A New “Adventure of Faith” begins!
As I sit here at my desk one final time before it all gets packed up I wanted to take just a moment of your time to express our heartfelt thanks to many who have made it possible for us to build the foundation of Calvary Chapel Los Banos and now called “Connect.” I had always known what my role here was and it was to build the foundation for a good solid bible teaching fellowship. That foundation is now completed and we find ourselves now taking another “Adventure of Faith” this time into the state of Oregon where at this point we (have no idea what He has for us) only know that God has said its time.
A special thank you to John Reyna from Calvary Madera who assisted as well as both Gene Pensiero & Geno Pensiero of Calvary Hanford who helped us with the initial startup of Calvary Los Banos. To my brother Tony Diaz for all you have done to help me to make it through one more day and for believing in me. To Rick Lemaster & Mary who helped me survive through a season at the cotton gin (you saved my life) as well as looking out for Linda and I. To Rene & Debbie who came and helped Linda and I as well as the host of men who have come and gone may the Lord bless you. To Greg Sward who I had the blessing to cross paths with and will never forget your faithfulness week end and week out no matter how you felt. To Mary Wood for all your support but mostly your prayers for Linda and I. For my brother Mike Florant & his wife Jill you will never know how much we needed that weeks rest and all that you both have done for us to assist in the foundation building of Calvary/Connect. To Al & Olga Garnica for being there whenever we needed you and for trusting us to see Miranda through. To Richard Stewart who God allowed us to become brothers not only in ministry but in life you are one of a kind my brother. To my brother Geno his bride Vivien & his two sons Geno jr & Emilio who came into mine and Linda’s life just at the right time and became more than friends for you are our family now. God filled the void we had with others who understand us thank you God! To Jon & Miranda Cain who without you we would not have been able to last 6 ½ years. You two have been my legs & Linda’s heart to press on when there was no more left. Thank you for weathering the many Sunday’s of being around me (I know you did it for Linda ha ha.) Every Pastor & his wife would do well to have someone like you two in their corner. To my mother in law Norma who helped Linda and I to be able to juice so I could last, you are the greatest!
The greatest of thanks is to my lovely wife Linda who gave 8 yrs out of our marriage to assist & help where ever she was needed. For the many anniversaries & birthdays as well as holidays you gave up to complete the task that was before you. It truly has taken 3 women to replace all that you had to do and no one can ever repay you for the countless hours you worked diligently serving the Lord. Your reward truly awaits you my dear.
I thank God for all of you and for loving me enough to stick with me and supporting me to accomplish the task that was before me. As always God gets the glory for anything that is good and I humbly accept the bad. So I will sign off in the current role that I had to become a support for those who remain, to finish the work that God has begun!
Phi 1:3-6 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Always in Him
Pastor Al Abdulla