Mission Partner Update - Claude Atcho, January 2024

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 

- St. Paul to the Phillipian church

Through your prayers, support, and giving, you have been “day one” partners in God’s work at Church of the Resurrection. Thank you. I give thanks to God for your partnership with us through giving. God used your giving to fuel the steady and sweet work He has done among us in 2023:

• Planting a church. After four months of a soft launch, Resurrection officially launched public worship on Easter 2023, worshiping Christ, preaching the gospel, feasting at the Lord’s table, and welcoming new people Sunday by Sunday.
• New Growth, New Location. Four months after our launch, we moved half a mile to Venable Elementary to accommodate numerical growth and expand our kids ministry.
• People Experiencing Gospel Community. Over 70+ people participated in our “community dinners,” meals designed to facilitate gospel community in our new church. 
• Launching small groups. We launched our first round of small groups this fall, meeting regularly around the city over meals and prayer.
• A new jail ministry. In November, we started communion services at the local jail on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month to minister to incarcerated believers.

In 2023, our focus has been gospel community. In 2024, we will focus on being a gospel community on mission. This emphasis includes our new service to the jail and preaching and training focused on mission in word and deed through our spheres of influence. I’m thankful that your giving has enabled us to be an outpost for the gospel in Charlottesville.

However, like Paul, I am also deeply grateful for your generosity because it shows that the gospel has gotten deep into you. In Philippians 4, Paul thanks the Philippians for their giving, but he says he seeks not the gift but the fruit that increases to their credit (Phil. 4:17). In other words, what’s better than the gift is that the gift is proof of God’s grace transforming them. Giving is worship—it’s our response to grace. And I’m thankful for God’s grace at work in you. May our God fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Blessings,
Claude