The Pastor's Pen— Let's Do It Again in 2010
The second chapter of Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians warns the believers in that town to not get discouraged because of the different and sometimes undisciplined people who were being added to the fellowship. And he makes a special point in verse twelve to challenge the church: Don't give up, Don't get burned out! The NASB translation renders God's instruction this way: "13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good." If you've been around the First Family for the last seven years you might have good reason to think Paul is speaking to you. There was so much to do during the 3 plus years without a pastor and over the last 3 plus years we've moved through all the normal and some abnormal adjustments. I still remember pulling in to our new address on Orrick Trail and seeing so many people putting an "extra shine" on our home. It seemed that we just got everything put away when suddenly I faced medical procedures that caused me to be anesthetized 3 times in 6 months. I'd never even been overnight in a hospital until we moved to Kirksville! And how you all stood beside us during my recovery—what a blessing!!
We've been through significant changes in the office and administrative staff during this time as well and we pray that this team that is assembled now can remain and improve as we serve together.
As I read over the calendar for 2009 I smiled. So many wonderful things happened. We came out of 2 semesters of "Operation Kirksville" door to door visits along with our three sister SBC churches in K'ville. Tim Sadler preached our spring revival and we had 2 nearly full "Experiencing God" classes. This reached a pinnacle on Easter Sunday. I had planned to preach a short sermon as we were going to baptize 19 people on a single Sunday. Good thing too, as my voice was almost gone.
Three years ago we were fortunate to have 4 or 5 college students pass through our doors on Sunday. By May of `09 we'd gotten used to feeding more than 100 students per week with our college meals ministry. Thanks to Robbie and the many people who have helped in that ministry we are no longer letting the job of reaching students totally fall on the BSU. That work set the stage for Joe & Erin to begin teaching the college Sunday School class and now a dozen or more students actually wake up for Bible study at 9:30 each week!
AngelFood Ministry of which we've been a site for over 2 years was rocked by scandal at their corporate level. For a number of reasons we decided to "not grow weary of doing good." Instead we researched a good alternative and in January 2010 we are officially a "Food Share America" site. This enable the Family at First help people maximize their grocery dollars in an increasingly troubled economy. We're helping meet real needs and earning the right to minister to people and bring the Gospel to lost right here in our town.
By Fall & Winter we enjoyed 1) a single Sunday with evangelist Clyde Chiles which brought 20% of our congregation to the altar, 2) have up to 2 visitation teams going out every Tuesday night, and 3) took our whole Christmas program down the road to the Baptist Student Union. So what can we look forward to in 2010? Expanding youth ministry? Another mission trip? It depends on our determination to not grow weary. These acts of service are your love-gifts to the Savior.
In total the New Testament warns us 4 times to not grow weary. Rev. 2:3-4 says, " 3and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. 4'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love." So one serious danger is continuing the same work, but with the wrong passion. Hebrews 12:2 tells us how to keep the right mind-set—"Fix your eyes on Jesus (not people) when the writer says "2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." And finally Paul warned the Galatians (6:9) "9Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." Don't stop before you finish your race!
More later,
Pastor Marty
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