Ken Edwards, Senior Pastor

In your time of trouble, when hurt and despair are there to grieve you, know that the Lord will never leave you. He will bring you courage. Know that the God who sent His Son to die that you might live will never leave you lost and alone in His beloved world. Go ye now in peace. (by Joyce Eilers)

On Sunday, May 9, after a week of dealing with one of the most devastating natural disasters to hit our area, our youth led us in worship. I awoke that morning wishing that I could preach or have time to address the congregation at Belmont, but that was not our plan. It was Youth Sunday and our graduating seniors, youth members, Open Door Singers, and Wesley Ringers were the leaders. Also, we had scheduled the baptisms of two baby girls who had been welcomed into the family of our congregation during the past year.

As I sat in worship and listened to the deep and profound reflections of our youth, many of whom had been touched by the flood that devastated our city, and as I assisted with the baptisms of these little girls, I couldn’t help but think of the profound hope we experience as people of faith. I noted that our youth, and these little babies, represent the rainbows of hope at the end of the flood.

There were many rainbows of hope during that difficult week: the people who stepped up to assist their neighbors; the quick response of people on our staff like Lennie, Wayne, Axel, and Willie; Sunday school class members who stepped up to assist persons in our church whose homes were flooded; and other persons who organized our church’s response, like Anna Cramer, Adam Kelchner, Lanecia Rouse, and Virginia Kessen. Nashvillians and Belmonters showed the world what it means to love our neighbors.

So at the end of worship on May 9, when the Open Door Singers offered the beautiful benediction printed above, I was deeply grateful for their presence, for helping us process all that had happened in the week before, and for the bright future of our church and our city.