Dear Church,

First of all: Thank you. Thank you for the gift of life.

Thank you for every Sunday School, Children's Church, Pioneer's Club, AWANA, Youth Group, Father-Son Banquet, Sunrise Service, Camp meeting, Men's Retreat, Missions Trip, Winter Retreat, and Summer Camp I ever went to. Thank you for that guy who prayed with me at Lost Lake, after the bonfire, when I prayed to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior somewhere around 1985. He was really nice, and that was a turning point in my life.

Thanks for great men like Randy, Bob, Matt, Steve, Stacey, and Allen, who spent time with me, talked with me about Jesus, made me laugh, and taught me about the Bible. I still think of some of them as big brothers and second fathers, and I wouldn't be who I am without them.

Speaking of fathers, thanks for my own Dad. He's not perfect, but he's about as good as they get. Thank you for teaching us about humility, and how to have good families and relationships and ...