John Louk

The Building Committee has been busy working with Point Builders and our architect, Kim Schmidt. On Sunday morning, July 28 and August 4, Kim presented the building project plans to the congregation at 10:00 am in-between the two worship services. The plans are being shared electronically, too, so they can be accessed on the website or here . While these are preliminary plans, not final plans, the Building Committee is very excited about the work that’s been done and this proposal for the congregation. They are praying it will serve Salem and the Kingdom of God in a fruitful way. As was previously reported, Salem is working with John Clark, president of The James Company, for our capital campaign to financially support our building project. What we are able to raise financially will determine what we are ultimately able to build. As a first step, a Core Group of people has been selected to work with Mr. Clark. Their work begins the first week of August. Let us continue to...

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” - Jesus (John 14:27) I have loved the name “Salem” since I arrived as pastor and learned more fully its meaning. It comes from the Hebrew word for peace, shalom . It means much more than an absence of conflict. Shalom means peace that includes wholeness, completeness, health, well-being, friendship, beauty, salvation. What a great name for a church! If we’re supposed to show the world what it means to be the world that God intended in Creation, then Salem is meant to show peace, wholeness, health, and salvation for us, our neighbors, our city, the world. When Jesus says he came that we might have abundant life, I think that’s what Jesus is talking about. As Jesus’ body in the world today, we are called to offer this peace, wholeness, completeness, health, well-being, joy, beauty, salvation to the whole world, beginning with those in our midst and those right around us. We want the people of Salem and the community around us, our ci...