Hello Folks,
This past Sunday a.m. we had a wonderful time of worship. People were testifying of what God had done for them healing their bodies, saving souls and caring for them in life. It was a real please for me to be part of what took place. I wonder what people do who are in a congregation that feels as if they are merely going through the motions. For me I would feel as if I were dying to have to go Sunday after Sunday and never hear from God! I want Him to speak through all that takes place. I have been so blessed to be able to be at places where God has been present. This was true at the place I came to Christ at when Bro. and Sis. Collins were the pastors of my home congregation. It was there that I learned what worship was suppose to like and that I came to celebrate being at church. Then I pastored Pekin First Church of God where He used Jean Heberer as our song leader and she was so real, ready to be used by God, prepared and so easy to work with that I learned more about worship and to continue to want to be at church. Now, I am here in Greeneville, Tn where Mickey Waddell so desired to bring the best to God and then with Dale Gruver who has such a heart for worship and such a demand for excellence. I have been blessed to be allowed to like being at church! Praise be to Him.
We introduced nine different areas of ministry that we have provided "seed" money in our budget and I am just waiting for someone who will say that God has called them to lead one of them. I wonder what will happen in lives because of those ministries. They are very practical such as opening up our property to be used to plant gardens for families and helping the single mothers in our town. Who will God call to be the person that will impact the lives of so many others? Who will hear God's voice and answer with the words of Isaiah, "Here I am, send me." Pray that God will provide us leaders for these ministries.
Have a great day,
HGRudd
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Hello Folks,
It is good to be back home. I have been gone for 2 weeks and enjoyed my time but sure missed being with you all. Ruth and I were in Mountain Grove, Mo for a week where I preached in the camp meeting there. There were twelve services that I preached and Ruth sang in two of them. The people were wonderful, the weather was great, even with the rain, and the food was exceptional. I concentrated in the evening worship services from Wed. through Sunday a.m. on the message of the Church of God Reformation Movement. It seems to me, and I may be wrong, but our people are hungry to know what we believe and why we believe it. Some of them have been in Church of God congregations for years and their pastors have failed to proclaim those truths. While I realize that we want to see people saved but there is more than salvation that must be declared. Sanctification, Second Coming, Holiness, and other such messages must be delivered or we will grow people who will be spiritually malnourished. What an honor and privilege it was for me to be with those people and to preach the Word of God.
We also got to spend some time with our son, James, his wife, Michele, and their two daughters, Jordyn and Alexis. I was able to take the girls to school and pick them up which was a pleasure for me. Some of those things that many of you get to do with your grandchildren are seldom experienced by me and Ruth. I also spent some time with James just doing some of the normal things like eating and talking. My daughter-in-law, Michele, trilled me by just spending some time talking with her and listening to her talk about her job and the challenges that she faces. Those are some of the joys that I experienced while on vacation.
Tomorrow we will have our annual Business Meeting. It is always a lot of work for the leadership of this congregation to get things together like our Budget. This congregation will look to the next year financially and in placement of new leadership. Every new fiscal year reveals what our efforts and challenges will be in the year to come. I look forward to His grace in everything that takes place.
Have a great one,
HGRudd
It is good to be back home. I have been gone for 2 weeks and enjoyed my time but sure missed being with you all. Ruth and I were in Mountain Grove, Mo for a week where I preached in the camp meeting there. There were twelve services that I preached and Ruth sang in two of them. The people were wonderful, the weather was great, even with the rain, and the food was exceptional. I concentrated in the evening worship services from Wed. through Sunday a.m. on the message of the Church of God Reformation Movement. It seems to me, and I may be wrong, but our people are hungry to know what we believe and why we believe it. Some of them have been in Church of God congregations for years and their pastors have failed to proclaim those truths. While I realize that we want to see people saved but there is more than salvation that must be declared. Sanctification, Second Coming, Holiness, and other such messages must be delivered or we will grow people who will be spiritually malnourished. What an honor and privilege it was for me to be with those people and to preach the Word of God.
We also got to spend some time with our son, James, his wife, Michele, and their two daughters, Jordyn and Alexis. I was able to take the girls to school and pick them up which was a pleasure for me. Some of those things that many of you get to do with your grandchildren are seldom experienced by me and Ruth. I also spent some time with James just doing some of the normal things like eating and talking. My daughter-in-law, Michele, trilled me by just spending some time talking with her and listening to her talk about her job and the challenges that she faces. Those are some of the joys that I experienced while on vacation.
Tomorrow we will have our annual Business Meeting. It is always a lot of work for the leadership of this congregation to get things together like our Budget. This congregation will look to the next year financially and in placement of new leadership. Every new fiscal year reveals what our efforts and challenges will be in the year to come. I look forward to His grace in everything that takes place.
Have a great one,
HGRudd
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