Updates!

The annual pig picking at Joe and Tiffany Dawkins is Saturday. This is a church event that is held each year at their home. It begins at 5:30 a.m. getting the hogs ready to cook. Joe burns his own wood and shovels the hot ashes under the grill to slow cook the hogs. There will be rifle shooting and paint ball games during the day. Bring your lawn chair and come sit awhile with your friends. We are serving the meal around 5:00 p.m. Bring your family and friends to enjoy this awesome event.

Nancy and I are going to College Park Baptist Church, Rock Hill, SC Sunday after the morning worship service. I'll be preaching Sunday night revival service at this church. Looking forward to a good time in the Lord. Rev. Jerry Broughton is pastor at this church. Praying many will return to the Lord and many will be saved.

Whiteford Purvis passed away this morning at Carolina Hospital. Keep the Purvis family in your prayers. Mandy Caulder, Michael Anderson, Ashley Robbins are grandchildren and they have children that are great grandchildren to the late Whiteford Purvis. Lots of people in our church family connected to this family. No arrangements have been made as of now.

Men on Mission are having their monthly meeting tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. All men are encouraged to attend.

I have a great desire to have 300 people every week in Sunday School. We can have 300 plus if we all make a commitment to be faithful. Why should it be so hard to attend church when Jesus gave His life for the church. Let's break this current attendance of about 270 and go on to greater things for God.

See you Sunday!

Evangelism Conference

Nancy and I enjoyed the evangelism conference today at Anderson Mill Road Baptist Church in Moore, SC. Jay Hardwick preached about church planting and being friends with older church pastors and older church pastors being friends with younger church pastors. It was a very good sermon about change. Jay came in his Sunday attire of blue jeans and black shirt and no tie. He was at ease with his preaching and appearance and impressed me very much. I liked the Spirit he preached with.



David Platt also preached with power. He was awesome with his choice of words as he proclaimed the gospel. He gave insight on the Great Commission with a humble spirit. He said, Jesus chose 12 ordinary men to turn the world upside down. Jesus started out with 12 men and ended up with 120 in the upper room. He did not have a mega church but a small group of people He had poured His life into. Ministry is pouring your saved lives into others who will reproduce themselves. David preached a power moving gospel sermon.

Alvin Reid preached about ways to reach the new generation. He preached about change and ways to reach the youth of this day. There are more youth today than any other time in history. Let's all do our part and love on our youth.

This was a good few days with the Lord.

Just Stand!

As time passes God is able to ease the hurt in our hearts. When the dark clouds of life issues fall upon us we are taken by surprise. It hurts so bad for all who are involved in these storms. When I reach out to the Father, He reaches out to me and comforts me with His gentle touch. Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I can feel His touch upon me. God will grant to all His love when we seek Him. He holds my hand and guides me through the dark days of my life. Thank you Lord for your blessings on me. I love you Jesus! The day will come when we shall overcome all the fiery darts of the evil one. I will not be moved! I will stand for Jesus all the days of my life.

Jesus, I Love You.

There is a brighter day coming and I'm trusting God for all the wisdom He can grant me. When we love, we are going to be hurt. I encourage everyone to stand with Jesus. Put on the whole armor of God. Watch out for the wicked one, he is looking for someone to destroy. We don't have to fall into sin, we can be over comers through the blood of Jesus. Jesus loves me this I know! Jesus , oh, how I love you! Lord, wash our sins away and keep us sheltered in your loving arms. I long for the touch of God upon my life. Lord, I do believe you will provide for me and my household. Pray with me and keep praying for me and my wife. We need your prayers.

SFBC REVIVAL DATES

Dr. Jeff Laborg

Senior Pastor @ Second Baptist Church, Warner Robins, GA

South Florence Baptist Church is having a Revival meeting April 25 - 28, 2010. Dr. Jeff Laborg will be our guest preacher for the week. He's an awesome young preacher. Mark these dates on your calendar.

Haiti Relief

Randy Shell, founder of SMI (Southeastern Medical International)will be leading a team to Haiti. We want to be part of this mission trip to Haiti. We are planning to take up a love offering to send to the hurting people in Haiti. During the two services tomorrow we will take up this offering. Please pray and believe as we give to this needful mission.

Report

I left one group out. Our WMU ladies finished in the 4th position out of 41 churches.

Report

We have 41 Southern Baptist Churches in Florence Baptist Association. How do we measure up in this list of local churches? I was reading the annual report from the SCBC and found these statistics:

South Florence Baptist Church

1st in Baptisms
2nd in DT enrollment
2nd in Men on Mission
4th in Sunday School attendance
6th in Mission gifts
7th in tithes and offerings

I would say, God is blessing in a great and mighty way at SFBC. I want to thank the people at SFBC for working so hard and letting your light shine. Keep up the good work.

Updates

It seems to be cold today. I'm sitting in my office and my feet are getting cold. This must be a sign of getting older. As I wait for our MOM meeting tonight I've been reading through my books. I got a book case and started bringing my books back from home. I enjoy reading the old books of years gone by. Most all these books are out of print. Reading is good for everybody. I just started reading "Going Rogue" by Sarah Palin. She seemed to have an interesting life so far.

I urge you to pray concerning our Super Bowl Campaign. Bathed the people you are going to invite in prayer before you ask them to attend our church. Pray believing God is going to work in their lives. Show much passion when you talk to people. God wants to bless us more than we want to be blessed. Come on Red team, invite your friends so we can win this week.

See you Sunday!

Let's Go Soul Winning!

"When Jesus had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, 'Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch'" (Luke 5:4).

1. Jesus was with them. We never go alone. He has promise to be with us as we go out in His name. "And lo, I am with you always" (Matt. 28:20).

2. Jesus was directing where they should go. He has promised to lead us. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27).

3. Jesus took responsibility for whether there would be a catch, if they would be obedient. "Let down your nets for a catch" (Luke 5:4).

Updates

Just talked with Eddie Wilson at MUSC. Bradley Wilson did well through the surgery. Dr.'s said, everything went as expected. He has a shunt in head that drains fluid to his stomach. Should come home by Friday if all goes well. Continue to pray for him.

Al Melton had surgery Tuesday at Spartanburg, SC. He had a section close to his little toe removed and a bone that was infected in foot removed. Doing real good. Talked to him last night for a few moments. The mass in his kidney did not show up during the MRI. The Lord touched him.

Oh, what a Savior!

Bob Bair is riding with me to MUSC to visit the Wilson family today. Bradley is having some complication and needs our prayers. He is having an MRI sometime this morning. Possible he will have surgery this afternoon. Adam, Brooks, Eddie, Sally and family members are in need of constant prayers. Please pray.

Jeffery will head up visitation tonight. Go tell someone about Jesus. Invite all you know to attend our Sunday School. Have a good time going and broadcasting seeds tonight.

Leaving for MUSC around 12:30 p.m.

Allen's Christmas 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas with all the boys and family members home with us. We had our Christmas on Dec. 26, 2009. It was a full house. Family is so important.

Notes From the Pastor.

Cindy & Joel Gant's little girl is in Mcleod Hospital. She is in room 310 at the Children's Hospital. The Children's Hospital is in the new tower. Cindy has been in the Mcleod Hospital the last two weeks and now Kaliah Holloman the little girl they are adopting is sick. They hope she goes home Monday.

Karen Rogers is still at home with back problems. Chuck told me today he was still having to help her move about in the house. She was in a car wreck about six years ago and still has back problems from time to time.

Let's all be in church tomorrow to start the year right. Help reach the goal of 300 in Sunday School.

Give this year so we can break our record this past year. I would like to see our people give $800,000.00 this year. This is a goal we can reach with sacrifice.

Harvest Month!

Sunday is the day we start our Sunday School Super Bowl Campaign. The month of January will determine whether we have a good year or a great year at SFBC. When we work hard in January to invite and enroll people in our Sunday School; the Lord gives us souls to baptize. I'm praying for a harvest time during January. Wouldn't it be great to have 300 plus every Sunday the rest of the year. I'm on the Red Team, but I'm pulling for both teams to do well. Of course, you know we are going to win. Work hard and stay focused during this new year.

The January Bible Study this new year is in the Parables of the Gospels. Sunday we will begin a study on the parable of the 'Sower' found in Matthew 13:1-9. I'm going to enjoy preaching in the Parables during January 2010.

We have a baptismal service scheduled for January 17 @ 7:00 p.m. We have about 15 waiting to be baptized.

Al Melton is having surgery Tuesday at Spartanburg Regional, Spartanburg, SC. He will have his big toe removed as well as part of his foot. Keep the family and Al in your prayers.

The Funeral of Ruby Brasington

Nancy and I went to Lancaster, SC this afternoon to attend my Aunt Ruby Brasington visitation at the Lancaster Funeral Home. It was a sad time and yet a rejoicing time because she was a Holy woman of God. She reminded me of my mother so much. It was a time to reflect on old times. I played at her home everyday when I was growing up as a child. I was able to see cousins that I've not seen in years.

I've got the funeral tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. There are 4 preachers having part in this funeral. I will be doing the message, so please pray for me. May the Lord be glorified. The funeral will be at Emmanuel Baptist Church and then proceed to Thorn Hill Baptist Church in Kershaw, SC. She will be buried at the cemetery at Thorn Hill.

I will be using 2 Timothy 4 1-6 for my text. She has fought a good fight. She has finished her course.

Updates

The new year is almost with us. I'm praying for a great year in Jesus. I'm excited about the plans for the 4 acres of land being used for a football / soccer field next year. Upward Sports are coming our way. We are going to need some volunteers for these activities. Some of you will be trained in these areas of ministry. Upward sports will help us engage with families who need Jesus. We must be alert to the needs of people around us. Get ready for some exciting weeks in 2010.

Keep Cindy Gant in your prayers. She is in Mcleod Hospital. Bob Moore is still in Carolina Hospital. He will be going to Commander Nursing Home for a while. Glen Jones had surgery this past Tuesday. He is at home trying to get better.

My aunt Ruby Brasington passed away last night in Lancaster, SC. This was my mother's sister. Keep this family in your prayers.

Merry Christmas!

I wish all A Merry Christmas! May you reach out and touch your family with love and kindness. Allow this Christmas to be a happy time in your lives. I pray all your children will be home for Christmas. I pray for the good health of you all. Jesus will make a difference when you allow Him to lead your lives. Thank God for the Holy Spirit that lives in our hearts.

Bob Moore is still in Carolina Hospital, room 425. Keep him in your prayers.

See you Sunday!

Christmas Weekend

We have coming up this weekend a very special occasion. The Adult Christmas Cantata is Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. This will bless your hearts. It's always beautiful and leads us to the Savior. Come early to get a good seat.

Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. the Children's Musical will be presented. TeamKids will sing some Holiday songs to cheer our hearts. The younger children will do some Hand Bell music for us. There's going to be a whole lot of singing going on. Santa will visit with us and share with the kids. Fruit bags will be given out to all who attend. It's going to be a fun night.

Please pray that God will use these two services to touch hearts. This will be the only time some of the parents and friends will attend church this year. We will not see some of these people until next year. Who knows, God may just save some.

Merry Christmas!

Prayer Walking

Plan on having a Prayer Walk through our church and grounds soon. Locations can be: sanctuary, foyer, educational facilities, fellowship hall, youth building, parking lot, play grounds, and offering plates. As we walk through the buildings and grounds we are praying for God to prepare hearts to receive His Word. Pray for God to give vision to His leaders. Pray for all the teachers and leaders we have serving each week. Folks this will work. Get ready for an awesome night of Prayer Walking.

2010 Sunday School Super Bowl Campaign

It's getting time for our Super Bowl Sunday School Campaign 2010. This is an exciting time of the year for our church. More people are saved during January than any other month in the year. This years Team Captains are:

Blue Team: Richard Jones & Blake Godbold

Red Team: David Gasque & Boyce Francum

I'm ready for some football!