Hello Folks,
If you were not you should have been with us this week here at Greeneville First Church of God. The Drama "The Life of Jesus" was tremendous. The local body of believers presented this dramatic presentation from Thursday night through Sunday night. There were over 20 people who were saved that we know and, obviously, the Lord was with us. That then translated over to our Sunday a.m. worship and God spoke to people and we had a man recommit his life to Jesus. You should have been here and sensed the wonder of Gods presence among us.
This coming Sunday is Easter and I am praying that God will anoint what happens here and that we will see a great harvest. It is as if our congregation is expecting God to be among us and that they are praying that He will have His way. I know that we have different groups of people meeting to pray and I believe that God has decided that the time is right. Our hearts are seeking and He is giving us a good harvest. Counting the Drama in last 4-5 weeks we have seen between 30-35 people saved. In our fiscal year there has already been about 45-50 saved. There is a great desire to see people disicpled and people are getting ready to work with others. God is certainly great!
There are certainly still great needs that we have here. There are people who still need the Savior and there are ministries that we are not getting done right. Keep praying for us that we will hear God's direction for this congregation. Also pray for me that I be the man that God would desire and that I give leadership in this congregation. Undoubtedly there will be great challenges that rise in the weeks ahead but pray that we fight the fight! May Jesus be praised in it all.
HGRudd
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Hello Folks, Last week was a very good week. There were people saved by the grace of Jesus in from Wednesday through Saturday. We had a young person saved here at the church, a teen saved off premses and a woman who was saved at the Women of Promise Convention. This took place among our ladies in their room on Saturday night. What a great harvest the Lord is allowing us to see start among us. Keep praying that there will be more of the wonders of God work among us. The Easter Drama begins this Thursday night and will go through Sunday night. Every time I watch this congregation put forth their effort to do something for the kingdom i watch as you give yourselves to do it with excellence. What a joy it is for me to get to pastor this congregation. God has been really good to me. My son James came in for a few days and we got to spend time together turkey hunting. For the past 9 years he has been able to come and stay a few days with me and we get to spend a lot of time together going out in our search for turkeys. This year we harvested 4 birds in just two days. As I go out to hunt with him I am reminded that I am getting older all the time and that I cannot keep up with him anymore. He had to stop and wait on his old Dad to catch up to him on more than one occasion. What a pleasure it is to be with my son and spend time with him. You folks have a great day and may this spring bring the glory of God to your lives. HGRudd
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Hello Folks, My youngest son, James, has been in town to visit and we have been doing some turkey hunting together. It is always a joy to get to spend this kind of time with him. Since he lives in Indiana we only have a few times in a year when we even see other and during turkey season is when we spend a lot of time with each other. Of course, since he is 20 years younger than I am I find myself being much slower than he is climbing the hills and walking across the fields. We laugh and enjoy each others company during these few days and I am thankful that I can do this. We have started a series of sermons this April titled: "The Hands of God" and Joe Kilday has painted some art that is absolutely wonderful. I hope that you get a chance to see them while they are on display in the Welcome Center. What an amazingly gifted man Joe is and I am thankful for his willingless to use it to make what we do here more effective. For those who do not know it we have seen about 7 people saved over the past 3 weeks. God is moving among us and I ask you to pray that we will do the work here that God has called us to do. We must make disciples! Matt 28:18-20 is the Great Commission that tells us what disciples really is: Go, teach and baptize and the three legs of the stool of discipleship. I want to be used by God to fulfill His will among us. Pray that we do exactly that. Have a Great One, Pastor Rudd
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Hello Folks, I missed you last week as I was in Revival at the First Church of God at Zanesville, Ohio. It was a very good meeting! The Holy Spirit moved and we had 2 people saved and good number of people who made their way to the altar to deal with the needs of their lives. The week before I went Pastor Glen Edmundson told me that he had resigned and that April 3 would be his last Sunday. He still wanted to me to come as he felt that it would be helpful to the congregation there. It is a congregation of about 130 with a wonderful mix of young and old. They have purchased additional property and appear to be ready to move forward for the King. Pray that God will send them the right person to lead them. This past week-end the youth went to the State Youth Convention and our Youth Pastor, Anita Miller, took 88 youth and counselors. I have not received a full report but I did talk with one of the youth that went yesterday and they said it was excellent. Pastor Anita also told me that the speaker did a marvelous job speaking to the young people. I am thankful that even in a time of financial restraints we had people who were willing to make sure that the youth got to attend such an important event. Ruth is staying this week with my son James and his family in Indianapolis to watch his girls while they are on spring break. This is a time of a lot of joy for youth as she is able to be with the grandchildren. My daughter, Deb, is there as well since her daughter is on spring break in Illinois and she drove over to be with Ruth. So Ruth has two of our kids, 4 grandchildren, and our wonderful daugher-in-law, Michele, with her this week. I do not want to say that I envy her but everytime I eat a hotdog I know that she is up there having a good time with the kids. Oh, well that is how things go in life. You folks have a great week. May our Savior bless you all. Pastor H. G. Rudd
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Hello Folks,
In the past 2 weeks we have had 3 people makes commitments of salvation to Jesus and we should all give thanks to God for His Holy Ghost working in thel ives of people. We should also pray for these folks and continue to ask God to move among us so we can see people come to Christ. One of thos indivdiuals was led to Christ by someone who attends here, another came to my office wanting to be saved an unwilling to wait until Sunday, the other person made their commitment at our altar. God is really good to us.
I will be going to Zanesville, Ohio to preach a series of sermons from Sunday through Wednesday of next week. Pray that God will use me to preach His Word and that the Holy Spirit will pierce the hearts of people so we can see people saved, sanctified and continuing in their life as disciples of Jesus Christ.
It has been my privilege to pastor for almost 31 years now and I feel as if I am heading toward the downward slope of life. None of us know how much longer we will be allowed to live in this world but as you get older you begin to realize that your time is more limited than it has ever been. I ask you to pray with me so I can be the man that God would have me to be. It is easy to miss the mark of God's plan for your life if you listen to all the "noise" that goes on in life. Pray that I will hear Jesus speak to me and that I will obey His call in my life. What a privilege is has been to serve the King! One man said: "Christ's call to discipleship is a call to self-death, an absolute surrender to Jesus." I pray that will be true everyday in me!
HGRudd
In the past 2 weeks we have had 3 people makes commitments of salvation to Jesus and we should all give thanks to God for His Holy Ghost working in thel ives of people. We should also pray for these folks and continue to ask God to move among us so we can see people come to Christ. One of thos indivdiuals was led to Christ by someone who attends here, another came to my office wanting to be saved an unwilling to wait until Sunday, the other person made their commitment at our altar. God is really good to us.
I will be going to Zanesville, Ohio to preach a series of sermons from Sunday through Wednesday of next week. Pray that God will use me to preach His Word and that the Holy Spirit will pierce the hearts of people so we can see people saved, sanctified and continuing in their life as disciples of Jesus Christ.
It has been my privilege to pastor for almost 31 years now and I feel as if I am heading toward the downward slope of life. None of us know how much longer we will be allowed to live in this world but as you get older you begin to realize that your time is more limited than it has ever been. I ask you to pray with me so I can be the man that God would have me to be. It is easy to miss the mark of God's plan for your life if you listen to all the "noise" that goes on in life. Pray that I will hear Jesus speak to me and that I will obey His call in my life. What a privilege is has been to serve the King! One man said: "Christ's call to discipleship is a call to self-death, an absolute surrender to Jesus." I pray that will be true everyday in me!
HGRudd
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Hello Folks,
The drama preparation is moving forward at a very fast pace. The scemery is in place and the practices are moving forward. People have been working hard and we are anticipating a moving of God in our midst. Now, for one of the most important parts for this event and it is prayer! Woudl you pray that God use our efforts for His glory? This needs to be a spiritual sacrifice given to the One who gave Himself for us.
As this congregation moves forward there is one thing that is obvious to me and it is that we must consistently seek the direction of God in what we attempt. Being part of God's church has more to do with finding His willing than it does in staying busy. As I personally move forward in my life it is difficult sometimes to discern what is necessary and what is spiritual "static." Sometimes it is easy to get drawn into the idea that if I just work harder things will be the best yet the reality is that I really need to listen to God and find out what He would have me to invest myself in. I do not know if you struggle with that issue but it seems to me to be a consistent issue!
Well, I pray that this week will find you seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness! May He bless you in that quest.
HGRudd
The drama preparation is moving forward at a very fast pace. The scemery is in place and the practices are moving forward. People have been working hard and we are anticipating a moving of God in our midst. Now, for one of the most important parts for this event and it is prayer! Woudl you pray that God use our efforts for His glory? This needs to be a spiritual sacrifice given to the One who gave Himself for us.
As this congregation moves forward there is one thing that is obvious to me and it is that we must consistently seek the direction of God in what we attempt. Being part of God's church has more to do with finding His willing than it does in staying busy. As I personally move forward in my life it is difficult sometimes to discern what is necessary and what is spiritual "static." Sometimes it is easy to get drawn into the idea that if I just work harder things will be the best yet the reality is that I really need to listen to God and find out what He would have me to invest myself in. I do not know if you struggle with that issue but it seems to me to be a consistent issue!
Well, I pray that this week will find you seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness! May He bless you in that quest.
HGRudd
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Hello Folks,
This past week some of you began the hard work or getting the scenery set up for the Easter Drama. On Monday the material was brought in from the garage and placed in the sanctuary. Then on Thursday and Friday many of you came and help assembly it all. On Saturday the decorations were added and by the time the worship services took place on Sunday it was almost completed. There are a few things that still must be done but most of it has been accomplished. But that is not all that has to be done. Now, people are beginning the work of learning parts, singing songs, getting sostumes worked out and practicing. I ask you to pray for all who are involved but even more pray for those who will come to watch the performances and find out that God is present. Could it be that souls would be saved and invidiuals would become more like Jesus? Help this take place by inviting people and by praying for them. The Lord wants to do a great work among us and this is one of the things that is part of that. The Drama will be presented April 14-17 each night and if you bathe it in prayer there is no telling what God might do among us.
This past Sunday p.m. I preached about the fact that we are in spiritual warfare. Often it is easy to forget that much of what takes place in the lives of those who love Jesus is a real spiritual warfare. The devil is very real and he desires to destroy us individually and as a local body of believers. I must confess that it is easy to get so caught up in the ordinary things that we do that we forget that much of the depression and weakness that we have is due to the battle that is taking place. I would encourage all of us to be alert and ready to fight this battle. We are Kingdom people whose King is Jesus and He will give us victory.
May He bless you all,
Pastor H. G. Rudd
This past week some of you began the hard work or getting the scenery set up for the Easter Drama. On Monday the material was brought in from the garage and placed in the sanctuary. Then on Thursday and Friday many of you came and help assembly it all. On Saturday the decorations were added and by the time the worship services took place on Sunday it was almost completed. There are a few things that still must be done but most of it has been accomplished. But that is not all that has to be done. Now, people are beginning the work of learning parts, singing songs, getting sostumes worked out and practicing. I ask you to pray for all who are involved but even more pray for those who will come to watch the performances and find out that God is present. Could it be that souls would be saved and invidiuals would become more like Jesus? Help this take place by inviting people and by praying for them. The Lord wants to do a great work among us and this is one of the things that is part of that. The Drama will be presented April 14-17 each night and if you bathe it in prayer there is no telling what God might do among us.
This past Sunday p.m. I preached about the fact that we are in spiritual warfare. Often it is easy to forget that much of what takes place in the lives of those who love Jesus is a real spiritual warfare. The devil is very real and he desires to destroy us individually and as a local body of believers. I must confess that it is easy to get so caught up in the ordinary things that we do that we forget that much of the depression and weakness that we have is due to the battle that is taking place. I would encourage all of us to be alert and ready to fight this battle. We are Kingdom people whose King is Jesus and He will give us victory.
May He bless you all,
Pastor H. G. Rudd
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)