Praise Reports

I just received word a little while ago from the families of Veness Diden and Rhonda Turner. Sister Veness had her surgery this morning in Knoxville and she came through it quite well. She had a tumor behind her right eye about the size of a golf ball. The doctors were able to get it all, and it was benign.

Rhonda had her surgery in California. She had an aneurysm in the brain. I am told the surgery was successful and Rhonda is doing great.

We give praise to the Lord for watching over each of these ladies today. Please continue to remember them in prayer that they will have a full and speedy recovery!

Prayer Requests

Today both Veness Diden (from Sunbright) and Rhonda Turner (my cousin) will be having surgery. Please join me in prayer for both of these ladies.

Christian Unity

Here is an interesting quote I found on Christian unity.

Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become "unity" conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. --A.W. Tozer

Why Another Church?

I am often asked, "Why would you want to start another church in Crossville?" In some ways, I suppose this is a legitimate question, although I do sometimes tire of hearing it. Nevertheless, I would like to answer the question here.

First of all, starting a new church is biblical! Paul said, “My one ambition is to proclaim the gospel where the name of Christ is not known, lest I build on someone else's foundation” (Romans 15:20). The New Testament church was very aggressive in planting churches.

Second, starting a new church gives people options! Usually, churches are afraid of competition from a new church that is planted across town. It is possible, however, for two churches to complement one another rather than to be in competition. People are not all the same, and some aspects (style of worship, average age of congregation, etc.) of one church may not appeal to everyone.

Third, starting a new church may be more effective in reaching the lost. Numerous studies have shown that 60-8- percent of the new adult members of new congregations are people who were not actively involved in the life of any worshiping congregation immediately prior to joining a new mission.