A friend e-mailed this to me and it's true for me. How about you?
1. While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.
2. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand.
Your foot will change direction.
Please don't ask me to explain this. 8-)
As the story goes, they built a new church building and people came from far and wide to see it. They admired its beauty! Up on the roof, a little nail heard the people praising everything about the lovely structure-except the nail! No one even knew he was there, and he became angry and jealous.
"If I am that insignificant, nobody will miss me if I quit!" So the nail then released its hold, slid down the roof, and fell in the mud.
That night it rained and rained. Soon, the shingle that had no nail blew away, and the roof began to leak. The water streaked the walls and the beautiful murals. The plaster began to fall, the carpet was stained, and the pulpit Bible was ruined by water. All this because a little nail decided to quit!
But what of the nail? While holding the shingle, it was obscure but it was also useful. Buried in the mud it was just as obscure, but now it was useless and would soon be eaten up by rust!
The moral of the story-EVERY MEMBER IS IMPORTANT TO THE CHURCH! You may, like the nail, feel obscure at times, but just like the nail, your absence is felt. When you are not present for worship, in some way the body of Christ hurts. We are ALL a part of the Lord's ministry.
Author Unknown
Where will you be on Sunday?
I have been asked to preach in supply for Pastor Mark Driskell of Shiloh Baptist Church next month while he is out of town. I will be preaching the morning (11am) & evening (7pm) worship services on Sunday, October 16, 2005.
Shiloh Baptist Church is located at 173 SW Shilooh Way near Fort White, Florida.
Please be in prayer for these services and for the Driskell family to have great time of rest and relaxation.
"See You at the Pole" Day was held at Lake Butler (Florida) Elementary School this morning before students went to class. I was honored to be asked to participate in the event this morning. I talked to the students & teachers that voluntarily gathered around the school's flag pole about David & Goliath. I told students that God often uses children (like David) to do "big" things for Him. I encouraged students to take a stand for God whenever they are faced with some of the "giants" that come our way in our life. We then closed with a prayer asking God to use us as He did David.
In the photo above a student is selected to play the role of David as I play the role of Goliath (I was perfect for the role with me being a "giant").
For information about "See You at the Pole" visit http://www.syatp.com/.
On the outskirts of a small town, there was a big, old pecan tree just inside the cemetery fence. One day, two boys filled up a bucketful of nuts and sat down by the tree, out of sight, and began dividing the nuts.
"One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me," said one boy.
Several dropped and rolled down toward the fence.
Another boy came riding along the road on his bicycle. As he passed, he thought he heard voices from inside the cemetery. He slowed down to investigate.
Sure enough, he heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me." He just knew what it was.
He jumped back on his bike and rode off. Just around the bend he met an old man with a cane, hobbling along. "Come here quick," said the boy, "you won't believe what I heard! Satan and the Lord are down at the cemetery dividing up the souls."
The man said, "Beat it kid, can't you see it's hard for me to walk."
When the boy insisted though, the man hobbled to the cemetery. Standing by the fence they heard, "One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me..."
The old man whispered, "Boy, you've been tellin' the truth. Let's see if we can see the Lord."
Shaking with fear, they peered through the fence, yet were still unable to see anything. The old man and the boy gripped the wrought iron bars of the fence tighter and tighter as they tried to get a glimpse of the Lord.
At last they heard, "One for you, one for me. That's all. Now let's go get those nuts by the fence and we'll be done."
They say the old man made it back to town a full 5 minutes ahead of the boy on the bike.
A friend of mine sent me an e-mail today informing me that it is "Talk Like A Pirate Day"! I have never heard of this before so I followed the link she sent to me to the official website: http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html. It is a rather funny story how it began. Newspaper columnist Dave Berry brought it to the national scene with his column in 2002. You can read the column at this link: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/dave_barry/4018055.htm.
This certainly is not a Christian based holiday, but it is a funny story.
Arrr, I hope you have a great "Talk Like A Pirate Day" and if you don't you may be forced to walk the plank. Shiver me timbers that's no fun a'tall.
Hey, what if we had a "Talk & Walk Like Jesus Day" (which should be every day)?!?! I think the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be shared with the lost of the world very quickly if born-again believers would truly talk & WALK like Jesus EVERY DAY and not just on Sunday!!!
NOTE: You never know what you may read on the "Walking With The Giant" blog!!!
This little story is funny, but it has a serious message.
A man was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place. Looking up toward heaven, he said "Lord, take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life and give up drinking."
Miraculously, a parking place appeared.
The man looked up again and said "Never mind. I found one."
Two senior ladies met for the first time since graduating from high school. One asked the other, "You were always so organized in school, did you manage to live a well planned life?"
"Oh yes," said her friend. "My first marriage was to a millionaire; my second marriage was to an actor; my third marriage was to a preacher; and now I'm married to an undertaker."
Her friend asked, "What do those marriages have to do with a well planned life?"
She answered, "One for the money, two for the show. three to get ready and four to go!"
An Old Farmer's Advice
* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
* Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.
* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
* Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
* It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.
* Every path has a few puddles.
* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
* The best sermons are lived, not preached.
* Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
* Don't judge folks by their relatives.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
* Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
* The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
* Always drink upstream from the herd.
* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
* Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
* If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
(Author Unknown)
I have been asked to present a brief devotion next Wednesday, September 21st. for the annual "See You At The Pole" Day at Lake Butler Elementary School in Lake Butler, Florida. The event will begin at 7:30am at the school's flag pole.
Please be in prayer for this ministry opportunity.
I will be preaching a "Friend Day" service at New Life Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida on Sunday, October 30, 2005 at 11am. This will also be their Homecoming Service. For more information call Pastor Eric Tinsley at (850) 877-2215.
New Life Baptist Church is located at 3625 Woodville Highway in Tallahassee, Florida.
A man's car broke down as he was driving past a beautiful old monastery. He walked up the drive and knocked on the front door. A monk answered, listened to the man's story and graciously invited him to spend the night.
The monks fed the man and led him to a tiny chamber in which to sleep. The man thanked the monks and slept serenely until he was awakened by a strange and beautiful sound.
The next morning, as the monks were repairing his car, he asked about the sound that had woken him. "We're sorry," the monks said. "We can't tell you about the sound. You're not a monk." The man was disappointed, but eager to be gone, so he thanked the monks for their kindness and went on his way. During quiet moments afterward, the man pondered the source of the alluring sound.
Several years later, the man happened to be driving in the same area. He stopped at the monastery on a whim and asked admittance. He explained to the monks that he had so enjoyed his previous stay, he wondered if he might be permitted to spend another night under their peaceful roof the monks agreed, and so the man stayed with them again. Late that night, he heard the strange beautiful sound.
The following morning he begged the monks to explain the sound. The monks gave him the same answer as before.
"We're sorry we can't tell you about the sound. You're not a monk."
By now, the man's curiosity had turned to obsession. He decided to give up everything and become a monk; for that was the only way he could learn about the sound. He informed the monks of his decision and began the long and arduous task of becoming a monk.
Seventeen years later, the man was finally established as a true member of the order.
When the celebration ended, he humbly went to the leader of the order and asked to be told the source of the sound. Silently, the old monk led the new monk to a huge wooden door. He opened the door with a golden key. That door swung open to reveal a second door of silver, then a third of gold and so on until they had passed through twelve doors, each more magnificent than the last. The new monk's face was awash with tears of joy as he finally beheld the wondrous source of the beautiful mysterious sound he had heard so many years before..........
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But, I can't tell you what it was. You're not a monk.
A Sunday School teacher of preschoolers was concerned that his students might be a little confused about Jesus because of the Christmas season emphasis on His birth. He wanted to make sure they understood that the birth of Jesus occurred for real. He asked his class, "Where is Jesus today?"
Steven raised his hand and said, "He's in heaven."
Mary was called on and answered, "He's in my heart."
Little Johnny, waving his hand furiously, blurted out, "I know, I know! He's in our bathroom!!!"
The whole class got very quiet, looked at the teacher, and waited for a response. The teacher was completely at a loss for a few very long seconds. Finally, he gathered his wits and asked Little Johnny how he knew this.
Little Johnny said, "Well...every morning, my father gets up, bangs on the bathroom door, and yells, 'Good Lord, are you still in there?!"
Revival services at Oakland Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach, Florida have been scheduled for October 2005. Services will begin on Sunday morning, October 23rd at 11am and will continue at 6:30pm nightly through Wednesday, October 26th. I will be preaching each service and the music will be under the direction of Graham Boutwell.
For more information call Associate Pastor Danny Adkison at (850) 243-8722. Oakland Baptist Church is located at 118 Wright Parkway in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
Photojournalist Jon M. Fletcher of the Florida Times-Union newspaper in Jacksonville, Florida has just returned from Biloxi, Mississippi. He spent a week there taking photos for the newspaper. You can view some of these photos at www.jonmfletcher.com/hurricane.
Jon traveled to Ghana, West Africa with our team in 2003 and 2004. Some of his photos from the Ghana trips can be viewed on my website at www.jamescroft.org.
Please remember to pray for everyone that was impacted by Hurricane Katrina as well as those that are helping with relief efforts.
I will be preaching in supply for Pastor Tim Patterson at First Baptist Church of Glen St. Mary, Florida tomorrow (Sunday). Services will begin at 11am & 6pm. Please be in prayer for these services.
A man in a hot air balloon realized he was lost. He reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended a bit more and shouted,” Excuse me, can you help? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The woman below replied, "You are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You are between 40 and 41 degrees north latitude and between 59 and 60 degrees west longitude."
"You must be an engineer," said the balloonist.
"I am," replied the woman. "How did you know?"
"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of you, and the fact is I am still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help so far."
The woman below responded, "You must be in management."
"I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," said the woman, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You have risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's my fault!"
One Sunday morning, a mother went in to wake her son and tell him it was time to get ready for church, to which he replied, "I'm not going."
"Why not?" she asked.
I'll give you two good reasons," he said. "One, they don't like me, and two, I don't like them."
His mother replied, "Now I'll give YOU two good reasons why YOU SHOULD go to church. (1) You're 49 years old, and (2) you're the pastor!"
The young couple invited their elderly pastor for Sunday dinner. While they were in the kitchen preparing the meal, the minister asked their son what they were having. "Goat," the little boy replied. "Goat?" replied the startled man of the cloth, "Are you sure about that?" "Yep," said the youngster. "I heard Dad say to Mom, 'Today is just as good as any to have the old goat for dinner.'"
On Saturday, August 20th I posted a Bible Brain Twister word search on this site. Unfortunately, the original sender did not include the author of the puzzle and it contained the final book name needed to complete the word search. I e-mailed the original sender and he replied with the answers and apologized that the author's name was not included in the forward that I had received. I am reposting the word search here with the answers highlighted.
I must admit that I found 16 within about 30 minutes and have been searching for the 17th ever since. I have received e-mails and even telephone calls requesting the answers. It is exciting to see how many people got so involved in the Biblical word search. You know, we might find studying the Bible just as exciting if we would approach it the way we have approached this puzzle. 8-)
Bible Brain Twister
By (John) Kezer
I once made a re(mark) about the hidden books of the Bible. It was a lu(lu, ke)pt people loo(king s)o hard for f(acts), and for others it was a (revelation). Some were in a (jam, es)pecially since the names of the books are not capitalized, but the t(ruth) finally struck home to (numbers) of readers. To others, it was a real (job). We want it to be (a mos)t fascinating few moments for you. Y(es, ther)e will be some really easy ones to spot. Others may require (judges) to help them. I will quickly admi(t it us)ually takes a minister to find one of the 17, and there will be loud (lamentations) when it is found. A little lady says s(he brews) a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can com(pete. R)elax now, for there really are the names of 17 books of the Bible in these sentences.
A well-worn one-dollar bill and a similarly distressed twenty-dollar bill arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired. As they moved along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation. The twenty-dollar bill reminisced about its travels all over the country. "I've had a pretty good life," the twenty proclaimed. "Why I've been to Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the finest restaurants in New York, performances on Broadway, and even a cruise to the Caribbean" "Wow!" said the one-dollar bill. "You've really had an exciting life!" "So tell me," says the twenty, "where have you been throughout your lifetime?" The one dollar bill replies, "Oh, I've been to the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church..." The twenty-dollar bill interrupts, "What's a church?"
The youth revival at Forest Grove Baptist Church near Alachua, Florida will continue at 7pm through Wednesday night.
On Monday night the music was led by a youth band from First Baptist Church of High Springs, Florida (pictured below). For more info about the services call the church office at (386) 462-3921 or click here.
The High Springs band will also lead the music service on Tuesday & Wednesday.
The youth revival services at Forest Grove Baptist Church near Alachua, Florida got underway last night. The services will continue at 7pm through Wednesday night. For more information about the services you can click here or call the church at (386) 462-3921.
Photo (top left) John Croft (my brother) of First Baptist Church of White Springs sings a special.
Photo (top right) Cheryl Kent & Kevin Owen of First Baptist Church of Olustee led the congregational music with praise & worship songs and did a couple of specials too.
Photo (bottom) That's me (James Croft) as I challenged youth & adults to become "Eagle Christians".
Special music for the remaining services will be provided by First Baptist Church of High Springs youth group.
Please be in prayer for these services.
I received this in an e-mail today and forwarded it to some of my friends. I have heard from several of them concerning their effort to find all 17 of the Bible books within the paragraph below. At this point no one has found all 17. I found 16 in about 30 minutes and I'm still searching for #17. Let me know how you do with this fun task. I hope to post the correct answers in a week.
I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible. It was a lulu, kept people looking so hard for facts, and for others it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the names of the books are not capitalized, but the truth finally struck home to numbers of readers. To others, it was a real job. We want it to be a most fascinating few moments for you. Yes, there will be some really easy ones to spot. Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit it usually takes a minister to find one of the 17, and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can compete. Relax now, for there really are the names of 17 books of the Bible in these sentences.
I will be preaching the morning worship (11am) service at Gadara Baptist Church this Sunday, August 21st. Gadara Baptist Church is located at 6779 CR315C in Keystone Heights, Florida.
Please be in prayer for this service.
A youth service called "The Red Zone" has been added to the schedule for Friday, October 28th in Lake Butler, Florida. First Baptist Church of Lake Butler will be holding a special youth service following each of the Union County High School home football games. The services will begin at 10pm at the "The Fire Escape" at 102 SW 11th Street in Lake Butler. The services will feature food, music, devotion time and a lot of fun.
For more information call the church at (386) 496-3704.
This is a cute story that points out that God answers prayers in many "unique" ways.
A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication. She got back to her car and found that she had locked her keys in the car.
She didn't know what to do, so she called home and told the baby sitter what had happened. The baby sitter told her that the fever was getting worse. She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door."
The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been left on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time had locked their keys in their car. She looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this."
She bowed her head and asked God to send her help. Within five minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought, "This is what you sent to help me?" But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful.
The man got out of his car and asked if he could help. She said, "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?"
He said, "Sure." He walked over to the car, and in less than a minute the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "Thank You So Much! You are a very nice man."
The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison today. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for about an hour."
The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, "Oh, Thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!"
Ready for a good joke?
An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps.
"Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely.
"The front row please," she answered.
"You really don't want to do that," the usher said. "The pastor is really boring."
"Do you happen to know who I am?" the woman inquired.
"No." he said.
"I'm the pastor's mother," she replied indignantly.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked.
"No." she said.
"Good," he answered.
I received an invitation today from Pastor Matt Swain of St. Johns Baptist Church in Greenville, Florida to preach the church's homecoming service. The homecoming service will be held on Sunday, November 6, 2005. Special music will begin at 10am with the preaching following. Dinner-on-the-grounds will follow the morning service.
Here's another photo from the children's camp hosted by New Oak Grove Baptist Church. This was taken this morning while the children were singing.
More info about the camp can be found in previous posts on this site.
New Oak Grove Baptist Church's children's camp is going very well at Camp Kulaqua near High Springs, Florida. I am teaching the Bible study in each of the worship rallies. Cheryl Kent & Kevin Owen pictured below are leading the music for the night services.
The camp will end Wednesday night at the church located near Alachua, Florida with a service that will begin at 7pm.
Please be in prayer for this weeks activities.
One Sunday morning, the minister noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with names with small American flags mounted on either side of it. The seven year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the minister walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, "Good morning Alex."
"Good morning sir," he replied, still focused on the plaque. "Sir, what is this?" he asked the minister.
The minister said, "Well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service."
Soberly, they just stood together, staring at the large plaque.
Finally, little Alex's voice, barely audible and trembling with fear, asked, "Which service? The 11am or the 6pm?"
Sunday morning I will be preaching the 11am service for Pastor Melvin Owen at Tiger Lake Baptist Church on CR49 near Live Oak, Florida.
Sunday night I will begin leading the worship rallies for a children's camp hosted by New Oak Grove Baptist Church of Alachua, Florida. The camp will be held at Camp Kalaqua near High Springs, Florida. The worship rallies will also be held each morning and evening Monday-Wednesday. The Wednesday evening service will be held at the church. Kevin Owen & Cheryl Kent will be leading the music for the evening rallies.
Please be in prayer for all of these services.
I spoke at a youth event tonight for First Baptist Church of Lake Butler, Florida. The evening, which featured a luau theme, included food, games, bowling, and a devotion time. It is scheduled to end at 6am tomorrow (Saturday). If you notice the time that this is posted you will realize I did not stay through the night. I'm not as young as I used to be. 8-)
I will be preaching in supply for Pastor Melvin Owen at Tiger Lake Baptist Church on Sunday, August 7th during the 11am worship service. Brother Melvin will be preaching the Homecoming Service at First Baptist Church of Olustee, Florida that morning.
Tiger Lake Baptist Church is located at 11661 County Road 49 near Live Oak, Florida.
Please be in prayer for both of these services.
I'll be preaching today at my home church First Baptist of Lake Butler at 11am & 6pm. The church is located at 195 East Main Street in Lake Butler, Florida.
Please be in prayer for these services and attend a church in your area.
Do you have some time to kill? Do you want something to do that is fun & challenging?
Check out some of these games that I've received over a period of time:
Paper Toss: toss the paper in the waste basket.
http://www.widro.com/throwpaper.html
Sleeping Sheep: check your reaction time with this game.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/reaction_version5.swf
Copter Pilot: try your hand at flying this machine.
http://www.hurtwood.demon.co.uk/Fun/copter.swf
Place the State: place the state in its' proper geographic location.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/states_experiment_drag-drop_Intermed_State15s_500.html
Reflex Tester; another game to test your reflexes.
http://www.happyhub.com/network/reflex/
If you have any good, clean games to share, send me the link, I'd love to try them. I may even post the link here for others to try too. Send the link to evangelist@jamescroft.org.
I thought this was a very interesting quote from an unknown source:
"I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't, and die to find out there is."
I will be preaching in supply this Sunday, July 24th for Pastor Rusty Womack at First Baptist Church of Lake Butler. Pastor Rusty is currently on a mission trip in Montana. The services will begin at 11am and 6pm this Sunday.
First Baptist Church is located at 195 East Main Street in Lake Butler, Florida.
Please be in prayer for these services.
First Baptist Church of Glen St. Mary has been added to my preaching schedule for Sunday, September 4, 2005. I will be preaching in supply for Pastor Tim Patterson in the morning (11am) and evening (6pm) services. The church is located on George L. Taber Blvd. in Glen St. Mary, Florida.
Please be in prayer for these services.
I preached morning & evening services yesterday at Athens Baptist Church in Columbia City, Florida. It was good to see many of my friends there again. The church is currently searching for a pastor. I was scheduled to preach there again on Sunday, July 31st, but the church will be listening to a pastoral candidate that day. I'm excited that the church has a prospect to listen to.
Let's all pray that God leads the right man to them and that they choose the right man.
I will be preaching the morning (11am) and evening (6pm) worship services at Athens Baptist Church this Sunday, July 17th. The church is located at 9090 SW CR240 south of Lake City near Columbia City.
Please be in prayer for these services and for the church as they search for a new pastor.
Jon Fletcher has a story and photo gallery online today with the Florida Times-Union about the Little People of America National Convention. Jon, a photojournalist with the Florida T-U, has traveled to Ghana with our team on two occasions.
If you would like to view the story and photos here are the links:
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/071105/met_19207830.shtml
http://firstcoastphotos.com/timesunionphotos/viewalbum.php
Here are some links to a couple of Jon’s stories & multimedia presentations in the Florida Times-Union concerning my preaching ministry and 2003 Ghana, West Africa mission trip.
This article appeared on Sunday, October 19, 2003 in the Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, Florida, about our second mission trip to Ghana, West Africa:
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/101903/dss_13818633.shtml
This is a Flash presentation that accompanied the Africa article:
http://www.jacksonville.com/special/jamesCroft/africa/
If you would like to see more of his 2003 & 2004 Ghana photos you may go to my website http://www.jamescroft.org/ and click on the “Gathering of the Clouds” logo and scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the photo links.
This is a story by Jon that appeared in the November 13, 2003 edition of the Florida Baptist Witness about our Ghana, West Africa mission trip: http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/1794.article
This article, by Jon, about my ministry was published in the Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, Florida, on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2003: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/042003/dss_12323979.shtml
This is a Flash presentation that went along with the article: http://www.jacksonville.com/special/jamesCroft/jamesthegiant.html
If you would like to see a variety of Jon’s photos and illustrations please visit his personal website at www.jonmfletcher.com. He certainly is a gifted photographer!
If you would like to e-mail Jon his address is jon.fletcher@jacksonville.com.
You may have seen some or all of the above sites, but I thought I would provide links for those who haven’t had the opportunity.
NOTE: There are 9 additional photos of me at the LPA Convention posted on this site. Just scroll down to see then.
Barney First Baptist has been added to the ministry schedule for revival services in September. Services will begin on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 and will end on Saturday, October 1st. Each service will begin at 7pm and will also feature special music.
Barney First Baptist is located on 2nd Street in Barney, Georgia. Please be in prayer for Pastor Charlie Scarborough and the congregation as they prepare for revival services.
I will be preaching morning (10:45am) and evening (6:30pm) worship services today at Huntsville Baptist Church. The church is located on Lake Jeffrey Road about 5 miles out of Lake City, Florida.
It will be good to worship again with Pastor Jim Steele and my friends there today.
I attended the first day of the Little People of America (LPA) 2005 Annual National Conference in Orlando, Florida on Sunday. I recorded interviews for an upcoming project while meeting some very nice people in the process.
Here are some photos from the day.
Digital photos are always a hit. In this picture I'm showing Kendra the photo that I just took of her and others.
There were several Christians in this group including Matthew (in the blue shirt to my left) who has been on mission trips to Nicaragua and Peurto Rico. I had a great time sharing with him about our mission trips to Ghana, West Africa and listening to his stories about being on mission for God.
You always have to take a group photo, but this is a photo of me taking a group photo. A new twist on an old idea.
The convention was held at the Hilton Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The hotel made special accomodations for little people with steps at the registration counter and step stools in the restrooms (at least in the men's room, I can't verify about the ladies room). The plastic two-step stools in the men's restroom is a great idea not only for little people but for children too. I hope the Hilton will leave those in place because they will easily slide in and out from under the counter. I use one of those at home and they are very inexpensive. Maybe other hotels will follow the Hilton's lead?
I'm conducting an interview amid the hustle and bustle of the lobby area of the hotel.
For those of you who knew me in my younger days in school, radio & bluegrass music, does the hat remind you of James the Giant?
I met Bobby Brindle, The World's Smallest Evangelist, during the convention. Brother Brindle is 3'9 1/2" tall. I am 3'10" tall.
I had a good time interviewing Brother Brindle for an upcoming "podcast" project I'm working on for my ministry.
I also met up with a former radio colleague from my days with WBKF-FM Radio in Macclenny, Florida. Matt Ray is now Director of Creative Services for COX Radio, Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida.
This young lady captured my heart at the convention. Her name is Trinity and she is 4 years old. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida and is a Primordial Dwarf (www.primordialdwarfism.com).
Don't let her size fool you. She is a precious bundle of energy! Isn't she adorable?
For more information about Little People of America (LPA) or dwarfism visit www.lpaonline.org.
I have added a youth lock-in event to my schedule for later this month. I will be leading a devotion time for youth of First Baptist Church of Lake Butler on Friday, July 29th. Please be in prayer for this event.
We had a great start tonight to the revival services at Sirmans Missionary Baptist Church near Greenville, Florida. God worked powerfully with one lady being saved and another lady rededicating her life to Christ.
The services will continue at 7pm nightly through Saturday. The church is located off of SR221 eight miles south of Greenville, Florida.
Please be in prayer for these services as well as praising God for tonight's decisions.
I have been engaged to preach two Sundays in July at Athens Baptist Church in Columbia City, Florida. The church is currently searching for a pastor. I will be preaching morning worship services (11am) and evening worship services (6pm) on July 17th and 31st.
Athens Baptist Church is located at 9090 SW CR240, south of Lake City, Florida.
Please be in prayer for these services and for the church as they search for God's man to pastor the church.
Please be in prayer for these services at Sirmans Missionary Baptist Church near Greenville, Florida..jpg)
I will be preaching for Pastor Alwin Pflueger at Riverside Baptist Church this Sunday, June 26th at 11am & 7pm. The church is located at 10760 NW 5th Ave. near Branford, Florida. Please be in prayer for these services and for Brother Pfueger and his family as they take a vacation.
10 Little Christians standing in line
1 disliked the preacher, then there were 9
9 little Christians stayed up very late
1 overslept Sunday, then there were 8
8 little Christians on their way to Heaven
1 took the low road and then there were 7
7 little Christians chirping like chicks
1 disliked music, then there were 6
6 little Christians seemed very much alive
but one lost his interest then there were 5
5 little Christians pulling for Heaven's Shore
but one stopped to rest, then there were 4
4 little Christians each busy as a bee
but one got his feelings hurt, then there were 3
3 little Christians knew not what to do
1 joined the sporty crowd, then there were 2
2 little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done,
differed with each other, then there was 1
1 little Christian can't do much 'tis true;
but brought his friend to Bible study -- then there were 2
2 earnest Christians, each won one more
that doubled the number, then there were 4
4 sincere Christians worked early and late
Each won another then there were 8
8 splendid Christians if they doubled as before
In just so many Sundays, we'd have 1,024
In this little jingle, there is a lesson true,
You belong, either to the building or to the wrecking-crew!
-- Author Unknown
I'll be preaching in supply for Pastor Ron Thompson this coming Sunday, June 19th at First Baptist Church of White Springs (Florida). The Father's Day Service will begin at 11am.
Please be in prayer for this service.
I have added a preaching engagement at Huntsville Baptist Church in Lake City, Florida to my schedule. I will be preaching the morning service (10:45am) and the evening service (6:30pm) on Sunday, July 10, 2005 for Pastor Jim Steele.
Huntsville Baptist Church is located on Lake Jeffrey Road east of Lake City.
I thought I would let you know that the Ghana reunion story that I posted on Monday on this site can now be seen online at http://www.lakecityjournal.com/show_rec.php?stories_id=884. Feel free to share it with others that may be interested.
I have added First Baptist Church of Lake Butler, Florida (my home church) to my schedule in July. I will be preaching in supply for my pastor Rusty Womack on Sunday, July 24, 2005 during the 11am & 6pm services.
The church is located at 195 East Main Street in Lake Butler, Florida.
Pictured front row left to right are Alexx St. John, Rita Tawiah, James Croft, & Tettey Tetteh. Back row left to right are Sonja St. John & Sarah St. John. Sonja’s husband Ernie is not in the photo because he took the photo (thanks Ernie!).
I went with the St. John family (Sonja has been on our Ghana team for three years) to the Florida Folk Festival in White Springs Sunday night after church to watch a group from Ghana, West Africa perform. The group is called Kusun Ensemble. They were great!
After the performance, we met the leader of the group, Tettey Tetteh, and talked with him for a while. We shared about our trips to Ghana and swapped contact information. It appeared that we did not know any of the same people in Ghana even though Tettey is from Teshie-Nungua which is where we stayed. As we were leaving the park Tettey called me on my cell-phone and said that one of the ladies in the group recognized me from Ghana! Well come to find out, she is the niece of Evangelist Raphael Adjei Kingbi, our host while in Ghana! Evangelist Ralph picked her up at the airport last October while we were there and I met her once or twice. Her name is Rita Tawiah. In addition, a couple of the members had attended a night of our crusade! What a small world!!!
We even called Ralph (at 3am Ghana time) and he was very surprised to find out that we were with Rita in Florida. He and Rita were able to talk for a few minutes. It was an incredibly wonderful time!
Another of our Ghana team members , Jon Fletcher, attended the festival on Saturday. Sonja said she saw him taking photos and talked with him a while. I don’t know if Jon was able to talk to the group or not.
If you would like to know more about the Kusun Ensemble you can go to http://www.kusun.us/. Tettey also has a school in Ghana and you can find out more about it at http://www.ghanadrumschool.com/.
This photo was taken last week during revival services at First Baptist Church of Winter Springs, Florida. In the photo I am standing with Pastor Terry Elixson. I hope you will pray for my friend & my brother in the Lord and his family as they minister in Winter Springs.
I have been asked to preach the morning worship service at First Baptist Church of Olustee this coming Sunday, May 29th. The service will begin at 11am at the chuch located in Olustee, Florida.
Revival services have been scheduled for Sirmans Missionary Baptist Church near Greenville, Florida in June. The services will begin on Wednesday, June 29th and will continue through Saturday, July 2nd at 7pm nightly.
For more information call Pastor Johnny Carroll at (850) 948-4228.
I have added a new engagement to my preaching schedule. I will be preaching for Pastor Alwin Pflueger at Riverside Baptist Church on Sunday, June 26th while he is on vacation. Services begin at 11am & 7pm. Riverside Baptist Church is located at 10760 NW 5th Ave. near Branford, Florida.
The revival services at Grace Christian Fellowship Baptist Church ended tonight. It has been a wonderful series of meetings. I really enjoyed becoming better acquainted with Pastor Terry Elixson, Sr., his wife, and members of the congregation. God certainly blessed me during these services.
Next month I will be travelling to First Baptist Church of Winter Springs, Florida to preach revival services. The pastor there is also named Terry Elixson. He is the son of the pastor from Worthington Springs.
It's interesting to be preaching for the dad one month and for his son the next.
My dear friends, Evangelist Ralphael Adjei Kingbi and his wife Mavis celebrated their first wedding anniversary last Sunday, April 17th. Evangelist Ralph has been our host in Ghana for the past three years. Ralph & Mavis live in Teshie-Accra, Ghana, West Africa.
If you would like to send Ralph & Mavis a note of congratulations or a note of encouragement for their work for the Lord you may e-mail him at evangralph@yahoo.co.uk. You can also write them at:
P.O. Box 193
Teshie, Accra
Ghana-West Africa
Are you ready for this?
In September of last year we mailed over 800 posters for the 2004 Ghana Crusade to Zion Evangelistic Ministry in Teshie, Ghana. The US Postal Service said it should arrive in 10 business days which would give plenty of time for them to be distributed prior to the crusade & construction activities. However, when we arrived in the middle of October there were no posters. When we left at the end of October there were no posters.
Well, as of Tuesday, April 5, 2005 they now have posters!!!
Of course, the crusade has long since ended!
Evangelist Ralph said that some of them would be placed on the walls in the building our team helped to construct and the others would be distributed as souvenirs.
It's interesting how the Lord does things when you consider that even without posters we drew the largest crowds ever to the crusade and had more than twice as many saved as the previous year! Our God certainly is an awesome God!!!
Last Sunday night (April 3rd) I filled in for Pastor Mark Driskell at Shiloh Baptist Church in Fort White, Florida. Brother Mark had a death in his extended family and visited with the family. I preached that night on "compassion" and I used Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 as my focal text. I covered examples of when compassion is needed and examples of how the good Samaritan met those needs. He met the needs of a stranger who, if the tables were turned, probably would not have done the same for him. I also tried to explain how we, as Christians, should be "moved" with compassion.
After the service a reception was held in the church's fellowship hall for a newly married couple in the church. During this reception a stranger entered the building seeking assistance in his travels. His dress and hair style was different from the rest in attendance and he was not known by anyone present. However, the people of Shiloh fed him and prepared extra food for him and helped him with his travel.
A lady commented to me how interesting it was that a sermon on "compassion" had just been given and now the church had an opportunity to put it into action.
I often wonder why the Lord leads me to preach certain messages at certain times. I did not know of any great need for compassion in the church nor did I know of any "lack" of compassion. God just seemed to lead me to that message. Could it have been for this one stranger who would soon be in our midst?
Have you been faced with a need for compassion lately? If so, what did you do?
But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:17 (NKJV)
The Mission Fair at First Baptist Church of Lake Butler (Florida) was held today. The fair was part of our "40 Days of Purpose" campaign as the emphasis centered on Evangelism. We had seven booths highlighting past mission projects & upcoming mission opportunities. Those attending were able to see photos & other items from the projects. A few of the booths even offered a sample of food that can be found in their particular mission area.
In the photo above I am explaining to Janice Parrish how to use a "Gong-Gong" from Ghana, West Africa.
In the second photo a couple of students learn more about Ghanaian Cedis from 2004 Ghana Mission Team members Sonja St. John (left) and Curtis Richards (far right). Cedis is the currency used in Ghana. You can also see some of the items & photos that were displayed in our booth.
The two photos above were taken by Jon Fletcher, a member of FBC Lake Butler and a member of the 2004 Ghana Mission Team.
I received the following in an e-mail today and I thought it was too good not to share with others. It may be a little humorous, but I think it contains a powerful message for all of us!
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After being interviewed by the school administration, the eager teaching prospect said: "Let me see if I've got this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning. And I'm supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and even censor their T-shirt messages and dress habits."
"You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, and raise their self-esteem."
"You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship, sportsmanship, and fair play, how and where to register to vote, how to balance a checkbook and how to apply for a job."
"I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, offer advice, write letters of recommendation for student employment and scholarships, encourage respect for their elders and future employers."
"And I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone, e-mail, newsletter, and report card."
"All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, and a big smile AND on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps!"
"You want me to do all of this, and then - you expect me NOT TO PRAY?!"
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Pray for and offer encouragement to all of our teachers and students. Let's also pray that one day prayer is allowed back in our schools again.
Who knows, after you've prayed - the Lord may want you to contact a school board member, a legislator, a member of Congress or the White House and share your views on school prayer with them. Sometimes our prayers need to grow some feet - you know what I mean?
First Baptist Church of Lake Butler will hold a Mission Fair this Sunday, March 13th featuring exhibits from the church's mission activities. The exhibits may be viewed between 10:30-11am (between Sunday School & Morning Worship) and immediately following the service and again before and after the evening service at 6pm. The Mission Fair is part of the "40 Days of Purpose" series.
The fair will feature exhibits from the following areas:
The morning worship service will feature a message by Pastor Rusty Womack on evangelism. The evening service will feature a concert by the Bluegrass Prophets.
The Mission Fair and services will be held in the Union County High School Auditorium in Lake Butler, Florida. For more information call (386) 496-3704.
I will be preaching in supply tonight (Wednesday) for my pastor Rusty Womack at First Baptist Church of Lake Butler, Florida. The service will begin at 6:30pm. First Baptist Church of Lake Butler is located at 195 East Main Street.
Brother Rusty will be concluding revival services tonight for Eastside Baptist Church in Lake City, Florida.
Please be in prayer for both of these services.
Pastor Ron Thompson of First Baptist Church of White Springs has asked me to fill the pulpit for him on Sunday, June 19th at 11am. I always enjoy worshipping at FBC White Springs because I have so many friends there and my brother, John Croft, is the Music Director.
First Baptist Church is located on Camp Street in White Springs, Florida.
Dave & Sherrie will be in concert at my home church, First Baptist Church of Lake Butler, this Sunday, March 6th at 6pm. The service will be held in the Union County High School auditorium in Lake Butler, Florida. The "Sherrie" in Dave & Sherrie is my sister Sherrie Davis. Her singing partner is David Godwin.
Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend the service as I will be traveling to Pensacola, Florida to speak at a recycling conference.
Please be in prayer for Dave & Sherrie and the service, and for me as I travel.
I received an e-mail today with the following "Christian One-Liners". I thought I would share it with you.
"Christian One-Liners"
Don't let your worries get the best of you. Remember, Moses started out as a basket case".
Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited - until you try to sit in their pews.
Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.
It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes and sand gnats come close.
When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.
People are funny, they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.
Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.
Quit griping about your church; if it were perfect, you couldn't belong.
If the church wants a better pastor, it only needs to pray for the one it has.
Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
Peace starts with a smile.
I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?
A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.
We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.
Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
Don't put a question mark where God put a period.
Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
Forbidden fruits create many jams.
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
God grades on the cross, not the curve.
God loves everyone, but probably prefers "fruits of the spirit" over "religious nuts!"
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
He who angers you, controls you!
If God is your Copilot - swap seats!
Prayer: Don't give God instructions -- just report for duty!
The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.
We don't change the message, the message changes us.
You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to ........ discourage him.
The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.
This Sunday, February 27th I will be preaching in my home county, Baker County, at First Baptist Church of Glen St. Mary, Florida. I will be preaching in supply for Pastor Tim Patterson at 11am & 6pm. First Baptist Church is located on George L. Taber Blvd. in Glen St. Mary, Florida.
This past Saturday I attended the wedding of my niece Krystle and her new husband Curtis. The wedding was held at First Baptist Church of White Springs (Florida) with the reception at Stephen Foster Memorial.
I took almost 200 photos of the festivities and I wanted to share one with you and ask that you join me in praying for this new family. Both Curtis & Krystle are professing Christians. Curtis is in the US Coast Guard and they will be living in Virginia.
The revival services at Brinson Baptist Church (Georgia) ended last night. These services were really a blessing to me. It was great to minister with Pastor Ellis Hardwick, Minister of Youth Avery Hutto and the congregation. Lisa Donalson led the music and done a wonderful job. Not only did I enjoy the services, but I had a great time of fellowship with various families in the church.
I hope you will say a prayer for everyone at Brinson Baptist Church and ask the Lord to use them in a mighty way to further His Kingdom.
I received a call yesterday (Tuesday) from my friend Terry Elixson to schedule a revival in May. Terry has just started as pastor of First Baptist Church of Winter Springs, Florida. He had been the pastor of Attapulgus (Georgia) Baptist Church.
I will preach revival services in Winter Springs beginning Sunday, May 15, 2005 at 10:45am. The services will continue at 6:30pm nightly through Wednesday, May 18th.
First Baptist Church of Winter Springs is located at 817 East State Road 434 in Winter Springs, Florida. You can call Pastor Terry Elixson at (407) 327-5626 for more information.
The revival services got underway this morning at Brinson Baptist Church in Brinson, Georgia. The morning & evening services were well attended. The meetings continue at 7pm through Wednesday. Please continue to pray for these services and my travel back home on Thursday.
Revival services begin at Brinson Baptist Church in Brinson, Georgia this Sunday, February 20th. Please be in prayer for these services.
The Valentine Banquet at New Home Baptist Church in Perry on Saturday night was a great time of food, fellowship, laughs and Bible study. It was nice to visit with some friends that I have not seen in quite some time. We played a biblical game of Hollywood Squares that featured some of New Home's own "stars". It was a lot of fun and a lot of laughs too!
The next day (Sunday) I preached the morning & evening services at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Mayo. It was great to worship again with Pastor Ted Rushing and all of the fine folks at Pleasant Grove.
I hope you will remember both of these churches and their ministries in your prayer time.
Tomorrow (Saturday) I will be traveling to Perry, Florida to speak at the New Home Baptist Church Youth Valentine Banquet. I spoke during this banquet a couple of years ago and really had a good time.
On Sunday I will be returning to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church near Mayo, Florida to preach during the morning & evening worship services. It will be good to see my friends there again.
Please be in prayer for all of these services and for safe travel too.
I have just added Columbia Baptist Church's Homecoming to my schedule for September 2005. The service will begin at 11am on Sunday, September 25th.
I have preached several times at Columbia Baptist Church over the past few years. I remember preaching services for them when they were meeting in a house. It was interesting bringing the message in the living room so close to the front row you could reach out and touch them. I often joked that if the people on the front row felt like I was "steppin' on their toes" it was probably because I really was stepping on their toes! Now the church is located in a beautiful new building.
Columbia Baptist Church is located on State Road 47, south of Lake City, next to Columbia City Elementary School. For more information call Pastor Daryl Tomlinson at (386) 752-5199.
Pastor Terry Elixson, Sr. of Grace Christian Fellowship in Worthington Springs, Florida contacted me today to set up revival services for the church. The revival will begin on Sunday, April 17, 2005 with services at 11am & 6pm and will continue Monday-Wednesday evening at 7pm.
Grace Christian Fellowship is located on County Road 238A off of County Road 18 near Worthington Springs. This will be my first time to minister at this church. I hope you all will be praying for the services and the preparations over the next two months.
"Friend Day" at Pinetta Baptist Church in Ocilla, Georgia has been rescheduled. The special service mentioned in an earlier post on this site was scheduled for March 20th, but has now been changed to Sunday, May 22nd at 11am.
My pastor, Rusty Womack, has asked me to fill in for him on Wednesday, March 9th at First Baptist Church of Lake Butler. The service begins at 6:30pm at 195 E. Main Street in Lake Butler, Florida.
Today I've added two new preaching engagements to the schedule for next month. The first is on Sunday, February 13th at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 816 SW CR351, in Mayo, Florida. I'll be preaching the morning & evening worship services at 11am & 6pm. I preached revival services there last September and we had a wonderful time of worship & fellowship. Pastor Ted Rushing and the congregation made me feel like part of the family.
On Sunday, February 27th I'll be preaching in supply for Pastor Tim Patterson during the morning (11am) and evening (6pm) worship services at First Baptist Church of Glen St. Mary, Florida. I gave a devotion during a senior's luncheon several years ago at this church but this will be my first time preaching there and I'm looking forward to ministering to them.
Please be in prayer for these services.
A very good friend of mine, Mark Spradley, has recently been called as the Minister of Youth at Forest Grove Baptist Church in Alachua, Florida. Today he called me to schedule a youth revival beginning Sunday night August 21st and ending on Wednesday night August 24th. I'm looking forward to ministering to the youth at Forest Grove. Please be in prayer for these services and for the Lord to give me just the right messages for them.
This is Mark's first full-time ministry position. He has previously served bivocationally as Minister of Youth at First Baptist Church of White Springs (FL) and Wellborn Baptist Church (FL). Please pray for him & his family as they move into full-time service for the Lord.
Pinetta Baptist Church in Ocilla, Georgia will be having "Friend Day" on Sunday, March 20th at 11am. Pastor Jeff Wells has invited me to preach this service. I'm looking forward to making a lot of new friends in Ocilla on "Friend Day"!
I spoke with Pastor Ellis Hartwick of Brinson (Georgia) Baptist Church last night and final preparations are underway for revival services next month. Lisa Donalson from Fellowship Baptist Church in Brinson, Georgia will lead music & worship for the services. Posters should begin appearing in the area within about two weeks.
The services will begin on Sunday, February 20th at 11am & 6pm and will continue Monday-Wednesday night at 7pm.
Please be in prayer for these services and all of the preparations.
My home church, First Baptist of Lake Butler, Florida, will begin "40 Days of Purpose" the last Sunday of this month. Each week will have a special emphasis as believers seek God's purpose for their life.
On Sunday, March 13th we will hold a Mission Fair before and after the morning service. I will be coordinating the fair which will feature information booths about our church's mission projects in Honduras, Montana, central Florida, Ghana, West Africa and local efforts in Union County. You will be able to see photos of activities, learn how you can assist, and even taste some food found in the region.
I'll add more info on this as it becomes available or you can call Pastor Rusty Womack at (386) 496-3704.
I received a call from Glenn Luttrell, pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Mayo, Florida, to lead revival services in March. The series of meetings will begin on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 and will continue at 7pm nightly through Saturday, March 26th. The final service will be on Easter Sunday March 27th at 11am. Not only will this service be the final revival service and an Easter service, but it is also the church's homecoming service.
Riverside Baptist Church is located on County Road 151 off State 27 near Mayo. Please be in prayer for this series of meetings.
I was contacted today by New Home Baptist Church Minister of Youth Bill Lawhon about speaking during a youth valentine banquet this year. It will be on Saturday, February 12, 2005 at 6pm. New Home Baptist Church is located in Perry, Florida.
Please be in prayer for all of the preparations for this banquet and for the message that I should bring to the youth.
I normally spend New Year's Day at my dad's annual cookout; however, this year my brother, John (pictured above), and I attended the 2005 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. John received a couple of tickets for Christmas and invited me to go. We both missed the great food that is always enjoyed at the cookout, but we really enjoyed the game too. Both of us are Florida State Seminole fans and the Noles beat West Virginia 30-18.
I really had a great time watching the game and the fellowhip with my brother. I hope that the start of 2005 was a great time for you too.
Praise the Lord for a new year that will be filled with opportunities for each of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let's make the best of every opportunity.
Visitors since September 6, 2004
