Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
What a wonderful name!I believe as Joseph and Mary pondered what the angel told them to name the baby they thought of these verses and said, there is no other name, nothing else will do, we must call Him JESUS!
It's the holiday season once again, a time for friends, family and festivities.Kelly and I were blessed to spend time with family, old friends, and make new friends this past month.We began our month by taking our mid-term exams and we both (by God's grace) done great!!I was blessed to preach at Promised Land Baptist Church in Lowell, NC on November 9 in the evening service.It was such a blessing to see a lot of old friends and see the Lord's hand at work there.I also had the opportunity to preach on November 14 at the first meeting of the "Old Fashioned Brush Arbor Fire," a campmeeting of sorts led by two graduates of VBC for those of us in the college.It was a wonderful time of prayer, praise and preaching.On November 16 we were blessed to be with the people of BibleBaptistChurch in Sweetwater, SC during their Sunday school time and in the morning worship service.Kelly sang "The Old Rugged Cross Made The Difference" and testified about the difference it made in her life.That morning I was preaching about Mephibosheth.Near the end of the message I was talking about being adopted into the family of God...how that when you are birthed into a family they just take what they get but when you are adopted you were sought out and picked out...anyway, I was standing beside the pew Kelly was sitting in and the next thing I know I was on top of the pew looking at some dear lady telling her that God chose her!!!I do not remember getting up there...but I was there! On November 25 we were privileged to minister at Story Mill Road Baptist Church in Hepzibah, GA, Kelly sang a special and God touched me to preach His Word.On the way back home after Thanksgiving break we stopped by MaranathaBaptistChurch in Dallas, NC on November 30 and I had the opportunity to preach there.My, how the Lord will use us up when we make ourselves available to Him.He's already opened several doors for us to preach in December and in 2004!We are praying about starting in a nursing home ministry in Augusta, help us pray that God will lead us where He wants us and that He will use us to minister to those in the homes.
This year as you see old acquaintances share with them the love of Christ and remember He is still the reason for the season.May God bless and use each one of you during this season.
Still Blessed,
Chris & Kelly
November 1, 2003
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time...
I'm reminded of the song, "God's Coloring Book," as I look at the beauty the He displays all around us everyday.Well, it's autumn here in the Carolinas (my favorite time of year) and I don't have to tell you this but God is showing off in His creation and in His creatures.My how the Lord continues to bless us!We're already half way thru our first semester here at Victory and it seems like we just got started.We took our mid-term exams last week.Kelly & I both feel we did pretty well, I guess we'll find out soon!?!?We had the opportunity to go to Alabama last weekend to share in the dedication service for TempleBaptistChurch in Cullman; a graduate of VBC, Malcolm Carter II, is pastoring there.Brother Jonathon McNeese and Dr. Brown preached at the dedication service.Afterward we enjoyed some pretty good BBQ and some great singing by The Rowland's.That's the first time Kelly or I have been to Alabama or out of the Eastern Time Zone!I'm so glad that God has a great big family.It may seem like we are standing all alone at times but He's still got 7,000 knees that have not bowed!!The other night after service we got to go eat with some of His children and I was blessed with this thought; if we wouldn't have followed the Lord look at all that we would be missing.Sure, we miss those back 'home' but God has so much more for us than our little basket of 5 biscuits and 2 fish sticks! (that's the NC translation!!)Well, let's remember to give Him thanks this month.He is worthy!
To God Be The Glory,
Great Things He Hath Done!
Chris & Kelly
October 6, 2003
Psalm 116:12 - What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? As the psalmist was overcome with thankfulness for God's goodness so are we. During the month of September Kelly and I celebrated our two year wedding anniversary and we began classes at Victory Baptist College. With the hectic schedule we now hold (college Mon. & Tue. from 6pm-10pm, visitation Wed. and College & Church on Thursday) we have experienced a growth in our marriage and our spiritual lives that is impossible to explain. Our classes are wonderful, we have some really anointed teachers and the Holy Spirit is welcomed during class and chapel. We've heard some great messages in chapel and the Holy Spirit has really used Bro. Burton, Bro. Busby, Bro. Newton, Dr. Hurte & Dr. Brown to speak some wonderful truths to my heart. I had the opportunity to 'speak' in Speech class last week...the Lord blessed and Dr. Hurte critiqued!!! Just Kidding, he gave me a few pointers but he also pointed out the good things too. We went with a group from the college Friday night to Elder Rd. Baptist Church Athens, GA to hear Dr. Brown preach, we had a wonderful service and a great time of fellowship on the van. Earlier in the month we went with Dr. Hurte to Crossroads Baptist Church in Hephzibah, GA and had a great time. God has been so good to us, He continues to lead us and feed us. There is no better place to be (even in SC) than in the perfect will of God!
To God Be The Glory,
Chris & Kelly
September 2, 2003
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. God has been so good to us! During the month of August we began working in the care ministry at Victory Baptist Church. We are looking forward to being a help and ministering to others. We were registered and have enrolled in classes at Victory Baptist College. We went with the some of the college students and the Vice-President of VBC to New Hope Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC where one of the graduates of VBC is pastoring. As good as the service was (5 people were saved!!!) the "fellowship" afterward at the world famous Beacon Drive-In was the icing on the cake!!! We are so excited about school starting next week. Our two year anniversary is on the first night of college so we are celebrating in Boone this weekend!!! I was blessed to "testify" at Maranatha Baptist Church in Dallas, NC on August 22 and I preached in the singles Sunday School class at Victory on the August 31. I also preached at Crossroads Baptist Church in Hephzibah, GA (about an hour from Aiken) on August 31 in the evening service. The Lord has touched me every time I have stood to proclaim His Word. He is so good! We can hardly wait to see what God is going to do for us next. Until then...
To God Be The Glory,
Chris & Kelly
p.s. August 14, 2003 is a day that will live forever in infamy.....it was so sad......Kelly and I were officially licensed to drive and became OFFICIAL residents of South Carolina:( :( :(
And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and my beard, and sat down astonied. - Ezra 9:3
And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.- Job 2:12
August 1, 2003
Praise the Lord! We are having a great time down here in sand-lapper country. Kelly and I went with several of the college students to Berean Baptist Church in Hephzibah, GA to hear Brother Dean McNeese preach on Monday and to hear John Philips and Bob Daugherty preach at New Testament Baptist just outside of Atlanta on Tuesday. We had a great time of fellowship on the van (yes we did eat)! We began singing in the choir on July 27 and we will be training for the Care Ministry on August 10. Kelly began volunteering at the church doing office work (printing labels and duplicating tapes) today. College registration begins August 10 after service and classes begin September 8 (that's our anniversary). Kelly planned a surprise birthday party for me on July 19 and we had about 30 people packed in our house after our cookout was rained out! We had a great time with all our friends from Maranatha. God has been so good to us, "the little church that I attend and all my Christian friends...God has been so good to me!" We are so excited about what God is doing and how that He can take our little and make a bunch! I'm so glad we listened to God and followed Him. There is no better place to be than in the middle of God's will.
To God be the Glory...Great things He hath done!
Chris & Kelly
June 26, 2003
We are settled in our house in the little town of Aiken, SC. Our home is quite convenient, it's only one mile to Target, the Aiken Mall, Wal-Mart (where Kelly saves me LOTS of money!) and about 5 minutes from where I work. Kelly and her mom (mother-in-love or Momma Joe Johnson) unpacked everything and decorated the house really nice. Kelly's dad (father-in-love or Daddy Joe Johnson) and I built a gate that attaches to the side of the house and the fence on the side of the yard. By building the gate we were able to have a fenced backyard for the Bear-Bear (he's our 70 lb. Aussie). The week before Memorial Day 2003 my neighbor's tree limb broke and fell on the gate at 2am! That pretty much destroyed one side of the gate. Kelly and I repaired or should I say rebuilt the gate in the pouring rain the next day!
I work for a company called Framatome that is building a facility to take weapons grade Plutonium and mix it with Uranium to be used in nuclear power plants....just before I took this position I read an article about this project that was titled "Swords into Plowshares"...the Lord is coming back soon! Kelly is still working for CyberKids, she should be getting busy soon.
We had the privilege of preaching at Maranatha Baptist in Dallas, NC on June 22, 2003. I am supposed to give my testimony in our Sunday School class on June 29 and preach on July 13. Please visit Victory's website www.victorybc.com or you can go to our class webpage www.victorybc.com/couples.htm School starts in September and we are very excited!
Check back often for new developments in our lives as we follow the Lord and do His will.
