Give Thanks, Call on His Name, Tell His Story

"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!" 1 Chronicles 16:8 David spoke these words when the ark of the covenant returned to Jerusalem. In that moment of great joy, he called the people to give thanks, to call on the Lord, and to make known God’s wonderful deeds. As I approach three months at RBCPC, these same themes continue to fill my mind and heart. GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD I give thanks to God for all the people at RBCPC. It’s been a busy two months since September, and I have participated in Arabian Night, Trunk or Treat, Helping Hands, Operation Christmas Child, and two youth community theater performances (to name a few). What I’ve witnessed is remarkable: genuine warmth, unconditional love, and sacrificial service from staff and members alike. These events take many hands, and yet they are carried out with joy. This church truly believes God has called us to love our neighbors in tangible ways, and it is a beautiful sight. It is right to give thanks to God for all the people here at RBCPC. CALL UPON HIS NAME David then calls God’s people to “call upon His name”—to rely fully on the Lord. A wise elder recently gave me a small plaque that said, “Do not be afraid of change. Be afraid of not changing.” Change is inevitable, especially in seasons of new leadership. But David reminds us that our confidence does not come from stability in circumstances but from trust in God Himself. So we will pray. We will seek God’s vision together. We will depend on Him as a Session, staff, ministry teams, and members, trusting that He holds every transition in His hands. MAKE KNOWN HIS DEEDS People of RBCPC, you have powerful stories to tell. I have heard stories of God’s faithfulness from those who escaped communism. I have heard how you received love in moments of heart-wrenching loss, when the church surrounded you with care. I have heard how you prayed and prayed through the biggest struggles, and how God answered. Your stories remind us that God prevailed. We have many God-sized stories to tell a world that may be uncertain about faith or hesitant toward the church. How should we respond? Through our testimonies and genuine deeds of love. Love has a way of breaking down walls. Let’s make known God’s goodness in our worship, in our generosity, and in our love to this world. I give thanks to God and I give thanks to God for each of you. It is a joy to be part of a church that desires to shine the light of Christ from this hill. Together, we will give thanks to the Lord. Together, we will call upon His name. And together, we will make known His deeds among the nations. Jason Ko