Wasn’t yesterday delightful? All those neighborhood children…a few moms and dads…Corey Hicks’ moving testimony…those children who made decisions for Christ? Thank you, God, for letting us see fruit from this summer’s labors.
Jenny, Jenny, Tilman, Jake, and Diana are making follow up visits with the children who made decisions helping them to be certain that they understand what it is they’re doing. In fact, most of the decisions that were made yesterday where really just a harvest of seed sowing that has been going on in the lives of these children through the youth workers for months now. I praise the Lord for them.
And, I praise the Lord for Grace Baptist Church! Corey told me that he was highly impressed with the warm welcome that he and his family received from our people. It’s great to serve at a church where the leadership and the older members are open to doing things out of the box sometimes. Corey also told me that a mutual friend of ours was concerned that I was going to get in trouble with the church leadership for having rap music at Grace, but I’ve yet to hear the first negative thing about it.
In fact, during our fellowship lunch, I sat down with some of our older members (you know who you are!), and they said to me that while they didn’t enjoy the rap music very much, they were very happy about how he spoke to those “boys on the front row”. “He was really speaking to them.” The hearts of these members were in exactly the right place. It was all for those children.
What a blessing church leaders and older members like that are! They knew that it wasn’t about them, but they came to church that morning with covered dish in hand knowing that the worship service probably wouldn’t be one of their favorites. They came and supported it anyway because they know that church isn’t always about receiving the blessing; it’s often about giving the blessing. That’s genuine maturity. They knew that this Sunday was about reaching the young people, and they wanted to do their part.
Thank you to all of our members who came and brought food and gave such a warm welcome to our visitors. Of course, it’s not over yet. We’ll continue to need help reaching out to our neighborhood, to follow up with these young people, to faithfully teach them on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, to be there for their moms and dads when they come to our Bible studies. Everything you do at church matters so much—the greeting at the front door, being on time to receive their children, getting to know them in small group Bible study. We were able to get them there this Sunday, but it’s the loving relationships from church members like you that are going to keep them with us.
Can we do it? Not alone, but we don’t have to do it alone. We do it together with the power of God.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
Thank you, God, for pouring Your Grace on us, and please keep it coming for the good work ahead.
11 Comments
well said!! thanks guys, for the support!!!!
I am also very grateful to God for the way he moved on Sunday. I came to recognize during the summer that our kids really needed to hear about the saving power of Christ from someone with whom they could closely identify. I am so appreciative of Corey Hicks for taking time to share his story with our kids!
It was fun even with the candle light. LOL So what time did the lights finally come back on.
@Santo, I think it was around 4ish.
I think it would be great to take the kids into Corey Hicks’ studio, record their rap and put it on you-tube.
Dennis sent me a comment via email. I received his permission to post it here:
Pastor Dale
When Cory Hicks began his rap I thought that this was going to be a very controversial moment
at Grace Baptist —then when the kids started coming up to the front —- I felt blessed to be
at Grace—those kids began getting out of their seats one by one and suddenly it seemed like God
was reaching out to them and gently guiding them in his house —I thought that this is what fights
crime and delinquency —keeps kids off the street and away from drugs and crime—and all are blessed
by this very special moment. I would like to tell the city’s leaders that when they propose another
crime summit that they should invite Pastor Charlie Dale to participate because he is doing God’s work
in that arena—controversial moment —well perhaps –special moment absolutely–blessed moment
without a doubt ——- congratulations to all your helpers for a job well done—-God’s work is being done
at Grace Baptist Church
Dennis
Praise The Lord,Thanks to the two Jenny’s,C.J.,and T.Wright,And a special thanks to Jake and Diana Bondurant,who all made Sport Camp,A success,(great work u guys,please keep up the good work,a job well done,Now let me see how I can say this,I once saw Corey Hicks in action in the House of Blues,I am so glad he has turned his liFe around.He was no joke,The rap story he told was all true,i truly thank the LORD,He can reach own young people,he has a gift,he has been there,i was very amaze to meet has family,Keep up the great work Bro Corey,Now for the big one,My Pastor Charlie Dale,i agree with you and stand beside and behind you if need be,What you is doing at Grace is GREAT,And I pray that the Lord keep you under his wings, You is a great Pastor,I love your smartness and the way handle,things,and ins a very pleasant way you put everything in place,Most of all i love the way you stands your grounds,, when it comes to the Lord,i got a little upset when i saw the email,about you may get in trouble with the church leadership,But why?? and for what??For tell the truth??We need to reach the young people any way we can,And if we have to do it, to the tune of Rap, why not,Good Christian Rap,,,When all those young kids got up,That was the power of the Lord,,His presents and love is always at GRACE,So what i say to you is Thank You for a job well done, and i saw no wrong with it,and by all means keep doing like you are doing,lol,I told all my co workers about you and Bro Corey,I only wish my little grandson was there to hear him,Maybe, we can have him back again? and my grandson can hear him,Bro Charlie our young kids is worth saving and i am all for that ,i will never give up on them,I also will leave the 99 and go look and get the one,that is lost,Bro Charlie may GOD ALWAYS BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY,AND MAY HE ALWAYS BE WITH YOU,STAY IN THE WORD,AND GIVE US THE WORD,,Thank-YOU SO MUCH.
Me again,,Joanne has a great ideal maybe we can look into it???
Wow, I’m overwhelmed, Miss Pat. Thank you so much.
I do want to clarify that the person who was concerned that I would “get in trouble” is a minister friend of mine and Corey. He’ll remain unnamed here. He’s a great brother in the Lord, but he doesn’t really know our church. He just knows that most churches our size and age would not have a Christian rapper on a Sunday morning without controversy.
Grace is a very special church. Don’t forget that Grace is one of the very few “white” churches that welcomed black people back in the 70′s. I’m just continuing the great tradition that you guys have already started.
Charlie,We at Grace Love Everyone,And Welcome All,And Help ALL,I had a bad fire at the old house where I use to live in 1984,My kids was very young and we lost everything,the kids was in school, and i was a work,GRACE was there for me,AND I made it,with the help of the Lord and GRACE,That’s when D.J. and i Became great friends,Because he saw that my family was taking care of,plus he helped to raise a lot of money for my family,i will always have great love for my family at Grace,A lot of times a new person may get the wrong ideal about how we welcome a new face,But we love a new face,lol,and i pray that they wants to be a part too,thank you so much for setting the record right for me,and thank you for keeping the tradition alive,you know i work at night and is always on the go or sleep,lol,and don’t say much,now i am talking too much,lol,I pray that the LORD always bless our church and us all,I PRAY FOR WORLD PEACE
it’s so great to read all of your words, people. thank you for the much needed encouragement!!!