I was thanking God today for the opportunities I have. I don’t deserve them, but I will keep on walking through the doors He opens as long as I can.
This entire article could be a travelogue, but then I would feel I not responding to the notes I receive from some of you. Notes to thank me or vent some emotion. You see, I have come to the conclusion that there is safety in sharing thoughts with someone you do not know personally, and many of you do that. When you do, I want to let you know I care. Since I write this article only once a month, I want to be sure it is on target for you, the readers. I care.
Allow me to mention my trip to Eastern Hills Baptist Church in Montgomery. My daughter, Cheryl, who is a member there accompanied me. On this night, I was reminded all over again of the tireless efforts of women in a church. Martha Johnson invited me. She and the team of Women Ministries leaders excelled in their preparation. Hats off the Rick Marshall, pastor, for encouraging the women by relinquishing his pulpit on a Sunday night. Rick is a longtime friend and does a wonderful job at Eastern Hills. Good pastor and preacher.
And for you who wonder if you ever get too old to learn, you don’t. A host of Sunday School teachers from my church attended Sunday School leader training week at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega, sponsored by the Office of Sunday School of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. The Sunday School staff, led by Daniel Edmonds, director; Rick Ellison, associate educational ministry leadership; Jamie Baldwin, associate adult/youth leadership; and James Blakeney, associate children/pre-school leadership, excelled in the preparation for this conference. To transform lives, a leader must be prepared. Thanks to the Sunday School staff for time well spent.
Driving home from Montgomery, after leading a conference for the Montgomery Baptist Association at their 2002 key leader conference. I wished I could have expressed admiration for the many people who attended. It just thrills my soul to see bivocational ministers, church treasurers, clerks, deacons, ministers wives, pastors, pre-school/children volunteers, Sunday School directors and on and on I could go. All assembled to better learn how to carry out their jobs. Buddy McGohon challenged the group to never stop growing in the Lord. “Spiritual growth is the key,” he said. The conference was held at Eastmont Baptist Church, a growing church on fire for God. A dynamic pastor Michael Northcutt.
Not all meetings have to be church related. Being invited to speak to a hospital association meeting was a chance to again observe firsthand people who make a difference in the medical field. Theirs is a ministry. Richard Byerlie organized the two-day meeting, and the response of those attending was good. People who want to learn more, excelling at what they do.
People need the Lord
All these years of dealing with people, I am reminded over again that people need the Lord. As I said at the beginning of this article, I did not want this to be a travelogue, but I mentioned the above to emphasize the fact that a message requires a messenger, and Jesus reminded us in Matthew 11:10, “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” What a challenge for God’s people. Whatever the cost, to learn, prepare oneself in countless ways to do God’s work. This is carried out in all walks of life. Every job can be a ministry.
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