My Week @ Angels Way

Tonight is the final night of revival services at Angels Way Baptist Church (www.angelswaybaptistchurch.lifewaylink.com) in Marion. My good friend Loren Strickland has been their pastor for 8 years. Loren and I became close while serving together in LA - "Lower Arkansas" in Warren and Hermitage. We traveled together on a mission trip to Brazil with a group of other pastors. Loren is doing a great job at Angels Way. He has led this church to relocate and refocus from West Memphis to the city of Marion. Their new location and facilities are incredible and God has positioned them to make a big impact here. The people of Angels Way have been so responsive to the Lord and encouraging/kind to me. The church is filled with warm, friendly, inviting folks. God has blessed them with a lot of growth and as Marion is growing, I believe Angels Way will continue also.

Sunday morning I preached on God's love. From 1 John we looked at one thing that God does not know how to do...love you anymore than He already does. Sunday night we focused on reaching the coming generations of students and kid's. It was moving to see many come to altar to pray that Angels Way would be a place for the next generation to learn about and follow Jesus. Monday night I preached on the parable of the lost sheep out of Luke 15 and our need to make room for "one more". Tuesday night I felt led to challenge the people to be more missional...like the church at Antioch in Acts 11. Loren is challenging the church to be more on mission locally and abroad and I sensed a need to reinforce that work. Tonight I am going to challenge folks to give lavishly like Mary when she annointed Jesus' feet at Bethany. I'm praying that we all will be willing to give our all to the One who did that for us!

A side-treat during the week has been hanging out a little bit with my friend Clay Hallmark, the pastor at First Baptist Church in Marion (www.fbcmarionark.org). Clay is our current President of the AR Baptist State Convention. He is a great leader and pastor. 4 years ago this spring, Clay shared with me an opportunity to minister in Texarkana at Beech Street. At the time, I was not looking to leave Warren...little did I understand at the time that God was already working a new work for me at Beech Street. I'm very thankful for Clay's friendship...plus I got a free lunch today from the president!

I've had a wonderful week in eastern AR. Reminded me of the good times we had on this side of the state while serving as pastor of First Baptist Marked Tree. I'm so blessed and thankful for God's call on my life...at the same time feel so undeserving! My only prayer is that God has used His word and His servant to advance His causes this week. After a trustee mtg tomorrow at Ouachita, I'll head home to see Mel and the boys. I've missed them big time and so ready to see them!