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The Journey Continues

The Journey Continues: Easter greetings from Pastor Todd

Sunday, April 4, 2021

Greetings on this beautiful Easter Sunday in San Marcos, Texas. My name is Darius Todd and I am honored to share a few moments with you today as you sip your coffee, partake in a peaceful minute or two during a busy day or as you take time to unwind.

I am a 30-year resident of this wonderful city. Like many, I came here and blessed to attend Southwest Texas State University and found this to be a great place to call home and build a family. I have worked for the State of Texas most of this time serving in the health and financial fields with leadership roles in Information Technology. This track has given me the awesome opportunity to serve and work with corporations and phenomenal individuals around the country. I had the benefit of growing up around the world a military brat having a father and both grandfathers who proudly served our Nation.

I am also the new Pastor of the Abundant Life Christian Church in San Marcos, a church that has served in this community for nearly 25 years. And we are still helping people to learn how to live the abundant life that Jesus came to give to us. Our outstanding founder and Pastor Emeritus, Paul E. Buntyn, retired on our church anniversary, April 19, 2020. And, yes, that means I began my new level of servanthood during a worldwide pandemic. I don’t know how many church leaders have “Rookie Pandemic Pastor” on their resume. But I am proud to have it on mine.

The fact is, I love people. Growing up in diverse locations has given me an appreciation for people of all backgrounds, cultures and creeds. This past year has tested all of us to see if that is true of our city, state, nation and world. We have experienced a devastating pandemic with its isolation, sickness and sorrow, the effects of racial division, a growing political divide and sprinkle on top of that a snow-pocalypse … the tests have been many and overwhelming at times. Most of us have been forever changed.

Through it all, I have learned something that may ring true for you if you will take a moment to meditate on it. No matter the troubles we’ve experienced in the last 12 months there is a nevertheless in your future.

One of the most powerful words in the bible was the one Jesus used in Luke 22:42 – Nevertheless. That one word was a bridge that changed the entire world. Jesus, the night before he went to die on the cross, the night he was betrayed, the night he was beaten beyond recognition, prayed to God. In his agonizing prayer to his Father, he said, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me.”

He knew he was about to encounter one of the most gruesome deaths known to mankind. He understood the price of pain and agony he was about to pay. Yet, because He also understood his purpose, he followed that statement up with “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” He understood that his sacrificial death would give all of us the opportunity to have an abundance of life.

Proof is that, the day I accepted Jesus’ “nevertheless,” my life was changed. This bridge replaced my once thoughts of suicide with those of hope and grace and put me on a path to become a bridge for others.

In these days, you may have said.

I have lost people who are very dear to me. Say, “Nevertheless, I am still alive to make a difference.”

I have lost a job. Say, “Nevertheless, I have opportunities I may not have seen before.”

I don’t always agree with my neighbor. Say, “Nevertheless, I will always love my neighbor.”

There’s much more to this story just as there are unwritten pages in yours. Let nevertheless be a part of your vocabulary as the next chapters are penned.

Sharing life with Him…

Darius Todd, Pastor

Abundant Life Christian Church begintolive@alccsm.org

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666