Does Revival Tarry?

 

Currently our Thursday morning small men's group is finishing up the Leonard Ravenhill classic, "Why Revival Tarries." It is a hard hitter, and man he pounds us preachers for holding back and not proclaiming with power the word of the Lord. It is the kind of book I need to and should read every year.

One area of the book deals with "unction."  The power of God, the Holy Ghost.  The anointing of God on the preacher of the Word.  Lord we pray for that.  We pray for a Heaven sent, Holy Ghost fire of revival that doesn't leave after the meetings, but continues to burn on in the days ahead.

Having just completed a Four Church Revival, it was nothing short of awesome!  We say it, but do we mean it?  Revival is really for the Church.  I often equate it to people being saved, but can we have revival if no one was saved?  The very heart of the Church was stirred?   The answer is yes.  What a time we have had praising the Lord together and gathering around the word.  The crowds have been nothing but wonderful.  I believe somewhere around 270 in attendance may have been the smallest number counted.  Each week all four churches were faithful to attend.  I loved the support I witnessed in our staff, leadership, faithful folks, and youth!

As your Pastor, I could not be more proud (in a good way) of Marcia and the Worship Team and the music service prior to Rudy preaching this past Sunday night. I whispered, "You should be ready to preach after that."   Holy Forever with Marcia at Piano, and Cody on his new sax, and the praise Team stepping up to lead was absolutely Heaven come down.

We were  challenged again with a good word from Pastor Rudy Allen on showing fruit that your life has  really been changed. 

Even all of you who helped prepare or serve in the fellowship that followed were a great blessing.  Don, Regina and their team, and all of you, outstanding as we had plenty for all and the fellowship hall was packed.  Right down to those who helped clean and straighten up. Thank you.

I believe this is something that will catch on.  Coming together as a group of churches in a series of Revival meetings.  Thanks for letting me be your Pastor. 

 

We have Dr. Jerry Chaddick, Pastor of Mims Baptist Church in Conroe, Texas scheduled for our fall revival the Week of September 13-16. 

Easter and Revival

 

As we prepare to step into the pulpit for the thirty third time on Easter Sunday, here in Camden, what a blessing it it is to pastor this group of folks. Easter changes everything.  Regardless of the circumstances we may find ourselves in, Sunday is coming.  Jesus is alive. There may be a number who get back to church, maybe some who have been gone for a while, and praise the Lord!  I hope the church is packed with people coming back, searching, hurting, and longing to worship the King of glory on this special Lord's Day. He is worthy.

We also follow Easter up by beginning a Four Church Revival beginning April 12. While we will each preach in a different pulpit that morning, over the next four Sunday nights, one of us will be preaching at a different church. I love these pastors and look forward to us getting together over these weeks. I pray that each service is full of FSBCamden folks seeking God for Revival.

One reason I love revival?  I was saved in one April 13, 1976.  The place was North Dayton Baptist Church, and the Evangelist was T.d. Hall.  That was fifty years ago! Thank God for mercy and grace.

Mom and Dad have set the Standard

Today is a very special day in the life of our family as Mom and Dad celebrate their sixty ninth Wedding Anniversary.  Sixty nine years!!!  Little did Fred and Vevadyne (pronounced VevaDean) Jackson know what was in front of them.  Moving to Dayton from Coalfield, Tennessee and planting a life, raising a family, (Pictured here with my Sister Sheila), seeing us married, have kids and now enjoying life with Great Great grands, I will echo what Dad has said recently, "God has been so good." I never met my great grandparents.  So we praise the Lord for this for both Mom and Dad and our grands.  They will always remember Papaw Hoot and Granny.

 We could not have asked for better, and now we are in a season that only the years can bring . The Bible describes our bodies as earthly tents,  and that our bodies groan. While they can't do what they once did physically, and don't get out very often now, the foundation was laid a long time ago that the vows they had made to each other were taken seriously. I will forever praise the Lord for the Mom and Dad he gave us.  One once asked, "How would you define successful parenting." Point your kids to Jesus, and if my kids love me as much as I love my Mom and Dad, then I believe we are on the right track.

 

Turning the Page

2025 is now in the rear view mirror and what a year it has been. Closing out our thirty second year as your pastor has brought great challenge, yet even more blessing. You all have watched our family grow up as Aiden, our oldest grandson is now sixteen and driving. Eli is in eighth grade, a fine student/athlete, but even more of a blessing was hearing his testimony this year prior to be baptized as a follower of Christ. He and Aiden are both involved in their youth group at FBC New Lebanon.  Koby is in fifth and Jordy in third, and they are playing ball all the time. They love the things of God, their church in New Madison, and were surprised with Forrest Frank Concert tickets at Christmas for this summer.

 Renee and I could not ask for anything more in our lives as God has richly blessed us. You may see me in a different vehicle from time to time as my dad blessed me with his truck for Christmas.  I will cherish and try to take as good of care of it as he and mom have.

For some of you, 2025 has been a tough one.  The loss of loved ones, and those dear to you. Health issues that have been so hard, and we pray for you as you navigate them into 2026.  We are grateful for our Church Family.  I will try to be more consistent writing a monthly blog. As you are aware, they are nothing fancy, but they come from a Pastor who loves you.

May 2026 be a year where we continue to see folks come to Christ and a year of disciple making.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you and with you.  Bro. Greg  Joshua 1:8 

 

 

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The Power of a Personal Note

While not always there, my goal has always been to say thank you when something is done for me, our Church, my family, and kids.  To not take things for granted, or to expect anything. I have learned this from some of the best.  Recently I sent a note to former Bellevue Pastor, Steve Gaines who is fighting cancer.  He was gracious enough to send a response thanking me for prayers and taking time to write.

Sunday September 7th, we recognized Marcia Sullender for her thirtieth year on Staff here in Camden. It was a great day. One combined service. Great worship, and a meal for all here at the church. Dave has been such a support and blessing to us as well often staying out of the spotlight.  His humble spirit has always blessed me.

In regards to Marcia, what that means is she has heard me preach more sermons than anyone. (We have been in two services a total of twelve years in the A.M. and all of the previous Sunday evening services we once had.) Always prepared, always willing, and always having a desire to please the Lord and do things with excellence.

The Church created a notebook of gratitude that included many handwritten letters. We simply wanted to personally say thank you. There is power in a personal note. Sometimes the note comes in the form of what we say. ( Psalm 45:1b my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.)

Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)
²⁹  Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 

Who could you write today and encourage with a Good word?

 Go ahead and do it today.  Bro. Greg 

Pastoring in the Dog Days of Summer

 

                                                                   

                                                                                  Growing up in 60s and 70s, I remember July and August being a time when the oppressively hot air simply did not move and the high humidity made it feel like you were perpetually living in a sauna. This was in the days before most people had air conditioning, so an open window and the occasional fan humming at night were the only things keeping you from turning into a stagnant pool of salt water.

Most of those nights I went to bed  listening to the Cincinnati Reds’ baseball games called by the legendary Joe Nuxhall and Marty Brennaman. What a thrill to grow up and get to experience the "Big Red Machine."  They used colorful phrases like, “You can kiss it goodbye!” for a home run, or, “and this one belongs to the Reds", a classic from Joe Nuxhall It was from them I first heard the term “Dog Days” applied to July and August — a term used to describe those long, hot days and nights in the middle of the season when there are far too many more games to be played. 

The term actually comes from the Roman observation of the brightness of Sirius, the Dog Star, in the constellation of Canis Major (“large dog”) in the months of July and August. The Dog Days were popularly believed to be an evil time of year when the sea boiled, dogs grew mad, and all other creatures became lazy. If you have teenagers lounging about your house on summer vacation, you know that the Romans weren’t far off.

Even though air conditioning is available in most places, and the church remains (cool as a cucumber) I’m still thinking about the Dog Days, but now in terms of my preaching. Like a long baseball season, July and August come roughly halfway between Christmas and Easter, which are like Opening Day and the World Series of the church year. In terms of church attendance, the asphalt in the parking lot is boiling, people disappear, and many that are normally excited to come to worship are more likely to lounge in a hammock in the mountain air than get ready for church.

Maybe we preachers get a little cranky this time of year, too. Even though our people may be in a lazy, vacation mindset, Sunday still comes every week and we’ve got to get ready to work in case people show up (and, miraculously, some still do!). Your homiletical fast ball may not be as sharp as it was on Easter Sunday, and you’re hacking at those summer sermons like a relief pitcher who gets put into pinch hit in the 15th inning of a Sunday day game.

Truth be told, however, I like to think of this time of year as a gift. Maybe I’m out of the office a little more, after  all everyone is trying to catch their breath. Like Yogi Berra used to say, “Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.” There’s a sermon illustration in there somewhere.

My Pastor , preaching mentor Joe Baker who is now in Heaven always said, "Don't evaluate ministry on Monday morning or in the month of August."  

I think God gives us preachers the Dog Days for a reason. It’s not that we get so lazy that we stop being disciples of Jesus for a couple of months. Instead, I think God makes it hot and humid so we’ll slow down a bit, look around some more, watch the world go by, take in a beautiful sunset, or sleep in once in a while. Think of it as an opportunity for an extended Sabbath in the middle of the season. It’s a time to take your vacation and enjoy it. The same God who put the Dog Star in the sky will keep the creation running until you get back. No need to rush.

After all, Christmas will soon be here!!  Don't quit! Stand of the promises of God.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV)
⁵⁸  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
 

  Excerpts Taken from Robert Kaylor originally published in 2016