When Love is Tough
(February 11) - Sanctuary Worship - Gospel Peacemakers
February 11, 2024 • Romans 10:8–15, Isaiah 52:7
We are blessed to have Rev. Hany, our Global Partner from the Middle East, bring the message for us. Along with church planting and leadership development, Hany founded a training center, the Noor Center (Noor in Arabic, meaning “light”), to work with refugees. In the region where the center is located, there are approximately 2 million refugees, most under 18. His wife Joanne works with abused women, bringing the hope of wholeness into broken lives.
(February 4th) - Sanctuary Worship - Rev. Celeste Cranston
February 4, 2024 • Rev. Celeste Cranston • Isaiah 40:21–31, Mark 1:29–39
"Epiphany: God is Great, God is Good" First Free is pleased to welcome Rev. Celeste Cranston as our preacher on Sunday, February 4. Reverend Cranston is an ordained elder in the Pacific Northwest Conference of the Free Methodist Church and serves as Director of SPU’s Center for Biblical and Theological Education. At SPU Celeste oversees “SoulCare,” a ministry which provides a required Wesleyan small group for every first-year student based on the question, “How goes it with your soul?” She recently became a certified Spiritual Director through Portland Seminary, and currently is honored to host a handful of directees, bearing witness to God’s work in their lives. Prior to SPU, Celeste served for 16 years at Lakeview Free Methodist Church as Associate Pastor, Director of the Women’s Shelter, and Director of Adult Ministries and Music. She’s been blessed with over 40 years of marriage to Gary, and they have 2 adult children, two more children by marriage, and a beautiful granddaughter.