Greetings, grace, mercy, and peace from our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. It is with excitement and experienced joy that I share with you as we together commit and consecrate
ourselves and this edifice to the Lord for his redemptive work throughout this region. As we approach this moment of consecration
and celebration let us join together and give praise to the Lord for the miracles and ministry that have gone forth as
a result of His favor and faithfulness.
As we look to this work and worship the Lord, let us be mindful
of the fact that great things can be accomplished by laying aside our differences and coming together in one accord in Jesus
Christ. The buildings that house the ministry of Mount Carmel is a testament to the effectual working of the faithful in spite
of color, creed, and carnal objections that presents itself anytime a focused and faithful body of believers unite to glorify
the Lord. Many thanks go out to the faithful friends of Mount Carmel who have invested their time, talent and treasure to
bring to fruition this ministry.
Six years and a month ago the birth of Mount Carmel came forth
in a period of storm and struggle. Like the birth of our Christ, Mount Carmel was born in an unlikely place and an uncertain
period. But in spite of the place and period, the Lord has provided His grace that has protected and provided along the way.
God has been kind to Mount Carmel and we gather to give Him thanks, praise, worship, and consecrate ourselves to Him and to
His work.
It is true saying that, "If
you just do what the God says do, everything will be all right". Let us approach this moment with sincere
thanks and move beyond this moment with sincere commitment to continue in the ways of the Lord. The Lord is not finished with
Mount Carmel nor is the work of Mount Carmel finished. We must continue to press onward and forward with the redemptive work
of God by sharing our faith in Jesus Christ and the Word of the Lord to those in our community, city, and country. We must
continue to be a church without walls allowing the rich and redeeming presence of God to shine in the lives of all people.
In the blessed context of Phillippians 3:13-14, "Forgetting those things which are behind and
reaching forth unto those things which are before us". Let us "press toward the mark for the prize of the High Calling
of God in Christ Jesus".
Dr. Michael E. Rutledge,
D. Min.
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