Our workers put in a lot of sweat equity. They may spend long hours working on a building. This is grueling and volunteer labor is always needed. They also spend much time contacting the lost and other prospects. It takes work. The more people who help in the mission with visitation, the better it is. Many hours in discipleship and other training is given. Good missions do not just happen. It takes good leadership and a whole lot of sweat equity. That axiom is true for churches as well. When everyone works together results are larger and quicker. Let’s work for the night is coming when no man can work.

Special Emphasis

Offerings are slow to come in but my prayer is that God will lay on the hearts of His people to supply the needs. I know the economy is slow. That does not mean we shouldn’t really push missions. Telling souls about Christ and training those who get saved are still the most important things we will ever do. Your investment in souls matters for eternity to those who do not know Christ.

Successful Christian Work

Our Savior has a total servant heart. The Scriptures state that the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and to give His life as a ransom for many. Maintaining a servant heart to help others will keep joy in ministry. When one begins to focus on their supposed slights, failures, disappointments, etc., joy leaves and bitterness can set in. Let’s be good servants for Jesus Christ. Keep Christ in focus and sinners in view.

It has also been a privilege serving in the same building with three different Trumpet editors. Their friendships and the friendships of all the Trumpet staff have given an enjoyable working environment.

The reasons for stepping down are simple. For the last ten years I have dealt with a serious heart problem. A viral pneumonia hit my heart reducing the pumping capacity to 25 percent. The condition is called cardiomyopathy. The doctors stopped me from manual labor and wanted me to stop working and go on disability. The Lord led me to continue my work and HE has been very gracious. I have traveled, preached, presented missions and been able to do all of my duties. This has been done without missing time at work due to my health. I cannot praise the Lord enough for His goodness and grace that have sustained me.

For some time now I have been praying about stepping down. I feel that the Lord has led me to make that step at this time. The Advisory Committee has been informed of my decision. Interviews will be conducted and a nominee presented at a called meeting of the Missionary Committee. Hopefully, we can have a man in place for some training by August. Please pray for God’s wisdom and direction as we proceed.

Thank you for the help you have given me. It has been a blessing visiting with you and your churches. I am convinced that BMA people are among the best people in the world. You have been patient, understanding and supportive. God bless you and please pray as the Lord directs me and my wife, Renna, in the next phase of our service to Him.

We were treated to great preaching, wonderful fellowship and encouraging reports. God is using the BMA to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is exciting to watch God moving among us.

A spirit of genuine excitement prevailed as Dr. John David Smith was elected as Executive Director of Missions. A grateful association honored Grady Higgs for the tremendous job he has done as our Executive Director. He and his wife, Norita, are wonderful Christians to whom we owe a great deal. The spirit and direction we have received from Grady Higgs has had a reviving effect. Thank you for your service and we will pray for your replacement.

Special Emphasis

State Missions Special Emphasis will begin Sunday. Next week we hope to have letters and posters in the mail. Please pray about this and display the posters in your building. God is blessing your mission program. Show your excitement by displaying the ministry and encouraging your people in the support. The monies raised will go into the General Fund to make up for the losses we suffered due to the economy. Could we make this our most victorious year and strengthen our base?

Special Offering

We received a very generous offering given through Springhill in Greenbrier. It was simply marked “From a Friend.” I am glad that we have people who are real friends to missions. The love exhibited towards lost souls is a constant encouragement to me. It makes a lot of long trips and some long days seem well worth it. Thank you for your generosity. Thank the Lord for His goodness.

Listening to a godly man preach the Word from a heart of love is pure worship to me. It draws me closer to the Lord and makes me thankful for all I have in Christ. Sunday, I listened to two great messages from the Word and they truly challenged me. The commitment of godly men to be true to the Word of God is not as easy as it once was.

The Passion of the Heart

People with burning hearts for God refresh our souls. Sharing the message of Christ and influencing the lost to come to Christ should be our passion. Larry Barker (Director of North American Missions) shared that more than 80% of young adults have indicated they would like to try church again in the next three years. Surely we need to be busy directing these who are searching to a Bible believing church.

The Purity of Doctrine

Terms like a traditional church or a non traditional church are tossed around today. Approaches to worship vary from place to place. The purity of the doctrine does not change regardless of the setting. Truth can only be one way. Truth is not a tradition. Truth cannot be adjusted for the times. It is the truth that sets us free. The commitment to keep ourselves pure in our doctrine should be renewed constantly. Do not let someone soft on convictions lead you down a path of compromise. The Word of God will stand and we must stand with it. Know what you believe. Let the Bible verify your convictions.

I remember when people were worrying over Y2K as the millennium turned. That was not a problem. Instead we have seen ourselves suffer through 911. The ravages of two wars continue to take a toll on many lives. The economy has failed while unrestrained spending by our officials seems to be the call of the day. There is too much unemployment and too many are losing their possessions.

Attitudes Change

Attitudes towards Christ and Christians continue to suffer for the sake of political correctness as Muslims and others vigorously propagate their ideas that do not save. “And there is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Brit Hume of Fox News was attacked for stating that Christianity offers forgiveness where Buddhism and other religions do not. He was scolded and told that he should not suggest that one religion was better than another.

Others offer a religion but we have a living relationship with God in Christ. It is only Christ, who died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected, that gives forgiveness. There was a time Americans knew our hope is in Jesus Christ and were not ashamed to say so. It has been a quick decade of time, but our values seem to have changed even quicker. God send a revival. Give us the courage of our convictions to proclaim the saving message of Jesus Christ. There is no other HOPE!

Childhood memories of meeting at a central location for the family are great. The best food one could eat was prepared. Turkey, dressing, ham, dumplings, vegetables, breads, and best of all, pies were prepared. Laughter was abundant. There was real gratitude for the abundant supply we enjoyed.

Afterwards, the children played sports, games and otherwise enjoyed ourselves. Perhaps the nostalgia dates me a little. Still I wonder if we take time to really thank our Heavenly Father the way we should. HE has blessed with family, possessions and a way to enjoy a wonderful relationship with Him. Salvation is provided by His grace. Eternal security belongs to all who trust the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Good Christian friends make life even more enjoyable.

Spend time in worship on Thanksgiving. Thank the Lord. Enjoy your families. Enjoy your health and the bountiful blessings our rich and wonderful God has supplied to His children. There is plenty of room for any who do not know Christ to receive Him as Savior and gather around God’s great Thanksgiving banquet table.

These have been some long but very enjoyable days. The visit with Liberty in Stamps, August 2, was a time of great worship and generous support. That night I listened to a good friend, Mike Puckett, preach his first sermon at Unity in Hope. He did a very good job.

The Advisory Committee Trip carried us all over the state on Wednesday and Thursday. The visits with the missionaries are too quick but are very beneficial. A time of great worship was enjoyed Wednesday night. Advisory Committee member, Lane Garner, blessed our hearts with good preaching after a time of good singing. The fellowship and work with this committee is a spiritual treat and the recommendations for the next year are set in place.

I went to Trumann, Arkansas on Saturday. Saturday night I met former missionary, Paul White, in Jonesboro for a visit. This brother is really appreciated. Sunday morning services were sweet at Central in Trumann. Many improvements have been made to their church plant. Their interim pastor, Greg Clark, was a perfect host. The worship was sweet and followed by a time of fellowship with the church. They gave a generous offering to state missions and were very encouraging about the work.

Kingsland in Kingsland will be our place of service this Sunday. Pastor Rick Bolin and the Kingsland church have been steady supporters of state missions both on a regular basis and in Special Emphasis. Their church is exciting and friendly. It always blesses my heart to be with them.

Special Emphasis

Offerings continue to arrive at the office. We are nearing our goal of $50,000. Thank you to every church and individual for your generosity to make sure missions can continue to be built in Arkansas. I am humbled by the caring hearts of our BMA people.

Every church is asked to receive a special offering that will go to Special Emphasis. Those funds go into the Revolving Loan Fund this year. Some ask, ‘Why do we have a Revolving Loan Fund?’ There is a simple answer. Missions can not borrow money from banks without collateral. This is the only way to help our missions get property and get into a first phase building. These funds are loaned, repaid, and used again to loan. The increases in cost and the number of projects make it necessary to increase this fund. This will keep our state planting churches in the future. Please prayerfully consider what the Lord would have you do. This is not my work. It is the work of every church in the BMA of Arkansas. Thank you in advance for all you do.

Preacher Shortage!

I rejoice that a good friend surrendered to the ministry last Sunday. There is a great need for preachers and pastors. Churches of all sizes call me seeking men. They simply are not available. Churches need to disciple some strong men capable of being lay pastors during these lean times. These men could share the Word of God and help with Spiritual direction as their church seeks a pastor. The days of simply getting a preacher or pastor seem to have passed. This is not a BMA problem. Other groups are faced with similar difficulties. If you are fortunate to have a good pastor, work together and keep him. Pastors with good churches need to treat them well too.

A Sobering Reminder!

“A government that is big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything that you have.”———Thomas Jefferson