April 18, 2024

   Celebration seems to be a theme in the First Pres community these days, especially after attending the weddings of Sheriahna (FPC’s Children’s Minister) and Michael Anderson (FPC’s Technology Assistant) & Audrey and Anthony Stogner (one of FPC’s Custodians) this past weekend. We are also filled with joy over the recent engagement of Sophia Steele (FPC’s High School Minister) and her fiancé Jeremiah Guevin. Brady Crow (FPC’s Youth Ministry Assistant) has received an internship in school psychology with Fresno Unified, beginning at the start of August. He will be stepping down as paid staff, but will remain a faithful Youth Leader volunteering with Junior High ministry. I am personally grateful for this whole team and can’t help but celebrate all God is doing in their lives. They will no doubt continue to grow as disciples of Jesus and love others well for the sake of the gospel. We are blessed to have them and I encourage you to find fun ways to celebrate with them! 

   We can’t help but continue to celebrate! As many of you know, Aaron and I are expecting baby girl Cypress to come sometime near May 31st. We are excited for this new season of being parents and figuring out how to disciple a little one to know the abundant love and grace of Jesus. There is always a bit of nervousness to becoming first time parents, and it has been a complicated pregnancy, but the Lord is growing our dependance on him and remains faithful to us. I feel an intense amount of humility and gratitude for all of God’s provision, especially from the FPC community. As new parents who desire to see the next generation know and love Jesus with their whole lives, we are in the midst of praying and discerning how best to steward our gifts, talents and resources to invest in the Kingdom of God. 

   One of the ways we will be faithful stewards is through designated family leave, where Aaron and I both will be learning how to love and care for our newborn together. The current plan, which always has to be flexible because babies come when they want to, is to begin family leave June 1st and return to FPC July 14th. Then the following 6 weeks will be a hybrid of work from the office and work from home. This will give us an opportunity to figure out our new rhythms as a family of three while also returning to my call as a pastor at First Pres, Fresno. We are in the process of praying for a more flexible work situation for Aaron, who is actively looking for new employment. Would you join us in praying for God’s provision of new employment for Aaron and for this season of big changes in our family? 

   Cypress is a miracle baby and we are honored to be her parents. I’m even more excited when I think about how this community will love her and lead her to know God’s big love found in Jesus. We are not alone in raising our daughter and it is a gift to do it alongside you all. As someone who has witnessed FPC’s youth and children’s ministry for over a decade, I know this church values hospitality and discipleship. I’ve seen you love young people well and invest in their faith journeys. They have experienced the power and compassion of Jesus through this body of Christ. You’ve discipled well. Discipleship of the next generation is one way of stewarding our gifts and passions. God may be calling you to step into Youth and Children’s ministry this summer. The reality of my absence for half of the summer means we are in need of volunteers for Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, as well as hosts for events, and extra support for our Summer Staff program. Would you be willing to pray about how God may be leading you to invest in the next generation so they may know Jesus and his abundant love? How might Jesus desire to lead us in discipleship as we steward all He has lavished on us?

   Thank you for your prayers and continued support, the Kroekers are grateful to do life alongside such a beautiful, Christ-centered community!