Hello Folks,
Someone said to me this past Sunday evening that they believe our congregation is getting ready to explode in growth. We have been seeing great attendance, great worship and a wonderful spirit in our services. People are getting involved in CL4CL (Christian Learning For Christian Living) at a very good rate and new people are entering our doors on a regular basis. It seems to me that we certainly are ready for God to do something of a wonderful nature among us.
I was thinking about some of the things that are necessary for growth to be more than just more people coming into a building because of the programs and it seems to me that one of the core pieces is the heart of leadership. So I ask you to pray with me that my heart, as well as the heart of other leaders, would be open to God and He could do in us what He so desires. May I have a heart that wants growth for the right reasons and a heart that will seek after God. May my heart be filled with His Spirit and may He remove anything that is not what He would desire. I guess I have more concern about me being the right leader, or the right follower of Jesus, than about some of the other things.
Starting next Sunday Kevin Beck, a pastor from Ohio, will be preaching our Winter Camp Meeting at Camp Greene. I would ask you all to pray and if possible to attend. He will bring his 3 sons with him and they will stay in my home. Ruth and I look forward to their being with us and and to the good time we will spend together. What a joy it is for me to have them with us.
May your day be filled up with the wonders of Jesus.
HGRudd
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Hello Folks,
As many of you already know this past week Ruth and I went to Van Buren, Ark for the funeral of Micah Joy (Ebert) Hogan. She was killed in a car wreck at the age of 36 leaving behind a husband, a son (age 15) and a daughter (age 12). The funeral vistation and services revealed her value to the community with between 1200-1500 being at the visitation and about 700-800 being at the funeral itself. Please pray for the family. Her father and mother, Mike and Jeannie Ebert, have been dear friends to us and we have known Micah since she was 3 years old. We celebrate that she was a servant of the Savior and that this earthly life was just the beginning for her but she will be missed until we get to see her again in heaven.
The congregation here at Greeneville First Church of God has started the New Year out in a wonderful fashion. Our worship has been blessed by the presence of God and our attendance has been good. Two Sunday's ago we had a young man in his 20's come to the Lord for salvation and we are thankful that took place. We also gave certificates to 80 people who have finished a class in the CL4CL, Christian Learning for Christian Living ministry that we have started. We also have another 80 who are moving on to another 13 weeks series of training. We are planning on some events in this year that will, hopefully, help us to reach people for Christ. Yet the way that will happen the most is when individuals in our congregation share the gospel and invite others to worship with us. Just this past Sunday we had about 3 new families enter our building and I pray that we can help them grow in the Kingdom of God.
I believe that God wants us to be people who will be invested and interested in building the local congregation and the Kingdom of God. Please pray that we actually do that here!
HGRudd
As many of you already know this past week Ruth and I went to Van Buren, Ark for the funeral of Micah Joy (Ebert) Hogan. She was killed in a car wreck at the age of 36 leaving behind a husband, a son (age 15) and a daughter (age 12). The funeral vistation and services revealed her value to the community with between 1200-1500 being at the visitation and about 700-800 being at the funeral itself. Please pray for the family. Her father and mother, Mike and Jeannie Ebert, have been dear friends to us and we have known Micah since she was 3 years old. We celebrate that she was a servant of the Savior and that this earthly life was just the beginning for her but she will be missed until we get to see her again in heaven.
The congregation here at Greeneville First Church of God has started the New Year out in a wonderful fashion. Our worship has been blessed by the presence of God and our attendance has been good. Two Sunday's ago we had a young man in his 20's come to the Lord for salvation and we are thankful that took place. We also gave certificates to 80 people who have finished a class in the CL4CL, Christian Learning for Christian Living ministry that we have started. We also have another 80 who are moving on to another 13 weeks series of training. We are planning on some events in this year that will, hopefully, help us to reach people for Christ. Yet the way that will happen the most is when individuals in our congregation share the gospel and invite others to worship with us. Just this past Sunday we had about 3 new families enter our building and I pray that we can help them grow in the Kingdom of God.
I believe that God wants us to be people who will be invested and interested in building the local congregation and the Kingdom of God. Please pray that we actually do that here!
HGRudd
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Hello Folks,
This past week Ruth and I received a terrible message--Micah Joy Hogan age 36, daughter of Mike and Jeannie Ebert, was killed in an automobile wreck. Her son and daughter were also injured in the wreck with multiple bones broken. I ask you to pray for the Eberts, for Micah's husband, Kendall, the children and other family members. Ruth and I have known Micah for over 33 years and it is also a horrible shock for us as well. What can a person say except what Job said, "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of hte LORD." I know that there is more to life than this physical body and this sphere we call earth. Thank God to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. He is God and there is no other so I trust Him. That is my decision in life, no matter what it brings, no matter how it hurts, no matter if nothing goes right, I trust Him!
Ruth and I will be leaving today to attend the funeral in Alma, Arkansas. Pray that we have traveling mercies and that we can be of help to the family. Mike and Jeannie have been family to us through the years and we believe that we must be there with them just to give them our support. My heart is heavy because of the great shock and sorrow but I believe God and am sure that He will take care of all who will seek Him.
May the Lord bless you all. Treasure your families, express your love to them, and hold them in your hearts.
HGRudd
This past week Ruth and I received a terrible message--Micah Joy Hogan age 36, daughter of Mike and Jeannie Ebert, was killed in an automobile wreck. Her son and daughter were also injured in the wreck with multiple bones broken. I ask you to pray for the Eberts, for Micah's husband, Kendall, the children and other family members. Ruth and I have known Micah for over 33 years and it is also a horrible shock for us as well. What can a person say except what Job said, "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of hte LORD." I know that there is more to life than this physical body and this sphere we call earth. Thank God to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. He is God and there is no other so I trust Him. That is my decision in life, no matter what it brings, no matter how it hurts, no matter if nothing goes right, I trust Him!
Ruth and I will be leaving today to attend the funeral in Alma, Arkansas. Pray that we have traveling mercies and that we can be of help to the family. Mike and Jeannie have been family to us through the years and we believe that we must be there with them just to give them our support. My heart is heavy because of the great shock and sorrow but I believe God and am sure that He will take care of all who will seek Him.
May the Lord bless you all. Treasure your families, express your love to them, and hold them in your hearts.
HGRudd
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Hello Folks,
It is good to be home after spending about 10 days visiting children and grandchildren. Christmas was great and what a joy to see my family as they celebrated the wonders of Christ's birth together. We attended Pekin First Church of God for the Christmas Eve service and then I preached at New Covenant Church of God in Mapleton, IL on Christmas morning. It was with great joy that I got to see people that I have known for years. The young people that I pastored are now parents. The years do catch up with all of us.
Our New Year's worship services were great here at Greeneville. It is good to be back home and I am thankful that I have teh privlege of serving such a wonderful congregation. This new year has a lot of opportunities for us to bring glory to our King! I pray that everyone of us will put our hearts and lives into service for Him and work at building the Kingdom of God.
In this new year I pray that we will be able to continue to help develop people. The new ministry of CL4CL or Christian Learning For Christian Living will be useful in building people for the Kingdom. The second session begins Jan 8 for 80 people giving themselves to learning for the King. We will also continue to work at retiring the current debt on our Sanctuary and Administration wings. Of course, we will also work with missions both locally, nationally and internationally. As of right now I know that our Youth are planning on going to Nebraska and helping the Minks in their ministry to the American Indians. There should also be other opportunities for people to go on Mission's trips in other countries. One of the things that we will work hard on doing is reaching people for Christ and that will be accomplished through special events and in visiting people and sharing the mesage of His saving grace.
May this day bring great joy to you all.
HGRudd
It is good to be home after spending about 10 days visiting children and grandchildren. Christmas was great and what a joy to see my family as they celebrated the wonders of Christ's birth together. We attended Pekin First Church of God for the Christmas Eve service and then I preached at New Covenant Church of God in Mapleton, IL on Christmas morning. It was with great joy that I got to see people that I have known for years. The young people that I pastored are now parents. The years do catch up with all of us.
Our New Year's worship services were great here at Greeneville. It is good to be back home and I am thankful that I have teh privlege of serving such a wonderful congregation. This new year has a lot of opportunities for us to bring glory to our King! I pray that everyone of us will put our hearts and lives into service for Him and work at building the Kingdom of God.
In this new year I pray that we will be able to continue to help develop people. The new ministry of CL4CL or Christian Learning For Christian Living will be useful in building people for the Kingdom. The second session begins Jan 8 for 80 people giving themselves to learning for the King. We will also continue to work at retiring the current debt on our Sanctuary and Administration wings. Of course, we will also work with missions both locally, nationally and internationally. As of right now I know that our Youth are planning on going to Nebraska and helping the Minks in their ministry to the American Indians. There should also be other opportunities for people to go on Mission's trips in other countries. One of the things that we will work hard on doing is reaching people for Christ and that will be accomplished through special events and in visiting people and sharing the mesage of His saving grace.
May this day bring great joy to you all.
HGRudd
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