Dear friends,            2/10/ 2024

Amazing to consider that another year has come and gone! We are now a few weeks into the new year, a good time to reflect. We said good bye to some dear members in 2023 - Thelma Accord in January and my dad, Milburn Rinehart in November. They will be missed, even as we rejoice that they are with the Lord.  

                   Last year was a good year for missions, we took on new missionaries and raised the support for the ones we already had. It is exciting to be a part of new missionaries reaching the field - like the Dans to Hungary and the Laskauskas to Lithuania. We also took on the Armacost family to Myanmar and they have finished deputation and reached the field this month.  Thank you for your faithful giving to our general fund and to our missions budget. Pray for God’s direction about giving as we go forward. I am planning to have Phil Peterson come to speak to us about missions soon.

                   Do you remember the books we have studied in our sermons this year? We started the year by finishing the book of Acts, then spent several weeks on Philippians (our 2023 memory passage was 2:1-11). After that we spent several months on the book of Joshua and then finished by starting our series on the gospel of John. I am really enjoying preparing messages from John, what a fantastic book! The Bible is a treasure trove of truth! Pray for God’s power for preaching and listening and applying His Word.  Our memory passage for 2024 is John 3:14-18 and 14:1-6. Start working on them now (beat the year end rush 😀).

                   In a few weeks we will be holding combined special meetings with Mabscott Baptist Church - Wednesday to Sunday, March 13-17. (103 Dalton St., Mabscott, WV) Make plans to be a part of the meetings this year. The most important church service for your spiritual growth might be the one you decide to miss for unimportant reasons.  

In the weeks leading up to these meetings, I am asking our church to commit to some special times of prayer. Would you spend 1 hour asking God to bless our lives, our families our church and communities?   Would you fast for one meal each week?

Consider this quote from www.gotquestions.org/fasting-Christian: “Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; 5:33). Too often, the focus of fasting is on the lack of food. Instead, the purpose of fasting should be to take your eyes off the things of this world to focus completely on God. Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God, and to ourselves, that we are serious about our relationship with Him. Fasting helps us gain a new perspective and a renewed reliance upon God.”

                   I know that prayer can seem intimidating, to help alleviate our fears, I have a short handout that explains how we can pray for one hour, step by step. I would happily email it to you or you can get a copy at church.  Could ye not watch with me one hour? (Matthew 26:40)

                   Many years ago, Staci and I went fishing. Though we used only a hook, bobber and worm, I was a able to land a largemouth bass. We were newly married and did not yet have children, and thought this fish would be enough for our supper. The main problem was that neither one of us knew how to fillet the fish! Thankfully an older student in our college was willing to give me a crash course in cleaning a fish. Boy was that good eating! Since then, I have filleted many fish and taught several of my boys how to do it too.  What does this have to do with our church? Consider the following passage: 

Luke 5:4  Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. :5  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. :6  And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. :7  And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. :8  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. :9  For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:  :10  And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. :11  And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

                   Are you ready to catch a fish? What would you do if someone approached you and said, “I want to be saved. Can you tell me how?” or “Will you show me how to be a disciple/follower of Christ?” Would you know what to do or say? Would you know how to lead them?  One of the purposes of the church is to equip believers for the work of the ministry. If you would like to know what to do to lead someone to Christ or to lead someone to follow Him, we would love to connect you with another believer who would teach you. We would love to tell you about the Journey discipleship lessons (//thejourneyforum.com) that can help train any believer to train others. Just contact pastor or Staci for more information.

                   Pray for a spiritually healthy church, made up of spiritually healthy families and marriages, made up of spiritually healthy individual believers who love Christ most of all!

Yours for Him,    

Pastor and Mrs. Rinehart

Joshua 1:8-9