FROM THE DESK OF THE PASTOR

August 2026 • Family Matters

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Happy August!

I pray this letter finds you walking in the faithfulness of God and confident that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.

We have stepped into the eighth month of the year. Throughout Scripture, the number eight is often associated with new beginnings, resurrection, and a fresh start. While we never build doctrine on numbers alone, they often remind us of God's pattern of making all things new.

If you've been praying for a reset…

If you've needed another chance…

If you've been believing God for restoration…

Welcome to a month of fresh beginnings.

The God we serve is still in the business of making all things new.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!" — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)

What I Believe the Lord Is Saying

As I have prayed over this month, I continue hearing these words in my spirit:

"Lock in and reclaim your family."

Go after your family.

Pray for your family.

Be intentional with your family.

Fight for your family.

Pull your family closer to Christ.

The enemy would love nothing more than for us to become disconnected, isolated, and divided. But I believe God is calling His people back to one another.

This is not the season to become an island.

This is not the season to withdraw from the people God has placed in your life.

This is the season to strengthen your connection with both your natural family and your spiritual family.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us,

"And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together... but encouraging each other." — Hebrews 10:24–25 (CSB)

Isolation weakens.

Connection strengthens.

Healthy families are built intentionally—not accidentally.

The Enemy Has Always Been After the Family

One thing I know with certainty is this:

The enemy has always targeted the family.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan attacked the first family by deceiving Eve and drawing Adam into disobedience (Genesis 3).

Pharaoh sought to destroy Israel's future by killing Hebrew baby boys (Exodus 1).

Herod attempted to destroy God's redemptive plan by ordering the death of young children in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16).

The strategy has remained remarkably consistent.

If the enemy can weaken the family, he can weaken generations.

If he can divide the home, he can disrupt God's purpose.

That is why we must be intentional.

Don't allow busyness to replace togetherness.

Don't allow offense to replace forgiveness.

Don't allow screens to replace conversation.

Don't allow culture to disciple your family more than Christ does.

As Joshua boldly declared,

"As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord." — Joshua 24:15 (CSB)

That must become the declaration of every home represented at Bethel Temple.

Our August Focus: Family Matters

Throughout the month of August, we will be walking through our new teaching series:

Family Matters

Key Scripture: Joshua 24:15

Together we will discover God's design for building strong families and leaving a legacy of faith.

Teaching Focus

• Godly Homes

• Parenting, Marriage & Singleness

• Generational Faith

Prayer Focus

Throughout this month, I am asking every member to intentionally pray each day for:

Families — that homes would be healed and strengthened.

Marriages — that husbands and wives would grow together in Christ.

Children & Students — that this next generation would boldly live for Jesus.

Legacy — that what God builds in us will continue for generations to come.

Special Moments This Month

August 16

Back to School Prayer

We will pray over every student, teacher, administrator, school employee, homeschool family, college student, and university faculty member as they begin a new school year.

August 23

Community-Wide Mass Baptism

One of the greatest celebrations in the life of the Church is watching people publicly declare their faith in Jesus Christ. Invite your family, your friends, your coworkers, and your neighbors. Let's celebrate new life together.

Don't Grow Weary

I know some of you are tired.

Life has been demanding.

You've been carrying burdens that others don't even know about.

The enemy would love for you to believe that all hope is gone.

Don't believe that lie.

The God who restores marriages can restore yours.

The God who brings prodigals home can bring your loved ones home.

The God who heals relationships is still healing relationships.

The God who resurrected Jesus still specializes in resurrection.

"Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up." — Galatians 6:9 (CSB)

Don't quit praying.

Don't quit believing.

Don't quit loving.

Don't quit building.

God is still at work.

A Shepherd's Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Today I lift every family connected to Bethel Temple before You. Strengthen marriages. Encourage single parents. Protect our children. Give wisdom to parents and grandparents. Heal broken relationships, restore prodigal sons and daughters, and let every home become a place where Your presence is welcomed. Unite us as a church family, and let this month mark a new beginning for every household represented here.

May we boldly declare, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

More Grace,

Pastor Erick D. Bowens

A Scribe for Christ