It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a Merry Christmas season. I just love this time of the year.

Wednesday night at Market Place, we had 15 people present, with several of our regulars being out visiting family.

Thursday, we enjoyed Thanksgiving with one of our families in the mission, and watched the Cowboys beat up on the Seahawks. Later, I watched the Texas-TAMU massacre.

We're looking forward to good services on Monday. Jeremy will bring a message on bringing children up in the nurture and admonition of hte Lord. God bless you. Merry Christmas.

Blessings

We have been having great turnout at Grace Pointe. We had 17 last Sunday, 20 the Sunday before, several that are about to join on statement, and one who will join by Baptism. I got an EIN today for Grace Pointe, and we will open up a bank account tomorrow. The members/attendees are already asking about tithing and giving to missions.

I can't wait to see what God does next.

Sunday report

We had 17 in services this morning at the Brownwood Apts. Phase II. One came forward to join by Baptism.

Market Place recap

We had 18 in Wednesday night services last night at the Market Place Apartments. I continued the Faith Hall of Fame series with a sermon on Abel.

An amazing end to an amazing week

This week has been totally awesome. Here are a few reasons why:

• I was approved for state missions support.
• We had 17 on Wednesday evening at Market Place.
• We had 20 in our Sunday services at the Brownwood Apts. Phase II.
• I have sold a personal record amount of advertising this week, despite being absent 2 1/2 days.
• I think we are about to have our first additions.

Concerning the group at the Brownwood Apts. Phase II, they are already getting excited about getting involved. One lady wants to bring cakes and coffee for Sunday mornings, while several others want to start a children's ministry. Some even asked about tithing.

Last night, I preached at Northcrest MBC in Andrews, TX. I'm really excited about the work God is doing there as well. They have offered support in getting our children's Bible clubs started.

Spiritual Food

Bro. Cory Page, one of my classmates from seminary and one of the most passionate men of God you will find anywhere, has written a wonderful piece on what should motivate us in ministry. You can read that post here.

Bro. Page and I spoke about this subject Tuesday night after the opening session of the state meeting. What he had to say about his personal walk with God in this issue was very convicting to me.

Good News

Mission: Brownwood is now an official state missions project as I was approved for half-salary by the messengers of the Missionary Baptist Association of Texas today.

In other news, Market Place had 17 in my absence with Bro. John Kight preaching a message on Jesus walking on the water.

Sunday Services Report

We had five in attendance at our Sunday services this morning at the Brownwood Apartments Phase II Community Room. We canvassed both Phase I and Phase II Saturday, but still only had our family in services this morning.

None-the-less, I still feel optimistic. Jessica and I are planning a backyard bash at the complex to get to know the residents, plus we are planning to canvass the surrounding neighborhoods and explore the possibility of doing Discovery Club in lieu of Sunday School. Despite our slow start, I feel like we can build a work here.

I preached on Isaiah 1:18.

Oct. 2008 Report

Mission: Brownwood expands outreach

October was a busy month for Mission: Brownwood. We secured a meeting place for Sunday morning services at the Brownwood Apartments Phase II Addition (pictured here). We will be using their community room. Upon securing the meeting place, we began canvassing the Brownwood Apartments complexes, working mostly in the phase II addition. Plans for November are to expand our canvassing efforts to Phase I. These two complexes are similar in size to the Brownwood Housing Authority, where we held VBS over the summer, and are located less than half a mile from the housing authority.

We sponsored a fall festival at Market Place Apartments in Brownwood. We had a great turnout and generated a lot of interest in our services there.

We averaged five in attendance on Sundays in my home studies, 15 in attendance at our Wednesday services at the Market Place. Current plans are to continue canvassing these complexes and build up our services there.

Finances

Support: Rocky Springs MBC (Jacksonville, TX) $571.45; 58th Ave. MBC (Amarillo) $117.66; Denson Springs MBC (Grapeland, TX) $300; Memory Lane MBC (Palestine, TX) $50; Quaker Ave. BC (Lubbock) $100; East Side BC (Jacksonville, TX) $100; Bethel MBC (Tatum, TX) $50; Westwood BC (Odessa) $300; RidgeCrest MBC (Levelland, TX) 75; Wyndrock MBC (Abilene) $40; Hickory Grove MBC (Newport, AR) $111.37. White Rock MBC (Center, TX) $300; Memorial MBC (Rusk, TX) $200; John Nickle (Rusk, TX) $25; Faith MBC (Round Rock, TX) $200; North Side BC (Snyder, TX) $200.

Expenditures: Salary - $1,000; Housing - $740; Travel - $68.81; Printing - $86.40; Promotional - $78.77; Cleaning supplies for meeting facility - $13.48; Angel Food - $49.

Market Place update

We had 13 in services tonight. We are maintaining the same group at Market Place. Current series is the Hebrews Hall of Fame from Hebrews 11.

Heading to Market Place

I'm expecting a down night tonight as my wife and kids are sidelined by illness and there has been another round of controversy at Market Place. Satan just seems to be attacking on all fronts. Tonight, I'm preaching on why we need faith from Hebrews 11:1-3. You can read my sermon outline here. Of course, you can catch up on all my primer articles and devotionals here.

Getting active online

I have begun posting sermon outlines and previews, as well as supplemental materials on one of my other blogs, Grace Pointe MBC. This will be the official blog of the new church, and will be used for announcements, study helps, and teaching supplement. It will be promoted during worship services. Feel free to visit, then come back here and let me know what you think.

In the days ahead, I plan to reactivate my other blog, MyFaith.com, but probably under a new name. The purpose of this blog will be to promote the Gospel and the truth of God's Word to anyone who reads it. I will be adding other online services as well.

MySpace is a tool that I will use to invite people to church. Hopefully, these added efforts will give us an edge.

Well, It's a start!

We had three in our first Sunday Service at the Brownwood Apts. Phase II Community Room. Aside from the low attendance, we were able to witness to several people in the complex over the weekend, with one possible salvation.

Ramping up for Sunday morning

We are out canvassing the Brownwood Apts. Phase II today, hopefully, we'll have some people attend services tomorrow morning.

I'm really nervous about this. So far, we have had success in apartment communities. Hopefully, God will continue to bless that.