The framing for the new entrance and the elevator is taking place. It is wonderfully noisy around the office. There is a temporary door frame around the exit. This is not a part of the permanent plan. This is to allow the workers access in and out as they work on the new exit and to keep all of us from walking into a construction zone. But it is really starting to take shape. A couple of things to remind you about:
First, when the workers removed the dedication plate from 1949 they found a time capsule. A copper box was found behind the wall plate. Everyone loves a mystery, right? Now, we are thinking…more like scheming…to find the best way to have an opening and revealing event. No one, not even me, has looked inside, so I really, do not know what is in it. It could be a Geraldo Rivera moment when he opened Al Capone’s vault…and there was nothing. Care to take a guess as to the contents inside? By the way, do we have any charter members still attending that would have been present in 1949? Let me know, I have an offer to make! More to come on when and how we will have the big reveal party! Lol
Second, remember, we have a contest going for naming the elevator. You can send it to my email at tombrown41@comcast.net or write it on the green sheet on Sunday. There will be prizes involved. Just a little hint…I already have a wing dinger involving Donnie Almond! It is not the winner, but it is a good one! Who doesn’t love Donnie?
Third, we are planning the time of celebration for the Entrance and Elevator dedication. There will still be a sidewalk to finish and some landscaping. But it is coming together.
We are thanking God for bringing us this far in Daring Faith: Renovation Believers and Renovating Buildings. It has been such a success and blessing at every level. Our goal is to be able to pay off the Elevator and the Entrance as soon as the work is completed. I know that sounds like a lot. We know it can be done and we believe it will happen. As soon as we have a projected completion date we will let the church family know.
See you this Sunday, good Lord willing.
Pastor Tom
It seems like ancient history when I think back to the beginning of the Hispanic ministry at JIBC. For years and years, JIBC partnered with Charleston Baptist Association to participate in migrant ministries. Before his death, Clancy Bowick was a strong advocate for helping reach the Hispanic community. He and many volunteers worked for years serving in the Name of Jesus meeting spiritual and physical needs.
The ministry then took an upward turn when JIBC had the opportunity to support a Hispanic Mission Church. That was exciting and extremely challenging. We really had no one who spoke Spanish. So we had language and cultural barriers to cross. Finding Hispanic leaders was among the most difficult of all challenges. We struggled through a few years until Dr. Skip Martin, former missionary and professor at CSU dropped into visit. He immediately helped us correct some issues and then served as “Interim” Hispanic pastor until we could find a leaders. Many of you will remember how Hector and Shannon Cruz came to help at that time. These were still building years that had many obstacles to overcome. Among the largest barriers was Hector’s status as an immigrant. By the way, they have gone back to Honduras to fix that status issue and to re-enter the United States through the proper channels. While in Honduras, they have been serving in ministry. Our youth group had the opportunity to join them a few summers ago.
The Hispanic Church really took a leap toward growth and stability as the Lord led Pastor Claudio and his wife, Claudia to join Iglesia Luz Y Verdad. They were trained under the theological education of Dr. Skip Martin at CSU. The Lord brought other significant leadership, like Aaron Guadarrama, to the Hispanic church. They have grown from a mission of JIBC to a Hispanic Church. They have their own praise band, they live stream their worship services, they have a nursery and children’s ministries, a food ministry and several strong outreach missions and ministries in the community.
Many of our JIBC church family may not know Iglesia Luz Y Verdad actually meets on the JIBC campus. They now have almost the entire Ministry Center Building located on the Maybank Highway side of the campus. We only use the two apartments for Marty and Frankie. Everything else is the ministry of Luz Y Verdad. That is probably over $30, 000 worth of support JIBC is able to give to missions. Luz Y Verdad is one of the largest Hispanic ministries in the Charleston area. It is also one of the strongest, healthiest churches. While they are no longer a mission of JIBC, we gladly call them Kingdom partners. It is a great investment in reaching the fastest growing part of our population.
Thank you for giving so generously to make such mission work possible. We can give freely because our Father has moved our church family to give so generously. He uses you to bless this ministry. You might not realize that JIBC launched the largest Chinese Church in Charleston and now is helping to support one of the largest and strongest Hispanic churches in Charleston. Thank you and praise the Lord.
Pastor Tom
Years ago…OK, back in the stone ages when I was in college, this conversation happened. A group of pastors were discussing theology, particularly when would Jesus return. As you might know, there are more than a few views concerning the Second Coming of Christ. Some people hold their views with very strong and outspoken conviction. The discussion was, well let’s say, heating up. It was more smoke than light being shared. My buddy, probably the smartest in the group, spoke up and said: “Hey, let’s go lead someone to the Lord and then come back and discuss this!” See what he did there? When in doubt…reach out. When you are struggling, help someone else who is in need. When you are distracted, even by something good, reaching out to someone in need may help you get back in focus.
I know it is already February and Valentine’s Day happens this week. Even so, let me share some Christmas news. In the middle of a church wide mission of Daring Faith: Renovating Hearts and Renovating Buildings, God did a wonderful thing. We are trying to raise over $500,000 for renovations that need to be done and are long overdue. One would think that a church family and friends giving their tithes and offerings AND giving to a renovation program would limit other giving. In fact, this past December JIBC gave the second largest Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in over 20 years. Over $11,511 was given to International Missions. That is in addition to Co-operative Program giving, in addition to the Advent Giving of Jelly, Cooking Oil, Diapers and Pajamas. Those who give generously continue to give generously. Thank you for your loving hearts and your generous giving.
I think this same lesson can be applied to our individual lives and to our families. Are you stuck in a rut? Reach out…do something for someone in need. Are you in a rough place at work? Find a way to help someone else. When in doubt…reach out. Having such a strategy can help refocus and redirect our feelings. It could be the way our Father plans to bring healing to our hearts and minds. Reaching out might not make our struggle go away…but it might. If the trouble does not go away, at least it will have to wade through love and joy to make its way back to your heart and mind. How are you reaching out? How is your connection group reaching out? Don’t be shy about sharing what you are doing. It might spark an idea for someone else. And don’t be shy about asking for ideas on how to reach out…there are plenty of ways. One of them will surely be in your wheel house.
See you Sunday, Pastor Tom
Two weeks ago I wrote that I was happily and anxiously looking forward to the visit from our prospective Associate Pastor. If you put that date on your calendar, I hope you put it in pencil. Pastor Terry Candler emailed me last week to say he was declining the offer to come and visit JIBC. After much prayer and discussion Terry and his wife decided to stay in Washington. His daughter is graduating from High School decided she wanted to stay in Washington. There oldest daughter is in college in the area and did not want to move. They did not want to leave both of their daughters on the other side of the country. While I fully understand his decision, I am temporarily so disappointed. I still feel he would have been a great guy to have as a ministry and mission partner. Because we believe Romans 8:28 we believe God had this all worked out from the beginning. Knowing how God has used JIBC to minister to people in the past, perhaps that was somehow a part of our assignment to Terry and his family. I could be happy believing God trusted JIBC to bless someone’s life and ministry that we would never know. It could have been a part of the process to get us better prepared for the next person. We pray for Terry and his family and the wonderful work being accomplished at Emmanuel Baptist in Pullman, Washington. It was my pleasure to meet and know him. So we begin again the search for an associate to be a part of the JIBC ministry.
THE WORD ON THE STREET
I know it seems like forever, but we really are making progress toward the new entrance and the elevator. The cement is poured and if all goes well, framing should start sometime this week. As we make progress, we will keep you informed! Now, since we have some time, let me invite you to be creative for a moment. Start thinking with me about who will be the first members to take the ride. Why would they be the first? Second, if we named the elevator,
what would the name be? Right now I am just curious as to your thoughts. As we get closer, we may attach a prize to this little contest. Until then, blessings to you all.
Pastor Tom
