Pastor Charles’ Reflection

(Guest-Dr. Jim Austin)
Dr. Jim Austin, Executive Director-Treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of South Carolina will be with us here at NewKirk in the fall. He has written the following article entitled “Experience Family.” “While lying on a gurney being rushed to emergency surgery to remove a potential assassin’s bullet, President Ronald Reagan quipped to his anxious surgeon if he was a Democrat or Republican? The startled surgeon replied, “Today Mr. President, we are all Republicans.” The alarming crises and possible loss of a sitting President galvanized the shocked and frightened nation with the fact that, in times of crisis, political partisanship is pushed aside and all Americans are part of the same family.
“In an increasing secular America, Christians need to remind themselves that, as believers in Christ, we are all a part of the same family. Too often we fail to see the many crises facing our nation and challenges facing our churches. As a result, we ignore or take our relationships for granted. Minor issues have allowed us to become conflicted in the Body of Christ. Today, the church of Jesus Christ finds itself with declining influence, declining spirituality, and a declining number adherence. Our convention is seeking ways to experience spiritual resurgence and vitality; personally, ecclesiastically and nationally. Our prayer and hope must be that positive steps will be found and we will be led to such a resurgence.
“We must come together as God’s children, we are part of God’s family. Hopefully, we will recognize afresh how we should love each other, care for one another, and pursue unity in our family of faith. Scripture teaches it and times demand it. We will never effectively reach closeness in America if we are fragmented as a family. If there ever was a time for the Body of Christ to come together in unity, focus and purpose, it is now. With the national and church crisis being such as it is, it is imperative for us to embrace a resolve like that of the President’s surgeon, today, we are all family.”
We sing in our circle of fellowship on Sunday this chorus, “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God, I’ve been washed in the fountain cleansed by His blood, Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I’m part of the family of God, the family of God.” We could add, “from the door of the orphanage to the house of the King, No longer an outcast, a new song I sing, from rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong, I’m not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong.” As we sing this chorus by Bill and Gloria Gaither, we are reminded of our salvation, our communion with Christ Jesus, and the Kingdom of God.
Robert Grant has written that “Being in the family of God through salvation and being in the family of God through church membership, may be a misconception for many. Some “belong” to church for various reasons - social, political, family connections, burial/cemetery privileges or location. Some church members call themselves Christians - yet they have not truly experienced the life changing existence of Jesus in their hearts. It is as if they are on “automatic play” when it come to church attendance, church activities! Some churches even have the reputation of being a club, or a country club - without a golf course! Ouch!
“There is a difference in being a church member and being a child of God. Accepting Him as Lord and Saviour of your life is the one most important decision a person can make in their lifetime. It is a decision YOU make. We do not have a choice of who our blood kin are - but we do have the choice to accept or reject Christ. A church must help people make the best choice first - choose Christ as Lord of your life - before they choose the membership role of the church to which they wish to “belong.” Joint heirs with Jesus - join the family; then join a church to carry out His mission.
The last I heard and observed, the fellowship here in the NewKirk family is healthy and getting stronger. For that I am grateful to God and to you for working on our relationships. As we continue to pray for our new building, the renovation of our place of worship, the installment of a baptismal pool, the officials of the Rock Hill planning/code/and fire department, our architect Ken Pflieger and construction engineer from Peta, John Hallenbeck, (Ken has done a good job in honoring the original drawings of Larry Earp; some tweaking has been done at the suggestions of the committee), let us be faithful to do so on every occasion possible. Much work has been done, and will be done in the weeks ahead, so step up now and do your part.
We need every member to do their part and no one is exempt. Some say I can’t do this and that, but friend, you can pray and prayer changes people and things. Pray without ceasing. We appreciate you and look forward to seeing you Sunday if Jesus fails to return now. In His Grip, Pastor Charles

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IT IS NOT TOO EARLY TO START DONATING From The Food Committee for our building project. As you are aware, we are responsible for feeding the 250 volunteers coming in to build our new facility for eight days and a group of 50 who will arrive early for three days. Many of you will be asked to donate your time during July 8-17 to help us prepare these meals. If you are available, please contact Linda Tanner (817-1818), Bill Gordon or Ann Gordon (329-2657), the Food Committee for this project.
The items we would like you to donate are as follows: 16 oz. Styrofoam cups, Divided Plates, Salt, Pepper, Napkins, gallon jars of Mayonnaise, gallon cans of powered Lemonade, gallon cans of Bushes baked beans, gallon cans of Peaches and Pears. Other items will be needed later. If you are unable to shop yourself, please feel free to donate money to the Food Fund.
Please let Linda Tanner know of any donations being brought so she can inventory them and keep you posted on our need list. If you have questions concerning donations, please call her at 817-1818.

Faith, Family and Freedom Celebration with Steven Curtis Chapman, Superchick and Newworldson will be held on Saturday, June 26th at 6:00 P.M. at the Z MAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Parkway, South in Concord. See Michelle Goodman or Christie Adams if interested.

The Youth Choir from Barnwell Baptist Church will present a concert here at NewKirk on Tuesday, June 8th at 7:00 P.M. Please, please do your best to be present. Young people, we hope you will be here in large numbers. The choir will be doing a “small” mission project and it would be great for our youth to join them.

Months ago, we planned to have a Church Wide Picnic on Sunday, July 4th. When we were blessed with 200 volunteers to build a Family Life Center, the Church Council changed our July 4th event to July 11th to kick off our week of construction, evangelism, sports camp and welcoming our volunteers. NOW! We will have around 200 volunteers, plus our Sunday normal crowd to feed. We need to cook enough for our family AND fifteen or twenty more. Please go overboard for this Sunday and lets have enough food for everyone. The Social/Kitchen Committee is coordinating this event and we thank them for their work.

Regular mission programs will go on hiatus for the summer. Child care will be available on 06/09 and 06/16. Beginning on Wednesday, June 23rd, our children and youth will begin a special mission project called NewKirk Build: MISSION Impossible ACHIEVEABLE. They will be making posters and flyers advertising our Sports Camp, stuffing witnessing bags for the Evangelism Team, making welcome notes for the visiting mission team from Barnwell, leading a prayer walk for the build team, for the revival of NewKirk’s mission to reach our community, and the community itself where we will be witnessing, As the title states, it is achievable if we follow God’s plan and work together.

Pastor Charles and Mrs. Linda will travel to Muskegon, Michigan to perform the wedding ceremony for our own Kallie Chauvez and Trent Cromer on June 19, 2010. They will leave Rock Hill in the evening on Sunday, June 13 and return to Rock Hill on the evening of June 22. The Rev. Charles F. Hodges will bring the morning message on June 20th.

Our Baptismal service will be held June 6, at the home of Katie Hill who lives at 4632 Channing Parkway, Rock Hill, S.C. Our four candidates are Christie Adams, Britney Inglefield, Gladys Nichols, and Ashley Williams. We will begin at 3:00 P.M.

In the event that you are no longer interested or have time to read our newsletter and would like for us to remove you from our mailing list, please call the church office (325- 2002) and leave a message to have your name moved from our mailing list. Thank you.

We will purge our Prayer List soon, so be looking at those you wish to remain on the list and let us know of your desire.

Have you noticed the drawing for our Family Life Center, the picture of the pews and carpet information on the big board in the sanctuary. You will be given the opportunity soon to vote of the color on the pews and carpet. Hang on—more information is coming as we work hard and smart on “Getting Her Done.”

The Building: Ten little Christians, standing in a line, one disliked the pastor, then there were...Nine little Christians stayed up very late, one slept too late on Sunday, then there were ...Eight little Christians, on their way to heaven, one took the low road, then there were ...Seven little Christians, chirping like some chicks, one disliked the music, then there were... Six little Christians, seemed very much alive, but one lost his interest and then there were...Five little Christians pulling for heaven’s shore, but one stopped to rest and then there were...Four little Christians each busy as a bee, one got her feelings hurt, then there were...Three little Christians knew not what to do, one joined the sporting crowd, then there were...Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done, differed with each other, then there was.. One little Christian can’t do much ‘tis true, brought his friend to Bible study-then there were...Two earnest Christians, each won one more, that doubled the number, then there... four sincere Christians, worked early and worked late, each won another then there were...Eight splendid Christians, if they doubled as before, in just a few short weeks, we’d have 1,024. In this little jingle, there is a lesson true, You either belong to THE BUILDING or the WRECKING CREW! Which are you?

Mama’s Rules for Livin’
“The man who moves mountains begins by carrying away small stones.”

“When you become a parent remember: The best way to keep children at home is to make the home pleasant and a place they feel loved—and let the air out of their tires!”

OTHER MINISTERS FOR SUNDAY, June 6, 2010
Children's Church: Tara & Hayley Potter
Infants’ Nursery— Lee Ann & Kellee Seay
Usher/Greeter Teams– Keith Trotter. Arlyn Dail, Mark Tucker. Jack Tucker
TELLER: Tuesday, June 7—Arlyn Dail


CHURCH CALENDAR
June 6—9:00-Breakfast, 9:45-S.S., 10:45-Worship, 3:00-Baptism, 5:00-Youth
June 7—7:00-Deacons Meet
June 8—Barnwell Youth Choir
June 9—6:45-Adult Bible Study, 7:30-Choir Practice