It is happening!

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

Iglesia Luz Y Verdad Update

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

WHEN IN DOUBT…REACH OUT

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

NOT TOO LATE TO TAKE IT OFF YOUR CALENDAR

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

Teaching Series Recap

We just finished a teaching series on worship. I thought it would be more than just symbolic to start the New Year off with a series helping us focus or refocus on worship. I took the title of the series from our January memory verse, John 4:23-24, “Worship Him in Spirit and in Truth”. My goal was to take four of my favorite Bible passages about worship and build a series explaining what it means to worship our Father in spirit and in truth. We started with the classical passage of Isaiah 6 and his vision of God high and lifted up. It is a passage to be familiar with in that it speaks of the Holiness of God. Worship here is both vertical…directed up to God and vertical having an impact on us.

The second passage was from Psalm 100. It is a psalm that was read and sung as Israel gathered together in Jerusalem going to the Temple to worship. It is not exactly what we would call a template for worship. It is however a good guide for how to prepare ourselves to enter into worship. Psalm 100 is a favorite psalm. I hope you will become familiar with it if you are not already.

The third of the passages was from the Revelation, chapter 4. Once again, we get to peek inside of Heavens door to view worship. It is easy to get lost in the symbolism and miss the beauty of the main event…worship.

And then last Sunday we took a look at John 4 and Jesus’ own teaching about worship. An encounter that looked like a chance encounter turned out to be one of consequence. The Samaritan woman, like those of us who read this story, had opportunity to learn from Jesus Himself about true worship. Worship is too important for us to be sidetracked by customs, rules and regulations that seem to distract. There are traditions we love, like observing the Lord’s Supper. It leads us to experience Our Father and Lord Jesus in a very intimate way. But the details of how we observe the Lords Supper, how often, bread or wafer, weekly or monthly, passed or at stations….those are just traditions that are designed to help us. In other words, let’s make sure our worship stays God focused and God directed and not toward our traditions or rules.

I loved this definition of worship: Worship is all that I am reacting to all that God is. I pray that you will react to Him with praise, adoration, thanksgiving and confession. I am so thankful for our praise team that helps lead us to worship every week. To God be the glory.

See you this Sunday, good Lord willing!

Pastor Tom

NOT TOO EARLY TO PUT THIS ON YOUR CALENDAR

We have a prospective staff member coming February 15 and staying through Monday, February 18. Terry Candler, his wife, Denise and one of their children, Simon, will be with us for an extended weekend. Terry is being considered (and considering us) for the position of Associate Pastor. He will be preaching for us on Sunday, February 17. I am so excited about his being here and I feel sure you will love him and his sweet family. The staff and I have had multiple conversations with Terry and we all liked him a lot. Janie and I flew out to visit him and see him in his church community. We loved what he was doing and what his church family was all about. We flew Terry into meet some of our leaders to make sure he passed what I called the “likability” test…which of course, he did. We also wanted to make sure he liked what he saw here at JIBC and in our community. So now, we are bringing in momma! That is a big deal. As we all say, jokingly yet seriously….if momma ain’t happy, nobody will be happy. We want the entire family to love JIBC the way Janie and I do. So, they will see our community, our schools, visit with more of our church family, be with us in worship, etc. All important steps in making a decision to relocate your family and ministry.

Terry is from Union, South Carolina and Denise’s family is from Atlanta. So they are looking forward to moving from the West Coast to the East Coast to be closer to family. I don’t think they will miss the harsh snowy climate either! At any rate, it is not too early to get this on your calendar. Please try to arrange your calendar to be present. I would be thrilled to see the church packed on that Sunday. We will be sending out more details about Terry and the ministry he could have here at JIBC. Until then, let’s do something kind for someone in need, attempt something great with God to bring God glory.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Tom

WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH

Sunday mornings I am teaching a series on Worship. It is based on the John 4 passage where Jesus says two very important things about worship. First, our Father is seeking you to worship Him. He wants you, desires you and is waiting and expecting you to come to Him in worship. Far from being a fearful experience, He looks for us as a long awaited family member or friend coming to visit and spend time. That changes our perspective. We don’t “have to” worship; we don’t just “get to worship”…we love to worship; we long to spend time with Him who longs to spend time with us.

Second, we worship Him in spirit and in truth. We worship him with our head and our heart, with emotion and well as logic. We express our love to God with all of our heart, all of our mind, all of our strength. Some may be a little intimidated by worshiping God in spirit, with emotion. I grew up in a church tradition and time when we were taught the following verse about worship: “the Lord is in His Temple, let all the earth be silent”. So speaking out, clapping hands, raising hands, saying amen or hallelujah was all but forbidden. The problem is that is not the majority of worship as portrayed in God’s Word. We are not just a mind, a brain or just purely logical. We are also emotional, expressive, and spiritual. We need to clap, shout, sing, dance and be fully engaged. If you have ever seen Jewish people at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, you see them swaying back and forth, rocking with abandon. They are praying with their minds and worshiping with their bodies, their whole being. 

I am taking my four favorite Bible passages about worship and using them to show Biblical worship…in spirit and in truth. Worship cannot be optional for us, it must be primary. It cannot be a spectator sport, we must be full participants. It is not something we do only on Sunday mornings. Sunday mornings becomes the time we offer him all we did the previous week as a sacrifice of worship. Sunday morning is the time we seek to give Him the honor and the glory He is due. In doing so, by His grace, He can give us the power we need to face the week ahead. Join us as we continue to focus on the invitation to Worship Him in spirit and in truth.

See you this Sunday, good Lord willing.

BTW, you can still join me on Wednesday nights at 6:15 as we survey the Old Testament. We finished Judges on January 16 and will introduce the Book of Ruth on January 23. Great group, great study, come on and join us.

Pastor Tom