Hey, my darling Siestas! I hope your weekend was full of Jesus and that you found refreshment with family and friends. I also hope you were blessed by a lively, Christ-loving body of believers in your local church and that you freely worshiped with them and sought God together with them through the Scriptures. You guys know how strongly we feel about the local church around here. These are days on the Kingdom calendar when we need one another more than ever. (Hebrews 10:24-25) We can’t afford to rationalize that we can link up with other believers on line as a replacement for investing our lives and our spiritual gifts in the local church of God’s leading. I love what we get to do here and believe that it’s real and that it has an important place but it’s not a replacement for a local body of believers. I’m so happy to say that I don’t see many people in this community confused about that. I often hear you refer to your churches with much love and commitment. You bless me so.
That said, God has brought about a huge transition in our lives over the last months. Let me say that in all caps: HUGE. I think the best way I can explain it to you is to post the letter that was inserted in the church bulletin at my home church yesterday and is up on their website. I will pick back up with you briefly at the end of the letter.
Dear HFBC, my beloved church family of so many years,
It is with indescribable gratitude and deep emotion that I say farewell to this body of believers as a fellow member. I asked Pastor Gregg if I could write you a letter rather than speak to you from the platform, not because I mind shedding tears in public but because I wish to spare you my lapse into an ugly cry.
These are exciting days in my family. Nine years ago, Keith walked our oldest daughter, Amanda, down an aisle of this very sanctuary and gave her in marriage to Curtis Jones, a young man with only one life plan: to serve Jesus anywhere, any time. We knew from the start that anything was game. Over the last several years, we’ve watched God prepare Curtis and Amanda to plant a church in another part of Houston. Keith and I will unwaveringly go with them with joy, approval, and glad anticipation.
Not one of us goes without cost, however. For once, I’ll let the others speak for themselves and I’ll stick to what I place on this altar today. I met my life-long mentor here and came to my first realization that human flesh and blood could fall madly in love with Jesus. At her insistence, I taught my first Sunday School class here and didn’t sit down for 23 years. I signed up for a Bible doctrine class taught on the second floor of this church on Sunday nights 26 years ago and was ruined for life for anything other than the pursuit of Christ through Scripture. You dared to take a Christian aerobics teacher with a side ponytail seriously when she pitched her leg warmers for commentaries. You gave me a safe place to keep learning amid a thousand mistakes.
Meanwhile, our marriage has endured for 32 years and, in such large part, over the support we received among godly couples here in this church. Our daughters, Amanda and Melissa, each walked one of these aisles, gave their lives to Jesus and were baptized in those very same waters above the choir loft.
As ministry life took us places – both good and hard – that we could not possibly have foreseen, you were my safe harbor. As far as I can recall, Dr. Jimmy Draper is the only one who has ever called me “normal” but the context was something I’ll treasure forever: “Beth, you know the only reason you’ve stayed normal?” No, Sir. I don’t. “You stayed in church.”
And now the tears well up in my eyes and spill over from my heart. How do you thank people for nearly 30 years of love and acceptance and patience and forgiveness and guidance? My best shot at it is this: I may be absent from you on Sunday mornings but you will never be absent from me. You are woven into my soul. I take you with me everywhere I go.
I have the glorious privilege of placing my membership here at HFBC on the altar at the best possible time: when I have never loved this church more. There is not one hint of conflict. Not one iota of friction between my beloved Pastor and me. We have pledged our support and friendship to one another and to one another’s families. He has also graciously invited us to continue to hold our Tuesday night women’s Bible studies here. I’m Pastor Gregg’s fan forever and a staunch supporter of this fine church. Please hear these words, all of you, from the truest and most tender place in my heart:
Thank you for all that you’ve been to me. The gift of you is inestimable. I love you deeply and will press you close to my heart all my days. Pray for us as we pray for you “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.” (Ephesians 4:13)
Beth
Pastor Gregg and me:
I didn’t know until today that Melissa had snapped this picture of Keith and me up on the platform with Pastor Gregg yesterday during the service. When she walked into my office a few minutes ago and caught me inserting pictures into this article, she said, “Mom! I took one you’ve got to post!” I wish so much that this picture also had Kelly, Pastor Gregg’s wife, in it. I love her dearly and respect her to no end.
These next two pictures represent some of my very biggest losses at HFBC. Make no mistake. We will always be friends because our hearts are tied together forever but I won’t worship right in among them on a myriad of Sundays like I have for years. The first one is the Tate girls. A few of you may remember that I dedicated Get Out of That Pit to Kendall Tate and her family and told their story in the book. I, then, dedicated the GOOTP journal to all four of these wonderful girls.
This is Abigail Davis. I’ve known her (as well as each of the Tate girls) all her life. I told a story about Abigail and her golf lessons toward the very end of the Esther Bible study. I’m nuts about her. The best pictures I have of Abigail and me are in frames on shelves at home but I do have this one in my office. You can see that she is a well-rounded woman-child. A golfer and a dancer. Grin.
Well, you can see that these are days of change around here. I cried many tears yesterday as I said goodbye to a body of believers I have cherished with my whole heart and so much of my life. But, as I met with our church plant core-group of 50 on our knees last night, seeking God desperately to come and do His will in this infant church, I felt His power and pleasure. It is the Lord’s will. I welcome it and embrace it. Bayou City Fellowship will swing open its doors to the public in the Fall but you will not waste a prayer on us now. We have much work to do in the spiritual realm before that day comes.
I praise God that this fellowship of believers will be right here in Houston. When your kids are in ministry, you well know that God could “plant” them anywhere in the world. We are ecstatic that God led Curtis to plant this church right here in this big, fat, wonderful, hot city. Our whole family will be engaged in this crazy adventure, including Colin and Melissa. If you’re wondering about the name, Houston’s nickname is “Bayou City.” We couldn’t believe it hadn’t been snagged as a name for a church in this city yet. Over the coming years we want Houston to be so glad we are here as we stretch out our arms to its aid. Our first outside action as a church has been to gather various articles to give to families that lost all they had in a local apartment fire. As I folded up clothes this morning and put them in a bag and made a plan to run by Walmart, I thought to myself, “Well, old girl, there’s not a lot of time to sit around and mourn. Hop up and get on this love train. There’s a city to serve.”
And it felt right.
One last thing. Last night I looked at all the children of our core group couples and thought, “You are going to get to watch some of these children grow up. Open your heart wide and receive with joy!” I knelt down by about 7 children, one by one, last night and said, “Hi there! I’m Miss Beth and I’m new to this church, too. Would you be my friend?” Most of them said yes. A few of them stared at my big hair.
Jesus, be exalted in this city. Bless HFBC. Bless Bayou City Fellowship. Bless every body of believers with knees to the floor and faces to the sky in Your holy Name. We are wholly dependent upon Your presence.
PS. Amanda is my pastor’s wife. I have to throw my head back and laugh with joy. HOW ABOUT THAT????
Dear Beth,
I know all too well the pain you feel at leaving your beloved church. Three weeks ago we moved and I am leaving MY beloved church, which welcomed me with open arms 3 years ago when I decided to heed God’s call to return to Him. My sadness is tempered by the knowledge that God has work for me to do here and I am excited to find out what it is.
I have been so blessed since I returned to the loving arms of my Father. With a wonderful church family, with new inner strength and peace, and with the most fantastic group of women who love your Bible studies as much as I do. Now it appears I will be blessed with a new church that has many more study and service opportunities than my small town church does. After I finish leading “Esther” at Trinity UMC/UCC in West Point, I hope to start a new Beth Moore study at First United Methodist in Norfolk, Ne. Please pray that He lead me to the one to offer.
Good luck in your new endeavor. I will pray for you and your family to have great success with Bayou City Fellowship. You are so dear to my heart Beth:)
Oh, sweet friend. I know your joy and sorrow. I left St. James, where I grew up in when I married Joseph. My children grew up at St. James as well. They were dedicated, accepted Jesus and Baptised there. I was nurtured there after my husband left us. When I married Joseph, I began to attend his church and helped him raise his children in the nurture of a home church.
There are times I would love to go back, but sadly for me they have moved on, as have I. They love on me and my children any time we come to visit, but they are now my sweet relatives, and the church I am in currently is my church family. They will always be a part of my extened family; they will always be my friends, because we have the same Father.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOCJAVlESEo
Enclose is a You Tube of, FRIENDS, by Michael W. Smith
How cool that your whole family will be on the ground floor of a new church? I cannot wait to see what God has in store for Bayou Church and the whole Moore clan. I know ya’ll will make us laugh, make us cry and make us reflect as this church grows and flourishes.
Buckle up ya’ll this is going to be a blast.
Beth,
That’s exciting news! Most of my adult life has been lived in transition. Early on in life I told God I’d go wherever and whenever He wanted me. I married a husband who feels the same. We’ve moved 6 times in our 16 years of marriage and have been involved in a number of churches as well. We got spoiled at our last assignment. God allowed us to be in the same town for 7 years. We moved last year and are loving where God has put us. The funniest thing is…I can see that this is training for the next stop, wherever that might be.
Although the transitions can be hard, and leaving friends can be heartbreaking, following Jesus wherever He leads is always exciting. I’ve told Grace (my sweet 11 year old) over and over again, “Following God is always the best thing. It’s not always the eaiest, but it’s always the best!”
I pray God pours out His blessings upon Bayou City Fellowship and you and your family as you follow Him!
Kimberly
Dearest Beth,
My prayers go with you and your whole crew! I have to tell you that when I first moved to Houston in 2002 to start medical school – I prayed to God to lead me to a church, opened the yellow pages, and HFBC was the first ad that popped up, so I decided to try it out. It was July, and I had never heard of you before (baby Christian at the time – had not even done my first Bible study yet). You spoke at that service (I don’t remember what about), but I definitely remember the feeling I had listening to God speak through you. It was as if the Holy Spirit living in you was high-fiving directly the Holy Spirit in me 🙂 I went to my first Sunday school class at that church, met my husband there, was married there, and was heart broken to leave it when we moved. Fortunately God is so wonderful and we have an AMAZING church we attend here (Brazos Fellowship – in case anyone is looking for a church in the Bryan/College Station area), but HFBC will always have a special place in my heart. Anyway, sorry for the novel! I wish you well 🙂
I wondered if this would become a family affair 🙂 It blesses my heart so much to hear this and to know we will be able to watch God work through y’all as this new church grows and serves the Lord. I’m expecting to hear all about it on here and Amanda’s blog!
As I read this post and thought about the joy you have as a mother to see your daughter serve in a capacity like this, I am encouraged as a mother myself. My (now 17 yr old) son came forward at the age of 15 and made it known that he felt God has called him to full time missions. Our entire family is very proud of him and are very excited about his future, but for some reason, this weekend, I started worrying about whether or not my son would be steadfast and stay true to what God told him that evening. It’s hard enough making sure we’re in God’s will, but to be a teenager and attempt it? I was not even remotely any where that close to the Lord at his age!
I know the key is to remain on my knees in prayer for him. And I would love it if anyone of you on this blog would partner with me in prayer about this matter as well.
God bless you, Beth and your entire sweet family and you embark on this new journey for Christ. You all are such an inspiration to me 🙂
my husband, child, and i were involved in a church plant for 6 years, and it was the most fulfilling experience of service, spiritual warfare, and spiritual growth i’ve ever had.
i’m thrilled for you all that you’ll be able to serve together–all the moores. that’s HUGE.
enjoy this experience…i look forward to reading about the adventures.
What a blessing to hear you so grounded in the truth of the Word and a commitment to the local church! A scripture came to mind as I read your letter.
Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love and break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the Lord until he comes and showers righteous on you.”
Breaking up unplowed ground reminds me of expanding operations and preparing new fields that laid fallow for increased harvest. I’m sure the master is pleased! Oh, by the way, don’t forget James 5:7-11 🙂
Karin! The Lord gave me THIS VERY VERSE THIS VERY DAY! I even shared it with my staff at prayer time. WOW!!!
Beth & family,
So excited for you all! I will most certainly be praying for all of you as you wade in and splash with joy, in new waters! Crossing over…what a roller coaster our emotions encounter – from one season to another, the changes just keep on intensifying, don’t they!! But our God, our Abba, knows what He is doing and aren’t we glad He’s invited us along. Shalom to you all as you enter in.
Love and oh so much gratitude you have been a great part of my life,
Beverly
What a lovely tribute to your church family! And what an exciting time with your new church family. I am so happy for you, and will add BCF to my prayer list. Such an adventure to embark on with your family and to serve your glorious city. To God be the glory in the coming days! May He bless you all.
Oh, Beth, I can only imagine the emotions that have flooded through you knowing this day was coming. There is nothing like your church family, especially one you’ve been with for as long as you have been at FBC Houston.
I will certainly for this brand new church. And for Curtis and Amanda especially. Being a pastor and pastor’s wife can be a difficult place to be. But when the Lord places you in a position, there’s no better place to be.
May God’s richest blessings be upon you.
Praise God, I’ll be praying for you all…much love to all of you 🙂
Wow, after reading your post I just had to comment. My son-in-law and daughter also planted a church a little over 6 years ago. My husband and I also have come alongside them in this wonderful journey. My son-in-law, Jeff, is my pastor and my daughter, Chrissy, is the Children’s Ministry Director as well as wearing many other hats, such as Women’s Ministry Leader which I am also a part of and under her leadership. We travel an hour to get to church every Sunday as well as several times a week, if necessary, for other service. It will be a new experience coming under the leadership of your children. It will be full of unbelievable blessings. Yes, there will be things to adjust to as Satan loves to get in the mix and try to blow things out of proportion and bring hard feelings within the family/ministry mix, but put Satan in his place and be faithful to talk and work out all things together for good in Christ.
This will be a great adventure for your family and one full of God’s grace and blessings. I am so excited for you and will be praying for the church plant.
Hugs and blessings!
So exciting! 🙂
Wow, I found myself crying as I read your post as I have worshipped at HFBC vicariously through your ministry for many years. I can’t begin to imagine the depth of emotions you have gone through but I can tell you that having been led by God to a new church and a new ministry with my family over 3 years ago I know the wild adventurous ride you are beginning! God bless you all as you begin this journey together. I will be praying and interceding for BCF daily in the weeks and months ahead. As I cleared my tears at what you must have experienced yesterday I remembered what I felt last night as I read your, Melissa, and Amanda & Curtis tweets – pure excitement over the prospect of what awaits. I am so excited for your family, for your ministry and most especially for the city of Houston. What great things God has planned we can only imagine but knowing our Father – this is going to be one more wild ride!!
Praying with you & for you and yours.
Julie @ginsamica
Hi Beth, What an inspiration you are. My friend Carolyn and I just stepped down from running our Women’s Bible study and it was such a hard decision. But your words at the Tacoma Livingproof Live conference this spring gave us the peace to do it. Yield to the Holy Spirit and GO with His peace and wisdom because He is up to something new and exciting. As you GO to this new church with your family may He pour out Blessings upon Blessings on each of you and also the people He is drawing to this new family of God. Can’t wait for your James study to come out to see what the Lord has poured out through you. Love you lots in Tualatin, OR..
Beth,
Amazing! I am embarking on the same journey with the same time frame. You said it well. We have been part of our church, Fellowship of Believers, since it started as a church plant over 31 years ago. Now our son-in-law and daughter have just moved to the area and are planting a church. We love FOB; they’ve walked us through marriage troubles, kid troubles, and have been a joy in our lives. There we have served in every area of ministry, at some point in time over the last 31 years, to include head of Women’s Ministry for 6 years, leading a Young Mom’s group on and off for 17 years! We are walking on this new adventure with fear and trembling. We have a little core group of 8 – EIGHT!!!! Oasis Church, Sarasota, FL. http://www.oasischurch.ag. But I know God has called us, called our son-in-love to pastor so if God be for us, who can be against us?! It’s been a difficult leaving, because we LOVE our body of believers. But God spoke with me about 2 months ago, and said to quit looking back in sadness at what I was leaving – to look forward in faith at what HE is doing. So I’m going to OBEY! Thanks for the encouraging word. It’s fun to know you all are doing the same thing!
Beth, thank you so much for posting this. It couldn’t have come at a better time. In 5 weeks I’ll be doing the same thing as I leave the ministry I work for and the church I helped plant several years ago to follow the call of God to a new season. So not easy. It’s encouraging and strengthening to see others walk it out with full assurance of God’s faithfulness. God has spoken much through your post – thanks for your transparency.
Oh Beth, I am SO excited to be a part of BCF in part just through this blog. I look forward to see it grow and reach so many for the Lord. I will be praying as you all as you lock arms and begin this journey together. Thankful for you.
Ashley
Oh how happy I am God’s family of believers is growing and spreading wide enough to open new doors for those who need Him! Congratulations Keith you will be a great leader of men, and Beth I just know you will be welcomed with open arms and love cause you’re real friendly. Amanda a Pastor’s Wife!! Post more pics of your new church family. I know HFBC will agree we are so thankful you are staying Deep in the Heart of Texas the gal we love.
bahhhh! so exciting…and so heartbreaking to have to leave a church family that has loved you. What a sweet thing that is! I will be praying for Bayou City Fellowship…oh how seasons change 🙂 May God wrap His arms around you all as you trust Him in a huge way!
So excited for you all. Wonderful news indeed. I wish we lived in Houston so we could help.
Beth, I have watched you lay so many things on the altar since going to my first tues bible study at Lakewood for HE IS! The sustaining grace on you always tore at my heart and has made the “hugest” impact on my belief walk.(You could have your own version of Bobby Flay’s Throwdown show!) Today’s post too, is overflowing with God’s Grace. At first I felt convicted because i have never had a home church and being the wandering stiffnecked israelite in mind, think i can do this with a small slice of fellowship now and then….i do so love the Christian body and am always feel so happy and complete in it. May God Bless this planting and God Bless you, Beth and may his Grace always flow through you- John 4:14 (and now i need to concentrate on John 4:15!)
I am so tickled as I read your blog entry from today. I understand both how hard and how wonderful it is, all at the same time! My husband and I did this very (similar) thing not too long ago. Only our daughter and son-in-law were a part of the very small core, not the pastor and his wife. But they were their best friends! What made me laugh the most was your very last comment . . . when I read that, I immediately thought of a photo of my son-in-law and my new pastor. Oh how I *wish* I knew how I could get it to you — I know you’d have a GREAT laugh over it!
Love you, Beth Moore! I pray God blesses the new church plant in Houston, and uses all y’all in mighty, mighty ways, to HIS glory!! Hugs!!
We too were called by God to leave a church we loved to be a part of a church plant. That was 5 years ago.
It is still very exciting and very challenging to me.
PS – Our church plant (now a church, in it’s own right) is FULL of kids too…including my own three boys!
Dear sweet Beth,
I sat & cried with you as I read and looked at your pics. I have lived in many places around the globe and have had to leave wonderful friends in the body of our sweet Jesus. I know how you feel. I am praying with you at BCF. Maybe someday I’ll visit. We travel to Houston on occasion.
Laughing my head off that Amanda is your pastor’s wife. God is so good indeed!
Really glad you are not leaving here!
Lawan
Phil4:8
Wow! I had seen Amanda’s story on her blog of how God was leading she and Curtis and it hadn’t even dawned on me that you all might get to do this together – awesome! So happy for you and yours 🙂 Blessings on you as you continue on this exciting journey.
I am simply overcome with joy for all of you. May God bless you and keep you and make His sweet face to shine upon you!
Rebecca
Beth, Thank you for being such an example of a true Christ follower. I love that you are willing to leave the comfort and security of a church you have know for 30 years and follow where the Lord is leading you. Praying for you, your family and BCF.
Jesus,
Thank you for Amanda and her husband Curtis. I pray You protect thier marriage during this exciting time of starting a new church. I ask You to keep them encouraged through the ups and downs. May You grant them good health and give them boundless energy for the task ahead. Keep all evil and harm from the entire Jones/Moore/Fitzpatrick family today and all the days to come. May Your Name alone be glorified in this new church, may Your will be done there until the sweet day of your return. We love You so much Lord…we are counting on only You…
Amen
I FULLY AMEN THIS!
Amazing! Praising God that you get to serve God in such a way with your family!! I bet that ole’ enemy of our souls is skeered…as well he should be!! Praising God ahead of time for what He is going to do through Bayou City Fellowship…to the praise of His Glory!!!
Dear Beth,
What an incredibly exciting new adventure our Lord has for your whole family! I’ll be praying for all of you.
Blessings,
Gretchen
I’m crying… Big fat Sad Happy tears, does that make sense? Well a whole other new something to take to the Throne Room! How exciting these times are for us all. I love you guys and can’t wait to hear what God will do! I am involved in 3 churches right now and love each one, theres always room for church!
Beth,
This news thrill me to no end! What a wild ride indeed!And I love how He has a cart for every one of us willing to get in and ride with Him. We are coming around the bend in ours…anticipating what He is about to reveal and unfold after vision, prayer, and hard work. Here’s to you and yours on this new ride!! (that’s me toasting you and yours with my sweet tea : )
love you so, rene
What a grand adventure to join your kids in a church plant.
Roll up your spiritual sleeves and do the work!
Precious Friend,
Apart of me, has tears for you because I know you are leaving so many Christian friends who are like family and those you love and yet, I rejoice in knowing how God will use you in a mighty way to be a blessing to others.
You have a heart of love a giving heart, a generous heart, a thankful heart, a righteous heart, a sacrifical heart, a humble heart, a prepared heart, a obeying heart, a sincere heart, and a pure heart. I know Beth, that you are so very special and God will bless you and your family. (Proverbs 3:5) in Christ
What exciting news to read this beautiful day! I’ve been praying for Curtis & Amanda and wondered if their new BCF would grab your heart! I’m so glad to hear all the plans you have so far and can’t wait to see what God has in store for this new home for all of you.
We’ll continue to pray for all of Bayou City Fellowship!
That is so exciting. It will be a hugh change you are right, but I know God is going to bless. Sometimes those smaller churches require more work from everyone and that can be a great thing. I am so excited for all of you.
I must say, I am so excited that your daughter is going to be your pastor’s wife. I love that. So glad you are excited about that also.
God is so good. I pray for his blessings on you all.
Oh how I resonate with this blog. We just hosted a meeting for our church plant core group yesterday as we launch out from a church that has been our home for nearly 15 years. Ironically we too are planting a church called Fellowship here in Southern California with a young southern pastor who hails from Mississippi. We are excited, terrified and awed to see God at work. Will be praying for the whole Jones/Moore/Fitzpatrick crowd as we pray for our own church plant. Rejoicing to see what God does in and through this next season for your Fellowship and ours!
Beth, my heart is so warmed by your willingness to support your daughter and her husband in the establishing of new congregation. Shakespeare was so right. Parting is such sweet sorrow. But then y’all have God to bless this “parting” and it will be sweet!
wow! how amazing! that is so incredible that you are able to serve the Lord with your kids this way. you are a blessed women! Jesus is up to something and we all know it is good :)we have been at our church for about 5 years but have never really been deeply connected anywhere prior to here. Even here we are just now beginning to grow as a body of believers and they are a wonderful small group of about 40. Nonetheless I don’t think I would be anywhere close to experiencing your flood of emotions. What a wonderful place you have been and how exciting your new adventure will be. Praying for all of you–God is sooo good 🙂
Dear Beth-
Thank you for modeling the RIGHT way to “leave” a church.
So many are wounded in our churches (from pastors to fringe attenders) AND our communities when it is done WRONG. And it tarnishes the name of Christ as unity is shattered…. It takes so long to rebuild.
I wish you God’s best and your sweet kids as they endeavor this plant!
Love, Heather
There is LOVE, years of love, all over this post! I read it in your voice and through each word.
Our family has been visiting a new church for the past 10 months; it’s almost time to “join” but after 17 years it’s tough to move along even when there is NO DOUBT it’s God’s plan and time.
Good thing this that we are all in the same Church, same kingdom, same Lord. Blessings to BCF!
Loved your comments & love of your church body, but didn’t see any of the pictures. How do I get them?
Beth, I understand your sadness at leaving your church home, and can feel your excitement about new beginnings. God will be with you, no matter where you worship! I’m also wondering if anyone else is having trouble opening the pictures you posted with this entry? I cannot open them by either lift-clicking OR right-clicking! Help!!!
Karen
I’m not able to access the pictures either.
Hi Karen I can’t view the pictures neither and the blog is different from the regular LPM blog.
Carol
Yes, I’m having the same problem! The blog is laid out completely different! Was wondering if anyone else was having the same problem. Hope our old blog returns!
All should be well now, Karene and Carol!
no pics here either.
I think we are ‘back in business’ Ann!
So encouraged and delighted to read today’s post. My soul is reaching up to Heaven on the behalf of the Bayou City church start as my heart brakes for you as you leave your church home.
My first Summer Mission appointment through the HMB akd NAMB yes I’m old 😉 was to canvas a small town in Ohio to begin a Church Start. God blessed and before those 10 weeks were over, I was going to church in Acworth rather than Defiance to worship.
Praying with you as you minister through folded clothes and a trip to WM as you know meeting people where they are is essential to LOVE THEM TO JESUS!
Can’t wait to follow this ministry from it’s inception!
Hugs and Prayers to each of you during this exciting God led bitter sweet moment of leaving the old and comfortable and following Him into the new and different!
T’is so sweet to follow Jesus! I stand amazed at this turn of events and pray diligently for your new Pastor and Pastors wife,(makes my head spin to think it’s your dear son-in-law and precious daughter)and for each of you as you begin the challenges of a new church plant. Praise God for your whole family’s commitment to follow where-ever the LORD leads and all the blessings that are sure to come, and the great increase and addition to the Bride of Christ and God’s Kingdom. So excited for you all and hope we get to hear now and then how the new church plant is growing for God’s glory!
Beth a dear friend and I just finished you 12 course study on Daniel. It was wonderful and I learned so much. Some I guess I already knew, but was able to look at it in a different light and put my knowledge in an orderly fashion that make things come to life for me. However, we have a problem. Today we listened to session twelve of the series and even though we listened many times and kept reading the scripture verses given we could not figure out the blanks to point #5. I am sure it is very obvious and that we were only having a blonde moment (both of us being real blondes ha!ha!). We were hoping you could fill in the blanks for us. We can’t wait to choose and start our next study.
Sincerly
Sisters in Christ
Donna
How exciting!! How sad!!! How wonderful that you will still be teaching Bible Study at HFBC. What a beautiful example you all set of the kind of love we are to have for each other. I can’t wait to hear all about the new church.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; (Isaiah 43:19a) Enjoy the ride, Miss Beth.