Pastor's Letter 5.2.23
Check out Pastor's letter of encouragement to the Lincoln Baptist Church.
Dear Church,
Welcome to our Spring Campaign a stretch of 35 days during which we will be striving to put forth an extra effort to be productive for the cause of Christ. The devil is going to try to hinder what we are doing, but I truly believe that we can be victorious through the power of God. For it is only by His power that we can accomplish. "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5) I am excited to see what we can accomplish for God in these next few weeks. Here is what we are trying to accomplish...
We are aiming to see 75 precious souls trust Christ during the campaign.
We are aiming to knock on 1,000 doors during the campaign.
We are aiming to see 5 converts baptized during the campaign.
We are aiming to raise $5000 for building renovations during the campaign.
We are aiming to have 100 visitors to the church during the campaign.
We are aiming to have a high attendance of 250 during the campaign.
It is important that if we are to achieve these goals there will need to be an extra effort of labor put in by everybody. However, the frontline of accomplishing these must be made in prayer. The Scriptures are clear, "...ye have not because ye ask not." (James 4:2) Let's be careful not to fail in asking for His power to be upon this work. I am seeking to remind us as a church that "...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16) There will be power in our prayer if there is passion in our prayer. There will be power in our prayers if there is frequency in our prayers. We need God's help in order to accomplish, and if we need God He must be sought. Oh that we might come together as a church and seek God's help with passion and frequency to see His mighty hand move on our behalf.
Yet the battle also must be undertaken in labor. There is always a need for more laborers in the Lord's harvest. "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:38) If we will be successful as a church we must be ready to put forth an extra effort. My prayer for our church is that God would impress an urgency and a passion into our labors these next several weeks and that He would be pleased by our efforts. At the end of our day that is what truly matters is that we would be pleasing to God! Ask the Lord to help show you how and where He would have you put extra effort in during our campaign.
Moving on briefly to another note. It is our privilege to welcome our missionaries to Thailand home for a short furlough. They will be arriving this week. Missionary Todd Painter is of course my father and the founding Pastor of our church. He is affectionately known to many as Preacher. Preacher and Mrs. Painter will be working in the Karen Sunday School class for the few weeks that they are here. He will also be preaching this Sunday Morning service.
Dear church, I am praying for you this week, that the Lord would be with you and strengthen you as you endeavor to live for God in a world that is contrary to His way. May you find strength in His Word as well as sweet communion in prayer that will carry you through every situation that you face. I look forward to seeing each of you when we assemble again, God bless, and have a great rest of your day!
Pastor Jonathan Painter
Lincoln Baptist Church