Busy Week Ahead!!

Good class yesterday. We are focused on fulfilling our part of the Great Commission. It is exciting to me! Looked a the life of Abel from Hebrews 11. Here was a man whose faith looked forward to Calvary. I enjoyed the study and look forward to Enoch next week. The Brady Rochester family was with us Sunday morning and we enjoyed their company and ministry.

This week looks to be a busy one. Monday night some of us are going to be putting some Kilz on the walls of our old SS classroom which will become our new SS classroom Sunday morning. Since we are trying to reach out to families, we are going to be meeting at the church so that parents can be closer to their kids. We may even pick up a couple of old-timers who haven't been to class in a while. I hope so! Anyway, we will be working on the room. It has needed a face-lift for a while. Thanks to Mary and Terry for the paint. Thanks to Spence and Tammy (and Cari though she does not yet know it) for volunteering to help paint. :-)

Outreach this week: Need some folks to help make calls on the telephone. Be praying every day as we seek to touch people's lives and reach them for the Lord. Wednesday evening, Friday afternoon, and Saturday we will also be out in the field making contacts with prospective class members. I know that others will be in contact with people through the week, too. Let's see how quickly we can fill up the room, and then try to solve the expansion problem :-).

Keep people in your prayers.
- Pray for our country, elections upcoming
- Pray for Cari, she has started a new job at Belk and is very excited about it.
- Pray for those who are sick; Terry and Mary's parents, David's dad, my mother, . .
- Pray for Crystal who will start graduate school
- Pray for those who are away from God right now and needing a personal revival
- Pray for God's provision, we thank Him for what He has done and for His great promises to take care of our financial needs
- Pray for God's protection of His work against the attacks of the devil
- Pray for a spirit of encouragement upon our church folks
- Pray for the Rochester's ministry
- Pray for new class members, too

I hope you have a great week! Hey, I just thought of something. It is Pastor Appreciation month and I don't think we have done anything special for the Preacher. Try to do something as individuals this week to remind him how special he is. He has been a faithful minister for the Lord and they are not always easy to find anymore. Anyway, pass along some love.

God bless you all!

Great Class Sunday!

Enthusiasm is contagious! Your zeal has affected me. We had a really good brainstorming session in class Sunday. Good attendance, too. Our discussion focused on how we could reach more folks for our Bible study group. It seems like everybody spoke up.

We did begin a new study in Hebrews 11 as well. Next week we will study the life of Abel. Abel lived by faith as must we. "Without faith it is impossible to please (God)."

Please be praying for the many requests mentioned Sunday morning.
David Cook's dad- health
Terry's father - health
Mary dad - health
Suzanne's mom - health
There are some who have been visiting RU on Friday nights and need prayer.
Pray for Brandi
Pray for God to bless church ministries, the school, the Sunday School, RU, and our outreach this week.
Pray for our church folk who have been sick - McDaniels, Faye, the Wilemons
Pray for Rene' who was baptized Sunday and joined the church - also for her son soon to ship out with the Marine Corps
God has blessed out nursing home ministries and we thank Him for that. Keep these dear people in your prayers - the people who are living at Avon Lea, those who live at the Cedar's Nursing Home, also pray for those at Ashbury Court (Guinn and Faye both live out there.)

I am sure that there are other requests. Generally speaking, pray for each other. Some have physical needs. Others have spiritual needs. Many are experiencing financial difficulties right now and need prayer. In difficult times, we can and should pray more.

Think about this: GOD KNOWS ME BEST and STILL LOVES ME MOST.

Have a wonderful week serving our Lord and loving people. Ask Him for opportunities this week to share His love.

Beautiful October!!

I like the Fall of the year. Harvest time and all of the beautiful leaves coupled with the cool crisp mornings give me a lift. We begin a new study in our Bethany Bible Group this month. It will be a biographical study of the characters from Hebrews 11 called "Find Us Faithful". I hope that you can make it to every one of our classes.

Also, since we have come to the close of Matthew, I want us to focus on outreach for this next several weeks. Each week we will be brainstorming as to what we can do to bring new folks to our class. We will be praying each week for those who are lost, and seeking that God would grant us His compassion for those without Him. Our time will be filled so try to make it right at 9:45!

Please be in prayer for several things this week:
Frances' sister-in-law is having trouble with her health
Terry has been sick and in the bed for three days
Bible Conference now underway
Church ministries and people
My mother's health
Also, my parents will be traveling to Australia in November and staying for three months. . .I am envious :-)
David's father needs continued prayer for his health condition
Terry's father also needs prayer
Jordan, young man with cancer in the hospital

Our Bible Conference started with a BANG!! God answered out prayers for Brother Wilemon and he preached with great power Sunday morning. What can we expect in being a Christian? We can expect Opportunities to serve Him. We can expect Opposition and some adversities, "There are many adversaries." There is also Overcoming! I was blessed Monday night as well. Brother Rudy Smith preached on revival and called us all to love the Lord more. Remember, Repent, and Return was a part of his challenge to us. God is more interested in our getting revived than we are. He comes to us and allows us to see a fresh glimpse of His goodness and of His love so that we will once again love Him Who first loved us. I hope you can come tonight and get a blessing.

Remember, I love you and am praying for you today.

Brother Mike

New Study Starting!

We had a good time at the SS class cookout last Saturday night. Too much to eat!! Good fellowship with the Berean Class. Several commented that we need to do this again, soon, and I would have to agree. The weather God gave us was just beautiful, too.

Yesterday we finished up our study of the Gospel of Matthew with a challenge. Since Jesus has risen and given us a commission, what are we waiting for? Let's get on with the program! Actually, we only made it to the resurrection passage and what it means for us as believers. Isn't it great to have real hope?

Next Sunday we will take a one-week break from a series and have a special prayer time for the Bible Conference as well as a one-week wonder lesson. Two weeks away we begin a brand new study. I will let you know what that will be in our next blog.

Praise Note
- Todd Clardy, for whom we have been praying is doing very well according to Mrs. Guinn.

Prayer Requests:
- The preacher and Maxine are at the national Reformers Unanimous training this week. Keep them in your prayers.
- Be asking God to make your heart like His. We had some good preaching Sunday night that focused on this theme. Praise the Lord for men who have surrendered their lives to preach the Word of God! It would do us all well to surrender our lives to do whatever the Lord would have us to do.
- Pray for the upcoming Bible-Conference, especially Brother Wilemon for strength and power to preach Sunday morning.
- Jordan, young man with cancer.
- David's dad and mother
- Terry's dad's health.
- Brandi
- Frances' sister-in-law had a cow kick her in the shin (Ow!). It is black and blue.
- My mom has what looks like the start of emphysema, she had an x-ray last week on her lungs since she has been coughing a lot.
- My dad is really busy and needs prayer for this week of meetings.
- Pray for all church folks and ministries.


It is a blessing to be able to serve the Lord here in Tupelo, MS. Brenda and I look forward to God's continued working through us as we serve the Lord with ya'll. I would live for us to have a great Sunday School attendance this next week. Ya'll come and bring a friend or two. :-)

I Love You All!