Hello Folks,
I missed you folks last weeks as Ruth and I were in Ohio preaching a revival. This revival was something that was special to us as we got to see our Pastors. Vernon B. Collins and his good wife Bea have been part of our lives for a very long time. Bro. Collins is now 93 years of age and his health is not the best but he was at every service. He is walking with a cane and needed a wheel chair to get up the ramp into the church building but he was there supporting the worship as well as testifying to the wonders of God in his life. Ruth and I have been blessed by God to be given such wonderful examples in the faith.
Not only did we get to see Bro. and Sis. Collins but we got to see a great number of people who we have been privileged to know through the years. We saw family members, both of my sisters attended the revival for at least one service, and numerous cousins who I had not seen in years were there. There were 4 other area churches that the pastor or some of their congregation attended and gave their support to the revival. But one of the most important things was a young man was saved during that time. God is good all the time to us!
The congregation here has the joy of sending a young couple to do ministry in Texas. They will go to serve with UTRI a group that serves the Hispanic community in Mexico. Steve and Nicki will take their children, leave their jobs, and go to a new place because they believe that they are being called by God. I ask you to pray for them as they answer their call to move to a different level of ministry.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Hello Folks,
One of my responsibilities is serving on the Pastoral Ministry Team for the State Ministries of Tennessee. It used to be called the credentials committtee which means I am part of a team that deals with such issues as congregation recognitiion, credentialing of ministers, dealing with the church fights and problems, as well as confronting any problems that arise in the life of a pastor. Most of the time serving in this capacity has some very good things take place. It is a joy to see a person come and tell us about their call into ministry, their faith walk, what they believe, and to look at papers sent by those who agree with their calling. But I also must say that there are times when we are called to deal with certain issues that are just not fun. When there are hurts that exist in the life of an individual or congregation because of words spoken and actions taken that are viewed as harmful to those around them it is difficul to deal with those things. Attempting to be grace giving and loving while at the same time confronting wrong is not an easy task. It would be so much easier to let others handle this but I have been assigned this for my life at this time. Pray that I would be a man who fulfills his ministry to suit the Savior.
As I sit here writing this I hear the voices of some of the folks who are part of this congregation and I think about the fact that God has called me here to serve them. The challenges of pastoring are great but the rewards are amazing. What a joy it is for me to be allowed to know these individuals who make up this congregation and to celebrate their joys as well as be with them in their sorrows. One of the most important things for me to remember as a pastor is that these people have given me their love and I am able to give them mine. Thank God for His grace and His willingness to allow me to be here with them.
Have a great one,
HGRudd
One of my responsibilities is serving on the Pastoral Ministry Team for the State Ministries of Tennessee. It used to be called the credentials committtee which means I am part of a team that deals with such issues as congregation recognitiion, credentialing of ministers, dealing with the church fights and problems, as well as confronting any problems that arise in the life of a pastor. Most of the time serving in this capacity has some very good things take place. It is a joy to see a person come and tell us about their call into ministry, their faith walk, what they believe, and to look at papers sent by those who agree with their calling. But I also must say that there are times when we are called to deal with certain issues that are just not fun. When there are hurts that exist in the life of an individual or congregation because of words spoken and actions taken that are viewed as harmful to those around them it is difficul to deal with those things. Attempting to be grace giving and loving while at the same time confronting wrong is not an easy task. It would be so much easier to let others handle this but I have been assigned this for my life at this time. Pray that I would be a man who fulfills his ministry to suit the Savior.
As I sit here writing this I hear the voices of some of the folks who are part of this congregation and I think about the fact that God has called me here to serve them. The challenges of pastoring are great but the rewards are amazing. What a joy it is for me to be allowed to know these individuals who make up this congregation and to celebrate their joys as well as be with them in their sorrows. One of the most important things for me to remember as a pastor is that these people have given me their love and I am able to give them mine. Thank God for His grace and His willingness to allow me to be here with them.
Have a great one,
HGRudd
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Hello Folks,
I got back from Pastor's Fellowship 2013 at Winchester, Ky late last night. Ruth and I look forward to getting to be at the Fellowship every year. We have attended since 1980 and have only missed 2 of them in that time. Through the years it has served as a time when we can go and have our spirits renewed and our hearts filled with the wonders of God's truth. This year was no different! The preaching was spirit filled as well as the singing. The different individuals who preached brought their personalities and methods of presentation with them when they stepped into the pulpit. But you could also see that they had prepared and that God blessed them as they preached the Word. What a joy it was to hear such people as Arlo Newell, Bill Neece, Charles Heater, Darryl Allen, Bill Means, and Dave Hall who have been used powerfully of God in the past. Then to hear Rick Hays and Ray Wyant who I had never heard before was a joy for my heart. God used these individuals to fill me up. On top of that the fellowship with friends of the past and people who I had met for the first time was a real blessing. I pray that you will consider attending this event, it is for anyone who would show up, next year the first Monday and Tuesday of May at Winchester, Ky First Church of God.
This year Brother Bill Neece had to preach sitting down but God still filled him up with the Spirit. Brother Neece has some kind of lung disease that is affecting his ability to breathe if he exerts himself. But what a sermon! The anointing of God was present and as he preached my heart was filled with joy of being a follow of Christ. In the next few days the sermons will be placed on the Greeneville First Church of God website and you can listen to all eight sermons. You would be blessed if you would listen to them. If you want to purchase a set of CD's or DVD's e-mail me and I will get you and address to contact.
May He bless you all today,
HGRudd
I got back from Pastor's Fellowship 2013 at Winchester, Ky late last night. Ruth and I look forward to getting to be at the Fellowship every year. We have attended since 1980 and have only missed 2 of them in that time. Through the years it has served as a time when we can go and have our spirits renewed and our hearts filled with the wonders of God's truth. This year was no different! The preaching was spirit filled as well as the singing. The different individuals who preached brought their personalities and methods of presentation with them when they stepped into the pulpit. But you could also see that they had prepared and that God blessed them as they preached the Word. What a joy it was to hear such people as Arlo Newell, Bill Neece, Charles Heater, Darryl Allen, Bill Means, and Dave Hall who have been used powerfully of God in the past. Then to hear Rick Hays and Ray Wyant who I had never heard before was a joy for my heart. God used these individuals to fill me up. On top of that the fellowship with friends of the past and people who I had met for the first time was a real blessing. I pray that you will consider attending this event, it is for anyone who would show up, next year the first Monday and Tuesday of May at Winchester, Ky First Church of God.
This year Brother Bill Neece had to preach sitting down but God still filled him up with the Spirit. Brother Neece has some kind of lung disease that is affecting his ability to breathe if he exerts himself. But what a sermon! The anointing of God was present and as he preached my heart was filled with joy of being a follow of Christ. In the next few days the sermons will be placed on the Greeneville First Church of God website and you can listen to all eight sermons. You would be blessed if you would listen to them. If you want to purchase a set of CD's or DVD's e-mail me and I will get you and address to contact.
May He bless you all today,
HGRudd
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