Touchpoint (17 June 2026) Dear Friends, This week in Esther, we saw that courage is not the absence of fear but faithfulness in the presence of it. Faced with the threat of destruction, Esther had to choose between protecting herself and risking everything for the good of God's people. Through her story, we learned that courage is necessary, costly, and requires vulnerability. Most importantly, Esther points us to Jesus. Esther was willing to risk her life for her people; Jesus willingly gave His life for His people. Because Christ courageously gave Himself for us, we no longer have to live in fear. Our future is secure, our sins are forgiven, and our King is on His throne. The hidden hand of God may seem silent, but it is never still. Therefore, we can trust Him and obey Him, even when faithfulness requires courage. I have a question for you. Can you remember a time when you were faced with an opportunity to be brave or show courage? How did it go? Send me your story! I'll share one of mine. High school was a joy for me. I was a captain of our football team, and it was during those years that I first sensed God's call to spend my life pastoring and serving people. The challenge wasn't football—it was school. Academics held very little interest for me. Most of my time was spent in Bible studies, playing Xbox, and practicing football. During my senior year, with the help of several youth volunteers, we started a club called "Still at the Pole." Each Wednesday morning at 6:30 AM, students and teachers gathered around the flagpole to pray for our school, our teachers, and our community. I was elected president of the club, which meant I was responsible for leading those gatherings. There was just one problem. Our football team had mandatory study hall every week for students who were failing or in danger of failing. Unfortunately, study hall met at the exact same time as Still at the Pole. Missing study hall meant receiving a conditioning punishment before or after practice. I couldn't be in two places at once. So I had a choice: attend study hall or lead the prayer gathering and accept the consequences. The first time I missed study hall, my coach made me duck walk 500 yards. It was miserable. After several weeks—and several thousand yards of duck walking—he finally pulled me aside and asked why I kept missing. I told him about the prayer club and why I believed it mattered. I assured him I wasn't neglecting my schoolwork; I was simply choosing to fulfill a different responsibility during that hour. My coach was a wise man, but I could tell this wasn't a situation he had encountered very often. After listening, he looked at me and said something I'll never forget. He told me he wasn't going to change the rules. If I kept missing study hall, I would keep duck walking. Oddly enough, that was one of the greatest gifts anyone could have given eighteen-year-old Nathan. Every week, as I duck walked across that football field, a lesson was being etched into my heart: every position comes with responsibility. If God entrusts you with a role, He also calls you to the courage required to fulfill it. If I was going to serve as president of that club, then I needed to make decisions that reflected that responsibility—even when they cost me something. Looking back, I realize my coach was teaching me a lesson that Esther would have understood. Positions are not given merely for our benefit. They are opportunities to serve others. And sometimes faithfulness in those positions requires courage, conviction, and a willingness to pay the price. See you soon! Pastor Nathan