Pastor Ricky Powell

How Your Church Recently Suprised Another Church

Over the last few weeks, our church Finance Team has considered selling one of our church buses. We rarely need both buses at the same time. Plus, we needed to upgrade to newer buses designed for our needs when traveling long distances.

On a recent youth trip, one of the tires went out. While the tire was being repaired, one of the technicians asked if we would ever consider selling the bus. He informed our staff that he was a member of a brand-new church that wanted to reach their community for Jesus. They needed a bus to go around their community to pick up children for Sunday School and church. They were told we were considering selling the bus and we would be happy to talk to them if they were interested and if the bus would only be used for local trips. After they looked at the bus, they offered us $4,000 to purchase it. It was going to be a financial stretch for them, but they needed this tool. Their offer was taken back to the Fort Caroline Baptist Church Finance Team for consideration.

It was at this time that John Shultz and I had the same idea. We felt impressed of the Lord to donate the bus to this new church rather than sell it. After prayer, the Finance Team unanimously agreed. I called the pastor and told him that after considering his offer, we had decided that we could not sell them the church bus. He said he understood and appreciated our consideration. I was able to then tell him, “Pastor, we are not going to sell you the bus, we are going to give it to you!” He was so thrilled and humbled at how God had provided for their church need!

This is just another example of our church’s commitment to our mission to love God, love others, and serve the world. For us, it was not about the money. It was about investing in God’s kingdom. So today, the Browntown Baptist Church in Kingsland, Georgia, has a church bus going around the community picking up boys and girls to learn about Jesus. You had a part in that! Through the church you love and serve, we are able to bless others. May God be glorified in all things. 

Thank you for your continued financial support, involvement, and prayers. And thank you for helping us to reach others with the gospel of Jesus Christ here and around the world.

For Sam

My friend, Geoff Shattock, wrote a moving tribute to my late father-in-law, Sam Jacobs. My emotions would not permit me to read this at the service today, so I share it here.

For Sam

It’s not easy to be a man                                                           
A father or a son
There is no blueprint 
Scheme or plan
No race that can be won
 
Perhaps you simply make it up 
Take it steps in time
Follow in your father footprints 
Drink from ancient cup
Try to make it rhyme
 
Looking to your God above 
You strain to hear your call 
Get it right or get it wrong 
Covering all with love
You raise and take your fall
 
Four offsprung is a legacy
A chance to leave a mark
Indelibly inscribed with care 
Through agony and ecstasy 
In lightness over dark
 
So your time has come to leave 
No stage craft or false make ups 
Just authentic scripts and lines 
Dignified reprise
Farewell good man Sam Jacobs

---From Geoff who never met you but saw your legacy

Saturday, August 23, 2014

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One Measure of a Church's Faithfulness

The faithfulness of a church is not measured in how many ministry visits a pastor makes, but in how many people he equips for ministry.

"Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ." (‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11-12‬ NLT)

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1-6‬ KJV)

Have You Thanked The Person Who Led You To Jesus?

A couple of weeks ago I asked our members to write a note of appreciation to the person who led them to faith in Jesus. Even if they could not mail it, I wanted them to be reminded of how we were all once without faith in Jesus. We should be grateful that someone cared enough about us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with us. Below you will find the letter that I wrote to the man who led me to faith in Christ. He is with the Lord now, but I think of him often. To whom would you write your letter? What would you say? I would love to hear how you came to faith in Jesus. Leave me a comment below.

Three Ways To Support Your Pastor's Wife

I attended the funeral service of a pastor's wife today. I wanted to show my support for my fellow pastor and his family. His wife had suffered for many years, but that does not lessen the grief. I cannot imagine his pain. It reminded me that often a pastor's wife is an unsung hero. We, pastors, could not do all the things we do for our church families and communities without the support of our loving wives. That is certainly the case with my wife. She has always been a faithful partner with me in marriage and ministry.

Here are three things you can do for your pastor's wife.

1. Pray for her.

No one will know all that she has to do to support her husband's ministry. Besides being a wife and mother, she has to share her husband with hundreds or thousands of other people. You will never know all the meals that went cold while she waited on her husband to get home from an emergency or last minute counseling need. You will never know all of the vacations that never happened because they could not afford it, or because the vacation was cut short by a church need. You'll never know how hard it is for her to remain godly in her conversation and attitude after hearing her husband unfairly criticized by church members.

2. Let her be her own person.

Don't expect her to be like the last pastor's wife you knew. She is uniquely gifted by God. She has her own set of talents, skills, personality traits, experiences, and spiritual gifts. She is to be the woman God wants her to be, not the one you want her to be.

3. Don't assume you get two for the price of one.

Her husband is employed by the church; She is not. Do not expect her to be at every church function. Do not expect her to attend every worship service when there are multiple services on a Sunday morning. Don't expect her to be with the pastor as he makes all of his hospital and ministry visits. Her support for her husband at home is what makes it possible for him to be the pastor he needs to be.

I am so grateful to be in a church that honors and loves my wife. They do all three of these, and so much more.

Can you think of some other things you can do to support your pastors wife? Leave some comments below. I would love to hear what you think.