August 2017
Volume 39 Issue 6
Lak
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Men’s Ministry Rally July 31st at 7pm
South Side Baptist Church 505 W. Greenwood Street in Abbeville, SC
Speaker: Scott Moore with W.A.C
Wild About Christ - Outdoor Ministries
wacoutdoors.com
Catfish, yellow grits, hush puppies, & french fries
Tuesday, August 29th
6:30pm at LBA
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature;
because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward
appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
Page 2 LAKELANDS LEADER
Budget Committee Meeting
Thursday, August 10th
7pm
LBA
Biker Rally at Lowndesville Baptist
Sunday, August 13th
11am
Preacher Greg Ramsey from Freedom Biker
Church will bring the morning message with a
sandwich lunch and bike ride to follow.
Lowndesville Baptist Church
464 Main Street
Lowndesville, SC 29659
For Info: 864-348-2194
Lander Baptist Collegiate Ministry
ANNUAL PRAYER WALK
Tuesday, August 15th
5:30pm
Meet at the BCM Baptist Student Center
154 W. Cambridge Ave. Greenwood
Thank you to all who served on
the West Virginia Mission Trip!
We had a total of 42 attendees and served in the
areas of construction, Good News Club, evangelism,
and block party. While there we handed out New
Testament Bibles, personal supply kits, as well as
200 of the LBA ministry health kits.
Lander BCM BBQ Kickoff!
Thursday, August 17th
5pm
BCM Baptist Student Center
154 W. Cambridge Ave. Greenwood
Mission Mobilization Team Meeting
Tuesday, August 22nd
6:30pm
LBA
AUGUST 2017 PAGE 3
“It’s a Small World”
Okay…so like before I get to that “It’s a Small World” thing,
let me share some “big” world things. For those who may not
know it, I’ve been sorta out-of-touch recently. Yep, done
something I rarely ever do…travel for non-business purposes.
You see, while I have traveled the world in some respect,
having spent time in Brazil, Honduras and multiple trips to
Rwanda, Africa, they have all been for one purpose…ministry.
And mostly, in the states, I have been to Nebraska, Texas,
Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, West Virginia, etc., but mostly for
the same purpose…ministry. Yep, sad to say, but when I take
my family on family trips to see the world, it is usually to
incredible places like Calhoun Falls State Park or Gatlinburg. I
know…you can see why my wife stays so impressed with me.
But that kinda changed this summer. My first trip was to the
Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix. And yes, that was for
ministry purposes as well. But you see, I got a little smart and
decided to take Addie Lee and Kim with me to the convention,
and well, we decided to go a couple of days early and take in
the Grand Canyon. And so we did! And while the Grand
Canyon was absolutely spectacular because of its ginormous
views, we also went to Sedona and took in the Red Rocks
Scenic Highway. And to us, that was even more spectacular
than was the Grand Canyon. And to top it off, while in
Flagstaff, we boarded a 2000 foot chairlift at Snowbowl and
ascended nearly to the gates of glory as we were carried up to
the highest point in Arizona. It’s probably as close as I will
ever get to feeling raptured before the actual rapture occurs.
And we did all that in basically two and a half days…and then
it was to Phoenix for the Southern Baptist Convention.
Interestingly enough, as spectacular as all of God’s creation
was, probably the most moving experience of the whole week
in Arizona was the IMB commissioning service on the Tuesday
night of convention. Yep, it was something to behold!
And then it was back to Abbeville for me to repack and head
to West Virginia with forty-two of the good folks from our
Lakelands Association churches to once again, serve in
ministry to the people of Lashmeet and Matoaka, West
Virginia. But, I’ll get back to that experience in a minute…so
stay with me.
Well, after returning home from that mission trip to West
Virginia, I was home just long enough to repack and board a
plane to southern California. While this wasn’t a vacation
inspired trip per se, we turned it into one. You see, this trip
was sponsored by Dixie High School for the purpose of
sending fourteen students to FBLA (Future Business Leaders
of America) national finals for which the students qualified for
through local and state competitions, of which Addie Lee was
one. There were nearly 10,000 high schoolers present from all
over the country for this competition.
So Kim and I tagged along and we were able to take in
Hollywood (whoop-de-do) and other actually interesting
places, like two days at Disney Land, a stop at Laguna Beach
to see my niece and her husband and attend their ministry
service at an assisted living home, and we took in an Angels vs.
Mariners game at Anaheim stadium. Addie Lee got to stick her
toes in the cold Pacific and eat lunch just inches from a 100
foot drop off to the Pacific Ocean with nothing but a guard rail
stopping her. All I can say is, “Wow, what a view that was!”
So now I am back at my computer in Greenwood and all I can
hear in my brain is that song from Kim’s favorite ride at Disney
Land…and it goes like this, “It’s a small world after all, it’s a
small world after all, it’s a small world after all, it’s a small,
small world…,” and then it would start all over again…get my
drift. And now that I have stuck that tune in your brain for the
remainder of the day, let me explain another reason why it is
stuck in my brain.
So now, let’s go back to Matoaka, West Virginia! After seeing
God’s big, big world in Arizona and California, I was reminded
of the small, small world of Matoaka, West Virginia. Matoaka
is a place that no one wants to go to and everyone wants to get
out of. It’s an old coal mining town that has become a bastion
of spiritual depravity. Drugs, alcohol, prescription drug abuse
(ophiods), corruption, incest, hopelessness, loneliness,
lostness…and if I could think of any more depressing words to
describe this place I would. It has been described by locals as
the armpit of the county. Most of the county just wishes it
would go away…literally!
Matoaka is, after all, a small, small world. No one would notice
its demise. Perhaps even a celebration of sorts would happen
if it disappeared. And yet in this small world of darkness and
lostness, there is a small remnant of the faithful who are
praying for the salvation of those in their little town…including
the prayers of the mayor. They are praying that God will show
up in a big way in their small world. But who would come to
such a small world as Matoaka? I mean, after all, it is not a cool
place to plant a church, there is nothing lovely about this
burned out piece of real estate, no attractions like the Grand
Canyon and Disney Land…only hopelessness and lostness.
In a world where boutique churches seem to be the norm and
church planting emphasis is in boutique places, God still hears
the cries of His lonely and forgotten people in lonely and
forgotten places as well.
I pray that this association of churches will never forget the
forgotten in places like Matoaka. I would love to see a house
church planted in this small, small world of a place called
Matoaka. Would you pray that we as an association can be used
of God to do just that? There are a lot of incredible places in
God’s big, big world, but sometimes the call of God is to the
single soul in a forgotten place. Yep, Matoaka may be a “small,
small world,” but it has a big, big place in the heart of God.
Jesus Christ was with God the Father before the world was created. He
became human and lived among humanity as Jesus of Nazareth. He came to
show us what God the Father is like. He lived a sinless life, showing us how
to live, and He died on a cross to pay for our sins. God raised Him from the
dead. Jesus is the source of eternal life. Jesus wants to be the doorway of new
life for you. In the Bible, He was called “Lamb of God” (John 1:29). In the
Old Testament, sacrifices were made for the sins of the people. Jesus became
the sacrificial Lamb offered for our sin. Jesus said, “I am the way and the
truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John
14:6). He is waiting for you now.
Admit to God that you are a sinner. Repent, turning away from your sin.
By faith, receive Jesus Christ as God’s Son and accept Jesus’ gift of
forgiveness by dying on the cross.
Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
You may pray a silent prayer similar to this as you call on God to save you.
“Dear God, I know that You love me. I confess my sin and need of salvation. I
turn away from my sin and place my faith in Jesus as my Savior and Lord. In
Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.” After you have received Jesus Christ into your
life, tell a pastor or another Christian about your decision. Show others your
faith in Christ by asking for a baptism by immersion in your local church as a
public expression of your faith.
The Holy Bible, Book of Romans 10:9-13
Lakelands Baptist Leader AUGUST 2017
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Lakelands Baptist Association Periodical Paid At
David W. Little, Associational Missionary
Greenwood, SC 29649-9998
[email protected] USPS 391-110
[email protected] (Financial Secretary)
[email protected] (Administrative Assistant)
Website: www.lakelandsbaptist.org
Telephone: (864) 227-6261
310 Panola Avenue
Greenwood, South Carolina 29646-4562
Please visit www.lakelandsbaptist.org for details on each of these positions and
contact information regarding how to apply.
Calhoun Falls First Baptist Church Pianist for Sunday mornings and Wednesday
nights
Turkey Creek Baptist Church Pianist for Sunday morning worship service
Coronaca Baptist Church Part-Time Minister of Music
Abbeville First Baptist Church Part-Time Praise Team Leader
South Main Baptist Church Full-Time Minister of Students
Laurel Baptist Church Part-Time Worship Pastor/Leader
Jordan Memorial Baptist Church Part-Time Pianist for Sunday mornings
Hyde Park Baptist Church Part-Time Church Secretary/Financial Secretary