July 20, 2018

Dear Cathedral Family,

I trust that you have been enjoying summer at Cathedral. We are so blessed to have such an amazing teaching staff to minister while I take some time to recharge and hear the Lord for our next season.

Summer is always full of activity around Cathedral. We had a fantastic Vacation Bible School in June with over 300 children. Our FUEL ministry took over 100 teens on a REFUEL retreat just last week. And SERVE DAY this past Saturday – what a great turnout to bless our community! All I can say is YAY GOD! Thank you to everyone who volunteered or sponsored a child or teen to be a part of these life-changing events.

This week, our campus has come alive with the arts in Create Camp. Our Worship Arts team along with 14 students from Second Edition, a traveling ministry group from Lee University, have been investing in rising third through eighth graders. You’re invited to their Grand Finale tonight at 6:30pm for an art show and original performance. Don’t miss this Sunday as Second Edition leads us in worship. I’m confident that you’ll be blessed!

Coming up on July 29, our teens ministry (FUEL) will be doing the services, giving you a highlight of what happened on their REFUEL retreat. Over 80 teens asked if they could come back and be baptized with their church family. We’re so thrilled to get to celebrate their declaration of faith together.

I’m looking forward to being back with you on Sunday, August 12. Joining me will be Pastor Charles Simpson. You may remember him from our 30th Anniversary celebration. It’s going to be a powerful service.

It’s such a blessing to do life together as a family here at Cathedral. We laugh together and grow together and sometimes we cry together. Just this week, Nancy Strickland, a dear friend of Cathedral and our former Cathedral Preschool director, went to be with the Lord. Many of you were touched by her life and ministry. Her Celebration of Life service will be this Saturday, July 21 at 11AM. The family will receive friends at 10AM. Both will be in the Worship Center. Our deepest sympathies go out to her family. We rejoice that she is now healed and whole with her Lord and Savior.

I think this verse that Nancy’s family chose to honor her and the God she loved will serve us all well as we move forward into this next season:

Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.
~ Ephesians 3:20-21 (The Passion Translation)

Dean and I are praying for you and look forward to being back together.

Blessings,

Mike Lewis
Cathedral