Getting To Know You…

“So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.”
-1 Thessalonians 2:8 NRSV

Getting to know you, Getting to know all about you. Getting to like you, Getting to hope you like me.
-Julie Andrews in The King and I

As I was doing my devotional reading this week, I encountered the above words from the Apostle Paul found in his first letter to the Church at Thessalonica. These words, coupled with the refrain sung by Julie Andrews in The King and I, have been resonating deeply within me. First Baptist Church Family, I love and care for you deeply. I have poured that love into sermon preparation and delivery, Bible study preparation and facilitation, and even into these Pastor’s Pen entries. But while I have had moments of sharing with a handful of disciples, I am determined to know and be known by each member of the congregation. I believe that in order to Move Forward Together, we have to know those with whom we share the journey.

You already know that I am a wife to a true gentleman and mother to two amazing daughters, but you may not know that when the sillies get a hold of us, our laughter is contagious. You know that I love music, but you may not know that Hymns and Hip-Hop are my two favorite genres. You know that I am a nerd, but you may not know that I was a contestant and winner on a Nickelodeon game show, “Make the Grade” in 1989. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I am determined to know you, all of you. Please stop by the office sometime or make an appointment so we can spend some time together.

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Donna Owusu-Ansah