Do you know your church's history? Do you know of the love and sacrifice of those who have invested their time, finances, sweat, and tears to establish God’s Word in your community?


A History Lesson by MELISSA STONE


Do you know who your parents are? Grandparents? Great-grandparent — on each side of your family? My husband’s uncle researched the Stone family tree and found out that one of the ancestors was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Pretty cool, right?


I currently teach sixth grade history in a public


school in Omaha, Nebraska. My curriculum covers early man through the Middle Ages. I’m always looking for innovative ways to relate and connect the chasm of the millennia to my 11 and 12-year-old students; emphasizing that the current generation of the human race needs to learn from our ancestors so that we don’t unnecessarily repeat previous mistakes. (My hidden agenda is also to quell the question, “Miss, why do we have to learn this?”)


But this article is not about ancient world history. It’s


about the last 50 plus years of Heartland Bible Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. It’s about the legacy of the people who have gone before to light the way and those who are still carrying the torch; the impact not just on their congrega- tion or their side of town, but around the globe.


Last fall, I was honored to attend Heartland's anni-


versary celebration and hear the history of the formation of the church, it’s pastors, and lay people. It wasn’t just a celebration. It was a worship service. The focus was on God’s glorious faithfulness. Mr. Phil Boehr’s song, “Find Us Faithful,” spoke to the deepest recesses of my soul. If you don’t know the song or perhaps haven’t heard it in


a while, I encourage you to find and listen to it, maybe a couple of times. Hearing it sung with deep emotion cre- ated such a longing in me to be a faithful servant of God that tears coursed down my cheeks.


Do you know your church’s history? Do you know


of the love and sacrifice of those who have invested their time, finances, sweat, and tears to establish God’s Word in your community? If not, I recommend that you spend time learning about your shared “family” history. Understanding your history can create a bond that spans generations and personalities. Knowing your history may fan the flames of commitment to leaving a legacy for your church’s spiritual posterity.


May each of us long to be faithful wherever God is


leading us, no matter how mundane the task may be, because the next generation is always watching and listening.


“To God Be The Glory! Great things He has done”


— through Heartland Bible Church, and through your local church. May He continue to bless you richly. I pray for continued strength on your journey as you carry the torch to all, near and far!


Melissa Stone is the wife of FEBC President Kevin Stone,


and serves on the Worship Team at Crosspoint Bible Church in Omaha, Nebraska. She teaches history at a public middle school and loves time spent with her family and her two dogs, or riding her motorcycle.


FELLOWSHIP FOCUS, FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 16


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