Newsletter Jan 11th

GREETINGS FROM BARBEE’S GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH

Thank you so much for the many ways you blessed me during this Christmas Season. The beautiful cards, the “well wishes”. The gifts, and the very generous Christmas Love Offering, are all deeply appreciated. I feel totally loved by you. My Church Family.
***********
One night this week I was wide awake at 3:00 am. I found myself reminiscing about ministry opportunities Pamela and I had over the years. But before I talk about us, I want to talk about Jesus. Here are a few examples from His ministry:

As we read our New Testaments, we learn that often Jesus deliberately chose His ministry opportunities. 
   …Jesus chose to go home with Jairus and minister to the daughter who was dying [Mark 5:22-43]
   …Jesus chose to go home with Zacchaeus [Luke 19:1-10
   …Jesus chose to visit Mary and Martha after their brother Lazarus died [John 11:1-45]

But Jesus ministered to many people that He encountered daily as He walked down the road:
   …A leper who ran up and said “You can heal me if You want to do so” [Mark 1:40-45]
   …A funeral procession for the Widow of Nain’s son [Luke 7:11-15]
   …A woman who had an issue of blood who reached out and touched Him as He walked past her [Mark 5: 24-34]
   …Blind Bartimaeus, a beggar, who cried out, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me” [Mark 10:46-52]

It was this type of “As we Go” ministry that the Lord brought to my memory so early that morning. Pamela had a love for Jesus and a boldness in sharing her faith  that far surpassed mine. We would encounter someone, she would quickly begin the conversation, and I would join in when appropriate. The following are some of the witnessing opportunities the Lord brought to my memory:
   …The Nurse from Oregon we met at an airport in Honduras and sat with on the flight back to the USA
   …The young man we met on a city bus in Phoenix. He had just been released from prison. He said he had become a Christian in prison. We gave him a Bible which he needed and encouraged him to grow in the Lord
   …The lady who was putting out the breakfast food at a motel in Waynesville, NC
   …The lady who was putting out breakfast food at a motel in Montana. We had several days to share with her and mailed Christian materials to her after we got home
   …The nice next door neighbor lady who sometimes watched our kids. Her cancer was discovered too late to be treated, and she died at a very young age. But, Pamela made sure that when she left this world so quickly, she went to Heaven.

There are many others, but you get the idea. I have my memories. Many of you have similar memories. You remember those times when “out of the blue” the Holy Spirit used you as a witness for Jesus. As we enter 2026, I pray for myself, and I pray for you, that we will be like our Lord and Savior Jesus. May we listen to the Holy Spirit and take those times when we “deliberately choose” to go and share. May we also ask the Spirit to create in us a sensitivity, a listening heart, so that chance encounters become opportunities to witness, encourage, and bless, in the Name of Jesus. LET EACH OF US SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE THE LORD CAN USE US TO BLESS IN 2026.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

1. Sunday School is at 9:00 am
2. Morning Worship and Children’s Church are 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 are Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall

What a joy it will be in Heaven to meet those we have touched for Jesus

Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church