Deacons #1 - What the Bible Says About Deacons

In today's culture, there are MANY ideas about the role of Deacons in the church. Some see deacons in a support and service role, while others see deacons as a "Church Congress" elected to govern the church and represent the people. These conflicting views have created much tension, animosity, and even unnecessary division in many local churches. I have always felt it is better to be biblical, rather than traditional; so it only makes sense to search the Scriptures to determine the role of a Deacon. I plan to dedicate several posts to define and clarify this role, in hopes that doing so might be of help to many congregations.

To determine the role of a deacon, we must obviously start by defining the term. The Greek word for deacon is the word διάκονος or "diakonos" (Pronounced dee-ak'-on-os). By definition, the word "diakonos" means: "servant, minister, waiter, or one who executes the commands of another, especially of a master." A. T. Robertson, "1249 (diákonos) properly means 'to kick up dust,' as one running an errand." No where in that term nor its variations, can we find any other connotation than one who "serves." The word is never used in reference to one who rules or one who exercises authority. A deacon is simply a servant of the church.

One of the most common and misunderstood passages using the word "diakonos" is found in Acts 6:3 - "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business." A misunderstanding of the word "business" has wreaked havoc in many churches. For clarification sake, in Acts 6 the congregation chose the deacons and then the Twelve (the Pastors) appointed the business or specific responsibility(NIV), task(NAS), or thing(CEV) to those deacons. What was that task or specific point of business in Acts 6?... The feeding of the widows... Congregational care or benevolence care. By taking care of that assignment, the deacons were serving the pastors by enabling them to give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. Too often, today's deacons misunderstand the word "business" and try to assume responsibility for the administration and oversight of the church. The context of Acts 6:1-4 makes is very clear that the role of the deacon is to "serve" the church; while it is the responsibility of the Pastors and Elders to serve as the under-shepherds and to oversee, lead, and provide direction for the church.

In Acts 6, it is also interesting to notice the form of Church government that is outlined:
- God called the Twelve (Pastors) - God's always called a man (ie - Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Paul, etc.)
- The pastors communicated God's truth directly to the congregation.
- The congregation selected the deacons.
- The deacons carried out the work assigned by the pastors, for the overall benefit of the congregation.

So, where does the idea that deacons oversee the pastors/elders and control the congregation come from, since it is definitely NOT a biblical concept? I personally believe it stems from pride originating in the hearts of those men who are elected to serve as deacons, but do not meet the qualifications of 1 Timothy 3. I personally believe the sin of pride and the desire for control simply wells up in the heart of the power-hungry novice. They inappropriately seek to serve as a deacon in order to attain a position that may allow them to make the changes they deem necessary in the church. Sadly, churches across our nation are paying the price for this "stinkin' thinkin'" through unnecessary strife and division within their congregations, as well as, pastors who are leaving the ministry following pride-filled power-struggles with deacons.

So, what can and should deacons be doing to serve their local churches? First, deacons should be setting the example as fully-devoted followers of Jesus Christ through the personal spiritual disciplines of prayer, Bible study, church attendance, tithing, teaching, evangelism, discipleship, etc. Second, deacons should be serving by ministering both spiritually and physically to the needs of members, preparing and serving communion, making hospital visits, visiting widows and shut-in’s, helping with the setup and cleanup of events, coordinating church workdays, caring for the church's facilities, comforting the bereaved, serving as financial consultants to the church, providing security, and serving in various ministries. The Scriptural attitude of any deacon should be summarized in the question, “What can I do to help?”

With that question in mind, let me close with one of the best stories about a deacon that I've ever heard. The story is told of a Youth Pastor who had just returned from a week at summer camp with the children from his local church. The deacon who oversaw the care of the church's vehicles was there when the group arrived. The church bus was "trashed" with fast food bags, candy wrappers, soda cans, and sand throughout. The deacon could have berated the Youth Pastor for allowing the students to eat on the bus or for returning the bus in such a mess; but that particular deacon did not do that. Instead, he thanked the Youth Pastor for taking those kids to camp and investing in their spiritual nurturing. He rejoiced in the salvation testimonies and spiritual decisions as the Youth Pastor shared them. Finally, the deacon told the Youth Pastor to go home and get some sleep. That deacon chose to express his appreciation and support of that Youth Pastor by volunteering to sweep and clean the bus himself. Now... that's the heart of a Spirit-filled deacon!

Life's Lessons Learned from Eagles

Last Sunday, my wife and I had an amazing encounter. As we were driving to Charleston to preach for a Homecoming service, we came upon a bird that was circling not too far above the highway. It was magnificent as it just glided through the air almost effortlessly. As we got closer, I noticed it's white head and tail. I excitedly asked my wife, "What kind of bird do YOU think that is?" She immediately replied what I was already thinking... "That's an eagle!" That was only the 2nd time in my life that I've seen a bald eagle in the wild. The first was several years ago on Lake Robinson, as we were boating with our family. The second encounter was last weekend driving down I-26 toward Charleston.

I have always loved bald eagles. Not sure if it's because they are our national bird, so beautiful to watch, or the fact that they are symbols of strength. Whatever the reason, I really enjoy them. I've got carvings and pictures of bald eagles that I've collected through the years. One of my favorite pictures was given to me by my late father-in-law. He purchased it from a man who had never had an art lesson, but had amazing talent. The verse on the painting is Isaiah 40:31. We often quote that single verse, but allow me to share the context of the passage:

Isaiah 40:28-31:
"Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint."

As we drove along I-26, it was as though God put that low-flying, circling eagle in front of me as a reminder to wait on Him and He will renew my strength. I'm not much on "signs," BUT I am believing God sent that one in such a way that I couldn't miss it. God was sending a reminder that He is able to carry our load, to give us power, to get us back on our feet, to make us run, and to give us the strength to serve Him without growing weary. What a Mighty God we serve! 2 Cor. 12:9 offers another great reminder - "And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

It's been said, "I'd rather soar with the eagles than squabble with turkeys," or "You can't soar like an eagle if you have a vulture mentality." Realizing the unique characteristics of eagles, my prayer is that God will give me the qualities of an eagle:
1. Eagle soar above the common birds. God, keep me dissatisfied with mediocrity.
2. Eagles have tremendous vision. God, give me a fresh vision for your work.
3. Eagles don't eat dead things, vultures do. God, keep my faith fresh, not simply regurgitating ideas from the past.
4. Eagles seem to love storms. God, when others are cowering, help me to see the storms of life as opportunities to soar with you.
5. Eagles are tried and true. God, help others to see me as one who is tested, tried, and found faithful to you!
6. Eagles prepare their young to soar. God, help me be one who prepares others to succeed in their spiritual journey.

How Should Christians Respond Post-Election?

For the past 18 months, we have been bombarded by news, interviews, town halls, debates, and social media regarding the Presidential election. I will start by telling you that I did not vote for either candidate - I didn't think either one was a good choice. Instead, I chose to vote my conscience regarding who I thought had the better chance of appointing Supreme Court Justices that would be in line with my values and the candidate I felt might be prone to bolstering and supporting our military. Only the future will tell if I made the right choice. You may agree or disagree with my choice and that is your right. It was my right to vote, and I exercised it. Statistics show that over 46% of registered voters didn't even vote. That is a shame, considering people gave their lives to give you that right.

I personally do not believe that either party is the "Christian" party, I don't believe that either of the candidates would be prone to govern based on their faith, and I don't think believers should allow politics to divide them. (Sounds ironic, since SO MANY churches are internally divided over church politics!) It's been extremely sad to watch the division, protests, and riots going on across our nation, simply because some don't like the outcome of the democratic process. I'm of the opinion that no politician can solve all of our problems, so elections don't change my attitude from one day to the next. Our only hope rests in the Lord. I passed a church sign last week that read, "Neither the elephant nor the donkey can solve our problems. Our only hope is in the Lamb." I thought that served as a great reminder to Christians.

So what is a Christian to do post-election?
1. Don't make a fool of yourself on social media. Remember the saying, "It's better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you're a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt."
2. Don't restrict your friendships to only those who hold your same views. Remember, Jesus was called the Friend of sinners, so He obviously made a habit of spending time with people who didn't hold his same values.
3. Realize that the Church flourishes during times of oppression. Remember the persecution that caused the early Church to expand and grow; remember the secret growth of Christianity under Communist governments; and realize that the Church will have many opportunities to fill the social needs created by government.
4. Whether you like or dislike the current President or President-Elect, we must realize and act according to the truth of Romans 13:1 - "Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

You may not like the President-Elect and you may feel that the United States of America has some problems, but I still believe it is the GREATEST country in the world! I am very patriotic and proudly pledge my allegiance to this nation. I will support my country in whatever ways possible. I will defend her to the death. I refuse to be a critic or to desecrate our flag, disrespect our national anthem, defame our leaders, damage our reputation, or destroy my neighbor's property. I always act appropriately when traveling abroad, because I represent America to the world! You see, I am an ambassador -- for myself, for my country, and for my Lord! I want to represent all of those parties well. So, before you speak or act post-election, remember your position as an American and as Christian. Doing so may alter your behavior, help maintain your integrity, and open doors to share your faith.

What a Party!

Last Sunday night, a group of church members from EBC, hosted a reception for Flora and I. We were so thankful that Bethany & Lindsay were able to attend. Courtney was pretty bummed that she had to work and could not make it. It was a wonderful opportunity to express our thanks to hundreds of people who had impacted our lives and allowed us the privilege to invest in theirs. Hartsville only has approx. 7,800 people in the city limits and approx. 30,000 in a 5 mile radius. I've told our congregation often that the most recent list of churches I saw had 154 churches registered in the 29550 zip code. That's 154 churches for less than 30,000 people. To bring that into perspective, there are more churches registered in the 29550 zip code than there were in Palm Beach County, FL when we moved here in 2002 (Population 1.4 million). BUT, here's what I realized... While people were free to attend any of those churches, they CHOSE to worship at Emmanuel Baptist Church and they CHOSE to allow me the honor and the privilege of serving as their pastor! They chose to let me minister to their family, they chose to sit under my preaching each week, they chose to serve alongside me, and they chose to help accomplish the vision that God had given me for EBC. That is an overwhelming and very humbling realization, and my sincerest thanks goes out to each of you.

During our time together last Sunday, people reminisced and shared stories of their salvation, baptism, and why or how God led them to Emmanuel. They shared stories of how God moved them to step out of their comfort zones and to engage in service and ministry opportunities. Some reminisced about the day I performed their wedding, dedicated their children, and/or buried a loved one. One man reminisced about how God restored his marriage, another couple shared a similar story, one couple spoke of how they turned from drugs to Jesus, a lady talked about God's healing after the death of her husband, another how he had been out of church for 30 years, a lady thanked me for taking a chance by employing her as she tried to get back on her feet after a job loss, and the stories went on! Another man, who is very dear to me, hugged me and said, "You know I don't usually hug men." Kids gave high-fives and fist bumps! There were tears in the eyes of our friends and in ours, we were able to thank God for the work that HE has accomplished during our sweet time at EBC.

When Flora and I returned home, we were physically and emotionally exhausted. There was a huge stack of cards, a box of notes, and gifts. We chose to delay opening them until the following night. On Monday night, the tears began to flow again as we opened cards and were so blessed by the generous gifts; but most of all by the sweet and kind words of people who have become our family. It was truly a manifestation of Proverbs 16:24, "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." The kindness has continued through this week. Facebook notes, text messages, emails, phone calls, and visits by dozens of people who were out of town, working or unable to attend the event for various reasons. The love of SO many has been absolutely amazing and overwhelming!

I'll be mailing thank you cards and notes of appreciation in the future, but I want to publicly express my appreciation to those who coordinated that very special event for us. It was organized quickly, beautifully decorated, the food was tremendous (included our favorites), the picture board brought back so many memories, personalized signs were everywhere, and the guest line continued for almost 4 hours! We arrived early and started greeting people and continued talking to the late-comers as folks were cleaning up around us. Words cannot adequately express my appreciation, so I'll just keep repeating the words "THANK YOU" to everyone who coordinated and attended the reception. Thank you for all that you mean to my family... and for being our family! You truly made this Pastor and his family feel appreciated!

Emmanuel's Spiritual Review Over 14 Years (#3)

As I've shown in my previous two blog posts, EBC and ECS have been SO blessed by the Lord to have a beautiful campus with all of the recent upgrades and improvements. EBC is also blessed to be at a point of financial excess. Many, if not most, churches have experienced contribution declines and there are very few facilities that compare to what God has blessed EBC with (260 acres, pond, gym, abundance of athletic fields, etc.) BUT, facilities and finances are NOT the reason the church exists! The Church exists to "Exalt the Lord, Encourage Believers, and Evangelize the World." So, if we're going to talk about buildings and budgets, we also have to talk about butts (you know... the people).

The Church is about the people. Jesus didn't die for the buildings, grounds, programs, potluck suppers, softball teams, of any of the other things we often bring up when we talk about the Church. "For God so loved the world (the people) that He gave His only begotten Son..." It seems to me that too many pastors and parishioners forget what the Church is all about. It is God's vehicle for impacting the world and making, training, and sending disciples!

In this final review post, I want to take time to talk about the spiritual blessings and community connections that God blessed EBC with over the past 14 years:
- Since November 2002, over 1,200+ people have been saved in the services and guest followup at EBC.
- In that same time, over 3,200+ people were saved through Judgement House and various community events/outreach efforts. These decisions may not have all impacted EBC directly, although some did join our church family; but there were many, many stories of other churches being blessed and revivals starting as a result of our efforts. We all recognize that as Kingdom work!
- During the past 14 years, over 500+ people were baptized at EBC. That's amazing in such a small town!
- We were blessed with approx. 1,000 new members added to our church family in 14 years. That's an average of over 1+ per week (every week) for 14 years. I wish we could have kept them all, but Hartsville is so transient. I remember a 12 month period in which we had 184 members either die or move away. Of those that moved, only 3 of those families stayed in the state of South Carolina. In addition, Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center, Coker College, Duke-Progress, Sonoco, and other primary employers seem to train people in Hartsville and then send them off to other larger facilities; and of course some who remain end up transfering to other churches.
- Our high average attendance at EBC was 630 up from 305, and our high enrollment at ECS was 459 up from 215.
- Missions has always been important to EBC. With some extra emphasis on missions, God blessed through increased missions giving. In addition, we shifted some focus from state-side missions to foreign missions,we placed an emphasis on training national pastors, took several short-term trips, sent our 3 missionary families from EBC in the past 2 years, and created an internal emphasis to raise missions awareness.
- Through our cooperative efforts, EBC helped to plant churches in Clover, SC; Gilbert, SC; Greensboro, NC; Summerville, SC; two in Wilmington, NC; and others.)
- EBC got reconnected with the local Welsh Neck Baptist Association, began supporting them financially, and participated in the various community efforts.
- Bridges were built across a racially divided community through efforts such as the annual "Home for Christmas" service.
- Relationships were built through community events such as Judgement House, Trunk-or-Treat, Extravaganza, Concerts, First-Responder events, and MANY, MANY more!
- Partnerships with other churches led to coordinated UPWARD efforts in our community: Lakeview hosted Basketball, Kelleytown hosted soccer, and EBC hosted flag football. Churches working together has to bless the heart of God.
- EBC networked with the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses to host the "July 4 Family Fireworks Festival" for 10 years!
- EBC was the catalyst for starting 3 crisis pregnancy centers (Hartsville, Darlington & Dillon).

With each of the items mentioned above, faces and names come to my mind. I remember the home and hospital visits where people came to know Christ; the counseling room at Judgement House where people came to know Christ; the EGGtravaganza's where people came to know Christ; the Extreme Sports outreaches where people came to know Christ; the parks and events where people came to know Christ; the School chapels where students came to know Christ; the community revivals where people came to know Christ; and the list goes on! That's what the Church is about and why it exists! Jesus Christ died for the souls of men; not for the buildings, grounds, budgets, or programs.

Thank you, God, for using our EBC family to accomplish YOUR work in Hartsville, SC.

Emmanuel's Financial Review After 14 Years (#2)

"All the church ever talks about is money!" We've all heard that statement before. I used to have a difficult time talking about money, receiving special offerings, etc. It wasn't until I became a Senior Pastor that I truly realized how much money it takes to do ministry. Jesus often talked about money and stated that our perspectives on and use of money reveals our true heart. A few biblical stewardship lessons include: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:21; “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." - Matthew 6:24; "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil..."-1 Timothy 6:10; and so many others. Some of my favorite passages concerning stewardship are found in Matthew 18:23-35, 20:1-16; 25:14-30; and 1 Timothy 5:18. God even setup a GREAT plan for funding the work of the church... it's called tithing. In the Old Testament Law, we were introduced to the tithe and it was equitable for everyone. In the New Testament, the stakes are raised and we are taught "grace giving" which exceeds the Law. The bottom-line is that God doesn't need our money, but we need God's blessings that come through obedience!

When I first arrived at Emmanuel Baptist Church, the church was having financial difficulty. One of my heroes, James Faile, told me of special prayer meetings regarding finances; nights of weeping over lack of funds; a bond campaign that he and Sally coordinated on their kitchen table; E.Jack Smith helping to float EBC through financial difficulty after the fires; etc. In 2002, EBC averaged approx 300 people and had a monthly mortgage payment of $15,000. They had built a $4 million building, were encumbered by the debt, and were struggling to maintain some other areas of the campus. I'll never forget the words of my friend and a local church Business Manager as we looked at the financial statements of EBC, he said, "You've got a mess on your hands." Well, we did; but it wasn't too big for God! The whole church sacrificed and God blessed our efforts. We emphasized stewardship, we refinanced our mortgage several times, we adjusted our annual budget, with new members came more money, and the list goes on. The Deacons and I offered a "Money Back Guarantee" to those who would tithe. It went like this, "If after one year of tithing, you can honestly say that God did not bless you for your obedience, then we will refund whatever the amount you gave to EBC." Our people took the challenge, but we never had to refund a dime. Instead, people learned of God's faithfulness and there were stories of how God blessed obedience. You see, God doesn't need our money, but we need His blessings!

So, what did God do financially at EBC over the past 14 years?
- Cash was paid for all of the improvements listed in my previous blog post.
- Money has already been saved and earmarked to replace carpet and A/C units in the Worship Center, to build a pavilion and soccer building, and other future enhancements.
- Our $1.7 million debt was paid off and EBC now has approx $1.5 million in the bank.
- The loan that ECS took to make it through the 2002-03 school year was paid off.
- ECS has finished the past several years with large surpluses.
- An emergency operational fund has been setup for both EBC and ECS.
- A college scholarship fund was established for EBC students.
- We doubled our missions giving.
- $50,000 was given to missionaries, in addition to regular giving, during our 2016 missions conference.
- A policy of saving in advance and making cash purchases was established.
- Our school faculty salaries have nearly doubled, but still need to increase.
- Our church staff salaries increased and are in line with the other Baptist churches in our community.
- Staff & faculty now receive FULL benefits.
- The list goes on and so do the blessings. God proved that His Word is true as stated in Malachi 3:10, God blesses obedience!

God has so blessed Emmanuel Church and School. We have beautiful, updated facilities; money in the bank; surplus and emergency funds; well-paid staff; abundant money to use toward ministry; and so much more! God brought us from lean financial times to a place of excess. Leaders including Winston Churchill, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and even Spider Man made statements such as, "With great power comes great responsibility." I would compare that statement to the challenge given in Luke 12:48, "...to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." So, to Emmanuel Baptist Church family I say, thank you for giving to the Lord, now be faithful stewards of the blessings God has given to you.

Emmanuel's Campus Improvements Over 14 Years (#1)

It is amazing how time flies. It seems like yesterday that our youngest daughter was introducing herself to the people of Emmanuel Baptist Church by saying, "Hi. I'm Lindsay. I'm 5." Next month, she'll turn 20! Where did the time go? I remember my first Sunday preaching at EBC and asking myself, as I fell back into the couch that night, "What have I done?" The room was filled with gray hair, the entire kids ministry had as many children as my wife's 2nd grade Sunday School class at our last church, the new praise choruses consisted of songs already printed in the hymnal, and the choir wore robes on Sunday nights. Nothing wrong with any of that, except it was VERY different from what we were used to in our contemporary South Florida church. The parking lots had potholes that you could lose a VW Bug in, there were no signs on the buildings, the carpet and ceilings were stained from previous roof leaks. You get the picture.

Well, God blessed us with wonderful people who realized the need to address some issues. Between their generosity, their willingness to work, and God's provision; we were able to accomplish so much. Realizing that sometimes we forget where we came from, I thought I'd list some of the changes specifically made to the Emmanuel Campus over the past 14 years:

WORSHIP CENTER: Created a Missions display room; Moved the sound booth downstairs; Renovated the sound and lighting systems; Addition of projection system; Extended the platform; Replaced the roof; Repaired water stains on ceiling; Painted entire interior of Worship Center; Complete renovation of Nursery area; Renovated the Prayer Room; Replaced carpeted section of lobby with tile; Put stamped concrete on front porch; Buried the corrugated drain pipes that were laying across the grass; Added baby changing stations in the lobby restrooms; Added a restroom in the balcony; Purchased a golf cart to shuttle people on Sundays; Saved money to purchase new center screen, projector, and computer that will be installed in the near future; and changed all sidewalk lighting to LED from metal halide fixtures.

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING: Replaced the carpet throughout; Painted every wall in the building; Complete renovation of church offices; Complete renovation of school offices (including addition of restroom); Renovation of library (moved all shelves around the perimeter); Replaced accordion curtain with a permanent insulated wall; Renovation of Fellowship Hall (removed wagon wheel chandeliers, added new sound system and video projection); Purchased new tables and chairs; Renovated the main restrooms in the lobby; Renovated Parlor (added shelving, flooring, etc.); Modernized by replacing wooden doors with glass doors; Built brick wall around the dumpster; Poured sidewalk from driveway to back door of cafeteria; New phone system; Replaced intercom system; Replaced clocks that were stuck on 7:10; Installed new cable internet vs. ONE(1) dial-up PCU when we arrived; Installed new surveillance/security system across the campus. Replaced the ice machine; Rebuilt the fridge and freezer, Added an additional small fridge and freezer; and Replaced A/C units.

100 & 200 BUILDINGS: Painted every interior wall; Painted lockers; Painted all storage cabinets; Replaced carpet with tile in hallways; Replaced all classroom carpet twice; Added smart board technology; Added a computer for every teacher; Replaced all computers in lab & purchased mobile computer cart; Replaced chalkboards with whiteboards; Replaced old student desks with new student desks; Removed round concrete sinks & replaced with automated sinks; Renovated restrooms with new fixtures & stalls; Added both a portable wall in 203-204 and built additional classroom walls; Added advertising boards; Added Internet capabilities; Added security system, and Repaired intercom system.

GYMNASIUM: Replaced roof; Replaced shingles on mansard; Replaced A/C's; Added skylights; Replaced wood floor; Purchased floor cover; Replaced bleachers; Replaced lighting over playing area; Added new backboards; Painted entire gym; Added glass doors from lobby into gym; Added gym divider curtain; Added black curtain on stage; Added sound baffles; Renovated stage for use with E-Street; Renovated concession area (kitchen and glass front on serving area); Added tile and serving booths in lobby; Renovated restrooms in lobby; Repaired showers; and Built the weight room.

GROUNDS PROJECTS: Installed digital sign at entrance; Installed all directional signage; Paved all parking lots; Paved back road; Installed covered walkways; Installed cover over pastor's office back door; Poured a new sidewalk from WC to gym; Added light pole banners; Added the preschool playground and recently installed new equipment; Removed old concrete light pole bases; Added green pavilion next to main playground for class picnics; Removed decaying McDonald's playground equipment and utilized pieces for new slide, shade area, etc.; Added brand new playground equipment to both playgrounds; Planted Crepe Myrtles around campus; Built baseball and softball dugouts (backstops, fencing, storage rooms, etc.); Built handgun range, ropes course, and added paintball field.

MONEY IS ALREADY SAVED FOR: We recently ordered a brand-new Activity/Travel Bus; Money is in the bank for new carpet in the Worship Center; New projection/screen in the Worship Center; Computer upgrades to allow live-streaming of the services; New soccer building (storage, team covers, media platform); New pavilion with restrooms on the soccer field; New fountain in front of the Worship Center; and several other various projects! In addition, we have established both an emergency fund for Emmanuel Baptist Church and Emmanuel Christian School.

None of this would have been possible without people willing to roll up their sleeves and to generously open their wallets. God has truly blessed EBC financially and brought us from a point of barely being able to pay our bills, to a point of affluence and excess. That could be a dangerous place, if we begin to rely our ourselves and forget that everything comes from God. "Thank you, Lord, for YOUR provisions and abundant blessings. Help us never to forget from where YOU brought us!"

TRUE FRIENDS ARE A RARE FIND

The Bible speaks much to the topic of friendship. Specifically, there are 115 verses that reference friend, friends, or friendship. One of my favorites is found in Proverbs 17:17 - "A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity." True friends are those who know everything about you and still love you. As one person said, "A true friend accepts you, 'warts and all.'" Friends are people you can count on through the good and the bad times.

Those who know me, realize that I am not a fair-weather fan. I've been a Miami Dolphin fan since I was a small child. Raised in Miami, I remember watching through the fence as the Dolphins practiced at Pace High School. I remember the excitement watching players and collecting trading cards for players like Bob Griese, Paul Warfield, Larry Csonka, Nick Buoniconti, and others. I can still sing the Dolphin theme song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIcIPd9bDBI). I remember when the Dolphin logo actually looked tough, rather than the metro-sexual thing we have now. I remember learning Bible verses and my Sunday School teacher, Bob Green (Anita Bryant's husband) would occasionally reward us with tickets to the Dolphin games. My list of memories goes on, but my point is this... the last time the Dolphins went to the Superbowl was 1985 and the last time they won was 1973. So what does this have to do with anything about friendship? True fans remain loyal during both the winning and the losing seasons. The same is true with real friends!

My wife and I are so blessed to have many real friends, but one couple stands out. We became friends with Bill and Leigh when our daughters were young. I remember nights at their house playing board games, days on the lake enjoying water sports, traveling literally around the world, and so many other great memories! These are the kind of friends that you may not see for a while, but you just pickup right where you left off. Recently, my wife and I had been through a time of discouragement and these friends knew that we were hurting. They called and invited us to spend some time with them and they ministered to us. It was so refreshing and exactly what we needed. Thank God for real friends!

On the flip side, there are those who call themselves friends; but will put a knife in your back if it helps their cause. I remember one of our children being betrayed by someone she felt was her dearest friend. I've been betrayed by those I thought were friends. I've watched church members love the preacher, then shortly thereafter stand in the lobby slandering him. You've probably experienced it, as it seems to happen everywhere. Teammates become opponents, classmates become rivals, marriage partners become enemies, and friends become foes. How that must break the heart of God. Psalm 15:1-3 - "Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend."

I pray that you have some dear friends like Flora and I do. It's in the difficult times that you'll know who those friends are. When it seems lonely and the friends seem few, remember Proverbs 18:24b - "...there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother," and John 15:13 - "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." Jesus is that friend!

So, I close with these questions... Do you know Jesus as your Savior and Lord? Do you know Him personally, as a close friend? Do you take time to comfort others who are hurting? Do you look for ministry opportunities to those who are in need? Do you take time to befriend the outcast, the one forgotten in the nursing home, the shut-in? Let Luke 4:18 challenge you, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed." Look for someone who needs a friend and allow God to use YOU to minister to them, regardless of their 'warts' or what they can do for you.

God is Faithful

"Great is Thy Faithfulness," "Your Love Never Fails," "Faithful One," "What a Faithful God," "He is Faithful" are just a few of the many, many songs about God's faithfulness. We sing them, but do we really stop to ponder them. When things are good, we quickly close our eyes and raise our hands as we tout God's faithfulness; but what about in the valley? Do we sing about God's faithfulness when life seemingly turns on us... we lose a job, get betrayed by a friend, hit rock bottom, receive a poor diagnosis, or any of thousands of other issues that people encounter each day? The truth is that God IS faithful and His promises are everlasting. It's so easy to walk away from a church, to turn our back on God, or to return to our old ways when things don't go our way; but remember that God is faithful. I'm reminded of Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." What a great reminder that God is still in control and has a plan for each of us.

One of my favorite hymn stories is associated with the hymn "It is Well With My Soul." Horatio Spafford penned the words to this hymn after several traumatic events in his life. Spafford was a very successful lawyer who had made substantial real estate investments in Chicago. The first tragedy was the death of his two year old, followed by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed much of his real estate and ruined him financially. In 1873, he planned a boat trip to Europe for a much needed vacation with his wife and four daughters. Spafford sent the family ahead while he stayed behind to finish some last minute business. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after colliding with another vessel and all four of Spafford's daughters died. Only his wife, Anna, survived and sent him a telegram, "Saved alone …". Shortly thereafter, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to pen the words to "It is Well With My Soul" as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.

We will all encounter difficulties in this life... in fact, Jesus predicted it in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” It is in the times of danger that the chicks run to gather under the mother hen's wings. Likewise, it is in life's difficulties that we are drawn back into the arms of our Heavenly Father. So, whatever comes your way, remember that God is faithful! You can count on Him to fulfill the dreams and the plan He has for you!

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.