Pastor's Page

Have you ever tried eating the same thing over and over again? A few years ago my son and I decided that we would try every hamburger sold in Sierra Vista. Each day during this experiment we would go to a different place and order their basic hamburger. (For those who are wondering, my wife and Daniel's mom was out of town during the experiment.) We started out enjoying each and every hamburger but by the time the experiment ended I was craving anything but a hamburger. Eating the same thing over and over again was wrecking my appetite! It was with a since of relief that we welcomed Kay back into town and stopped our experiment. Eating the same thing everyday eventually meant not enjoying or appreciating what we were eating.

 

That is how it is with a number of believers. They accept Christ as their Savior, join a church, and then begin living the same day, or the same year over and over again. They seldom challenge themselves to grow in Christ, they seldom take on ministry responsibilities, and they seldom look beyond their to do list to see what God has planned for their lives. Eventually the sameness of each day and each year robs them of their enjoyment and appreciation for their walk with God. The challenge is to move beyond doing the same thing and accepting the next step of discipleship.

 

At First Baptist we have offered three classes for members to help them move from "sameness" to growth and hopefull enjoyment. For the past 5 years our church has benefited from the membership class of CLASS 101, the training in spiritual disciplines in CLASS 201 and the discovery of ministry opportunities in CLASS 301.  These classes provide a pathway for members of our church to grow in thier understanding of living the life God desires for them. Each class a person attends helps them to move forward in their walk with the Lord.

 

This month we launch the next level of training, CLASS 401. CLASS 401 will help guide individuals, families and small groups in discovering their God provided mission on this planet. I'm excited about leading CLASS 401. I pray it will help create a desire for our church to reach out to our community as well as travel out in the world to share the complete message of Jesus.  People stretching from across the street to around the world need to hear the message. I believe the addition of this class will mean that members lives will never be the same again.

 

CLASS 401 will be held twice a year. If you were not able to attend the class in August, 2010, then make the decision now to attend the next time it is offered. Your life and your world will never be the same. 

 

Pastor James

 

 

 

 

I want to thank the family of First Baptist once again for allowing me to travel and teach in Jakarta, Indonesia again this year. Travelling across 14 time zones is not ever easy but I believe worth the investment.  I taught a course on cross-cultural evangelism for 15 seminary students over the course of 5 days.  In addition, I was given the honor of participating in a graduation ceremony for some of the students. It was a moving experience hearing them sing and kneel for our prayer.  I am delighted to have had the opportunity to respresent First Baptist and I pray that I have made an impact in the education, ministry and lives of the students.

 

Thanks also goes to those who contributed to the First Baptist Splash night at the cove. We all enjoyed hotdogs, drinks and the wave pool on Sunday, August 1st.  A "great job" goes to those who brought guests to the cove. Strong churches are built through relationships and we are all encouraged to bring guests to every event or service at First Baptist. Send me an email and let me know how often you would like our church family to meet at the cove for fellowship.

 

This week, our women's Bible study begins again with a great study written by Kay Harms.  The weekly women's Bible study is held on Wednesdays at 9am or 6pm and all ladies are invited to attend one of the sessions.  Please call Kay at 520-803-1523 if you would like to know more about the class and the Bible study materials.  Childcare is provided for both sessions! It's not to late to sign-up.

 

Yesterday Kay and I dropped our son off at his new house in Tucson in preparation of another year of school. It was not easy for this dad to drive away from the house. I couldn't help picture him in my arms moments after the "little" guy was born.  Now, close to 20 years later my love for that guy continues to grow as we celebrate his growth in stature and maturity. Older parents always told me to cherish every moment because they are fleeting.  How true were their words.  

 

I hope you will look around at the relationships God has blessed you with and cherish every moment. Our time on earth is fleeting (Funeral homes are seldom without work) and the most valuable possession we will have on earth are the relationships we enjoy.  Why not call, email, visit, or send a note by snail mail to a friend. Let them know how much you appreciate them. It will make their day and it will brighten your day as well.

 

Until next time,

 

Pastor James

 

 

 

 

Plans are being made to launch our Douglas campus worship service on Easter Sunday 2010.  Several big events will be planned in Douglas to promote the launch.  It's still not too late to get involved in the beginning of this new campus.  Please email me at jamesh@sierravistafirst.org if you are interested in serving in this new ministry. 

 

Between now and Easter we will be renovating the church building in Douglas and getting it ready for the worship services. We will also host a block party to help our Douglas small groups attract new members.  These are just a few of the events that need your help.

 

When we launch the worship services in Douglas we will need a preacher and a worship leader for the services. Could God be calling you to serve?  Why not pray about it and then write me an email, give me a phone call, take me out to lunch or just stop me in the hall on Sunday to talk about the opportunities.  

 

Keep praying for Douglas,

 

Pastor James 

Our children's ministry task force hit a home run this fall with their vision of children's ministry at Sierra Vista First.  The changes in our children's ministry are receiving rave reviews from both parents and children alike.  Wednesday night TeamKid is growing and growing and growing and the recently inaugurated Worship Kidstyle on Sunday mornings is creating a lot of excitement.  

 

I can't wait to see what's next in our children's ministry.  Don't forget "Trunk or Treat" is coming October 31st. You can sign up to help in the foyer of the church.  And don't forget Pastor Bill needs lots and lots and lots of "Good" candy for the night.

Recently our Douglas campus ministry launched their first small group on Wednesday evenings. They started with four couples.  Our goal will be to support and grow new small group leaders to launch more small groups in Douglas. Currently there are over 20 people who have expressed a desire to assist in our campus launch in Douglas.  Would you be interested in joining this group?  Send me and email and let me know.

 

Coming soon I will host another meeting of our Douglas campus volunteers. Now that our ministry has begun we can begin planning events and recruiting more people to be involved. 

 

Don't forget to pray each day for what God is calling our church to do in Douglas as well as in other areas of Cochise County.  Who knows where our next small group and campus will be.

 

 

I am thankful once again for the church's support of my teaching mission trip this year to Jakarta, Indonesia. I taught a course on Christian Counseling to 19 students at the Baptist Seminary of Jakarta.  The travel to get there and back was long (over 30 travel hours each way) but the time spent training and encouraging the students was worth it all.

 

I hope you will pray for our brothers and sisters in Indonesia. The seminary's president shared with me that oppression and persecution is present in one form or another each day and that greater persecution is always a possibility. In the face of this uncertainty I saw great excitement in the students for what God was doing in their lives and in their churches.

 

Speaking of churches, I was invited to preach at a church that has a clear vision for what God has planned for them. The church meets in a store front in a strip shopping center with about 60-70 in attendance each week. The name of their church says it all.  They are the GBI Mega Church. The Sunday morning I was there I met two pastors. I met the founding pastor who is now starting another church in the area and the new pastor the founding pastor had trained to take his place.  Their strategy for starting new churches is the same as our strategy for starting new small groups and new campuses.  I was thrilled to see the strategy working 14 time zones away.

 

Thank you again church family for your prayer and financial support of my annual teaching trip. Please be in prayer as God prepares me for another assignment for next year.

Sunday is Father's Day and during the services we will be showing over 100 pictures of Fathers in the Tribute to Fatherhood.   The tribute is a way to remember the contributions our father's have made in our lives.  I was reminded of this a few weeks ago.  My son was graduating from high school and both sets of proud grandparents came to town for the festivities. 

 

In the weeks leading up to the graduation I was recovering from back surgery and unable to do a few things around the house.  From the moment the two granddads arrived they were busy. Kay's dad planted flowers in all of the potts in the backyard, did some minor electrical work inside and generally kept busy doing the "honey do's" I could not do for Kay.  I sure appreciate my father-in-law.  My dad arrived and hauled plants, installed a new porch light and party lights for the backyard and a new medicine cabinet plus he preached for me that next Sunday. I sure appreciate my father.

 

Yes those two granddads did a great deal while they were here but a paragraph doesnt' come close to describing what they have meant to Kay and I and our two kids.  There are no words to describe their impact on our lives.  All I can do is thank God and for them and celebrate the fact that my heavenly Father has done even more for me than my earthly father or father-in-law has done.  That fact is amazing.

 

For some of you Father's Day and even Mother's Day is difficult.  I learned from a friend years ago that not everyone celebrates these days because sometimes the actions of a parent or the struggle and dissappointment of not being a parent can not be celebrated.  If that is where you are this week... I want you to know I'm praying for you. I may not know your name or your situation but our heavenly Father does and He will meet your needs this weekend.

 

I hope to see you Sunday as we celebrate and pay tribute to our heavenly Father.  He alone is worthy of our praise.

 

Pastor James