I wanted to write you to ask you to specifically be praying for where God wants us to meet. There seems to be doors closed in all directions. Still, Second Baptist Church and the surrounding community remains heavy on our hearts. God has renewed my spirit to pray fervently for a miracle to have their buildings and to restore ministry to that area. Monday I spoke with the Director of Missions with the Bessemer Baptist Association - Ed Cruce. I was asking about recent probes the State Board of Missions may have done seeking needed locations for churches. He told me that the last probe was about eleven years ago and that all the highlighted areas (locations needing a church) had been filled. However, all those areas where filled by churches that relocated. So I asked the obvious question--Does that mean that now what should be highlighted are the areas these churches moved away from? He thought that was probably true. What a great irony!
Since the possible locations for us to meet seem to have God's Spirit blocking us from there, I ask you to please join with me again in praying fervently for God's leading and miracle-working hand to provide the Second Baptist Church buildings. That's the only place where we truly had a word from God given to us.
I want you to pray for the Bessemer Association and all God's Church in Bessemer and McCalla. Most every church is in a maintaining situation--just trying to maintain, not really growing, but trying to stay afloat. The whole area needs a restoration of the God's Presence and Power - something only God can do. And I believe this was God's word through Haggai as it relates to us. May God restore His house in this area, and symbolically through the restoration of these buildings demonstrate His Presence being restored to His Church there.
I've committed to do all I know to do to see this happen. For me it means calling and meeting with people to see if God opens doors. What would God have you do? Let's commit to do what we can and follow the Holy Spirit's leading and the doors He opens. Above all cover everything in prayer. When it is all said and done, we'll know it was a work of God's hand.
Blessings!
gary
Since the possible locations for us to meet seem to have God's Spirit blocking us from there, I ask you to please join with me again in praying fervently for God's leading and miracle-working hand to provide the Second Baptist Church buildings. That's the only place where we truly had a word from God given to us.
I want you to pray for the Bessemer Association and all God's Church in Bessemer and McCalla. Most every church is in a maintaining situation--just trying to maintain, not really growing, but trying to stay afloat. The whole area needs a restoration of the God's Presence and Power - something only God can do. And I believe this was God's word through Haggai as it relates to us. May God restore His house in this area, and symbolically through the restoration of these buildings demonstrate His Presence being restored to His Church there.
I've committed to do all I know to do to see this happen. For me it means calling and meeting with people to see if God opens doors. What would God have you do? Let's commit to do what we can and follow the Holy Spirit's leading and the doors He opens. Above all cover everything in prayer. When it is all said and done, we'll know it was a work of God's hand.
Blessings!
gary
