Pastor Alan Permenter
Praise God for His faithfulness. Over the past year, we’ve seen Him do more than we could have prayed or imagined in the life of Sparr Baptist Church. As our congregation has grown in both number and diversity, I’ve been reminded that growth always brings blessing as well as a need for renewed clarity. Through recent conversations and quiet prayer, the Lord has impressed on my heart the need for this pastoral reflection as we move into the Thanksgiving season.
A Heart of Gratitude
This year, my heart overflows with thanksgiving for so many evidences of God’s grace.
I’m thankful for our senior adults, whose steadfast faith has anchored our church through change. Their commitment has produced ministries like Threads 329, which draws people together through shared interests and community.
I’m thankful for the simplicity and sincerity of our worship. About two years ago, God began a renewal in our gatherings. He led us through seasons of joyful participation and honest evaluation—asking hard questions about who we were willing to become in order to worship Him faithfully and reach the broader community. It hasn’t all gone according to plan, but God’s grace has been enough. New voices have joined in, and our congregation sings with conviction born of gratitude.
I’m thankful for our women’s ministry, which began with a single Bible study and now includes weekly discipleship gatherings on multiple days. Women are growing in spiritual friendship and in the Word, and their faithfulness has inspired others.
From their example grew a men’s ministry that now gathers twenty or more men each week. What encourages me most is not the number but the authenticity. Men are learning to speak truth with love, to disagree with grace, and to seek unity that reflects Christ. I count myself blessed to be part of that process.
Each Sunday evening, from 5:00–5:30, the fellowship meal and conversation in our church fellowship hall is remarkable—laughter, conversation, encouragement, and care for one another. These simple moments remind me that community is not built by programs but by people who genuinely enjoy being together in Christ.
I’m thankful for our school partnerships—with Sparr Elementary, Faith Champions 329, and The Rock at North Marion Middle and High Schools. Through these, we’ve shared hope with students, families, and teachers alike.
I’m thankful for those who serve through Wear Gloves and Education for Life, extending compassion to people beyond our walls.
I’m thankful for our prayer warriors—those unseen saints whose faithfulness sustains every visible ministry.
I’m thankful for the brothers and sisters who walk beside me with honesty and courage, asking questions, offering solutions, and strengthening the ministry through shared accountability.
I’m thankful for our financial stewards who manage the church’s resources with integrity, ensuring that every dollar honors Christ’s mission. Along with these stewards, I am thankful for the faithful contributors in the body who make sure to give sacrificially from the blessings the Lord provides.
I’m thankful for those who serve quietly to protect and care for others, ensuring that all ages can worship and learn in safety.
I’m thankful for our small group leaders who remain flexible and faithful as our church family grows and changes, and for the fellowship that continues after worship—families eating together, sharing stories, and building friendships in Christ.
And I’m deeply thankful for the new faces God continues to bring. Some have joined as members; others are still deciding, but each person adds something valuable to our church family.
A Call to Responsibility
Gratitude in Scripture is always paired with responsibility. The Old Testament feasts were times of celebration, but also of remembrance and renewal—calls to return to God’s purposes and to live faithfully as His people.
So, as we celebrate this season of thanksgiving, I’m reminded that God’s blessings come with a call: to stay close to His heart and steadfast in His mission.
What God Has Been Teaching Me
In recent weeks, as I’ve prayed for our church, the Lord has reminded me of several truths we must hold onto as His people:
We are an equipping community. Our vision is to glorify Christ by helping believers grow in faith, hope, and love—reflecting His character at home, at work, and in the community.
We are all vulnerable. None of us are immune to the enemy’s attempts to divide through busyness, pride, hurt, or apathy. But we can stand firm together, forgiving, repairing, and restoring one another.
God’s Word must remain central. It is our anchor in preaching, singing, teaching, and daily life.
Every person matters. Whether new or long-time, young or old, God has brought each one to Sparr for a reason.
Equipping requires conviction and compassion. We hold fast to biblical truth while extending Christ’s grace to those still learning to walk in it with us.
We must invest in families. God is raising a generation that will either be shaped by the culture around them or by the Word that stands above it. Our calling is sacred. We are entrusted to equip parents, model godliness, and disciple children with conviction anchored in grace. To honor that trust, we must confront the pull of a distracted age, dig deeply into God’s truth, and bring His unchanging Word to bear on every part of life without compromise. This also means choosing truth over tradition—allowing Scripture, not nostalgia or comfort, to define who we are and how we disciple the next generation. When the truth of Christ remains central, every tradition and every trend finds its proper place under His authority.
Discipleship means walking together. Every believer needs someone to come alongside—not just with a handshake or handout, but with time, truth, and encouragement to grow in Christ.
A Closing Reflection
Thanksgiving is not only what we say—it’s how we live.
May we continue to be a church that glorifies Christ through faith, hope, and love; that equips one another to reflect His character; and that brings the hope and healing of Jesus to our community and to communities around the world.
With gratitude and hope,
Pastor Alan
