Ordination Service (Aug 24, 2009)
This weekend we celebrated the ordination of our high school supervisor, Stephen White. Stephen came to our church a little over a year ago after receiving two undergraduate and two graduate degrees from Pensacola Christian College and Pensacola Theological Seminary. He has been a blessing teaching math and Bible, as well as serving as academic and high school supervisor. His ordination council was very impressed with his thorough understanding of Bible doctrine and recommended him unanimously to Grace Baptist Church for odination. The service was held last night, and Dr. Johnny Pope, Stephen's pastor while growing up, drove up from Houston to participate in the service. It was a wonderful day. Dr. Pope, as usual, preached two phenomenal messages, which you can hear again by logging on to our website.
At the conclusion of the ordination service last night, Stephen and Brooke White had their fathers come to the platform and pray a word of blessing over their ministries. A great reception followed in Hodges Hall. It was a banner day!
The Lord blessed with good attendance yesterday. Sunday School attendance was 651 and morning worship was 690. We had 106 bus riders yesterday, with three accepting the Lord in the counseling center of bus church, while 212 soldiers attended our Fort Benning Bible studies with 31 standing to receive Christ as personal Savior. Amen!
In the morning worship service, we had a good number of decisions at the altar. Sam Vinyard joined our church by statement yesterday, and Shelton Averett followed the Lord in believer's baptism. Shelton had been led to the Lord by Stephen White and our associate pastor, Greg Powell.
What a privilege it is to see young ministers picking up the mantle and advancing the cause of Christ. May their tribe increase! And may God help me to spend the rest of my life encouraging the next generation of fundamentalists.
Back from Texas (Aug 16, 2009)
After preaching the Sunday morning service on August 9, I flew to Dallas, Texas and preached the evening service for Dr. Richard Wallace at Temple Baptist Church. It was my privilege to conduct the teacher orientation lectures for the new school year at Temple Christian Academy. I preached the Wednesday evening prayer service for him on August 12 before flying back to Atlanta. Dr. Wallace is doing a wonderful job in the North Dallas suburbs of Lewisville and Flower Mound. If you are ever in the Dallas area, this would be a church worthy of your visit. In all, I preached ten times of over the four days that I was with him and enjoyed every minute of it. Dr. Wallace has been a treasured friend to this preacher.
In my absence, Pastor Powell preached the Sunday evening and Wednesday night messages. They were very well received, and you can listen to them again by logging on to our website.
Upon my return Thursday, Karen and I visited Karen Ange, a recent visitor to Grace. We were able to take a Bible and lead Karen to a saving knowledge of the Lord. It was my privilege to plunge Karen beneath baptismal waters yesterday. Praise the Lord!
Our buses brought in 117 riders yesterday. Five of these prayed to receive the Lord in the counseling center of bus church. Amen!
Over 145 soldiers attended our Bible studies on Fort Benning this week. Eight of these stood to receive Jesus Christ as personal Savior. Amen again!
Last night we were privileged to have Jeremy Benbrooks with us. Jeremy and his wife Mattie are on their way to Togo, West Africa. They are being sent through Mikado Baptist Church, where Jeremy has been on the staff as children's pastor. Mikado is a great church in the greater Macon area. Jeremy's wife grew up in my home church, Mansfield Baptist Temple. They represented their church, BIMI, and most importantly, the Lord well. It was our privilege to add them as the 154th missionary family of Grace Baptist Church.
Our school year started well last week. This is the 31st year of Grace Christian School. The average Christian school dropped in enrollment by 33% this year. We experienced some decrease, but not as severe as the average. Pray that the Lord will send us the students He desires for us to have.
This weekend, our high school supervisor, Stephen White, will be ordained to the Gospel ministry. Dr. Johnny Pope will be joining us for the ordination and preaching all day Sunday, August 23. You won't want to miss it.
Your continued prayers for this ministry do make a difference. Please keep them coming!
Heart-stirring Sword Conference (Aug 02, 2009)
We returned from the National Sword of the Lord Conference in Walkertown, North Carolina on Saturday after experiencing a heart-stirring week of fantastic messages. The sermons by Paul Chappell, Sam Davison, Mike Allison, Lou Rossi, and Joe Arthur spoke to me in particular. Dr. Smith put together a tremendous conference, despite the fact that his father went home to be with the Lord the morning of the first day. Dr. Smith departed the conference early so that he could go preach his daddy's funeral. Do pray for the Smith family in their time of bereavement.
Our teens arrived back in town on Friday after a tremendous missions trip in Boston. Thousands of flyers were distributed, and they were a tremendous help to a new church plant in Haverhill. Many of our teens had their lives impacted for good and for God, and they will be reporting on their work this coming Sunday night in the worship service.
Last evening, we had a special treat as the Vessels of Honor from West Coast Baptist College ministered in our worship service. These girls did a marvelous job, and Dr. Toby Weaver, dean of students, preached a convicting message. You can listen to it by logging on to our website.
We had a good day yesterday in our extension ministries. 122 bus riders boarded our vehicles yesterday, and eight of these precious children prayed to receive Christ in the counseling center of bus church. On base, 116 soldiers attended our Bible studies with 12 of these standing to receive Christ as personal Savior. Amen!
Our school teachers report for work this morning. I have numerous interviews for new students this week. Pray that God will give us a good school year.
On Wednesday, I will be traveling to Lancaster, California to preach the mid-week service at Lancaster Baptist Church. Dr. Chappell has asked me to preach on "Technological Dangers in the Ministry." My book Pay-Per-View will be made available after the evening service. Pray that God will help me to help someone who may be battling pornography.
Your prayers for this ministry mean much. Keep them up.
