Revival In July?

Two great bits of advice I received from my boyhood pastor/ mentor Bro. Joe Baker was: Never evaluate your ministry on:  1) Monday 2) or in the month of August.  Well , yesterday was certainly the exception as we close out July.  July 29, 2012 will go down as one of those days that may be part of a Revival that God is blessing our church with.

After a tremendous Vacation Bible School, and twelve decisions, we followed up immediately. Several returned calls and we planned to baptize three, God blessed as we baptized 8.  You talk about a Holy Hallelujah! This may well be the second greatest harvest day in the baptismal water that I have ever witnessed.  To top it off, a teenage boy came forward and shared he was ready to give his life to Jesus.  I am telling you that God blessed us with a day that we pray and long for.  Four of those that were baptized were sisters with the youngest being a leukemia survivor that God continues to heal.

I am not sharing this to boast somehow about us, because it is evident, when God shows up big things happen. Ephes. 3:20   Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

 Anything good that happens here is because of the grace and mercy of Christ.
 Galatians 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 

Looking forward to trusting God with the days ahead.  What a journey!
Revival in July? Can it happen?  Yes, and Praise the Lord!

One Shot To Make A First Impression

   The man you see pictured here is Pastor Bill Combs of Trinity Baptist Church in Parma, Ohio. I had the privilege to travel with a group of 21 from Camden to serve on a Mission Trip last week.
   Pastor Bill has been there a little over a year, and the church seemed to have some history that had led to splitting and people leaving. I am grateful for this preacher of 30 years to step in at an hour of great need.

   I sensed as if part of our time in Parma was to encourage the Shepherd of this local congregation.  Our folks did a great job of just that.

  One way we did that was by cleaning and getting their sign updated.  Not a big deal to most, but it was a reminder to me that first impressions are huge.  You don't get a second shot with some folks, so it is important to make the most of every opportunity.

  The same is true in worship.  We may get only one shot, so it is imperative that people hear a message from God's Word, and that the message points a person clearly to Jesus and his saving work on the cross of Calvary.  What a privilege we have to preach the precious gospel of Jesus Christ.

  My summary of the trip would be that they taught us a lot more than we really helped them.
God help us to always be ON MISSION.