We welcome Margie Lowder into our church fellowship. She comes by transfer of her church letter. Pray for her as she joins us in serving Jesus at Barbee’s Grove.

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Many of you know that a few weeks ago I went to Siler City, NC in order to participate in the celebration of Brush Creek Baptist Church’s 200th anniversary. Brush Creek was actually organized in 1824, but folks had been meeting in a little log building for at least 10 years before then. It’s hard to realize, but Brush Creek came into existence not many years after the United States became a nation.

Brush Creek was my first Pastorate. Pamela and I were newlyweds. What I knew about being a Pastor you could put in a thimble. In spite of that, the church loved us and blessed us. The church celebrated its 150th anniversary while I was the Pastor. It was an honor to be able to preach for the 200th celebration.

Brush Creek is a rural church like Barbee’s Grove. 200 years old and still vibrant, alive, and reaching people for Jesus. Very few churches last 200 years. As I contemplate that lengthy existence, I try to imagine why God has so abundantly blessed. As with most churches, Pastoral leadership has varied. There have been good Pastors, average Pastors, poor Pastors, and one or two that should have been selling used cars!!! The strength of Brush Creek has always been that there was a core group of committed, faithful Believers. Some were leaders, some were followers, but all were faithful. As I mingled with the congregation, I renewed friendships with some that had faithfully served for over 60 years. They followed in the footsteps of their parents who also served 60 years or more. Some of those families trace their ancestors in the church back to Civil War days. Year-after-year, good times and bad times, good Pastors and not-so-good Pastors, they stayed faithful to Jesus and to His Church in that community.

Some folks “come and go”. They can seldom be counted on to contribute much to the life of the church. Every church that survives and prospers depends upon that committed core group of the faithful. From time-to-time I ponder over some New Testament facts. In 1 Corinthians 15:6 Paul tells us that Jesus [in His resurrected body] showed Himself to over 500 people in the same gathering. That many people knew Jesus was the Living Lord and Messiah. Yet, on the Day of Pentecost, there were only about 120 Believers gathered in that Upper Room. [Acts 1:15]. But God rained down the Holy Spirit upon that 120, that core group, and birthed and empowered His Church. God always uses those who are faithful.

No matter what church you attend, may you be one who is faithful, committed, sold out to Jesus. May your church endure with a powerful witness till Jesus returns.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

1. Sunday School is at 9:00 am
2. Morning Worship and Children’s Church is at 10:00 am. Also available in the parking lot at 10 on 99.1 FM and on the website after 12:30 pm
3. Prayer and Bible Study is Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
4. Quarterly Church Conference–October 20
5. October 20
   Children and Youth  5=7 pm
   Adult Church Training  5:30-6:30 pm
6. Disaster Relief Offering for areas damaged by hurricanes—$ 2090 given last week. Add $ 800 from previous week. Total $2890. AWESOME-THANK YOU

Faithful-Committed–Honoring Jesus

Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church