Trinity Weekly Trinity Baptist Church September 14, 2020 Our Vision Under the authority of the Bible, to present the Triune God to our community and world by being a growing family of passionately committed followers of Jesus Christ. We will demonstrate the relevance of Jesus through celebrative Spirit-filled worship, through the use of our individual spiritual gifts, and through a lifestyle of holiness. Our Prayer God, create within us a desire to be the most effective evangelistic church in Kershaw County to Your Glory. times of great conflict worship is often conducted Trinity Family, outdoors. I have a confession to make to you. I absolutely I do not know about you, but I hate to see our love preaching outside! I wish it was not going to turn outdoor worship come to an end. I hope we do it again cold just so we could continue with worship outdoors. next year! Of course, with the days getting shorter that will put a May God make you as Ephraim and as damper on things as well. We have had a few warm Manasseh. evenings, but it has usually been right pleasant with a Until the Return of the Great King, Pastor Chuck slight breeze blowing. Through the years I have had the periodic opportunity to preach outdoors, usually in Prayer Warriors and Mission Partners, conjunction with a revival or mission trip. This is the Have you noticed in the 175 days of prayer of the first time that I have consistently preached outdoors for overwhelming number of people around the world that any length of time. I imagine if it had never been have yet to hear the gospel or are resistant to it? Our recommended to us by the governmental authorities to God is not overwhelmed. He waits and is merciful. He worship outdoors, I would still not know the joy it allows us to be part of His plan to reach these people brings. so that all may know Him. Continue to pray for the Several of my local pastor friends moved their work in South Carolina and for the missionaries. Pray services inside only to go back outside. As we have all about how you are to be involved. For those who like gathered each month, outside of course, I have been details, look at this PEW report about our state: amazed to hear them echo my sentiment for preaching https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape- outdoors. study/state/south-carolina. Do you realize that most of the sermons that are In His Service, Pat Young given in the Bible were preached outside? This would include almost all of the books of the prophets, which Streaming is back! are their sermons. We do know that Jesus at times Thanks to the new internet we are able to live preached in homes. It does appear that most of His stream through Youtube again. I have had a question preaching was also done outdoors. In the times of about the start times of the streams and wanted to great expansion during the church’s history, preaching address that. Although our current service times are was mostly conducted outside: from the early 10:30 AM Sunday mornings and 7:00 PM Sunday and missionaries to the likes of George Whitefield, John Wednesday nights, we are not streaming music just Wesley, Shubal Stearns, Daniel Marshall and Billy yet. If you would like to tune into the live stream, Graham. expect us to start about 7:10 PM and 10:45 AM (give There were various reasons this preaching was or take 5 minutes). If you do not watch the live stream conducted outdoors. In the case of the prophets and but want to catch up on the sermons at a later time, it Jesus it was because they were not welcomed by the seems to be taking about 24 hours to get the live religious institutions of the day. The same is true in the streams on our channel. We have no control over this case of several of the others I have listed above. – it is a Youtube issue. If you have questions, please Sometimes, the reason was because there were not see me. buildings large enough to hold the crowds. During Kelley Little, Music Director 2 Trinity Baptist Church September 14, 2020 Southern Baptists, think carefully about your ways I wanted so much to hear what the Spirit was Since the end of February 2020, I have carried a saying to me through God’s Word each day. Our deep and increasing burden about the following things: gracious God gave some special words on days 37 The divisiveness and ongoing strife within our and 38 of the fast. These words were declared by our Southern Baptist family, resulting in turmoil and God four times in the book of Haggai. This statement confusion. is given only in Haggai 1:5 and 1:7, when the Lord of The ongoing attraction to lesser issues at the the Armies says: expense of our cooperative work to fulfill the “Think carefully about your ways.” Great Commission As God spoke these words to prepare His people The division and strife among evangelicals in the for a great and new work among them in their days, I United States. Many Southern Baptists and believe He is also preparing us for a great and new evangelicals would rather live in the downstream work for the days ahead. These resounding words of of cultural disagreements and infighting between God need to be heard by all of us: themselves than provide spiritual leadership to a “Think carefully about your ways.” nation that desperately needs it. I personally experienced a deep conviction by the The angry, cruel, ungodly, and carnal statements Spirit that led me into a time of personal repentance. by Christians and even some Christian leaders Therefore, I share these words with you today in via social media, articles, or comments in the humility and with brokenness: media. These create suspicion and greater fear Southern Baptists, think carefully about your rather than faith and hope. ways. The tragic state in America over racial matters Evangelicals, think carefully about your ways. and the growing and ongoing violent uprisings, America, think carefully about your ways. which have fueled greater anger, hate-filled Perhaps in the days ahead I will share more with rhetoric, rebellion to authority, increasing you. lawlessness, and the loss of human life. Now is the time to lead. The sadness and fear that has reigned since Dr. Ronnie Floyd, President/CEO Southern Baptist March when the Co-Vid 19 global pandemic Convention Executive Committee began to shut down the entire country. And as America is now re-entering life with our schools, Blood Drive universities, workplaces, churches, and social Several years ago, a decision was made to host a gatherings, we are still fighting about who is doing blood drive once a quarter for the American Red it right and who is doing it wrong – even now, Cross. Since that time, a total of 184 units of blood has we’re arguing about treatments and prevention been donated at Trinity. Many people have been measures. This leads to a greater distrust of one blessed by the gift of blood donation. It might have another. God help us all. treated a chronic illness, sustained life during surgery, Our nation remains in a political divide and or been used for someone in a terrible accident. We distrust unlike anything we have ever witnessed in will never know how many lives have been impacted. our lifetime. Our next blood drive will be on Thursday, October As this evil is being unleashed violently in our 8th, from 2-7 PM. You are encouraged to make an nation in every way imaginable, it is undeniable that appointment by notifying the church office of the time God’s people must take notice now as never before. you would like to come. Or you can go to the Red That is why I believe God pressed within me a deep Cross website to sign up. conviction that I must do something in this great hour Our last drive had each appointment taken, so of desperation. don’t wait too long to sign up. The process is painless Therefore, I did only what I knew I could do: I and quick. Please consider donating so that you can entered 40 days of praying and fasting for these help someone in dire need of blood products. matters that were such a heavy burden upon me. As I walked through these 40 days of praying and fasting, I was living on His Word and His promises, Online Giving Now Available and experiencing His powerful presence through it all; We have several ways to give online. When you and yes, our God sustained me to see, and saw me give, you receive a confirmation that the donation was through these days. I am grateful to my dear wife of 43 made. The contributions are deposited directly into our years, Jeana, as she prayed and fasted with me in the account. From the office, we are able to access that initial two weeks and then cared for me so that I might information and record your contributions. There is an seek the Lord wholly in the remaining days of this option available to include the processing fee in your spiritual journey. gift. If you accept that option you are saving the church that expense while also getting credit on your 3 Trinity Baptist Church September 14, 2020 contribution records.