An Action-Packed Sunday (Jun 28, 2010)
We had an action packed Sunday in the middle of summer yesterday. The Lord blessed with rebounding numbers and we are thankful for the sweet spirit that was to be found in church yesterday. Let me highlight a couple of significant milestones.
Yesterday began with Sam Snyder, missionary appointee with BIMI, sharing his burden for the islands of Kiribati. These islands in the middle of the Pacific were presented with the Gospel in the 1800s, but there has not been an authentic Gospel witness on the islands in over 100 years. There is not one Gospel preaching church to be found in the entire country. Sam and his lovely wife Mary Beth are teaming with another couple to rectify this problem. Our hearts were burdened, and it was our privilege to add the Snyders to our missionary budget, the 175th missionary of Grace Baptist Church.
We were also privileged yesterday to have a touring group from Grace Baptist College in Gaylord, Michigan. Over twenty years ago, Dr. Jenkins went to Gaylord and planted a church that is thriving today in spite of the depressed economic conditions in the state of Michigan. The touring group presented a package of God-glorifying, uplifting music in both the combined Sunday School and morning worship hours. Kristina Keyes and Stephanie Goldsborough, who are both graduates of our school, now work for this ministry in Gaylord and were in attendance in both services yesterday. It was a privilege to have them home.
In addition to these visitors from Michigan, we had visitors from Tennessee, North Carolina, and Ilinois in attendance. We are thankful for these. Do pray for us as we follow up on the local visitors that were in attendance.
I continued my summer series on the life of King Hezekiah. Yesterday's message, "Men Who Helped the King," was received favorably, and there were a good number of decisions at the altar. You can listen to the sermon again by logging on to our website.
During the morning worship service, we also presented the Lloyd and Anita Berrey Bus Scholarship. This annual award in memory of our beloved former bus pastor is a full high scholarship to Grace Christian School given to a bus rider who best exemplifes the characteristics we desire in our bus riders. This year's recipient was Jasmine Russell. When Karen and I notified Jasmine's mother that she had been chosen, she responded that Jasmine had been praying for a way to come to Grace Christian. What a joy it was to hand her the scholarship yesterday. We praise God for our dedicated bus workers who are making a difference.
We were also privileged to have in attendance yesterday Pastor Bert Arrowood and his wife Christina. Bert is currently the youth pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Easley, South Carolina. He came to Grace yesterday to interview for the youth pastor vacancy at Grace. He preached a powerful message last night that you can hear again by logging on to our website. Pray for us as we seek God's will concerning our next youth pastor. Brother Arrowood is doing a great job as a husband and father, and it was great to spend time with his lovely family yesterday.
Last Wednesday night, the church voted to take yet another step in securing adjacent property to the church in order to construct a new fellowship hall and gymnasium. The congregation approved the purchase of another house on Howard Avenue, paving the way for future church expansion. We are thankful for their willingness to look to the future.
An exciting, patriotic weekend is approaching, and we want to invite you to be part of the festivities. On Saturday, July 3, we will have a church wide picnic at the North 40. We will get started with games at 10:00 AM, eat around 11:30 AM, and be done around 2:00 PM. On Sunday, July 4, our God and Country Sunday will feature special patriotic music, a touring group from West Coast Baptist College, the presentation of the colors, and special patriotic message. I trust you will be able to come.
Don't forget to keep us in your prayers. We are excited about all that God is doing in our midst.
Chattahoochee Independent Baptist Fellowship Report (Jun 22, 2010)
We were privileged to host the Chattahoochee Valley Independent Baptist Fellowship last week. Dr. Lou Rossi and Dr. Mike Norris were here for the occasion. They both preached fantastic messages, and you can listen to the entire conference by logging on to our website.
Brian visited our church several weeks ago, and we were able to present the plan of salvation to him in his home on our follow up visit. Brian did not receive Christ, but he was noticeably under conviction. He attended the CVIBF meeting on Tuesday morning, and I was able to talk to him in the office after the service. Brian prayed to receive Christ as his personal Savior! Amen! He came that night to the fellowship meeting and followed the Lord in believer's baptism. We were privileged to welcome him as the newest member of Grace. He has been faithful to church since his conversion. Do pray for Brian and the many struggles that he is facing personally in his life.
On Wednesday night, our missionary Andrew Bennell was our featured speaker. He is doing a wonderful job training converted Muslims to invade the 10-40 window. Pray for Andrew and his wife as they set up a new training center out of their London, England church plant.
On Thursday, Karen and I traveled with our girls to Mansfield, Ohio to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of my parents. The Lord blessed with a tremendous reception attended by over 200 guests. Numerous friends and family members related testimonies of how my parents have impacted their lives. It was a great day! What a privilege to be raised in a godly home!
I stayed over Sunday and preached for Dr. Dale V. Adkins at the Mansfield Baptist Temple. What a privilege to preach at my dad's church on Father's Day. Karen and I also celebrated 23 years of marriage on Sunday. I am so thankful for my godly wife. Do pray for Dr. Adkins who recently lost his mother. We had a good services all day Sunday, and as always, the crowd at MBT was warm and receptive.
In my absence, Pastor Powell preached all day at Grace. You can listen to his fantastic sermons again by logging on to our website.
Karen and I returned to Columbus last night ready to sleep in our own beds. How thankful we are to be part of such a great ministry as Grace!
Several key decisions are on the horizon. This Sunday we have a youth pastor coming to interivew, and, Lord willing, we will be voting this week on a new property purchase. Your continued interest in and support of this ministry means much to us.
Chattahoochee Independent Baptist Fellowship (Jun 14, 2010)
We were privileged at Grace Baptist Church to hear yesterday the convicting preaching of Evangelist Lou Rossi. The altar was filled withnumerous decisions by Christians at both altar calls. We praise the Lord for the way He used His Word. Dr. Rossi helped kick off the annual meeting of the Chattahoochee Valley Independent Baptist Fellowship. He will be joined tonight by Pastor Mike Norris from Franklin Road Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Both preachers will preach tonight at 7:00 PM and tomorrow at 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM. You won't want to miss it! A combined church choir from the independent Baptist churches in the area will perform, and special music will also be provided from the various assemblies. It will be a great two days of sweet fellowship and dynamic sermons.
We were saddened to hear last week of the homegoing of missionary Ike Foster. Ike had been a veteran missionary in Korea since the 1950s. He was one of the first missionary families supported by Grace. Years ago, Pastor Neaves cut his own salary in order to add the Fosters to our missionary budget. Ike went without many personal benefits in order that he might minister to the people of South Korea. He was buried in Korea, the land that he loved so much. We will miss this old soldier.
Grace continues, however, to add to its missionary family. On June 5, we were privileged to have missionary Beth Johnson with us. Beth will be working in Morocco among Muslim women. Men are not allowed to engage in idle conversation with women in the marketplace in strict Muslim cultures. Beth will be involved in much-needed evangelism in this heavily Islamic country of North Africa. It was a privilege to add Beth to our missionary family.
On Monday, June 6, Karen and I traveled to Chattanooga so that I could participate in the annual board meeting of BIMI. Nineteen new missionary candidates were approved. Amen! We stayed Tuesday night as the mission celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Dr. David Snyder was installed as the new General Director of BIMI, and we are confident that he is God's man for the hour. Grace voted last night to add Dr. Snyder to our missionary family in order that we might stand behind him in this awesome responsibility. He becomes the 174th missionary of Grace Baptist Church. Amen!
Our annual Vacation Bible School was conducted June 7-11. Our bus workers braved the heat, and our coordinators and teachers did a marvelous job of maintaining order. Pastor Powell reported that 46 children prayed to receive Christ through individualized, personal counseling. We praise the Lord for these decisions and for our dedicated workers who made these decisions possible.
On Saturday evening, I was privileged to preach at Victory Independent Baptist Church here in Columbus with my good friend Marty Wynn, pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church, as we celebrated the 35th anniversary of our sister church in the city. Preston Parker started this church, and it is still going strong. We praise the Lord for good friends in the city.
Last night, Bill Lockerman received his first pin in the soul winners club for leading his first soul to Christ since beginning our 13-week program. Bill was able to lead a neighbor of our church to the Lord, a man many of us have witnessed to on multiple occasions. We praise the Lord for God using Bill to help this dear man "seal the deal."
This afternoon, I will travel to Opelika, Alabama to meet with the men of Heritage Baptist Church, a new church plant. They are considering becoming a member of our satellite church ministry. Pray that God will give us wisdom as we deliberate. Also, continue to pray for our new church plant in Fort Mitchell, Alabama, scheduled to begin in the month of August.
On Tuesday, we will close on a duplex adjacent to the church, which will be converted into our new youth house. Our current youth house will be moved, Lord willing, to make room for more parking. We are also in negotiations concerning another property that has become available adjacent to the church. Pray that God will help us secure this land for the best price possible.
On June 27, Bert Arrowood will be on campus to interview for our vacant youth pastor's position. Bert has been a youth pastor in Easley, South Carolina for the past four years. Pray that God will give him and us wisdom as he comes to Columbus.
On Thursday, Karen, our girls, and I will travel to Ohio to celebrate the fiftieth wedding anniversary of my parents. What a great privilege to be raised in a godly Christian home! I will stay over Sunday to celebrate father's day with my wonderful dad and preach at the Mansfield Baptist Temple. Pray that God will give me wisdom as I handle the Word of God at my parents' home church.
Your prayers and financial support do mean much to us. Pray that God will continue to use us this week to bring people into the family of God. We have several "hot" prospects we are hoping will come to Christ this week. Pray that God will help us to be effective soul winners.
Soul-Winner's Club Report (Jun 01, 2010)
I trust you are having a tremendous Memorial Day holiday and are able to spend some quality time with your family and friends. Living right outside of Fort Benning, we are constantly reminded of the debt we owe our servicemen who are fighting for democracy around the world. Our support group for wives of deployed soldiers, the Bravehearts, is traveling to Atlanta today to watch the Braves play baseball and be recognized for the sacrifice they have made to give up their husbands during these turbulent days. On base this week, we were able to minister to 66 soldiers in our various Bible studies and are happy to report that three of them prayed to receive Christ as personal Savior. Amen!
Bill Lockerman, a member of our soul winners club, was able to lead a soul to Christ this week on Thursday night visitation. Mr. King, who lives right around the corner from the church, has been witnessed to on numerous occasions by various church members. But this particular week, God used the testimony of Bill to soften Mr. King's heart, and before the night was over, another soul was born into the family of God! Praise the Lord!
Vacation Bible School is right around the corner. June 7-11 will witness scores of young people from underprivileged neighborhoods entering our facilities. Many of these young people will have never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel. Pray that God will give us numerous young people and dozens of salvation decisions.
This upcoming Sunday, June 6, Beth Johnson will be in our service. Beth is on her way to witness to Islamic women in Morocco. We are excited about the prospects of adding her to our missionary family.
We will also this week be privileged to have Anthony Hipps, who will be interviewing to become the next youth pastor of Grace. Pray for him and us as we get to know each other better this weekend.
Once again, we appreciate the consistent support of prayers and finances that you send our way. Please do not stop now!
