A report from Baton Rouge
Back in article 2 of this series I challenged us as a Fellowship to act in responses of faith to God's sovereign work in Hurricane Katrina. Hundreds of us have gone to help do relief, clean-up, repair, etc. in the Name of Jesus. We continue to rejoice in this!
One of the challenges I gave was to see FGBC churches planted in the affected area. I don't know if anyone else is working on this - let us know if you are. But we at Myerstown, PA have taken this very seriously. We sent an Evangelism Team, and now we have sent one of our couples, Kevin and Lorna Kreider, to be Grace Brethren church planters in Baton Rouge, LA.
An overall report follows, written by Joe Couch, one of our New Beginnings staff members at Myerstown.
Baton Rouge, LA Go Team Report:
God began a work in a city of Louisiana this past August with a terrible circumstance Hurricane Katrina. One might think this city was New Orleans, but God chose another city, Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana. God caused a hurricane to hit New Orleans in order to start a Grace Brethren church in Baton Rouge.
On the morning of September 10th, 2005, 8 people woke up not knowing that the Lord was about to change their lives forever. The Lord Jesus was doing a work in Baton Rouge, and He had chosen them to join Him in that work. As the morning progressed, Pastor Keith Shearer challenged a group of men from New Beginnings GBC at a prayer breakfast to consider what God would have them do in response to Hurricane Katrina. Immediately after this at an elder board meeting, Pastor Keith challenged the elders of New Beginnings to consider what God would have them do in response to Hurricane Katrina; he also expressed his hearts desire to see at least 12 Grace Brethren churches planted in the South.
Pastor Dan Jackson read Acts 13, this is where the Spirit set aside Paul and Barnabas for the work He had called them to. The elders immediately began to pray over this passage, and God stirred the hearts of the elders that an evangelism team must go and proclaim the gospel, and plant a Grace Brethren church. Much relief work was being done, but how could these people call on the Lord Jesus for salvation if they did not hear the gospel?
Pastor Keith and Evangelist Joe, worked on the plans for an evangelism team to go; God put in the hearts of these 2 men the city of Baton Rouge, and the passages of Luke 10 and Acts 13, to define the Go Team. The tactics of evangelism came from Acts 13, go as Paul and Barnabas did and share the gospel in the city in the places where people were gathered. The accommodations for the team came from Luke 10; go to the city and find a man of peace and stay with him, eating and drinking what he gives you and not moving around from house to house.
During this time, God raised up a team of seven men, and, He raised up a husband and wife to move down to Baton Rouge and lead this new work. Kevin Kreider, one of the elders, and his wife Lorna responded to Gods call; Kevin resigned his job of 27 years and they prepared to move, even before the team had left for Baton Rouge. God had made it clear, He was beginning a work in this city.
As the team went to Baton Rouge, they devoted themselves to allow Gods Word to be their only guide for the trip. They held to the promise in Jeremiah 1:12, that God watches over His word to perform it, and perform it He did! The team was able to experience God do things that only He could do right before their eyes and before the eyes of many lost people. God performed all the words He had given this team. The actual emails from the team during the trip can also be found on the FGBC website.
Now, at this moment, Kevin and Lorna Kreider are living in Baton Rouge, and have a group of people they are meeting with on Sunday mornings. This is in the area affected by the worst hurricane in our nations history, an area void of Grace Brethren churches. They need your prayers, they need your support! God not only chose New Beginnings GBC to join Him in this work, He has chosen our whole Fellowship to join Him in establishing His church that preaches the Bible, the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible! Expect great things from God! Attempt great things for God! Arise! We are Grace Brethren, our time is now! We must not fail!
Thanks, Joe.
We will need over $100,000 in 2006 to launch and support this project as well as our church planters. New Beginnings GBC is responsible to raise and administrate these funds, according to GBNAM. We trust God to do this through us.
I also thought churches and individuals in our national Fellowship would desire to help pray, give, and go. If you or your church would like to give, please write your check to "New Beginnings GBC" and label your gift "Baton Rouge Church Plant." Our address is New Beginnings Grace Brethren Church, 430 E. Lincoln Ave., Myerstown, PA 17067. Thanks for your involvement. We believe God for this!
One of the challenges I gave was to see FGBC churches planted in the affected area. I don't know if anyone else is working on this - let us know if you are. But we at Myerstown, PA have taken this very seriously. We sent an Evangelism Team, and now we have sent one of our couples, Kevin and Lorna Kreider, to be Grace Brethren church planters in Baton Rouge, LA.
An overall report follows, written by Joe Couch, one of our New Beginnings staff members at Myerstown.
Baton Rouge, LA Go Team Report:
God began a work in a city of Louisiana this past August with a terrible circumstance Hurricane Katrina. One might think this city was New Orleans, but God chose another city, Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana. God caused a hurricane to hit New Orleans in order to start a Grace Brethren church in Baton Rouge.
On the morning of September 10th, 2005, 8 people woke up not knowing that the Lord was about to change their lives forever. The Lord Jesus was doing a work in Baton Rouge, and He had chosen them to join Him in that work. As the morning progressed, Pastor Keith Shearer challenged a group of men from New Beginnings GBC at a prayer breakfast to consider what God would have them do in response to Hurricane Katrina. Immediately after this at an elder board meeting, Pastor Keith challenged the elders of New Beginnings to consider what God would have them do in response to Hurricane Katrina; he also expressed his hearts desire to see at least 12 Grace Brethren churches planted in the South.
Pastor Dan Jackson read Acts 13, this is where the Spirit set aside Paul and Barnabas for the work He had called them to. The elders immediately began to pray over this passage, and God stirred the hearts of the elders that an evangelism team must go and proclaim the gospel, and plant a Grace Brethren church. Much relief work was being done, but how could these people call on the Lord Jesus for salvation if they did not hear the gospel?
Pastor Keith and Evangelist Joe, worked on the plans for an evangelism team to go; God put in the hearts of these 2 men the city of Baton Rouge, and the passages of Luke 10 and Acts 13, to define the Go Team. The tactics of evangelism came from Acts 13, go as Paul and Barnabas did and share the gospel in the city in the places where people were gathered. The accommodations for the team came from Luke 10; go to the city and find a man of peace and stay with him, eating and drinking what he gives you and not moving around from house to house.
During this time, God raised up a team of seven men, and, He raised up a husband and wife to move down to Baton Rouge and lead this new work. Kevin Kreider, one of the elders, and his wife Lorna responded to Gods call; Kevin resigned his job of 27 years and they prepared to move, even before the team had left for Baton Rouge. God had made it clear, He was beginning a work in this city.
As the team went to Baton Rouge, they devoted themselves to allow Gods Word to be their only guide for the trip. They held to the promise in Jeremiah 1:12, that God watches over His word to perform it, and perform it He did! The team was able to experience God do things that only He could do right before their eyes and before the eyes of many lost people. God performed all the words He had given this team. The actual emails from the team during the trip can also be found on the FGBC website.
Now, at this moment, Kevin and Lorna Kreider are living in Baton Rouge, and have a group of people they are meeting with on Sunday mornings. This is in the area affected by the worst hurricane in our nations history, an area void of Grace Brethren churches. They need your prayers, they need your support! God not only chose New Beginnings GBC to join Him in this work, He has chosen our whole Fellowship to join Him in establishing His church that preaches the Bible, the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible! Expect great things from God! Attempt great things for God! Arise! We are Grace Brethren, our time is now! We must not fail!
Thanks, Joe.
We will need over $100,000 in 2006 to launch and support this project as well as our church planters. New Beginnings GBC is responsible to raise and administrate these funds, according to GBNAM. We trust God to do this through us.
I also thought churches and individuals in our national Fellowship would desire to help pray, give, and go. If you or your church would like to give, please write your check to "New Beginnings GBC" and label your gift "Baton Rouge Church Plant." Our address is New Beginnings Grace Brethren Church, 430 E. Lincoln Ave., Myerstown, PA 17067. Thanks for your involvement. We believe God for this!
posted by Keith's Blog at
8:30 AM
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