Rain, Rain, Go Away!

It is raining like crazy! I’m not sure but it should be going on week two of rain. My yard may never dry out, we have our own little river. Water has been running from the back yard down the driveway all week long [Thank God He’s paying the bill for this time.] This weather is taking its toll on my body my knees and my back have been aching. I use to think that the older people was just making that stuff up but the older I get the more aches and pain I feel.

Since the convention it’s been non-stop. Got back in on Thursday taught ‘Girlfriends’ our church’s Women’s Ministry on Saturday, Sunday morning continued teaching our small groups in a joint Bible Study [please be in prayer for that transition] then preached twice Sunday. Normally, I try to save some when I know I have to do an afternoon service but between Bible Study and that first message I almost didn’t make it. But the St. John Church of Brooksville, OK has always been kind to me. I’ve been preaching there a long time and the strange thing is I always look forward to going. Most time if I’m invited more than two or three time it becomes like a chore. This year was Pastor Lee Oliver and First Lady Katharine Oliver’s 30th Anniversary. We took off Wednesday and Thursday we traveled to Chandler, OK about an hour in the other direction to the Central Baptist Church for the 30th Anniversary of Pastor James Reed and First Lady Linda Reed an outstanding couple as well. Pastor James Reed is my big brother in the ministry he has known me for most of my life. I’m honored each year to stand in his pulpit. I pray that God would bless Janice and I to serve long.

I thank God for the church. They will never know how it makes me feel when I walk in a church and make my way to the pulpit and see the faces of faithful followers. It means the world to me. It’s encouraging, strengthen and inspiring. We’re growing! I see that, God has done some refocusing of my eyes I’m not look numerically as much as spiritually now! I really believe that God promised me numbers but now he’s counting on me to equip them. I’m committed to do my part in the development of people who desire to grow. For along time I was preaching and waiting, preaching and waiting but now I see some movement. People are beginning to see God’s vision and we’re going to become a healthy body of believers.

Bethel CommUnity is making some huge step to becoming reality. I was sharing with someone that you can be praying for something and when God does it [when it’s a God thing]. It forces you to have to pray even harder. We’ve been praying for God to move the project, now that all the professionals we’ve hired are on the job, now we need money. Bills are coming in seemly everyday. Now our prayer is Lord provide rather than Lord push. This is an exciting time and I’m looking forward to unveiling everything to the church. It’s going to be awesome!

Happy Father’s Day

Father’s Day is always like a family reunion in the Gaddis family. Well, most holidays are because for the most part [with the exception of Christmas] we all gather at dad’s house. Father’s Day is special because Dana, Brent, Mike, Dad and I are under the same roof, we share a bond that isn’t shared in a many families we’re tight. We’ve always been! We were taught that family is important and we should have each others back. Even as boys we could fight like dogs [as my mother would say] but by the end of the day we were brother. Now that we have families of our own and have been blessed to be pretty successful in our respective occupations, we don’t get the chance to see each others as much as we should but one thing is certain when we get together stories will flow and it always seems like all the years disappear and we’re all kids again.

Oh, yea don’t want to forget to tell you that after we said our good-byes and I made it home [sounds like a long way but it’s really only four houses down the street] my children brought gifts. Every year about a week before Father’s day I get the same question “Daddy, what do you want for father’s day?” To which I give the same answers “I want you to fall in love with God and His Church!” They think always think I’m playing around but that is my prayer for my children, grandchildren and when I’m blessed my great, great grandchildren. Now I’m not in any hurry for the great, greats but you get the point. Anyhow they share thoughtful gifts with me and I’m still praying about the one gift that I really want 365 days a year.

I’m writing this from my hotel room in St. Louis, while attending the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education. This will be a very important trip for two reason first I will try my best to get in as much preaching and teaching as I can by some of this nation’s greatest communicators. Reason two when I walk through the exhibits hall this year I will not only be looking for that fabulous dress to surprise the First Lady with but I will be shopping for our new church building. For years now I’ve walked through and window-shopped but this year I’m buying or at least seriously talking to vendor.

On the flight down I began to write down our vision for building to share with the architect so that the team would not see this project as just another building but the most important space our church has here-to ever considered constructing. A place where spiritual connections will be made, where souls will be nourished, and a place where the saving message of Jesus Christ will be spoken, it’s not just a church it’s a community. I may have just written our construction commercial blitz piece.

My head is spinning and my emotions are simply out of control. One moment I’m extremely excited about the future and the next I’m deadly scared of failure. I believe that our best days are ahead of us and I’m privileged to pastor one of the greatest churches in the world [In Jesus’ Name]! Pray that I will continue to look up to God and not look around at people. Pray that my faith will grow strong. Good Night!

Sure Isn't Like Riding A Bike

It's Monday and rather than resting and taking a day off. I'm at summer camp teaching. You never stop growing or learning. I've become accustom to teaching adults but teaching children sure isn't like riding a bike. See, I use too be the children pastor many, many moons ago at the Fairview Church. But after nearly 20 years I've certainly changed and the children today certainly have. I studied and prepared to share a study on "Trust In God," in chapel that would go along with our Bible course that is taught on Thursdays. Afterwards, I really didn't feel that I did a very good job but I'm trusting that God will continue to work. I think my problem was the level of my lesson more than anything else. We have really bright group of children this year that God has bless us to have an awesome opportunity and we really want to be a good steward over the young lives that he's placed in our hands this summer.

Join me in prayer for what God wants to do in and through this summer camp experience for the children. Prayer for our staff as well as our volunteers that they're service will be as unto the Lord. Two very important things: first in every child in that camp regardless of the home they come from need someone to speak and impart godly encouragement. Second love makes all the difference in the world, we get a chance to love them with the love of God.

Now Faith, Hope and Love and the greatest of these is LOVE! Please join me in prayer.

Busy Time and It’s Just Getting Started

We just finished our first week of BethelKIDZ Summer Camp. Praise God from whom all blessing flow. This is our first year to do five days a week for 9 weeks [1 down and 8 to go.] We had a great group of volunteers and the staff handled things wonderfully. Glenda is a God-sent. She’s retired and could be sitting at home but she has been a jewel in as our campus coordinator. The children are very excited and are soaking up things really, really fast.

Attended the State Congress of Christian Education Monday – Wednesday, was encouraged by the meeting. The Pastoral class was very different than normal; it was open dialog, which allowed for a more helpful discussion. In the past we’ve only sat and listen to one point of view and all types of ministry style were simply not touched. Not sure who to give the credit to but well done congress staff.

Didn’t stay for the entire week for several reason but one was getting back to work on a few project that still need personal attention. After driving back I decided not to preach Wednesday evening which is my custom on the first Wednesday after the first Sunday then celebrate Holy Communion. I’m going to blame Janice for pushing me into preaching by saying that people were going to drive our over $3.25 gas and they needed to hear the Word. Well, anybody who knows me understands that I didn’t need much persuading. The Lord blessed His Word and sustained my tired body and birthed a series of sermon from Ephesians 4.

Tonight I was given the privilege to speak at a community forum. It was exciting and encouraging to see so many of our elected official, pastor and other civil organization present. I love my community and am willing to help where ever I’m needed. Some how I’ve been secretly appoint to lead this [not really secretly they just didn’t ask me I was just told that I would give the closing statement and the next day I’m the Chair], I know my Pastor had something to do with that. Only thing that is troubling is that God hasn’t really been clear on what He has plan with this community piece. So pray for me that I might know God will for this.

In a few hours Janice and I will have to both teach, she will teach Girlfriends while share with the Antioch Full Gospel Church and minister in a men’s luncheon. Janice is developing into a great teacher and will do a wonderful job of teaching. I’m really not sure what I’ll minister in the morning but I’m trusting God to lead and guide me.

Continue to pray for my health, haven’t felt this good in several months. My breathing has caused me to not be able to work out like I need to but I’ve been back for the last three weeks. Pray for my patience I’m struggling not to stress about how the Building funds, plans and other last minute things are dragging. I know God is in control and I know I’m probably the biggest hold up because He’s trying to teach me a lesson.

Last bit of new we’ve just finalized Beverly Crawford my all time favorite singing to come and minister during our 15th Anniversary Celebration. Now that’s doing church beyond the box! I’m most looking forward to the new idea that the committee came up with for a First Lady Luncheon. That makes me Happy! Nobody knows how much she put and pushes for the ministry. I don’t know personally another First Lady who is sold out for ministry like Janice. I often tell her I’m glad she’s on my team. She’s my girl.