Update: Downtown Decatur

In a speech at Rice University in Houston Texas on September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy gave us those immortal words, “we choose to go to the moon (and do the other things) not because it is easy, but because it is hard.” This speech, more than any other single statement is credited with being the impetus for the successful NASA programs that culminated with the Apollo 11 Mission that landed Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon forty years ago last Monday.

With the resignation this week of Pastor Mitch Flesch as our Downtown Decatur Church Planter, I wanted to remind all of us that we had chosen to plant a church Downtown, “not because it is easy, but because it is hard.” In my opinion, no one could have done more work or better work than Pastor Mitch, who poured so much of his time, prayers, and effort into reaching this community for Jesus; or Tom Miller, who first led this work.

Men and women have come to know the Lord as a result of these efforts, and several Bible study groups have been planted in the apartment complexes in and near Downtown Decatur. We have not accomplished the goal of planting an autonomous Southern Baptist Church in Downtown Decatur; but, our passion for reaching lost people and having a church Downtown is unabated.

We have learned some very valuable lessons that will help us in all of our future church planting efforts. May God use these lessons to shape us and equip us for the great work ahead. Mitch Flesch and Tom Miller have been two of our most effective men at reaching lost people and growing churches in Central Illinois. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue in their present ministries.

Pray for the lost people of Central Illinois, and for our New Work Team as they seek the will and wisdom of God to reach them with the gospel. Pray that God will bless all of our CBA Family of Churches as we continue His Kingdom work.

God bless Mitch and Linda Flesch; God bless Tom and Pauline Miller; God bless our New Work Team; and God bless you!

Great Day - all day today!

What a blessed and happy day to be present at FBC! We were blessed today with good attendance in Sunday School and Worship; great music in the AM Service; (as always) I had a blast preaching on the Transfiguration of Jesus; and, we celebrated the Lord's Supper together!

Speaking of the Lord's Supper, praise the Lord for raising up from among us eight men willing to serve us as Deacons - and that four of them served us the Lord's Supper for the first time today. Gene Greek has served the Lord's Supper in other churches many, many times; but, it was his first time today as a Deacon of our church. Andy, Craig, and Kelly served the Lord's Supper for the first time ever!

How I thank the Lord for the six men now serving us as Elders and all eight of the men now serving us as Deacons!

And how about "Super Jessica" leading our VBS Team this year! She and Jason are real blessings to our church. How we thank the Lord for bringing them to know Him last year and for leading them to be part of our Church.

Oh, I could go on and on; but, I am in danger of leaving someone out. Thanks to everyone who made this Lord's Day so very special - and to the Lord for blessing us with His anointing presence. Amen!

Thanks for Praying!

Last Sunday afternoon, we voted to adopt the new Confession of Faith, Covenant, and Constitution! Then we approved the recommendation of the Executive Committee for our new Officers. We elected Bob Eads, Ron Eagan, Lanny Faulkner, Bill Fleming, David Senseney, and Matt Voyles to serve our church as Elders; and we elected Andy Appleby, Max Beals, Craig Chapman, Kelly Clough, Steve Dietderich, Gene Greek, Doug Walk, and Jim Wilson to serve our church as Deacons.

Bob Fleming and Ralph Hanner retired as Deacons and were honored with the title of "Deacon Emeritus".

Charlotte Kleiss was elected Church Clerk and Caroyln Fleming was re-elected as our Treasurer.

Many, many thanks to everyone who has agreed to serve in all of these vitally important positions!

We will schedule Elder and Deacon training in the very near future, and we are already planning for a "Ministry Fair" to enroll members for our Church Ministry Teams!

Thy Will Be Done on Earth as it is in Heaven!

This will be (as the Lord allows) a weekend of big decisions for our church! After Sunday School, Worship, and a Fellowship Meal we will have our long anticipated Special Business Meeting to discuss and vote on the proposed new Confession, Covenant, and Constitution for our church. If these are approved, we will be voting on the Executive Committee's recommendation to elect six men to serve as Elders and eight men to serve as Deacons.

The Constitution Revision Committee has been working on this for nearly two years. Much prayer, much reading, much work, and much discussion have gone into their recommendations. They have read over and worked through several Covenants and Constitutions from several great churches. Much of what you will be asked to approve is taken (with permission) from the Covenant and Constitution of the Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. We are greatly indebted to them for allowing us to use many ideas from their many years of hard work.

So, how do we pray about this? Easy. "O, God, Thy will be done in this matter just as it is in heaven!" This is not about me, or what I want; it is not about the Committee, or what they want; and, in all honesty, it is not about you and what you want! This must be about what the Lord wants and therefore what is best for His church as we move ahead into the 21st Century, and as we seek to fulfill the Tri-County Vision.

Let me encourage you to study over the materials you have been given, pray for wisdom and clarity about God's will, and then vote your conscience. I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!

The Best Way to Decorate A Church

We are very fortunate indeed to have so many gifted people who do so much to make our church facility so beautiful! Charlotte Eagan and many others design and display all kinds of decorations that fit each season perfectly and demonstrate a personal care of God's House that honors Him and blesses us.

But, after this past Sunday I have decided that the most beautiful decoration a church can have is the smiling faces of visitors in the services! Now, I am not for one moment overlooking the happy and familiar faces of our many faithful people whose presence (and presents) make our work possible; but, I do want to thank the Lord and those of you who invite family and friends to come to church with you. Over the past few weeks, we have had many of your family and friends in the services!

Last Sunday - between the Ard and Fornshell families and several others who brought family and friends - we had about twenty visitors in the AM service! Of course, some of them are out-of-town family and not prospects for membership in our church; but, several of them do live in the Tri-County area and may very well someday be part of this happy and blessed Church.

Thanks to everyone who takes the time and effort to invite people to our services, and may the Lord lead more and more of us to do the same!

Sunday's Sermon

While every pastor believes every sermon we preach is important, it is obvious that some sermons have more potential impact on a congregation than others! This Sunday, as the Lord allows, I will be preaching on the subject, "Leadership Matters" as I continue the "Church Matters" series in preparation for our discussion and vote on the proposed new Confession, Covenant, and Constitution.

I am well aware that the words, "Confession of Faith", "Covenant", and "Constitution" make most people's eyes glaze over - BUT, these are really important documents and we are about to make some really important decisions one way or the other. Our Confession is a statement about WHAT WE BELIEVE; our Covenant is a statement of HOW WE BEHAVE; and our Constitution is a set of principles and rules that determine HOW WE DO BUSINESS!

All three of these documents are tools that have a great impact on how we "do church" and how effecitvely we accomplish the mission and ministry to which God has called us. I am asking you to read these documents carefully, pray over them faithfully, vote on them responsibly, and DO NOT MISS THIS SUNDAY'S SERMON!

God bless you! I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!

"Happy?" Mother's Day

It was an amazing scene last Sunday when our beloved Sister, Vivalee Smith, walked up on the platform at church and asked me to share a few thoughts! Vivalee and her husband, Bob, were in church on this Mother's Day in spite of the fact that their only child, Dr. Bob Smith, MD, had passed away two days before and will be buried tomorrow afternoon.

And there she stood - a mother about to bury her only child - giving testimony to the goodness of God in their lives; and, in the life of her son. She said she wanted to be sure that our people knew something more about Dr. Bob than just the fact that he had died. Many of our people have known them for many, many years; but since he had gone away to college and medical school and then practiced for years in Decatur some our people did not know Dr. Bob very well.

What a moment, what a family, what a faith! God bless and comfort Bob and Vevalee, their daughter-in-law, Cathy, and their two grandsons. Thanks to all who came over to them, laid hands on them, and prayed for them.