By Wayne Williams -- I have been fortunate over the years to have visited several other countries and to have had the opportunity to worship with Christians of different languages, cultures, traditions, and practices. Whether it was a congregation in the Philippines, Spain, Jordan, South...
By Wayne Williams -- Well just déjà vu! With Pastor Jay’s departure, we are entering a new chapter in the life of Greater Portland Bible Church…again. We should be pretty good at new chapters by now, having had four of them in the last nine years, not counting several...
By Wayne Williams -- Strange. No one has yet asked me what I learned on our recent pastoral visit to a few of our Global Partners. I’ve volunteered a bit of what I learned to some, but here’s my chance to answer the un-asked question. I learned, first, that our Global...
By Wayne Williams -- I’ve been taking the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course for the last few months. It’s an important part of becoming competent in my new role as Global Partners Director for our church. One of our beloved Global Partners told...
Sunday begins our annual Global Partners Emphasis. For three Sundays, we will turn our attention more fully to the 13 families and individuals we have sent to represent our Lord Jesus to the nations and to our responsibility as a local church to bring God’s blessing to people beyond the...
By Wayne Williams -- Paulette and I were on vacation out of state for two Sundays in January and, as enjoyable and refreshing as it was, it was really good to be back with the community we love last week. And to share in the Lord’s table with you all was especially meaningful. Communion...
By Wayne Williams -- "For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” - Hebrews 2:17 I have known the...
By Wayne Williams -- I know, I know, I know. Every year we complain about how much earlier the stores begin their Christmas push. We all do it. So much so that complaining about it has become one of our holiday traditions. You would think that we wouldn’t be surprised anymore by how soon...
By Wayne Williams -- Let me take this opportunity, on behalf of Paulette and myself, to say “Thank you!” in writing to Pastor Jay, our Elders, and to the people of our beloved Greater Portland Bible Church for the spectacular and gracious dinner party in early June, for the generous...
By Wayne Williams -- We are at that point in our pastoral transition process where I am finding myself saying, “This is my last______ [fill in the blank: staff meeting, sermon, elder meeting…] as lead pastor.” So, this is my last blog as lead pastor. It’s a good time...