Our Blog

Dear friends: September 16

Recently, our church gave MaLinda and me the opportunity to attend a Well-Being Retreat in Montreat, North Carolina. The theme was Abundant Living, and we spent time thinking about balance, well-being, and what it really means to live abundantly. One phrase we heard throughout the retreat was, “But wait, there’s more!”

Since returning, I’ve found myself noticing the “more” all around us at Community Crossroads. I see it when volunteers step in for one another during health challenges, encourage and pray for each other, grieve together when we lose a friend, and remain flexible when needs and plans change. There is something special about watching a group of people become a true community through serving together.

More relationships to build. More neighbors to welcome. More opportunities to serve. More prayers to pray. More moments when someone quietly steps into a gap because another person needs them. More chances to remind one another that none of us was meant to do this alone.

I came home from Montreat thinking about balance and well-being, but also with a renewed appreciation for community. Abundant living doesn't necessarily mean filling our lives with more things to do. Sometimes it means slowing down enough to recognize the abundance God has already given us—in friendship, service, shared purpose, laughter, encouragement, and the people walking beside us.

And when we stop long enough to notice it, we may just discover: But wait, there’s more!

Jennifer Martinez
Director, Community Crossroads

Dear friends: September 9

Dear friends,

There is something especially meaningful about this time of year at the Early Education Center (EEC) as we watch our students transition into new classrooms and see just how much they have grown. They walk through the doors a little bigger, more confident, more independent, and even more curious about the world around them. At the same time, we had the joy of welcoming fifteen new children and their families who are just beginning their journeys at the EEC. On Monday, August 24, we celebrated these transitions with the warmth and hospitality that makes First Pres so special. Church members, pastors, and members of leadership welcomed families with warm smiles, helped little ones find their way to new classrooms, and shared in the excitement and blessings of a new beginning. It was a wonderful way to come together as a church community and set the tone for the year ahead.

Relationships and consistency are truly at the heart of the EEC. We are blessed with many longtime teachers who have spent years, even decades, loving generations of children and families. This year, we are especially excited to celebrate Mr. Daniel Connor’s 30th anniversary teaching at First Pres! Perhaps the best testament to his impact is that he is now teaching the children of some of the preschoolers he once taught. It is a beautiful reflection of the lasting relationships our teachers build and the trust families place in the EEC from one generation to the next.

I am incredibly thankful for our dedicated staff and for the continued work and support of our EEC Committee, church leadership, and congregation. Your prayers, encouragement, presence, and investment in this ministry help us create a community where every child and parent knows they are seen, valued, and loved. As we begin another school year, we are grateful for new friends and families, memories already made, the new ones just beginning, and the privilege of nurturing the next generation together.

Alyssa Martin
Director, Early Education Center