Our speaker this morning is Rodney Shaw, our associate pastor. Tonight our speaker is Seth Simmons, our youth pastor. I am confident that you will be blessed by both of their ministries.
I am ministering at the annual camp meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, today. My wife and I will return to Austin tonight.
July is a busy month of travel for me, but I will be in town through the month of August. Typically, my plan is to miss only 10 percent of Sundays throughout the year, reserving these times for annual family vacation, General Conference, and several foreign ministry trips. My next time to be gone on Sunday is in October.
This week we mailed quarterly contribution forms covering the first half of 2009. These forms are confidential, prepared by our treasurer, Regena Dumas, and reviewed by me. If you find any discrepancies with your records, please contact Sister Dumas.
When I review these forms, I am thankful to see so many faithful contributors, including people with limited budgets. Giving of tithes and offerings to support the work of the church is a scriptural command. (See Malachi 3:8-10; I Corinthians 9; 16:1-2; II Corinthians 8-9.) Nevertheless, we don’t want anyone to feel pressured to give, but we want people to give cheerfully from their hearts as God blesses and guides them.
If you are a member of our church, of course we desire and need your support. If you have a position of leadership or ministry, then you have made a commitment in this regard. If circumstances make it impossible to fulfill your commitment for an extended time, let me know, and we will pray together for God to supply the need. I don’t want your commitment to be a burden but an opportunity and a blessing.
Next Sunday night we will have a ministry team from Christian Life College in Stockton, California. It will be led by Jarrid Younkin, an instructor there who was formerly a member of our congregation.
