Do you ever watch people who always seem to be having fun in the summer and wish you could too? There’s a classic song called “Summertime Blues” that captures the pressure many people feel—balancing work, responsibilities, and endless to-do lists that compete with our ability to experience joy.

So, what’s the solution?

The secret to an enjoyable and fulfilling life is found in bearing good fruit.

During His final teachings before His crucifixion, Jesus explained that He is the “true vine,” God the Father is the “gardener” (or vinedresser), and His followers—those who believe in Him—are the branches who must remain in Him to bear good fruit.

Jesus tells us in John 15:7:

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

At first glance, this might sound like a simple solution: just ask God for what you want. But that’s not what Jesus is saying. The solution is not found in simply asking—it begins with abiding.

Abiding is not about working harder to please God. It’s about allowing His life to flow in and through us so that He produces good fruit in us—peace, patience, love, joy, and more. This is not a “genie in a bottle” promise. It’s not about getting what we want; it’s about wanting what God wants.

When we remain in Him, His words and His will begin to shape our hearts. Our desires change. Our prayers begin to reflect His will, and when they do, He answers them. Abiding in Christ leads not only to fruitful living, but also to joyful, faithful, and peaceful living.

Jesus goes on to say in John 15:11:

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

True joy comes from discovering real purpose in life, and that is found in abiding in Christ. To abide means to remain, dwell, and stay connected through an intimate relationship with Him—fully dependent on Him for what comes next. This relationship brings fullness of purpose, answered prayer, and a deeper experience of God’s love.

Jesus makes this even clearer in John 15:5:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

As we grow in our relationship with the Lord and immerse ourselves in His Word, our thinking begins to change. Our desires shift. Our prayers become aligned with God’s will—and when they are answered, they bring Him glory. The purpose of this connection is to bear much fruit, demonstrating that we are His disciples.

Keep in mind that when things get tough and it feels like we’re regressing - or going backwards rather than moving forward in triumphant progress, the Father not only removes branches that bear no fruit, He also prunes fruitful branches to make them more productive.

Growth often comes through pruning.

Jesus says in John 15:2:

“Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Look closely at that verse again. The Father removes branches that bear no fruit, but He also prunes the branches that are bearing fruit so they can become even more productive. Pruning may involve removing excess, distractions, or worldly ambitions. And yes—it can be painful.

A branch left to itself grows wildly, often producing leaves but very little fruit. It may even end up in the dirt, exposed to rot and disease. But the Vinedresser (God) uses shears (trials, discipline, or conviction) to cut away that wild growth and lift the branch onto the trellis (the Word of God). Pruning is not punishment, it is a sign of God’s loving work to make us more fruitful!

So this summer, disrupt the dry, dreary routines that drain your joy. Let go of goals and pursuits that don’t lead to anything eternal. Instead, pursue a deeper relationship with Christ so you can experience the fullness and joy

that comes with intimacy with the Savior.

Stay connected to Him. Stay connected to other believers here at Wildwood as we grow together in His Word and discover the life-giving power of abiding in Him.

Productivity is in the pruning.

Let God remove what needs to be set aside so you can experience His joy and purpose more fully!

This summer isn’t going to filled with blues – it’s going to be a blast!

Let’s go, Wildwood!

~Pastor Ric

In 1957, Dr. Curt Richter, a Harvard graduate and professor at Johns Hopkins University, conducted an experiment to observe how rats would respond in situations where hope was a factor.

In his first study, Dr. Richter wanted to know how long rats would attempt to keep themselves alive when faced with a seemingly hopeless situation. He placed twelve tame, domesticated rats into jars half-filled with water. Knowing that rats are capable swimmers, he observed how long they would continue. All of them died within 1–15 minutes.

He then tested 34 wild rats that had learned to fend for themselves. Expecting them to be stronger and more resilient, he anticipated they would swim longer. However, he discovered that they gave up even more quickly than the domesticated rats.

For his next experiment, Dr. Richter decided to see if he could change the outcome by introducing one critical element: hope.

He gathered another group of rats and again placed them into jars of water. This time, instead of leaving them alone, he closely observed them. As the rats began to give up within minutes, he reached in and rescued them. He dried them off and allowed them time to recover before placing them back into the water.

What happened next was remarkable. Once the rats experienced rescue, they began to believe that escape was possible. With that expectation of hope, they swam—not for minutes—but for 60–80 hours.

They fought longer and harder because they believed that rescue could come.

Needless to say, this kind of experiment would not (and should not) be conducted today. However, it clearly illustrates a powerful truth: hope changes everything.

In the Bible, hope is not wishful thinking. It is a confident and joyful expectation based on God’s promises and His character.

We read in Jeremiah 29:11:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Hope serves as a secure anchor for the soul, rooted in our faith in God’s faithfulness. It provides strength, encouragement, and endurance during difficult times. Hope is not confidence in our own ability, but trust in God’s promises and mercy.

Hebrews 10:23 reminds us:

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

To hold fast means to keep believing, keep trusting, and keep pressing forward because God is faithful, even in the midst of hardship.

Hope often requires waiting with quiet confidence in God’s timing. Isaiah 40:31 tells us:

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

My hope and prayer for you, and for all the people of Wildwood, is that this confident expectation we have in Christ will continue to encourage and strengthen us as we grow into people whose faith can move mountains!

This is my prayer for you:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)

As we move into this beautiful spring season at Wildwood, may God richly bless you with abounding faith and hope for an incredible and fruitful future!

Let’s go!



~Pastor Ric

I’m super excited because Easter falls on April 5th this year, which means we are just one month away from one of the most important days of the year for our church.

In case you didn’t know, Easter is the single most significant day in the Christian calendar, even more significant than Christmas. While the birth of Jesus is incredibly important, Easter celebrates something foundational to our faith: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Three days after His crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead, signifying the defeat of death and the promise of eternal life. Easter fulfills Old Testament prophecies, confirms Jesus as the Son of God, and validates His role in providing salvation and forgiveness for humanity. It is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Because He lives, believers have the hope of their own resurrection and eternal life in heaven. The resurrection confirms Jesus as the Savior who paid for humanity’s sins and established a new covenant between God and His people, offering us reconciliation and “new life in Christ.”

Easter is a time of special services that emphasize hope, joy, and victory over the darkness of death. We have an exciting weekend planned with four services this year:

Good Friday – April 3rd

We’ll begin with a special Good Friday service for the whole family. Together we will remember the cross and share in the Lord’s Supper as we reflect on Christ’s sacrifice.

Saturday – April 4th

Our Fusion classes will gather on campus for a prayer walk, asking God to be honored and glorified throughout the weekend and to use Wildwood to grow His kingdom.

Easter Sunday – April 5th

7:15 AM – Sunrise Service (Barn Field)

One of our community’s favorites! This outdoor service will include worship, a message, and donuts and drinks for everyone who attends.

8:15 AM – Traditional Service (Chapel)

A more traditional celebration featuring hymns and a meaningful time of worship.

9:30 & 11:00 AM – Contemporary Services (Worship Center)

These dynamic services will feature guest singers alongside our praise team, praise band, and choir for a powerful celebration. Breakfast items and photo booths will be available in the Faith Center between services.

Research consistently shows that Easter is a prime time for church outreach. Surveys indicate that roughly 4 in 10 Americans already plan to attend an Easter service, with another 20% strongly considering it. That’s already higher attendance than a typical Sunday morning.

Even more encouraging, studies show that between 50–80% of people would likely attend if personally invited by a friend or family member. Lifeway Research reports that 57% of people with no church connection would attend if invited by a coworker, neighbor, or acquaintance. Another study suggests that as many as 82% of people invited to an Easter service say they will attend!

Since Easter is the highest-attended service of the year, we want to equip you with everything you need to make inviting easy. We will provide invitation cards in the bulletin, prayer lists for those you plan to invite, and we are mailing 27,000 invitations to homes in our area.

But remember this: people are far more likely to attend when they receive a personal invitation from someone they know. The most effective way to invite someone to Easter at Wildwood is face-to-face.

I’m asking you to begin praying now about who you could – and should – invite to Wildwood on Easter weekend. I want to join you in praying for them, so please let us know who you plan to invite using the bulletin inserts coming soon.

Let’s make Easter at Wildwood 2026 the biggest and best Easter yet by being bringers to the place where God is working and lives are being changed!

~Pastor Ric

A heartbeat helps tell us how healthy we are. There are standards and levels that help us know if we’re heading in the right direction for the overall health of the body. The same can be said about the church. I believe the heartbeat of the church can be measured by its involvement in missions.

Jesus clearly outlines the mission of the church (the body of believers) in Matthew 28:19–20:

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

Jesus reminds us that He holds all authority over all creation, and then He gives us our mission as believers: go and make disciples. No matter where we are or where we go, we are to be part of building God’s kingdom.

This means we are called to:

Introduce people to Jesus by telling them who He is (God’s Son, sent to die on the cross for the sins of the world) and what He has done (He died so we could be forgiven).

Invite them to respond in obedience by confessing their faith and being baptized. Baptism is a picture of resurrection: being dead in our sins and raised to new life in Christ.

Encourage them to grow by joining us in church services, Fusion Groups, and Bible studies to deepen their understanding of God’s Word.

Trust God’s promise that Jesus is with us every step of the way!

Wildwood’s mission statement says it clearly:

“Leading people to become believers and passionate followers of Jesus Christ.”

We introduce people to Jesus, and when they place their faith in Him, we want to help them grow into passionate followers of Christ.

This is what we call evangelism, but it extends beyond the neighborhoods and communities that surround us. Jesus expands this vision in Acts 1:8:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Does this mean we are all supposed to go to faraway places to share the gospel? Yes and no. Yes, we are all called to be part of the process of worldwide evangelism. But no, we do not all have to go in order to fulfill that calling. We can give to organizations that are already fulfilling the mission around the world.

That is why we have the Faith Missions Offering. Through it, we partner with missionaries and ministries who help us make Christ known across the street and around the world. We currently support 21 different ministries, some financially and others through physical assistance and volunteers. I truly believe this is one of the best things we do at Wildwood because it directly fulfills the mission Jesus gave His church.

This newsletter is being sent shortly after our Faith Missions Weekend, but during the time we are asking people to prayerfully consider making a commitment to give to the Faith Missions Offering in 2026. These commitments allow us to tell our mission partners how much support they will receive from Wildwood in 2026–2027.

Would you please prayerfully consider what you can commit to give and record it on a Faith Missions Pledge Card? This helps us plan, support our partners, and continue the mission God has entrusted to us.

I believe God will bless you for your faithfulness. Thank you for giving so generously!

~Pastor Ric