Taking a Detour

Once we arrived at John 6, I thought it best to study what occurred between chapters 5 and 6. John allows the synoptics to cover this peried. Therefore, we are now studying The Sermon on the Mount. This study will allow us to see and understand what Jesus was teaching during this time and to understand the full rejection addressed in John 6.
Once we finish Matthew chapter 7, we will briefly return to John, only to return to Matthew to examine Christ's parables. What is important for us, is to keep Christ in the center of our teaching, to focus our Sunday AM services around Jesus Christ.
Last week we started FAITH Evangelism training. Our first two students are Ricky and Zane. We had a great first lesson and also a great first visit. Next semester we hope to grow to 9 total team members. This will be harder to accomplish, but I am certain that God is already selecting those that He wishes to attend.

-Mark

Laying A Course to the Future

Wakefield is in the midst of change. Our Missions Committee is hard at work developing our first ever missions policy. It is hard to imagine that Wakefield, with over 80 missionaries supported, has never had a policy. Soon though we will have one. I say soon, but I doubt it will be sooner than January 2009. However, after over a 100 years without, 2009 will seem soon.

Next month Oren and Gordon will go with me to Heritage Baptist Church in Lynchburg VA for training. I am certain that this training will be of value.

Please pray for the missions committee as they continue in this valuable task.

Also, the elders of Wakefield recently met to begin plotting a course for the future of our church. All agree that although many attend faithfully, Wakefield must increase its efforts in making disciples. The men all felt that we must be intentional in moving people toward greater levels of maturity and service. We just scratched the surface, but will meet again in May to move further ahead in our planning.

Please pray for God's guidance in this area. We long to see people grow in a greater love for and understanding of Jesus.

-Mark

A bowl of chili and the Tornado

Over the last few months we have seen God move at Wakefield in some wonderful and even unusual ways.

On March 8th, we were setting up for our first annual Chili Cookoff when a storm struck the area. Although not officially a tornado the damage was impressive; trees were ripped up by the roots and buildings knocked down. Over at Carl & Debbie farm the damage was beyond the norm.

About an hour into the cookoff word came of the devastation at the farm. Many of our men left the cookoff to help. The women pulled together all of the leftover chili, cornbread, and desserts. This food was taken a central location where those helping could be fed. In the end, the men of Wakefield could not be of much help because the farming community had already responded. However, the food items were greatly appreciated. Since then the family have been faithfully attending Wakefield. We are very excited to have Carl and Debbie. We are also excited to know that because of chili and a storm this couple is sitting under the ministry of God's Word and worshipping Him at Wakefield.

Just prior to this event a GROW team visited and led Melvin Meadows to Christ. The team visited Melvin one evening and after chit-chat shared the good news of Jesus Christ with him. Melvin, familiar with the Gospel, chose to receive Christ as his savior. It was a special time. Melvin served as one of our chili judges just a couple of weeks later. He too has been faithfully attending Wakefield ever since.

Last Sunday, Dave, a visitor since Easter, received Christ as savior. For over a week we could see that God was moving upon Dave. He often remarked of such. But this past Sunday he made certain of his salvation and received Christ!

Please join us in prayer for the Carl & Debbie, Melvin, and Dave as they continue to grow in Christ. Also pray for us that we adequately disciple these four.

-Mark

Blending of Conferences

Life has been hectic these past two weeks. In a ten-day period I attended three different men's conferences. The first was with Stauros Ministries, the second was the Men's Prayer Advance with Christ Life Ministries. The third was the Fellowship of Bible Churches Men's Retreat.

I must admit that by the time of the third conference I was in no mood to attend. However, all three, even the FBC conference, were a blessing. The Stauros retreat predominantly involved men who have struggled with either alchohol or drug addictions. The Prayer Advance was just that, a time of intensive prayer. The FBC retreat functioned more as a Prophecy Conference with speakers from Friends of Israel.

In the end I feel that I benefited from attending the combination of all three. The time hearing testimonies and getting to know the men of Stauros was great. Prayer and fellowship with the combination of Wakefield men made the Advance something special. And the exceptional Bible teaching of Dr. Renald Showers and Steve Herzig was a blessing (FBC conference).

Well now I'm home, trying to get my diet back into step with home food.

-Mark

Grace Upon Grace

I'm sorry for not posting these many months. Life has been busy. However, I should be able keep up with my future postings.

While reading John 1, I was struck by one certain verse, verse 16. It reads, "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace."

The believer then wakes up everyday to receive another wave of God's grace. The grace a believer received is replaced with even more grace. Robertson pointed out that the Greek is like that of Luke 11:11 where a serpent is given for fish and in Hebrews 12:2 where joy replaces the cross. The image that comes to my mind is that of someone standing on the beach, knee deep in the tide, with wave after wave striking his legs. God's grace is endless and the believer never lacks with what God provides.

The first part of the verse speaks of "His fullness." I looked at Ephesians 4:13. There we find that the gifted people given to the church are being used by God to lead the body to a fullness of Christ. We are becoming more like Christ each and every day!

It seems though that John 1:16 is much different from Ephesians 4:13. In Ephesians the promise is for the believer. In John, I feel that the fullness of Christ is the Incarnate God, who walked among men. The only begotten, He in His fullness, came to man; and those that believe receive His grace forever more each and every day.

-Mark

Looking upon God's Face

For several months I have been preparing for the 2008 AM message series. The goal of this series can be found in Psalm 27:8, "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek." For much of the prep time I have had in my mind the pattern of preaching/studying The Parables, The Sermon on the Mount, and The Gospel of John. However, now I sense that God would want me to change that order, to begin with John.

The Parables are found in the synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Their focus is predominantly on the Kingdom of God. John on the other hand has no parables, unless you consider the shepherd & vine passages as parables. Also the focus of John is not so much on kingdom but on new life. As I have prayed and talked to some others, I now believe that we should begin with John to have a greater chance of realizing Psalm 27:8

Please join us starting January 6th as we begin to walk with Christ through John's eyes.

-Mark

Preparing Workers for the Next Harvest

We recently completed our missions conference. Dave Wall, of New Tribes Mission, Linda Reynolds, of Biblical Ministries Worldwide, and Dan & Barbara Keys, of Interact were our visiting missionaries. God truly blessed us with their presence. Because of this, and my recent visit to ABWE, my mind has been centered on missions.

Wakefield has a wonderful history with missions. I believe that this is due in part to Pastor Horner's vision and love for missions. Additionally, the people of Wakefield truly love and support their missionaries, committing almost 100,000 dollars per year to missions. This coming from a church of approximately 100 on Sunday mornings.

What then could be added to such a church? I feel that to build on a such a strong foundation, Wakefield must work harder at becoming a sending church. There are some from within our congregation that are on the field. However of late, we have not focused on training the next generation of missionaries. Where are these trainees? I believe they are now approaching retirement, making themselves ready for a new career, and are in middle school and high school.

To then motivate this upcoming class of missionaries, it is essential that we do the following: 1) Constantly put missions, both local and the "uttermost" in front of the congregation. This must include our children, for according to many missionaries, they sensed God's call on their lives when only kids. 2) Provide opportunities for local evangelism. This should include purposeful outreach events and frequent training. 3) Seek to plant churches in the local area and surrounding counties. It is my understanding that many missionary candidates have never led a person to Christ and have never been involved in a church planting program. Therefore, it is essential that our people experience such.

These are three simple steps that I will expound upon in time. I pray that God will continue to use Wakefield in His missionary program. I am certain that the current congregation will lovingly and enthusiastically support missions. However, we need to begin now to train the next congregation.

-Mark