Sarah Belle As She Cheers For UPWARD!

This is our baby girl in action as she cheers for UPWARD.  This morning she did a great job .  We are so proud of her as she cheers on the football players.

Paul's Amtrak Ride To The NC State Fair

Here is a picture of Paul on Friday morning on the Amtrak train.  He went with a group from our church to the NC State Fair in Raleigh.  He had a blast on his first train ride.

Sarah Belle at Preschool

Here is a picture of our baby girl, SARAH BELLE.  She is working on her preschool work along with her friend Rachel.  Together they are having a blast as they prepare for Kindergarten next year.  They attend WEE Love Academy at our church.  We are so thankful for all they are learning this year.

AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY - MEXICO

Southside Family,

I want to share with you that God has put a great and amazing opportunity before us.  We have been given the opportunity to go on a mission trip to MEXICO.  This mission trip will be an incredible opportunity for anyone that desires to go on their first mission trip.  Also, for those of you who have been on other trips with me, I would love for you to come along too.  This trip could possibly open doors for a possible partnership. 

The Details:

Dates : January 8-15, 2011
Cost  $550.00 (This is probably one of the cheapest mission trips you could ever take.  We will fly to San Antonio and then a church bus will take us to the border.  From there, we will meet with a group that will take us to the area that we will be working.)

This trip will be an evangelistic trip.  It will rock your world and change you forever. 

If you are interested, please let me know within the next 2 weeks. 

I am so excited.  It will be a great journey for our church.

Southside's own Katlyn McNeil

Last night, the Fuller's went out to the football game like we do every Friday night when there is a home game.  We love going because some of the coaches attend our church and we have developed such  a great relationship with several of the players and cheerleaders. 

I had the opportunity to lead one of the cheerleaders to receive JESUS a couple of years ago.  I also had the blessing of baptizing her in the Atlantic Ocean.  It was a special moment for all of us.

Last night, she was on the homecoming court representing the sophmore class.  We, along with many others from Southside were there to cheer her on as she made a statement that you can be a leader and also love JESUS.

Laura and I are so proud of Katlyn.  Here is a picture of her and two of our other amazing youth.  These 3 girls are awesome and their love for JESUS really shines.  Thanks to Rachel and Karley for showing support for Katlyn last night.  You girls are all amazing and Southside is so blessed to have you as shining lights for JESUS at school, and in our community.

Pastor Appreciation Lunch

Last week, a couple of amazing people in our church came up to me and asked if I had plans the following Thurday, Oct 7 for lunch.  Once I confirmed that I did not have anything scheduled yet for that day, they told me to mark my calendar and to meet them at MiMi's Cafe at 11:30.  Well, the day came our wonderful minister of music escorted me to MiMi's.  Once we arrived, I was greeted by some of the most amazing people that said, "We have come together to let you know that we love you and want to honor you today."  WOW, I was amazed and shocked.  Anyone that knows me very well knows that I don't do well with surprises and with personal attention.  I love to honor others and plan special recognitions for other people but I simply do not care to ever be recognized for anything.

So, we ate the most wonderful meal, laughed like never before, and conversed in a way that allowed me to realize the joy of true friends.  When I left and made my way back to the office, I could not help but to thank God for allowing me to have these precious souls as friends and as "family in the faith."  As much as I don't care for recognition, it seemed that this time it was different because they gave me exactly what I needed on Thursday.  The timing was God's and I recognize that He knew what he was doing as he took over and planned my calendar for that day.

I am sharing this because I want you to know how blessed I am.  I also want to express my desire to serve and recognize those who are on the front lines of making the gospel of JESUS go forward in our church and community.  I also want to share that it is important never to take for granted the people that God has put around you and the blessing they are to your life.

God spoke to this pastor's heart on Thursday.  I hope that when you are with yoru friends, he uses them to speak to yours. 

Blessings!

A Spirit Filled Night

Tonight was probably the most spirit filled Wednesday night worship service that I have ever been involved in throughout my life.  It was an emotional night but so sweet to see our people lay hands on one of our hurting members.  Our prayer time was amazing and simply powerful.

It was also amazing that we have been working verse by verse in a book of the Bible for quite a long time on Wednesday nights and that God planned it so that we would study the right verses tonight.  It just shows that God's power is amazing.  I am thankful for how God worked.  It is neat to simply be a part of how God is working in His kingdom.

God Speaks

Have you ever heard from God?  Often people talk about needing to hear from God.  When they do so, they are not talking about hearing from him audibly, but hearing from him in their heart.  Well, today was a very refreshing and amazing day in my intimate time with God. 

I heard from Him today.  It was so real that I simply stopped what I was doing, changed the rest of my schedule and went into the sanctuary at Southside to simply spend time with Jesus.  My time with Jesus was sweet because I knew that God had shown me something that I have been burdened about for quite a while.

I learned today that God's time is perfect and that our prayers are answered although in ways that we often do not expect.  Hearing from God is a marvelous opportunity for all of us.  I hope that you will take time to experience him like I did today. He will never let you down.

What a great way to start a Monday.

Operation Christmas Child 2010

Samaritan's Purse is one of the greatest and most practical mission agency's in the entire world.  As a mission outreach ministry, Samaritan's Purse has a vision to reach children all over the world for JESUS.  They have an amazing way to fulfill this vision.  Operation Christmas Child is the method they use to fulfill the vision of reaching children.

At Southside, our goal is to collect 400 boxes this year.  We will bring the boxes to the alter on November 14 and dedicate them to JESUS.  Please join me in praying about how you and your family can be used for the glory of God to reach children by giving them simple gifts.  As the children receive the gifts, the missionaries will bring them together in villages and share JESUS with them. 

Today, our family began working on our boxes.  Tonight, as I walked into the sunroom and saw some of the boxes on top of the piano, I was overwhelmed with emotion as I thought about how those simple gifts could possibly be used to reach children in certain areas of the world who could be the ones that God uses to reach their nations with the gospel in years to come.

We are also serving as a regional collection center this year for Operation Christmas Child.  Please pray about helping us collect boxes from all over central NC during the third week of November.  I know that each one who chooses to serve in this way will be blessed.

A Legacy from Southside Baptist Church to the entire Southern Baptist Convention

Many years ago, a couple in our church who were simply obeying the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 had no idea how God would use their service to the Lord in the future.  Raymond and Elsie invited the children of their new neighbors to Vacation Bible School at Southside.  After VBS, they invited the children to Sunday School.  They consistently brought the children to church and they were all saved in due time.  After that, the parents started coming and were saved as well.

Time passed on and one of those children, Frank Page surrendered to the call to serve in ministry at Southside during his teenage years.  He went to college, seminary, and has pastored numerous churches since.  In 2006, he was elected as President of the Southern Baptist Convention.  Today, October 1, 2010 he began as the new CEO and President of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.  For the past 3 months he has been in training with Dr. Morris Champman whose retirement was official yesterday.

Now that Dr. Frank Page is serving in the lead role for Southern Baptist, we can see how God works to build a legacy of faith.  God used Raymond and Elsie, who still are faithful members of Southside today, over 50 years ago to reach this young man for JESUS.  Now, that same man is traveling all over the world and has the opportunity to lead the way for salvation to come to so many.

WOW, that is such a powerful reminder of how important it is to reach out to our community.  When you get tired, discouraged or weary, just remember that your invitation for someone that is lost might just be an invitation that God uses to change the world.  Also, since we live in a day in which so many say that Vacation Bible School and Sunday School are no longer effective, this story just proves that these ministries are very effective so we should continue to make them a priority in our lives and in our churches.

Elsie told one of our members this week about this story that was posted on Baptist Press last week,

 TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Let this be a challege for you, who will we seek to bring to JESUS?