Updates

It has been a while since I made my last entry. Life has been quite busy. I am glad to say that it has been busy with mostly good things, but busy none the less.

On Wednesday nights the adult class has been going through a teaching series about witnessing. It is called, The Way of the Master, and of course the Master is Jesus. Each night we watch a DVD that lasts approximately 30 minutes or so, and so far the teaching has been nothing short of amazing. Really, there is nothing new being presented. Instead, Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort are presenting and applying the things we already know in such a way that it is convicting, eye opening, and inspiring. After watching lesson 2, the hair on the back of my neck stood up as I thought to my self, "why didn't I see this before?" I guess the title of lesson 2 is very appropriate, Hell's Best Kept Secret. There are 8 lessons in all, and if the next 6 were lost or destroyed I would be completely satified that I got to see and hear just the first 2. They are really that good!

We also made an investment in church T-shirts. Natural colored t-shirts with the message; Putting Jesus 1st @ First Assembly of God, Edwardsville, Illinois. They advertise our website. They will also have our church name on the front left pocket area and our most recent slogan, Blending Tradition With a Contemporary Style. Our hope and desire is that our people will buy these shirts ($6) to help us recuperate some of the cost and then proudly wear them around town to be a witness for the Lord and an advertisement for our church. We will also be using them as prizes and gifts to get as many of them out there as possible.

We have been working on a tract and magazine rack for the foyer. We hope to fill it with free, useful, witnessing items, and literature. We also wish to get rid of the little table some of that stuff is presently displayed on.

The Bridge Builders and Evangelism Committee met this week with a representative from the Intelligencer Newspaper who explained options were for advertising. We are also going to meet with WIBI, FM 91.1, to discuss radio advertising options. We are excited about these opportunities as well. OF COURSE, we must remember that our personal invitations are the best form of advertising for Christianity and for our church. People may see our ads and and want to come, but personal invitations are the most effective.

The church board has also voted to replace, and hopefully upgrade, our church bus. The current bus served its purpose well, but it has been a bit costly to maintain. Pray we find a heavy duty, 24+ passenger diesel bus with a wheel chair lift, made after the year 2000 and close to Edwardsville. They are a little harder to find than you might think.

Finally, our hearts are made heavy with the passing away of Sister Charmane Barnell. A couple of years ago she was diagnosed with brain cancer and fought hard, but could not beat it. It is hard to understand these things sometimes, but we must continue to believe that God loves us, and that He truly is in charge. Surely, He has His reasons for not healing her of this disease while she lived on the earth. Surely, if it was best, He would have done it. But, in His infinite, all-knowing wisdom, God let her go to heaven. Our prayers are with Mike and children.

Pastor Tim