"Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia" (Romans 16:5).

Last night we went to the Manheim Farm Show, a county fair-like activity in the nearby town of Manheim. Here in Lancaster County we don't have a single county wide fair but many of the communities hold their own. Local organizations and ministries are given opportunities to raise funds through the various foods they sell.

It was a beautiful fall evening as we walked along and saw many friends we've made during our 8½ years of living in Lancaster County.  Not only did we run into people we hadn't seen for a long time but so did many others.  You could tell by their hearty greetings, their hugs, and the big smiles that crossed their faces.

We visited for a few minutes with Rich and his wife Jamie that we last saw about a year ago. I met Rich shortly after moving to this area when I was a chaplain at the company where he works. I also shared a message in his church last year. Jamie's father was with them and introduced himself.  He had become a widower after 57 years of marriage this past year.  On May 8, the very same day that Brooksyne and I celebrated 33 years of marriage, he said good-bye to his closest companion on earth. The evidence of the love and admiration he had for his wife was seen in the tears that welled up in his eyes several times in the few minutes we talked.

He told us that he and his wife had taught the 5 & 6 year old class in his home church for 40 years, but altogether she had taught it for 48 years.  As he shared this amazing story he was unaware of our pastoral role.  Knowing how hard it is to get Christian workers for this age group, we immediately thought of the blessing this couple had been to their local congregation.  He proudly told us that not too many years ago one of the students from his wife's class, in her latter teen years, told him:  "Your wife was my favorite teacher!"  Now that's a wonderful tribute to a teacher – for a teen to remember and to acknowledge the effectiveness of a Sunday School teacher from her very young elementary years.  This teacher's faithfulness was rewarded with such a compliment.  This couple had no grandchildren but he stated that those children over the years were like grandchildren to them.

When considering the advancement of the church through the ages we often think of a great apostle like Paul or a well-known leader in church history such as John Wesley or even some famous preachers of our own time. But I believe the vast majority of impact is being made by people virtually unknown apart from their own church or community such as this faithful couple. These are the people passing the faith along by personal relationship and faithful involvement.

"Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia" (Romans 16:5). Today's verse is easy to glance over as you read the final chapter of Romans. Paul has moved from great theological truths to practical applications to a very personal final chapter. This chapter is loaded with references to the people in Paul's life. He specifically greeted twenty-seven individuals by their proper names. Most all of them are obscure to us and mentioned no where else in the Scriptures.  One, Epenetus, had the incredible distinction of being the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia which carried great significance to Paul's relationship with him.  Asia is a reference to present day Turkey (Asia Minor) and thus his was the very first conversion during Paul's first missionary journey.  These first converts are mentioned in Acts 13 at Pisidian Antioch.

Paul calls Epenetus a "dear friend".  His name means "praiseworthy." What a special relationship they must have had. It's remarkable that they had stayed in touch all through the years with no email or phone capabilities back then! Now Paul is writing to him as one of the believers in the Roman church where he had apparently relocated from Asia.  Epenetus had stayed faithful and heeded the early encouragement of Paul and Barnabas who had "urged them to continue in the grace of God" (Acts 13:43).  Can you imagine the big smile that creased his face as Epenetus' heart was touched by the personal greeting Paul wrote to him in the letter read aloud to the other believers gathered on that day.

I expect that each of you have long-term, loyal friends like Paul. I'm certainly glad for those kind of friends. It's especially heartening when you know you've had a lasting impact on their lives as Paul had with Epenetus, or vice versa.  Today, is there a longtime friend like Epenetus that you're unlikely to run into on the street that deserves a personal overdue greeting from you? Take the time and make the effort to do so since, for some, it might be the only bright spot in their day.  It will surely bring a big smile to their face, warm their hearts and make a lasting memory for them!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer:  Father, we thank You for workers in Your vineyard who helped to build a firm Biblical foundation in our lives over the years.  They obeyed Your leading; they prayed, prepared, and delivered Your divine truths in an age appropriate instructional manner so that we could grow in the ways of the Lord from our youth into our adult years.  Thank You especially for their loving devotion and faithful service. There is a difference in those who are motivated solely by duty rather than conviction and devotion.  May our sense of duty be a direct result of our devotion to Your great cause; the salvation of souls, love toward the body of Christ, and discipleship through instruction of Your Holy Word and by our godly example.  May we be counted among the faithful, in our relationship to You and in our relationship to others.  In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

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