Church of God Greatly Impacted by Haiti Quake

Reporter: Cameron Fisher

Church of God Haitian overseer Elysee Joseph and three from a Canadian delegation have died as a result of the devastating earthquake which took place in Haiti on January 12.

According to Rev. Douglas LeRoy, Church of God general director of World Missions, the death of Haitian overseer Joseph occurred when a 20-foot wall collapsed on the vehicle in which Joseph was a passenger. Joseph was returning from the Port-au-Prince airport with former Haitian missionary Lloyd Frazier and former General Director of World Missions Lovell Cary and his wife, Ginny. The group had just arrived in the country and were on their way to a hotel in anticipation of the Haitian National Convention which would have been held this week. Frazier and Lovell Cary were bruised, while Ginny Cary was hurt when a portion of the wall fell on their car. Her injuries are not life-threatening and as of Friday morning, the three had been transported to the neighboring country of Dominican Republic by the U.S. Coast Guard where Mrs. Cary was receiving treatment and arrangements were being made to return the group back to the United States.

Dr. Joseph was a leading pastor and had served the church as national overseer on two occasions. He is survived by his wife and children.

Other groups associated with the Church of God were also in the country when the quake hit. Among them was a delegation from Canada and Southern New England, and a short-term missions team from Potter’s House in Columbus, Ohio [The Church where former Creekers, Bob and Tanya Wilson serve). According to Rev. Jacques Houle, administrative bishop for the Church of God in Quebec/Maritimes, three from the Canadian group have died. Traveling with that group was administrative bishop of Southern New England Jonathan Ramsey and Boston area pastor Othon Noel. Ramsey and Noel, as well as the Ohio group are safe, but remain in the country awaiting transportation back to North America. Details on how the three from the delegation were killed is still unclear.

“As you can imagine, communications with these and others in the country is very limited and sometimes third party,” LeRoy stated. “Anything beyond this information, including exactly how and when those not living in Haiti will be returned is unknown. We (World Missions) are diligently pursuing transportation options at this time.”

Since 1933, the Church of God has had a presence in Haiti. Jacques Vital-Herne wrote on March 17, 1933, to S. W. Latimer, the third overseer of Church of God, to affiliate with the Church in Cleveland. At that time, there were eight local churches and by 1936, Haiti had 30 churches. Presently there are 741 local churches, 327 missions and more than 250,000 members. The Church of God is among the largest Christian movements in Haiti and also includes schools, such as the Seminaire Biblique. It is one of four bachelor’s-degree granting schools in Haiti and one of three in the country that is approved to train public school teachers.

The Church of God has more than 100 schools (including elementary), several clinics, hospitals According to LeRoy, due to strained communication a full assessment of the casualties among church members and damage to buildings and homes will not be possible for some time. LeRoy did confirm that some of the national buildings were damaged, but the national office and missionary home are intact.

“Please consider giving compassionately to aid and comfort the people who were so greatly devastated by this earthquake,” LeRoy stated. “If we all do what we can, God will supply the needs of His people in Haiti.”

Church of God relief agencies, including Operation Compassion, are already on-site in the country with supplies that were delivered two months ago. More relief is on stand-by waiting for clearance. A Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund has been established through Church of God World Missions. Please indicate Project Number 7650042 when designating your donations either through the

Web site www.cogwm.org or through the mail P.O. Box 8016, Cleveland, TN, 37320-8016. In addition, a video update, recorded on January 14, is located on the Church of God Web site.

Faith News will continue to provide updates as they become available. Updates will also be posted on the Church of God World Missions Web site or by visiting www.churchofgod.org.

Operation Compassion Uses Every Available Resource for Haitian Relief and Recovery

January 15, 2010

Less than 72 hours after a devastating earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti, Operation Compassion has containers being distributed from warehouse facilities in Haiti. As part of our ongoing effort in Haiti, containers of relief goods and supplies were previously delivered. Now they are being distributed.
Landslide: Many poorly constructed homes were simply swept away by the magnitude of the quake

In addition to these containers, Operation Compassion sent 24 containers to Haiti more than 6 weeks ago. These containers are filled with fruit juices, baby food, shoes, paper products, bottled water, cleaning supplies, sleeping bags and tents are arriving in port this week and next week. Distribution will begin as soon as possible.

While these containers are currently being delivered and distributed in Haiti, our warehouse in Cleveland is busy loading containers that will be sent to Haiti on almost a daily basis. In addition, Operation Compassion will be sending containers for Haiti through neighboring ports to lessen the stress on the damaged Port au Prince port. These products include Hygiene kits, coolers, blankets, mattresses, Playtex gloves, medical supplies and equipment, flashlights, tea and storage bags.

Destroyed: Residents pass by collapsed buildings - only a cross remains standing.

After the immediate needs of disaster relief shift to recovery, Operation Compassion will be assisting in their long term recovery and rebuilding efforts. Operation Compassion has a 40,000 square foot warehouse with building supplies procured and ready for shipment as the reconstruction begins. Items like floor and wall tile, trim, tools, grout and sealant, bathroom fixtures, electrical supplies, plumbing supplies and concrete board used in bathroom construction and temporary shelter construction are some of the available products.  Together, we can make a difference in Haiti!

Our Donations to Operation Compassion are secure with . . . More than $99 out of every $100 donated going directly to the field; 1% overhead.

Every $1 donated producing $88 of wholesale product.

Operation Compassion listed in the Top 100 Charities by Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Operation compassion listed in the Top 3 Most Efficient Charities by Forbes.com.

Write word "Haiti" on your check to Stevens Creek Church or send your donations to their Cleveland, TN office:

114 Stuart Road, NE Suite 370 | Cleveland, TN 37312

4233.728.3932 Office  |  423.728.3958 Fax

http://www.operationcompassion.org/

A mentor has passed ... my tribute to "Mr. Scott"

When I look back over my life, there is noone more other than my parents that has helped to shape me into the person that I have become than Leland "Sandy" Scott. Mr Scott served as the high school band director in Abbeville, South Carolina for nearly twenty years.  He was our town's Mr. Holland's Opus.  He was more than a band director but he was a developer of leaders. In my life, I have been around some of the greatest leaders in America, but very few of them would compare to Mr. Scott.

Mr. Scott was the band director in Abbeville for nearly twenty years. In those days, middle school students could march in the high school band when they enterred the seventh grade, so you were under his leadership until you graduated high school. 

Mr. Scott took our little high school band and created a dynasty. Under his leadership, the Abbeville Grenadiers won eight consecutive South Carolina State Band Championships. He set a record that has never been broken. In addition to that he led the band a top ten national ranking. We were ranked number three in the nation in 1973.  I will never forget my first contest as a seventh grader.  We were going up against the number two ranked band, Slyva Webster from North Carolina. We were doing or customary "think about the show" routine where we had to sit in silence for thirty minutes before going on the field.  He broke the silence with a quick pep talk. During that speech, he looked at me and said, "Baker, if you don't hit that line, the lights of the funeral home will be on for you tonight." In our town, they only turned the lights of the funeral home on when someone has passed.  When he said that fear covered my body and tears started flowing down my face.

That night I did not hit the line. As a result, I was taken out of the show and was made to stand at attention when the band performed for the rest of the season.  That was hard but it taught me that in life you have to earn your spot. There are no free lunches.  He instilled in me a work-ethic that has helped me throughout my life.  Mr. Scott was a disciplanarian.  I have never known anyone like him.  In today's market, his tactics would be frowned upon, but that was a different day. His discipline created winners.

Not only was he a disciplanarian, but he was a visionary.  He helped you see what you could not see.  He inspired us to do what we could not do. He was an entrepeneur. The band needed funding so he led the booster club to buy Greyhound Buses for the band to travel in but when the band was not using them, he chartered them out to other groups.  It was always funny to have the band drive up in nice buses with reclining seats and a restroom while the football team traveled in school buses.  Mr. Scott instilled a vision in us to better ourselves....to live out your best self.

Mr. Scott was known for yelling, screaming, throwing batons and an occasional chair. He was sort of like a Bobby Knight personality. He was different because even though he ranted and raved, you knew deep inside that he loved you and wanted the best for you. You knew that if you listened to what he was telling you that you would learn to do something right and would be a better student. 

He was not only a teacher, a developer of leaders, and a visionary, but he was a politician.  He was elected to the City Council and served as Mayor Pro-tem on one occasion.  The people in the city respected him like few others.

Mr. Scott was a passionate person with a constant faith.  There was no such thing as separation from church and state in his book. You practiced Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. You did not practice Wednesday because it was church night.  Prayer was always a part of the band performances. We never enterred the field without pausing and asking God's blessing on our endeavors. It was probably in band that I memorized the Lord's Prayer.

When I was in the eleventh grade, Mr. Scott selected me as the Band Captain. This was very unusual for an eleventh grader. This position was typically reserved for seniors.  I served two years and it was during this time that he poured into me and helped develop me into the person that I am today.

Shortly after I graduated from high school, Mr. Scott retired.  Oh, he was not old at the time but he was ready to focus on the local church.  He became the Lead Pastor of Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church in Greenwood, South Carolina.  He has served that church for over twenty-five years.

Patty and I were blessed to see Mr. Scott a few months ago at a band reunion. It was an amazing night. Students flew in from all over the country to give a tribute to this wonderful man.

Last October, our congregation, Stevens Creek Church, started broadcasting our services on the local FOX television station, WFXG. This station is on the cable system in Abbeville.  One of our viewers in Abbeville was Mr. Scott.  My parents ran into him and his wife, Verlene at a restaurant two days before he passed. Mr. Scott said, "I want to drive down and see Marty's church." They made plans, but sadly enough those plans will not come to pass.

On Thursday evening, January 7, 2010, Leland "Sandy" Scott passed on his reward. He leaves behind a loving wife and two children and grandchildren. He leaves behind a legacy that few of us could imagine.

Today, I honor you ... Mr. Scott ... the BandMan.  Now, it's time for you to enter into the joys of the Lord.

Oh yea, one more thing ... Mr. Scott...the lights of the funeral home are on tonight for you.  You have completed your race and it was an amazing race.

Christmas Eve Recap ... at The Creek

I grew up in a wonderful, healthy environment in the Upstate of South Carolina. I attended a mill village church where we looked forward to celebrating the holidays. I always remember "Christmas Sunday" because the church gave out bags of fruit and candy to the children and elderly. It was a big day. We had our own traditions, but there is one thing that we just never did and that is, celebrate the holidays with a Christmas Eve Service. In fact, I have never attended a Christmas Eve service before we initiated them at Stevens Creek.  

In the mid 1990s, I followed the inspiration of Willow Creek Church in Chicago and introduced the Christmas Eve service at our church. It began with a single service reaching a little over 100 people. We discovered early on that there is something very, very special about joining together and celebrating Christmas Eve.  


Through the years, this service has grown into a much anticipated service. There are more un-churched people in this service than in any other service during the year. They are there to hear the message of the nativity. Along with that message, many of them are there to hear April Sturgell sing "O Holy Night". For the last fourteen years, April has concluded the service with the singing of this traditional carol. There is no one that compares to April on this song. This service is filled with heart-felt programming produced by Todd Sturgell and his team. It's amazing ...year after year.  


As you may know, this service has grown from the original single service a multiple service format. At Christmas Eve 2009, we had four services (three at Stevens Creek Road and one at Grovetown High School). Our combined attendance for these services this year was [b]2,136[/b]. People were everywhere. The miracle is that our auditorium seats 500 people. We had people in chairs and offered a video venue that was filled in two of the services. It was an amazing time. The Christmas Eve service ushers in Christmas for me.  

Patty and I were talking about this service on our drive to Cleveland, TN on Christmas day. We could not ever imagine not attending a service on Christmas Eve. In neither of our family traditions did our churches offer Christmas Eve services, but now having experienced it, we don't want to go back.  


On a side note, people are very generous on Christmas Eve. We collect an offering at this service. We ask people several weeks in advance to consider giving a gift at Christmas to Christ and His Church. People responded and are still responding to this special offering. This year's offering is in the neighborhood of $120,000. That set a Christmas Eve offering record. Honestly, it came the right time.  

This year has been a good year, but like most churches, Stevens Creek has been affected by the economy. We launched Grovetown and expanded the staff to accomplish this missionary endeavor and we ended the year needing an infusion of cash. We thank the generous people at Stevens Creek for their continued support.  


If you are reading this post and your church does not celebrate the holidays with a Christmas Eve Service, let me be one to encourage you to do so.

Proud of my Alma Mater on NBC's Sing Off ... Lee University

This past week our family has anxiously watched each round of NBC's Sing Off. When the Voices of Lee made it to the Top Three, our hearts swelled with pride.  Now the nation knows what we have known for many, many years ... that God has raised up a small Church of God University to make the world a better place through music. The director of Voices of Lee, Danny Murray, has helped shaped young voices for over thirty years. I can remember as a freshman on campus being a member of one of his choirs.  Danny has the ability to take people with little talent and make them sound good and as NBC has discovered, Danny has the ability to take people with good talent and make them great.


When you look at the landscape of Stevens Creek you will see Lee Alumni throughout our church.... Todd, April, Kevin, Melissa, Ann, Sharon and the list goes on and on. We have three students presently at Lee, my daughter, Sarah, is a senior at Lee this year, along with Wes Lutes and Paige Lutes. 


Back to the Voices of Lee, what you may not know is that Stevens Creek's, John Tyler Black, traveled with Voices for four years while in school and just left the group last December to join the team here at The Creek.    Here's one more thought ... you know how people own shares in a business... did you know that Stevens Creek is a share-holder in Lee University.  Seriously.  So, when you see Voices of Lee on NBC, you can say "that's my group."


If you are reading this before midnight on Sunday, December 20th, then take time to vote for Voices of Lee on NBC's Sing Off. You can call or text your vote in right now...1-877-674-6403 or text 3 to number 33088.

Trauma ...

This week has given me a new understanding of the word traumatic.  I just left the Medical College of Georgia Shock Trauma Unit where I was with two separate Stevens Creek families who have had accidents this week that have resulted in spinal injuries.  What are the odds that one congregation would have two students in accidents in the same week that would result in these sort of injuries? 


The first accident happened on Stevens Creek Road on Tuesday night.  It was raining very hard when twenty-two year old MCG student, Courtney Claxton was involved in the single car accident. It's a miracle that Courtney survived.  She underwent surgery on Thursday to stabilize her broken neck.  She will have a second  surgery on Monday to finish the procedure.  Courtney needs your prayers.  After she recovers from this, Courtney will be transferred to the Shepherd Spine Center in Atlanta for rehabilitation.  Please pray for Courtney  and her parents, Charles and Gail Claxton.


Last night, one of our high school students, Austin Robinson, was warming up for a motocross race when his bike accelerated and he landed on his back. His spine was injured and he had surgery this morning at 7:30 AM.  Austin came through the surgery and should make a full recovery.  Please keep him and his parents, Billy and Robin Kelley in your prayers.


Both families have strong faith and are believing that God is going to bring them through this. Let's join in prayer with them.

God@Work

In the midst of a tough economy, God is doing a work that is truly more than we imagined. On November 18th, we baptized 82 people at our Stevens Creek Road campus and then the following Sunday, we baptized 6 at our Grovetown Campus. This brings the total water baptisms for this year to just over 150 people. We are humbled by the grace that has been extended in our community. This year's baptism doubled the number of baptisms that have taken place in any calendar year in the past 22 years.

I believe that this move of God is a result of an expanding heart for lost people. We started last January by asking people to come forward and write the name of their lost friends on the glass walls in our auditorium. Today there are hundreds and hundreds of names there that we pray over. In a few weeks from now, we will clean off all of the names and start 2010 praying new prayers for those who are headed to a Christ-less eternity.

As you move forward into the coming months, strategically consider ways to expand your congregation's heart for the lost. These are trying times and we have a message of hope. It's time to reach out.

~ Marty
martybaker@stevenscreekchurch.com

Motivating Volunteers You Lead

I ran across this blog post from Michael Smith. It's very interesting to those of us who lead people.  Here it is...


Just recently I was able to listen to my boss, Mark Marshall, give a presentation on "Motivating Volunteers You Lead." In that talk he listed four questions that every volunteer you lead is asking. The questions are:

• What am I supposed to do?
• Will you let me do it?
• Will you help me when I need it?
• Will you let me know how I am doing?

Not only are the volunteers within the organization asking these questions but also anyone you lead.


From the very beginning of trying to fill a position and throughout a lead/follower relationship, paid or volunteer, any leader would be wise to keep these questions near and refer to them often.  The questions can help us who lead to:

• Communicate the expectations of the task.
• Empower those assigned the task.
• Support  the volunteer or staff when help is needed.
• Stay out of the way when we are not needed. 
• Evaluate honestly the performance.

Are there other questions that should be added to the list?

Should a pastor be the largest contributor?

Recently, I was involved in a pastoral discussion concerning pastoral stewardship.  Today's blog is addressing that conversation.  It's not necessarily directed at Stevens Creek. It's purpose is to encourage pastors to expand their leadership base. Here goes. It has often been said, "the speed of the leader, the speed of the team." I believe in stewardship. I practice it and I promote it every possible chance. I have always been faithful to bring the tithes and offerings to the Lord. I am of the opinion that you cannot give offerings until the tithe is given. Now, am I the largest giver at Stevens Creek? Maybe one day, but not today and truthfully not in my 22 years as serving as pastor. Yes, even in the borrowed living room with 24 people, I had tithers that gave more than I did. Here's my point ...  if the pastor is the largest giver in the church then that church will not be a strong financial ministry. Here's why. If the pastor is the largest contributor, then that church is either paying him too much and cannot grow the ministry (I doubt that is the case in most situations) OR the Pastor has not learned the secret of "leading up" and challenging people of greater means to support the work of the Lord. If you are going to grow a strong church, then the Pastor has to lead up. The pastor has to be able to cast vision to people who have resources that can help fund the ministry. If you are only reaching people at your same financial level and below, then you will not have a balanced church. Doesn't the book of Acts say: The promise is for you and your children and  for all . We must reach all sectors of people. This means that you will reach some that live like you live, some under-resourced and some more resources. Today, I may be in the top twelve to fifteen givers at The Creek. I really don't know. There have been times that I have been in the top seven, but those were the days that the church was not as strong financially as it is today. I would love to be in the top spot, but only if I could do that with money outside of the ministry. That's probably not going to happen any time soon.  I don't play the lottery. I don't have any books to be written. I don't have a long list of speaking engagements. I don't have a cash cow in my back yard. So for now if Stevens Creek is to be a strong financial church, I have to continue to cast vision and ask people to give.   I am honest when I look at the congregation and say, "I need your financial support."  Without faithful givers, we will not be able to accomplish the mission that Christ has called us to.  It takes everyone ... all of us... bringing the Lord's tithe to His church. When we do this, His ministry will thrive. For pastors that may run across this blog, my challenge to you today is to ... lead up. Marty martybaker@stevenscreekchurch.com

What Happend in the 11:30 AM service today?

It’s 4:15 PM Sunday afternoon and I just woke up. I typically crash at 3:00 PM every Sunday.  I use to lay on the sofa and nod off and catch a nap. But, these days I pull back the covers and dive in the bed.  Like I said, I just got up. The house is silent because Patty is in Atlanta and Samuel is at a youth function.  I thought that I would use this as a time to de-brief about what happened in the 11:30 AM service (10/25/09).

If you were not in the 11:30 AM, you will not understand this post. If you were in that service, you will know exactly what I am talking about.  In a nutshell here it is:  The Lord was present to save.

Let me unpack that a little bit. As most of you know, I have been serving The Creek for nearly 22 years.  Today’s 11:30 AM service was unlike anything in the modern Creek history.  For those that were not there, I will try to fill you in, but honestly I do not remember everything that was said. The words were not mine (I know that sounds strange to some of you…oh well).

On a practical level, I preached the same message in all three services.  It was a message focusing on the Great Banquet parable that Jesus taught in Luke 14.  I felt good about the message going in.  Earlier in the week, Dave helped me craft the talk.  He has helped some in the past.  This week was a little different.  Todd and Dave met and had a number on new ideas for me to use.  It’s hard for me to use someone’s ideas, so I ask Dave to talk me through it.  He did and got up to leave. I said, “Wait a minute. We are going to write it out with you here.”  We did and the sermon was 60% done on Tuesday afternoon.  I worked on it a few hours on Thursday and two or three hours Saturday morning. 

It was a good message…not a masterpiece but something I was looking forward to sharing. I was able to take a drive up to Greenwood by myself on Friday and had some extra time praying about the service.  I felt good about the day.

I went to the Carolina game on Saturday evening and got home around midnight. I do not like ESPN Saturday night games.  They are too late for me. Games are something that gives me one-on-one time with Samuel so they are worth the investment.  I woke up this morning feeling good. I expected to be tired and moving kind of slow, but no so.

I got to the church a little after 7:00 AM and started going through the message.  I felt good about it and was excited to share it.  I was a little nervous about the table on the stage because I did not know how exactly I was going to use it.

I sensed the Lord in the first service and that made preaching easier than normal. The first service came off like a second or third service would normally.  It felt natural. Todd encouraged me to reshape the ending because I was not clear enough when I talked about the empty chair.  I thought that was good advice so I went into the 10 AM service with a desire to make the ending clear enough so that people would be personally challenged.

The 10 AM felt good.  By this time, I am usually getting a little tired and sometimes I have trouble staying focused. It’s harder than you think to preach three times in a row.  Many times in the third service, I have to concentrate to stay in the game.  My mind wanders.  As the music started in the third service, my mind drifted a little bit.  I started thinking about next week’s message, my schedule for the next few days and so forth.  As we worshiped I refocused my thoughts and started to pray for the people in the service.

My prayer soon turned to intercession.  I started praying in tongues fervently.  Now, I do this as a normal practice, but this was different. It was as if the Lord was praying through me in a directed manner.  You know when you pray in tongues, your spirit is praying but like Paul said, your mind is unfruitful.  As I am fervently praying, I had this thought, “Most people in this auditorium would freak out if they knew what I was doing.”  As I write this, I am smiling because that is funny to me.

I stepped up to preach the message with a desire to communicate it in a way that would touch many people. I wanted it to be better than the previous service.  It went well.  I felt as though the Lord used me and I did what I was supposed to do.  Todd sang and I closed in prayer. As I said, “Amen”, I sensed that the Lord was not finished with the message.  I paused at that moment. 

It is important to respect spiritual moments.  Pause and see what the Lord is doing in the room.  As I waited for a few seconds, the Lord prompted me to call people to be saved.  I thought, “Lord, I just said that.”  To be obedient, I reiterated the call to salvation.

Well, that’s about all I remember right now.  Words that I did not write started flooding my mind. I could not speak them fast enough. It was truly like the Prophet Jeremiah wrote … a fire in my bones. As I write this blog, I cannot tell you what I said. I remember challenging people to making a decision to follow Jesus to making him the LORD of their lives.  I also remember feeling that it was urgent that someone needed to change today. I had to convince them that life was short and that it was time to change directions.  There was urgency like I have not ever felt in our modern Creek history.  There was a call to stop playing church and starting walking in the truth. I remember going back and forth begging people to repent.  The flow of words slowed down and I gave a second call to faith.  This time I knew that I had everyone’s attention.

We have a problem at Stevens Creek and that is, when I go to close a service people start moving (getting Bibles, purses, etc). This often hinders me and others that are spiritually seeking.  Today, however, NO ONE was moving.  They recognized that we were in the presence of the Lord.  I asked people to raise their hands if they want to repent. Thirty, forty or fifty people put their hands up in the air.  It was amazing.  I honestly believe that people were saved today.  Some of these individuals may have prayed a prayer before but today I think that prayed this one with great sincerity.  I think they touched God.  Again, it was amazing.  I am so appreciative of what the Lord did today.

Here’s what I know. I can pray and preach good sermons and some people will make a decision to follow Christ. The Lord can come in through the power of the Holy Spirit and preach a five to ten minute sermon after I have already preached one and get scores of people saved.  That’s how it works. I say it frequently, “We need the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.” We need the power of the Holy Spirit in our preaching. He can do more than we imagine.

As I reflect on today’s events, I am honored to have witnessed a “move of God” at Stevens Creek Church.  I believe that we snatched some people from the gates of Hell today. I believe that Jesus worked miracles in our services … all four services not just the 11:30 AM.

As I left the stage, I looked at Todd and said, “Well, I guess that won’t be shown on television or the web.” He said, “I don’t know. We might need to show it.”  Here’s what we will do. As we review it, we will pray to see if that was a specific word for that particular service or if it was a word for a larger audience. If it is for a larger audience, we will put it on the web.  I may hesitate to put it on television because it is the meat of the word and many of our viewers can only handle milk.  We have to be sensitive to our target.

I pray that this is the beginning of a new move of the Lord at Stevens Creek.  If these individuals that raised their hand to make Jesus Lord tell their friends what happened and then their friends come and find faith, we are on the road to revival.  Be praying that God does exactly that.

Speaking of prayer, pray for me tomorrow morning as I begin on the message, “You can have a new life” for this coming week.  As you know, Ruby will be with us.  I want this to be a life-giving service for our friends.

Be blessed and have a great week.

Sincerely,

Marty

martybaker@stevenscreekchurch.com