Ten Year Anniversary

Time has a way of passing more quickly than we realize. We become so busy with our daily routines that we sometimes need a reminderthat an important milestone is just around the corner. That happened to me recently. While listening to a sermon titled "God Keeps Receipts," the pastor shared a humorous story. As he was away preaching, his wife asked if he remembered their twentieth wedding anniversary. Without missing a beat, he replied,"Every day is our anniversary."It was a cleverrecovery—and it made me smile. But it also made me pause. In that moment, I realized that Forming Lives Foundation is approaching its 10th year anniversary on August 29, 2026. It's hard to believe that ten years have already passed. As I reflected on the past decade, I found myself asking, what have we really accomplished? At first, my thoughts seemed small, mistakenly focused on what I thought hadn't happened rather than all that God had done. Isn't that often true for all of us? We have selective memories. It's easy to remember our disappointments and challenges, yet much harder to recall our victories and God's faithfulness. When our memories fail, ourfaith can begin to fade too. Ten years ago, Forming Lives Foundation began with a vision and a simple purchase—a plot of land. Today, by God's grace and through the generosity of so many supporters, that once empty property has been transformed into a four-level recreation center that is changing lives. It now includes a basketball court where children can play and grow, a bakery that teaches valuable skills, a vegetable garden that provides education and nourishment, and a rock-climbing wall that encourages confidence, perseverance, and courage. What once existed only in faith has become a place where hope is lived out every day. Over the past ten years, lives have been touched, children have been loved, families have been encouraged, and hope has been shared. God has continually made a way where there seemed to be no way. Every mission trip, every volunteer, every donor, every prayer, every child who smiled, and every life impacted is part of the story God has been writing through Forming Lives Foundation. As I reflected, my heart was filled with gratitude.We are building something far greaterthan ourselves. The work may sometimes seem slow, but God's work is never wasted. He reminds us to celebrate how far we have come while embracing the journey that still lies ahead. Whether the finish line seems near or far, we will continue to move forward with faith because, guided by God, slow and steadywins the race.