Growing Our Ministry

            This coming weekend is a big one for our church family.  Just to give you some background, I became the pastor at Shellman Bluff Baptist the first Sunday of December of 2019.  Of course, we know that the pandemic hit us just a couple of months later, and that church in general was turned upside down.

            The good news is that we began to recover strongly very quickly. On the first Sunday of January 2021 we returned to having small group Bible studies (we call this Sunday School) and worship. Since that time we have experienced God’s blessings in so many ways. Keep in mind, I am the first full-time pastor who has lived directly in the area in a long time.  So, when the church called me, it took a great step of faith. 

            Well, in recent days we have built a new social hall from the ground up, and paid for it.  And we have continued to grow.  So, last year it was decided that we would begin the process of searching for a full-time associate pastor to come alongside and help me.  This coming weekend we have a man coming in view of a call.  If the church votes in favor of his coming, he should be with us by the middle of April.  When you consider where we were in the early months of 2021 to where we are today, it is mind-boggling

            I have had a lot of time to ponder what is happening in our church.  I am reminded often that it is God who has blessed us.  People are moving into this part of the county from all over the country.  And many are finding their way to our church. 

            To see what is happening is exciting and humbling. And as I get older I realize my days of leadership will one day draw to an end. I want to be able to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” In other words, I want to finish well. That would be a good prayer for all of us. Let’s finish well to the glory of God.