By Wayne Morrison – Brighton, Colorado … The Brighton church recently celebrated a beautiful wedding, one the church has been waiting to celebrate for a year.

In early 2020, Saul and Susanna Martinez, engaged to be married, were looking forward to their wedding. Before the wedding, Saul wanted to be baptized and become part of the Brighton church family. Bible studies between Saul and Pastor Wayne Morrison were curtailed, however, by COVID’s march across the country. Knowing that events would be postponed or even cancelled, the couple moved up their wedding date.

Although the Martinez wedding was held February 13, 2020, the church wasn’t able to celebrate with the couple because of restrictions placed on gatherings.

Saul’s baptism was also put on hold and the church again waited to celebrate. Finally, in December, members were able to rejoice as Saul made public his decision to follow Jesus through baptism.

Throughout his life, Saul told the church pastor, he has always felt that he was guided to take the paths that were right for him. Looking for a spiritual path to follow, he eventually met Susanna and, discovering her beliefs, felt truly connected and guided. “It’s what I believe is right,” Saul explained to the church before his baptism.

On February 27 of this year, the church family finally assembled to celebrate the Martinez’s first anniversary, when they renewed their vows for those gathered in person and those joining through livestream.

The wait, according to many church members, was worth it, as they witnessed the new family joining with the church family, a foretaste of God’s family coming together in the earth made new.

–Wayne Morrison is pastor of the Brighton church; photos supplied