The Palm Beach Lakes congregation began in the home of sister Lena B. Eades on Okeechobee Road in 1923 and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this weekend. In some ways, 100 years is a long time, and in other ways, it’s not that long. What has characterized this congregation over these years? It is often stated by those who have been part of this church, “Palm Beach Lakes is a special place.” Why is that? What has made PBL so special over all these years?
Five men will be speaking on Sunday and focusing their lessons on the theme, “A Strong and Faithful Congregation.” Their five topics will focus on Biblical qualities that God expects His church to have. Perhaps it is these five qualities that have made Palm Beach Lakes what it is today. “A Strong and Faithful Congregation…(1) Seeks Lost Souls, (2) Teaches Sound Doctrine, (3) Dreams Together of Heaven, (4) Loves One Another Fervently, and (5) Follows Strong, Faithful Leaders.” May God ensure that these things always characterize this church!
But one cannot think of the specialness of Palm Beach Lakes without thinking of the PEOPLE. We teach our children that the church is not a building but the people. While this congregation has worshiped in four different buildings in its 100 years, it is the people that have made the impact! We ought to thank God for its elders (23 men have served), its deacons (96 men have served), its evangelists (31 men have served in various capacities), its Bible class teachers, its secretaries, its servants, its elderly, its youth, its widows, its card-writers, its pray-ers, its greeters, its home-openers, its warm-huggers, its hand-shakers, its worship-leaders, its encouragers, etc., etc. You can’t think of how special Palm Beach Lakes has been without thinking of the people!
However, one can make all of these lists of what has made Palm Beach Lakes so special and miss THE very reason that Palm Beach Lakes is what it is! What has made Palm Beach Lakes “Palm Beach Lakes”? THE answer is JESUS CHRIST! Thank God for JESUS CHRIST! It is HIS church! Not ours! He is the One who built it (Matt. 16:18-19) and the One who purchased it with His own blood (Acts 20:28)! We just have the awesome privilege to be a part of it! The church is HIS! Its increase is HIS! Its work is HIS! Its worship is HIS! Its purpose is HIS! Its people are HIS! Its leaders are HIS! Its message is HIS! Its efforts are HIS! Its reward is HIS!
Thank God for the Palm Beach Lakes church of Christ! Thank God that those five qualities have permeated this church for 100 years! Thank God that the dearest people on earth have been part of this church! And most importantly, thank God for Jesus Christ and for HIS precious church!