Christmas Events & Missionary News (Dec 07, 2009)
The Christmas season is off and running at Grace Baptist Church. Indeed, it is the most wonderful time of the year. I began my annual Christmas series yesterday. This year's series, enititled People Who Miss Christmas, began with the sermon Busy People Miss Christmas. You can hear the sermon again by logging on to our website. The Lord blessed with several decisions at the altar and we are pleased to announce that David and Lora Marigin, who were saved at our revival several months ago, followed the Lord in baptism and became the newest members of Grace Baptist Church. Amen!
Our bus church puppeteers were able to present the Gospel in the annual Breakfast with Santa in Phenix City. The mayor was present, and we are thankful that God allows us every year to present the plan of salvation in this city-sponsored event. In addition to this rally, there were two kids saved in the counseling center of bus church yesterday, and we thank the Lord for these decisions.
Though many of the soldiers are leaving base for the holidays, we were still able to minister to 147 servicemen this week with nine of them standing to receive Christ as personal Savior. Praise the Lord! Karen and I were able to attend the army band's annual concert in downtown Columbus yesterday. What a joy to see our own Colonel Bryan Owens (soon to be General Owens) give the welcome to those who attended!
Last night, Timothy Ojo, veteran missionary in Nigeria, presented his work. What a powerful message! Our people enthusiastically voted to add the Ojo's to our missionary family. Amen again!
Today, I travel to BIMI for the screening committee of Mark and Brenda Liedtke, who Lord willing will be accepted with that mission agency this evening. Mark, who is our current Spanish pastor, will be going to the country of Belize to plant churches. Pray that God will help Mark and Brenda as they go through candidate school this week.
On a personal note, pray for my mother who is scheduled for major back surgery on Wednesday. We are trusting God that this will be the answer to the back troubles she has had for the past several years.
Don't forget that the lower elementary children of Grace Christian School will present their annual Christmas program Tuesday night. You won't want to miss it.
And finally, be in much prayer about Christmas at Grace this weekend. We are expecting over 1500 people with hundreds of them in need of the Savior. Pray that our Friday night teen rally, Saturday afternoon children's rally, and Sunday morning service will all be mightily used to bring dozens of people into the family of God!