He’s going to prepare a place for us, but will be back

Greetings from the Springs. Guess who was back in church on Sunday? Yes, Sister Willie Ann Johnson. She was all smiles and looking like a million bucks! It was great to see her again.

We have had an extremely busy March due to traveling to several different churches, but Pastor Terrell tells us that we are coming off the road for a while. Sweet relief even if just for now.

USBC had a great representation of members for the Morgan County Ministers Union Annual Revival held March 27-29 at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Madison. The guest speaker for this event was Rev. Tracy B. Wheeler Sr. of Greater Springfield Baptist Church in Atlanta. For most of us this was the first time hearing him preach, but he truly is somebody’s preacher.

The first night Rev. Wheeler’s message was, “Who is Jesus to you?” His text came from St. Matthew 16: 13-14 and he explained that during this time Jesus was in the region of Caesarea Philippi, which was an area steeped in pagan religion. During this period Jesus revealed to His disciples who He really was. Jesus asked them, “Who do men say that I the Son of man am?” They replied, John the Baptist, Elijah or Jeremiah. The point was they could call Jesus anything. We have to know who Jesus is for ourselves.
Thursday night’s service was a true revival. We had a great sermon and as the Holy Spirit moved there were prayer, testimony and intercession. His sermon was titled, “A Question worth Asking,” and we looked at Acts 2: 36-42.   

He stated that this entire book is filled with questions and answers. Whatever your question is you can find an answer in God’s Word.  Even though we can ask anything the right one to ask is, “What can I do to be saved?”

Columnist answers question “Is Easter over?”

The Passion Play is over and my how God blessed it. Jesus was worshipped!

Our Caring For Our Community event was great. We had an Easter Egg Hunt for the children and a hot dog lunch for everyone, but the greatest part was presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ and giving people an opportunity to accept Him as their personal Savior!
Someone may ask, “Is Easter over? It’s Monday; that’s behind us now, isn't it?” The answer is, “NO, Easter is not over.” Jesus will never be nailed to the cross again. He will never again die. But trust me, He has been resurrected and will live eternally. Not in a tomb, but in the life and heart of sinners all over this world; sinners who repent, believe, and accept Jesus Christ.

In John 14:12-17, Jesus tells us, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, FOR HE DWELLS WITH YOU AND WILL BE IN YOU.”

That simply means that when you accept Christ, He will send the Holy Spirit to live inside you and help you do the work He has called you to do so you can live a resurrected life in Christ!  So, for the Christian, every day is Easter!

Bad weather held off for Easter weekend activities

You could not have asked for prettier weather on Saturday and Sunday was not bad either; just some clouding up every now and then.  We did not get hardly a sprinkle here at our house.   It made for a nice Easter weekend.  Last night we really got the rain though.
I saw a post on Effie Powell's Facebook page a recipe for making "Resurrection Rolls," which she was going to serve to her Bible study group.   It sounded easy so Raegan and I made them on Friday when she was out of school   You buy a carton of Crescent Dinner Rolls and roll out the triangles like you normally do.  Take a regular size marshmallow and dip it in melted butter then in cinnamon sugar;  put the marshmallow in the middle of the triangle and fold up all the corners making sure the marshmallow is tucked and folded in really good with no cracks.  Bake according to the rolls directions or until brown.  The roll is the tomb where they put Jesus; the marshmallow symbolizes Jesus where the women put fragrant oil (butter) and spices (cinnamon sugar) on him.  You put Jesus (marshmallow) in the tomb (roll) and seal it up tight.  When the rolls are done, pull it apart and "viola" Jesus is not there but has risen!  It makes a wonderful object lesson for children and they are really good!

Brownwood Women’s Ministry meeting set for April 13th

A very good attendance was present for our Easter worship service Sunday. We were blessed to have many visitors and we pray each one of you were blessed also and will have a great week. Thank you for coming and you are always welcome to come worship with us at any of our services. Anyone that does not have a regular church home we also invite you to come worship with us. You always will be welcome through our hearts and doors. Our opening prayer and welcome was by our Pastor Ron Swann. The call to worship was, “Jesus Is”, by the choir. Instrumental music, “Worthy of the Lamb,” by Abby Janson and Jessica Swann. Other instrumental music, “Victory in Jesus,” by Jonathan Swann. The choir’s special was, “He Did Not Come Down.” Other special music was, “The Risen Lamb,” by Caitlin and James Butler. Bro. Ron’s message, “Death, Burial, Resurrection,” Romans 10: 9-13 and other scriptures. The assumption of the gospel is the Death, Burial and Resurrection. If there had been no death and burial there would be no resurrection, we’re justified because of the resurrection of Christ, the proven truth, go to the tomb, He’s not there, personal truth, each individual has to put their trust in Jesus, public testimony, confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, make commitment, Jesus died on the cross and arose on the third day. After the resurrection Jesus told the disciples all power was given unto Him in heaven and in earth. The scoop of the Gospel is Rom. 10:13 for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Jesus is not dead – He’s Alive. After the message the Lord’s Supper was observed.

Easter “one of the most blessed days ever?”

What a glorious Easter weekend. Do you feel like it might be one of the most blessed days ever?
I still feel the love and joy and the fellowship with God on Sunday. He was definitely with us.
Our congregation was full as we held services for the first time in our temporary building, which with a lot of hard labor and love, was ready on time as we had hoped for. Thank you to all that worked, burning the midnight oil to get everything ready "Just in Time," and with so many visitors,  we do pray they received a great blessing as Butch preached a heartfelt message that would touch the coldest heart. As he took his scripture from a very familiar passage in Acts 2:22-27, the topic of his sermon was "The Purpose of It all". What was the purpose? There was purpose for the life, purpose for the death, purpose for the resurrection, the purpose of revealing God to us, that He might destroy and defeat the works of the devil to show us He has authority over sins. We are healed by His stripes and we have no hope without Him. He rose and overcome death so that we might have life after death forever. What more could anyone ever ask for. A true and faithful God we do have. Does this not just give you chills thinking about what power He has and He did it all for me. What a powerful message.

Women’s Day at Union Springs Baptist a success!