As we approach another change of season, I am so glad to affirm with you that our God and Savior never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. What a wonderful absolute truth in a changing world.
Don WiltonIt makes me think of the wonderful historic growth of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. We’ve come a long way indeed. Just think about our beginnings. Think about all the “homecomings” during which time faithful people gather and reminisce, fellowship, and, of course, eat tons of good home cooking!
The centerpiece of these joyful occasions is always the people. You can find them in every congregation. Many of them have gray hair, and many of them walk slowly these days. But they are the legacy leaders of our convention. They are the ones who hoisted the flag and set the pace for us to follow. They are the ones who taught us to roll up our sleeves and go to work. They gave us the true understanding of what it means to volunteer our time and energy for the Lord’s work in the local church as well as in our state. We owe them a great debt of gratitude.
These volunteers are not limited to senior adults, though. Our churches are filled with people who serve in every capacity imaginable. You will find them rocking our babies in the nursery, driving our buses on every kind of church trip, picking up hymnbooks after each service, fixing roofs that have begun to leak, making crafts for Vacation Bible School, and out on the streets and sidewalks sharing their faith with a lost and dying world.
The local New Testament church is where it all is. God ordained it to be this way. It is founded and grounded on the life of our Savior, and not even the gates of hell will prevail against it. We have cause to celebrate in South Carolina because of our churches. Therein lies our strength and therein lies our heartbeat. The Lord Jesus has chosen to bless us in this way. To whom much is given, much is required. This is why I have chosen the theme of “Give It Away” for our annual convention this year. I am praying you are making plans to come to Taylors First Baptist in November, ready to celebrate God’s infinite goodness to us.