My love for the Lord and His church continues to grow deeper. I rejoice to see you loving the Lord, one another, and people in our city and around the world. I sense your love for Jesus and His bride is reaching new levels, too.
Worshiping and preaching in the Chapel was a special experience! Even though the room was warm, it was worth seeing the chairs filled and the Spirit at work. We estimated that we had 152 people in the Chapel and in the overflow room Wednesday night. I preached a message from 1 Cor. 1:1-9, stressing the need for us to prepare the Lord’s Bride for His return. If the health of the church depended on your involvement, would the church be strong or weak?
We had various groups present Wednesday night: charter members of Bradfordville Baptist Church, members who joined the church in the Chapel; and people that said this was their first time in the building. I loved seeing children, students, and adults worshiping together.
My heart beats for pastors. I rejoice when pastors rejoice; I hurt when pastors hurt. I cringe when I see pastors living life and doing ministry in isolation. The enemy loves to see God’s servants drift away from healthy relationships. His goal is to wreck a pastor’s character and destroy his ministry. I desire to come alongside other pastors and help them and learn from them. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
Therefore, Sunday night was amazing! Thank you for attending and filling up the Fellowship Hall. It was an evening of praise, preaching, and prayer. Ordaining Tom Cooney and Aaron Powell to the Gospel ministry was an honor! Your support and prayers for them is priceless. My heart was moved to see the many ordained men gather around Tom and Aaron to lay their hands on them. That’s a practice we see modeled in the New Testament. The church at Antioch assembled together. How did God move in their midst? “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:2-3). My ordination challenge came from 1 Pt. 5:1-5. Thank you for agreeing to pray for Tom and Aaron, as they serve the Lord in pastoral ministry.
God is at work at Bradfordville! Sunday morning is going to be amazing. I’ve invited several people in our community to come to Sunday School and worship. I have commitments from people that they’ll be here this Sunday. Have you invited anyone? If so, praise God! If not, you still have time. I appeal for you to ask the Lord to lead you to someone that’s waiting for an invitation. Your invitation could be the catalyst that God uses to change that person’s life.
Let’s come Sunday hungry to hear God’s Word, passionate to worship the true and living God, and prepared to give a “Thank Offering” and a regular offering that exemplifies trust and sacrifice. Let me encourage you to be in the Sanctuary by 10:30 am Sunday morning. We’ll begin the worship gathering by praising the Lord and celebrating the different generations in our church family. I can’t wait!
I Love My Church Family,
Pastor Ronny
Jn. 12:21