“He….encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” 11:23

“Congregations will gather around a pulpit from which living water is flowing!” –E. Stanley Jones

“Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5
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Now, just because I quoted E. Stanley Jones, don’t go around saying that he is my favorite role model in ministry. I certainly do respect him for laboring 66 years as a missionary evangelist to the upper castes of India, but I do have a problem with much of his theology. But when he said that “congregations will gather around a pulpit from which living water is flowing,” I just had to say, “Amen!”

From Where I Stand
Maynard H. Belt
MARBC State Representative

Tested By Fire!

“We Shouldn’t retreat or lose heart when unexpected things happen to us. Instead, we should submit to the One Who knows best and Who will test our hearts by fire as long as He likes.” –Chrysostom
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It seems as though, over the past several months, I have noticed that there is so much suffering going on, not only in our world, our nation and our community, but also among our friends and our peers in ministry – so many who are being tested by fire. It could be enough to make one depressed if not for the fact, that sufferings can draw us closer to God and that the examination of Scripture reminds us that sufferings are what help mold us into the image of His lovely Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Puritan Joseph Church said that, “Sufferings are but as little chips of the cross.” Our sufferings can never be compared to the One who suffered ALL for us. Sometimes I just sit back and think, “What next, Lord?” But then the blessed Holy Spirit brings to mind, just as Scripture says that He would (John 14:26), that sufferings are just temporal (2 Cor. 4:17); that during such times we should pray (James 5:13); that part of genuine discipleship is suffering (Matt. 16:24, Phil. 1:29); that in the fire we should glorify Him (Isa. 24:15); and most encouraging of all, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18).

From Where I Stand
Maynard H. Belt
MARBC State Representative

Exposing The Myths Of The Church #7

It’s Not Important To Be Part Of a Fellowship Of Churches – We Can Go It Alone!

John Donne, a minister and poet, once wrote: “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” King Solomon said in Proverbs 18:1: “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire.” One thing for sure, as pastors and local independent Baptist Churches, we do not stand alone in the work of the ministry and we are just a piece of the larger work, just a part of the main!