Paul wrote to the church at Philippi: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…”
Reba and I know how he felt. I can’t tell you the number of times daily I’ve been moved to stop what I’m doing and thank our heavenly Father for the blessing Covenant Presbyterian has been to our family. Reba has often said to me over the last few weeks, “You know, this is supposed to feel so much harder than it has.” God has richly blessed us through your generosity, and we are grateful to both you and Him.
While it would be impossible for me to mention everyone by name in this short article, I would like to especially thank a few families who have been particularly gracious to us. First off, Jeff and Kay Gaither agreed to let us live with them several weeks before they even knew us. We lived with them for over three weeks and were treated like members of their family. Thank you!
Tracy and Davis Brown both drove to south Alabama to pick up our dog, and Tom and Sandi Schreiner agreed to keep and care for him for several weeks. There’s no way to repay that kind of generosity so, like Paul, our family spends lots of time thanking God for you.
While I’m on the subject of family, I thought I’d tell you a little about who we are. Reba and I met while working at a small camp in North Carolina. I liked her from the beginning, and we quickly became close friends. Several months later we nervously confessed our feelings for each other, and a year or so later, we were married. Reba is a tireless, motivated servant. She expresses her love through service and is frankly a wonderful wife and mother. I can’t imagine attempting to do ministry, or anything for that matter, without her by my side.
Four years into our marriage Reba came home one afternoon and asked how my day had been. I told her it had been hard before asking her about hers. She said, “It was a long day, and I’ve been feeling a little sick. But now I feel better because I just found out I’m pregnant.” After picking myself up off of the ground, we prayed for our new child and began making preparations.
Michaela Ellen Ruth Gregory was born just prior to our relocation to Dothan, Alabama. Like her mother, she possesses boundless supplies of energy and enthusiasm. I’ve frequently wondered about what we did before she came along. I honestly can’t remember.
For Christmas the next year Reba gave me the news that another Gregory would be joining us. Christopher Forrest Gregory was born in August 2006. Two words describe him: High Energy. He’s brought unimaginable joy into our lives but the kid never slows down. It’s unbelievable.
That’s our family in a nutshell. My hope in writing this is for you to get a little fuller picture of the servants God has brought to you. We are available any time and are excited about the relationships that God is already developing here at CPC.
Chris Gregory