The Pastor's Journal

Today I would like to share this important letter from Dr. John Sullivan our Executive Director of the Florida Baptist Convention

 

Dear Pastors:
 
Only eternity will reveal all of the many good things that happen in our "neighborhoods" because of your love, leadership and grace. Thank you for allowing God's call to continue to work out all that redemption has worked in.
 
I need your help. During the second week of September, Florida Baptists will observe the Week of Prayer for State Missions and the Maguire State Mission Offering.
 
All of our mission work supported by the offering is vital to the Kingdom-assistance for new churches, more than nine compassionate ministries and mission camps to help develop our next generation of believers and missionaries. The offering also underwrites our mission partnerships nationally and internationally.
 
However, at this time, our work in Haiti is absolutely critical. We have had "boots-on-the-ground" since day one after the January 12 earthquake. We have been able to do what we have done because of our 15-year partnership and network of 900 churches in Haiti. Our seven missionaries are paid through the resources of the Maguire State Mission Offering. There has never been a more crucial time for the offering in Haiti.
 
Pastor, help us go into the "neighborhoods" of Haiti where people are responding to the gospel in unprecedented numbers. Our missionaries report more than 150,000 Haitians have been saved since the earthquake and 130 new churches have been started to conserve the harvest.
 
The need is great.  The opportunity is now.  Please pray for the missions and ministry efforts of Florida Baptists. Please give to the State Mission Offering and lead your church to give.
 
May the good things of grace continue.
 
Blessings,
 
John Sullivan
 
Office of Executive Director-Treasurer
Florida Baptist Convention
800-226-8584, ext. 3016; 904-596-3016
FAX:  904-346-0271

What do you understand it takes for a person to go to Heaven?

Consider how the Bible answers this question: It 's a matter of FAITH

 

We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God's forgiveness. Read Ephesians 1:7a

 

Forgiveness is available.  It is

     * Available for all.       Read John 3:16

     * But not automatic      Read Matthew 7:21a

 

It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven.

     *Because of who He is:  God is loving and just.  His judgment is against sin.  Read James 2:13a

     *Because of who we are: Every person is a sinner.  Read Romans 3:23

But how can a sinful person enter heaven, when God allows no sin?

 

Turn means to repent.

     *Turn from something - sin and self.  Read Luke 13:3b

     *Turn to Someone; trust Christ only.  Read Romans 10:9

 

Heaven is eternal life.

     *Here  -  Read John 10:10b

     *Hereafter  -  Read John 14:3

How can a person have God's forgiveness, heaven and eternal life, and Jesus as personal Savior and Lord?  By trusting in Christ and asking Him for forgiveness.  Take the step of faith described by another meaning of FAITH:  Forsaking All I Trust Him.

 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and have displeased You in many ways.  I believe You died for my sin and only through faith in Your death and resurrection can I be forgiven.

I want to turn from my sin and ask You to come into my life as my Savior and Lord.  From this day on, I will follow You by living a life that pleases You.  Thank You, Lord Jesus for saving Me.  Amen.

 

After you have received Jesus Christ into your life, tell a Christian friend about this important decision you have made.  Follow Christ in believer's baptism and church membership.  Grow in your faith and enjoy new friends in Christ by becoming part of His church.  There, you'll find others who will love and support you.

 

Patience is welcoming trials and tribulations as friends and allowing them to perfect our character.  The word patience presupposes an adverse situation that must be endured.  Thus, patience is accepting a difficult situation from God without giving Him a deadline to remove it.

 

 

* Do you realize that the final results of life's situations are in God's hands?

* Do you take time to listen to God's voice when you pray?

* Do you wait for God to answer your prayers in His timing?

* Do you fulfill your responsibilities while waiting on the Lord or others?

* Do you look to the face of God while waiting for provisions from His hand?

* Do you joyfully endure pain and suffering?

* Do you patiently instruct those for whom you are responsible?

* Do you rejoice in trials instead of becoming bitter?

 

May we have hope in the Lord, "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4)

 

 

On Saturday, July 10th, we left Celebration Church in New Orleans and headed back to Florida.  Before we left New Orleans we toured the French Quarters for several hours.  This is not one of my favorite things to do but it seem that our group enjoyed going through the French Market and seeing the sites of the French Quarter.  We also got to eat one last meal in New Orleans, I love that food!  Cathy and I had a roast beef poboy (sandwich) and a stuffed articoke.  We travel from New Orleans to Marianna, Florida this evening.  Our group is doing well, but every one is very tired.  In the morning we will leave and take off to LaBelle.  Please pray for us because every one is tired.

 

On Sunday, July 11th, Paul Martin will be preaching the morning service at 11AM and Brother Lonnie Howard will be preaching at 6pm.  Please be praying for these two men as they share God's word this Sunday.  You can also support them by your attendance this Lord's Day. 

 

I hope you have a Great Day in the Lord!

Pastor Frank

Today has been a great day.  Today is our last day on the mission field in New Orleans.  It has been hard to say good bye to everyone.  Tonight we have Family Night at Celebration River Parishes where we have been doing VBS.  The children will be singing and then we are having Hot Dogs, Popcorn and recreation time for every one.  It should be a fun time by all.

 

Our lives have been touch this week by the people we have come into contact with.  The group I was with, worked in a Senior Adult Day Care Center and these people were such a blessing.  One lady was 104 and still pretty active another lady was 97.  The stories they told were great and we came to help them but they bless our hearts so much.  We have made some new friends in these Senior Adults in Kingsley House.

 

On Saturday we will doing some sightseeing in New Orleans and then leave and start our way back to LaBelle.  Please pray for our travel on Saturday and Sunday.  We hope to be back in LaBelle on Sunday afternoon.

Our construction teams were very busy yesterday.  One of our teams was sent to Slidell to work in a warehouse loading building supplies while another team worked in a warehouse in St. Bernard unloading building supplies.  Some of our guys were doing some plumbing work in different parts of the city.  The group that at the Adult Day Care Center did a craft project with the Senior Adults.  We helped them make prayer journals and it took awhile, but they enjoyed themselves very much. After lunch they played Bingo with incredible precision and enthusiasm. We took a nap:)

 

Last night at VBS we had two young girls get saved in our 3rd, 4th, 5th grade class.  Our attendance in running around 35 students and we are having a great time.  We are looking forward to our two last days in New Orleans.

Yesterday was a great day for us in New Orleans.  Our two construction teams went down to St. Bernard Housing Project for orientation and then began work.  They also split our two teams into three teams.  Some of our guys was doing plumbing and electrical work and our other two teams were doing sheetrock work.

 

The group that I was with went to the Kingley's House.  We worked with lower income Senior Adults.  They call it Senior Adult Day Care.  They feed them breakfast, lunch and a snack before they go home.  Seven of us went to this ministry.  We read Scripture, sang hymns, played games and just talk to them.  Many of them were willing to talk to you and tell you stories.  Today we are going to take some of our VBS crafts and share them with the Senior Adults.  It is such a blessing working with this people.

 

Please continue to prayer for us and we are praying for our church.

We arrived in New Orleans yesterday afternoon.  Seven of our team members meet us in New Orleans.  Last night we went to Celebration River Parishes in LaPlace.  We had 20 children last night for VBS.  The church was excited to have us help them with VBS.  They fed us Spaghetti, salad and garlic bread.  Last night after VBS we went to get coffee and beignets.,  It was GOOOOOD!

 

Today it is raining but we are schedule to send two teams to St. Bernard Parish for construction work (hopefully inside work today).  Our other team is going to Kingsley which is an Adult Day Care center.  Tonight we are going back to Celebration River Parishes to do VBS.  Part of our team last night went in the neighborhood around the church and past out flyers about VBS so we are hoping for more students tonight.

June was a great and wonderful month. Cathy and I celebrated two wonderful events in our
lives in June. The first was completing 15 years of service here at First Baptist Church of
LaBelle. In those 15 years we have experienced many wonderful things in the life of our church
and also in our lives. When I look back to where we were and where God has led us now, I’m
excited for what God is doing in our church. Yes things have changed but I believe God is
blessing us at the same time. The second great event in June was our son, Aaron marrying
Michelle Mink. This was a blessed day in our lives and Cathy and I would like to thank each
member of the church for your support, help and prayers during this time. Cathy and I very
much felt that this was a church wedding because the church (this church) took a major part in
helping. We thank you very much.
 

As we enter the month of July, we are in the heart of the summer months and many of our
folks will be taking vacation. I must remind you that in the summer months our expenditures
are up and our income seems to go down. Please don’t forget to give to the church in the
summer months. If we keep God first throughout the year he will bless you.
 

This week we will be leaving with 37 people from our church to go to the New Orleans area to
work. In the mornings part of our group will work rebuilding homes in the St. Bernard Housing
Project in St. Bernard Parish. At night, Monday through Friday, we will do VBS for the
Celebrating Church – River Parishes in LaPlace, Louisiana. We don’t know what to expect
because this church hasn’t had Vacation Bible School in several years. What a great
opportunity for us to minister to these children at this church. Please pray for your mission
team this week and as we travel and work in the New Orleans area.
 

Last Sunday our church nominated 19 men to be considered as deacons. The list of these men
has been given to the Deacons and they have begun to pray over the list and seek God’s
leadership on who to bring to the church. Two men will be brought before the church for
consideration to serve a three year term.
 

Our new Nominating Committee will begin work this month to fill the leadership positions of
our church. Each member is asked to fill out a leadership survey to help the Nominating
Committee in their work. Surveys can be found in your Sunday School classroom and in the
foyer of the church. There will also be a Survey included in your July Newsletter. Please fill out
your Survey as soon as you can.
 

Please continue to pray for God’s mercy concerning this year’s Hurricane Season. All we can do
is be prepared and pray for God’s mercy on this season.
 

Respectfully,
Pastor Frank
"Each person should do as he has decided in his heart--not out of regret or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver."  2 Corinthians 9:7 HCSB
 

Several important things took place at the Southern Baptist Convention today.  Frank Page was elected as the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee June 14 in Orlando, Florida.  A former SBC president, Page will succeed Morris H. Chapman, who is retiring after 18 years in the position.

Page, 57, most recently served as vice president of evangelization for the North American Mission Board and was pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., for nine years and SBC president from 2006-08.  Page told the Executive Committee his goal is that the group will be unified in its passion to see the world won to Jesus Christ, and he pledged to love the committee members and to work with all his might.

 

Southern Baptist Convention messengers Tuesday afternoon elected Atlanta-area pastor Bryant Wright as their next president of the convention.  Wright is pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga.

 

Southern Baptist Convention messengers also overwhelmingly adopted the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force report Monday afternoon after it was amended twice to strengthen the language regarding the Cooperative Program.
 

Preston and I also attended the Luther Rice Seminary luncheon today with Dr. Long and Dr. Flanagan the President of the Seminary.  We got to meet some of our friends that we have gone on Mission Trips with and a great time was held by all.

 

Please continue to pray for our convention as they will be conducting business until Wednesday evening.