Site Clearing

As we continue to prepare for the new building, there are lots of things that need to be done. Today the last physical obstacle to the construction process was removed. This 100+ year old oak tree has seen a lot of things take place in the life of our church. Many people ate dinner under this tree through the years at homecoming services. Our children have played in its shade for the last several years. The strong old oak has stood the test of time, droughts, snows, high winds, and heavy rains. We can learn a lot from the old tree about the perseverance we need to faithfully stand for Christ in the midst of various circumstances. However, when it was finally time for the tree to come down today - it offered little resistance. The writer of Ecclesiastes said, "To everything there is a season and a purpose; a time to tear down, and a time to build up, a time to sow, and a time to reap." As I watched the grand old oak gracefully crash to the ground this morning, it was almost as if the tree knew its time had passed, and there was a newer greater purpose for this piece of ground now. If only we were as in tuned to God's will as the rest of creation which cries out daily for His glory! You can watch the tree fall here.

Ready To Bid

God Is Good.
God continues to pour out His blessings on us here at First Mt Moriah. Every Sunday people are making deciding to be obedient to Spirit's leading. We baptized several more folks a few weeks ago and already have some waiting for the next one. About a month ago the church voted to proceed with the first phase of construction. A lot has been happening since then... and now we are ready to bid the job! Our construction committee has been very diligent to make certain that everything is done right the first time. We have pre-qualified the contracters who will be allowed to bid, and the information packets will be distributed tomorrow. These are exciting times to see what God is doing through our obedience.

New Playground Completed

We also recently completed a new playground facility. The new playground is much larger, nicer and safer than the old one. Not to mention that the old playground was sitting on the future site of the multi-purpose building. We are committed to doing whatever it takes to continue reaching young families with THE good news of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is our prayer that this new playground will result in kingdom multiplication. I know the children will enjoy it, but that was not the sole purpose for which it was built. It was built to reach families with the gospel.
That's a Kingdom Priority!

New Youth & Children's Center Completed

After a lot of hard work and long hours for volunteers we have completed our new youth and children's center. The Lord has blessed us with both staff and volunteers who have a passion for discipling children and youth! He has also been blessing First Mt Moriah with lots of young families. So... space for these groups became a new area of need for us this year. After much prayer and seeking, he led us to this solution. The church purchased and installed these buildings for a fraction of the insured value. What a blessing it is for me to see the kids enjoying their new space.

New posts coming all day long!

Sorry I have neglected to update the blog since July. Things have been very busy, but that was why I started blogging in the first place. The Kentucky mission trip was completed and lots of exciting things have been happening from that point on.
I'll try to get caught up in the next couple of days and then we'll go forward from there.

Thanks,

Bryant

Kentucky Missions Day 1

We have completed our first day of missions in Kentucky. I can already tell that some of our folks have been humbled by seeing how little some of the folks here have. The construction crew made a good amount of progress on Jimmy Farmer's house and it looks like the project should be completed before we leave. Tonight was the first night of VBS at Martin Baptist Church. We had a small number of children, but we know that our God is capable of big things.

We are talking about what it means to follow Jesus during our group devotions. We have decided that the most important aspect of following Him is obedience. One of my favorite couples ever are on the trip with us this week. This young couple took a week of vacation and brought thier seven year old daughter with them this week because they felt God leading them here once again. I haven't told them yet... But I think that is a beautiful picture of what it means to follow Jesus. And I believe that sacrifices like that will not return void.

God, use us for your glory this week In spite of ourselves, make Yourself known. We have made ourselves available to You because we have great expectations of what You can do. Thank you for letting us be a part of Your perfect plan. Goodnight. Bryant

UPDATE

Today was a big big day for the First Mt Moriah building fund! We raised over $15,000!!!! A LOT of money was raised! Thanks to all the folks that helped out. I have never seen such a committed group of workers! We'll announce a rough total in the morning... I'll give a little hint... think five digits!
To God be the glory!

Keeping Up

OK. Things have really been busy lately and I haven't had time to post. I just wanted to remind everyone about the huge auction and yard sale tomorrow. Our capital fund raising committee has done a fantastic job planning this event! Lots and lots of cool stuff for the yard sale that starts at 8 AM. There will also be a silent auction starting at the same time. Flowers, cakes, golf packages, arts, crafts, antiques and collectibles all will be sold to the highest bidder. Then the live auction will take place at 12:00. Items featured in the live auction include: 2000 GMC Conversion Van, 1972 VW Super Beetle Convertible, 12 Foot Jon Boat with trailer, 10 foot tower deer blind, radial arm saw, electric wood planer, chain saw, and... myself and the deacons will auctioned off to work three hours one Saturday. There will be Krispy Kremes and coffee early and hotdog plates for lunch. It should be a great day. Our people are getting excited about the new building. We know that it will enable us to do even more for God's Kingdom!

Please pray for the Kentucky Mission Team. We will be heading to Kentucky on Sunday. We have lots of work to do and lots of relationships to build. Please pray that we will be a witness where ever we are during the course of this trip and that some will come to know the Lord. That's our # 1 priority and that is hwy we go. Make plans to be at church Sunday as we pray over this team and commission them to the task the Lord has called them to. More later...

Preacher Bryant

VBS 2009 A Huge Success!

Our first VBS of 2009 is officially over. We had a lot of fun at commencement tonight and at the Boomerang Bash that followed. We averaged 152 for the week and by week's end the youth class had grown to 30 kids. Thanks again to everyone for all of your hard work. You can check out the highlight video here. Now we will begin preparing for VBS at Martin Baptist Church in Martin, KY. This will be our fourth year sharing with the great folks at Martin Baptist. All Aboard!

VBS Night #3

We had another incredible night of VBS tonight! Our high attendance so far is 157. The youth class has grown to 25 kids. It is so exciting to see so many new faces in this group. I was driving the van to take some of them home tonight and we passed by a bad automobile accident on the bypass. Immediately one young girl quieted the others down and began to pray. "Lord, if the person in that wreck knows Jesus then we know that they'll be fine no matter what happens. But if not, Lord I pray that you would heal their injuries and that they would come to know your son Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. In Jesus name we pray, Amen." Counting three nights of VBS this week, this girl has been to our church four times. Evidently she knows what's really important in life. Tomorrow night we will be sharing the ABC's of salvation with these kids, PRAY that the Holy Spirit will speak to hearts and draw some of these kids to Christ. All we can do is share. We have faith that He will do the rest.

VBS 2009 Night #1

We had an incredible first night of Vacation Bible School tonight! We registered 147 in attendance! Five years ago our church was down to a one day Bible School with very few children. It is amazing what God can do when we get serious about His Kingdom Priorities. Two years ago we decided to reintroduce a 7th to 9th grade youth class. The first night we had four or five kids and the class grew to about 10 by the end of the week. Tonight we had 22 young people in that class. They were excited about VBS and their teachers had a blast working with them. I can't begin to thank every one enough for all the hard work that will go into this week. Just remember that this is our Jerusalem. It is the front line in our mission strategy. Acts 1:8 says, " But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Pray that God will add to His Kingdom this week, as we seek to lay up some treasure in heaven!

Keeping Up

We had a great little vacation this week. It was a good time of rest to get ready for a busy summer. Remember, VBS starts tomorrow night! There will be folks, including me, at the church all day decorating rooms and preparing to teach, make crafts, play, and feed the children who come this year.

There are several folks we need to be praying for this weekend. Brian Leedy & Kayla Rice will be getting married at 3:00 today. Little Warner Wright is still in NICU at Self. He just needs to breathe a little better on his own. Pray specifically for his breathing. Kinsley Parkman had an accident this week and cracked a vertebrae in her back and got a concussion. She spent a night in the hospital but is home now. They called hospice in for Keith Salters grandmother. Just not much more they could do for her. They also called in hospice for Samantha Polatty's mother in Abbeville. As you can imagine, this is a very difficult and painful time for both of these families. See you guys Sunday!

VBS 2009 Its closer than you think!

One of the most exciting times of year around First Mount Moriah is Vacation Bible School time! Last year we enrolled over one hundred children, and this year we are hoping that number will increase once again! Some of our folks had so much fun that they actually ended up teaching in three different Bible schools: First Mt Moriah, Martin Baptist Church in Kentucky, and Winona Baptist in Donalds. Occasionally I hear about a church that just can't find anyone to work in VBS. Last year I heard of several other churches that cut VBS from thier budget. That absolutely breaks my heart. Who knows how many children would never hear the good news of Jesus if not for Bible School? I beleive that VBS is one of the most effective outreach tools at our dispossal. I know that our first contact with the several of the young people I baptized Sunday came through VBS. Lately God has been adding families to our church yearly through the ministry of VBS. So I want to take an opportunity to encourage all of our helpers and to thank you guys in advance. It will be worth it!

Kentucky 2009 (Pre-Trip Planning)

Today we will be finalizing plans for our 2009 mission trip to the hills and hollers of eastern Kentucky. This will be our fourth year of VBS with the great people at Martin Baptist Church. We have really enjoyed building relationships with our friends there. This trip is also a great opportunity for our folks to deepen relationships with one another as well as deepen their own relationship with the Lord.

Occasionally someone will ask me about why we go away on these trips when there is so much to be done at home. I have a three-fold answer to that question. First, I believe that Jesus' words in Acts 1:8 command us to have a world wide vision for missions. I don't think that as a church we get to choose only to serve in Jerusalem or Judea or Samaria or the Uttermost. It is our desire as a church to impact all of these areas for the Kingdom of God. That's why each and every year we provide our people with opportunities to serve here in Greenwood, surrounding counties, other states, and in the uttermost parts of the world. Secondly, I have never seen someone come back from a mission trip unchanged. Some of the strongest workers in our church went on a mission trip before they made a commitment to serve here at home. There is just something about serving away from home that draws you into a closer relationship with God. Thirdly, we do a lot right here at home. Most of the time, when someone questions our motives for a distant mission trip there is an accusatory tone in the question. It seems like the short answer that God's Word commands us to go is never a good enough answer. So, just spend some time around us and you will find that we spend about three weeks a year serving outside of our community and forty nine weeks right here doing what God leads us to do to reach others for Him.

Pray for the people of Kentucky who have suffered much in spring floods.(See the picture of Martin, KY top right) Pray that will we have discernment as we select projects to focus our efforts on this year. (That they would be projects that the lord would have us work on, not of our own choosing) Pray for traveling mercies for the planning party as they travel. Begin praying now for those who have felt that it is God's will for them to participate this year. Pray that the Lord would prepare them for the great opportunities that lie ahead.

1st Annual First Mt Moriah Golf Tournament

We had a great turnout, 72 players, for our golf tournament today. The weather was beautiful, everyone had fun, we raised a lot of money for our building fund, and most importantly I had an opportunity to share Christ. That's our #1 priority at First Mount Moriah. I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped in any way. You guys worked on this golf tournament like the Lord Himself was playing. That's why I love you all so much!

After the tournament my family went out to eat supper. While we were at the restaurant I noticed that the man in the booth across from us kept staring at me. At the end of the meal he came over and said, "don't I know you from the sportsman's banquet at the county farmer's market?" I told him that was right and he went on to tell me that his wife prayed to receive Christ at this years banquet. One of the guys from our church had invited them that night and that simple invitation led them into the presence of God and the Holy Spirit drew her heart to Christ. They are now attending a church here in Greenwood. That is just another one of the joys of living with Kingdom Priorities: It has nothing to do with God adding to our church, its all about His Kingdom. That couple may never darken the doors of First Mt Moriah. But that's OK, we will live with them for all of eternity.

Now I'm going to finish sermon preparation for tomorrow. "There Is A Purpose" Ecclesiastes 1:1-11. Then we will celebrate the baptism of 15 precious souls. What surprises will HE have waiting for us tomorrow?

Progress part 2

The new buildings arrived at 3:30 AM this morning. A lot has been happening since then. Duke Power has been out and started to work on getting power to the portables. Our very own Jack Browning is running his backhoe and removing some trees that were in the way. Soon, the mason will be coming to set the block piers and then we will be decking, painting, underpinning and doing a few other little things to get ready to move in. I am especially proud of the space that this will provide our youth! The youth guys are working on naming this space and thinking of ways that the kids can make it their own. The youth building is almost 700 square feet and we bought that building for ........... drumroll please........ $500! We have a great group of youth and they have really suffered recently because of space issues. Just the other week there were 21 of them in Sunday school and they are having to meet in one of our smaller spaces. Sunday night they have been meeting in different places for Bible study and activities every other week. They have been praying that they would have some space of their own, and now they are experiencing the power of God in this answered prayer. Ain't God good!

Progress

Two new portable classroom units are scheduled to arrive at First Mt Moriah tomorrow. These buildings will add 1400 square feet of much needed space immediately. Both the building committee and the capital funds committee met tonight. Please pray for these two groups as they seek God's will concerning more of our current space issues here at 1M2. I'll post some pictures of the portables tomorrow afternoon.

Keeping Up

OK folks, I decided to give the whole blog thing another go. I think that it will help us all to keep up with everything that's happening right now. So....

We will begin by offering our congratulations to Graham & Cason Wright on the birth of little Warner early this morning. Cason is recovering just fine. Warner (pictured left with grandmother, Sharon Warner) is in NICU with some slight breathing problems. Be certain to remember him in your prayers.

Saturday is our golf tournament. People are busy making signs and getting all of the last minutes details together. Not only is this tournament going to be a good fundraiser for our new building, but I will also be sharing the gospel there. Pray that God will give me insight into these golfers hearts. Pray that the Holy Spirit will do what He does best and draw folks to Christ.

Sunday we will observe the ordinance of the Lord's Supper and the ordinance of baptism. We have a bunch of folks who will be getting baptized. The Kingdom has been multiplying here lately and we look forward to celebrating that on Sunday!