November 4, 2002
It was a thrilling experience for us at First Baptist this week. It’s not often that our small congregation is privileged to host and share with representatives of our worldwide mission endeavor through our American Baptist International Ministries. Daniel and Sheila Miranda and David, Stephen and Jannel missionaries on home leave and more study from Convention Baptist Bible College in the Philippines led our worship and sharing time. Our own MiVida Babcock and several Filipino friends cooked an authentic Filipino meal for us. An informal setting, which greatly enhanced the fellowship, was necessitated when we were forced to move to our Fellowship Hall because our central heating system was out. The electric kitchen stove and judiciously placed space heaters gave a modicum of artificial heat to the area. However, the greatest warmth was created by the fellowship.
And when some of the conditions faced everyday in those lands were explained our minimal heat seemed a small item. Pastors survive there on $30-40 per month in salary. The boys in the Bible College sleep on 2x4 reinforced plywood beds with a ¼ inch quilted reed mat as mattress. But as pastors, they willingly and joyfully, and that’s the operative word left with us, go forth to seek to bring that abundant life we talked about last week and it’s sustaining hope to those who don’t understand it. And it’s not only the boys. Girls have not been much in demand as pastors, partly because they didn’t know how to play the guitar. Worship in these area churches is inspired by guitar music. So Daniel began a class of instruction. One young female student, out on a deputation some weeks afterwards, picked up a guitar to lead the worship. She was called as pastor the next week.
So draw from these thoughts whatever meaning you wish. At First Baptist we see that our challenge is to do our small/gigantic part to bring hope and abundant life to all through following Jesus and committing ones life to him. Not simply for the hope of eternal life for ourselves but so we can live that more abundant life now for the sake of all of God’s creation.
It was the head of the world Baptist Alliance, Denton Lotz who we quoted last week who challenged, "let us Baptist be a people of Life…putting back the sword…and lifting up Christ and his cross!"…in this way "experiencing the miracle of grace which turns the crosses of this world into the source of Christ’s life for us all…doing the most powerful thing on earth,…preaching new life in Christ."
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
201 Oak St.
Mauston, WI 53948-1333 608-8474555
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