Paul Hudson's Message: Building the Altar of Surrender in Uncertain Times

Worship and Community Engagement

• 🎶 The service began with worship and prayer, emphasizing God's presence, protection, and mercies, encouraging authentic praise.
• 📣 Announcements included an "Every Woman Brunch" on Jan 31st, "The Outpouring" worship night on Feb 1st, and important updates regarding road closures and church emails.
• ☕ A new "Monday Life Cafe" initiative was introduced, opening the church cafe for community, fellowship, and support for isolated individuals and food bank users, starting Jan 26th.
• 🙏 The importance of offering and tithes was highlighted, encouraging giving back to God not just financially, but also talents and gifts, acknowledging God's faithfulness.

The Altar of Surrender

• 💡 Regional Leader Paul Hudson's message focused on rebuilding the altar and the "altar of surrender" in uncertain times.
• 📖 Drawing from Abraham's example (Genesis 12:8), Abraham built an altar in the "in between" place, symbolizing surrender when he didn't know the way forward.
• 🔑 This surrender means letting go of the need to know what tomorrow brings and trusting God's plan, even without clarity or guarantees.

God's Presence in Uncertainty

• 🏕️ Jesus "pitched his tent" (tabernacled) among humanity, entering into vulnerability, mess, and chaos, demonstrating God's close and personal presence in difficult situations.
• ✝️ The cross is Jesus' altar, built of wood and nails, standing as proof that God doesn't observe suffering from a distance but enters into it, offering grace and deliverance.
• 💖 God's glory is pitched in the heart of believers, meaning there is no wilderness or difficulty beyond His reach.

Continuing in Faith

• 🚀 Building an altar of surrender releases believers to continue forward, even without all the answers or perpetual clarity.
• ✅ It's about holding onto God's promises and not giving up in the "in between" season, trusting that God has already spoken and will fulfill His word.
• 🤝 The message concluded with an altar call for surrender and a call for volunteers to serve in the church, emphasizing involvement and commitment.