As a kid, I used to love it when my dad would put me on his shoulders. Not only did it make me feel bigger than I really was, but my newfound height gave me a different perspective. It expanded my field of vision and reminded me that some experiences are only possible when you’re elevated. And my dad was my ride to the top.
I feel a little bit like my four-year-old self as I write this, except this time I’m not sitting on one set of shoulders but standing on thousands. In this, our 75th year, we look back to look forward, remembering those who made it possible for a ministry like ours to exist. Where would we be without them lifting us up?
What we see now as we drive down Sandy Cove Road is there because the Palmer family, along with countless others, saw a need and met it. They secured property, built buildings, and dedicated every square inch of it to the glory of God. And for 75 years, it has been a space He’s used to transform lives.
Our history is embedded in these stories of life-change. Sandy Cove is about people — helping them connect with God and each other is why we’re here. Even now, as I think about my own transformative experience at Sandy Cove in 2011, I can’t help but wonder where I’d be if a place like this did not exist.
A mentor once told me that longevity in ministry is linked to two things: grit and grace. You’ve got to persevere through the hard times while remaining focused on the long-term goal or mission. And you need God’s help every step of the way.
I’ve thought about grit and grace a lot over the last twelve months, one of the most challenging seasons in Sandy Cove’s long and storied history. Had there been a shortage of either, I’m not sure what our 75th anniversary would have looked like. But here we are, standing as it were on the shoulders of giants, grateful to God that He has brought us this far.
As we embark on a year-long celebration of God’s faithfulness over these last 75 years, I hope you’ll share how you’ve experienced God through the ministry of Sandy Cove. Your testimony will be placed in a time capsule for future generations to read.
