Articles
WELCOME BACK
After the last few months, we may have wondered if we would ever get back in our building but God has been gracious to us and today we assemble together to thank and praise God for His provision. I would like to say a few things to commend the saints here in this article:
1. Your loving concern for each other.
Even though we have not been able to assemble, several of the saints here have called one another on a regular basis to check on those who are aged and ill and have provided meals and other means of assistance. Some had offered to provide financial assistance to any of the brethren who were in need. Only two couples that I know of were in need and money was given by individuals to help alleviate that need. Others made it known that they were ready at any time to provide when the need became known to them. I am really impressed and thankful for the generous heart of so many in this regard.
This truly fulfills what Jesus told the apostles in Jn.13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” I believe this intense activity of love will reap huge benefits in our unity and work for the Lord in the days ahead.
2. Your consistency in contributing to the Lord.
Even though we were not physically in the building, so many of you have been consistent, week in and week out with sending your contribution for the Lord’s work. The financial support of the local preacher and six other evangelists that we support monthly was not affected at all. Since we had a surplus already (before the pandemic, the elders were already looking for scriptural ways to bring the surplus down), the balance is still in pretty good shape. The saints here have been amazing in their conscientious contributing to the Lord & His work.
3. Your weekly viewing on livestream.
When I look on the face book and see the number of people, both here and in other areas, who have watched the livestream each week, I have been very humbled. I don’t know of any preacher who enjoys preaching to a mostly empty auditorium but you have made it endurable by your encouraging words after each sermon. I was very humbled by your loving words, both
on face book and in other communication. Thank you for that. Ron Harris calls me the televangelist. I’m glad you could watch because when I watch, it takes me back and shows my imperfections in communicating. I’m trying to correct those imperfections by an honest appraisal of my efforts, even though I’m intimidated by the whole process.
4. The hard work the deacons have displayed.
Doug Johnson has been amazing in his getting the livestream up and running. The first two weeks he used Marvene’s phone to telecast. Since the elders had already budgeted money for the livestream, the deacons were able to buy a good camera in which to do the livestreaming. In the weeks after that initial telecast by smartphone, each week, all the bugs were eliminated and Doug has it running efficiently and smoothly. Chad Virdell has done the wiring, researched and bought a mixer for better audio and Chad, Doug, Mitch and Ken have been involved in setting up a sound room in the back for a permanent livestreaming of our services.
You can’t imagine the number of hours the deacons have put into this endeavor, all for the benefit of people here and in other places who can worship with us when they can’t assemble with us. Some of you already have thanked the deacons for their work, but if you have not done so yet, I know you’ll want to do that when you assemble today with them. Ask them to show you the sound room and it will make you appreciate all the work they have done.
From time to time over the last few months, there have been people who have logged into the livestreaming that I have no idea who they are but at least Bible preaching is making its way into their homes. Sometimes people are hesitant to attend the services in our church building but may be willing to watch it on livestream. When they see the flow of the service, they may be more willing to attend rather than be intimidated. Please invite your neighbors, family and friends to view the livestream as a method of evangelism. We need to print up some cards with all that information on it so you can pass them out to those who might be interested.
5. The constant refrain that we have all been using is: God is in control.
No matter how inconvenient and disrupting the CO-VID19 has been to the work here, you have not let it faze you. We know God is always in control and can bring good out of the bad. More recently, the racial turmoil has been disheartening and a cause of great concern. But I have no worries about the group here in Clermont because even though we have different races, our emphasis has been, and will continue to be, on the heart that ignores such prejudice. I have always been impressed that despite the many ethnicities we have here in Clermont, it has never caused any hatred or animosity between the brethren. Jesus told us to be lights of the world (Matt.5:14) and by our example and love for each other, we are doing our part to quell such disharmony in our community, nation and world.
So what do we do now? Well, it’s time to put the last few months behind us and move forward. There is so much to do in the Lord’s work and I really do feel that all this turmoil has inspired us to put forth more effort to serve the Lord and our fellowman. As the Lord told Moses, in Deuteronomy 2:3, “You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward.” God has brought us through a very difficult and tumultuous time. Out of gratitude to Him, it’s time to get to work and do more than we ever have before for the Lord. Are you ready to do work for the great Lord we serve? - Barry Hudson
