“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God”

The above quote is attributed to Corrie Ten Boom. Back in 1994 as I was leaving for college, one of my former church school students and his mother gave me a poster with this quote. For the following several years through a number of college dorm rooms and eventually my seminary room, I always hung this poster in a prominent place to serve as a daily reminder to me of God’s faithfulness and leading.

While this poster no longer adorns any wall around me, I have not forgotten its image and message. It depicted a beautiful forest with a path that headed into the woods.

Throughout college and seminary I often wondered what the future would bring. Where would I be? With whom would I be? How would life seem? As these questions surfaced and lingered, I would look again at the wooded scene on the wall and allow the words of Corrie Ten Boom to give me over and over a reassurance that God was in control and that God would be with me. Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

Funny thing is, I am now well beyond my college and seminary days. And so much of life that I wondered about then has unfolded and come into being. Yet I still think about the future and what will yet be. Corrie’s words speak to me still. And Corrie’s words speak to us as a church family. As we continue on the journey of faith and life together, as we look out upon the landscape of mission and ministry before us, I trust that we may never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

Calvary, our future is bright and filled with great hope. It is an ongoing privilege to serve you as I do. Thank you for the honor and gift of being one of your pastors. As we head into the future, may we trust God and each other that what is ahead will be good and will build upon the incredible ministry that has brought us to where we are today.

—Brian Henderson, Senior Pastor