“Who’s Your One?”

Imagine if every member of JIBC and every attendee could answer that question with the name of a person—a person for whom they’re praying and with whom they are trying to share the Gospel. How would it change our church? How would it change the world? My guess is that most of us know someone personally who is near to us but far from God. We know a father or mother, a son or daughter, a neighbor or friend. There is the co-worker that you have worked with over the years; the person who provides a service to you. I can only imagine the possibilities of what God can do! This Sunday we start a month long focus on leading our church family and friends to identify one person in your relational network to pray for and to pray for an opportunity, in some way, with whom to share the Gospel. This is not an overly elaborate plan. “Who’s your one?” 

We will make available a 30 day prayer guide that will help lead you to pray specifically, with intentionality, for someone you know who needs to know our Father in Heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ. The prayer guides will be available at no cost and are so easy to use. I have been using my guide for the last three weeks. I have identified my one and am asking God to lay on my heart another to add to this prayer list. I think you will find the simple and basic prayer guide to be helpful.

Next, I will also be teaching a series of lessons related to this prayer/evangelism emphasis. We will visit again the call to follow Jesus and the call to make disciples. The timing for this is very intentional. We are hoping that you will be able to invite your one to this year’s Easter service where they will hear a very clear presentation of the Gospel and will have an opportunity to respond. Each week we will be providing more and more guidance and help as you consider…“Who’s your one?”

Pastor Tom

USING YOUR INFLUENCE

I want to praise the Lord and give a shout out to Daniel Teague. Daniel is one of our students here at JIBC. He and his family attend regularly. His dad owns a landscaping design company so Daniel has kind of grown up in the business. Daniel is in the Boy Scouts and is earning his Eagle Scout rank. To do that requires a community project. Daniel chose, after much thought, to do a landscaping project at our Transition House. I thought that was a great idea.

To be honest, I thought he was going to just put in a new flower bed and trim some bushes and rake some leaves. Let me try to describe what is taking place. By the way, you can drive by and see it any time. It is front yard, front and center!

Daniel's landscaping and design project, of course, used his skills in landscaping. But he also used his skills of influence and was able to get almost all of the materials donated at no cost. He went to areas vendors and suppliers and explained what he was doing. They were glad to help a scout earn his eagle rank and to help in a project benefiting people in recovery. He used his skills as a landscaper and his influence with community businesses to accomplish his project. He enlisted people with stump grinders, back hoes, dump trucks, pavers, plants, etc. This turned out to be a full scale landscaping makeover. It could have been a television show.

This past Monday morning as I drove into our parking lot, Daniel had a full work crew busy as they could be. I could not count how many volunteers he recruited. Last Saturday, he even had the children living at the Transition House carrying and placing pavers. It was a beautiful sight. I hope we can put together a presentation of the entire project. He even has plans to repurpose the old bricks he took up.

Daniel has been a great example of using your influence for good and to the glory of God. Well done, Daniel, well done!

Pastor Tom

Great things at JIBC

Tested and Getting Ready for Greatness. This Sunday I will be teaching from Genesis 22. It is a wonderful but perplexing story of Abraham being willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Spend some time taking a look at this great chapter. I think it will have a deep impact on us as we seek what He is saying to us. This story reminds us that we are often tested by God…never tempted by God…but often tested. Abraham and Isaac were destined for great things but first they were tested. What are you going through now that could be a test preparing you for bigger things, greater things ahead? Don’t miss this Sunday!

If you missed our new year’s teaching series on “Foundations: Building Better Believers” I hope you will check it out online. You can visit the church website www.jamesislandbaptist.com. You can hear the sermon and use the sermon outline notes. There is no doubt the storms of life will come. Jesus gave us the way to be able to withstand the storm by building on a firm foundation.

This past Sunday we had 14 signed up for Class 101: Discovering Membership at JIBC. We had 11 who were able to attend and 10 who joined the James Island Baptist Church family. Next week after all the records are in we will publish their names and celebrate the goodness of God. He has added these precious souls to the JIBC church family. What an honor to welcome them! By the way, we had one family that had three generations present for Class 101! As far as I remember, that is a first! Hallelujah and to God be the glory!

Be in prayer for our Student Ministry going away for a retreat this weekend. Pastor Frankie, Pastor Scott and their team will be taking a group to Look Up Lodge. God grant them safety as they travel, open hearts to hear the Gospel, open minds to receive the truth and hearts committed to obeying. In Jesus Name, Amen.

See you Sunday, good Lord willing,

Pastor Tom

An Update from James Island Outreach

James 1:26-27 

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” 

I received an update from James Island Outreach a week or so ago. I thought I would share some of the highlights. The verse above from James is helpful is setting the stage for this article. At times we can be tempted to equate religion with what we believe over what we do. Proper belief, orthodoxy, is important. But just as important is proper action and lifestyle, orthopraxy. From my perspective, anyone who says they believe right but then does not act right, is actually lacking on the believing part. Change your thinking and you will change your actions. Of course, no one is perfect and in fact, all of us have sinned and fallen short of what God expects. Now, back to our actions, what James calls religion…true and pure religion. It is wrapped up in kind actions and deeds. It is based, I rather think, on kind thoughts that are humble and charitable. So the half brother of Jesus recommends, first, to watch your tongue. Saying what you think without proper submission, may say you have deceived your heart. The sad part of that is the result of such deception is worthless religion. So there one sits, all orthodox in their belief, clinging to what they perceive to be the gospel. All the while, they may be deceived.

So how could one know if they are embracing a “true religion” that is worthwhile and not worthless? Try this…to visit the orphans and the widows in their time of affliction/need and to keep oneself unstained from the world. The James Island Outreach says James Island Baptist Church gave 5,408 pounds of food to help the underserved in 2019. That is over 2½ tons of food to help the orphans and the widows..or the poor and underserved. In addition, you gave $2,275 to help pay emergency utilities, help some attain their GED, help provide cooking classes, buy medicine for those who cannot afford it. You also gave generously so we could donate $1,000 to help 24 sister churches raise $15,000 to pay off $1.5 million dollars in medical debt and to pay off $400,000 in medical debt for Veterans with financial needs. The Rest In Peace Medical Debt ministry buys up medical debt pennies on the dollar. We were able to partner with them to do an incredible work. To God be the glory.

Moral of the story? When you believe right it will show itself when we behave right. True religion cannot be about doctrine alone. We are saved by Grace Alone and rest on Scripture Alone and trust Christ Alone. That is the right place to begin ones spiritual journey. It is not the right place to end.

Pastor Tom

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM IT MIGHT AS WELL BE A GOOD ONE, RIGHT?

Just recently a visitor commented that they loved the worship experience at JIBC but they had a hard time finding a parking space. Don’t think of this from our perspective. We members know the ins and outs of where to park. But as a guest, as far as they know, JIBC folk can only park on JIBC property. IF that were the case, we really would be in a parking jam. Don’t get me wrong. I would much rather have a problem finding parking than having so many empty spaces you could park anywhere. So, let me share part of the answer to this challenge.

First, we have a “collaborative” relationship with all the businesses around JIBC. I use the word collaborative intentionally. The County loves when businesses share space in what they call a collaborative relationship. Some of our relationships are very formal with signed agreements and some are based on a verbal agreement. That means they use our parking space during the week and we use their parking space on Sundays. Winner, winner chicken dinner.

Second, here is the challenge. You may not have known our parking arrangements with our business neighbors. It is very likely that our guests would have no way to know. So how can we accommodate those who are guests, those who have babies/children and those who are Senior Adults? Join me and some of our leaders by choosing the off campus parking spaces across the street. You can park in front of the flower shop (Keepsakes) or in front of Brysons Garage, etc. You may also park in front of any of Sifly Homes Building businesses on Plymouth. For those with trucks, we also have permission to park in the undeveloped lot across from our campus on Plymouth. Really, you may park where you like. We can make parking for guests, parents with babies and small children and Seniors a little easier. The only place we encourage you not to park is in the lot behind the church off of Maybank Highway. That is the space we designate for Luz Y Verdad, the Hispanic Church. If you park there and get blocked in, just remember they get out of worship around 1:00 or 1:30. Choose wisely! Lol.

So, I repeat, if you have to have a problem it might as well be a good one. Needing parking is a good one. The down side is they are not making any more real estate!

See you Sunday, good Lord willing. Remember, with all the sickness going around…wash your hands often, get rest and drink fluids.

Pastor Tom

Things aren’t like they used to be!

Things aren’t like they used to be! I can tell I am getting older when I hear myself saying this so often. Things aren’t like they use to be. Or as Bob Dylan puts it “the times they are a changing”. We are just finishing up our regularly scheduled staff meeting. Because it was a National Holiday, we had the entire staff present…that was great.

It dawned on me how different things are today though. We talked about our Safety Team and made some plans to help train and equip them to help protect the church family. The Charleston Baptist Association now offers training for all churches. When I began ministry back in 1975, this kind of ministry was almost completely unheard of. No one thought of active shooters in a sanctuary. The very word “sanctuary” implies a safe zone, off limits to certain activities and attacks. Evil has translated the word sanctuary to mean soft target, unprotected, easy access. Recent horrific events remind us things aren’t like they use to be and therefore, we need to be ready for how they are today! So we talk about the police officer we hire to be on campus with us Sunday morning. He is more than an onsite officer, he has become our friend and has occasionally brought his family with him to worship. We have a team who monitors the video cameras that are placed around the church and walk the campus on a regular basis. We review our procedures for checking preschoolers and children in and out of their classes. There is really much more we talked about that does not need to be shared here. We are working and praying about doing our best to provide safety. And that is a conversation and activity that we were not having back in 1975! It is, however, a conversation every church and school should be having today. Let me say thank you to our safety team and to our onsite police officer. May the Good Lord bless us to never need our team to respond to danger. On the other hand, I am thankful they are here and ready to do just that! By the way, they are also here to help respond to medical emergencies should the need arise.

See you Sunday, good Lord willing,

Pastor Tom

Spiritual Disciplines

Spiritual Disciplines. The very words sound like something comparable to gym workouts. In some ways that is not a bad comparison. Why would someone go to a gym or try to exercise? You want to get healthy or stay healthy. Janie and I try to exercise 5 times a week. We have a routine that we follow that includes getting our heart rates up, lifting light weights and stretching. Some of the exercise is to correct problems we already have and others are to prevent issues in the future. So Monday through Friday we try to start our day with “physical discipline”. We also start the day with “spiritual disciplines”. We begin our day with Bible Study and prayer. We do it for some of the same reasons we do physical exercise: we are trying to correct some problems and trying to improve in other ways.

My current Sunday morning teaching series comes under the category of “Spiritual Disciplines”. In Matthew 7:24 Jesus said “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” How do we build our lives, our families and our connection group and even our church on a solid foundation? We have talked about how living in the word and living the word brings blessing. This past week we looked at how we can learn to pray in faith. If you missed these and would care to hear them you can go to the podcast at the church website.

This coming Sunday we will be talking about the spiritual discipline of living in community. We really are better together. I have found one of the greatest sources of strength in my life comes from the small group I do life with. I am blessed with a great wife who is a source of spiritual encouragement. I love my family and all the joy they bring. I am also blessed beyond what my words can express for the small group that I meet with every week. These guys bless me, challenge me, encourage me, push me as we walk together. I am, without a doubt, a better husband, a better dad, a better pastor because of the time invested with these guys.

You know, walking on a treadmill or working on the elliptical may not seem all that effective. But it helps. We stay with the discipline of working out regularly. It helps. We need to fellowship together because it helps. It does make us better and helps us to grow and individuals and as believers. Need help connecting with a group? God has supplied us with a pastor whose full time job is to help you get connected. Call Pastor Scott at the office, 843-762-0244 or send him an email. He will be committed to help you connect.

I love being pastor of the church family known as James Island Baptist.

Pastor Tom