October was a great month at Emmanuel

October was a great month for spiritual decisions at EBC. In addition to the wonderful things that occurred during Judgement House, we have seen 6 people saved, 6 baptized, and 18 new members added to the church during the past four weeks. Being in a small town, we don't take that for granted. Instead, we thank God for what He is doing and for allowing us to be part of it.

In addition to spiritual decisions, we had a great time connecting with our community. Last Sunday night EBC hosted "Trunk-or-Treat." Over 2,000+ came out to enjoy decorated trunks, concessions, ponies, and inflatable bounce houses. The kids enjoyed the candy and we enjoyed giving the Gospel.

Thank you, God, for allowing us to reach out to our community and blessing our efforts.

Carolinas Baptist Bible Fellowship

Yesterday, we had our quarterly CBBF meeting. Pastors from across NC and SC gathered at Central Baptist Church in Dunn, NC. The church did a wonderful job in hosting the meeting and provided some great BBQ and homemade desserts. The key speaker for the day was Evangelist, Jr. Hill and special music was provided by the Hayes family.

The preachers from across the Carolinas gather quarterly to be encouraged through preaching, to fellowship, pray for each other, to gather insights for doing ministry, and of course to eat. The main reason that the CBBF exists if for the purpose of starting new churches. During this meeting we heard from Joey Baynes, the pastor of Restoration Church which just kicked off in Greensboro, NC; and we heard from Greg Hales, the pastor of Coastal Community Baptist Church in Wilmington, NC. Both churches are doing well and exist, in part, due to the co-operative efforts of the churches involved in the Carolinas Baptist Bible Fellowship.

Our next meeting is going to be held on January 17 at Crossroads Baptist Church in Gilbert, SC. For more information about upcoming meetings, please visit www.carolinasbbf.com.

Judgement House 2012

This was the 10th anniversary of Judgement House at Emmanuel Baptist Church. When Kevin Matias introduced JH to EBC, it was a BIG stretch outside the box; but it has become the largest evangelistic event we host. Now under the direction of Justin Facenda, JH has grown to new levels, spans over two weekends, and impacts eternity beyond what we ever could have imagined.

Judgement House is a walk-through drama that causes people to consider where they will spend eternity. This year's script was an original entitled, Masquerade, and written by our own Brian Geddes. The story was based on the testimony of the a man who traveled with JH and served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, member of the pastor search committee, etc. He was a man who one day realized that he knew a lot about God, but that he did not know God.

It takes nearly 100 people from our church family to produce Judgement House, but the results are worth it.  This year, 2067 people walked through in just 4 nights with 276 making decisions for salvation and 173 recommitting their lives to Christ. We have already seen people baptized in our church and we are hearing stories of others taking that step in their local church.

My thanks to all in our church family who participated in JH. I appreciate a church family that is willing to do whatever it takes to reach people with the Gospel. I also thank those who took time to bring a group to JH. May God bless your efforts!

Is Green Bay Loss an indicator of our society?

First, let me clarify that I am neither a Packers fan, nor a Seahawks fan. I am a huge sports fan and especially a football junkie. I will admit that I am an Aaron Rodgers fan and have a great respect for his character, testimony, and talent.

This morning, I've been watching the sports channels, reading blogs, seeing the posts on various news sites and wondering how professional athletes making millions of dollars can blame the replacement referees for their failure to win a ball game. I have been a player, coach and umpire. I've been on both sides of the calls and admit to making both good and bad ones. In all cases, I have coached my teams and taught my children that the referee never wins or loses the ball game. If a team outplays and out scores the other team, then they will beat their opponent.

Today, fans and players have forgotten that there is a total of 60 minutes in a football game. They have forgotten that Aaron Rodgers was sacked 8 times in one half. They forgot that he slipped and fell with no one around him. They forgot that the league MVP threw no TD passes in 60 minutes and only averaged 4.7 yards passing. They forgot that the Packers only had a total of 84 yards rushing. The Packers didn't look very good last night and their offensive line was getting blown off the ball by the Seahawks' defense.

In "conveniently" forgetting their failures and focusing only on the failures of others (in this case the referee's), the Packers are a great illustration of the condition of our society. There is a mentality that refuses to admit personal failure and accept personal responsibility. Whether an athletic loss, job loss, a divorce, a bankruptcy, an auto accident, a bad test grade, or any other myriad of failures --- it is always the other person's fault -- it is never our fault.

Could this mindset be one of the reasons that it is so difficult for people to see their need for a Savior?  Could this mentality be robbing us of the common sense needed to admit when we are wrong, to confess our faults, and to ask for forgiveness? Could this be a contributing factor for church splits and the refusal to reconcile relationships with other believers? Could this all stem from the basic sin of PRIDE? 

The bottom-line is that referees (regular or replacements) will make mistakes, players will make mistakes, and people will make mistakes. I challenge you to admit your personal failures, to learn from them, and to correct them. I also remind you that God loves us in spite of our failures -- He loved us "while we were still sinners." In addition, remember 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Thank you, Lord, for giving us second chances!

Pray for Cindy (Our Missionary)

EBC is blessed to be the sending church for our home-grown missionary, Cindy. Through God's providential hand, Cindy returned home earlier this year to visit with her father, whose health was failing -- or so she (and we) thought. God used that circumstance to get Cindy off the field, only a few days prior to a government coup and uprising by Al Queda  rebels in her country of Mali.  I am happy to tell you that her father has recovered and Cindy is safe. On the other hand, hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled the country and many are starving and their living conditions are very poor. Just as Romans 8:28 promises, God took a circumstance that looked bad, and used it to accomplish His good.

Last week, Cindy met with our deacons to discuss and pray over a date for her return to the mission field.  After looking at the political situation, discussing it with her mission board, talking to believers inside the country, and not sensing the peace of God; our deacons have asked Cindy to wait until the end of the year  before returning to her field of ministry. At that time, we will evaluate the situation, before making a final decision. I would ask you to pray with us that God will give very clear direction and make our hearts sensitive to listening to His Spirit.

Cindy's situation and the recent attacks against Americans abroad, serve as reminders for us to pray for the safety of those carrying the good news to foreign countries.

Restoration Church Launched - 9.9.12

Yesterday, my family and the Brown family drove to Greensboro, NC to help launch a new church plant. Joey & Nicole Baynes, along with a team of nearly 40 people have been laying the groundwork for Restoration Church for almost a year. They have been meeting for Bible studies in homes, praying, visiting, planning, seeking God's direction, and hosting preview services. The core group consists of families have relocated, some in Greensboro who feel led to help, and some who are newly saved and ready to reach others.

The excitement on launch day was amazing! They really had it together and God blessed their efforts with over 280 people attending the service, and 3 making decisions for salvation! It is exciting to see a solid church starting and to have had a part in helping them. Restoration Church is receiving support from various church planting organizations; and our church supports two of them. I pray that EBC continues to see these success stories and will continue to help start new churches!

For more info about Restoration Church visit www.restorationgso.com

First Baptist of West Hollywood Reunion

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a reunion celebrating a great pastor - Dr. Verle Ackerman, and a great church - the First Baptist Church of West Hollywood, FL. I had the privilege of growing up in that church that was once named among the ten fastest growing churches in America. Dr. Verle Ackerman was, without any doubt, one of the greatest pastors of all time. That fact was obvious as we reminisced, shared testimonies, cried, and laughed. It is also obvious by those who found Christ under Pastor A's ministry and are still serving faithfully; and by the number of people who have served and are still serving in vocational ministry.

It was so good to see people that I had not seen in quite some time -- nearly 30 years since I last saw some of them. These people included friends, staff pastors, teachers, bus drivers, children's ministry workers, cafeteria workers, classmates, parents of classmates, former co-workers, a man whose grass I used to cut, and so many more. The surprise of the day was seeing the grown-up "little sister" of a high-school sweetheart. I would never have recognized her without a name tag. I'm sure others felt the same about me, but some people looked exactly the same as I remember them from 30 years ago!

Among the brightest spots of the day was being able to spend time with my parents; and being reunited with people who had put up with, trained, invested in, and prepared me for the ministry in which I serve today. God blessed me with mentors during my teenage years like Dell Lindsey, Guy Melton, Larry Coy, and Pastor Ackerman. If nothing else had happened at the reunion, it was worth feeling that embrace from Pastor A. and hearing him say, "I am so proud of you." I can't even imagine how much better it is going to be to hear our Lord say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant."

First Baptist has been through some difficult times after Pastor A left. Changes in leadership, the community, economic conditions, and even the name have all taken their toll; but God has now blessed that church with a good and godly pastor. I've known Brian and Vicki Burkholder since my days at BUA and I would expect God to do some great things through them.

To everyone who had a part in putting the reunion together -- THANK YOU! It was a great time and brought back many, many wonderful memories.

A Promise Kept at the Grand Canyon

As our family discussed what to do for vacation 2012, we had a few of our favorites listed including visiting family in FL, trip to Myrtle Beach,time in the mountains, week on the lake at Hickory Knob State Park, and a few others. During our discussion process, I remembered a promise we had made to our children. Two years ago, as my wife and I were discussing a trip for our 25th wedding anniversary, we ultimately decided and promised that we would take the whole family with us to the Grand Canyon. A series of circumstances arose that prohibited our trip at that time and up until now - we had not made that trip.

As my wife and I were talking about it, I reminded her that we had made a promise to our children. Being a big fan of the early Promise Keepers movement and wanting my children to remember that their father kept his promises, I decided that we had to go to the Grand Canyon. With daughters moving away next year, if we didn't go now... we may never get the opportunity.

Looking at our summer calendar which included one studying for her state nursing exam, one taking a summer class in preparation to transfer to Liberty University, and my summer calendar of weddings and other scheduled events; we realized that we had only one week - for this entire summer - that was even a possibility for family vacation.

Long story short, we went to the Grand Canyon! We rode 4x4's in Sedona, stayed in Grand Canyon National Park, visited Hoover Dam, saw Lake Mead, and even stayed one night in Las Vegas. The beauty of the Grand Canyon was indescribable and reminded me just how BIG God really is! (I got tired of hearing about the millions of years it took to carve out the canyon and wished someone would have given God some credit.) No picture nor description can give you any idea how beautiful it is - you have to experience it for yourself. I immediately thought of how the Bible describes heaven. We will never be able to fully grasp its beauty until we get there.

We had a GREAT family vacation and I am so glad our kids got to experience the Grand Canyon with us. More than that, I'm glad my children will remember their dad as a man who keeps his promises!

Sunday Summary - 5.6.12

Today was an exciting morning at EBC! We started the service with three baptisms (two children and one teenager). Pastor David got so excited during the baptism that I thought he was going to start the congregation doing the wave. I thought to myself..."That's the way church ought to be - exciting!" The music was great today! Thank choir for your energy and the message pointing us to Who God is! Thank you band and praise team - especially to Alex and Sterling for filling in. Thank you Monica for a great presentation of the song "Blessings." I know it ministered to many people in our congregation.

Today's sermon was from Exodus 1 & 2 and focused on Jochabed, the mother of Moses. She was a great example of true faith. During a time of tremendous hardship, slavery, and bondage for the Israelites; Jochabed conceived. Pharoah ordered all the male, Hebrew children to be killed at birth or thrown into the Nile River. Jochabed showed great courage and stood against the Pharoah. She did what she could to hide her son for three months, and then trusted God to do the rest. She ultimately got to raise her son legally, and got paid to do it! God is so good. We focused on the role of mothers and the importance of parents in the lives of their children. Kids don't need their parents to be their friends, they need parents who will teach, guide, and prepare them in the ways of the Lord and the things of life. Parents... it's not always easy, but it is your calling!

We concluded our service with five people joining our church family: Wendy, Mike, Mackey, Trey, and Katie ; and with a special prayer over the mothers in our church. I know it isn't yet Mother's Day, but we have been celebrating women for the past three weeks at EBC.

Tonight, Pastor David is teaching a parenting seminar for our church family. I hope this is only the first of many, as we try to encourage and provide tools to the parents in our congregation.

Sunday Summary - 4.29.12

We started yesterday's service with Kimberly being baptized. She was saved as a teenager, but had never taken the step of baptism. She and her husband, Matthew, also joined our church family today. They started attending EBC during Team Impact. Everyone who helped us host that event, had a part in reaching this family.

We also had a new music group on the scene. Great job Michael, Luke, Chris, and Tony! When we say a "blended" style of service, we really mean it. We went from very contemporary all the way to Southern Gospel. We've always described our church as a smorgasbord (buffet), and today was a great example.

I continued the series "Women in the Bible" and preached from the Book of Ruth. This small book teaches us how to trust God through life's tragedies. Things don't always go according to our plans; but sometimes they turn out better than we EVER could have planned. We discussed the role of Boaz as kinsman redeemer and tied it to Jesus -- the One Who redeemed us!

Last night, almost 80 ladies enjoyed a great time of fellowship with Alison Evans. She is a wonderful lady who has ministered to many in our community, and was a blessing at our Ladies Fellowship. We had almost two dozen men out visiting and that effort continues to grow. Preston and I volunteered in the nursery, so that our ladies could attend the fellowship. We had some great teenage girls to help us, and I gained a new appreciation for our nursery workers!

Sunday Summary - 4.22.12

Today, I launched into a series on "Women in the Bible." We'll examine this topic through Mother's Day. The first lady that we looked at was Judge Deborah, a military leader who encouraged Barak to "man-up" and fulfill the task that God had called him to do. You can find this story in Judges 4. The story makes is clear that Deborah was a great example of a "suitable helper." Her encouragement brought strength to Barak and she ministered to him by her presence. She helped him to focus on God, as he faced the fears that challenged his obedience. She even allowed him to receive the credit, even though he almost bailed out. Deborah gives a unique perspective of the way God created women and the vital role they play!

We were blessed today with Angelina following the Lord in baptism and joining our church family. In addition, Jeremy & Amy united with our church through membership. This is a very special family that adds some great creativity and enthusiasm to serving Jesus! Be in prayer for Jeremy's father, who was diagnosed with cancer and is only expected to live a few short weeks.

Sunday Summary - 4.15.12

Today at EBC was very different. This was "Relay for Life" weekend, so we focused our service around those who have been touched by cancer and made a concentrated effort to offer some hope. Our Worship Pastor (Joey) is a cancer survivor, so this weekend was very dear to him. He solicited testimonies of those who have cancer, or those who have survived cancer. During the service, these prerecorded testimonies were played and there was not a dry eye in the house. When I asked for everyone who has been touched by cancer to stand, there were hundreds!

The sermon was focused on God's promises to carry us through the storms of life. I used many illustrations that communicated the message of the old song, "God will make a way, when there seems to be no way." God opened the Red Sea for the Israelites. God calmed the storm when the disciples were fearful in the boat. God fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that we will pass through the waters (the storms of life) and God would be with us. God is our source of hope and we must keep our eyes on Him!

I don't know what you're personal storm is currently, but God does. Let me just remind you that He is your ONLY source of real hope. Take you needs to Him and trust Him to take care of those needs.

Comedian Tim Hawkins at Emmanuel

Christian comedian, Tim Hawkins www.timhawkins.net came to EBC last night. Tim was one of the easiest performers that we have ever brought into EBC. He was gracious and didn't ask for anything "unreasonable." I would highly recommend your church hosting an event with Tim. I also want to thank our Student Ministries Pastor, Justin, for the upfront work that he put into hosting Tim. All of Justin's work could be why this event seemed so easy to me. (God has blessed our church with a great team of pastors!)

We had two full shows (4:00 & 7:00pm) and a "meet & greet" supper in between. Chick-fil-A on Irby Street in Florence were a great help in providing the meal. Thank you Mark, Kim, and servers! A special thanks also to WMHK 89.7FM for their partnership, promotion, and presence at the event. Thank you Jeff and Michelle!

It was good to see so many people at EBC just laughing and enjoying themselves. We had people drive all the way from Wilmington, Myrtle Beach, Georgetown, Mount Pleasant, Lexington, and more! As Christians, it is good to be able to laugh and have fun... even in the middle of our struggles. Life is tough and the recession has pummeled some families; but God used Tim Hawkins to bring some relief. Thanks to the MANY volunteers who worked to make this such a success!

Easter Sunday - 4.8.12

Today was Easter 2012! Last night, our family watched the movie, "The Crucifixion of Christ." We were reminded last Sunday and again last night, about Jesus sufferings. He agonized in the Garden, He was falsely accused, denied by His followers, mocked, tortured, and ultimately "GAVE" His life to pay the penalty for the sins of the human race (ME!). Even as I write this, my eyes are tearing up and I hope I never get over what Jesus did for me. It was my sin that He paid for.

This morning, we celebrated the resurrection! The resurrection is the Super Bowl for Christians... it's the BIG event! Our church family gathered to enjoy our annual pancake breakfast together. Our staff, deacons, and some other wonderful volunteers prepared and served our church family. We enjoyed fellowship together and I think most realized that our common bond is Jesus Christ.

Following breakfast, we worshiped our resurrected and living Lord. We had about 200 more in attendance than we usually have. (I always want to stand at the door and shake hands saying, "I'll see you at Christmas;" but I refrained.) We had Isabel and Christina were baptized and became members of our church family. We had several mark cards that they prayed to receive Christ as Savior and now our follow-up work begins.

Our Easter offering is being designated to help us jump-start a renewed emphasis on paying down our existing debt. God has blessed and we have paid over $1 million against the principle over the past five years. That's amazing in a small-mid sized church and during a time of recession. It is a tribute to people who are committed to honoring God with their tithes and offerings, and their belief that you can't out-give God.

This morning's sermon focused on the resurrection of Christ and the proofs of that resurrection. There are many, in spite of what critics claim. The resurrection proves that Jesus Christ really was Who He claimed to be -- God. His resurrection proved that He can do what He says He can do - rise in 3 days. Based on those facts, 'm just foolish (or wise) enough to believe that He can forgive my sins, restore my relationship with Him, allow me to live in His fullness, and He is preparing a place for me in Heaven! Praise the Lord for the reminders that Easter brings!

Sunday Summary - 4.1.12

Yesterday was another great day in the Lord's house! Our attendance continues to climb, our offerings continue to be strong, and we continue to see spiritual decisions being made. Yesterday, we had Dalton and Tim take the spiritual steps of baptism and church membership. Tim's family also joined with him.

A funny story about Tim... last Sunday, I was giving a tour to some guests, when Tim stopped me. He called me off to the side as though something was wrong and said, "Preacher, you are just the man I was looking for." He said, "I want to get baptized." When I asked Tim about his salvation, he got a big smile and replied, "I was saved three weeks ago during the service, but didn't want to walk forward." Tim and his family began attending EBC as a result of Team Impact, so "thank you" to everyone who had a part in Team Impact... you also had a part in Tim coming to know Christ!

The sermon yesterday was based around the crucifixion of Christ. We talk about it so much that I think we often grow calloused toward it. As the saying goes, "Familiarity breeds contempt." So, I walked our people through the unjust trials, the beatings, the crucifixion, and all the way to the tomb. I was able to present it differently this year, after having walked through the Holy Land last November. It was more real... I had seen those places... I could now speak with authority... it increased my passion... WOW! That passion must have made its way to the hearts of our congregation, as people were moved to tears and the altar was full during our invitation.

Thank God for His plan of salvation. It costs us nothing, but it cost Jesus everything!

Easter Production

On the nights of Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1, our adult choir and drama ministries presented a wonderful Easter program entitled, "The Thief." The script was original and written by our own Brian Geddes. As with most programs, those involved usually wonder whether it will all come together, and did it ever! I would call the set "simple-elegance." It was just enough, but not too much. The vocalists and actors did a superb job. Those in support roles (sound, video, lighting, costuming, stage hands, greeters, ushers, etc.) as usual... made everyone look good. We had great crowds on both nights, people were moved to tears, and 7 people started personal relationships with Jesus Christ! We also had several people indicate their desire to know more about EBC and express a desire to speak with one of our pastors. A heart-felt "thank you" to everyone who participated in making this program a huge success.

Due to the busy summer schedule of EBC, we chose not to do the giant EGGstravaganza this year. There was some sadness and a few calls of disappointment from our community, but there were also many "thank yous" from our church family. We weighed the benefits and felt that our people needed a break, more than we needed a few prospects. Our church is learning to do ministry that is effective and efficient, rather than events that just draw crowds. Having crowds is nice, but building God's Church is our goal.

ECS Open House & Business After Hours

Emmanuel Christian School hosted a Business After Hours through our local Chamber of Commerce last night. This is a monthly networking opportunity for Chamber members to stop by after work. Based on business cards turned in, we had approximately 35 attend from the community. They were joined by our ECS staff and faculty, along with several families that arrived early for our Open House. My thanks to Clark and Jenifer for leading the way in putting it all together, to our Food Service staff for the wonderful array of food, and to our staff and faculty for their participation. I also want to thank Johnna for the Chamber's help and for the leadership she is providing.

Following the Business After Hours, the teachers went to their classrooms and the business leaders were able to tour the school and ask questions of our staff and faculty. We combined this night with an Open House for our community. This was the best Open House we have ever had! Families from preschool to high school walked through, gathered information, and we had enrollments coming in the very next day!

Again, thanks to ALL who attended and helped to host this great event!

Sunday Summary - 3.18.12

Yesterday was "Baby Dedication" at EBC. God is blessing our church with MANY young families, and today He blessed us with 9 babies to be dedicated. This is a special time in the life of any church. The concept for this day is based on the story of Hannah dedicating Samuel to the Lord. We encourage parents to dedicate their children to the Lord, to dedicate themselves to be godly parents, and the church family dedicates themselves to do all they can to help these parents raise these precious children to know, love, and serve the Lord. We show pictures on the screens, read special summaries that the parents have written about their children, take pictures, and distribute certificates to remind parents of this commitment.

I continued the sermon series "Thy Kingdom Come" with a message about Kingdom Determination. I challenged our church member to seize the dream that God is placing in their heart, to pursue that dream, and to determine to be faithful until they complete it. I used biblical illustrations of dreamers including: Noah, Daniel, Joseph, Nehemiah, Paul, and Joshua & Caleb. I reminded our church that God gives individual and corporate dreams, that the majority will often oppose them, and those who remain faithful will be rewarded.

God blessed our services with Adelaide being baptized and becoming a member of our church family, and the O'Dell family coming for membership pending baptism. 2012 has been such a wonderful year. We have already had 75 saved through Team Impact, 10 saved through our services, and 30 new members added to our church. Praise God for what He is doing at EBC!

Sunday Summary - 3.11.12 (ECS Day)

Today was our annual service in which we highlight Emmanuel Christian School. ECS Day is a BIG event, since ECS is the largest ministry of EBC. Many of our church members don't realize that on any given day there are approximately 1,000 people on our campus just via the school events. These people include: students, parents, grandparents, teachers, athletes, coaches, vendors, etc. We are proud that ECS has been "Teaching the minds... and training the hearts" of students in Darlington County for 48 years!

During this ECS Day service, our EXCEL music students provide the prelude music, the elementary students serve as our choir, high school students serve as ushers and greeters, students make up our band, and faculty members serve as our praise team. In addition, our EXCEL art students set up an art gallery to display their work and for our members to enjoy. This year, we added a new twist as we showed several TV commercials that included personal testimonies from ECS parents and students.

I continued the sermon series "Thy Kingdom Come" with a message about Kingdom Love. Using Mary's act of breaking her alabaster box and anointing Jesus with costly perfume, I challenged our congregation to lavish their love on Christ, to hold nothing back, and to express their worship with disregard for what anyone else might say. Karen sang a beautiful song that tied it all together. God blessed our efforts with Edna joining our church family; and Tiffany, Josh, and Billy being baptized. Billy shared his testimony of being "religious, but lost." He ended his wrestling match with God and accepted Christ as his Savior on the last night of Team Impact.

Sunday Summary - Team Impact - 3.4.12

Yesterday was the climax to a GREAT evangelism event at Emmanuel Baptist Church. We had Team Impact www.team-impact.com at EBC last week, Feb. 29 - March 4. Team Impact uses feats of strength to draw crowds, then they share a very clear presentation of the gospel. TI conducted assemblies in seven area schools, at Coker College, and at the Hartsville Boys' & Girls' Club. TI preached at our Sunday afternoon basketball church and saw three men make decisions for Christ. Approximately 2,200 people attended the evening events with 160+ making decisions for salvation, assurance, rededication, and prayer needs.

During our morning service, God's Spirit moved and we had an amazing morning! I've been working with a man in his 20's who was saved yesterday! I got the privilege of baptizing my daughter and another young man who were saved several weeks ago. We also added nine new members to our church family! Last night, a man who has been active in our church and sings in our choir, realized his need for salvation. He stated that he had a head-knowledge of Christ, but he needed to surrender his heart to the Lord. Praise God!

I want to extend my thanks to all of our EBC volunteers who helped to make this event a huge success. Our church family has caught the vision for reaching beyond our walls, reaching our community, and impacting eternity! Thank God for people who are willing to serve the Lord in whatever way is needed! I also want to thank David, our EBC Children's Pastor, for the work he did in organizing this event. God has blessed us with a great ministry team!

SC State Evangelism Conference

Each year, our church staff attends a conference together. For the past couple of years, we have gone to the "Refuel" conference at Thomas Road Baptist Church. This year due to a format change and date conflict, we chose to attend the SC State Evangelism Conference hosted by the SBC. The conference was definitely "old school" and I think our staff was the youngest group in attendance; but the messages hit the nail on the head and we considered it time well spent.

God used the messaages to challenge our hearts toward evangelism and the need to keep the main thing, the main thing! Conference speakers included: Jr. Hill, Jeff Laborg, Rick Corum, David Gallamore, Randall Jones, Earnie Perkins, Jim Austin, and Phil Hoskins.

A couple of great quotes from the conference:

1. If you determine to win your city for Christ, you will have critics. Sadly, most of them will be in other churches, and even some in your own.

2. The Church is supposed to be a body, but has become a business. When a body becomes a business, it is a prostitute. The Church is supposed to be a bride, not a prostitute! (That will make you think about the condition of today's church.)

3. Too many are doing church work, but not the work of the Church.

4. Three types of church members: a) Spectators - sit and watch what they consider an event, b) Scowlers - taken years to perfect their negativity and pessimism, and 3) Singers -true worshippers both in private and in public.

5. Preachers need to stop trying to be amateur psyhologists and get back to preaching the Word.

Sunday Summary - 02/19.12

We started our services yesterday with Pearl being baptized! It's exciting to see people getting saved, baptized, and joining the church almost every Sunday! I'm not sure what was going on yesterday, but we had an incredible crowd of almost 600 in church!

I preached on Kingdom Considerations and how we must understand that the power to change lives comes from the Holy Spirit, that we must endure as we serve Christ, that our hopes and dreams may have to change in order to follow fully, and that it is all worth it in the end.

Sherman taught a financial seminar last night adapting many of the principles from Crown Financial for our church family. Financial common sense isn't so common these days. It was startling to hear that last year only 4% of Americans gave 10% to any charity. That means that 96% of Americans didn't tithe! Blame the government or anyone else you want to blame; but when you disobey God's plan for giving, you cannot expect God's blessings. The Bible tells us that when we don't tithe, it's as though we are stealing from God.

Sherman did a great job and we are sad that this will be his final week here at Emmanuel. He is leaving us to become the assistant director at Grace Bible Camp in Goshen, VA. This is a dream come true for Sherman, but he will leave a gaping hole in this ministry. Thank God that He takes care of His ministry. He has already provided someone to fill that gap.

Sunday Summary - 02.13.12

Our attendance was off a little yesterday morning due to the 20 degree weather. Upon arriving at church, we discovered that 3 of our 4 heaters were not working properly and the inside of the building was 54 degrees. The A/C man was here working on it and the temperature was up to 60 degrees by the time we started the service. For that reason we cut the service a little shorter, and walked out 20 minutes earlier than normal. In spite of the temp's, God still worked. Yesterday, Jerome was baptized, and his family joined the church. PTL!

I preached on Understanding the Kingdom. So many people are focused on building their own personal kingdoms that they miss God's BIGGER plan for their lives. We are in a small town, but truly believing God can use us to reach the world! I tried to share with our church family that following Jesus will mean taking up our cross, running against the grain, and standing against the culture; but it appears they have accepted the challenge.

Finally, last night almost 80 of our men gathered to watch the movie "Courageous." What an awesome movie! The lights were out, but I heard sniffles across the room. Hearts of men were being touched by the Holy Spirit. Pray that God will do something special at EBC this year as we reach men for Christ. I closed by asking for men to volunteer to serve and help me develop tools for our men (sermon series, resources, training materials, etc.) If the men will get serious about serving Jesus, then their wives and children will follow.

Sunday Summary - 02.05.12

What a great day at Emmanuel. We hosted a "Super Bowl of Caring" and collected several shopping carts full of canned foods for Hartsville Interfaith Ministries. This is a ministry supported by local churches that assists those who find themselves in a temporary crisis and need some assistance to get back on their feet. Our church family responded so generously! Thanks EBC for caring about the less fortunate in our community.

This morning's sermon focused on having Kingdom Vision. Too many individual believers and churches are plagued by tunnel vision. They can only see their immediate surroundings and have no concern about those who are still in need of having a relationship with Jesus Christ. I challenged our people to look for ministry opportunities to those who are not being reached by any church, to think outside the box, and to move toward the other's oriented philosophy that Jesus modeled for His disciples. This year EBC will focus on being the people God wants us to become, rather than doing all the programs that people want us to do.

At the close of today's service, God blessed us with a great altar response. Among those were 5 new members and 1 coming for baptism! PTL.

Tonight we will host the Super Bowl EHOPs (Emmanuel Houses of Prayer). The LIFE Groups will gather in a member's home, invite their friends, watch the Super Bowl, and pray. This will be a great time of fellowship and hopefully a time when others come to know Christ!

Something's wrong with this picture!

Has anyone noticed how freely our culture throws around terms like intolerant, politically incorrect, and bigoted at those who express their thoughts and opinions on almost anything except Christianity? Don't dare crack a joke about Jews, Muslims, gays, or ethnicity. Sports casters, news anchors, and radio talk show hosts have been fired for such comments; but let a late night talk show host bash Christians and for some reason that is acceptable.

Consider all of the controversy around Tim Tebow. Tebow proved that he can play in the NFL, was kept while Kyle Orton was traded, and Denver's sorry start turned into a run for the playoffs. Rather than praising him, many keep bashing him for his faith. Terms such as "Tebowing" were introduced because of his prayer posture, SNL aired a blasphemous skit, and other professionals were very unprofessional.

Well... I'm tired of "Christian bashing" being acceptable. America was founded as a Christian nation, we have a rich Christian heritage, our judicial system is based on Judeo-Christian ethic, American schools taught children to read using the New England Primer (which contained Bible verses), and the list goes on! This nation is great, because "In God We Trust!" So, as a Christian and as an American, I want someone to explain the picture below:

Hey Terrell, the Ravens could have used God's help!

On January 4, Terrell Suggs showed his ignorance with the following statement: “With all due respect, we don’t need God on our sidelines. Once again God had to save Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos. He couldn’t even give them two drives. Seven to three?” That comment sparked a lot of debate, drew much negative attention toward Suggs, and he also lost a lot of respect that day. Hall of Fame QB, Terry Bradshaw, said this: “You can take shots at Tim, but when you go messing with God, that’s a different story. Suggs is obviously an idiot; he has no clue what he’s talking about. He better be careful; if I were him I’d be on my hands and knees tonight asking for forgiveness because that’s totally unacceptable." I've always admired Terry Bradshaw, but that day his stock rose tremendously in my book.

Here we are just a few weeks later as the Baltimore Ravens are battling for their chance to go to the Super Bowl. The Ravens have a chance to take the lead and sure-handed Lee Evans drops a ball that was already nestled in his arms for a touchdown. Then the Ravens are down by only 3 and a simple chip shot field goal will tie their chance to stay alive. A very consistent kicker pulls the kick! This isn't the Ravens team we are used to seeing.

Funny, as these mishaps occur, I've got the movie "Angels in the Outfield" playing in my head. Strange and unusual things are happening in this game. The tape rewinds and you can almost hear Terrell Suggs saying, "We can do this on our own... we don't need God on our sidelines." I wonder if after the game, he wishes he would have kept his mouth shut, because... they COULDN'T DO IT ON THEIR OWN!

As the entire Ravens team now sits at home "watching" the Super Bowl, I wonder how many of them will hear Suggs' comment about God playing back in their head and remember such things as "...God is not mocked...," "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain," and "Don't tempt the Lord thy God..." Could it be that through a strange series of events surrounding Tim Tebow and Terrell Suggs, that a renewed interest in spiritual things may cause some to turn to Christ?

Another Pro-Life Pregnancy Care Center Opens

Today was an exciting day for Dillon and for the Carolina Family Planning Centers, as another CFPC affiliate had its official ribbon cutting ceremony. The Hope House is located across the street from First Baptist Church in Dillon and has been beautifully decorated, furnished, and well equipped primarily through donations and contributions. More than 100 people showed up for the grand opening! I was honored to be the keynote speaker and convey the vision of CFPC to plant pregnancy care centers in local communities across the Carolina's. In addition, Board members and City officials also offered comments.

The vision of the Carolina Family Planning Centers is to partner with local churches and Free Medical Clinics to offer crisis intervention and assistance to women who find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy. The women are counseled, encouraged, and informed about alternatives to abortion. The centers are based on loving people as God loves them, not judgmentalism.

For more information about the Carolina Family Planning Centers, visit their website at www.carolinafamilyplanning.org. CFPC is always in need of financial support, prayer support, and volunteer support!

Emmanuel Christian School Enrolling NOW

This week, Emmanuel Christian School opened our pre-enrollment for 2012-13 to current students and EBC members. In just 4 days, we received over 190 applications! One class already has a waiting list and others are getting close. Don't wait, as seats are genuinely limited! Visit http://www.ecscrusaders.com/ for more information. Enrollment opens to the public on Feb. 1.

Vision Sunday 2012 - Giving Away the Ministry!

Last Sunday was our annual Vision Sunday. Each year, I set aside a Sunday in January to challenge the church regarding the things God would have us to do throughout the upcoming year. This year was a little different. While in other years we have talked about doing things, this year we talked about becoming the people that God wants us to be. We talked about becoming fully devoted followers, who are passionately pursuing Christ and training others to serve Him.

At EBC, we are very good at programs and events. I know we are good, because others in our area have and continue to try to replicate what we are doing. I remember one man several years ago at a Chamber meeting stating, "I'm so tired of hearing about 'how Emmanuel does it' in our church Board meetings." Another lady, who is not even affiliated with EBC said, "What Emmanuel has done has been so effective that another church in town trying to do the same things, but without the same success." Just this week, a pastor from another city told me, "We want to be in our city what Emmanuel is in Hartsville." I was humbled by these statements, but also proud to hear others acknowledging that our people do "things" well.

This year, we don't want to focus on the things. Instead, we want to focus on developing leaders and training others to do ministry. One of my goals this year is to give away the ministry. I confessed to our members that I've allowed myself to be drawn into the "stuff" that keeps pastors busy, but also keeps the prayer time and pulpit from being strong. You'll remember the disciples felt the same pull in Mark 6 and it led to the selection of deacons. The disciples appointed the Deacons to take care of the tasks assigned them, so the disciples could focus on prayer and the ministry of the Word. Our goal at EBC this year is to recruit a lay-leader and a team of volunteers for every ministry in our church! Those teams will meet monthly to plan, prepare, and pray for the ministry God has given them.

On Sunday night, we met with our ministry leaders to continue our vision discussion and strategy to accomplish it. People seemed very excited and one lady shouted out, "He finally got it." Yes... I finally got it. I realized that I can't do it all myself. Our church is growing, my opportunities and circle of influence are increasing, and I either have to release some things or our ministry will be stifled. To steal a quote from the corporate world, "I can't work on the business, while I'm working in the business." This same thing rings true for each of our pastors, so our goal this year is to "give away the ministry" by equipping the saints. Funny, it sounds similar to what Jethro told Moses, Paul told the Ephesians, etc. Maybe I really finally got it, and if so... God is getting ready to do some really BIG things!

Great start to a 2012

God is already blessing EBC in 2012. Since January 1, we have seen 1 saved in our services, 1 saved in AWANA, 1 saved in our Christian School, 3 baptized, 7 new members, a strong Sunday attendance, and a good reception to our new Sunday night format. It's good to see people making spiritual resolutions and engaging in ministry!

Dr. Ron Long with Luther Rice University and Seminary was our guest on January 8. He preached about things in the church that he never thought he would live to see. It all boiled down to a numbers driven mentality and the void of true spirituality even among church leaders. He challenged us to be real, to be committed, and to be faithful. That evening, he spoke to our men and gave a missional challenge to be an inclusive church. He warned against racial prejudice and religious prejudice; encouraging our men not to draw lines based on skin color or denominational tags. Dr. Long has a heart for missions and has been instrumental in training national pastors around the world.

Dr. Ron Long has been a dear friend and one of the men whose counsel led to our acceptance of the call to become the Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church. For more information about Luther Rice University and Seminary, visit www.lru.edu.

Sports fans can teach the Church about unity

My wife and I ate at Longhorn's in Florence last night, along with 5-6 other families from Hartsville that we saw there. During our meal, a man at the table next to us yelled out "Hey Buddy" as he waved his hat in the air and pointed. He was pointing to the Green Bay Packer logo on his hat and yelling to another man wearing a Packer's hat. They waved, gave each other the thumbs-up, and smiled.

After my initial response of that was REALLY rude to yell out like that in a restaurant, I was enamoured with the unity that being on a team brings. These two men didn't even know each other, but pulling for the same team got them excited. Carolina fans celebrated together and Clemson fans had a joint time of mourning following their recent Bowl games. My fellow Dolphans and "U" fans have grieved together for quite some time, but we still faithfully follow. In fact, I remember meeting my first Dolphan in Hartsville, SC. As the new pastor at EBC, I was invited to the Williamson' home for fish stew (a new experience). As I walked in, I saw a man wearing a Miami Dolphin jacket. Well... I immediately went over and introduced myself and had an instant bond with Jim Irby! How about that... a Dolphin fan in Hartsville!

As my wife and I discussed the Packer fan's elated outburst last night, it dawned on me that those on the same team should be pulling together and enjoying a sense of unity. So, why is it that those on God's team focus on their differences and try to divide the team? Could it be that the Church of Jesus Christ could learn a lesson from the fans of various sports and teams? Shouldn't our loyalty to our Savior cause us to put our differences aside and pull together? I truly believe it should.

I look forward to the day that someone yells out in a restaurant, "Hey Buddy" and points to a cross on his hat. Wouldn't it be something if several people immediately jumped up, waved at each other, gave a thumbs-up, and smiled! Hey... maybe we could practice such a response at church tomorrow.