Bethany General Baptist Church

Filed under: Bethany News Updates | No Comments »

School is back in session and families are settling back into their regular routines.  When I was a kid, while I didn’t relish going back to school, I did enjoy it, once I got back into the swing of things.  Seeing friends whom you hadn’t seen  much over the summer months, and I really liked learning new stuff as well!

But another thing I remember as a kid, that is often neglected in the busyness of today, is the Supper Table.  (NO, not just because of the food!)  I can still remember my Mom getting the evening meal together, sometimes, my sisters and brothers being called on to get their homework out of the way, so we could help in the kitchen.  Then, generally, around 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., my dad would walk in the door, and supper would be ready to go shortly after that.

Many studies have been done on the importance of family gatherings, such as the Supper Table, the Family Devotion, Family Vacations, Regular Family Worship at the local church, etc., and have found them to be instrumental in forming those bonds that serve as a tool in keeping families together and building healthy relationships.

With economic times being difficult, we need to remember the importance of renewing those family’ activities that help us all cope and remembering to keep Christ at the Top of our list of “Necessary Relationships all year long!”

Filed under: Bethany News Updates | No Comments »

Due to the generosity of the folks at the Bethany Church we were able to contribute right at 50 backpacks to the local schools to be handed out to the needed in the schools within our area of outreach.

We asked each family to consider putting together a “fully packed” backpack that could be handed out to the less fortunate in our community and if you could not shop for it yourself, than to donate monies to allow us to go and purchase the needed items. This could not have been done without the support of each one who gave …. THANKS!!!

Also, a special thanks to Bethany’s Christian Education Board, from whom the idea originated, and specifically to Cindy Green and Mary Ann Howell and the youth who help to get them organized and ready to send out to the needy.

Don’t forget that on September 25th, the Bethany Church along with other churches in the area are joining forces to do random acts of kindness towards those in the community with no desire for compensation.  It’s called “Mission Blitz” and starting on September 1st, we will start gathering “Can” Goods to be given to the local food bank to assist the needy in our community.  Furthermore, we are planning a community Fish Fry in which we will be asking you who come, to bring several non-perishable goods that can be added to the totality of this outreach.  We thank you in advance for your anticipated support.

So, once again, thanks for your help in the “Back to School Project” in gathering backpacks to assist the less fortunate and we look forward to your continued support in September.

Filed under: Bethany News Updates | No Comments »

Delia, Mary Ann Howell and I went to this year’s annual General Baptist Conference in Franklin, Tennessee and it was a awesome time of Worship, Fellowship and Learning.

From the opening worship service on Monday morning up to the last Workshop I was able to attend, God was truly in the house.  We were challenged by God’s messengers to reach up to God and reach out to the lost souls of the world.

Tuesday Night, we joined together to send off our new missionaries and our new church planters in a “commissioning service” as we joined together to Pray for God’s power and wisdom to empower and direct the lives of these leaders with the necessary and needed wisdom to succeed.

Wednesday wrapped up our time there with more great preaching and learning experiences and saying goodbye to lots of friends whom are serving the Lord in America and across the world.

In a word … “Loved it”  (Well, maybe two words)

Filed under: Bethany News Updates | No Comments »

Freedom is the theme for the month of July.  Freedom in Christ is the subject for this Sunday Morning.  Freedom that cannot be found in the “things” of this world, but rather the freedom that comes from Christ and Christ alone!

So often, our freedoms as citizens are taken for granted, as I had mentioned in a previous posting a  couple of weeks ago.  But, I am also reminded of a question the Apostle Paul had asked of the Galatian Church in Galatians 1:6 when he mentions:  ”I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel … which is really no gospel at all …” (NIV)

Many believers seem to forget what a wonderful Savior we serve and from what great depths of sin, He has saved us from!  If it were not for Christ Jesus, we would all be held accountable for our sins and be doomed to Hell for eternity!  I for one, am so grateful for the wonderful salvation God has granted us through the gift of  salvation through the grace of His wonderful Son, Jesus.

Galatians 5:1, 7 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery … You were running a good race.  Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?  That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.”

Thank God for the freedoms granted to us, as United States Citizens, protected by the Constitution of the United States.  But, even more so, Thank God for the freedoms we possess through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Filed under: Bethany News Updates | No Comments »

Last Sunday, we enjoyed a wonderful worship service, celebrating the 4th of July as a day the recognition of our freedoms as American Citizens, but it did not come without a great price being paid!  The signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 was followed by several years of battle against England, in which many Americans died.

However, we finally attained our Independence as a Nation, after much blood was shed, and it seems now, we are trying to give it all away!!!

We also celebrated our freedom as Christians, also purchased at the great price of Jesus Christ, coming to earth, to die on the cross for the sins of all humanity!!!

We opened the service with choruses of praise, the choir singing songs of patriotism followed by a Choir Special ended with the presenting of the American Flag, and the Christian Flag carried into the auditorium by Dustin Mittag in full Military array and Mitchell Howell.  We stood and recited the Pledges to the American Flag, the Christian Flag and the Holy Bible.  John Grindstaff shared a wonderful song and after the morning message, we baptized three (3) people, Andy Borders, Joey Arends and Kendra Hodges, publicly acknowledging their freedom found in Jesus Christ through salvation.

Thanks to all of those who planned and prepared for the wonderful service and for all who joined with us in the Celebration of our Freedoms, both as a nation and as believers in Jesus Christ!

Just as our nation continues (I hope it always will) to remain a beacon of freedom to the world, Let the Church continue to proclaim to the world, that Jesus provides, Life and Liberty for ALL who are willing to come to Him in the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of their souls!

John 1:12  ”As many as receive Him (Jesus), to them gave He the right to become the sons of God, even to those who believe on His name.”

Filed under: Bethany News Updates | No Comments »

On August 7, 2010, The Bethany C.E. Board is planning on a Back to School project to help families in the Campbell, Malden and Bernie School districts to gather supplies for the new year.

We know that the cost of living continues to climb and some of our families may have trouble getting supplies together. So, we have decided to help, as a church body in our community.

We are asking each family to consider putting together a completely stocked “backpack” to be given away on August 7th at the Bethany’s Center Building.

We will be putting up “lists” on the Church bulletin board that identifies what each school and age group requires and ask that you take one or more list and purchase the items from that list, including a backpack to put the items into and bring them to the church to be handed out on a “first come, first serve” basis.

If you can’t shop for the items themselves, perhaps you will want to make a donation towards this project … if so, please contact us and let us know and we will take care of it for you.

Thank you, in advance, for your anticipated support.

Tags: back to school project, backpacks, Bethany General Baptist, church support, school supplies
Filed under: Bethany News Updates | No Comments »

Albeit, for but a few moments, I was taken out of the pulpit shortly after I began to start my sermon last Sunday morning.  The plan was implemented by the youth who had just returned from “Uth in Missions” the weekend before and had learned about the dangers facing Christians all around the world.  We are able to freely stand up and share Christ, Sunday and every other day of the week, but the freedom we have here in America, is not freely enjoyed by many believers in other parts of the world.

So, Sunday Morning, the plan (unknown to most of the congregation) was to have me to start my Sunday Morning Sermon and then for some thugs (four of our young men) to burst into the service and demand that I stop what I’m doing immediately (preaching) and they took my Bible and escorted me out of the service.

Most knew who these guys were, (other’s were warned earlier, so as not to become afraid) but some wondered what was going on!  After I was taken out, our youth director, Mary Ann Howell, who also went to “Uth in Missions” stood up and said, “This is the very thing that takes place in numerous parts of the world to Christians who desire to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to lost and dying souls!  While what happened a few moments ago was “staged”, it is absolutely REAL to many Christian believer in different parts of the world and could happened in our country some day, IF we don’t stand up for our Christian values and standards.

Mary Ann shared with the congregation what the different young people were involved with during the weekend in Springfield, IL and the experiences they gathered about the persecution facing Christians still today.  She had several pictures to help us to identify with the different ministries they were involved with over the weekend.

Over the next few weeks, different young people will take a few minutes in the Sunday Morning Service to share their own personal stories and the experiences they gathered while on the “Uth in Missions” weekend trip.    We hope you can be here and attend.

Above all, pray for those Christians who are facing persecution for their faith worldwide.  And, pray for our nation, that we will turn to Christ and find a renewed desire to honor Christ in our lives and help turn the tide of evil in our own country.

Filed under: Bethany News Updates | No Comments »

Last evening I watched a documentary Online about the German Theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a man who grew up in a non-christian home, but after Hitler began his rise into power as a leader in the Nationalist Social Party, (or it might have been the Social Nationalist Party?) and his country began to turn towards belief in his rhetoric, he became determined to become a student of Theology, which started his journey towards Christ.

He became a respected and renown leader of the church, teaching and influencing people to find Christ through the study of Scripture and though a pacifist, he saw the need for someone to rise up against the rise of Nazism and, through study, prayer and given time, he became a part of an organized movement to rid the world of Adolf Hitler.  He saw how the Jews was being treated and killed just because they were Jews and sought to assist in helping them as much as he could.

He served as a “double agent”, traveling as if he were going on behalf of the Hitler regime, but in fact, passing information and assisting in the planning of a “resistance” against the onslaught of Nazism.

He was eventually caught, imprisoned and after Hitler saw he had lost the war, the order to execute all of the resistance leaders they had in prison was given by Hitler.  He was taken out and hanged but in his closing remarks, he was heard to have said, that he would be going to meet his Lord.  Also, his brother in law, and his brother were executed as well.

I am reminded today, of how many men, women and children have lost their lives for the cause of freedom.  I am reminded that there is hardly (if at all) a family that has not had someone who has had to fight in a war and have lost someone they loved, so that we may continue to be FREE.  THANKS TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS!!!

However, I am also concerned that the lessons of the past seem to have been forgotten as our country seems to be going down the same path that Germany did in the early part of the 20th century.  I am concerned that we have traveled so far down the path of “Socialism” or “Nationalism”, that we have failed to recognize the very reason our grandparents, parents and even our children today, have died??!!!

WHY???

They believed in a “Declaration of Independence”  that states that we believe “all men are created equal” and in a “Constitution” whose first 10 amendments are what we call the “Bill of Rights” and lest we forget, that we, as a Country,  have always stood for the “freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to (personally) bear arms, freedom of religion, etc”

Yet, what is our government saying to us today?  If you’re a Christian (in particular), or if you are one who see the writing on the wall and you speak out against immorality, against issues that are clearly endangering our national interests and are in fact, a failure of our government to protect its citizenry …. you’re on the verge of being accused a committing or inciting a “hate crime!”   If you, personally own a gun, you are a threat to national security … they say, the government (Article 2, they argue, implies the Government, not individuals)  is the one who will protect you and therefore you don’t need any guns, arsenal, etc. … Hitler used the same logic in disarming the people before he was able to make his move.

I could go on, but my point, I hope is clear … Let us NEVER forget the COST of FREEDOM!  Is it too late to turn back the tide of the oncoming socialistic agenda?  Is it too late to return to our Christian Foundation as a nation?  Is it too late to “STAND UP and SPEAK OUT for the Authority and Total Reliability of the Bible, God’s Word … NO!!

However, as history again has taught us, the prophet Jeremiah started out his ministry, by calling the people to repentance, and they didn’t do it  … then the ensuing judgment of God was inevitable … let us not wait until its too late … Remember the words of God to Solomon, 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then, I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Thanks again to all of our Veterans for their Service to our country.

Here are a couple of links that you may want to go to:  One is an article about a slain soldier and his family trying to get home and the second a video tribute:  Thanks to Larry Brown for forwarding it unto me!

Here is the first one:  An Heart Wrenching Story about a Fallen Soldier

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/may/28/seeing-a-fallen-soldier-home/

Here is the second one:  A Video Tribute to our US Soldiers

http://www.nragive.com/ringoffreedom/index.HTML

Filed under: Bethany News Updates | No Comments »

During the month of May and into the month of June, I have been speaking on the topic of, “Living the Simple Christian Life” and have attempted to focus on the basics of our faith.

Too often, we make being a Christian, so hard, that its no wonder many choose NOT to join our ranks!  That is not to say, that being a Christian is always easy, because it is not!  But, living the Christian Life is easier, when we allow the Holy Spirit to have his way in the directing and empowerment of our lives.

Brother Junior Fortner showed me an article yesterday out of the Dexter Newspaper, in which a small study was done with Professional Christian Leaders who really don’t believe what they preach, teach or say.  In fact, one guy described his job as to that of an actor on a stage! I found that interesting, because the bible descibes that as to being a “Hypocrite!”

Indeed, there have always been “actors” in the pulpit who simply see their task as a “job” rather than a “calling” and frankly should not be in the pulpit!  The pulpits of America are no doubt “full” of these type of persons, who simply see their role in life as a “motivator of others” and not “spiritual transformers” of others through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ!  I hope that I and my fellow pastor friends, never become like that … or God help us all!!!

The first step in “living the simple Christian Life” is being truly converted! The term, “born-again” may be out of step with much of our culture … so be it!!!  True Conversion begins with the Holy Spirit “convicting” us our our sins, our acknowledgment and repentance of such sins and our willingness to answer the drawing of us towards God Himself, by the Holy Spirit, and asking Christ, by faith, to be the Savior and the Master of our life!

Step Two is to recognize the “worthyship” of Christ through both public and private worship. If anyone deserves our praise, it is God through Christ!  Christ has made us part of the family of God.  He has made forgiveness of sin possible and granted us a personal relationship with God through the sacrifice of Himself.  Worship incorporates, Praise, Prayer, the Instruction of God’s Word and the decisiveness to comply in obedience with its teachings.

This morning, was a focus on learning to maintain an active prayer life. Communication is essential to a growing relationship and so it is in Talking With God.  Prayer is not simply available to the super-elite, but to all true believers in Christ.  Prayer moves the supernatural forces of God into action while at the same time, causing the devil to begin to stir up his forces in opposition so as to halt or hinder our prayer’s effectiveness.  The Key is to maintain Faith in Christ and Never Give UP!!!

Next week, we will look at “Christian Kindnesses”, the natural follow through for one who is a true, born again believer. Christian duties are not some “odd” result from our conversion, but rather the “norm” in terms of how we live, due to Christ living within us.

Come and join us next week at the Bethany Church as we wrap up the month of May (Memorial Day Weekend) by studying the need to “show” what we “know”!

Filed under: Bethany News Updates | No Comments »