Wonder Sometimes?

Do you ever wonder? It's not that you question God but do you ever just wonder sometimes? I am trying to stay faithful and give messages like I would if I were preaching to a 100 even though there are often just 10 to 15 at our services. I know to stay faithful, for God has promised that in due season, we will reap if we do not grow weary. Andy came up with a great idea over the weekend of having a Coffee/Game night over the summer months every Friday evening. And Ashley even thought of a great name in "Common Grounds" so that we can enjoy the coffee and the common ground that we hope to establish with our neighbors. I just wanted to do something more, especially coming back from the Innovate Conference last week, and knowing that we cannot quit and that we do not want to be one of the churchs that just gave up after a few months of not seeing many people respond. "I know the plans I have for you," says God so I need to remember those plans are good ones, not to harm us but to make us prosper, so I must be a good leader and press on towards the high calling of which God has called me. And to keep praying, that's the key. May we be found faithful and soon see God bless our efforts by bringing folks unto Himself.

Staying Faithful

Wow, I can't believe we have turned the page on another month! Andy's birthday is just in 5 days and we are busy doing school work for Liberty U. and with the end of the school year at SHS just 5 to 6 weeks away, things are bound to start heating up for the summer time! And it will also be no exception for Life Pointe as we try harder to grow the work God has given us the privilege to have. Yesterday we had 11 people which sounds small, but of that 11 people, one of them just accepted Jesus less than 2 months ago; two of them were students of mine at Salem in my driver's ed. classes; and two were friends of ours who do not have a church home; so with all that in mind, I think God is continuing to use us right in our own backyard! God is good! Sure, it would be nice to look out on a Sunday afternoon and see 100 people sitting there, but God knows what we can handle right now and as things progress and are put into place, God will bless us with more people. I just want to see folks saved and baptized and then grow up in Jesus! So with that in mind, we need to do just what Jesus told Jarius to do......."Just Believe!"

Eight Weeks Old!

It's hard to believe that Life Pointe Church is already 8 weeks, that is 2 months old! We had our very first Easter Service this past Sunday, April 4th, and we had about 30 folks in attendance, so praise the Lord for that! With my family from Giles offering their support and with my brother Tim's boys and wives from Richmond visiting, it was nice to see all the familiar, friendly, family, faces! I enjoyed speaking of Jesus "Ultimate Storm" and the price He paid for us. Hopefully we are still sowing the precious seed of God's Word and if we "faint not" we will see the fruit soon appear! This Sunday I get to preach at Craig Valley Baptist Church while my friend Bill Grindstaff is away visiting in Kentucky, so it will be a busy Sunday. And with continued work for Liberty University and school work for Salem, I feel I stay busy doing something just about all the time, but God is good and I know He has promised to take care of all my "cares" so I just keep giving them to Him, and that seems to work just fine! With the first conversion and soon to be first baptism for Life Pointe Church, I just realize again and again how good God is and how He has blessed us already so much. Let's continue to soar!!!

Sunday Service for March 6, 2010

Well today's service seemed to go well and we had a good number with 24 people there including my sister Melanie and her family from Giles County and my brother Tim from across town, so it's always good to see them. And with a few friends from CVBC in Newcastle, it was a nice number. Today's message was all about Jesus, the central figure of all Christianity and the Bible most notable figure. I always enjoy talking about Jesus and what He has done for us and continues to do for us. So I look with anticipation to more warmer weather and to hopefully more folks coming out to be with us. God is good!

God Is Good

On our opening day, Valentine's Day, we had around 36 people at our service; the second service saw about 25 or so; this past Sunday we had 11 people, so of course the first reaction is to feel a little low but then again, someone wrote on the back of our Life Pointe Contact Card that they had decided to begin a relationship with Jesus! So while I want to be careful and certainly follow up on this decision and to answer questions that this person may have, wouldn't it be just like God to give us our smallest crowd, yet most important decision! My message was on the lost coin, lost sheep, and lost son.....it may just be that this lost person was found this past Sunday, February 28, 2010! Praise the Lord!

Second Service Goes Well!

We enjoyed our second service for Life Pointe Church this past Sunday with about 24 people coming out to enjoy it with us! God gave us a good day and I had several good comments from folks afterwards with one comment especially blessing my heart. One person basically related to me that she had needed someone to just take her hand and give her hope and that was what she had received so I was very touched and encouraged to know that God is indeed working in the hearts of those who are coming to Life Point Church. I just know great things are in store for us as we continue to seek God and to serve others. It seemed I was a little more at ease this past Sunday too, and I was glad of that. I know God is in control but it's still a little nervous to stand up and sing and speak and just to know that I, along with my family and friends, are respresenting Jesus as we carefully and prayerfully form and establish Life Pointe Church in these very early days of the church. It is sort of like watching a little baby learning to walk or do things for the very first time. It's both exciting and a little scary but I just want to always maintain the very fine line of knowing God is in control and will provide and take care of us but to never, ever take that love and provision for granted. So I will continue to pray and look for great things from God, and I'll also be glad to see Andy and Ashley who were and still are out of the country this week, so their part in the ministry was missed and their valuable help will be welcomed back for our third service this coming Sunday, February 28, 2010! God is good!

TAKING A STAND AND MAKING HISTORY!!

Wow, I can't believe it has already been over a week since our church debut on Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2010! It was so exciting and I admit I was little nervous as we saw something taking place that has been "in the making" for over a year and a half. In June of 2008, which now seems so long ago, we stepped out in faith and started showing movies for the community at Huff Lane School. Then after doing that for June, July, and August, we had our first ever Block Party with the help of Liberty University students and some local businesses donating some great door prizes. Then we began our weekly Bible Study in September of 2008 and have continued that for the whole year of 2009 and now even into 2010. And then, with the leading of the Lord and some great confirmations and answers to prayer, we had our VERY FIRST SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICE at 3:00 pm in the afternoon with around 34 people present! While a lot of them were my family from Giles and friends from Craig Valley Baptist Church, along with a few neighbors, it was still encouraging to see so many people present at our very first church service! Steve and I led the worship music and Andy did a good job at the computer providing all our powerpoint slides while Ginny and Ashley did a lot of the greeting, announcing, and providing refreshments for everyone! We even had cookies baked by our CVBC friends to give to folks at the end of the service, along with a valentine from Life Pointe Church! A ton of work went into making this a reality that day but also just the simple fact that God answered so many prayers and openned so many doors is also a blessing and confirmation that we are doing a great work and God is being honored as we serve Him by serving our neighbors and community. Praise the Lord for the great things He has done!