Each year we return from the feast in a very positive attitude, but the world of 2021 is not the world we pictured in the feast, so how do we avoid quickly becoming discouraged? In this sermon Mr. Smith first reminds us from several example passages that Jesus and the apostles did not have things easy as they preached the gospel. He then looks at Matthew 24:13 and shows us that the Greek word for "endure" in "he that endures to the end shall be saved" does not have the meaning given by the English word. The Greek does not mean to hide until a storm has passed, but to push forward with hope. He then ends the sermon looking at some of the great encouraging promises made to us in Romans 8.

Gary Smith

United Church of God Pastor

Gary Smith was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, but spent most of his youth in the Pasadena, California area. He graduated from Ambassador College in 1976 and he and his wife, Liz, moved to Peoria, Illinois. For the next six years he worked as a nursing home administrator in Illinois, Ohio, and Texas.
In 1982, he and Liz began to serve in the full-time ministry. Since that time, they have served in a number of congregations in the Midwest.
Gary and Liz now pastor in Houston, Texas near their two children and grandson.