GONE AGAIN, HOME AGAIN

Janie and I just returned from a vacation with part of our family. Brook and her three kids along with Erin, Trey and Wyatt joined us in a trip to Nosara, Costa Rica. Yeah, I did not know where it was either. Some would ask us “What part of Costa Rica are you going to?” I showed my geographical ignorance…I did not know where we were going or that there were parts! Turns out we were on the West Coast, right where the beautiful mountains and the jungle meets the Pacific Ocean. Like always, it was a joy to be there and to enjoy another part of God’s beautiful creation. But it is twice the joy to be back home! Thank you to all who make this kind of a trip possible by covering all the bases while we are gone.

The week before we left for vacation, my brother called to tell us he was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer and that it had metastasized to other parts of his body. The outlook is not good. If the doctors are right, he has 4 to 6 months to live. If Kathie is right, maybe not quite that long. So, Janie and I met my sister and went to spend some time with Bubba and Kathie. They live in Newport, NC. We hoped to bring some sort of positive to a negative situation. My sweet Janie was so very helpful in helping them work through all their legal issues like wills, power of attorney, medical POA, etc. By the way, do you have a will, a Power of Attorney, a Healthcare POA? If not, do yourself and your family a favor and have them drawn up. The truth is that we all have an ending date, all of us have an appointed day to die. We choose to live our lives not looking at death but rather looking at life. But the date will come, unless Jesus returns first.

One day, there will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more tears. Until then, we deal with the penalty and consequence of sin, death. Our hearts cry in times of sorrow is like a call for that day when death will be no more. Until then, “The Lord is my Shepherd…”

See you this Sunday, Good Lord willing!

Pastor Tom

PART TWO: PRAY CHARLESTON 2026

Many of you will remember that JIBC joined dozens of other churches from a variety of denominations to “Pray Charleston 2025”. The goal was to have every day, of every week of every month for the 2025 Calendar Year covered in prayer. The focus was on Charleston, hence the name “Pray Charleston 2025. We chose the 10th of every month from January to December. On the 10th, we had 168 volunteers to pray in 15-minute segments and we covered the entire 24 hours of the 10th of every month. Well done, JIBC, well done.

This year, we changed the pace a little. We are still involved and partners in “Pray Charleston 2026”. We are just expanding or deepening our prayer ministry. We are no longer praying just on the 10th of every month. We are asking our IBC family and friends to include a Pray Charleston topic every day you have your quiet time. The first 6 weeks we prayed for Charleston leaders, first responders, school administration, etc. This next 6 weeks, we will pray for JIBC Missions and Ministries. Our Youth Pastor, Logan Duvall, put this one together for us. He gives us just a brief prayer suggestion and scripture for Monday through Sunday. This guide leads us to pray for many of the ministries of JIBC: evangelism, missions, children’s ministries, Connection Groups, Student Ministry, Volunteers, Worship, preaching and teaching, etc.

He gives some very helpful suggestions and the QR codes that will take you to more resources about prayer. Let’s Pray Charleston 2026! And while we are at it lets Pray JIBC 2026.

VBS is two weeks away! Here we go, Evangelism and Mission, priority one. Thank you for your prayers and volunteer hours. To God be the Glory.

Pastor Tom

THE FAVOR OF THE LORD

There are times when some things go wrong. It happens. There are also times when somethings go wrong but most things go right. As one philosopher said “It’s not all good, but it’s not all bad either”. Then, there ae those wonderful times when there are so many things going well one might describe it as “the favor of the Lord”. It is a time of unearned grace, approval and tangible blessings of the Lord.

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”

Luke 2:52

This year’s Awana ministry seems to have found the favor of the Lord. Each year we have been blessed with an amazing number of children coming to learn God’s Word. Some age groups actually reached the limit of how many children they can accommodate. Together, the Awana Ministry brought and donated over 950 jars of jelly. Their year end Awards Banquet filled up the house of the Lord and the Children’s program was outstanding as the Gospel was told through the words and action of the children, led by their dedicated leaders. Well done everyone involved!

We celebrated the season’s last Wednesday night supper with a free meal. We did say donations to James Island Outreach would be accepted for that night. Turns out we will be able to give James Island Outreach and additional $473. It is the favor of the Lord.

The Kitchen Renovation, a project years in the making, finally has happened. There is a relatively small punch list to be completed. I would say it is about 99% complete. It did not keep our Kitchen Krew from presenting their amazing signature dish of fried chicken, Mac-n-Cheese and banana pudding! Wow. Thank you for a great year of serving!

Last, but in no way least, the favor of the Lord is upon us in calling our new staff member, Josh Sorrow and his sweet family. It seemed like our Father in Heaven just kept leading and affirming every step of the process.

I pray that in our individual lives and in the life of our families, we will continue to experience the wonderful favor of the Lord. Blessings to you.

Pastor Tom