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Today is Rev. Dr. Kevin Johnson’s final sermon as pastor of Bright Hope. Please read the letter he shared below:
Beloved, on tomorrow, October 26th at 10:15am, please join Kimya Johnson, our family, an me as we worship together at Bright Hope Baptist Church.
For more than seven years, Bright Hope has been our family’s spiritual home. It is the church where our three children accepted Jesus, were baptized by me, and served in ministry—as an usher, praise dancers, and choir members.
Yes, Bright Hope is the church where we worshiped together as a family, where we served, where we grew spiritually, and where we have met some of the most amazing families and individuals. As our daughter, Lena, said tonight when we reflected, as family, upon these past seven years, “Bright Hope is the only church I have ever known.”
Bright Hope will always be special to us. Watching our three children embrace the Christian faith and grow up at Bright Hope will be something we will never forget. For this alone, we are eternally grateful!
Serving as your pastor has been an honor. I love you Bright Hope, and thank you for the privilege to serve you. I thank you for opportunity to deliver Sunday sermons, teach weekly Bible studies , visit you in the hospital and nursing homes, counsel you when life became rough, officiate at your weddings, bless your children, and, yes, minister and comfort you when you lost a loved one. I also thank you for the way in which you opened your hearts to our family, invited us to your homes for meals, or helped us settle into Philadelphia and find a great “cheesesteak” (smiles).
As God prepares you and us for our next season, I am excited about Bright Hope’s future. Similarly, I am excited for what God is currently doing with and in my family. 1 John 3:2 says, “…it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him.”
Beloved, I truly believe that “The Best Is Yet to Come!” All we have to do is stay faithful, stay in God’s Word, and stay on our knees. If we do this, then God will not only move in our respective lives, but God will also bless us each abundantly and more than we can imagine!
As always, #keepthefaith and keep #daringtoimagine!
Pastor Johnson
