FROM THE DESK OF THE PASTOR
September 2026 • Preparing for a Shift
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Welcome to September!
August 31 marked one full year since I was elected to serve as Senior Pastor of Bethel Temple of Longview. As I reflect on this past year, my heart is simply grateful.
We have built, prayed, grown, cried, celebrated, faced challenges, and witnessed the faithfulness of God together. I thank God for every life changed, every lesson learned, and every step of progress.
But as grateful as I am for what God has done, I don't believe He's finished.
What I Believe the Lord Is Saying
As I have prayed concerning September, one word continues to rest in my spirit:
PREPARE.
I believe we are Preparing for a Shift.
Every journey is not a nonstop flight. Sometimes there are necessary stops where God develops us, corrects us, strengthens us, and brings things back into alignment before taking us further.
I believe September is one of those places.
Joshua told Israel:
"Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you." — Joshua 3:5
Before they crossed over, they consecrated.
Beginning September 7, we will enter a collective season of Alignment, Consecration & Sacred Silence.
This isn't about proving how spiritual we are. It's about posture.
We're making room for God to search us, correct us, speak to us, and prepare us for what's next.
Our prayer this month is simple:
"Lord, whatever You want to do in me, I give You permission to do it."
Regain What Distraction Has Taken
Throughout September, I want three things before us:
REGAIN YOUR TIME.REGAIN YOUR WITNESS.REGAIN YOUR FOCUS.
Slow down.
Pray.
Guard your mouth.
Get back in the Word.
Turn down some of the noise.
Become still enough to hear God again.
Not everything distracting you is sinful—but anything consuming too much of your attention can keep you from giving proper attention to your assignment.
"Be still, and know that I am God." — Psalm 46:10
Bethel, God has been incredibly faithful to us during this first year.
Now let's prepare ourselves for what's next.
Don't despise the stop because it doesn't look like the destination. God may be using where you are to prepare you for where you're going.
There are still wonders ahead.
We are Preparing for a Shift.
More Grace,
Pastor Erick D. Bowens
A Scribe for Christ
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