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The Importance of Life: Reflections from Galatians

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This Sunday, we continued our journey through the book of Galatians and recognized Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Below are the highlights:

Missionary/Church Planter of the week

  • One of twenty-nine church plants by the Gwinett Metro Baptist Network
  • Sep 17, 2023 → one year
  • The focus of their ministry is on the Korean community. 
  • The congregation is led by Pastor Sung San Choi

Special Emphasis: Sanctity of Human Life

January 19, 2025 is National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. - Psalm 139:14

Churches around the country observe Sanctity of Human Life Sunday to celebrate God’s gift of life, commemorate the many lives lost to abortion, commit to protecting human life at every stage.

Important ***

We realize that there are those that have been victimized by society’s disregard for human life in the past. There may even be someone here today who has made the unfortunate decision to end life in the past. I want you to know, our goal is not to bring shame upon you. In fact, we grieve with you over how our society has embraced a culture of death. We grieve with you if you have lost someone to any practice that devalues human life. You have our love. You have our support as we continue to grow and encourage a culture of LIFE here 

Ways that we create a culture of life at First Bethany

  • Connected with our local pregnancy resource center – Crossroads Women’s Center – Greenwood

Christians are called to stand for life and seek justice for the most vulnerable among us; one of the ways we can do that is by praying for life. Let us pray with hope, faith, and love, trusting in God’s sovereignty and reflecting his heart for our neighbors.

Father God, our heavenly Father,

We come to you today asking for LIFE to be considered sacred again in our world. We pray for those who need help and protection, as well as those who have decisions to be made…. For the precious lives of preborn children; that every child, regardless of their circumstances, would be recognized as made in God’s image, deserving of life and protection. Lord, please move hearts to defend and cherish these little ones, not viewing them as a burden, but delighting to give them the opportunity to live, thrive, and glorify you . For mothers facing unplanned pregnancies: Lord, please surround them with love, support, and the resources they need to choose life. Give them the courage, wisdom, and the strength to trust you in uncertain times. For Pregnancy Resource Centers like our ministry partners in Greenwood at the Crossroads Women’s Center. For those serving vulnerable women and their children. Lord, please give them wisdom, compassion, and steadfastness. For more workers, volunteers, and funds to meet the increasing needs in our communities. For vulnerable mothers to find a Christ honoring resource center before they find an abortion clinic and that their hearts would be softened to choose life based on what they learn. For families and couples considering Adoption or Foster Care as way to bless their families. That they would be strengthened and encouraged in their calling to provide loving homes for children in need. Lord, move more mothers/fathers hearts from abortion and toward the beautiful option of adoption, ensuring every child is given the chance to grow up in a nurturing and loving family. For the Church; That we would stand boldly and unwaveringly for life. That our actions would reflect our words as we support life affirming ministries, pregnancy centers, and foster care efforts. That churches continue to rise up as places of refuge, offering resources, counseling, and emotional support. That our churches would be places where every person—born and preborn—is valued and celebrated as a child of God. – Amen

Sermon: No Other Gospel, Galatians 1: 11-24

The Divine Source of Paul’s Gospel (v. 11-12)

11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. 12 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ. - Galatians 1: 11-12

The Gospel that Paul preached was NOT according to man – Paul’s message was a revelation from God. He received the gospel in a dramatic, direct revelation when He encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. Paul’s message was not a man’s attempt to reach up and understand God; but God’s effort to bow down and communicate with man.
Now more than ever, the world does not need the good advice/wisdom of man, it needs a revelation from God.

This is important – As we become good TELLERS and SENDERS of this glorious Gospel. Especially in arenas that are somewhat controversial (Sanctity of Human Life, for example). Many will accuse us of being puppets / Or just mimicking what we have heard other people say. It is important that we pray… and read and study God’s Word; So that when “our truth (Gospel)” is questioned, We can say as Paul did… “This is not from man, It is from God!”

Paul’s Message was not from Man (v. 13-24)

13 For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. 14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. 15 But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I declare in the sight of God: I am not lying in what I write to you. 21 Afterward, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ. 23 They simply kept hearing, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me - Galatians 1: 13-24

Paul’s whole point in the second part of this chapter is important.
His gospel was true. His experience was valid, because it really came from God.
Only what comes from God can really save us and make a lasting difference in our lives.

Application

How does this apply to us?
Most of us probably did not walk in here today questioning the authenticity of Paul’s testimony or the Gospel that he preached. That was then… understandably. Most likely not now.
BUT…… I will repeat myself: As we become good TELLERS and SENDERS of this glorious Gospel, Especially in arenas that are somewhat controversial:
*Sanctity of Human Life
*Fidelity of the Word of God
*Our interaction with society / gov’t / politics
*Our conversations with those who believe differently
Many will accuse us of just mimicking what we have heard other people say. It is important that we pray… and read and study (both personally and corporately) God’s Word, So that when “our truth (Gospel)” is questioned; We can say as Paul did, “This is not from man. It is from God! Let me tell you again how amazing He is !!!!!!!”

Hope to see you all at church very soon,

Pastor John

Urgent Prayer Request for California Community

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Pray for Taylor, the daughter of one of our local pastors, who lives close to this McDonald’s. According to her father’s post, “She is keeping neighbors in her home…. her message to me this morning: “It’s literally a hurricane of fire but we made it through the night thank goodness! Thank you for praying and sharing.”

Pray For My Friends in California

One of the greatest blessings of my life has been to be in bi-vocational (some would say co-vocational) ministry for the last 15+ years. For those who may not be familiar with those terms; it simply means that I have a full time job in addition to a “job” at a local church. To be honest, I really would not have it any other way.

For the last 27 years, I have worked full time for the same company. Just over 2 years ago, that company closed its campus here in South Carolina where I live. It was a shock, to say the least, to many of us… some who had been working there longer than I had.

Thankfully, the company offered me a different kind of position, a remote one. It was actually the same general job area that I had been in all that time, but the campus that I would be serving would now be in California, just southeast of Los Angeles.

*Map courtesy of Google Maps

At first, I definitely thought this was a bit of a stretch. I mean, I have lived in SC all my life… not Southern California, but South Carolina. And these two places, literally, could not be further apart from one another. Yet, after a while, I came to realize that we are actually closer than one might think…. that we have more in common than we have differences…. that the people that live there have become a HUGE part of my life over the last 2+ years.

**Not an actual picture of the office

And that is, in part, why my heart is breaking tonight. There are literally “hurricanes of fire” ravaging the neighborhoods and communities in SC, Southern California. As of the writing of this blog, I do not personally know of any coworkers who are in immediate danger, yet there is certainly plenty of danger to be had in SC right now.

According to CNN.com : Several major wildfires are burning, mostly still uncontained, in Los Angeles County. Officials have confirmed at least seven deaths, but warn the actual toll will remain unclear until it’s safe for investigators to access neighborhoods. Tens of thousands of people have been impacted by evacuation orders since Tuesday

So now I would like to ask a personal favor…. pray for my friends in Southern California…even the ones I have not met yet. The danger there is unimaginable, the threat to life and property is imminent. They need our prayers, and the bible calls us to do so….

2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2
16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect - James 5:16
19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.” - Matthew 18:19-20

There will certainly be things we can do in addition to prayer, but prayer is the most important thing we can ever do for those in need

Even as I am writing this blog, the Disaster Relief arm of our denomination is readying itself to help. Many from our churches are trained and will be ready to go as soon as the call is given. See the link below if you want to read more about this and discover ways to help:

California wildfire update: DR volunteers begin ‘limited’ response as fires rage

I would definitely consider it a personal favor if you would take a moment to pray…. Pray for the safety of those battling these wildfires, for the numerous homeowners who do not know if they will have a home to return to, for business owners whose means of supporting their families are in serious danger, and of course, for those – even right now – in harms way as many have not been able to evacuate and will have to fight to survive this disaster.

Pray for my friends in California, even the ones I have not met yet.

Heavenly Father,
We come before You with heavy hearts for all those in danger from the wildfires in California. We pray for Your protection over the lives of the firefighters, first responders, and all who are working tirelessly to save others. Strengthen them and shield them from harm.
Lord, bring comfort to those who are frightened and unsure of their safety. Wrap them in Your peace, which surpasses all understanding. For those who have lost homes, possessions, or loved ones, grant them solace and the courage to move forward when the ability to do so reveals itself.
We ask for Your mercy upon the land. Stop the winds that have fueled the flames and bring relief to the scorched earth. Guide those in leadership to make wise decisions for the safety and recovery of the communities affected.
May Your love shine through the darkness and bring hope to all who are suffering. In Your name, we pray.

Amen

Thank you for praying for my friends,

Pastor John

Defy Conformity: A Call to Christian Rebels

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Good morning!

Hopefully everyone is recovering from the hustle and bustle of the holidays and is beginning to settle in the “normalcy” of the new year. Then again, maybe settling in is not always the best idea ….

Today’s verse comes from a section of the Bible called Romans. It is actually the apostle Paul’s letter to a church in Rome… one of the, if not the most important cities in the world at that time. They were growing like crazy, yet their understanding of God’s Word was shallow. To that group of people, Paul writes the following:

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God – Romans 12:2

Paul issues here a clear warning about conforming to the world around us. Let’s be honest, we have all at least been in danger of doing this. The way we think about the world around us, the actions of others, and life in general is constantly being shaped by what we see, hear, read, experience, etc…. It is part of the human experience. Things that once abhorred us, now are just commonplace around us and we sometimes find ourselves saying, “well, that is just the world is now”, much to our dismay.

But is that how it is supposed to be? Certainly not. The truth is, God’s standards have not and will not change. If we are followers (and I recognize not all who read this may be), then we have an even bigger responsibility. Let’s back up one verse and get an even broader picture of what Paul is trying to teach here.

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God – Romans 12:1-2

There is a lot here, let’s dig in:

Verse 1: A Call to Sacrifice

  • “In view of God’s mercy”: In the preceding chapters of Romans, Paul explains that God’s grace and salvation is offered through Jesus Christ. This verse is defining a proper response to this mercy. Basically, “if you have called on Christ to save you, then this is how to live from now on” (John’s paraphrase).
  • “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice”: Paul calls believers to dedicate their entire lives (mind, body, and actions) to God. Unlike the dead animal sacrifices of the Old Testament, believers are called to be “living” sacrifices, actively serving and honoring God daily. This flies directly in the face of how many of us view our “life” in God’s will, it is not passive …. it is VERY ACTIVE!!!
  • “Holy and pleasing to God”: The sacrifice is to be pure and set apart, aligning with God’s will and bringing Him joy. Only by the grace of God is this remotely possible.
  • “True and proper worship”: Worship is not limited to rituals or ceremonies but involves a lifestyle of devotion and obedience to God. Every minute, every day, everywhere… all that we are and all that we do is either true worship or false worship (bad, evil, abhorrent to God).

Verse 2: Transformation Through Renewal

  • “Do not conform to the pattern of this world”: Believers are urged to resist adopting the values, behaviors, and mindset of a secular, self-centered world.
  • “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind”: Transformation happens through a change in thinking, driven by studying God’s Word, prayer, and seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance. It’s about adopting a Christ-centered worldview.
  • “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is”: By aligning one’s mind and heart with God, believers can discern and embrace His will, which is described as “good, pleasing, and perfect.”

Key Takeaways:

  1. Response to Grace: The passage emphasizes that a life dedicated to God is a response to His mercy, not an attempt to earn salvation.
  2. Holistic Worship: True worship involves every aspect of life, reflecting God’s presence in all we do.
  3. Inner Transformation: Change starts within, requiring a renewed mind and heart aligned with God’s truth.
  4. Discernment: By living this way, believers gain clarity and wisdom to navigate life according to God’s plan.

This passage challenges Christians to live counter-culturally, offering their lives to God in gratitude and service

We are called to be rebels, in a very specific way…. to NOT conform to the world around us… to NOT give in to be like everyone else. People may look at us and call us “strange” or “old fashioned” or “out of touch”, yet God may look at us and call us obedient… and what more could we ask for.

I would like to recommend a recent movie, one based on a true story that exemplifies this kind of radical obedience to God. It really inspired me, and I hope it will inspire you as well. It is called Jesus Revolution. Below is a synopsis and some more details:

“Jesus Revolution” is a 2023 American Christian drama film directed by Jon Erwin and Brent McCorkle. The film is based on the autobiographical book of the same name co-written by Greg Laurie.

Set in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the movie chronicles the origins of the Jesus Movement in Southern California. It follows the journey of Greg Laurie (portrayed by Joel Courtney), a teenager searching for truth and meaning amid the counterculture era. Laurie becomes involved with a community of young hippies who embrace Christianity, led by charismatic evangelist Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie). Their movement gains momentum with the support of Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer), who opens his church to the youth, leading to a national spiritual awakening

The film delves into themes of faith, redemption, and the transformative power of love, capturing a pivotal moment in American religious history. It portrays the challenges and triumphs of a movement that sought to bring together traditional churchgoers and the emerging counterculture, ultimately sparking a nationwide revival.

“Jesus Revolution” offers a nostalgic look at a significant cultural shift, highlighting the impact of the Jesus Movement on contemporary Christian practices and its enduring legacy in American society.

Happy New Year to all of you and your families. God loves you and has a plan for you.

Now go out and be rebels for Jesus today!

COVID-19 Response Update

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Thursday March 19th

Church Family,
Our church, and specifically behind the pulpit of our church, is absolutely my favorite place to be. There are many (maybe most) weeks when my daily mantra is “if I can just make it to Sunday, everything will be OK”. This week, in the midst of all the chaos around us, was no different…

We are truly living in interesting times. Not since the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918 has the church in America been asked to modify or stop church gatherings in the name of public health. That year 50,000 cases were reported across South Carolina alone, resulting in 14,250 deaths… many just days after diagnosis.

For the better part of three months at the end of 1918, the majority of SC churches shuttered their doors, associations across the state did not meet, and even the annual meeting was postponed until the outbreak had subsided. For our part, Baptist churches across this state saw this disruption as a duty necessary to help stop the spread of this deadly virus. (More recently, we did cancel a Sunday morning service 4 years ago when a state of emergency was declared in South Carolina because of severe weather and flooding.)

So we are not living in unprecedented times; our predecessors did face a very similar occurrence just over 100 years ago. Yet, I dare say that none of us were here to experience that, so this has caught us (especially me) off guard. We meet often to discuss church safety and good practices, but we have never met to discuss how to handle a pandemic. These times will surely shape and direct future conversations for years to come.

There is no handbook on how to pastor during a pandemic … except one. The Holy Bible has everything we need to handle whatever we face in this life, as well as the one to come. So, in times like these, we turn to the Word:

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. – 2 Timothy 1:7

Because we know the Lord, we do not need to fear, we do not panic, and we do not participate in languuage and activities that further society’s decline into utter chaos. Because we know the Lord, we can live without the spirit of fear, knowing the He is always watching over us. His power inside of us gives us strength… strength to keep going even when things look bleak. His love for us and in us gives us love…. love that we can then share with those who are hurting. His gift of sound judgement gives us direction… direction to follow and lead with so that His people will continue to love and lead well even if all else falls apart.

In the spirit of sound judgement, I have met with the deacons and we have made some decisions to help safeguard our church family and our community from this virus of pandemic preportions:

Effective Thursday, March 19th, the following statement is in effect until further notice:

  • All activities for Sunday, March 22nd & Wednesday, March 25th have been cancelled.
  • this includes ALL classes, worship services, meetings, and any use of the church building and/or J.A.M. House.

*The deacons and I are expected to meet again (by telephone) on Monday of next week, as well as any other days needed, to discuss the remainder of March, but for now, this statement is limited to the dates listed above.

** We will have a livestream service this Sunday (March 22nd) morning at 11am, this service will be available on our church Facebook page as well as on our website (www.firstbethany.org) via a FB plug-in on the bottom left portion of the main page.

As always, the deacons and I are available to you by phone, text, social media message, or email – 24 hours a day. If you have a need, please do not hesitate to call upon us. I cannot express this enough: The Church Is Not Closed – because the church has never been the building, but the people inside of it.

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it – Matthew 16:18

This is an amazing opportunity for us, especially fathers and husbands, to step up and lead our families, our neighborhoods, and our communities well. Let us not waste this opportunity that we have in front of us to show a lost and dying world who Jesus Christ is and the difference He makes in our lives! I am praying for you all, please pray for me as well.

I will see you all soon – May God bless you and keep you safe in these times of trouble,

Rev. John H. Alexander, Jr. – signed

Mr. Clifton E. White, Chairman of Deacons – endorsed

There’s a lot of great stuff ahead at First Bethany…

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Church family,

God is doing so many great things among us at First Bethany that I didn’t think that a simple social media post would do it justice. I hope that you will be as excited about the things that I share here as I am. Make sure you read all the way to the bottom to hear about the new things going on next school year!

We are currently in the middle of Vacation Bible School. It has been a phenomenal week thus far. I can’t say enough about the theme, the materials, the visual tools, as well as the volunteers that have given of their time this week… So many blessings to thank the Lord for! There is one more night left, please come and join us!

Normally, we would change gears immediately after VBS to our summer schedule. This year, we will maintain our normal schedule for two weeks, culminating in a special Wednesday night session for parents on June 19th. If you have a student that attends classes here at First Bethany on Wednesdays, please try to attend.

Then the following week, we will begin our One Church Wednesdays at the J.A.M. House

For the remainder of the summer, we will meet at the J.A.M. House each week. The schedule will be as follows:

6pm- gather for (Free) Light Dinner

6:30pm -Kids Devotion

6:45pm – Kids Recreation & Adult Bible Study

7:30pm – Dismissal

It’s going to be great fun and a great time to learn more about Jesus. Please join us!

In July, we have two special events that will happen on the same day in the same location, just at 2 different times. Please consider volunteering and attending these events….

We will celebrate the end of summer with a special church outing. We would love for everyone to attend. Students will be free, adults will be just $10. Sign up information will be available soon.

Somewhere in there, I would also like to do another Lake Baptismal Service, we will see where the Lord leads us…

I am very excited about our lineup for the Fall. You should here all about it at the June 19th Fall Preview For Parents, but I will give you a brief update on each:

We are well on our way to renovation on the Nursery… Soon you should be seeing some progress. Our prayer is that our Mission Friends will have a new space to learn in prior to starting back on August 7th.

This next school year, our RAs and GAs will combine to form a unified Children In Action group. They will share the lesson time before splitting up into smaller groups for Recreation and Crafts.

Our Youth Group, led my our Family Ministry Leader Patrick Griswold, will into a study called The Jesus Studies. The Jesus Studies is designed to cut through the confusion, teaching students a Christ-centered look at the major issues they deal with in their daily lives. I am very excited about this study!

Finally, I will be leading our adults through a Bible Study called Worldview… where we look at various wolrdviews of people both home and abroad and learn how to reach them.

In the midst of all these activities, we pray that we would continue to progress along the path that the Lord has set us on. We pray that we will KNOW God’s Word more faithfully and that people would come to KNOW Jesus as Lord and Savior. We pray that we would GROW in our walk with Christ while GROWing closer to one another. And we pray that we will listen to the Lord and GO; to make disciples and to baptize and teach as He commanded us to.

I will be praying for you, please pray for me, as we travel this path together.

I love you all,

Pastor John

Unworthy

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Today means different things to different people, and people celebrate today in many different ways. I celebrate something different today, all the while realizing that I am unworthy to do so.

28 years ago today, I walked in to a Halloween alternative event at Laurel Baptist Church in Greenwood expecting something totally different, but I walked away with a relationship with Jesus Christ. It was the start of something beautiful.

I do things almost every day to prove my unworthiness, but He was faithful that night and has been faithful ever since and always will be faithful – because that is who He is.

Romans 5:8 HCSB
But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!

So my encouragement to you today, even if (especially if) you feel unworthy, look to the cross. Yes, especially on this day when our thoughts might tend to bend toward things dark and sinister, Jesus can take that darkness and emptiness that you feel inside you and fill you with His light. What a special day this could be!

And to our churches, there is no need to “demonize” this one day, the enemy prowls around every day looking to devour us. Teach the importance of standing firm every day, not just one.

And keep doing your Fall Festivals. ..even if it might seem like they are unfruitful, there might just be a guy like me in the crowd somewhere needing to hear about Jesus. In fact, I am pretty sure there will be more than one.

Thanks be to God that even though we are unworthy, He is love. ..the greatest personification of the word ever. ..Father, please forgive me for forgetting that sometimes.

Happy Reformation Day…
Happy anniversary (to me)…
Happy ___________ (whatever you want to call it)…

Psalm 118:24 – This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

April is Ripe with Opportunity

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By the time that most of you read this, we will have had the amazing opportunity to celebrate Easter – Ressurection Day together.

I want to take a moment and thank you for your faithfulness to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering this year. It is a privilege and an honor to help support North American missionaries as they take the Gospel to places where it is needed most, including right here and now.

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If you have been with us in our services for the last few weeks, then you have seen the videos, and you know just how much this offering means to OUR missionaries. If you have missed any of these videos, please click the link below:

AAEO Testimonies

The truth is, missions isn’t what we do, it is the heart of who we are.

The heartbeat of our churches, big and small, is a heart for Christ who calls us to be missional… we MUST be passionate about reaching the lost for Christ !!!! The moment we lose that is the moment that the enemy starts to gain ground… placing our friends, our family, our communities, and our churches in his crosshairs.

Living in this reality, how will we respond?

14 How, then, can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. 16 But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? 17 So faith comes from what is heard,and what is heard comes through the message about Christ. – Romans 10: 14-17

If you are looking for more opportunities to support and be involved in missions (and I know you are), the month of April is ripe with opportunity. Please take a moment to consider these:

Wednesday, April 4th – Missions Classes, Bible Study, #3Circles Training

Not just on April 4th, but every Wednesday this month, we have classes for everyone. Missions classes for the children. Evangelism (#3Circles) training for our teenagers, and Bible for our adults. There is something for everyone. And all these things prepare us to Go and tell the world about Jesus. Let’s be missional on Wednesday nights !!!!!

Sunday, April 8th – Forrest View Worship Service

Have you ever wished that there was a “built-in” way that you could #ServeMcCormick and the surrounding area without having to plan it yourself? An activity where you could just show up and be you? I have good news for you… there is. Please join us as we serve the residents of Forrest View Manor alongside of our friends from the Chapel In The Pines on April 8th (followed by missions meetings and food!)

Tuesday, April 10th – E.B.A. Men’s Ministry Supper @ Parksville

Men… come out and hear about what the Lord is doing in our association and how you can be part of it.

Saturday, April 14th – Children’s Ministry Day

Join our children as they go to distribute items collected for homeless veterans to the Kinard House in Greenwood. Our children are leading the way in missions !!!!

Thursday, April 19th – E.B.A. WMU Spring Meeting @ Red Oak Grove

Women … join with other WMU groups from our association and hear about what the Lord is doing through WMU!

Saturday, April 21st – Disaster Relief Training @ Mt. Airy Baptist (Easley)

Would you like to be trained to respond in times of need? Here is your next opportunity. Please see Wendy Gable for more information.

Sunday, April 29th – 5th Sunday Community Service with Chad Hartis @ Berea Baptist

Come and hear from the 2017 Mission Dartmouth mission team and from church planter Chad Hartis. Chad is the pastor of our church plant partner, South Coast Church, in Dartmouth Mass.

There are 5.9 million people living in the city of Boston, but the overwhelming majority are either practicing Catholics or those who claim no religious beliefs. There’s only one SBC church for every 39,257 people. The need for gospel-centered churches is very real in New England !!!

A little further south is the city of Dartmouth, Massachusetts; a city that Barna once named “the least biblically minded city in the nation”.  There, North Carolina natives and church planters Chad & Jodi Hartis have planted their family and their church to reach those who are far from God.

Come and hear from Chad as he shares his heart for this underserved region of our country.

Don’t miss out on these amazing opportunities to grow and walk closer with the Lord as He leads you in missions !!!!

I love you all,

Pastor John

 

March Is For Missions

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I love the month of March. There is a little more sunshine and fewer cold days. There seems to be a spring in everyone’s step as they anticipate the dawning of a new spring. We begin to prepare for Easter and to focus on one of the things that flow out of our deep appreciation for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross: Missions

This time last year, we introduced our “Missions Mantra” for 2017: #KnowGrowGo.

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Yes, there is a double meaning to #KnowGrowGo graphic:  We do want to know Jesus and God’s Word, we do want to grow in our faith and in our walk with Jesus, and we must go and make disciples, baptize, and teach….  yet, if you look closely at the graphic, the globe is focused on Northern Africa; where our 2017 summer missionary spent his summer ! 

This mantra has served us well over the last year and we will continue to refer to it often. But today, I would like to introduce to you a new “mantra”, if you will, for 2018:

#ServeMcCormick

Last week, I was able to spend a say at a conference in Columbia, SC with hundreds of other pastors. I was a great day. I enjoyed the fellowship and encouragement greatly. I also loved being challenged by what was preached.

One of the main speakers, J.D. Greear, told a story that really challenged me (I will place a link to the video below). In this story, he tells of a time where he did not understand why he was invited to speak at a certain event……. (please click the link below).

JD Greear Video from Impact (start watching at 26:30 for this story)

What struck me about this story was the following quote:

“Everywhere in the city… where there is something broken, there is somebody there from your church who is trying to fix it.“

I have asked many times since I have been at First Bethany, “What is the biggest problem in McCormick and how do we impact it for Jesus?“. Maybe what I should have been asking is, “Where are the broken things in this city and how can we help love on those in need?“.

You see, if we limit our focus to one or two issues, we miss out on amazing opportunities to serve. Yet, if we will simply lay ourselves out before the Lord and say “use me”, I believe that He will show us numerous opportunities to serve Him by serving those in need in His name. Oh, what a blessing!

34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: 36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. – Matthew 22:34-39

Thus #ServeMcCormick was born….

It seems simple, maybe even too simple, yet I believe that the Lord will not bless us with greater opportunities until we improve in this area. How are we going to do this?:

  • We have to keep inviting the community to attend events that will contain a Gospel message; like the upcoming Easter Egg Hunt and Easter services.
  • We have to keep preparing for times where the community might need us; by taking advantage of opportunities like the Disaster Relief Training happening throughout the year.
  • We must continue to perform acts of radical service to the community, like the annual Back-To-School-Bash; while looking for ways to #ServeMcCormick every day.
  • Most importantly, we must PRAY for those who know Him not, to be drawn to Him and to respond accordingly.

How will you #ServeMcCormick?

It is not a one-time event… it doesn’t happen just in one place… It is a lifestyle of service born out of a deep appreciation for what Christ has done on the cross.

 

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First Bethany Baptist Church is currently raising money for two missions efforts: A local mission trip to Edgefield, SC called C.C.C.  &  a return trip to Dartmouth, Mass. to work with church planting partners. If you would like to order a t-shirt, we are selling them throughout the month of March at the following link:

T-shirt order form

Let’s go out there and be the church… let’s be about our Father’s business… let’s #ServeMcCormick !

I love you all, Pastor John

Of Early Morning Apologies and Late Night Blog Posts….

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I probably should hold off writing this until tomorrow… Or at least stop before submission and save the final draft for later, but I can’t sleep, my heart is heavy, so here goes….. If any of the 3 ( or so 😉 of you who actually read this blog feel offended, I am sorry… It is not my intent.

I had an argument with my 10 year old this morning before school. She wasn’t as enthusiastic about getting to school on time as I thought she should be… We both kind of handled it badly. I left the house to go to work and didn’t get too far down the road before I turned around. I couldn’t let her go to school being mad at me…. I had to say that I was sorry.

That would be the right thing to do on any morning. But, you see, this morning I could not stop thinking about what happened just a few days ago in Parkland, Florida. And I couldn’t stop thinking that IF ( God forbid ) something was to happen at my daughter’s school today, what would be last thing we said to each other.

It’s a terrible thing to think about. But I couldn’t stop. So I had to make sure she knew that I loved her.

It’s a terrible thing to think about because, right now, there are 17+ families and and entire community thinking about the last things they said to their students before they went to school last Wednesday.

My heart is heavy for those families… My heart breaks for them. I pray everyday for them, that somehow in the midst of all this, they feel God’s presence holding them close.

I keep this picture in my phone to remind me to pray

And that is the proper thing to do .. Pray. For these families, for their comfort, for their peace…. Pray. For this school… Pray. For this world… Pray. Pray that parents would once again value the Word of God and bring their children to church. Pray that the distractions that keep us from focusing on the Lord’s instructions would decrease so that our understanding of the Lord would increase. Pray that we (as the church) might play role in the revival of this nation.

Those are all proper responses

And then there have been the improper ones.

Of course, in a time like this, there is going to be some focus on reducing gun violence. There are going to be those who call for stricter laws and more thorough inspection of procedures. Of course there are going to be those who let their emotions surpass what they would normally think, say or do. It is a trying time. In many ways, a little introspection on how we feel about these issues is warranted.

(And I am neither proposing or opposing the implementation of tighter restrictions here)

Those are not the people that bother me. Those are not the ones who have caused my heart to break. Those are not the ones that are keeping me up tonight.

I am more concerned with the ones who are supposed to know what the following words mean, yet have seem to forgotten them here lately:

Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. – Eccl. 5:2

What we need is less divisive conversation and more praying. We need those who know the Lord to worry more about the Gospel and loving others than their own desires and opinions.

Here is the thing:

There is nothing more important than the Gospel.

Let’s make sure that when we are expressing our opinion on non-Gospel related issues, that we do not let our speech (or text) prevent us from sharing ultimate TRUTH with someone down the road.

Let’s pray.

And let’s be who we are called to be.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. – Matthew 5:13

I love you all , all three of you 😉

Keep fighting the good fight.

Pastor John

What Is God Calling You To Sacrifice?

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How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? … – Romans 10:14a

The summer of 2006 was approaching and I was weighing plans for the family in my mind; trying to decide how to spend the few precious days of vacation time that I had earned from work. Those vacation days were (and still are) very precious to me and I wanted to make sure that I used them well. Never mind that I was also running a business on the side at the time… we were busy for sure!

It was already hard to decide what to do and where to go.; and then something remarkable happened. One Sunday, our pastor (we had just started attending our “home” church in late 2004) mentioned that our church was going to take a trip that summer to a small town in Mississippi to help a church rebuild from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

In that moment, I began to consider something that I had never thought of before.

I had never been on a mission trip, but what if God was calling our family to sacrifice our summer vacation to join Him in helping those in need? What if His summer plans for us included something much more than sand, water, amusements parks, bad hotels, and the like? What if He was sending us on a mission and this was His invitation?

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” — C.T. Studd

It was not long after that that our family was sitting in a living room pondering this option… my wife was on board, the kids soon followed… and the Alexanders decided that the beach could wait! It was not an easy decision, not back then, and we may still find ourselves wrestling from time to time with some of the same questions. But I can tell you that this trip changed my life and the life of our family

We ended up spending a very hot, very humid week in Pascagoula, a town that I had only ever heard mentioned in an old song about a squirrel and a church. It was one of the most physically demanding yet spiritually nourishing weeks of my life. I thank God that He invited us, and that we listened.

“The mark of a great church is not its seating capacity, but its sending capacity.” – Mike Stachura

I have come to not only value the opportunity to “go” on mission, but also to desire it greatly. There has not been a summer since 2005 that I have not been somewhere with some church on mission. I say that not to attempt place myself under your esteem, but only to mention that my vacation days from work have NOT really increased that much since then. And pastoring a church is much busier than running a business.

My point is clear and it is one of challenge: What is God calling you to sacrifice so that you can join Him on mission?

Not everyone can go, not every time… but we should all be “on mission”!

In order to help you, as my church family, I want to detail a couple of upcoming opportunities for you to prayerfully consider… I would love for you to join me in one of these efforts:

1) Prayer – it is the single most important thing that you can do for missions. Pray for the mission teams’ safety, health, and (most importantly) effectiveness for the Gospel!

2) One Day – On Tuesday November 7, South Carolina Baptists will be on mission, serving the city of Columbia, SC in the name of Jesus. Volunteers will join local churches and ministries to support the work being done in their communities. I have more details…. Please see me to sign up.

3) Mission Dartmouth (a.k.a. The EBA Boston Area Mission Trip) – On Dec 1st – 4th, the churches of the EBA will travel for an extended weekend to Dartmouth, Mass to assist our church planting partners (SouthCoast Church) with ministry. The really cool thing is that most of the cost for this trip is being covered by a grant; so your part is actually quite low. And even that should not discourage you from signing up. I will be leading this trip and would love for you to join me. This is your invitation! Sign up ends on October 31st.

In all this, please know that I love and appreciate every one of you. Whether you can participate in one or all three of these items that does not change. Yet, I would love to see you and your family be blessed by such an effort in the same way we were (and are). Please be in prayer over these opportunities.

I love you all,

Pastor John