Beale Memorial Baptist Church

I have received word that our travelers to Israel arrived in good shape.  They spent the first day near Tel Aviv and will begin branching out across the country today.

I wanted to post one more group of photos from my trip two years ago.  Enjoy!

This is the Kidron valley that divides Mt. Olive from Jerusalem. As mentioned earlier, Jewish folks are buried on the actual mount, Christians are buried in the valley between and the Muslims are buried at the wall of the city. Interesting point, both Jews and Christians are buried facing east, toward the Holy City as the await the arrival or return of Messiah. The Muslims are buried facing west, so they can stop the arrival of Messiah.

This morning (12-2-08) I dropped off five pilgrims headed to the Holy Land.  Bob McK, Chuck Haley, Doug Davis, Tyler Lowery and Russell Smith flew out of RIC for an El Al connection in Newark, NJ.  They will be spending the next week traveling to an incredible region of our world.  I was so jealous to leave them there and head back to Tappahannock!

Yesterday was an aweseome day at church.  We had the joy of baptizing six believers during the service and to welcome a new family into our congregation.  The congregation was packed out with family and friends there to support those being baptized and it was just a good time.  I especially enjoyed seeing Bob baptize his grandson, Zach.

For those of you who receive our monthly newsletter you will read about a financial challenge.  In the newsletter, I encouraged the congregation to match the highest priced gift that is given this year with a charitable contribution.  There are so many places that you could plug this gift.  These are a few that I listed in the newsletter:

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering            Our ministry in Ghana

            Help with an electric bill                        Salvation Army Toy Drive

            Help with rent                                       The Son’s of the Father

            Help with car repair                              Our associational missionary, Kenny Park

 

With this said, check out the following video that was sent to me by Ashley Miller.  Thanks Ashley!

Food collected for the crisis closet last week. Please notice what is setting on top of the paper bag.

Two weeks ago (Nov 16) I shared with the congregation about the joys of giving.  The pleasure we receive when we step out of our comfort zone to give a little more than maybe we are used to doing.  During the message I told the story of receiving a very kind and large financial gift earlier in the month.  When we received this money, Veronica and I quickly decided that we could not keep this to ourselves.  So, we began a discussion as to where it might best be used.