A New Form of Communication

Today I began a new form of communication, creating a journey blog as a social networking tool of Shiloh Baptist Association and its friends. It's really new for me and I appreciate your encouragement and suggestions in this new endeavor. Change is important today! pastor Michael Lewis is using the theme, "It's a New Day" as a sermon series and the beginning of his FBC Plant City pastoral ministry. That theme applies to all of us each day, whether or not we are beginning a new job or establishing a new relationship. It is important to affirm the value of change. I am reminded that there is going to be a lot of change when God calls me to heaven.

Every day is a new day and we are called to action with each new day's opportunities. Joyce and I have adopted the Serenity Prayer as a devotion thought for our lives in our journey.


The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen. -- Reinhold Niebuhr

We are committed to be a friend and give added partnership support to the pastors, church leaders, and all of our churches. Our passion is to improve our mission work each week. If you have needs, suggestions, or information for our web ministry or Blog, let me know. You can email me back.

Our Ministry Assistant, Kim Smith, has left us and accepted a position as Dr. Michael Lewis' Pastoral Assistant at FBC Plant City. We are blessed to have Barbara Grainger in that position each morning from 8:30 am until 12:30 pm. Her major responsibilities, beyond receiving calls and greeting people, includes newsletter publication, promotion of special events, coordinating our calendar events with Florida Baptist Convention, keeping updated information on the pastor and church profiles. Barbara is knowledgeable of graphics and media and will have an added responsibility to help us and our churches with the web ministry, promotion of events, and monthly newsletters. This should advance our partnership-mission work. She will be a blessing in this time when we need to change and improve our communication. This does not change Ginny Diaz's role as our Administrative Assistant, it just adds a new dimension to, and advancement in our team mission work.

Since May 17, Joyce and I have enjoyed getting acquainted with the preaching and leadership of the new pastor, Dr. Michael Lewis, of FBC Plant City. It is one of the few times we have had the opportunity to be in regular attendance. Pastor Michael has a spiritual passion combined with energy to live and preach God's Word making it relevant in today's culture. He has shared with me his desire to partner with us in our Association. He does not see any church as small or any pastor as less important. He spoke to me about the SBC Ezekiel program which encourages a partnership of churches to provide assistance to revitalize our churches with special needs. He spoke of the value he placed on having peer group meetings with fellow pastors. He encourages the value of pastors meeting regularly in a covenant fellowship relationship. His sermon notes, video support, audio mp3 from each Sunday morning and evening messages are available on FBC Plant City web site. He shares his morning prayer/devotion time on blog with members and friends who subscibe to it.

Pastor Hal Sexton has had a good beginning since coming on May 20th as the new pastor at Berea Baptist Church. It is great to see Berea's revitalization and most of all to see Hal's revitalization after taking a 3 month sabbatical following his ten year pastorate at West Thonotosassa. He and Denise took advantage of some special retreats during this leave. I was really impressed with his determination. One of the retreat events that was most meaningful to him was the Exchanged Life program and he will be bringing this to Berea and our community on July 17th and 18th at Berea Baptist Church. We will post more information about this conference on our web site as well as email a brochure to our churches.

Our program committee is beginning plans to think about our Annual Meeting. We want it to be something that is relevant for our pastors and our people as they invest their time in attending. This year it will be held on October 19, 2009 at Eastside Baptist Church. Some of the ideas for the program have been suggested as follows:

1. 
   Key persons to make presentation of the changing church culture here in America and how it is affecting us in the East Hillsborough County area. The knowledge of the new religions influencing our local culture and suggestions related to our missionary response. This would appropriate suggested responses that we as pastors and churches might respond.
2. A key person to present the changing legal issues that is affecting our families and our churches. This would include a call to affirm our testimony and our witness in a changing and uncertain time.
3. A preacher to proclaim our response to these needs of our times with a "Great Awakening and Spiritual Revival"
4. Invite the new pastors to participate in the program this year.

There may be other important issues or topics that you and your people are most interested in having a messenger of God address. If you have a topic or a suggestion, please email that to our office. Even if we are unable to get it on the October Annual Meeting program, we might address it at another time to give support. Let us know.