Hello Folks,
     I do not know if you have wondered about what appears to be the cultural shift that is taking place in the church but it is something that has caused me to wonder what will the future look like for congregations in the Church of God and among other groups.  It seems that there are changes that are taking place everywhere we turn where local congregations are concerned.  As I look at the changes it makes me think that within the next 15 years most congregations will look entirely different than they are now.  Now, this may be nothing new and every generation may come to this same conclusion but it is disconcerting to me to see what is taking place.
     This is what I think I see.  The older generation is dying off and no one is coming in to take their places in many areas.  While we may see our Sunday a.m. attendance growing it seems that we are seeing all other attendances shrinking.  Sunday school, p.m. worship and Wednesday nights are changing almost everywhere you turn.  My generation, and those older than me, are asking the question of whether we have people who are committed to the local congregation.  I know that some will say that they are committed to Christ  but that does not appear to transfer over to any local group of people who are attempting to make a difference.  It almost like they want to do their own thing without any interference or accountability.  They want the local church to provide ministry but they do not want to invest their time or finances in the local church.  Maybe it is because some of us older folks are used to measuring commitment by finances and attendance.  But is there another way of measuring it?  That is a real struggle for me.
     If we continue to move in the direction we are going in now we will wind up being a Sunday morning only group.  The question might be asked if that is a bad thing?  But then I wonder how we will combat the efforts of a society that is becoming distinctly anti-Christian?  We want to train our children and youth for Christ but we expect the church to do that in 2 hours or less a week.  Is that even reasonable? 
     These are some of things that are in my mind.  What do you think?

Have a great day,

HGRudd

Hello Folks,
     Sixty-two years ago today Homer Gerald Rudd came into this world born into the family of Homer and Lou Verna (Creech) Rudd.  It was at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton, Ohio where my parents had moved to make a better living for their family.  In that 62 years I have been blessed with a wonderful wife, Ruth, 3 wonderful children (Bob, Debby, and James), 6 wonderful grandchildren (Bailey, Breanne, Jordyn, Alexis, Camryn and Landon). 
     Over 40 years ago I was born into the family of God with Jehovah God as my father, Jesus Christ my Savior, the Holy Spirit as my guide and sanctifier, and the church of God as my mother.  In that time I have been called to preach the gospel and pastor God's people.  I have served two congregations for a total of over 33 years.  I pastored the family of Pekin First Church of God for over 21 years and have served the family at Greeneville First Church of God for over 12 years.  No one could be more blessed than I have been.  God has given me far more than I could ever deserve and I bow before Him and Praise His Glorious name for all He has done for me.  
     When a person looks back over their life they see many things.  There have been times of failure and of success, times of sorrow and of joy, times of doubt and of certainty, but most of all there have been, for me, times of great love that has been given to me by my physical family and my spiritual family.  I would not want to be anything other than a follower of Jesus!  Thank God for His wonderful grace!

Have a great day,

HGRudd

Hello Folks,

     Back in the office after being in Ecuador for one week.  What a wonderful time we had with the people of Ecuador and of the Lord.  I was given the privilege of preaching in two different congregations there and then working on one of them.  There were six of us there: myself, Raymond Shelton, Dereda Shelton, Brandon Modena, Debby Kinney (my daughter) and Gail Williams.  We worked with some of the locals to lay block on an education facility.  Most of us would consider it something less than an educational building but the people of that country are very poor and do what they can.  It was my job to mix concrete and I realized pretty quick how far I am away from hard physical labor.  But what a joy it was to watch the walls go up and observe the fact that we were making definite progress for that congregation.  Pastor Rodrigo and Pastor Jorge were working with us as well as Marko and Marino.  These men worked rings around me but Brandon and Raymond did as well.  The women worked so hard and were invaluable in our labor.  Unless you have been in Quito and worked in the altitude there you will not know how hard it is for North Americans to breathe in that setting.  I must thank Raymond and Dereda for doing all the work of getting the details of the trip worked out.  The missionaries there, Jon and Karen Lambert, were wonderful to us in providing us a place to stay and food to eat as well as being guides for us in our sight seeing.  If you ever get a chance to go on such a work camp take advantage of it.  It will be well worth it for you in your life.

     This past Sunday we had marvelous worship in both of our services.  Sunday a.m. the music was marvelous with Tim Hybarger singing "Oh, What a Savior" and the Lord anointing that song.  Sunday p.m. we had a Concert of Prayer and God moved in our time together.  For those of you who missed it you should have been there.  When God comes it is more than a service but real worship and it is worthwhile being at it.  I am thankful to be the pastor here and look forward to what God is going to do among us.

Have a great day,

HGRudd

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

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

Hello Folks,
     This week has already become a very busy week.  We started Camp Meeting here in East Tennessee this past Sunday p.m. with a unity service and Bill Konstontoupolos was the preacher.  He preached a marvelous message on the things that God desires for the Church and he spoke about unity in that sermon.  God used him to speak in a very clear and pointed manner now the only question is whether we will live that truth out. 
     Last night at Camp Meeting Richard Mansfield preached and once again God used the speaker.  He spoke out of 2 Kings 6 where Elisha made the ax head to float and how we need to believe that God will do miracles and all we have to do to pick it up.  Richard Mansfield, as you who know him realize, is uniquely gifted by God and we were all blessed and challenged to believe God for miracles.  Praise God for calling and using men and women who will be available to Him.
     Next week Ruth and I will go to Missouri to preach the camp meeting at Mountain Grove.  I ask all of you to be praying for us as we travel and as we serve the church family in that area.  Johnny Creasong, the pastor in Pekin, Il is the worship leader and I also ask you to pray for him that he would be used greatly by God.  While I know that God has called me to preach I still desperately need to have the Spirit guide me and use me as I realize that I cannot achieve what needs to be done in my own power.  I need Him to direct and use me or it will all be in vain.
     Ruth and I will then take a week vacation and visit with our friends, Mike and Jeannie Ebert, I am really looking forward to a couple of days with them.  Then we will go to Indiana and visit with our son and daughter-in-law, James and Michele.  We will also get to spend time with Jordyn and Alexis, two of our granddaughters.  I truly look forward to that.  Pray that we have safety.  
     We have our house up for sale and I ask you to pray that we get it sold. 

Have a great day.

HGRudd    

Hello Folks,
     This week at Greeneville First Church of God we are celebrating VBS.  Children will come in from our community and from our congregation to be part of the activities that we offer.  One of the things that we do is next Sunday morning in our worship services we will allow the workers and participants of VBS to lead our worship.  I will then have the opportunity to preach to the all of those who will be here solely to support their children or grandchildren and would not enter our doors if it were not for that.  We have attempted to make VBS a type of outreach for us over the past few years.  Every year on that Sunday we will have a number of visitors and family members will sit in our services hearing the message of Jesus Christ.  I ask you to pray for me that I will be able to preach the gospel of Jesus and that lives will be changed because of what happens here. 
     I tell you about this because this has been the mindset that I have approached the ministry of this congregation.  It has been my idea to use the normal things we do in an effort to reach people for Christ.  So our special events will attempt to get people into our doors and to point them to Jesus.  One part of that is to attempt to have good follow up on those who have attended.  This has not always worked well as it seems that most folks know that if they give us their address that opens them up to being contacted whether it be by phone, letter or in person.  It would seem to me that if all we do is for those who are a part of this congregation we have missed the idea of the Great Commission.  If a congregation is not living out the Great Commission then it seems to me that they are not being what God has directed us to be.
     Well, I pray this summer gives you great opportunity to share the message of Christ to our world.  May He bless you and use you in this endeavor.

Have a great day,

HGRudd