Reunion at Folk Festival

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/.

Friends & Brothers

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.

Olustee Baptist This Sunday

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.

Greenville Revival Added To June Schedule

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.

Addition to Schedule

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.

Winter Springs Services

Please be in prayer for these upcoming services.

Wonderful Services in Worthington Springs

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.

Happy Anniversary

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

Worthington Springs Revival Services

Please be in prayer for these services.

Posters Arrive Monday!!!

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!!!

God Gives Illustration for Sermon

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)

Please be in prayer for these services.

Mission Fair was Fun

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.

For Teachers & Christians Too!

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?

Mission Fair Sunday

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:

• Honduras Construction Projects
• Ghana, West Africa Crusades & Construction Project
• Montana Mission Project
• Hurricane Relief in Central Florida
• Brotherhood Local Mission Projects
• WMU Emphasis on Mission Support
• Youth Local Mission Projects

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.

First Baptist Lake Butler Tonight

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.

Father's Day in White Springs

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.

Gospel Concert

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.

Christian One-Liners

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.

FBC Glen St. Mary on Sunday

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.