TRAVELS WITH BOB (Part 3)
Day Five
(Tuesday, November 13, 2007):
North to Buda, Illinois
Today before leaving the Decatur area we stopped back at New Beginnings to visit with Mark Smith and some of the other ministerial staff. We also drove out to see the West Decatur church where Jim and Cheryl Baldwin pastor.
West Decatur Church of God
Jim showed us through the facility and told us about a special mission project they’re involved with to produce an audio recording of the New Testament for the Malto people of northeast India. The sponsoring organization is known as Faith Comes by Hearing. Their goal is to record and distribute audio New Testaments to 97% of the world’s language groups by 2016. Audio Scriptures make so much evangelistic sense when one realizes that over 50% of the world’s population lives in poverty and cannot read. If you’re interested in knowing more, the contact person is Samuel Sustaita (Hosanna Ministries, 2421 Aztec Rd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107-4200, 800-545-6552 www.fcbh.orgor sustaita@fcbhmail.org). In an email to Pastor Baldwin he gave an open invitation to visit the website www.faithcomesbyhearing.com to learn more about this missions & discipleship project or contact him personally. If you do go to the site be sure to click the icon “You’ve Got the Time” at bottom. You will learn how your church can obtain free audio recordings of the Bible in English that by listening 19-28 minutes a day the New Testament can be completed in 60-40 days. It might be a great way to get your congregation into the Word.
As we exited the sanctuary at West Decatur I noticed above the back door an old sign-board with the legend, "You are Now Entering the Mission Field." This board hung over the back door of the original West Decatur bethel and was put there by George Constant, Sr.
West Decatur was one of his church plants. I think that Pastor Constant must look from heaven with a smile when he sees that the congregation that he planted and served is still serving Jesus and promoting the dissemination of God’s Word at home and abroad. I think it’s great that the West Decatur Church keeps that constant reminder of their heritage and their mission before them as they leave worship every week. It’s a true and noble sentiment!
We left the Decatur area and traveled about 150 miles North on Route 51 to 74 to 39 North to 80 West to exit 45 and South on 40 to the Bunker Hill Church in Buda, Illinois. I provide all these directionals just in case somebody sometime may want to track our travels. Buda is a small town (600-700 souls) located in the midst of farm country. The old bethel is located south of town on high ground with a cemetery beside it. About ten years ago the congregation relocated to a new facility on the north edge of town next to the school property. It was a wise move. The old building was hemmed in with no room for expansion. The church has already made additions to the new worship center because of congregational growth and is also expanding their acreage for future on-site ministry development. The location next to the school is also a winner for self-evident reasons. On top of all this it thrilled me to see the creative way in which the people enhanced their educational space for children and youth. Pastor Fred and Tammy Criminger, along with the Worship Pastor (Steve and Michelle Myong), the Senior Saints Pastor (Lauren Gerber) and many excellent volunteer leaders, are making an impact for Christ in their community. Here is a great example of revitalization and church growth due to vision, faith and commitment.
Bunker Hill Church of God, Buda, IL
The congregation now averages 205 in worship. Five years ago the number was 153. This is not wild fire growth but steady, solid forward progress. If each of our churches in the states added on average ten souls a year to its worshipping congregation over five years …do the math with me. That would be 330 X 10 X 5 or a nationwide increase of 16,500. This is not about numbers, but about souls for whom Christ died. In some ways claiming ten souls in 2008 seems like such a modest number (less than one a month) to pray for God to give us. Remember He adds to the Church, not us (Acts 2:47b), but He does use us. So, let us pray and open our hearts and hands to those around us who need the Lord. I think what the Lord does will surprise us. Forgive me for this digression from the narrative, but won’t you and your church pray for souls to harvest (John 4:35) in 2008? Whether He sends one or a hundred is up to Him, but ask for ten and see what He will do. Bunker Hill reported 20 conversions in 2006. PTL!
The evening dinner meeting followed the usual pattern. The church provided an excellent meal and the Christian fellowship among those attending was great, almost like a family reunion. It was! Linda and I sat at a table with folks from our Mt. Carroll church where Rick and Johnna Zickefoose serve. They all drove about seventy miles to attend which blessed us, but we were double blessed when we found out that Donetta, wife of Harlan Brunner-the church visitation coordinator, grew up in Franklin County, PA south of Chambersburg and only twenty-five miles from our hometown. The Brunners both knew Dr. Kirby Keller (UBC pastor and former president of ETS in Myerstown, PA where I went to seminary) and our beloved Dr. George Weaver (UBC bishop and late president at Winebrenner Seminary). My, did we ever have a conversation about those two men, as well as all the great eating establishments in the Chambersburg area. If you’re reading this Earl Mills, you need to talk to the Brunners to get some new places to take Kim out to eat.
West District Meeting at Bunker Hill
During the question and answer time someone asked me what I enjoyed most about this new job and what I saw as our greatest challenge. Without hesitation I responded that my greatest joy is getting to know the Churches of God across the regions. Everywhere I’m meeting a fellowship of believers who love the Lord, who love His Word and who love the Church. We are one people united in our desire to see others come to Christ and realize full discipleship in Him. The second part was a bit more difficult. I told the man who posed the question and of course everyone present (and now you all) that one of the reasons for the regional visits was to listen to God’s people and discern the Lord’s leading. At this point I’ve found a yearning across the church to be the Church and so fulfill the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20) in these latter days. I am convinced that the Lord wants to do more in and through the Churches of God (Ephesians 3:20-21). I, for one, want to see us move beyond our institutional parameters as they now exist and become again the movement that Jesus and Winebrenner envisioned. (I love using their names together!) From my perspective, this means part of our challenge is a new birth of vision, or shall I say a vision of new birth. This will require bringing our will into His will which may be our biggest challenge. I know the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. After the meeting, we all enjoyed a time of fellowship before heading our separate ways. Bob, Linda and I returned to route 80 and went west to Moline for the overnight.
Day Six (Wednesday, November 14, 2007):
Exploring Eastern Iowa
Early the next morning we took Linda to the airport so she could fly back to Pennsylvania. Bob and I drove across the Mississippi River to Davenport, Iowa where we picked-up Route 61 South. Bob took me to the town of Wapello and showed me our former church facility that now serves as a community center. What a shame to see a lighthouse shut down. We headed West on Route 92 to the intersection with Route 218 and stopped at the Ainsworth truck plaza where we met Al and Nina Rockey for lunch. After retirement, the Rockeys found a new ministry serving in interim pastorates across the CGGC. Their most recent is at Brighton, Iowa. We all need to thank our retired pastors and spouses who continue to serve the church faithfully. Thanks, Al and Nina.
The Brighton Church of God
We traveled to Brighton through the town of Washington and South on Route 1. The Church of God worships in a newly constructed facility located right in town. Al showed us through the facility which contains a nice worship area and large fellowship hall, as well as a number of classrooms. The congregation is presently searching for a new senior pastor; so, pray that they may be led to God’s person. The community and surrounding countryside offer a good potential for the church to grow with the right leadership.
From Brighton, Bob took me on a ride around the area. I saw several communities and locations that could serve as places to plant churches. He took me to see the Green Mound bethel, located near the village of Trenton in a beautiful rural setting. Then, we scurried over to Route 218 and hurried North to take advantage of the remaining daylight. Bob wanted me to see the Salem Church located northeast of Ainsworth before dark.
The Salem Church of God
We arrived in time to get a couple photos. In some ways, the visit was a step back in time. Along the gravel lane stood a white church building, constructed like an old one room schoolhouse but with a tower. Near the front door were two white out-houses and behind the building lay the graveyard. A peek in the window in the fading day light revealed two rows of unpainted plank pews with the preacher’s platform and pulpit up front. The year could have been 1907 as easily as 2007 but for the overhead wires and metal siding. Frankly, the setting and facility are very charming, at least to one like me who loves history, but it speaks more to a bygone era than contemporary life. Average morning worship hovers between 12 and 15. Though the long term ministry of the church may be in question, as long as the light of Christ is held up, there is hope. Sometime I will tell you the story of the Kennedy’s Valley congregation in the Eastern Regional Conference. In a rural setting they went from 17 to 82 in worship in the past ten years under the leadership of Pastor Malcolm and Donna Martin. A turn from decline and death to life can happen. It is the gospel!
Our last stop today was to be the Pleasant Grove Church. We left Salem and retraced our journey South on 218 to Ainsworth and then East on 92 about five miles past Columbus Junction to Pleasant Grove Bethel. They were having a community church dinner, so we not only enjoyed a great Church of God supper, but we met many people. Particularly we talked with Pastor Rick and Debbie Hughes along with Ryan and Jodi Meader. The Hughes minister to the Pleasant Grove/Salem Church circuit and she is Pastor Rick Zickefoose’s sister. The Meaders are praying through their call to ministry.
l to r: Pastor Rick & Debbie Hughes and Ryan & Jodi Meader
We talked about providing some ministerial training. Al Rockey has been doing some mentoring, but more is needed. We talked about how CGGC or WTS might be able to help. It was a good evening, but we strangers did need to introduce ourselves. Afterwards, Bob and I went back to the hotel in Moline for the night.
Day Seven (Thursday, November 15, 2007):
The Journey Home
Bob is an early riser! On this trip I’ve come to appreciate his tolerance for long travel and short nights. We left Moline at 6 a.m. in order to not get back so late. The ride on Routes 80 and 30 proved uneventful which is a good thing. It gave Bob and me a lot of time to talk. We covered many topics concerning the Midwest Region and the General Conference. Both of us agreed that there’s a big ministry out there just waiting for response. We talked a lot about filling in the spaces between our existing churches with church plants. Why not every county seat as a target was one of our questions. We also discussed how to bring existing churches together so that the strong could help the weak or those who are doing it can help those who want to. We had more questions than answers but the dialogue was engaging and we actually know who does have the answers for us. We concur that prayer is the key to everything we seek for the churches and our expanded ministry. The big four of Acts 2:42 kept coming up in the discussion. The miles passed almost too quickly for our conversation and we arrived back at Columbia City, Indiana and Bob’s home about half past noon. I journeyed alone back to Findlay on Routes 30 and 75. All along the way I thanked God for this travel experience and all the people we met on the journey. I also prayed as I often do for the Lord to make His will clear to us as a fellowship of churches in our work and witness together. I am so glad to be a part of the Churches of God and to work along side brothers and sisters like Bob and Deb Eatherton. Do keep them in your prayers.
Ed
NOTE: In our writing there will always be the possibility of errors. I just don’t always remember correctly or have all the facts. I beg your indulgence and ask that you give me a call or email me when a correction is needed. I have two from last weeks’ eNews column.
First: I need to apologize to Pastor Kenny Inman as his wife passed away four years ago and I thought we met when we had not. Kenny, please forgive whatever undue grief I may have caused you. I deeply regret the error
Second: Pastor Lowell Burrus called to let me know that Camp Maranatha in Illinois is not near Ramsey, but a place dear to Lowell’s heart, namely Herrick. His dad was from there and so it concerns his roots. He also told me that his dad was known as “Sox” and in his youthful days Lowell was referred to as “Little Sox” Burrus. I'll let Lowell tell you how the nickname originated.
CGGC BOOKS FOR 2008
Greetings everybody in Jesus name!
The wise preacher declares, “Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body” (Ecclesiastes 12:12b). True enough as a visit to Barnes & Noble or any bookstore will reveal. The real problem becomes knowing which book or books to select from the myriad offerings. Most will amount to little over time. Their impact is shallow and transitory. For several years now the CGGC has recommended a “book of the year” hoping to identify and promote a title of more lasting significance. This year we’re suggesting three in order to address a broader range of needs and to appeal to more people in our churches. We believe that all three can and will make a ministry difference for pastors, leaders and people in our churches. We encourage pastors to order all three and local churches to use them however they choose to raise the level of discipleship within the congregation.
1) Reggie McNeal’s A Work of Heart - understanding how God shapes spiritual leaders
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McNeal proposes that effective spiritual leaders must become experts in matters of the heart-particularly their own. He uses the lives of Moses, David, Jesus and Paul to make his points concerning the shaping of the heart. The book is designed to help leaders develop the critical self-understanding they need to fulfill their life assignments from God. This book is tailor-made for spiritual leaders, especially pastors and elders. |
Price: $18.99 + S&H;
Book of the Year cost for pastors: $10 + S&H
2) Jim Burns’ Creating an Intimate Marriage - Rekindle romance through affection, warmth and encouragement
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Burns seeks to help couples find genuine satisfaction and meaning in their marriages, to move them from mediocrity or worse to wholeness and intimacy and to live and know what he calls “an awe-filled marriage.” This book would be good for any couple (or individual) or couples’ group. |
Price: $13.99 + S&H
3) Brian Kluth’s 40 Day Spiritual Journey to a More Generous Life
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Kluth lays out a six-week study guide to help Christians be biblical and wise about their giving practices. He utilizes daily Bible readings, inspiring articles, weekly worksheets and discussion questions to instill the Christian ethos of generosity. This journey will benefit any individual or group, but would find its best application in a total congregational immersion. |
Price: $6.99 + S&H
I hope these books may be of benefit to your ministry in 2008. Please feel free to call Kris Cupp (419-424-1961)at our Findlay office or email her at publications@cggc.org if you have any questions or want to place an order. God bless and keep the faith!
I am yours in His Majesty’s Service,
Ed Rosenberry
PICTURES NEEDED
Hello friends,
We have been busy updating our online searchable directory with pictures of churches and pastors. We have pictures of most churches but not all. Where we are really lacking is in pictures of our pastors.
I would like to ask everyone to go to the searchable directory at http://secure.cggc.org/avp/Directory/ and check the information for your church and pastor.
For individuals - Enter a last name only in the find field and then select them by clicking on their name in the list. Please check the information on the details page to make sure it is correct and let us know of any changes. Is there a CGGC logo there instead of a picture? Send us a picture and we will be glad to post it. Did we get the wrong picture? Let us know that, too. It is easy to click the wrong thing in the middle of updating hundreds of records.
For Churches - Enter all or a portion of the most distinctive word in your church name. (i.e. If you are searching for Mt. Tabor Church enter "Tabor".) Click on the name from the list and follow the same evaluation process as outlined for individuals.
Thanks for your help and attention. It is our hope that this directory will be a help in quickly and efficiently connecting us together as a body.
Blessings,
Mike Martin
