Bullock-Centennial celebrates Ascension, urged to share faith

When the disciples looked to replace Judas, they had two qualifications.

He needed to be “one of the men who have accompanied us” during Jesus’ entire ministry, from the baptism of John to the ascension, and he needed to be a witness to the resurrection.

“He had to be someone who had witnessed Jesus being taken up so that he would become a witness with the disciples,” said Bill Cannon, pastor of First Baptist Church, Union Springs.

Cannon preached that message from Acts 1 during Bullock-Centennial Baptist Association’s Ascension service, held May 19 at Macedonia Baptist Church, Union Springs.

He encouraged the nearly 50 men present to “take advantage of the time to invest in the young men who are around us before our time is taken from us and be a witness for Christ.”

This was the second year the association held the Ascension service, and Curtis Rich, director of missions for Bullock-Centennial Association, said he thinks it will continue on an annual basis from here on.

“We had a great service with good participation,” Rich said. “And it’s just a little different kind of service. We think about Easter and it’s kind of over with. We celebrate that He rose, then we kind of leave it alone.”

With this kind of service, the men who are leaders in the churches can focus on Jesus’ ascension, His promise to return and His command to be witnesses until He does, Rich said.

Keith Pugh, a member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Union Springs, said it’s an integral part of the life of Christ and needs to be celebrated. “This kind of service is something new for Bullock County, but we’ve had a lot of good response,” he said.