Catching the Vision

What a great time of celebration, fellowship and challenge we had last night as we kicked off our season of preparation for Mission Trip 2009! Certainly, we celebrated past victories and saw how lives have been changed through previous experiences. Yet, surely every heart was touched and challenged by the messages that we heard. We learned about the impact of our work in the community of Powder Springs, in the lives of one of our families, and in the commitment of one of our own to full time foreign missions. Through a humble servant of God we discovered much more than how we affected his work in Williamsburg, Kentucky. We saw in Keith Decker what God can accomplish through a man whose heart is totally and unconditionally committed to pleasing Him. Please pray that our entire church family would seek this kind of commitment and dependence on our Father. Keith said, "Listen to Him speak." Our desire is that we would listen to every direction of the Father for this summer's mission trip.

Please pray specifically this week for Myra Woods, Donna Campbell, Vicky Hogue, and Sherri Southerland as they give leadership to this year's trip. Each of these precious ladies has such a heart for the Lord's work. We are asking God to go before them in each aspect of their preparation. Our prayer for them this week is based on Colossians 1:9-11. "We will not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all aspects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father."

I believe that God has already begun to answer our prayers for this trip. Surely, the Spirit of the Lord was in our midst last night and we will be careful to give Him all the glory. Keith Decker said, "Cedar Ridge does not depend on me. It depends on God. God does not fail." We will depend on God and He will not fail. Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to catch the vision for Your Mission Trip 2009.

Off and Running!

Our mission trip team is hard at work planning all of the details for the 2009 edition of the First Baptist family mission trip! A long running tradition at PSFB, this year's mission trip will take place right in our back yard in the big city of Powder Springs! We are planning to give HOPE to every man, woman and child in our area during this exciting week. Please pray for each member of our Mission Team as they seek God's plan for every area of our ministry.

We are asking this week that you pray particularly for our Celebration on Sunday night. Our prayer is that this night would be a time of both celebration and anticipation. We celebrate the tradition that has been laid before us and we look forward with anticipation to what lies ahead. Mike and Sharon Jacobs are busy planning Sunday night's event. Please pray for their family during this week. May God go before them in each detail of their plans.

In Exodus 33 Moses pleads with God, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?" Our prayer is that God's very presence will go with us, lead us, and distinguish us through every aspect of this mission trip so that we might share the Hope that we have in Him.

Thank you for your willingness to enter into this experience through the power of prayer. Have a blessed day!