Dear Church Family,
Our Bible study theme for Sunday worship has been “Looking Unto Jesus” from the book of Hebrews. If you have ever looked closely in Scripture at the superiority of Christ, you will be greatly encouraged! I encourage you to invite some folks to come with you to our services. The gospel is powerful throughout this wonderful study.
We are thrilled to help take the Gospel of Jesus to Malawi. John and Mollie Wells and their daughter Paris will be headed over to Malawi in March. We are currently raising funds to help them in launching their ministry there. You can go to our website and find the Malawi Missions event button for an opportunity to give online. You also can mail in a check or bring it with you to worship and place in our offering boxes. Please mark you check or envelope clearly with “Malawi Missions”. One of our greatest joys as a church is to support missions around the world.
Last year we made some serious strides in giving towards local, state, and international missions as a church family. Because of your faithful giving, we had one of the largest missions efforts in recent years. When you add up our Cooperative Program giving to the Southern Baptist Convention, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions, our Central Asia Partnership, Church Planting in the US, and local missions, our people gave a total of $204,972.47 to these causes. This is unbelievable! We have a precious fellowship of people who care about the lost of the world!
Please be praying for our church family as we navigate other activities, Bible studies, and events that will grow our people and reach the lost during these challenging days. The mission of the church should always be in the forefront of our minds and hearts. I am so encouraged by what our staff has done to involve every age in Bible study on Sunday mornings. Our youth have been discipling your students in a marvelous way. Our college ministry has been reaching out to many new students. We have men’s discipleship groups that are meeting all throughout the week. We have at least 3 Bible studies meeting online with people overseas. Truly the gospel cannot be hindered!
I want us to be keenly aware of people who need Jesus and Christian growth! Because of the circumstances of this time, it has been more difficult to have personal contact with those we can encourage. Our dear North Central Family, we will have to work at it – reaching out to everyone by phone, visits at the door, cards, and other ways to encourage others with the message that “Jesus Loves You and so do I.” Let’s take good care of one another and pray for one another like never before.
It truly is a joy to be your Pastor. I’m not sure that there has ever been a time when I have felt the need to ask for your prayers for me personally, more than I feel it right now. Navigating these days and needing Godly wisdom for the way forward is a heavy burden I feel. I have this assurance – that Jesus is faithful and is the same, yesterday, today, and forever! Pray for me, our wonderful staff, and for our whole church family.
May the Lord continue to bless the wonderful people of North Central Baptist Church,
