Pastor's Corner
September 2004
A Message From Pastor Greg
Once again we have rushed into the Fall season in the church and I think the whole staff here at church is feeling like we have “fallen” into an incredibly busy season! All of the Bible studies are back meeting; the youth ministry has geared-up for a great season of Bible studies; Growth Groups are forming and the AWANA children’s program is off and running! Folks have returned from vacation and we had a wonderful turn-out to worship last Sunday of over 640 people with cars parked everywhere! Maybe part of that is our New Church Sign that is up now (with a huge thanks to Frank Greenleaf, John Dalrymple and the rest of the Trustees)! It is an exciting time to be a part of God’s work at Ustick Baptist Church!
As we move into the Fall I am looking forward to starting a 13 week sermon series on the life of Moses. This will be an exciting series to see how God uses the life of a man who has yielded to the Lord! We will look at many events in Moses’ life and the lessons he learned from God that become lessons for us as well as we seek to be yielded to the Lord. As part of this study I would ask that you spend some time reading for background the Bible books of Exodus and Numbers. We won’t be able to cover all the events and activities of God surrounding Moses’ life so that reading will help to “fill in the gaps” regarding his life. I am very much looking forward to preaching this series up to Christmas.
On another note, I have been told that we hope to have our new parking area (West of the current parking) done by the end of September. Thank you for your patience as we have had to scramble for parking! Growing pains are still “pains”!
Finally I have some news on our search for an associate pastor! We have a candidate that I have met with several times and now this last week was interviewed by the elders. There is still work to be done regarding references etc. so we continue to ask for your prayers regarding this very important decision.
The elders will meet again September 16th to discuss the candidate further. From there we will have further meetings with the candidate (if the Lord leads) and if we are all convinced that the Lord has given us this person to serve with us, we will introduce him to the congregation and eventually have a congregational affirmation (vote). Once again I cannot overemphasize our need for prayer on this! We are claiming Proverbs 16:9, “The mind of a man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”
Our Lord has blessed us with so much as a church! I keep thinking of where Jesus said “to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:18)”. As we “fall” into this season we count our blessings and we recognize that God has given them not for us to bask in them but He has given them to us as a stewardship to serve Him all the more. May we do so daily!
Serving with you,
P.S. With all the wonderful ministries starting up this Fall, I hope you are seeking the Lord as to what area you can serve in. Our children’s ministries especially need help. Why not make yourself available to help with children’s church, the nursery or Sunday School?
