Monday, February 27, 2006

A Word From Kentucky

On Friday morning, Amanda and I left Pensacola to travel to Western Kentucky. En route, we delivered a birthday gift to our two year old great nephew, Elisha, in Alexandria. Afterward, we accompanied my grandmother, affectionately known as Big Mama, to make her first visit to see her 10 day old great, great granddaughter, Lydia Grace Ferguson. Then, we dropped Amanda at her mother's home in Jacksonville, while I transported Big Mama to her home in Anniston.

When I returned to the home of Amanda's parents in Jacksonville, I found her mom to be lightly sick and fatigued, but not overwhelmed with debilitating sickness. We had a pleasant visit with Amanda's parents, and then hit the road for Kentucky early on Saturday morning.

Amanda and I have enjoyed visiting First Baptist Church of Madisonville, Kentucky where I have been leading Winter Bible Study. During my years of service in Eastern Kentucky, I came to appreciate FBC Madisonville as one of the leading missions and ministry congregations in Western Kentucky. Although we missed being in worship with our First Baptist Pensacola Family, we are thoroughly enjoying our experiences in worship and Bible study with our friends in Madisonville.

We are also excited about good things happening at First Baptist Pensacola, especially the arrival of our two new associate ministers. On February 22, our church family unanimously called Don Minton as Associate Minister to provide leadership to Median/Senior Adults and Missions. Don and Debbie will be joining us on Sunday March 19. Ross and Jeana Lankford will be joining us on April 2. On the evening of April 2, we will welcome the Mintons and Lankfords with a reception in Chipley Hall. Continue to pray for both families as they make final preparations for their move to Pensacola. Ross and Don are going to be key additions to our team of staff ministers.

After completing this Winter Bible Study series in Kentucky, on Sunday I will begin a new series of messages from II Isaiah entitled “When God Calls Your Name.” I hope that members of our church family will read Isaiah 40-44 as we prepare to consider the hope-filled prophetic passages. In the first message we will examine Isaiah 40:18-31 as we affirm that there is absolutely no comparison between God and other loyalties.

When we leave the warm hospitality of our Kentucky friends, we are looking forward to returning home to Pensacola where the breeze blows warmer and the Spirit keeps sending new friends and undeserved blessings our way.