The Visitor » 2010 » June » 25

Here and There by Wes Price will resume when Wes recovers from surgery. We pray he will be back with us soon. =========================================
ARE WE GROWING?
Roger Owen

Do the numbers 77, 78, 76 mean anything to you? These are the numbers I hear in the foyer after our morning assembly from the one who counts our attendance. So far, every Sunday I have been here with you the count has totaled between 76 and 80. Two observations about this: First, we do not have the same people here every week, but we are having the same number. Some take trips, become ill, etc. and are not here every Sunday, and some come to visit us. Still the number stays the same. This obviously means that while the count may be the same, it indicates that we actually have more individuals involved in this body of believers than the count indicates.

Second, attendance numbers have nothing to do with “growth”. As a people in our society, we seem to have more emphasis about numbers than anything else, and we seem to think that large numbers equal success and small numbers equal failure. I have attended congregations in my lifetime that number anywhere from 13 in attendance to 1700 in attendance. I really have seen no difference in the congregations as far as growth is concerned. Some churches increase in number from small to large for any number of reasons, but the only reason God cares about is the increase in number because of teaching His word and saving lost souls who subsequently choose to assemble with the ones who taught them. All the other reasons – new building, entertaining assemblies, special activities, new-comers to the area, etc. – just shift the location of people already taught from one place to another.

But back to growth. When I read the New Testament I find the growth that God wants is within me individually. He wants me to grow up into salvation through the spiritual milk of the word (1 Peter 2:2). He wants me to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord (II Peter 3:18; Colossians 1:10). He wants me to increase in righteousness (II Corinthians 9:10). And God wants me to grow in my faith (II Thessalonians 1:13; II Corinthians 10:15). So if I want to know if we as a congregation are growing, I need to know if my knowledge of God’s word, my faith in what it says, and my righteous living has increased!

I do not have control over how many people are saved. I am told to “bear fruit in every good word” (Colossians 1:10), and I am told that the number of disciples in Jerusalem multiplied when the word of God increased (Acts 6:7). And I am told to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Matthew 28:19). But I cannot determine how many will be saved and how many will assemble at this congregation once they have become a disciple.

The gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). No matter how much we plant and water, it means nothing, because it is God who gives the growth (I Corinthians 3:6-7). Paul said he was not sent to baptize but to preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:17). It is up to the hearer whether he accepts the word or not. Remember the parable of the sower (Matthew 13). One out of four is not a winning percentage in our statistical world! “Growth” in numbers is up to the soil, the hearer, not the sower. Jeremiah preached his whole life and had not a single convert!

So what’s the point? The questions still is, “Are we growing?” The answer is in you and me. Are we increasing in our knowledge of the word of God, in our faith in Him, in the righteousness of our living? If so, then we are growing! If we are just standing still, maintaining, then it would behoove us to read Jesus’ words to the “lukewarm” church at Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22). If our temperature is not increasing, we need to turn up the heat!
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PRAYER LIST
Wes Price–Methodist Rehab – Room 128, located just east of Charlton Methodist, 3020 W. Wheatland Road, Dallas, TX 75237. Phone in Wes’ Room – 972-708-8728.

Evelyn Dillon – Methodist Rehab – east of Charlton Methodist.
She is there to see if they can help her to get stronger.

Jimmy Mooney is recovering from his surgery.

Continue to remember Sylvia McMillion, Rick Ramsey, Jimmy Mooney’s mother (Dorothy), R. C. Bell, Lois Rodriquez and others.
Let us all pray for the Tyson Family.

REMEMBER ALL OTHERS ON THE PRAYER LIST
Adrain Arthur (great nephew of Theresa Bersano); George Bailey; R. C. Bell; Addie Bennett; Dr. “J” Coats; Perry Cotham; Urbanelle Cox; Carol & Peter Diamond; Tom Duvall; Ruby Faas; Gloria Garcia; Rita Harrison; Doris Henry; Bill Hinton; Bob and Madeline Hinton; Ed Horn; Mary Catherine Jayroe; Jean LaPine; Nancy Lindley; Sylvia & Muriel McMillion; Billie Morgan; Bobby Muirhead (sister of Billie & Jean Thompson); Lula Murray; Henrietta Pummill; Rick Ramsey; Sherri Reynolds; Lois Rodriquez; Mildred Sala, Nancy Spurgeon; Treva Traylor; Cathy Wood; Marie Works.

The following is a Special Prayer Request

Please pray for Robert Quinn as he moves from Collinsville, Illinois to Henderson, Tennessee next week as he prepares to begin attending Freed Hardeman in August, and also begins work with a nearby congregation as a part-time youth minister. He is the grandson of R.C. & Juanita Bell.

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Please find on the table in the foyer:

The July, 2010 Calendar

The new Power for Today: July, Aug., and Sept., 2010

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Vital Signs: June 20, 2010

Bible Study 53 Offering: $2,439.75 Morning Worship: 75 Budget: $2,893.27 Afternoon Worship: 41 Wed. Eve. Bible Study, 6/16:31

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Take Time To Pray

“Looking Forward” by Jack Armstrong

Well folks this has been a good week, it seems like Bro. Wes has finally turned the corner, and is on the road to recovery! Oleta and I were visiting with him this week and he said after we asked how he was doing, “Well I’m doing fine, now if I can only get rid of this illness.” Sounded like the ‘ol Wes.

It sure was good to see Juanita Bell and part of her family there last Lord’s Day, but we sure do miss R.C. and pray he get’s better real soon. They are a family of Christians!

We also haven’t heard from Cloyce and Kay Jurecka in a while. Sure hope they are doing good. Speaking of these two we also want to thank all of you who call to check on Wes whlle he has been out and I’ve heard him say it means a lot to him and he knows the prayers are what has brought him through along with some find doctors who know that the Lord is guiding them! That and the fact they spend private time visiting with Wes and Alma Faye. It sure makes me feel good about them.

By the time you get this we will have celebrated Father’s Day and we were fortunate to be able to eat out with our “kids”, and I use that word loosely, since our son, Jack is 63 and our Angie is now 43. It’s so good to get together with them! Seems like in these times getting together with the family only comes at special occasions such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Memorial Day. Things are just moving too fast or maybe it’s that I’m just getting old.

We sure hope you all had a great Father’s Day, anyway! I’m running short of time since I waited too long to write my column so I’d best sign off for this time and we’ll see you next time the Good Lord willing.

We pray all of our sick and shut-ins are doing much better, we love you all and miss you…. Remember our Goal…

“When Duty Becomes Desire”

See you soon. “Here and There” Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful) =====================================================