The Perspective of Generations
Written By: Bruce Boyer
Our family has been members of Fountain of Life long enough that I speak from the perspective of several generations. We moved to Kernersville in 1992, with two middle school students and one high school student in our family. Our two youngest grew in their knowledge of the Lord through confirmation here at FOL. (Proverbs 22:6). Kathy and I were part of the first wave (September 1992) of Small Group ministry groups. Our same Life Group is still going strong today. (Psalm 119:105). At each stage of our lives, FOL has been a strong support base for us. When our son was hopelessly lost in the Amazon rainforest (2002) for six days, the Norbys, the Langefelds, staff member Debbie Spencer and her husband (Cecil) dropped whatever they were doing and spent the entire day with us — praying and giving us hope during the time of uncertainty. (Psalm 50:15). This was too big to face alone, and the church responded. Pastor Emeritus Ed Coyner came to our house that evening to lead us all in prayer. The next day, Pastor Wertz changed both Sunday services into prayer vigils. At the very same time as the prayer services, the rescue search plane gave Dave and his companion hope when they had lost all hope. Only a miracle would lead to their rescue, and God answered the congregation’s prayers. (Matthew 18:20). Two decades later, Dave’s two daughters became the third generation of our family to benefit from Fountain of Life. The FOL Preschool program provided a spiritual base for their lives and prepared them well for school. (Matthew 19:14). Now, well into our retirement years, Fountain of Life continues to serve as well. Just a few weeks ago, Pastor Fair met us at the hospital at 5:30 AM, providing comfort, a devotional thought, and prayer just before Kathy went into hip replacement surgery.
It is easy to look at the current season of life and not realize that future generations – perhaps even our grandchildren – will benefit from what we accomplish with this capital campaign. Who would have guessed, when we started attending FOL in 1992, that the church would play a role in saving the life of our son, thousands of miles away? Who would have known that participating in 6th grade confirmation would be the foundation of faith for our daughter, who is now a music worship leader at her church? Who would have guessed that the people of our 1992 Life Group would still be part of our family support base in 2026? None of us has a crystal ball to see into the future, but God knows.
God’s Will for our church is to reach more people and to build a bigger Heaven. As we carry out God’s will, we seek to “extend His tables” to both those currently in our community and future generations, that they would experience His love through a growing body of believers at Fountain of Life Church and Preschool. None of us knows the future, but as Kathy and I are making plans to “do our part,” we look at our children, grandchildren, and the community and say, “I’m building it for them.”
Scripture References:
Youth & Teens: Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Deepening the Faith of Adults: Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Hope in Times of Trouble: Psalm 50:15 – “And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
Power of Prayer: Matthew 18:20 – For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Young Children: Matthew 19:14 –Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”