Cascade Community Church
Our Pastor
Pastor Karl Selman has 35 plus years of experience in active Christian ministry. He was ordained in 1968, was the Associate Pastor of two churches and Pastor of a third church prior to accepting the call to Pastor our church in 1981.
A
Word from Our Pastor
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very blessed Easter Season. As we enter this Season of Lent, I pray that our Lord will bless and enrich your lives as we remember all His gifts and blessings and rejoice in the salvation He freely gives to every person who is willing to live a life filled with His love and ever living spirit of grace, compassion, and truth.
In my 25 year tenure as Pastor of this church, I have seen many people come and go. Sometimes they come with their own agendas, some expect the church to be exactly like the church they grew up in, and there are always those who think they can manipulate others and control the direction of the church. Then, thank God, there are those who are just happy to be a part of a loving, community of Christians. Those who understand the importance of having a church family that provides a place of worship and fellowship for all who are willing to follow the life and Gospel truths of Jesus Christ. For those of us who have worked so very long and hard to have such a church, we have come to know and understand that our church will only be successful when we follow the direction the God leads us. I am so happy and thrilled be able to say that I couldn't ask for a better group of people than those who attend our church right now. I praise God for each and every one of them. No, they are not all perfect but they all love the Lord, their sisters and brothers, and they all work hard to make our church a place where everyone is welcome and affirmed.
Many of us know what it feels like be excluded and rejected. I, personally was escorted to the door of a church and I literally had the pastor take his foot and kick me out the door. That is why, for me, it is so important to have a church like ours. A church where anyone from any Christian tradition can come through the door and feel loved, accepted, and to finally feel that they have "Come Home" as Jesus talked about when he told the parable of the "Prodigal Son." Just recently we had a young woman come to our church after some coaxing and encouragement. She was one on those folks who had a hard time fitting in wherever she went. She figured we would reject her as well, but she was wrong. We embraced her and gave her lots of love encouragement. The other day she informed me that she would like to become a member. Over the years we have seen this happen over and over. I am proud to be a part of a church where anyone who is truly seeking a place of worship and fellowship is welcome, a place where every human being is considered to have worth and value, a church that understands that God does not make junk, and all are welcome to sit in the seat God has already prepared for them, at His table.
This past year we unfortunately lost someone who was very dear to all of hearts. Most of us knew her as Mother Ruth. She came to our church when I was still just a member of the congregation. I remember it very well because she came in one Sunday with her cousin David, and a whole group of other people. For several years she just attended the church and never really stood out to much. There came a time when the church was going through a difficult period and to my amazement Ruth jumped up to the plate and really become a "Spiritual Mother" to many of us. She encouraged and supported me and our church through this very difficult period. Every week she brought us food and made sure that no one ever went home with an empty stomach. At Christmas time she insisted on buying gifts for every one. When she was no longer able to work, she would go stand in line to get free food so she could continue cooking for us and take food to the homes of those who were in need. A lesson I have learned as well, is that in this life there are basically two kinds of people, those who take and those who give. Mother Ruth was definitely a giver all the way to the end. I will forever be thankful that God brought her to us and that she became a shining example of what our church is all about.
This year we have reached a "milestone" in the history of our church. It was thirty years ago this year that we officially became a church. The first service was actually held on Christmas Eve but in March of 1978 the church was incorporated and officially became a church recognized by the State of Ohio. There were those who thought we would never make it, and there were even times when some of us had our doubts. But I am pleased to say that God has always sent us "Angels", people who have worked very hard and always understood the importance of having a church like ours. Several years ago on our anniversary I began to publicly recognize the one person I felt who stood out and really made a noticeable difference in our church that year. In the beginning I thought that eventually I would run out of people to give this recognition to. But every year someone steps up to the plate and really shines. Sometimes it's someone new that joins the church and sometimes it's someone like Mother Ruth who has been around for a while and all of a sudden God begins to work a miracle in their heart and life and all we can do is say, "Praise God."
Finally, I would like to thank everyone of you who have worked hard over the years, supporting us with your love, prayers, and stewardship as God has given you the strength and desire to help us make Cascade Community Church a blessing to so many for so many years. Over this span of time, we will never know how many people we have helped and encouraged, how many lives have been saved, and how many people have come to the knowledge that we are all God's children, created in His image and that everyone is welcome at God's table. Our work is not over yet. We must continue the work which began for us 30 years ago, but for God 2000 years ago when He sent Jesus Christ to teach us and show us the way. There are still many people out there who will never feel welcome, or loved, or even whole unless people like us are there to reach out with love to show them the way. Just as Jesus walked along the roads and seashores calling people to follow Him, he continues to work through us who are willing to hear His voice and follow His command to "Love God and to love each other as we love ourselves."
May Our God and Savior Richly Bless you and your family this Easter Season and through the rest of this year which God has given to us. And, let us always remember that the reason God blesses us, is so that we can become a blessing to others.
Your
Pastor and Friend,
Karl