PASTOR TO PASTOR
The passage above speaks of Moses faithfulness, as well as the faithfulness of Jesus.
They both, according to this word, were faithful over the house of God. What a thought! We too are called as faithful servants over the house of God.
I don't think this means the building, but the collection of people and ministries that make up the church. It is an awesome and heavy responsibility. It is also a blessing.
The writer suggest a few things that we need to be reminded about.
1) Fix your eyes on Jesus. Faithfulness is a virtue of patience, persistence, and progress. None of these is possible in our own strength. Some of the enemies of faithfulness are weariness, criticism, lack of results, and frustration: to name a few. These war against our patience, persistence, and progress. The only way to stay faithful is to keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the One who called us. Our calling...his calling, must sustain us before the afore-mentioned enemy. I recently taught a seminar and was reminded of the number of preachers who quit or give up. In the CON we have 14,000 ministers and less than 6,000 churches. That's a lot who have given up. When days get tough keep your eyes on Jesus.
2) This is God's house. This verse is a reminder that for all we do for the church, and all that happens in the life of the church; the house is not more important than the One who built it. We can be tempted to worship the church, as opposed to the God of the church. We can worship the rituals, the traditions, the new stuff, even the preacher. But God is to be lifted up and worshipped. We can never believe that we or our work are more important than the Father.
He built this house. It is his. It is not mine. This congregation belongs to Him. This is not my assignment. It belongs to him.
3) Christ is faithful. I have been preaching a message lately asserting that God is in the building business. He wants to build us. Remember the kids song..."He's Still Working on Me". That's what he does. He is building us into a spiritual house.
Friends, Jesus is faithful. he will never forsake you or leave you. When ministry hurts, or when it is filled with joy, Christ Jesus Himself will be with you.
EXCELLENT ADVENTURES
Since our last blog we have preached at Blanchard (LA), Cleveland First (MS), Jackson Emmanuel (MS), McCoy (LA), and the NWIL District Camp Meeting. I have also attended the MS District Teen Camp at Table Rock Lake, the LA District Family Camp Meeting, the LA District Teen Camp, PALCON at SNU, and to LA District Children's Camp.
We look forward to visiting the following churches:
July 11 -- GraceWay (MS), Hazelhurst (MS) afternoon installation
June 18-- Baker (LA)
July 25 -- Fort Jessup Camp Meeting (LA)
August 1-- Available
August 8 -- DaySpring (MS)
August 15 -- GracePointe (LA)
August 22 -- Victory Praise and Worship (MS)
August 29 -- New Iberia (LA)
To schedule me please contact Pam. I would love to come to your church. (I am especially available on Sunday nights. If it looks like I am in your area on Sunday morning or might be passing through, and you would like me to come, please contact Pam)
SPECIAL NOTES
Rev. Kelvin Boone (wife, Rhonda) has accepted an appointment to pastor Hazelhurst(MS). Kelvin has most recently served as youth pastor at Bridgepoint and before that at Jackson Emmanuel. He has long served on the NYI Council in MS. The Boone's have two sons. We welcome them to this first pastoral assignment.
Rev. Jason Faminoff (wife, Melinda) have accepted and moved to Leesville to reopen the work there. The church will be called the Leesville Grace Community Church. Melinda is from Leesville. They have been pastoring in Kirbyville, TX. they have a daughter.
Rev. Robert (Bob) Lanier (wife, Carolyn) has moved from Meridian Fitkins to Jackson, MS to plant a new church in the South Jackson area. Re. Lanier has pastored in Alabama, Ohio, and Washington D.C., and feels led to start this church. His daughter, son-in-law, and two kids have moved here as well to help in planting the church. We are grateful for this church.
We are in the final stages of trying to get a Religious Workers Visa for Rev. Alberto Vidal to come and help us with our Hispanic work, particularly with the Vicksburg Hispanic. Please pray as we complete the necessary arrangements.
Rev. Gustavo Santos (wife, Susan) and their congregation have voted to join the Church of the Nazarene. They are located in Pascagoula and began working with Rev. Myron Hairston and most recently have been working with Rev. Rick Free.
Dr. David Smith has resigned as pastor of GraceWay (Summitt,MS). Dr. Smith started the church several years ago and has done an outstanding job establishing this new work. Pray that God will help us find a suitable replacement. He is available for pulpit supply. I have appointed Rev. Greg Beatty as the interim pastor.
Rev. Gary Houston as resigned Waynesboro Trinity(MS). Gary started this church many years ago and is completing his second term as pastor. He will continue to work for YET and for NCM. Pray for he and wife Kim as they seek God's future. He is available for pulpit supply.
Vicksburg First (MS) and pastor Chuck Parish have announced that they have put on staff Rev. Ron Ray and Rev. Kuhrman Cox. Both men will be unpaid associates. Rev. Cox has been given the title Pastor Emeritus. Congratulations.
GracePoint (LA) and Rev. Wayne Stallings have announced the hiring of Rev. Allen Kelly, Jr. as associate pastor in charge of discipleship and small groups.
Open Churches: (MS)Waynesboro Trinity, GraceWay
(LA) Kenner First and Bossier
Important Prayer Requests:
Rev. David Kelly (Crystal Springs, MS) has been diagnosed with what is believed to be cancer. It may be pancreatic. He was to have a biopsy today and will receive results on Thursday. Please pray for him.
Rev. Don Wedgeworth (Meridian Northside, MS) is in need of our prayers. He is suffering serious heart problems and is on oxygen.
Thanks for praying for Rev. Larry Ferris (pastor at Monroe. LA. First church) who had triple bypass surgery on June 3. He is recovering well.
Brenda Teston, (pastor's wife at Moss Bluff, LA) recently had gall bladder surgery. After some immediate complications she is doing better.
Linda Sherer's (pastor's wife at Sulphur, LA) mother had open heart surgery this past week.
Rev. Stephen Deese's (Gloster, MS) mother is battling cancer.
Continue to pray for Rev. Jerry Cole, McVay Memorial (LA), and Rev. Mike Howard (Westlake, LA)
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Fort Jessup Camp Meeting July 20-25 7 pm Each Evening Speaker: Rev. Bob Lothenore Music: Marcus Whitworth
Bring a van or a car load. Take the beautiful drive out to Fort Jessup. Have a great time at this century old campground.
BOARD LEADERSHIP SUMMITS 10am - 3 pm Cost $10 per person
Mississippi - August 7 at Bridgepoint Church in Brandon, MS Louisiana - August 14 at Rocky Creek Camp
Rev. Corey Jones, pastor of the Crossroads Tabernacle CON in Ft. Worth will be our guest speaker. His church is known for its very strong prayer ministry. He will be talking to us about prayer, a praying church, and the subsequent results of having a praying church. You will not want to miss this. Bring your church board and leadership team.
Everyone present will receive gifts, snacks, lunch, and materials. The whole district, one day, under one roof.
GracePointe (Shreveport, MS) is hosting a training seminar for any churches interested in implementing Dare To Care in your church. The dates are Friday, July 23 - Sunday, July 25th. This program has revolutionized the Pearson Chapel church (MS). You may want to send a lay person to get this information and bring it to your church. Cost is $10 per person. For more info call the church at 318-686-8802.
It is Nazarene Pastors night at the Mississippi Braves game on Friday night, August 27th in Pearl, MS. (Outside Jackson). Fireworks after the game. Tickets are $7. Call or email the District Resource Center to reserve your tickets. Your whole family is invited. Game starts at 7. Coming from a distance? We may be able to help if you want to stay overnight.
Book I am Recommending: "Who Stole My Church" by Gordon McDonald. This book is about the disconnect between two generations in today's typical church. It is written in a narrative style about a small New England church that is struggling with the generation gap. The younger folks want to make some changes that will attract new people to the church. The older folks, while wanting to reach new people, feel like their church is being taken from them. Pastor Gordon McDonald leads these groups, and the entire church, through a series of discussions to assess how both groups can be ministered too and find some common ground. The pages of this book are filled with the all to present reality that many pastors face today. Whiles some of it is unavoidably painful, it is also enlightening and helpful.
Book I Am Reading:
"Deep Church" by Jim Belcher. I bought this book because of all of the "controversy" over the traditional church and the Emergent, Emerging, PostModern Church. Unlike the book above that is largely about style, the battle between the traditional and the emergent is more theological and more ecclesiological. The venom that is often used by adherents to both groups borders on the absurd. This book, according to Belcher is for people like me who aren't quite sure what all the fuss is about. It is a textbook on the Emergent church but it also calls for a reconsidering of the traditional church. It is first and foremost a call for a third option..."Deep Church."
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: When God touches on person it is renewal. When he touches a group of people it is revival. When he touches the larger community it is an awakening. David Felter (Last Month's Holiness Today)
