FROM THE PREACHER’S DESK

 

Both Christmas Eve and New Years Eve fall on Sunday this season.  Because of that, we know that families will have plans, and some of you will not want to be on the roads those evenings.  We are thus planning only devotional events on those two Sunday evenings for those who would like to attend.  We also will not have the 5^th Sunday dinner scheduled for December 31^st.  We do hope you have an enjoyable holiday season!

 

As we prepare to enter another New Year, it is our prayer that you will be more involved in the Lord’s work at Midway.  Brother Mills will begin a class on evangelism, the first Sunday morning of 2007.  This class is scheduled to meet in the conference room.  The auditorium class will continue in Ephesians and I plan to move to Matthew after we have completed that study.  On Sunday evenings we plan to conclude Luke and then began a series on Hebrews.  The ladies will continue their classes on Tuesday mornings and evenings.  The evening class is scheduled to meet at Belinda’s the 2^nd Tuesday of January.  We plan to continue our journey through the OT on Wednesday evenings in our adult class.  We hope to complete 1^st & 2^nd Samuel, the Kings and Chronicles during the upcoming year. There are other classes going on and plans for more, so do take advantage of these opportunities to study God’s word.  If you have desire to study on a one on one basis let the elders know and we will make arrangements.  We are also working on the possibility of having off-site classes at some of the resident homes in the area.   

 

It is our goal to grow Midway.  We do want to fill our building on a regular basis and to make a difference in our community with the gospel message.  One area that we have on our agenda at our leader’s meetings is transportation.  I do believe that transportation is one key to expanding our reach in this area.  There are so many who would come to services if they had proper transportation to and from.  Eng Huu is doing a great job with the van and in bringing some who could not attend if it were not for him.  Others of you are good to pick people up, but there are still a lot more who would come if they had opportunity.  Please pray and think about this issue in the upcoming weeks, and may the Lord direct us to a good solution in this matter. 

 

Arnold Holmes from Manchester, CT is scheduled to be with us from March 4-7^th in a gospel meeting series.  Please be clearing your calendars for that week and thinking about who you can encourage to join us in this special week.  North River has a gospel meeting scheduled in January, and the School of Preaching has their lectureship that month as well.  At this time we plan to take the van for both events so keep these dates in mind as well. 

 

 

 

Brother Mills and I are committed to growing Midway and in order for that to happen we must be committed to evangelism.  We want to make evangelism the central theme of the New Year and we want all to encourage us in this.  We have a world seeking something different and we have the truth.  Let us all make an effort to share the truth with others.

 

In this months; “Christian Chronicle,” there is an article about the work of the church in the French/Catholic area of Quebec.  One of the thoughts that caught my attention is that in teaching the truth to those, such as Catholics, we need to teach more what the Bible does not teach.  I liked that.  We always build around the idea of “what does the Bible say?”  We may need to emphasize more what the Bible does not say.  The whole purpose is to bring people to God.  That is God’s plan and our duty.

 

Arnold Holmes, from Manchester, CT is scheduled to be with us March 4-7 of the New Year and I have asked him to consider an evangelistic theme as well.  All of us at Midway need to focus our attention on bringing others to God.  Let us be praying, preparing and practicing to do this.  Let us take action and may God yield us a great harvest! 

NOVEMBER 2006 REPORT

 

November was another good month at Midway.  We had some specific needs and the church came together and met those needs.  This seems to be the history of this congregation.  I continue to be grateful for those of you who went beyond the ordinary in your assistance during this period of time. 

 

I enjoyed having Mike and Brenda Brooks with us on the 19^th of the month.  Mike brought us a report on the work in Nepal and Bangladesh and even though I am somewhat familiar with these works, I was encouraged with his report.  May the Lord continue to spread His word throughout this world and may His servants be blessed who are His agents in delivering the gospel message.

 

Several of our number were traveling during the month and have returned safely to us, for which we are thankful.  Richard and Peggy Ogden made a couple of trips to South Carolina during the month in their preparation to move there.  We are going to miss them when they do relocate. 

 

Dorothy Timmons had surgery, rehab and returned home during the month.  I miss Dorothy in our services and look forward to when she can return to us.  We also missed Jacqueline Kovatch during the month, due to her husband’s health condition.  Jacqueline did respond at one of our services asking the church to keep her in our prayers as she was dealing with issues resulting from John’s health treatment. 

 

We have now entered the last month of the year 2006 and we pray the Lord will bless each of us in closing this year and beginning the New Year.  Let us all focus on evangelism and growing the church at Midway during the year 2007.  There is plenty to do and we need everyone doing their part if we are going to make a difference in the Lord’ kingdom.  May He bless and direct us!