Years ago evangelist Gypsy Smith was conducting meetings when a preacher came and asked the secret of his success. He wanted to know what the best method would be for starting a spiritual awakening in his own congregation. Gypsy’s Smith’s answer, “Brother, go home and lock yourself in your room. Take a piece of chalk and draw a circle on the floor. Then get down on your knees inside that circle and confess all your known sins. Determine to follow the Lord whatever His Word directs you, no matter what the cost. Ask Him to begin His work in you! When this prayer is answered, you will have the beginning of a revival in your church.”
We, as a church, have set aside August 22-25 as days of refreshing, spiritual renewal, and revival in our lives. Bill Britt, a full-time evangelist and President of Compel Outreach International, will be our preacher, and Paul Harper will lead our music. I have known Bill for 35 years and used him in previous churches. God has anointed him as an evangelist, and he is one of the greatest harvesters I have ever known in the area of evangelism. I truly believe we will see lost people saved if we bring them to the services. Will you stop right now and prayerfully ask whom you can bring with you to the services? The Bible says in John 1:41 concerning Andrew, He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “we have found the Messiah” and he brought him to Jesus! May we have on our hearts what is on God’s heart, and that is the souls of men.
COVID has brought on challenges in the church that had no template to follow. I did not take a class on COVID 101 while in Bible College or Seminary. This pandemic has caused us to evaluate ministries pre-COVID and post-COVID. Yet, there are some positives that have resulted, such as many churches now have an online presence and are using the platform of social media to preach the gospel. It has also caused us to cease doing some things in the church that we had always done but were no longer effective. One of the results at FBC from COVID has been the two morning worship services. Personally I enjoy the two services, and I believe it is the prudent decision to continue this in the fall of the year. With a slight uptick in COVID cases, this will ensure people can still spread out in worship. Yet, we do need to tweak it a little bit. Starting the first
Sunday in September, we are slightly adjusting the times of the services. Our first service will begin at 8:15, and the second service will begin at 10:45. This will allow us to have more time in our Sunday School classes, and will enable our teachers to adequately teach the assigned passage of Scripture for that day.
Folks, we have some very positive things going on at FBC. I feel as good about our church as I ever have. Stay holy, love souls, and love one
another.
Blessings,
Bro. Tommy