Please pray for the Holcombe Family as they deal with the loss of Jeff’s mother. His sister remains in ICU in guarded condition and also needs our prayer. I would also like to request that all speculations and/or comments be silenced. Let’s bathe our brother in prayer more than we try to figure out details. Jeff needs us church and I want us to be here for him.
July 30 2009 | General | No Comments »
I hope to get some video clips of the day the Lord gave us on yesterday…it was wonderful…if you weren’t there, you really missed it.
Everything looked beautiful and the staff and volunteers did an absolutely great job of pulling everything together.
Upon arriving at the church, I got super excited by the lack of parking spaces, and the fact we had a lot of people in attendance was confirmed as I saw men scurrying around pulling chairs out of the classrooms.
There was a buzz you couldn’t ignore and it was contagious…I felt a little overwhelmed to say the least. Although we don’t have our sound system installed, Bro. Will did a great job improvising with what we had…the choir sounded great and the music was right on.
There was some videos and pictures they showed and meant so much to my family and me. I really enjoyed the funny things the children on the videos said. The church then said some very kind things to my children and gave them each gift cards. My wife was then presented with some roses and a gift card as well. For my 5th Year Anniversary gift, I received a very, very nice set of office furniture. It is beautiful and will look very nice in the already incredible office the church built for me. I was very surprised and appreciative…thank you so much church! Thank you also for the album of cards and letters presented to me…I look foward to reading each one.
After the presentations it was time to preach…but it was difficult. I was moved emotionally as for the first time I stood behind our new pulpit and gazed across a sea of people that I had dreamed and prayed for so many times. I can’t tell you how many times throughout the past year I’ve walked that building praying and asking the Lord for souls to be saved and families strengthened. To see an auditorium with over 500 people in it on the first day was moving.
To be perfectly honest, I never got my thoughts together and struggled through the message…however, the Holy Spirit showed up and several hands were raised not sure of their salvation, with several coming forward, some getting saved and others getting assurance. What a great start!
I don’t know what the final count was including the childrens departments but was told there were at least 560 in attendance…praise the Lord!
We were able to have “dinner on the grounds” in the old auditorium and it was nice to be able to spread out and also to eat in the air conditioning.
We finished the day with a 2:00 afternoon service. We had a few testimonies, a message to help us walk closer to the Lord and finished the day with Barbara “Meemaw” Jackson joining our church.
I just want to praise the Lord for such a great day in ministry…truly one I’ll never forget.
Church, again, thank you and I love you.
July 27 2009 | General | 1 Comment »
Let me share just a couple of details with everyone concerning services tomorrow…you’re cooperation is appreciated.
•Please feel free to walk around the building tomorrow and throughout the office areas…a few doors may be locked due to confidential data. Also, remember that not all our furnishings are complete and/or final.
•Let’s leave the parking spaces to the left of the marked handicap ones looking at the front of the building for our guests. (We will designate certain ones in the days ahead once we get a feel of the layout)
•We haven’t fully trained our greeters with the new layout, therefore we will not be registering our guests at the welcome center tomorrow but in their pews during the service. However, this doesn’t mean we can let down on the greeting and accomodating.
•Since our children have been praying and working hard as well, we are going to attempt (providing we have seats) to have them in the main service as well. This means parents will need to have their children sitting with them during the service. Those children whose parents aren’t in attendance will be seating in a designated area with junior church workers.
•Speaking of children, PLEASE help us in the following areas…
-no children are allowed to ride in the elevator without an adult.
-no children are to be in the Fireside Room (senior SS room) without a parent.
-please do not allow your children to be on the bottom floor…it is unfinished and there are things they can get hurt on.
-please do not allow children on the platform area…the railing is not complete and we don’t want anyone falling in the orchestra pit (although it’s only 30″ deep)
-this is a great opportunity to help our children respect God’s house.
•Let’s remember all food and beverages are to remain in the Fireside Room
•We will be eating our lunches in the former auditorium…chairs and tables have already been set up for us to enjoy.
•Our evening service will be at 2 pm
•Lastly, let’s enjoy ourselves tomorrow and focus on all the good, not anything that might be lacking…again, pray for a special blessing from the Lord!
July 25 2009 | General | No Comments »
I’m lying here preparing for the messages that will be preached tomorrow and can’t help but think back over the past 5 years and rejoice over the goodness and providence of God.
Tomorrow not only marks a milestone for me personally but also for our entire church as we will hold our first service in the new auditorium. Needless to say, anticipation and excitement is at an all-time high! We really don’t know what to expect number wise because we didn’t announce publically our first service (we will be having an actual Dedication Service in the weeks ahead and will make a city wide push at that time) however, we’re just glad to be able to meet in the new building and are praying that someone will come to know Christ in there tomorrow.
Our people have worked tremendously hard and I really can’t adequately express my sincere appreciation to them. We have worked many, many hours and it has always been with a super sweet spirit. I am proud of the members of VBC and cannot wait to share a very special day with them tomorrow.
I’m asking all readers to be praying that God will do something very special in our midst.
Congratulations Victory Baptist Church, tomorrow, a portion of our faith will become sight!! To God be the glory!
July 25 2009 | General | 1 Comment »
We are three days away from having the first service in the new auditorium! Talk about excited…please pray that we get much accomplished in the remaining time. I finally had to resolve to the fact that everything wasn’t going to get done that I hoped would have before our big day, but it wasn’t from lack of effort. Even today I received the news that our loooonnnggg awaited seating got pushed back (again) till next week…oh, well, what do you do?
Anyway, God’s been way too good for us to complain! Be praying for a great service! I love you church!
July 22 2009 | General | 3 Comments »
We had a great day visiting the Bible College day although we didn’t tour it (that will be done later this week) but were able to participate in a medical clinic they are having…here are the comments from Mark Coffey’s blog…
This morning our group had the opportunity to work the whole day helping with the GoForth Group with the medical clinic they are running at the Peru Baptist College this week.
The clinic started this past Monday and they have seen over 1000 people by the end of today. There has also been over 500 professions of faith.
I am glad our group had the opportunity to help today. I believe there was around 219 profession of faiths today.
We ended the day having a church service at Smyrna Baptist Church. Pastor Derik and Pastor Chad preached tonight and Josh Blake, Rebekah Sewell, and Jesse Turpin gave their testimony. They all did a terrific job. I was especially impressed by Bro. Chad seeing it was the first time he ever preached with a translator.
After the church services we went to what is becoming one of my favorite eating places here in Arequipa. It’s called “Torkus” and they have a chicken stuffed pita type bread with a sauce that’s incredible!! As a matter of fact, they were so good last now that Annie Blake ate TWO of them…but don’t tell her I told you.
Again, we’re having a great trip and we appreciate the continued prayer.
July 09 2009 | General | 1 Comment »
We set up an album for you to view everyone’s pictures of the trip. This has just been done so obviously everyone’s pictures have not been uploaded yet. You will be able to view as well as download any pics you might want of your loved ones. Remember, these are pics from 22 different people and have not been edited so some may be blurry, dark or otherwise very random:) Enjoy!!
July 08 2009 | General | 1 Comment »
We’re about to board the plane for our final leg to Arequipa after a great day in Lima. We visited Bro. Joe Katvis and the incredible ministry that’s being done there with the deaf and hearing. Bro. Katvis was a blessing and encouragement to us all as he toured us through the campus showing us what God has done and then painting us a picture as to what he believes God is going to do! I love being around men with vision and faith…please pray for the work here and we’ll be sure to tell you more about it when we return.
Mrs. Lucas, Dallas and Annie all gave their testimony today and did a wonderful job…I was very proud of them. Bro. Chad and I also brought a short message during a chapel service and enjoyed it. The young people seemed to enjoy having our group there today and I was proud of the way our teens handled themselves.
We then went to the coast and had a great lunch at Chili’s…yes, I said Chili’s, and I must admit it was better than the one we have in Loganville.
The young people were very quiet on the way to the airport indicating they were tired, however affected by all they’ve seen…again, it was a good day and we look forward to being with the missionaries in Arequipa later tonight.
All are doing well and only one has been, can we say, misplaced. We should find them however by the time we start traveling home…
We love you church…thanks for your continued prayer.
July 07 2009 | General | 1 Comment »
Praise the Lord for a good flight to Lima. We finally got in and after a brief moment of doubt concerning our luggage (because of the quick transfer) we got to the Inkari Hotel. Everyone seemed to sleep well and had a hot shower and are enjoying breakfast as I post.
We will be leaving here for Efata, a deaf ministry and then on to Arequipa for the remainder of the week.
Please pray each day for each one of us to be good ministers and to have sensitive hearts before God.
Btw, Jesse did make it in.
July 07 2009 | General | 1 Comment »
