Evangéliumi Hírnök, 1996 (88. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1996-02-01 / 2. szám
8. oldal 1996. február Palm Bay Bethesda Baptist Church Pastor: Rev. A. Barton Brown Our Bethesda Baptist Church is still spreading the word of God to all who will hear our voice here in Palm Pay, Florida. The year 1995 had been a blessing to all of our members and visitors. Our attendees come from a variety of backgrounds. They come from many parts of our country and from other countries as well. Some were bom here and some were bom in Europe or Central America. One thing however that we all have in common is that we love the Lord and continue to serve Him faithfully daily. Unfortunately, visits by our Convention people are becoming less frequent than heretofore. We have however had some visitors from our member churches. For this we are grateful and we try hard to indicate our joy by giving them a typical Hungarian Baptist welcome. It is our hope that you all will free to visit our church and Home whenever you visit in Florida. We had a blessed holiday season. We felt Gods presents as we celebrated the birth of our Lord together with the residents of the Bethesda Home. We spent Christmas eve around the word of God with our ageing residents. It was a joy to see the smiles on their faces. Im sure it must have reminded them of times of days gone by when they were surrounded by loving family members. We were one large family unit and enjoyed the evening together. On New Years eve, we once again gathered to thank God for being with us throughout another year and for giving us a new year in which to sing His praises. It was good to hear the prayers of Thanksgiving for the joys of the past year and to ask God for strength and faithfulness for the year to come. Our pastor, The Rev. Barton Brown, hand made small hearts inscribed with a verse of scripture which he presented to each member and visitor. We thank God for a loving and concerned pastor who loves our people and spends much time in prayer with and for us. Our Hungarian members are becoming fewer and fewer. Add to this the fact that our people are getting older and older, we at times become tired and discouraged. We still feel however that we still bring the word of God to all who attend our services. M ay God continue to grant us the strength and courage to be a witness for Him in our church and community for so long as He keeps us here in our earthly home. Please continue to pray for us. May God bless you all. EJK BEING LIKE JESUS Matthen’ 9:32-38 The late R.G. Lee was asked. “What do Southern Baptists need more than anything else?” His instant reply was, “More than anything else Southern Bap - tists need to be like Jesus.” I think most of us would agree. To be like Jesus we need to understand how He felt and acted and what He said and did. Matthew 9:32-38 gives us a portrait of Jesus. 1. WHAT JESUS SAW (V. 36) “When He saw the multitudes...” Everywhere Jesus went, great multitudes followed Him. He saw them not as a hindrance, but as an opportunity for witness and ministry. He saw their needs. America is filled with people in need — the homeless, jobless, helpless, and hopeless. He saw their lost condition. He saw them as “sheep having no shepherd.” He knew they were without God and without hope in this world or eternity. He saw their potential. He saw every one of them as a precious soul with unlimited potential. According to the Home Mission Board Research Division, there are 172 million lost people in America today and that number is growing by almost 2 million each year! 2. WHAT JESUS FELT (V. 36) “he Was moved with compassion.” “Moved with compassion” means He literally became sick inside. Jesus was heartsick, burdened, and brokenhearted over His lost city and nation. Oh, how desperately we need brokenhearted people who will weep over their lost neigh - bors, friends, and families. How desperately we need people who wil 1 weep over their cities and communities. 3. WHAT JESUS SAID (Vv. 37-38) “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.” Notice that Jesus said three things: * “The harvest is plenteous.” Many tend to believe the problem is in the harvest. They believe that people are gospelhardened, indifferent, and unreceptive. Just the opposite is true. People are hungry for the gospel and will respond favorably if it is presented to them in the power of God’s Spirit. * “The laborers are few.” The problem is not in the harvest, but with the laborers. Southern Baptists have many churches and many members, but they have few laborers who will go out into the harvest sharing their faith boldly and bringing people to a saving knowledge of Christ. * “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers.” Jesus did not say this to complain about the lack of workers or to berate the people because they were not working faithfully. He commanded that we pray for them just as fervently as we pray for church members and for the lost. We must pray for soul-winners and faithful witnesses who will “take sickle in hand” and go out into the harvest to reap. 4. WHAT JESUS DID (Matth 10:5) “These twelve Jesus sent forth.” Jesus answered their prayers. However, the ones He commanded to pray for laborers became workers themselves. These are the ones Jesus sent forth house to house, home to home, sharing the good news and winning souls. Conclusion: As we pray for laborers, let us respond to Isaiah 6:8, “Here am I; send me. ” Larry L. Lewis, President, HMB, SBC Celebrate Baptist World Alliance Day! rt&JPiíh • rs é ' lea i| ‘f n aammm¥ A ^ORID ^ (Excerpt from the letter of the Gen - eral Secretary, Denton Lotz:) “Thefirst Sunday in February is Bap - tist World Alliance Day. On this day millions of Baptist believers around the world remember in prayer their brothers and sisters in the 187 Baptist conventions and unions that make up the BWA. The Baptist World Alliance is the world fellowship of Baptists worshiping in more than 200 countries around the world. In 160,000 local Baptist churches believers gather from Albania to Zimbabwe to praise God and announce the Good News of salvation in Christ! There are 40 million baptized believers in our world fellowship. If we were to count children and friends, missiologists indicate that the worldwide Baptist community would number more than 100 million! You are a part of this Baptist family! The BWA helps you maintain contact with the global family of Baptists, em - phasizing four areas of mission: evangelism, aid, human rights and fellowship.
