Since Christ is risen (indeed!), we have hope in this life and for eternity. It’s seems I never tire of…nor am ever not in need of… this simple reminder of the blessed promises Jesus has made to us…
About this life, our Lord says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
About eternity, He says, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:2-3).
Maybe you needed to hear those blessed promises today. God speaking to you in the midst of the challenges you face.
Maybe God reminded you of these wonderful truths so that you would be ready to share them with someone who needs to hear this encouragement…
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
GOCBC!
By Grace Alone
I appreciate all of you praying for me. The blessing of your prayer support has been huge for me over the recent days…Don’t ever stop! I would also very much appreciate you praying for me as my trip to Senegal approaches. The dates for this mission trip are April 26 – May 6. Pastor Roger Brumley, from Calvary Baptist Church in Neosho, and I will be headed to Sedhiou, Senegal. Here are a few maps to put a perspective on our ministry location:
Roger and I will be discipling the local church leaders as well as sharing the Gospel with people, appointments which have been arranged as well as those which will arise during our time there. We also will be looking at two villages which could likely serve as locations for a new church plant. Here is what I have previously shared from Pastor Sam Turner (also from Calvary Neosho) through our church missions blog (gocbcmissions.wordpress.com):
Pastor Paul Mendy shared that they were visiting every Monday one of two locations. (alternating between them each Monday). Bona where there are 5 believers and Touba where there at two believers. So I volunteered Pastor Roger and Pastor Scott Gordon to go with them on Monday, May 2, to visit which ever preaching village they are doing that Monday… I [also] hope to set up a meeting for Pastor Roger with the chairman of the Mandjak fellowship who also heads up the Bible Society here.
This is what it means for us to be a fully-engaged Acts 1:8 church…ministering here at home, in our state, across our nation, and around the world. Be praying about your connection to our developing Great Commission ministries through our church. Should you be the next to go? To Senegal? To Brazil? To Disaster Relief Ministry? To City Union Mission? To your neighbors’ homes? To your classmates?
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” –Matthew 28:18-20
[The Communiqué is our church's monthly newsletter. This article appears in the March 2011 edition.]
Let me tell you a story…the story is true…it’s about a young man in high school…a young man called into the ministry…
One night this young man was asked by his sweet and wonderful girl friend if he would want to help her baby sit a young boy so that his parents could have a date night. He agreed, in spite of his reservations. You see, this guy was not particularly fond of watching little children…but, the opportunity to spend time with his girlfriend was not something to be passed up. So, after getting to the house and the parents getting on their way, the baby sitting commenced. “As expected” the little boy was a handful, one this young minister-to-be could only describe as a “little terror.” Thus commenced his running commentary on the deplorable state of this boy’s attitude and the inadequacy of the parenting taking place in that household. This commentary continued, even through the drive to return his girlfriend to her parents’ house. Upon reaching the driveway, his girlfriend had had enough. Turning to him she said, “I wish you would spend as much time and energy in finding ways to minister to this family as you have put into criticizing and running them down!” Needless to say this young man was stopped in his tracks and began looking for a way to hide under the seat of his car. He had just been served with a very significant wake up call…a serious attitude check was needed… Read more…
