July 3, 2008

My family and I are taking a few days away for vacation. We are in Colquitt, GA visiting my parents for a few days. This small town is like a movie set. Small town square. A small theatre where they have some live plays. Population 1750. We just witnessed the Fourth of July fireworks launched from the city park.

Mom and Dad moved down here after the First Baptist Church in town called Dad as pastor. Quite a story over the past couple of years since his coming as pastor. The church has doubled in Sunday School attendance and tripled in worship attendance (now over 350 average). The church hosts an annual wild game dinner (big hit in these parts) that draws upwards of 750. This small church in a tiny town in South GA (life gets no slower) has baptized 77 new believers (it will be 82 after this Sunday) over these couple of years. The majority of new believers are adults. How did it happen? Relationships.

The Pastor (Dad) goes to breakfast at the local hangout where many of the town's leaders have breakfast every morning. While building their trust and their respect he began to share the gospel with them and one by one several of these city influencers have come to Christ. Most of them long past an age most of us would have given up on them.

Oh yeah, did I tell you this new pastor in town (my Dad) will be 69 years old in November? Think retirement from Kingdom work is an option. I don't think so :-)! I have been challenged again in seeing all God is doing in a sleepy little town in a church that most would have considered hopelessly bound by its past in a cycle of status quo.

No matter your age and no matter how long it has been since you have sensed a fresh touch from God, it is not too late.

By the way, I will be preaching at FBC Colquitt this Sunday. Pray for me and for the church.