Funeral of Edith Register, Several Great Decisions (Sep 21, 2009)
The Lord blessed this weekend with some significant opportunities. Let me share a few of them with you this morning over a hot cup of coffee!
Let's begin with the homegoing celebration of Edith Register. Mrs. Register passed away Tuesday night around 10:00 AM at the age of 86. She had been a member of Grace since the Neaves administration in the 1950s. Mrs. Register, who was often referred to as the "granny of Grace," served as nursery coordinator for 28 years. She also was a frequent attender of GCS athletics, and her daughter Beth was the first registered student of Grace Christian School. The auditorium was filled on Saturday with both current and former members of Grace who had come to pay their respects to this wonderful woman. For those of you who missed it, the memorial service is available on CD. You can order one through the church office.
Yesterday we were able to see several key decisions. We begin with Sheila and Aaron Allen. The Allens came to us through our RU ministry, and through the discipleship ministry of Pastor Chambers and his key leaders, the Allens have shown phenomenal growth. They recognized that this growth has come through a caring church, and they officially united with our membership yesterday. We are thankful to have them.
We are also thankful for the opportunity to baptize Theresa Thomas yesterday. Theresa came to Grace through the witness of our singles. Theresa worked at Shoneys where several of our singles work. Jennifer Acree, Christina Pasciewitz, and Terrance Portier all encouraged Theresa to visit church. She did, and we were able to lead her to Christ in her home several weeks ago. Theresa made her commitment public yesterday through the ordinance baptism, and she enrolled as the newest member of our discipleship course. Praise the Lord! What a thrill to see Pastor Powell put in our singles a love for the lost around them!
Janette Addison was also baptized yesterday. Janette has been attending Grace for some time. Through preaching from the pulpit of Grace, and also through listening to Christian radio while she did the night shift at a local hotel, Janette realized she was not saved. She accepted the Lord as her Savior this week and public identified with Christ yesterday through baptism. Amen!
Devon Mason who received the Lloyd and Anita Berrey Scholarship to Grace Christian School fell under conviction at school camp and trusted Christ as his Savior. Amen! Devon came forward to make his public profession last night.
We ministered to a 131 soldiers at Fort Benning this past week with thirteen of them standing to receive Christ as Savior. Some came to Christ through public preaching. Others came to Christ through personal counseling. Sam Liedtke was very excited about the soldier he was able to lead to the Lord yesterday morning. What a delight to see our young preacher boys get a love for the souls of men!
Dr. David Hurst was able to report last night on his missions trip to Honduras with Bradley Edmondson and Medical Missions Outreach. What a thrill it is to see this great pediatrician in our town use his skills to bring people to the Savior in foreign lands.
Please continue to pray for the ministries of Grace Baptist Church, that God will use us to reach our community and the world for Christ.