Faith Promise Total over $200K (Feb 24, 2010)

Our annual missionary conference concluded on February 14, 2010.  This Valentine's Day clearly demonstrated how much Grace Baptist Church loves the world.  Missionaries to Australia, Egypt, Ecuador, Grenda, Norway, and the state of Nebraska were all added to the missions family, and faith promise commitments rose above $205,000 -- not bad for a year with our kind of economy.

Last Monday, Karen and I boarded a plane and flew to Los Angeles where we ministered at West Coast Baptist College, where our oldest daughter, Ashley, is a junior.  The Lord blessed with a tremendous time and we were well received by the student body.  It was exciting to spend time with my good friends Mark Rasmussen and Don Sisk.

We flew back on Tuesday and got a quick night of sleep before traveling to Pensacola to minister at PCC where our daughter Amy is a freshman.  I was privileged to speak Wednesday night at the Campus Church plus Thursday and Friday in chapel at the college.  I also had the privilege of conducting a ministerial seminar and preaching at the high school.  It was a great week.  The Hortons are always gracious hosts.

We returned to Columbus Friday afternoon.  The Lord blessed with good services Sunday.  We witnessed a baptism and several good decisions on the bus routes and in our Fort Benning Bible studies.  Amen!

This week we have already been to teacher recruitment looking for a second grade teacher, Junior High teacher, and High School math teacher.  Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom as we follow up with these impressive interviews.

Your continued support of this ministry means much to us.  Please keep us in your prayers.

Missions Conference 3 Days Away! (Feb 08, 2010)

Yesterday, the walk-in attendance at Grace was up by about 30 people.  Many Sunday School teachers met their goals, and we are thankful that the core attendance is starting to rise as we approach the spring and better temperatures.  Bus attendance was stable with one child praying to receive Christ in the counseling center of bus church.  Fort Benning Bible studies were down, but seven soldiers stood to receive Christ this week as personal Savior.  Chapel attendance in Lumpkin held its own.

Sunday night, however, attendance dipped a little.  Perhaps because of the Super Bowl, the Saints were marching out.

Wednesday night begins the most significant week in Grace Baptist Church's annual calendar.  Our nineteenth annual world missionary conference will take place.  This year's keynote speaker is Dr. Fred Moritz, General Director Emeritus of Baptist World Mission.  Missionaries on their way to Australia, Ecuador, Egypt, Grenada, Norway, and the state of Nebraska will present their works.  We expect to raise around a quarter of a million dollars for world evangelism this year.  Do pray with us that our faith promise commitments will be the highest ever.

During the Sunday morning service, we had a good number of visitors.  Pray for us as we follow up with these new contacts.

Also, two hands were raised for salvation during the invitation, but both parties failed to walk the aisle.  We will be establishing contact with both persons this week.  Pray that God will give us wisdom as we present the Gospel and that God will grant salvation to both by the end of the week.

Your prayers mean much to us.

Missions Conference Around the Corner (Feb 01, 2010)

We are off to a good start this year.  Numbers seem to be holding their own in early January, and we are incredibly thankful for the souls that have been saved and the baptismal waters that have been stirred already this year.

Last week we were able to lead a pregnant mother to the Lord.  We had already been able to lead her young husband to Christ a few weeks ago.  Praise the Lord!  Pray that we will be able to see them baptized and discipled in the near future.