January 29, 2026
Dear Central Church,
I grew up close to the ocean in South Carolina, but tragically, my parents were not “beach people.” As a freshman in college, I remember telling people from land-locked states that I lived an hour from the Atlantic Ocean but had only been to the beach a handful of times (and that was usually in the winter for some church thing). This elicited all kinds of shock and consternation. I married a card-carrying beach girl, so my love for the ocean has increased exponentially!
Lauren and I are participating in a leadership development group that meets annually in a floating conference center (also known as a cruise ship). We had the chance to snorkel in Belize in an area Jacque Cousteau called “the greatest barrier reef in the entire Caribbean.” He was not being hyperbolic. It’s incredible! We swam with rays, sharks, and all kinds of colorful, tropical fish.
Above the surface of the water, the scenery was constant and unnuanced. Our view from the boat was endless miles of water that was calm and flat. One might think that not a whole lot of life was present. However, it was a different story when one descended into the water. With the help of a faithful guide, we discovered a new world that we had never experienced before. Life was thriving in environments I didn’t even know existed. To quote a famous crab named Sebastian, “Under the sea, Darling it's better, Down where it's wetter, Take it from me.”
Much of our journey of faith is like that reef—hidden from view, easy to overlook, and far more alive than we imagine. Above the surface, life can feel calm, flat, even uneventful, and we may be tempted to assume that little is happening. But Scripture reminds us that God does some of his best work out of sight: shaping hearts, forming character, and cultivating growth in places we don’t yet know how to name. Faith is learning to trust the faithful Guide who invites us to go deeper, confident that beneath the surface, God is at work—active, purposeful, and good. Even when we can’t see it, he can be trusted and he always provides!
This Sunday, Pastor Bethany Acre will continue our “Story Tellers” sermon series by looking again at the life of Abraham. This “Father of our Faith” had a promise from God but had to learn to live in the “not yet” of that promise. Pastor Bethany is a gifted and passionate communicator of God’s Word, and you will not want to miss what the Lord has put on her heart to share with us.
One item of note: our KickStart luncheon is this Sunday. This is designed for those new to Central but also is a great venue for those already connected to bring a friend. Who would you like to see get more connected to Central’s life-giving community? Invite them to KickStart!!
Until He's Finished,
Pastor Mark