During an almost unbearable cold snap, Grace Baptist Church has invited the MOIFBP to the Northern part of Missouri for the January meeting. The main highways were pretty clear in spite of recent snows. The city itself still has snow pack. Grace Baptist is located right near the city square in an area that doesn't seem likely for a Church building to exist. But, once inside there is absolutely no room for doubt that you are in a Fundamental Baptist Church. There were a sufficient number of people who gathered in the auditorium to fill at least three quarters of the pews. Pastor Johnson led the congregation in a couple of hymns and two full time servants of the Lord gave testimony of what God was doing in their lives. Bro. John Davis, evangelist, told us of the discovery that he has a form of lukemia, but that he intends to maintain his schedule of looking for true revival where ever God will bring it. He mentioned how that Mary Davis' music is being used on radio stations even over seas.
Bro. Tim Stevens told of his plans of having the first service of the Hannibal Baptist Church in Hannibal, MO in September. This young man seems committed to start this Church in the heart of a Southern Baptist Seminary town. No easy task and several have tried it through the years, but like a lot of Bible colleges today, liberal thinking has taken over.
Bro. Glen Yoder, pastor of the Community Baptist Church of Emden, MO was the preacher for the evening. He took us to Deuteronomy 11:11,12. God's eyes are watching from the first of the year until the end of the year. Being the first of the year, we are to remember that God is watching all of us all of the time. "How should we behave ourselves?" Breaking the year down into individual days, Bro. Yoder referred to several Bible verses adjuring our daily devotions to God's will. Bro. Yoder told of being a school teacher in the past and of putting up mirrors in different views of the classroom. This caused the pupils to know the possibility of the teacher seeing anything they did. He said it didn't enable him to see everything, but the pupils thought he could. The result was a higher achievement by all the students. He quoted verses that spoke of the immediacy of serving the Lord by using the word, "now!" We should search the scriptures daily, we should bear His cross dailyand we should live daily expecting His return.
Bro. Johnson had advertised the Williams brothers for Tuesday and tonight he intimated an O.K. Corrall scenario. We are not sure if the Williams brothers are going to be waiting at the corral or if they are headed for the corral. We will find out starting three hours before High Noon. I'll let you know the results after the Encounter of the three men.
Tuesday morning a good group gathered for a complete breakfast served by a several willing members. Then at nine the services began. Two more men were invited to update their ministries. Bro. Khory Allen told how God was blessing his ministry in helping Churches reach youth. He is building his itinerary of youth revivals, a youth camp and other related appointments for 2010. Then Omar Schrock gave his testimony of having raised over half of his needed monthly support to go to the interior of Brazil. He told of a city that has 800,000 population yet has hardly been touched by the Gospel truth and an area equalling 6 north central US states that has a million and one half population. This young gentleman seems to have well rounded plans to get there and do the work.
The first Williams brother, then stepped into the pulpit. Bro. Gary, currently being used of God in conducting meetings in Churches to help Christian homes and Christian finances. He took us to Matthew 4. His primary subject was the ministry. He started by giving a simplistic two part division of ministry on purpose. The two terms were, problems and preaching. The ministry could be described as a combination of these two terms. Problems come when we set out to serve our saviour in the way he expects. When we follow him as our only leader, we will be doing the will of God, but we will be facing problems in an unbelieving world. There are multitudes to reach and the miracles of God will enable us to see results by our obedience to preaching the Word of God to the uttermost.
Next, Bro. Terry Williams, stepped into the pulpit. He said he didn't consider himself a preacher like his two brothers, but has spent over 30 teaching the Word of God in a local New Testament Baptist Church. He gave a brief statement of his resume' with a humorous slant. He took us to Habakkuk chapter 1. Centering on God's promise that He would work a work. Habakkuk was perplexed similarly to what we are today and God gave him a message to remind him that God will work a work. We cannot escape or destroy the love of God for us personally. We must acknowlege the promise that God is still perfecting us as long as we are on this globe. God is a God of impossibilities. we know the cruelty of those who know not God, but we also also know the power of God. The fundamentals of the faith are the only strength that gains and maintains the blessing of God.
The last preacher for the morning was another Williams, as promised. Bro. Melvin Williams, set everyone at ease when he promised he would not take advantage of the other two. He didn't except the mention of a toothbrush which emitted volumns of possibilities of brotherly contests. His subject was, Heritage. Using a text out of Jeremiah and 2 Kings 20:19, he described what the term heritage means. He gave personal reference to his own personal heritage, what he inherited through his forebearers, but proved that it is more important that we pass forward a substantial heritage to those who will inherit from us. Not just our own children! He alluded to Joseph in the Old Testament, reminding us that Joseph's story took almost 3/5ths of the book of Genesis. Bro. Melvin, left us with the scriptural plan of leaving not just a goodly heritage, but more importantly, a Godly heritage:
1. Establish God as the Master of your life.
2. Make a public commitment to God.
3. We need to define clearly to those who will carry on our heritage.
Well the scenario of the gunfight at the O.K. wasn't truly fulfilled by today's activities even though one of the brothers was packing And there were a couple of fellows that looked like FBI or something. Still, all three messages were right on target and were encouraging to those of us who braved the near zero temperatures to gather in the warmth of good fellowship at a hospitable Church.
The church provided an excellent meal that partially was prepared outdoors in spite of frigid temps. The whole meeting was far better than sliced bread.
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