| First Baptist Church Mayodan |
| 101 South First Ave. Mayodan, NC 27027 Office Hours Monday-Friday 9:00am to 2:00pm Phone (336) 548-2565 FAX (336) 548-2463 Email joinus@mayodanfbc.org |
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| Pastor Rev. Randy Jessup Email: rjessup@mayodanfbc.org |
| A Word From Pastor Randy Jessup |
The Best Is Yet To Come
God's already done so much in our church; it's hard to believe we'd ever expect
Him to do even more. But He's done it through you. If there is any verse in the
Bible that's appropriate, it's Philippians 1:3 "I thank God every time I remember
you."
The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians, "We continually thank God for you because
the love you have for one another never stops increasing." That's so true of this
church. Your love for each other just keeps growing and growing. The quality
that people mention most when they come to 1st Baptist is they sense love and
acceptance. That's because of you. I love it when I see you hugging people.
I've told you before, some people say, "The only hug I ever get is when I'm at
church." Love draws people like a magnet. The reason this church continues to
grow is because loving churches grow. People want to be where love is.
Number two, I thank God for your flexibility. That may sound very strange but
honestly, I don't know of a church that's put up with more changes than this
church. The changes we've gone through in the last four years would kill the
typical church. But you've rolled with the punches, you've adapted, you've been
flexible, and you've been willing to put up with inconveniences.
The Bible says "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." Therefore, we
don't try to put God in a box. If we're going to follow the Holy Spirit we have to
stay flexible. I thank God for that in your life.
Number three, I thank God for your generosity. You have willingly sacrificed
your time, money, effort, energy, and talent. This is a happy church. It's a
happy church because it's a giving church. For the last several years you have
tithed and sacrificed, and, as a result, we have received more than our budget
requirements. Also we just surpassed our goal for our Annie Armstrong Easter
offering. WOW!! Our goal was $5,009 and we have received over $5,300. We
did this in a recession. With God all things are possible!!!
Four, I thank God for your faith. I thank God for your attitude that's always
been, "Let's go for it!” You are a people of faith. You've stretched. I've never
gotten over the honor and the privilege of getting to be your pastor. God has
some exciting things in store for us and it will take faith to accomplish what He
wants us to do.
Five, I thank God for your vision. You see beyond yourselves. You have a
bigger perspective. You try not to get stuck in the past or rest on past
accomplishments. You keep moving forward. The Bible says in Isaiah 40:3
"The Lord says, `Forget what happened before and don't dwell on the past.
Look at the brand new thing I'm going to do. It's already happening.'" We
thank God for the past, we glorify God for the past, but we don't stay in the
past. We are a forward thinking church. And I do believe our best days are
ahead of us.
Number six, I thank God for your love for the lost. For your love for people
who don't know Jesus Christ, for the unchurched, for the people who haven't
found the good news yet. Honestly, you don't just love each other -- a lot of
churches love each other. You continue to invite your neighbors and friends and
business associates. You care enough to share Jesus with them.
We have reached a lot of people for Christ but we are never going to stop
growing, because people without Christ die and go into a Christless eternity.
We're talking about eternal destinies here. People need the Lord.
4.2 million Babies are born in America every year. That's about eight a minute.
And every one of them needs Jesus Christ. At the same time in America 2.1
million Americans die. That's about four people dying every minute. Every one
of them needs Jesus Christ. That is a statistic we cannot ignore, and it is
unacceptable if even one person doesn't know Christ. We have a responsibility
to reach out.
I want to challenge you -- never lose the passion that people need the Lord.
God has placed us in this time and this place for this strategic purpose. There is
nothing more important.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, we are very aware that at this moment we are standing on holy
ground. You have brought us this far, to this time, and for this purpose. We
sense that You are about to do something that is absolutely incredible in us and
through us. Thank You for the love, faith, flexibility, the vision and the sacrifice
that I have seen in the lives of these people over the years. How great Thou art.
In Jesus' name. Amen
Love, Randy
God's already done so much in our church; it's hard to believe we'd ever expect
Him to do even more. But He's done it through you. If there is any verse in the
Bible that's appropriate, it's Philippians 1:3 "I thank God every time I remember
you."
The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians, "We continually thank God for you because
the love you have for one another never stops increasing." That's so true of this
church. Your love for each other just keeps growing and growing. The quality
that people mention most when they come to 1st Baptist is they sense love and
acceptance. That's because of you. I love it when I see you hugging people.
I've told you before, some people say, "The only hug I ever get is when I'm at
church." Love draws people like a magnet. The reason this church continues to
grow is because loving churches grow. People want to be where love is.
Number two, I thank God for your flexibility. That may sound very strange but
honestly, I don't know of a church that's put up with more changes than this
church. The changes we've gone through in the last four years would kill the
typical church. But you've rolled with the punches, you've adapted, you've been
flexible, and you've been willing to put up with inconveniences.
The Bible says "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." Therefore, we
don't try to put God in a box. If we're going to follow the Holy Spirit we have to
stay flexible. I thank God for that in your life.
Number three, I thank God for your generosity. You have willingly sacrificed
your time, money, effort, energy, and talent. This is a happy church. It's a
happy church because it's a giving church. For the last several years you have
tithed and sacrificed, and, as a result, we have received more than our budget
requirements. Also we just surpassed our goal for our Annie Armstrong Easter
offering. WOW!! Our goal was $5,009 and we have received over $5,300. We
did this in a recession. With God all things are possible!!!
Four, I thank God for your faith. I thank God for your attitude that's always
been, "Let's go for it!” You are a people of faith. You've stretched. I've never
gotten over the honor and the privilege of getting to be your pastor. God has
some exciting things in store for us and it will take faith to accomplish what He
wants us to do.
Five, I thank God for your vision. You see beyond yourselves. You have a
bigger perspective. You try not to get stuck in the past or rest on past
accomplishments. You keep moving forward. The Bible says in Isaiah 40:3
"The Lord says, `Forget what happened before and don't dwell on the past.
Look at the brand new thing I'm going to do. It's already happening.'" We
thank God for the past, we glorify God for the past, but we don't stay in the
past. We are a forward thinking church. And I do believe our best days are
ahead of us.
Number six, I thank God for your love for the lost. For your love for people
who don't know Jesus Christ, for the unchurched, for the people who haven't
found the good news yet. Honestly, you don't just love each other -- a lot of
churches love each other. You continue to invite your neighbors and friends and
business associates. You care enough to share Jesus with them.
We have reached a lot of people for Christ but we are never going to stop
growing, because people without Christ die and go into a Christless eternity.
We're talking about eternal destinies here. People need the Lord.
4.2 million Babies are born in America every year. That's about eight a minute.
And every one of them needs Jesus Christ. At the same time in America 2.1
million Americans die. That's about four people dying every minute. Every one
of them needs Jesus Christ. That is a statistic we cannot ignore, and it is
unacceptable if even one person doesn't know Christ. We have a responsibility
to reach out.
I want to challenge you -- never lose the passion that people need the Lord.
God has placed us in this time and this place for this strategic purpose. There is
nothing more important.
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, we are very aware that at this moment we are standing on holy
ground. You have brought us this far, to this time, and for this purpose. We
sense that You are about to do something that is absolutely incredible in us and
through us. Thank You for the love, faith, flexibility, the vision and the sacrifice
that I have seen in the lives of these people over the years. How great Thou art.
In Jesus' name. Amen
Love, Randy