Many of you whom we worship with have already read this, but for anyone else-

     Evan’s  2025 Annual Report

As you might imagine it is hard for me to turn my thoughts beyond the last few months as I 
attempt to summarize the year. Things have been eventful in the Gear household since early 
summer. Beginning (in May) with a mysterious something wrong in my belly to a definitive CT 
scan and then the wait for and eventual reality of surgery, and now recovery, our lives have 
revolved in large part around my health. You might think that on this account my theme would 
be suffering but as I ponder the year, I perceive more than that – five months passed before I 
experienced the first symptoms. In that time Jaimie gave birth to our Della Fern, Elizah Jane 
became a communing member, my parents moved to Savannah from Virginia, life and ministry 
continued to busy my hands. 
In those five months, and even with the onset of the signs of the cancer, I had opportunity to 
teach: Paul’s use of the OT in Romans 9 to the Bereans; studies in Proverbs, Psalm 119, and the 
nature of the Law (a study of its eternal origin and revelation in creation and redemption), the 
books of Romans, Hebrews, and Isaiah to the college students; the book of Isaiah to the WOC. I 
labored in the pulpit (particularly on Wednesday) as we (Mr. Sutherland and I) finished the 
gospel of Luke and took up Hebrews (with Mr. Bechams help). There was the ministry of 
worship: service of the sacraments, public prayer, occasional marriage services, burial of the 
dead, private prayer, counsel, and encouragement in the life-giving word of God – in short, I 
have been blessed to be a pastor among you. Such pastoral work extended to duties as a member 
of your Session, devotions for the Diaconate, the responsibility oof assistant to the clerk of the 
Savannah River Presbytery and, even, participation at the denominational level as part of the 
PCA’s Committee for Review of Presbytery Records. I cannot tell the story of this year without 
the inclusion of such blessed gifts and work which have been mine in Christ. 
Such was my portion... life as I have known it mingled with the unexpected diagnosis.

As husband, father, and pastor I have been made to drink of anther cup as well. I have been 
called to walk the valley of the shadow of death, to spend an extended time outside the camp, far 
from the worshipping community, away from my children, I have tasted weakness and pain, 
darkness, even moments where I could cry out with our Lord, “My God, my God why? – the 
curse, not just as an abstract idea but as something made mine, knit into me over the span of 
seven months. How else do you describe cancer and the removal of a large portion of my guts?
So, what do I make of a year characterized by such obvious weal and woe? Five months of 
relative good followed by seven months of unexpected bad? How do I summarize 2025?
In a word grace. Health and disease, strength and weakness, life and death, the blessing and the 
curse, whatever I have experienced – it has all come to me (to us) by the gracious, loving hand of 
God. Nothing has touched me except that which has come from the Father through the Son. Yes, 
cancer but cancer about which I can say: “He makes up in my body what was lacking in his 
afflictions (paraphrasing Col. 1:24).” The body of Christ in me knows appendiceal cancer, the 
loss of a stomach, life with a colon-ostomy. Of course, I am not the only one, his fullness requires many like me who share a like faith. Truly, it has been a year of gracious, God-gifted 
suffering.
I am thankful for the whole of it, particularly the hardship for it has made me more profoundly 
thankful for the cross and for each of you who bear it with me. For in it I have known his love 
through your prayers, kind words, generosity, help, and visitation. As the Scripture says, if one 
member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together (1 Cor. 12:26).
My life as a member of the body has never been more real and subsequently my share in the 
head never more sure than in this valley. Truly, he commands light to shine in the darkness; he is 
a friend who sticks closer than a brother, even in cancer.
I know it in large part through your ministry to me and so as this year ends and another begins I 
thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you (Rom. 1:8)