Well, it finally happened! After 2 years of God stirring up Curtis and Amanda and spooning them onto the same ministry page and after six months of praying and planning with a core group of believers, Bayou City Fellowship blew open its doors last Sunday, September 11th. On so many levels, it was the Sunday of my life…and, just so you know, I’ve loved me some Sundays. You’ve got no hater here. Ink can’t convey what growing up in the church meant to a child who’d come from early victimization and was all but paralyzed by fear and insecurity. I know my story is not everyone’s but, for me, church was a safe place. A happy place. A lively place even long before the days of praise bands and raised hands. It was there in that small circle of Sunday school chairs in Arkadelphia, Arkansas that I met the love of my life. It was there that I memorized my first Bible verses and, there, my head plunged beneath the waters of baptism at the ripe old age of nine.
If I’m counting them right, I’ve belonged to about 6 or 7 churches in my 54 years and most of those changes were necessary because of moves. I can’t say that a single one of them was intolerable. If you’ve been around the LPM blog very long, you may know how dearly I loved HFBC and what tears I shed in saying goodbye to the church where I’d worshipped for almost 30 years. At first the sense of lostness was palpable. Then, suddenly, as I crouched with other believers way out on that limb, in the throes of desperate prayer, and complete dependence on God for this infant church, it was like quart of Red Bull started coursing through my veins. People would ask from time to time, “Are you guys scared?” Well, alive is more like it. Alive and AWAKE.
It’s been one of the most exciting things I’ve ever been part of. Many of you who have been involved in church plants have said the same thing. I guess one reason is because it’s just so out there. History can’t make it float. Heritage can’t make it float. Habit can’t make it float. Only Jesus can make it float. If He does not shine His face upon us, we will fizzle out like a year-old sparkler on the 4th of July. The other big thing from a personal standpoint, making it so exhilarating is the band of new relationships. How often does somebody make 50 new friends without getting on Facebook? I know at least 20 children’s names and they know mine. OK. So I have candy in my purse. Is that against anybody’s religion??
Sunday two weeks ago, we had our BCF dress rehearsal. Everybody on the core team has at least one job to do so we got there early and into our places. (The first wave at 7:00 AM. The second wave at 8:30. That’s my wave. Service begins at 10:00.) I’m on the host team so we mostly practiced welcoming each other at dress rehearsal and we taste-tested the coffee at our makeshift coffee bar. Other teams were practically as busy at dress rehearsal as they’d be on opening day. The utility team and the children’s team require the most hands on deck because they have to set up and tear down every week. God graced us lavishly with space to rent at Houston Christian High School (Beltway 8, close to Hammerly – a gorgeous school and a great one). So, on these Sundays, halls and gyms transform into children’s areas with bright primary colors, songs, sounds of laughter, and stories about a great big God and a Savior who could walk on water. A Man who could take one boy’s lunch and feed thousands. Someone who said, “Don’t hold back those children from me! They’re what the Kingdom of God is all about!” We feel like God gave us one of the most gifted couples in our entire area to head up our children’s ministry. I pray for Dustin and Cassi second in line only to Curtis and Amanda. I wondered if they’d be overwhelmed on opening Sunday but their team was prepared, all the children welcomed and well cared for, and I saw nothing but smiles as I picked up Jackson and Annabeth.
Oops. I’m getting ahead of myself. I’ll back up and give you a short run-down of our first Sunday from the pitifully biased point of view of Blonder Than She Pays To Be:
I got there a few minutes behind schedule because I’d asked special grace from the pastor’s wife. Saturday’s simulcast in Lubbock made for a pretty late Saturday night so, by the time I got to the church, everything was already in high gear. This was the scene at the welcome center for the children. As you can see, we were getting a few things ironed out before our guests arrived.
We met for prayer in the gym and, after our pastor asked us to get in small groups and agree in focused intercession, one of our team members also requested that we gather around Curtis, lay hands on him and call out to God in his behalf. It was such a powerful time that I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. I could get tears in my eyes just thinking about it. At this point, you realize that we didn’t even know for certain that anybody else was coming. We were “in the presence of the God in whom [we] believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.” (Romans 4:17 ESV)
After prayer, we all scurried to our places. Mine last Sunday was beside those at the front door to the chapel. I will work in the children’s area pretty regularly but, when I’m in big church, I get to be on the team that welcomes people. I always wanted to be on the welcoming committee at HFBC so I’m ecstatic about my new job. I get to serve in this capacity as long as I don’t clog up an aisle or a door so I intend to stay light on my feet on Sundays and move from place to place. (I have promised Curtis and Amanda that I will not let BCF become a place for signing books or taking pictures. I just want to be a fellow church-servant so badly. On our first Sunday, that’s exactly what I got to be! A good sign indeed.)
I wish you could have seen the host team and I staring through the glass doors for signs of guests. Sure enough, by 9:30 they were coming. To say that we tripped over one another to welcome people is an understatement. Mind you, we’d been planning this moment for 6 months. It might be safe to say that there were some among the host team who were willing to elbow others to get to the guests first. I’ll not mention any names but, if I remember right, I think her initials were BM.
Side note: Someone who will remain nameless but is related to me had brought donuts for the team to dress rehearsal the week before and I couldn’t eat one because of a bread-fast I was observing for the simulcast. I could not WAIT to sink my teeth into a warm Shipley’s on our opening morning and, lo and behold, no one brought any. I said to my son-in-law Colin, “I’m starving for a donut.” (A sick exaggeration, of course.) He said, “I don’t have a donut but I do have some peanut M&M’s. Would that do?” In a pinch, YES!
At the exact moment I threw a handful in my mouth, our first guest walked through the door. Not to be outdone, I flew over there, chewing as fast as I could, and greeted her with great enthusiasm and with tiny chips of brilliant red, blue, and green lodged between the opening teeth of my lifelong overbite. In hindsight, I wish I’d waited. I saw a piece of peanut on her shoulder after I hugged her. I wanted to swat it off but I was afraid she’d think that I thought she had dry scalp. It was a lose-lose. Another of our team members was equally enthusiastic. She showed us later how she’d nearly wrapped herself like a pretzel around the first guest she got to greet. (Don’t be scared to visit. If we can’t bring ourselves to settle down some over the next few weeks, we overzealous ones are prepared to take medication. Or have it forced upon us. Maybe we could wear a relaxation patch of some kind.)
Then I looked inside the chapel – still about 25 minutes before the service – and spied two women from the back with really cute gray hair. I descended upon them like a seagull dive-bombing a surf. We are hoping to no end that God will build BCF into a multigenerational body of believers so gray was one of our favorite colors last Sunday. If we don’t turn out with many senior adults, I’ll pray about letting my hair go its natural color. And I feel utterly certain that God will say no.
Their names were Irma and Joanne. I’m talking about the two women in the chapel. Stay with me here. And, are you ready for this? They are SIESTAS. Yep. Siestas. They live in Houston and knew about Bayou City Fellowship through our blog. In fact, I do not doubt they are reading this right now. Hi, Irma! Hi, Joanne! I loved meeting you both! Are you coming back this Sunday? Huh? Huh? I, of course, asked them if they’d be coming to our SSMT celebration but Irma said she’d found so many verses to be a bit daunting. I bet many of you can relate. But I told her the same thing I’m telling you: it’s not too late! Choose a psalm with 20 verses and get busy!
Back to BCF. The host team got the chance to welcome many people on Sunday. We think we had about 500 in all, counting the children. We were ecstatic. It was the perfect size for our first Sunday because we had a room full of worshippers without being overwhelmed. Our praise to God knows no bounds. Our whole family was involved. I wish I could see your faces when I tell you that Melissa manned the coffee bar. She did a splendid job, but when she ran out of half and half, you’d have thought we were on the edge of Armageddon. The Texas Pecan coffee was other-worldly in my opinion but she quipped, “WITH NO HALF AND HALF???” I agreed. It was unheard of. I just adore her. No one on earth is like her. Colin, Melissa’s man, was extremely busy because he is on the utility team, setting up and tearing down. (She is, too, by the way.) During the service, Colin passed one of the offering plates and, honestly, if I loved him more, I’d throw my back out. I would not trade him for anything on the planet. Melissa sat on one side of our hard-working pastor’s wife. (Don’t get me going on the pastor’s wife. It will put me over the edge. She is taking her place right beside her man and I am so impressed with God through her that I hardly know how to handle it. I have begun to call her First Lady. She has failed to acknowledge the honorific, however.) My older sister, Gay, sat on Amanda’s other side. It is a picture that will be engraved on my mind as long as I have memory.  I sat on the other side of my sister and Keith sat next to me. And his handsome twenty-two year old nephew sat next to him. And it’s very likely that any unattached young woman within five years of him wished she were sitting hitherto.
And, Curtis?
Well, Girlfriend. Curtis preached.
I do mean Curtis PREACHED.
And I got a word.
And many of us rededicated our lives. I’m not being facetious. I really did. 54 is no time to shove everything over to the young. They need you to stick with them. And, oh, Lord, have mercy, I NEED THEM. I’ve hardly known what to do with myself since giving up Sunday school. I have a new job at church now: it’s called Whatever. I’ll rock babies. I’ll tell stories to children. I’ll welcome guests. I’ll help Melissa with the coffee. I’ll pass the offering plate (and probably try to peek in it). Whatever. I’m in.
Because I love church life. Even in all its imperfections and missteps. Even with its questionable reputation. Even though, at best, it can only point to Jesus and feign to replace Him. God used it to scoop me up when I was freefalling into an abyss. God used it to light a torch in me for missions and for the lifelong study of Scripture. God used it to teach me how to take a messy stab at teaching. God used it to show me how to love and to be loved. God used it to teach me how to forgive and feel forgiven.
Infinitely more than that, Jesus loves the Church. The big One. The one we’re only a speck on the face of. We – a people crouched on a tiny new dot on the Kingdom globe – want to take our place, shoulder to shoulder, with all the others who lift the Name of Jesus sky-high for any eye to see.
We want to take our place next to you.
And, if you happen to find yourself shoulder to shoulder with me, you might check your person for a rogue piece of peanut M&M. I’m a hugger, you know.
I am trying to convince my husband to move us to Houston so that we can attend. 🙂 Any chance ya’ll need a banjo player with 2 masters degrees in JESUS? He’s a great catch, then I can just sit and smile and soak it all in! LOL Been praying for you all. I enjoy you tremendously. Thanks for sharing yourself the way that you do.
I’m SO excited for you and admire all yall are doing. If I wasn’t so sunk into my church I’d be right there. Praying for you and excited to hear the details and know God is up to something big there!!!!
Woo Hoo !!! What a beautiful time in the life of God’s children. I was not raised in a christian home. But, since I have been a small girl I have always loved church. I STILL DO ! Nothing is any sweeter than to love on my brothers and sisters in Christ. The load is so light when we all share the work. I know God is smiling on BCF and I think He likes M&M’s plain. 🙂
Oh, I have been waiting for you or Amanda to post an update on how Sunday went!!! I’m over the moon thrilled! I hope you’re prepared for a heap more siestas should any choose to stay one more day past the SSMT Celebration 🙂 God is good and He is doing big things~how awesome for us that He beckons us to come along for the journey!
love {a fellow pastor’s wife},
Audrey
Wow…Beth, I am just so happy for your family and the people you get to serve and point to Jesus. Unlike you, I haven’t had a background of happy memories in church…while our backgrounds are similar in nature, my memories of church are painful and sad. It has now been TWO years that I have belonged completely to Jesus…I can hardly believe it. It doesn’t seem possible to me at all that I have been able to hold on for two years–but I have to remember, He’s holding on to me. I, like you, dearly LOVE my church so much that it hurts me to think about ever leaving it. That would send me into a fit of terror that I don’t know that I could recover from…and I am thankful that He has placed me somewhere to grow and learn.
I am planning to attend the SSMT gathering in Houston–it will be something to see for a newbie like me! I usually don’t like going into churches because they have always smelled funny to me! But I’m getting better about it than I used to be. Thank you for sharing all the things about your beautiful church that make it so special! I’m just now able to have the very first GOOD memories that I have ever had about church! It all feels new and exciting to me, so I am able to share in your excitement as well! Praying for your beautiful Sunday morning tomorrow!
Sheri
You are hilarious! I love how you make me feel like I was waltzing around with you that morning.
Praise God for how He is redeeming the years the locust had eaten when you were a child.
He alone deserves the praise, and you are very much appreciated by me :-).
Hi amazing Beth! I did the live (well sort of live) simulcast teaching with you on Sat! So excited! We were in Windsor Park Baptist in Auckland, New Zealand, which is my Mom’s church.
I loved it! Who knew Luke was so amazing??
I tell you what, the enemy threw everything at us and the church to stop that simulcast and that only made us MORE excited! We knew we were in for a great God annnointed day! (there is an overuse of exclamation marks, sorry but I am so excited!)
Anyway, loved it and loved you! No wait…I love you!!
Thank you so much xx
This makes me want to move to Houston! At the very least, I’ll be visiting someday!
How exciting that you get to do this with your family! My husband and I got to be a part of planting a church about 9 years ago and it has been a wild ride! God has taught me so many things and drawn many people to himself. Many blessings on your family and all those involved!
WOW! Thanks for sharing! Praying for you! Praying for you all! God is so good!
I still have a big smile on my face. Thank you for making me feel like I was there. If I ever make it to Houston, I plan to experience it in person!
Beth, thank you so much for this wonderful account of last Sunday! I agree with the others that commented on your focus and involvement on Saturdays simulcast. I was in one of the Canadian bunch that took part and there was no indication that you had such a busy weekend planned after Saturday!
As I type this – I am laying in bed when church is on. Summer time is spent in many directions for me, but I need to get back to church. I read this post and think…’If only I lived there then I would LOVE to come to church’, but I know that is also just a cop out. For any of you reading this, I would cherish your prayers in this. I have 2 older teenage sons that are falling farther away. I can (maybe even truthfully) say its partly because of our broken family, but I know its also partly because of my broken spirit.
Back to last Sunday…is there a way that you could make a copy of the service available for us? Even if it was a podcast or a video on your website that we could pay to download? Many of us will not likely be able to worship in person with any of you until we do for eternity in heaven – but I would love the opportunity to take part now. If we paid a small amount to download it, it could be given to the church as a gift from us, the Siestas, allowing us to give back as you all have given so much to us.
You are all loved so much. What a blessing this community is!
Momma Beth – I am still just loving this update and am praying for you NOW in ‘week 2’ – I hope you had two handfuls of m&m’s this week! Such joy and enthusiasm and HOLY SPIRIT power coursing through the veins of His church! I’m so glad you shared.
Sat in the sanctuary with my man for the first time in literally years this morning. I’m usually with the kids, so it was beyond special. WE HELD HANDS enroute to sanctuary and he said, “Hello – I remember you! Wanna go to church with me?” My heart was ready to burst (and my tears showed it) knowing many, many, all over lifted their voices with ours this morning in praise.
Counting down to Baltimore, Momma Beth. Jesus will be present and will make Himself known. I can’t wait to visit with Him in a special way that weekend. LOVE to you and your beloved BCF and LPM crews!
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a hug… I’ll take one for a donut or M&M’s any day. I loved what you said about making 50 friends all at once without being on Facebook. Facebook isn’t all it’s craked-up to be. Give me a room full of friends…. 🙂
um… not sure why both comments – couple of days apart – posted at once! Not trying to bombard here! I’ll go back to mommying. I think I do that a far cry better than blog-commenting. Or not! 🙂
Thank you for sharing with us! What a blessing to have 500 people come on the opening day.
Next time, we get to Houston to visit family, we will try to visit.
Mary Ann, Woodbury, MN
Praise God!
“At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
Listen, Listen, to the roar of HIS Voice,
to the rumblings that comes from HIS mouth.
After that comes the sound of His roar;
He thunders with HIS majestic Voice.
When HIS Voice resounds *HE holds nothing back!*
God’s Voice thunders in marvelous ways;
HE does great things beyond our understanding.”
PS 37: 1-5
(A longtime observer celebrating w/you in your
new House of Prayer… with memory verses:)
I had the pleasure of attending BFC’s first service last week and was thrilled to be greeted by you at the door. You make a very good greeter. I saw no evidence of M&Ms, but I think that’s because I was paralyzed with fear when you hugged me that I was going to spill piping hot coffee down your back! It was exciting to see a vision become a reality and many times this week I was reminded that when God interrupts your life it is a big deal! Blessings!
“At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
Listen, Listen, to the roar of HIS Voice,
to the rumblings that comes from HIS mouth.
After that comes the sound of His roar;
He thunders with HIS majestic Voice.
When HIS Voice resounds *HE holds nothing back!*
God’s Voice thunders in marvelous ways;
HE does great things beyond our understanding.”
PS 37: 1-5
(A longtime observer celebrating w/you in your
new House of Prayer… with memory verses:)
Thank you for sharing.
You don’t need to settle down as far as I’m concerned, though, I’m sure others need you too. They need me to, also. I’m way too overwhelming and was outride told that I’m too much this weekend. (And I was holding back!!!! A LOT! Trust me!) Anyway, I would love to be greeted enthusiastically by you, or really by anyone. It rarely happens and on the few occasions of my life that it has happened I’ve loved it. All those things you said God used the church in your life to do, God has used YOU to do in my life. I have to admit, so far, from the local church, mostly what I’ve received is misunderstanding (mostly when I held back and didn’t explain too much) rejection, and outright condemnation, so I have a little less love for Sundays then you do. I know it’s a terrible thing to say, but I’m sick of being told things like, that I wouldn’t suffer from depression if I was truly following Christ. That I’m not trusting God by taking medication. That I shouldn’t need to grieve through anything, but just accept that I didn’t really need the things I think I needed growing up. Just let it go, without talking about it or anything and move on. I feel that they’re trying to rush me, and get me to just bury stuff. I don’t see I have any other choice, but it hasn’t worked, so I’m stuck.
Shellie–I am so sorry to hear that your church experience has involved condemnation and criticism. I support you and am sympathetic to your depression issues. I’ve dealt with it for many years myself. Iam part of a wonderful church in Memphis. It’s such a blessing to me, and thru getting to know some fabulous Jesus-loving women, I have become convinced that loving Jesus doesn’t always eliminate depression. I see far too many examples of it, and believe it’s entirely chemical. Why can’t we just trust the medical profession?? Doctors can often treat our symptoms, and it’s for our own good! I will pray that you find the support you need, in a local church.
At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
Listen, Listen, to the roar of HIS Voice,
to the rumblings that comes from HIS mouth.
He unleashes HIS lightning beneath the whole heavens
and sends them to the ends of the earth. (Houston)
After that comes the sound of His roar;
He thunders with HIS majestic Voice.
When HIS Voice resounds *HE holds nothing back!*
God’s Voice thunders in marvelous ways;
HE does great things beyond our understanding.”
PS 37: 1-5
(A longtime observer who never blogs but desired to share
in God’s goodness to you w/memory scriptures:) And left out
one important vs. Praying someone will see the two times I’ve
edited:>/ and if posted, will post this one. thank you for sharing.
Congratulations and God bless you’all.)
I am SO glad it went well! That did my heart some good to hear it!!!! I am a member at Houston’s First – and we even were in Curtis’ Wednesday night class. To tell you all how much you are missed there would be a grevious understatement! I SO enjoyed worshipping with you for the last couple of years since we’ve been in Houston.
BUT…… To hear about the new church plant and what God is doing makes me so happy. You’ll always be missed – but this turned my heart from sad to happy. Thanks for sharing your lives. God is so so so good.
Luv ya so much!
Kelly
For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, ” In returning and rest you shall be saved, In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15
That’s awesome! I too am involved in a church plant right now…was part of the core team this summer, and now we’ve been having corporate worship for a month-such a blessing to see how God is working and the lives he is changing! God is good-all the time!!
What a glorious Sunday. Oh how precious is a Sunday morning spent in worship and fellowship. Lord, make me a servant.
I just loved reading about your Sunday! I sure will be praying for this new church, and especially for Curtis and Amanda as they begin such a significant calling. I spent the weekend at a conference called “Ekklesia” where the focus was on the church and the Bible’s design and purpose of the church. A huge take-home point from last evening came from Revelation 5:6,”Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders..” The speaker pointed out that God never “got over” talking about a slain Lamb and neither should we(the church). He also talked about the importance of gospel-centered churches, and I wanted to clap out loud when you wrote about lifting the name of Jesus sky high at Bayou City! Thanks for sharing:)
How exciting! If I lived within 100 miles of you I would count it an honor to come and worship by your side and I would not mind the rogue pieces of peanut one bit! Alas, I live in East TN-but having this blog to read makes me feel like I am right there with ya! I know this is going to be a wonderful adventure for you and your family and I know God is going to just bless over and over. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful day with us.
Does anyone know of a church in Fayetteville, N.C. where my daughter can attend. She just relocated there after ending an abusive marriage. She is 26, loves Jesus, and needs to have a positive new beginning. We are in Mass and not close enough to go to church with her. She just missed Beth in Lowell, Ma. last October.
Nothing like a church plant to help a person feel a fresh move of the Spirit course through their souls – thanks so much for sharing your first Sunday with us. LOVE IT!
And the relationships you make in service there will be so precious – you are sharing a journey like no other. I am looking forward to hearing how God just pours Himself out on Houston through that wonderful new baby church!
Blessings to all. (I also do hospitality at our church, by the way.)
We were there on Sept 11th and love, love loved it! I’m hoping to rock some babies too! 🙂
My verse:
Ann C ~ Houston
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his imcomparable great power for us who believe. Eph 1:18 NIV
Thanks so much for sharing Beth! What an amazing and exciting time for you and your family!! I will be praying for Curtis and BCF. God is so good!
Wow! What a wonderful description of the amazing ways in which God works. I would love to have been there! May God bless your efforts to exalt Him!
Beth, Thank you for sharing with us about BCF. I also share your feelings about church! It is so thrilling to greet new faces and to see how Jesus shines! He is our shield and our very great reward ! May God continue to build this church and His great church!!
I have been following Curtis and Amanda’s journey here and I love, love, love reading about last Sunday through your words, Beth. You have my prayers by the dump truck full for God to be under, over, and smack dab in the middle of BCF! Love y’all so much!
So thrilled for Amanda and CJ. For all of you. God is so good.
Beth,
You are such a blessing! Thanks for sharing your joy with us! I will pray for this new church! We just started your study, “Esther: It’s tough being a woman” and I can’t wait to learn more about my destiny! God bless you all!
Beth your enthusiasm is contagious! Thank you for serving the Lord with spiritual fervor… and you can spit peanut M&M’s on me anytime. You are a kick in the pants, God bless your wonderful family!
This was such a great post!! I LOVED reading your excitement about loving the church, despite its flaws. As a young-ish pastor’s wife, I catch myself sometimes feeling almost disgruntled about church stuff. Knowing the behind the scenes drama (people leaving the church over the piano being moved, the color of the hymnal/carpet/choir robes, meetings over how many pieces of chicken should be served at the Wednesday night meal – seriously!!) makes me feel used up and tired and sad by the end of our day of rest. Your enthusiasm is encouraging and contagious though! I’ll read this again next Saturday night and hope to enter His house with renewed fervor and the reminder that we all have jobs to do for Him! Thanks! And so pleased to hear the new fellowship is going so splendidly!
Deena, Corona, CA
“What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
Luke 18:27 NIV
I loved hearing about your favorite Sunday ever!! I hope today was just as awesome, if not better!! I love to read all your details!! Tiny chips of red, blue and green peanut m and m’s lodged in your teeth!!! Haha!! I just love you!!
I have to share a cute thing that happened today! One little girl had a new haircut with bangs and I said how cute she was, and she told me she wanted bangs so she could be just like me!! Oh it just made my day!!!
Praying God’s continued blessings over you and BCF!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing Beth, great to read about the exciting work God is doing! As I read through the comments I see there are others like me without a church home. I think one of the reasons I love this blog so much is that I feel that I am with my own church family when reading it. Its been 14 yes fourteen years since we have had a church home. We attending different churches for a good five years and prayed, prayed and prayed some more for God to send us where we were supposed to be, but 14 years later no church. I cannot understand him not wanting us to be in a church, it makes no sense.
I grew up in church, we have served in church and it has been our family for all our married years until moving here and not having one.
I know that is hard for people to believe, but when I talk to people I meet in our area, I hear the same thing, no matter what “type” of church they went to before.
Congratulations everyone on the new church!
About the “gray-haired ladies”, I thought you didn’t trust women who don’t dye their hair!? I still can’t get that out of my head when I heard you say that at the simulcast on the 10th. I came home and cried that night. I can’t not afford to get my hair dyed, even though my daughters and a few friends have told me I should. sigh….
Blessings to all of you for the growth of the church, especially for new believers in Christ.
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It is such a blessing and encouragement to see how God is working all over the place! I would love to attend BCF myself, instead I will just have to pray over it. So from the state of Georgia let’s give GOD a big WOO HOO!!
BETH…..all I can say is after reading that I just want to squeeze you, flying M&M’s and all! Do not think that I missed your use of the word honorific which you taught at the Simulcast! It is such a fun word.
Speaking of fun, I about came out of my chair at the Simulcast when I read that the live Simulcast for next year is in Redding PA….that is only five hours from us! My girls and I are already making plans to be there on site!!! A few of us will probably stay behind because our church will probably be a host church again, but I am so there! I want to see that blonde hair up close!
I am so excited for you and your family to be entering into this new journey with God of planting a church. What a blessing to come alongside your daughters and sons-in-law and rely on God to work!
I love you Mama Siesta!!!!
“Candy-coated hugs”….Love that! I thought of you that weekend and was very much looking forward to reading a post about it. Sounds fabulous!! Thanks for letting us in on it. So exciting to serve a Mighty God and to watch his anointing fall upon situations. Thanks for letting us experience this through your great descriptions.
AWESOME all the way around!!! Loved the retelling of it… and that you keep candy in your purse. That one beats all.
Bethie,
I am still crying after reading this.
What a blessing. If that does not get your guns drawn for Jesus I don’t know what will. Still praying for you all with the new venture.
May He richly bless BCF! May you be the hands & feet of Christ. As a mother, I know you are just bursting with pride for your family that are serving the Lord so selflessly.
Goosebumps…..or as you say down there, goosepimples! I, too LOVE church life, and miss the days of spending the entire day with the church family! Thank you, Father, for your faithfulness to these precious children of yours, and may Your Spirit be alive and moving at Bayou City Fellowship!