“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:47
There is a special joy in watching someone come into the life of the congregation and gradually realize that they have found a place where they belong. Recently, we have had the privilege of seeing this in the life of Ramez, a man who began coming to Home of Jesus the King Church and has now become part of our church family.
As Ramez continued attending, listening to the Word and building relationships with those around him, the Lord began working in his heart. He received Yeshua and made a personal decision to follow Him. Today, Ramez is a new member of our congregation, and what encourages us so much is the happiness he expresses about being part of this family. He has not simply found a church to attend; he has found a spiritual home where he can belong, grow in his faith, and walk alongside other believers.
This is the kind of growth we are thankful to see at HomeJTK.
Of course, we rejoice when more people attend our meetings, but growth in the Kingdom can never be reduced to the number of people sitting in a room. Every number represents a name, every name represents a life, and every life has a story that God is writing. Ramez is one of those stories, and his journey is already moving into its next chapter.
Having received the Lord and become part of the congregation, Ramez has now expressed his desire to be baptized in the Jordan River. For him, this will be much more than visiting a biblical location. Baptism is an important step of obedience and a public declaration of the new life he has received in Yeshua. To take that step in the waters of the Jordan, where Yeshua Himself was baptized, will make the occasion especially meaningful for him.
As we look around our congregation today, Ramez’s story reminds us of the words in Acts: “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” We are seeing God bring people from different backgrounds and circumstances, each with their own questions, struggles and hopes. Some arrive simply looking for fellowship. Others are searching for answers or for a place where they can belong. They come through the doors, relationships begin to form, they hear the Word of God, and little by little we have the privilege of watching the Lord work.
Sometimes that journey begins very quietly.
A person comes to one meeting and then returns the following week. A conversation becomes a friendship. Questions that were once kept inside begin to be spoken openly. Someone who initially sat at the edge of the congregation begins to feel at home among the people around them. And in the midst of those ordinary moments, God is drawing hearts to Himself.
What strikes me about Acts 2:47 is that Scripture tells us the Lord was the One adding to their number. That keeps everything in the right perspective for us. We can open our doors, preach the Gospel, teach the Scriptures, pray with people and welcome them into our lives, but only God can touch a human heart. When He entrusts someone to us, however, our responsibility is to walk faithfully with that person.
This is why we do not want to stop at a decision for salvation.
Our desire is to see people become disciples—to know the Word of God, develop a life of prayer, grow in their relationship with Yeshua, become rooted in the local congregation and eventually help others grow as well. Salvation is a wonderful beginning, but there is an entire life of following the Lord that comes afterward.
Ramez is now taking those first steps, and we are grateful that we get to walk beside him. Please pray for him as he continues growing in his new faith and prepares to be baptized in the Jordan River. Pray that his roots will go deep, that he will know the Lord more personally, and that HomeJTK will truly remain a spiritual family where he can flourish.
Please also pray for our congregation as God continues bringing new people through our doors. With growth comes responsibility, and we want to care well for every person the Lord entrusts to us—not simply welcoming people into a meeting, but welcoming them into a family where they can be known, discipled, encouraged and equipped.
We thank God for what He is doing.
Ramez is one man with one story, but his life is a beautiful reminder that behind every new face is someone God knows by name.
The Lord is adding to His family, one life at a time.
May the Lord richly bless you.
Blessings and Shalom,
Pastor Saleem Shalash