To God be the glory! I pray that this letter finds you living at a high level, expecting God's best for the final four months of 2022.  Summer at Great Faith church was terrific as we celebrated “15” years of ministry in July, followed by our Family Conference in August.  The faith and unity during this time have infused our church with the momentum that will serve as a catalyst propelling us to finish strong in 2022.  As we officially enter fall this month, seasonally, this is a time of hope for the harvest we expect this year.  I believe the best is yet to come for you, and you will see it!  

As I was praying concerning the vision for this fall, I heard the Lord say, “Remember what I did for you in 1993?” I recalled a time almost 30 years ago when God called me into ministry and increased me financially more than at any time in my life until then.  Although 1993 ended well, it did not begin that way.  

I began 1993 feeling stuck!  I felt spiritually stuck in the church because it felt like many of my peers were promoted in ministry, but God had forgotten about me.  Socially I felt stuck because when I surrendered my life to Jesus, it meant walking away from all of my close friendships.  I believed God would give me new ones to replace them, but I soon discovered that it would not happen as quickly as I would like.  I felt stuck secularly because, at my job, my employer consistently passed me over for promotion.  What made matters worse was that the people selected for the job I applied for were people my employer recently hired and asked me to train?!  During this time of frustration, I sought the Lord for answers as to why it seemed like I was unable to move forward.  God answered me with the following scriptures.

What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, not to be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Matthew 6:31-33 MSG

But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Hebrews 11:6 KJV

The Lord revealed to me the answer to my frustration was not focusing on spiritual promotion, social partnerships, or secular prosperity but on seeking His presence.  Seeking the Kingdom of God first would cause the things I was chasing after to chase after me.  The other revelation was that my faith was the key to operating with the diligent consistency necessary to receive this promise.  After hearing this, I reprioritized my focus immediately.  Within a few months, God turned my whole situation around.  I went from feeling stuck to enjoying phenomenal success.  Spiritually I was selected as a deacon by my pastor and then called by God to preach my first message as a licensed minister. From a social aspect, God revealed the quality of close friends He had given me, not the quantity of the ones I left to follow Him are the most important in my life.  Secularly, my employer sought me out, offering me two different Jobs greater than the ones that I applied for previously! To God be the glory!!  

As I recalled my testimony from 1993, I realized that I overcame the frustration of being stuck by coming home to the Father. God has given me the assignment for others who feel stuck spiritually, socially, or secularly to come home to the Father.  Home is where you find your help to become free from the frustration of being stuck. 

This testimony birthed the theme for our fall vision campaign. “Come Home to the Father.” The Prodigal son story recorded in Luke chapter 15 is a fantastic illustration of a person who returned home to his father.  After suffering the consequences of the poor choices that caused him to become frustrated and stuck, He came to himself and decided to come home to his father’s house.  The posture the Prodigal son’s father took is the same posture God takes when you decide to come home. “Restoration”

“While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him coming and felt sorry for him. So he ran to him and hugged and kissed him. The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and good sandals on his feet. And bring our best calf and kill it so that we can celebrate with plenty to eat. My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to have a party. Luke 15:20-24 ERV

• The Prodigal son’s Father restored His son’s possessions, saying, “get the best clothes and put them on him.”  

• The Prodigal son’s Father restored His son’s position by saying, “put a ring on his finger,” signifying his position of authority in the family.

• The Prodigal son’s Father restored His son’s pleasure, saying, “Bring the best food to eat, and let’s celebrate because my son has  now come home.”

  Decide to come home and expect the Father to restore your possessions, position, and pleasure in Him!  

As I teach the word of God to increase your faith during our “Come Home to the Father” fall vision campaign, I am asking you to open your heart to grow in the areas of covenant, contentment, calling, and collaboration with God.  These are essential to fulfilling your purpose in the Kingdom, removing the frustration of being stuck, and restoring you spiritually, socially, and secularly. 

Thank you for reading my letter, and I hope it blessed you.  I am so grateful for your partnership with the special assignment that God has given to us to Make Lives Better by faith. 

- Pastor Patrick Ligon

PS. I do not want you to miss some of the fantastic things we have planned for you.  Therefore I have attached a listing of important dates for fall 2022 at Great Faith Church. (see below)