College Retreat Reflection

I just returned yesterday from a 3 day trip to Pigeon Forge, TN with our college students from Broadway. There were 10 of us on the trip and we did a whole lot of nothing while we were there. We watched TV, went shopping, played pool and various other games, and of course we did a Bible study over the weekend. We watched a video series called UNSTUCK by Dave Edwards. This video Bible series was about how we get stuck in things that we should have relied on God to take care of in the first place! We don't rely on God like He asks us to or like He would love for us to. We think we can handle any situation thrown at us when in reality we can't. We wait until we are in over our heads before we cry out to God for help. We have to have hope in who God is and in what He can do. This hope will lead us to faith in those same things and then action carried out as we depend on God to guide and lead us through our situation. Find your hope so you can have the faith in what God is capable of doing in your life. Don't limit God on what He can do, because He can do all things because, well... He is GOD!

Pastor Fred Winters

This morning at 8:55 a.m. a gunmen walked in to FBC Maryville, Illinois. He walked down the center aisle minutes into Pastro Fred Winters sermon. He approached the stage with gun in hand and Fred asked him how he could help the man. The man pointed the gun towards Fred and fired 3 times. The man was tackled by 4 members of the church where 2 of them were stabbed and the gunmen attempted to stab himself during the scuffle. 4 people were taken to the hospital including Fred. Pastor fred winters later died from the injuries received during the attack. Pastor Fred leaves behind his wife, Cindy, and 2 children. Pastor Fred Winters was my pastor for 8 years. He baptized me during junior high and was a great influence on my life, my walk with the Lord, and my current career in ministry. I thank him for all the lives he reached through the years. He will be missed by many people from the Maryville area and the surrounding communities. I pray God will watch over his family and see them through this difficult situation.

My Ordination Service

Last night, Sunday March 1, I was ordained at Broadway Baptist Church in Lexington, KY. Pastor John Birchett led the service with the Drex Kemplin, the chairman of the deacons, giving the candidate presentation on behalf of the deacons, Pastor John, Music Minister Jeff Randolph, and Brother James Heard after my completion of the council on February 21st. The service was great. Pastor John spoke out of 2 Timothy 2:14-30. Rebecca Seitz, Kevin Tolliver, and Megan Davis read scripture during the service as well. Brother Jeff led the singing with Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Just as I am, and others. I was encouraged by the number of ordained men (pastor, music minister, and deacons) that prayed for me while laying their hands on me. I received a Bible and an Ordination certificate from the church. A reception of Chic-Fil-A nuggets, cupcakes, and fruit foolowed the service. My parents and grandparents, Lori's parents and grandparents, and my sister-in-law, brother-in-law, and niece Madelyn were all in attendance for the occasion. It was a great night for glorifying God and I pray that I can continue to do so.