Just Checking

Well I've been negligent in keeping this site updated. There's much going on in our world. I've been dealing with minor health issues all summer but have finally turned a corner. I'm feeling much better. God is good... all the time. We've been busy with plans for my daughter's upcoming wedding next week, and Vacation Bible School this week. I'm also preparing for Revival services the third week of August and the plans for the Mission Conference in two weeks. Jonathan's doing great in his summer internship at Faith in North Little Rock and I'm praying for both he and his wife, Kristine. Timothy is looking to enroll at a local Community College and stick around for a few years yet. He's a good guy to have around. Cathy's great as always and I am blessed in having her as my life partner and co-laborer. She's had an awesome week in VBS teaching the younger kids. Her class has averaged 24 students this week.

Adam Johnson is our new Director of Music. He and his wife Rebeca are going to be a great asset to the church. I'm so thankful God has answered our prayers in sending them our way. We still need to be praying for the man God would have to be the Associate Pastor over the Youth Ministries here. I know that God has the man for the job. I'm just needing to wait upon him and keep myself in the work.

It's just awesome that God allows me to be a part of His kingdom work. I pray that God will continue to use me, and give me the wisdom to know His will, do His will and not get in the way of His blessing our church ministries. Pray for us.

Pastor Gary, Cathy and Tim
Posted by Hello

Marketing the Church

Pastoring brings a conglomerate of cundundrums that can beset a church leader. There are calls for compromise of doctrine or polity to placate society and better market the church to the community. There are a variety of sources that help or promote church growth, and many use the stratagem of business models to market church ministries or products. Church marketing is useful, but the pressures placed upon growth of the church and ministries must be weighed by the cost. Not the cost in money, but rather the cost that may come much higher, the cost of compromise through the erosion of doctrine, faith and practice. Churches should be exemplary in their demeanor and conduct within the community they serve, but they can never match the marketing dollars that are inundating our society today. What they are we to do? We are to "market" Jesus Christ on the placards of our hearts and make Him the central focus and therefore the centrist of effective growth, change and discipleship one person at a time.

God's Kingdom work

I am amazed at the working of God in a willing heart. As a pastor, I have a front row seat to watch the growth of those in my church. While some struggle, there are those times when a person just blossoms into a committed and faithful Christian. What a joy those people are. They usually are quiet and dedicated, working with love and peace. I have the privilege of many of these in our church who are growing and stepping out on faith. They are witnessing to co-workers or customers and making possible the opportunity for me to follow up on their efforts and water the seeds they have planted. I see them step out further into the water of commitment motivated out of love for Jesus and faith in Him. What a job! I get to see Christ grow in the hearts of people, and get to be a part of it as well. Sure there are setbacks and disappointments, but the rewards far outweigh the negative distractions. God is so good!

Family

I have spent an enjoyable evening reflecting on how much God has blessed my life. Working in the kitchen, she looks up as I approach and I look into those eyes that had first drawn me. I'm amazed at the fullness of the love I feel when I'm with her. I am awed as I spend time planning on the video for Tim's life video. We had one made for each of our children. It's a time of planning and working together going through the pictures of the past seventeen years. The laughter, the tears and the memories flood my soul and remind me of how good God has been to our family. As we listen to the different background songs for the video, I see the young man that he has become and wonder at what God is going to have for him. I pray that he might remain close to God's heart and look for His direction. I'm proud of him. And as I leave the room, I reflect upon the upcoming wedding for our daughter Mandy, and the good Christian young man, Andy, that God sent to our family to love her and I am again amazed and overwhelmed at his goodness. I contemplate on the honor that Jonathan received at school, and the church that has embraced him and is using him to help him learn the stuff of ministry and bow with fullness of heart and say, Thank you Lord, for all your goodness. Truly I am blessed. And that's just family. What of friends whom God has sent our way, who fill our hearts and become part of our extended family. Truly God is good, and greatly to be praised. May we continue to seek Him and His direction. May His Spirit fill us and cause us to be about the kingdom work for which He has called us to be engaged.