Old Lea Bethel Baptist Church

The message for this morning has been added to the Sermons page. I plan to also place a video on YouTube later this morning. I hope you find this message encouraging.

We have so many blessings to count.

Yesterday, I gathered with a group of pastors. All were working through the challenge of what to do in the face of this virus. Based on very limited and, quite frankly, disappointing information, recommendations and decisions must be made. These decisions must balance the spiritual health of the church with the physical health of the church. Love considers both.

Prayer, more prayer, and then more prayer goes into every decision. Knee time replaces me time. Listening carefully to the Holy Spirit and discerning the Will of God takes silence and concentration. Every pastor in that group is concentrating on the Will of God, while hearing the direction of the civil authorities.

Make no mistake, the Bible is clear. We are subject to government authority. Romans 13:1-2 makes this very clear. Unless being forced to worship another god or reject God’s teachings, we are to be in obedience.

Likewise, we must remember that the church is not the building or the gathering on Sunday morning. The church is the people. Church happens wherever two or more are gathered in God’s name. Church can happen as easy in a cornfield as it can in the sanctuary.

Yesterday, I had several people suggest that pastors must “love the days off” from the church. I was disappointed. The pastor is working to talk with the scared, minister to the sick, contact the lonely, answer the questions of the seeking, and leading in decisions for the church the likes of which I have never imagined. Never could I have predicted emergency orders, executive orders, food shortages, and questions around worship gatherings.

Pray for your pastor. Pray that he have no pride, but be humble before God and seek His face in every decision. Pray for the leadership of the church to seek God’s wisdom in every decision. Pray for each member of the church to lay aside opinion and seek God’s answer in His word. None of the answers are easy.

Be blessed. Be safe. Be prayerful. Be thoughtful. Be selfless. Be kind. Be alert to the needs of others. No, the pastor isn’t just taking a day off. He is wrestling with very hard decisions. Pray that the Lord of all will speak to the pastor He chose to lead.

Both the Southern Baptist Convention and the President have declared today as a National Day of Prayer. Please pray with the following in mind:

Ask God, in His mercy, to stop this pandemic and save lives—not only in our communities but around the world, particularly in places that are unequipped medically to deal with the virus.

Pray for President Donald Trump and all government leaders—international, federal, state, and local—to have the wisdom to direct us in the best courses of action for prevention and care.

Scripture says—teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts. Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom in this moment of fear as the foundations of what we know are shaken, that others would realize how fragile life is and how real eternity is, and they would see their need to turn to God.

Ask God to protect our missionaries, their families around the globe, and all Christians in all countries, and to use this global crisis to advance His Good News to the whole world.

Cancelled – Mar 19 – Christian Women’s Lunch – meet 11 am
Cancelled – Mar 19 – Feeding My Life Matters – 3 pm
Mar 21 – Hiking trip to Buffalo Mt & Floyd– 7:00 am
Mar 27 – Widow’s Bible Study – 2:00 pm @ In the Choir Room
Mar 27 – Potato Peeling & Fellowship – 3:00 pm
Mar 28 – Spring Stew – ready 11:00 am!! $6/Quart
Apr 2 – BBA Spring Meeting – 5:00 pm – North Roxboro Baptist
Apr 4 – Easter Egg Hunt – 1:00 pm
Apr 12 – Easter Sunday! Communion Sunday!
May 2 – Praying for Revival – 6:00 pm
May 3-6 – Revival!! Brad Wesley to speak.
May 16 – BBA Revitalization Breakfast – Dr. Chuck Lawless speaker – breakfast 7:30 am
May 23 – OLB Car Show – 9:00 am
July 12-16 – Vacation Bible School – we need teachers!
Sep 13 – 4th Annual Fellowship Sunday
Sep 14 & 15 – Ark Trip to Kentucky!!

The morning sermon has been added for March 15, 2020. May God use this time to draw more to Himself through the messages He provides.

Services will be held tomorrow at Old Lea Bethel Baptist church. Sunday school starts at 9:45 am and morning worship is at 11:00 am. Evening service is cancelled due to a previously scheduled event.

We trust our church family and know that each of us protects our brothers and sisters. If you decide to stay home due to flu like symptoms, have a condition that makes you vulnerable to sickness, or have a compromised immune system, please let us know how we can pray for you. We are family and you are greatly loved.

We continue to monitor this changing situation and are in deep prayer that every decision we make is in keeping with God’s Will and the dual responsibility of Spiritually feeding our church, while also protecting our members from risk. We continue to consider each upcoming event and are working to make decisions as early as possible based on new information as it becomes available.

Be blessed and be well.

Mar 8 – Choir Practice @ 4:00 pm
Mar 8 – WMU @ 5:00 pm
Mar 14 – Men’s Fellowship Breakfast – 8:00 am – Bring rakes and shovels to spread mulch
Mar 14 – Ginger Allen’s Bridal Shower – 3:00 pm @ Gene & April Allen’s house
Mar 15 – Relay for Life Meeting after worship
Mar 15 – Trip to see I Still Believe – after worship
Mar 15 – Deacon’s Meeting – 5:00 pm
Mar 19 – Christian Women’s Lunch – meet 11:00 am
Mar 19 – Feeding My Life Matters – 3:00 pm
Mar 21 – Hiking trip to Buffalo Mt & Floyd– 7:00 am
Mar 27 – Widow’s Bible Study – 2:00 pm – In the Choir Room
Mar 27 – Potato Peeling & Fellowship – 3:00 ish
Mar 28 – Spring Stew – ready 11:00 am!! $6/Quart
Apr 4 – Easter Egg Hunt – 1:00 pm – Bring all the kids!
Apr 12 – Easter Sunday! Communion Sunday!
May 2 – Praying for Revival – 6:00 pm
May 3-6 – Revival!! Brad Wesley to speak.
May 16 – BBA Revitalization Breakfast – Dr. Chuck Lawless speaker – breakfast 7:30 am
May 23 – OLB Car Show – 9:00 am
July 12-16 – Vacation Bible School – we need teachers! Please!!
Sep 13 – 4th Annual Fellowship Sunday
Sep 14 & 15 – Ark Trip to Kentucky!!