we would not be forsaken under the darkness of God's judgment, but be eternally accepted into the light of God's presence. 

Now, as I close with a few comments on our church finances, I believe we can be encouraged with this truth, namely, that the Savior who loves us with an everlasting love, will take care of us in our daily needs as he provides each day for the flowers of the field and the birds of the air (Matthew 6).

Indeed while this brief elder's report began with the height of considering God's love through Christ and seems to ker-plunk with a review of money that passes away, let us not forget that God cares even for the details of our life, for he knows even the number of the hairs on our head. As Psalm 139 states: God is acquainted with all our ways. We have a God who is both transcendent and personal. 

So, in conclusion, as to the matter of average attendance for the month, well that's hard to say. We figure from our YouTube presence "in spirit," there are an average of 200 groups watching and listening to the ministry of the Word in praise and preaching. 

We praise the Lord for this unique medium to gather in spirit around the preaching of God's Word. Now, I'll admit it is a strange thing to say that we are gathered in spirit while acknowledging that "in spirit" is a far cry from our corporate gathering, yet, we are reminded that the apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthian church in his epistle by reminding them of his presence in spirit (1 Corinthians 5).

As to our church finances, general fund giving was $72,000 for the month of March against a budget of 85,000. Having said that, we are reminded that our expenses for the month have been simplified since our ministries have moved to a virtual emphasis.

Of course, not all our expenses are virtual. Our year-to-date net income was positive at $94,000. Looking at the annual budget overall, we are surpassing our budget for 2020.

We are so thankful that the OBC body is giving abundantly to the ministry of the gospel, especially with a heart towards benevolence to meet the needs of those in the body who are in financial need during this time. 

In closing, I leave you with this wonderful benediction: "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." Jude 24-25

On behalf of the elders, 

Chris Peterson