Pastor Shawn Thornton's Blog

2008-07-27T07:06:00.000-04:00

During today’s sermon, I mentioned two books you ought to read or at least peruse in the coming days. One was written in the 16th century and is a Christian Classic: Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. The other is a modern daily devotional telling the stories of those who have given their lives for Jesus Christ throughout the centuries: Extreme Devotion – The Voice of the Martyrs.

Both can be ordered at a local Christian bookstore or online. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs is available in it’s entirety online or as a PDF download at Google Books. The classic by Foxe is easily accessible through the web, but Extreme Devotion is easy to read, incorporates Scriptural passages for the day, and includes stories from modern times.

When circumstances overwhelm your life, when you feel wronged, or maybe even persecuted to one or extreme or the other – remember those who actually were killed for their unwillingness to recant their faith in Jesus.

Few, if any of us, will give our lives for the Lord, but all of us will sense the pressure and maybe the persecution living as a follower of Christ includes until we are with Him.

Use one of these resources over the next couple of weeks. Read the stories. Feel what the martyrs felt. Sense the love and devotion they had for Christ. Recalibrate your perspective on your suffering to the suffering they experienced. Maybe what you are experiencing today will be more tolerable for Jesus when you realize the extreme some followers have experienced.

Our Newest Missionaries

2008-07-02T09:16:00.001-04:00

With the vote of the congregation last Sunday night We begin a new partnership with Joshua, Kristen, and Cassia Gee. Our newly expanded budget will provide $500.00 per month to support them as they send the gospel into Europe and much of the Muslim world from a base in Great Britain. Joshua is the grandson of Peggy Gee who has been part of our church family for many years. We also supported Peggy and her husband, Fred, as they served as missionaries with Child Evangelism Fellowship. The Gees join 53 other missionary families, and 6 organizations that comprise our global missionary family. Each month we contribute $30,270 to these missionaries through your giving. As the Gees begin a new chapter in their service for the Lord, let's praise our God for the opportunity to serve with them through our prayers and gifts.

Grace! (well sort of)

2008-06-23T09:30:00.002-04:00

Upgrade - A Must-Read Real Life Story!

2008-06-12T12:26:00.006-04:00

Below is an email we received from someone new to Bible Center in the last few months:

"After being in another church setting for years and being betrayed by the leadership hierarchy*, I withdrew my membership and got out of the boat so to speak. I began looking for a church that would spiritually fed me and would help me stay connected to Christ rather than being in a place of being preached at, told what was wrong with our congregation and getting no teaching or coaching on how to be Christ like in our everyday life.

I was drowning.

Since finding the Bible Center I have never been so spiritually fed, I feel like a new person, I am learning from the messages and tools I am receiving. I feel reborn! I use every opportunity to share the experiences I am having at Bible Center. My faith, life, attitude, energy level, health, finances, relationships are changing from the messages I am receiving.

The Lord is truly helping me find my next steps. The teachings I am receiving are invaluable to me. What an encouragement and help Bible Center has been for me in helping me on this journey. My up grade has begun. Thank God for the Bible Center and its teachings and resources."

*the portion in italics was adjusted slightly from the original email only to keep identities involved anonymous

Going Green!

2008-06-10T23:00:00.004-04:00

Sunday, I mentioned how the landscape around the new Southridge Campus was a bit brown when we moved. Well, now things are much greener. As the grass, trees, and plants have come in, the campus looks alive and vibrant.

The ridge lines of the beautiful West Virginia hills stand in stark contrast to the deep blue sky above. The campus is alive!

Add to this the hundreds of cars coming and going from the parking lots and a sense of fresh excitement and energy emerges. Then, consider the people - people of all ages enthusiastically entering the gathering space ready to celebrate, grow, and serve. A fresh wind of God's Spirit is gently moving among us. If green symbolizes life, then the ministry of Bible Center is going green!

Google Maps and the Bible

2008-06-09T23:25:00.004-04:00

The internet has delivered some fabulous resources for studying the Bible. BibleMap.org is a great tool to see the location of biblical events. Simply type in a book and chapter of the Bible and all of the places listed in the text show up in a Google Map based window. You can move around, zoom in and out, and change display settings.

Descriptions of the locations pop up as you click in the biblical text or on the map icons. This is a valuable tool in understanding the geography of passages within the Scripture.

Anything we can do to grasp the real life settings of people, events, and places within God's Word will help us discover what it means and how to apply it to our lives. Give it a try. Go to www.BibleMap.org and enter in the book of 1 Samuel and chapter 17. This context tells the story of David and Goliath. Move your way around the site. Enjoy!

We Are One

2008-06-09T07:25:00.004-04:00

While attending a start up church on a Sunday afternoon in an old Soviet school building in rural Hungary, I was moved by what was being sung. The small congregation of about 30 sang a tune Lesli and I immediately recognized.

The words being sung in Hungarian were unintelligible to us, but we knew the familiar chorus: “We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord….” What a blessing to be with believers in another nation and instantly know the bond we share in the Lord!

Somehow the reality of the chorus seemed more significant to me in that setting. But, no less remarkable is the fact that a couple thousand believers who have no other connection other than Jesus gather each week at Bible Center in Charleston, West Virginia. Because of Jesus, we are one!

The Lyrics:
We are one in the Spirit
We are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit
We are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity
May one day be restored

And they’ll know we are Christians
By our love, By our love
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians
By our love

We will walk with each other
We will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other

School's Out, School's Out!!

2008-06-07T13:49:00.000-04:00

Yep, it's officially summer for kids!

My kids were so hyper yesterday - the last day!

When I was a boy, it seemed that summer lasted forever. It was its own lifetime. Every day was a new adventure. Time stood still - at least until late August when you started getting that sinking feeling that school was just around the corner.

As an adult, or at least someone who is suppose to act like an adult, summer just flies by. Lesli and I reviewed and compared our calendars a few weeks ago. When we were done, we both felt as if summer was over. It will go so quickly!

But, we should seize the day and enjoy the backyard barbecues, picnics, pool parties, fireworks, vacations, and evenings on the deck. We should also harness the season as an opportunity to share Jesus with others around us. When school is out and the long summer evenings come, we naturally gear down a bit. It is also the time for leisure contact with family, friends and others. We get new windows through which to share and show the love of God with others.

Let's leverage the summer for a time of relaxation and renewal, but also for communicating the Gospel with others.

If You Need a Good Boost!

2008-06-06T15:27:00.006-04:00

In a clip available on Youtube, Christian author and speaker Louie Giglio lifts the believer's eyes to the great God and His ability to give us a boost anytime, anywhere.

If you have eight minutes, it is worth the time. Maybe you should bookmark it in your browser so you can go back to the clip when you need to be reminded of the incredible truth Giglio describes so well.

We all need a good boost from time to time and God is there to give it.

To see the clip, CLICK HERE or on Louie Giglio's picture.

Update on the Upgrade!

2008-06-03T00:10:00.007-04:00

At the conclusion, of the sermon Sunday, each person was given the opportunity to indicate whether God had worked in a specific way in his or her life. The database upgrade card had a section for a personal upgrade response based upon the morning message.

The Upgrade Cards were sorted today. Wow! God is working in our church family!

Seven people indicated that Sunday morning they prayed to receive Jesus as their personal savior as they crossed the line of faith. We are working hard as a pastoral team to get to each of these and make sure they understand the decision they made and point them to the clarity of the promise of God's saving grace.

Over 400 people indicated that they were asking God to take them outside their comfort zone in a specific way. An email will go to these folks to encourage them along in their willingness to follow God's voice.

Pray that God will work His plan and purpose in each of these lives.

Revved Up and Ready!

2008-06-02T10:28:00.006-04:00

"There comes a moment when you have to stop revving up the car and shove it into gear.”
- David Mahoney

Many of us as Christians make a lot of noise about living all out for Jesus. We make bold decisions. We talk the talk. We get all revved up and fail to get into gear.

I don't want to be a loud engine that does nothing. I want to use all the horsepower to get and gear and go forward for God!

How about you?!

By the way, this is a picture of my dream car (this is a 1964 model - I would like a 66).

Our Spiritual Comfort Zone

2008-06-01T00:01:00.000-04:00

Below is an excerpt from John Ortberg's book "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat." Taken from pages 83-84.

Most of us have an area that might be called our "spiritual comfort zone," which is the area where we feel most comfortable trusting God. When God calls us to go beyond our spiritual comfort zone, we begin to feel nervous or uncomfortable. We would prefer not to go outside the zone until we feel better about it.

For example, we might be comfortable talking about God with church friends, but nervous about explaining our faith to someone who does not believe. We might be comfortable in our current job, but anxious about the possibility that God wants to do some vocational realignment. We might feel enough faith to pray for people we are in relationship with, but actually confronting someone who has been behaving badly toward us would make us cringe. We might discuss past problems smoothly enough, but the idea of honestly naming our current struggles to a trusted friend would send us running.

There is only one way to increase your spiritual comfort zone, and acquiring more information alone will not do it. You will have to follow the Path of God, which requires taking a leap of faith.

You need to get out of the boat a little every day. Begin the day by asking God for wisdom about where you need to get your feet wet that day.

Call someone whom you have been avoiding out of fear. Express your faith to a person who does not know about your beliefs. Make a gesture of friendship toward someone when you are tempted to hold back. Risk speaking the truth to a spouse, parent, or friend when your normal course would be to hesitate.

It does not matter whether all these steps turn out the way you hoped. Of course, things will end in failure sometimes, but you are giving your faith a chance to grow.

You have to get out of the boat a little every day. As you do, your faith will deepen and your spiritual comfort zone will widen.

Where is God calling you to walk on the water?

Where we stand

2008-04-28T07:48:00.002-04:00

Last week I shared a report to the congregation about our current financial situation (video below) please pray that God will enable us to meet the challange his blessing of growth has produced.

The Wise Foundation

2008-03-30T06:51:00.001-04:00

As I mentioned in today's sermon, here are the lyrics to the Sunday School song about having the right foundation. Click the link at the bottom of the lyrics to listen to a midi music file of the song.

The wise man built his house upon the rock

The wise man built his house upon the rock,
The wise man built his house upon the rock,
The wise man built his house upon the rock,
And the rains came tumbling down!

The rains came down and the floods came up,
The rains came down and the floods came up,
The rains came down and the floods came up,
And the house on the rock stood firm.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand,
The foolish man built his house upon the sand,
The foolish man built his house upon the sand,
And the rains came tumbling down!

The rains came down and the floods came up,
The rains came down and the floods came up,
The rains came down and the floods came up,
And the house on the sand went SPLAT!

So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ,
So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ,
Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
and the Blessings will come down.

The blessings will come down as your prayers go up,
The blessings will come down as your prayers go up,
The blessings will come down as your prayers go up,
So build your house on the Lord!

the-wiseman-built-his-house.mid

To Our Neighbors and The Nations

2008-03-26T19:10:00.001-04:00

The new Southridge Campus has given us wonderful new tools to reach out to the Greater Kanawha Valley with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We pray that God will use His people to share the hope of Christ with our neighbors throughout the area. As we invite folks to join us for worship services, Bible studies, and community events, we want God to use us to reach our neighbors.

This expansion in ministry will also enhance our position to reach the nations for Christ. Over the last several years, we have increased our giving to world missions to nearly half a million dollars. Some would suggest reaching your neighbors and the nations cannot be done at the same time.

Jesus told us to do both. We are commanded by our Savior in Acts 1:8 to start with our own Jerusalem of Charleston and then focus on the nations which spread to the ends of the earth. Bible Center is committed to reaching its neighbors and the nations with the Good News of the Risen Savior!

Behind the Scenes

2008-03-25T23:58:00.003-04:00

Much work has been done by our staff to get everything ready for the new building. Pastors, administrators, office staff, custodians and volunteers have worked tirelessly to get it all done. Thank you to all!!

One of the advances in the building has to do with technology. The audio, video, and lighting system will keep us on the forefront of using modern tools to communicate the ancient message of hope found in Jesus.

Please be patient as our network administrator, service production coordinator, sound, lighting and video staff work to get all the wrinkles out. Our architects, consultants, and installers all told us that we had one of, if not, the most error-free first Sundays they had seen. We had a list of dozens of things to work on after the first and second Sundays in the building, but they did commend us for our efforts.

We want the technology to compliment and communicate the message. We do not want the methodology to distract from the message.

I am so thankful to all who work behind the scenes to get everything working efficiently so we can communicate the Truth of God's Word effectively in this generation!

Nearly 2,800! Twice!

2008-03-24T11:40:00.001-04:00

On Easter Sunday 2008, just 14 people fewer than the week before attended Bible Center's morning services. Both weeks were right around 2,800 in attendance. These are unique weeks. It is hard to make a lot of judgments about attendance trends.

As a matter of fact, this next Sunday, March 30th, does not help much either. Two Sundays ago was a first Sunday in the new building. We had friends and family members of the Bible Center congregation join us who do not even live in Charleston. We had folks who came just to see our new building and will return to their local church. Easter is always our largest Sunday in terms of attendance. It is no wonder that each of these weeks fell just shy of 2,800 people.

This next Sunday will throw any evaluation of attendance trends as well. Just as Easter Sunday is the largest crowd of the year, the following Sunday is always the lowest attended Sunday. The timing of Spring Break and everybody going to church for Easter causes the Sunday after Easter to be the weakest Sunday in terms of attendance. Last year we had about 2,200 on Easter and not quite 1600 the following Sunday. This is normal for us and for most churches. But, it further complicates our attempts to see attendance patterns emerging.

So what do numbers mean anyway? First and foremost, they represent lives of real people. Numbers help with future planning, but that is secondary to people themselves. Numbers are people with whom we have the opportunity to share the Gospel and show the love of Jesus. Thank God for that opportunity over the last few weeks!

Kids!

2008-03-23T17:12:00.000-04:00

Well after two weeks in the new building, kids seem very excited. They love the new children's area - designed and themed just for them. Having these two big Sundays (move in day and Easter) back to back caused some slow down in checking kids in to the Children's ministry, but the kids love it.

As pastor and as a parent, I am thrilled that children want to come to church. They look forward to the fun, the singing, the puppets, and the lesson. Seeing kids excited about the Bible and learning more about Jesus should bring fresh hope to all adults in a world where kids are bombarded with images and sounds that are far too often less than God honoring.

My prayer has been that the youngest of our congregation have a safe, clean, warm, caring, fun environment to learn about Jesus and grow in Him. Praise the Lord! He has provided!

What About Tomorrow?

2008-03-22T16:10:00.001-04:00

Today I stopped by a funeral home to express my sympathies to one of our church members whose father stepped into eternity this week. After that, I stopped by the hospital to visit some hurting people, made a stop at a gas station, and ran in to Kroger for a few things. Each place I went, Bible Center folks asked me "So, what about tomorrow? How big do you think it will be - it is Easter?"

While tomorrow is Easter Sunday (normally our biggest Sunday of the year), my guess is that it won't be quite as big as last week. We had many out of town guests last week. Family members joined our church family for this special day. So, while tomorrow will probably be well attended, I doubt it will be as large as last Sunday.

We will however have a great opportunity to share the wonderful news of the resurrected Savior with many guests. We will also be able as God's children to be refocussed in the hope that is ours in the Risen Christ!

What about tomorrow? Undoubtedly, it will be a great day in Jesus!!

Great Coverage!

2008-03-22T00:16:00.000-04:00

The media coverage regarding the opening of our Southridge Campus has been great. Folks from the local news organizations have been gracious, thoughtful, and professional. Both newspapers in Charleston did a good job of capturing differing perspectives on the new building and our ministry. The television stations each captured a slightly different angle than the others. Even news on the local talk radio station gave a quick, but clear snapshot of what God is doing at Bible Center.

What a joy to share the goodness of our God! It was humbling to talk about the journey that has brought us to this point. Generally just sharing the story generated more questions. More questions gave more opportunities to talk about Jesus!

One station even came right at the time I was taking one of our Charter Members around the building. When they heard that Alice Hill was about ten years of age when Bible Center started, they took the micorphone from me and put it on Alice. They wanted her reactions as I took her on a tour of the building. At several points, Alice simply cried and/or said "Well, Praise the Lord!" They loved her and she did a great job of honoring our God.

Praise the Lord for good coverage!

Click here to view some of the media coverage (look at the bottom of the page to which you will be directed).

Powerful Words

2008-03-20T19:12:00.000-04:00

This week I have received many notes, letters, and emails from other pastors and congregations from our area and around the world. Many of our missionaries have emailed words of encouragement and congratulations.

I have been reminded that words are a powerful thing. Each communication has been a blessing.

Perhaps the greatest words shared were "your passion for getting the Gospel out is a blessing to us." Two reasons these words jumped out at me: 1) getting the Gospel out is our passion and 2) being a blessing to other churches, pastors, and to missionaries is one of our highest priorities.

I am grateful that others have captured the heart of our passion and are blessed by our priority to encourage them!

What I Never Saw

2008-03-19T15:35:00.000-04:00

Generally on Sundays I see little of what happens during the worship services. My perspective is from the platform. It is not always the accurate or complete perspective.

Things are happening all over the building. Stuff goes on in the parking areas, classrooms, and nurseries that I may not know about for a day or two.

Our first Sunday in the building was not exception. I never made it past the Worship Center, the Gathering Space, or my Study.

My snapshot was fairly limited. Others tried to put into words what the congregation looked like from the broader perspective.

This photo captures the opportunity we have as a congregation to touch many lives with the Good News of Jesus Christ and the power of His Word!

"The State Police Had to Come!"

2008-03-19T00:22:00.000-04:00

Since Sunday, I have hear from a number of people that the traffic became such a problem for our first Sunday at Southridge that the State Police had to show up to deal with it. Actually, this is both true and untrue.

The Deacon Board approved the pursuit of a contract with the State Police to help us monitor the traffic flow on the Corridor. They are helping to ensure both the safety of those coming and going to church at Bible Center as well as the safety of those simply traveling on the corridor.

They showed up at the exact time we had prearranged. They did provide a great deal of assistance and we plan to use their services for an extended period. We pay the Police for their traffic control for the morning services - so they were there, but they did not show up because of a "problem."

You're Torturing Me Here!

2008-03-17T17:56:00.000-04:00

Today a person who is a part of the Bible Center family brought his sister, his niece and his niece's three boys to the Southridge Campus. He was excited to show them our new building.

While his sister and niece loved the Gathering Space, Third Level, and Worship Center, the boys (ages 11, 6, and 2) loved the Children's level. They wanted to touch, use, and explore everything they saw. With respect for the rooms, the equipment, and the toys, their great-uncle simply held their hands and told them they could come back some Sunday and enjoy it all. He did a great job of balancing their interest to experience it all and demonstrating proper respect for their being in the facility without children's ministry staff.

The six-year-old looked up and said: "You're torturing me here, uncle - torturing me!" It was cute. The eleven-year-old shouted several times: "I want to go to church here!"

Wow! As kids enjoy the experience of this wonderful space, they will hear about the Savior Who loves them and the Word of God which can guide them throughout life. Let's pray for Pastor Thompson (pictured here) and all who serve with him in the Children's Ministry!

To God Be The Glory!

2008-03-16T22:11:00.000-04:00

We had 24 hours of prayer with 7-10 people per hour in the last 24 hours leading up to the first service on our new Southridge Campus. Wow! Did God answer!

We had 2800 people in two morning services (mind you we averaged about 1850-1950 in three services lately). The contemporary service had about 1300 people and the traditional about 1500 people in attendance.

Between the two services we ministered to over 500 children from birth to twelve years of age on our new children's level.

Compared to our Oakhurst Campus, we more than doubled our parking from 310 spaces to 675 and during our second service we had over 750 cars on our property (see the aerial photo taken at 11:15 a.m. – note the number of cars up on the upper road/down by the 911 building in the top left of center).

About 800 people attended the 2:30 p.m. dedication service. That service included comments from Senator Jay Rockefellor, Congresswoman Shelly Moore Capito and Charleston Mayor Danny Jones. What a great service!!

While we know there were a lot of people just looking at the new digs, we also know we have been given the privilege to touch many lives for Jesus! I am humbled by what God is doing!

Beyond this, I have received over 130 emails since the services - very encouraging. About two dozen of these relate mini revivals going on in lives--everything from folks finding hope when they thought there was no hope left anywhere to hurting marriages finding fresh healing. Our staff members have heard from many others.

The move is giving a fresh opportunity for folks to restart their spiritual journey. For some, it was the first time to hear the clear Gospel of Christ!

God is at work among our people! He is at work in me!

To God Be the Glory!!

What a Wife! Part 2!

2008-03-16T02:30:00.000-04:00

For about two weeks, I have been planning a small gathering of folks for a dinner. It was to be the night before the big dedication Sunday - tonight. Around 40 guests were invited. These included project partners, ministry partners, out of town guests in for the dedication, former Bible Center pastors, a few of our pastors and all of the spouses of the guest list. It was paid for by some kind friends. Everything was set, ready to go!

Today around 2:00 in the afternoon, Lesli called me. She had been out with our daughters at the Awana Games in Teays Valley. She called to see what I was up to and to tell me what was next for her afternoon. Just as we were ending the conversation, I mentioned that we had to be to the dinner by 6:30.

She simply responded by saying: "What dinner?" Oops! I had invited by phone and confirmed by email each and every guest. Some had received three or four communications about it.

But, I forgot to invite my own wife!! In my head I had invited her a hundred times! (Part of me still thinks I did say it out loud at least once - I hope she isn't reading this!)

She was unable to go since she had made plans to care for other kids throughout the evening (friends of our kids who were over). She has forgiven me. She didn't even change the locks.

Was she disappointed? Yes! But, again, she proved to be the best wife any guy (let alone a pastor) could ever want or have! She has a way of letting me know I blew it without holding it against me. Lesli is incredible!

Boy did she get the bad end of this deal! What a wife!!!

Names in the Cross

2008-03-15T01:20:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday, folks in our congregation filled out slips of paper on which they listed the names of those they are praying will come to Jesus as Savior through our witness as a church family. Those names were stuffed today by our Pastor of Outreach, Matt Friend, into the cross in the main gathering space of the Southridge Campus.

Every time we walk into the front doors, we will see the cross. Inside the cross are the names on the slips of paper - thousands of names. We are committed to praying that God will use us to get the Good News out to the lost. We want to tell others that Jesus died on the cross of calvary, was buried, and rose from the grave to give them a right relationship with God.

We are passionate that these and many others will come to know the Savior! When you see the cross, pray to this end!

What a Wife!

2008-03-14T02:14:00.000-04:00

Rarely, if ever, do I mention to the congregation what a blessing my wife, Lesli, is to me. She has to put up with extensive work hours, emergency calls, and a husband who isn't always as engaged with the family schedule as he should be.

It is hard for me to imagine how any woman could be more perfect for me and for the ministry God has called me to than Lesli is. She is the perfect life companion. She is my love, my friend, and my partner in parenting.

The picture above is of us standing next to the pulpit in the Southridge Worship Center. It was taken during the Open House last Sunday afternoon. Doesn't she have a great smile?!!!

Upon my arrival at Bible College, I was looking for a lady whom I could date that would be interested in being a pastor's wife. Before we even started dating, I asked Lesli: "Have you ever thought of being a pastor's wife?" Fortunately, she was open to the idea. Few lines from men looking for Mrs. Right get anywhere near that one! But, hey, it worked!

I thank God for Lesli. She is the greatest wife and the best mom! Like all of our staff spouses, she has dealt with a lot while we have been going through this building process.

Thank you Lesli!

Thank you Lord for bringing Lesli and me together!

The Mayor and Other Leaders

2008-03-13T00:54:00.001-04:00

Monday afternoon I had the privilege of giving a tour of our new facility at Southridge to Charleston Mayor Danny Jones and other city officials. They expressed their gratitude for Bible Center's part in the Charleston community. The Mayor was very kind with his comments and words of encouragement.

Tuesday evening we hosted an Open House for Business and Community Leaders. A variety of pastors, elected officials, and business representatives attended the event. Margie Cooper (a violinist with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra who is also the wife of Maestro Grant Cooper) and Ian Jesse (violinist with the symphony as well) played beautiful music that filled the Gathering Space. It was a great time to gather folks from the community and give them an opportunity to see what God has done in and through Bible Center Church.

The most common word overheard at the Open House was simply "awesome." I thank God that we have the opportunity to represent Jesus well in the Kanawha Valley. May the incredible tool of our new facility aid us in pointing folks to the Savior and encourage them to grow in Him!

What a great blessing to share with and show to others what God has done!!!

Find Us Faithful

2008-03-12T01:48:00.000-04:00

On this last Sunday, our last day for service at the Oakhurst Campus, we concluded the service with a video challenging us to remember the faithfulness of previous generations at Bible Center and the importance that we be found faithful. In April, we will have Christian recording artist Steve Green with us for a special concert. His song "Find Us Faithful" was the music behind the video urging us to be found faithful by the generations to follow us.

Many have requested that we post that video. So here it is.

The concept for the song and for the video from Sunday came from Hebrews 12:1-2:

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

"Better Than My Binky"

2008-03-10T23:31:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's Open House on the Southridge Campus was a great success. We had over 3,000 people come through to see the new tools for worship and ministry God has provided for us. God even took the day before to paint the landscape white with snow. The views from the windows were amazing! The Charleston Gazette covered our special day in its main story on the front page of this morning's paper. The headline read: "Bible Center Church debuts new facilities."

Today, as we were discussing the Open House among the staff, several mentioned that they heard a number of kids say how they could not wait until next Sunday. The kids loved the children's ministry floor and all the activities available down there. Some parents struggled to get their kids to leave!

As a matter of fact, one mom shared with a staff member that her son was so excited about what he saw he made a startling declaration: "This is better than my binky!" His "binky" is his special blanket. This child had gotten so wrapped up in the wonder of the children's space that he rated it above his cherished "binky."

God has provided our church an incredible facility to reach young families for Christ. As kids eagerly come to church each Sunday, they will have fun, hear the Good News of Jesus, and learn how to obey God's Word daily.

And that is way better than any "binky!"

On The Shoulders of Giants

2008-03-09T22:01:00.000-04:00

Today was a bitter-sweet day for our congregation. A building which has been a weekly oasis from the stresses of the world hosted its final worship services. On the one hand, that is sad. On the other hand, Bible Center has larger and shaper tools with which to reach this generation for Jesus. Truly the experience of the services was bitter-sweet.

I found myself constantly reflecting on those who have gone before us in the 65+ year history of Bible Center. God has used those folks to bring us to where we are today. We must not forget that. We must not forget that we stand On the Shoulders of Giants!

Check out the video below. We used it in today's services.

Thank You!

2008-03-09T01:12:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow is the last day of worship at our Oakhurst Campus. God has been faithful to the Bible Center family. He has used the Oakhurst site to touch so many with the power of the Gospel and the Truth of His Word. It has been an incredible tool for His glory! As the school, preschool, counseling center, and offices continue to function there, I believe God will still use it for His glory for years to come.

If you have served the Lord in this special facility, Thank You! I thank God for those whom I have never met that were used in ministry at Oakhurst. There are people who are now with the Lord who gave, prayed, sang, taught and helped in a variety of ministries over the last three decades in which Bible Center has used this site. Thank God for them!

Today (and over the last several weeks) dozens of people have worked to get the Southridge Campus ready for tomorrow's Open House. They have hung shelves, installed plasma screens, unloaded chairs, swept, and painted. Today, the final touches have prepared the building for its debut. Folks who have been a part of the Bible Center family for decades as well as folks who have only been with us for a few weeks have all worked together to get everything ready.

Thank YOU!

Encouraging Words

2008-03-07T21:02:00.000-05:00

For the past three weeks, I have been reading the fourth chapter of Corinthians at least once a day. I have read it in a number of versions and paraphrases. It has been a big encouragement to me as the pace of ministry at Bible Center has quickened leading up to the move of our worship services to the Southridge Campus.

Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 (from The Message) has been a particular blessing to me. May it be an encouragement to you today.

Here it is:

2 Corinthians 4:1-18 (The Message)

Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.

If our Message is obscure to anyone, it's not because we're holding back in any way. No, it's because these other people are looking or going the wrong way and refuse to give it serious attention. All they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness. They think he can give them what they want, and that they won't have to bother believing a Truth they can't see. They're stone-blind to the dayspring brightness of the Message that shines with Christ, who gives us the best picture of God we'll ever get.

Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus' sake, which makes Jesus' life all the more evident in us. While we're going through the worst, you're getting in on the best!

We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!

So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

The Missing Pulpit

2008-03-06T22:00:00.000-05:00

Someone stopped me today to ask me where the pulpit was this past weekend. Jeff Josephi, who originally built the pulpit, is currently sanding and refinishing it. He originally put not only his skill, but also his heart into constructing it and I know he is working with it again with the same ability and passion. Our original stain color for the pulpit does not match the stain of the wood work in the new building. The pulpit really stood out. It was obvious to anyone who saw it on the Southridge platform last week that it clashed in that setting.

I was suppose to mention during last week's morning services that the pulpit was being prepared for Dedication Sunday, March 16th. Two years ago we had our Groundbreaking service (see below) in the afternoon of Palm Sunday. This year Palm Sunday is Dedication Day. Wow!

During the Groundbreaking of 2006, we revealed that we had already built the most important part of the new building at Southridge: the pulpit. Above is a picture of me standing at it on that day. My remarks that afternoon emphasized that with the groundbreaking and the building of a new facility, Bible Center would change a whole lot, but that the message would not change at all.

The new pulpit symbolized the necessity of keeping the main thing the main thing. It reminded us that we must remain anchored to the Word of God as the generations prior to ours had done at Bible Center. At that time, we did not know exactly what the building colors and details would be, but we all knew, no matter what, we could not veer away from communicating the truth of Scripture.

May we always be Bible-centered.

The pulpit will return and the message will not change!

Sneak Peek

2008-03-06T00:25:00.000-05:00

Tonight I got a sneak peek at how the Bible Center worship choir sounds in the new building's interim worship space. They rehearsed songs for the Sunday 10:45 am service for March 16th, dedication sunday. Our audio team was there to adjust the sound system to the best settings possible.

The choir sounded great! I was blessed!

Those of us who attend Bible Center deeply appreciate the professionalism and passion displayed through the way in which those who serve in the music ministries lead us in worship each week. Pastor McQuerrey, the accompanists, the praise team, choir, orchestra and soloists do a great job each and every Sunday.

The folks who serve each week in the music ministry work very hard in practices. Like so many involved in service at Bible Center, they give of their time and use their talents to build up the body by focusing our attention on our Lord Jesus Christ.

While our new Worship Center is ultimately our Fellowship Hall, it is going to be a wonderful interim space to celebrate and adore our Creator and Redeemer! My sneak peek was a great blessing!

The Question

2008-03-04T23:32:00.000-05:00

This morning I had the distinct privilege of leading the opening prayer for the West Virginia Senate. Frustratingly, I left my post-it with my points to pray in the car. But, most of the concepts about which I wanted to pray came back to memory. Several communicated their appreciation for what I prayed.

What a humbling honor to lead our leaders before the throne of the Almighty!

Before the session, I chatted with several senators and staff members on the floor. Some I knew personally. Some knew who I was and I did not know them. Amazingly, most were very much aware of our building project at Southridge.

After slipping out of the Senate Chamber, I went out to the rotunda area of the second floor. There I ran into others from the state government and local community. Again, most who greeted me were aware of our project.

With a kind enthusiasm, they had one simple question. Whether a senator, staff member, young, or old, the question was the same. It is "the question" I get wherever I go. Perfect strangers make their way to me and ask it. Friends call or email me with it.

Here it is: "When do you move into your new building?"

Lately, it has been exciting to share just how close we are. The fact that so many folks from all walks of life ask me about how the building is coming has reminded me that we have a huge opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with others. Many are watching us at a distance.

How we answer their questions and how we communicate what God is doing at Bible Center is vital to seizing the opportunity to share with those watching us God's unchanging message of love!

"The Question" gives me, you, and all of us as a church family wonderful windows through which we can share the Gospel.

"I Want to Live There"

2008-03-03T22:11:00.000-05:00

At a restaurant yesterday I saw one of our Bible Center families. The mom had been in the new building at Southridge the day before for nursery staff training. She was so excited about what she saw she brought her family back that afternoon to walk through it with her. Her parents, husband, and kids all shared with me how much they loved what they saw.

You could hear the enthusiasm in their voices, see it in their faces, and observe it in their body language. I asked the kids what they thought of the children's area on level one. Their 8-year-old daughter quickly looked up at me and sweetly, but boldly declared: "I want to live there!" If every child gets that excited about the children's ministry area designed for them, children will be waking their parents up early each Sunday to get to Bible Center.

What a thought! Kids eagerly anticipating the environment of safe, clean, fun where they will learn about the good news of Jesus Christ and learn to walk in His Word. Reaching young families for Christ just as they are setting patterns for their home can make an impact on more than one generation. Finding fresh, creative ways to communicate the never-changing message of God's Word to the next generation before they are tainted with the world's temptations is critical.

I really hope that every boy and girl who enters Bible Center boldly declares: "I want to live there!" Even more, I hope each of them will clearly hear how much God loves them in Jesus!

What Would Jonathan Think?

2008-03-03T00:38:00.000-05:00

After our final evening service on the Oakhurst Campus tonight, I had the privilege of showing Phil and Maye Jepson around our new building on the Southridge Campus. They were in town for the memorial service of Phil's aunt, Margaret Hughart. They saw what Phil's parents, Reid and Mary Grayce Jepson, did not and will not see since they are now with the Lord.

Phil was a small child when his dad, Reid Jepson, served as the first pastor of Bible Center. He watched as his father led the fledgling church to relocate from a renovated house on Broad Street to a brand new building built specifically for Bible Center. Every location the church met in prior to this new location on the Kanawha Boulevard in 1956 was either rented or purchased space that had been renovated for worship services and Bible classes. Phil remembers that first building the congregation every built. He saw Bible Center during one of its many growth spurts.

Both Maye and Phil were extremely complimentary of our new building. They were a great encouragement to me regarding the excellence and opportunity the building represents. We had a great time looking through the building. At one point in the children's theatre on level one, Phil remarked that his mom and dad would be pleased with how this building would be used for ministry. Maye and Phil also referenced how much their grandchildren would enjoy learning about God's Word in the new children's ministry area of Bible Center.

They were a blessing and encouragement to me. They could look back and see how Reid and Mary Grayce Jepson would celebrate what God is doing through Bible Center. Plus, they were able to envision how the next generation, including their own kids and grandkids, would be touched for the Lord through our ministry in the new Southridge building. Wonderful!

On the way home from our tour, I could not help but imagine what my son, Jonathan, would think if he, fifty years from now, was allowed to walk through the new facilities of the future Bible Center.

I hope he would find a church still Bible-centered and Jesus-focused! I hope he would see a church adapting its methods to reach the next generation without compromising its message! I hope he would find a church that celebrates its rich heritage of faithful servants while seeking to develop new ones! I hope he would find a church family passionate about seeing others come to, grow in, live for, and talk about Jesus!

I hope that is what Phil Jepson found tonight on that tour!

He and his sister Priscilla saw their dad and mom over the span of a decade and a half invest their blood, sweat, and tears in the early and very fragile years of Bible Center's development. From what I know, hear, and read about both Reid and Mary Grayce Jepson, they would be thrilled at what God is doing in and through the people of Bible Center Church.

What a joy to have Phil and Maye join us for this special, final evening service and to take them on a tour of our new building!

May Bible Center be faithful to share Jesus and His Word with each successive generation! Maybe, just maybe, Jonathan will see how what we are doing today is still impacting the Charleston community and the world half a century from now!

Building It, While Flying It

2008-03-01T20:05:00.000-05:00

One of the greatest challenges our pastors, staff, and church family have faced in the relocation of our worship services to our phase one facility on our new Southridge Campus is that we are getting all geared up for what we will do there while we are currently doing what we do now.

This weekend several hundred Bible Center folks have gone through music, sound, lighting, nursery, children's ministry, and first impressions training sessions in the new building. We are working so hard to get all the programming, services, and ministries ready for our move to Southridge on Palm Sunday, March 16th, while at the same time working to ensure that our ministries and services are the best they can be today, Sunday March 2nd. Wow!

It would be a totally different challenge (yet still a huge one) if we could simply have "closed" our Sunday services for a couple of months and taken all of our time, resources, and energy to focus on March 16th and beyond. But we could not have done this! Each Sunday nearly 2,000 people gather to worship the Lord and grow in Him. People are being deeply ministered to weekly with our current services, ministries, and activities. Yet, we and others expect to maintain the same passion for excellence as we gather at Southridge two weeks from today.

Our challenge as the Bible Center leadership and family is that we are in the intensity of preparing for a totally new site, while at the same time serving one another and the community right now. As the pastor of this wonderful congregation and the leader of our tremendous staff, I am proud (in the right sense) of all the efforts of our pastors, administrators, secretaries, custodians, and church family. Everyone is doing a great job of doing what we need to do today to provide quality worship services and ministries each Sunday while getting ready to do it all at Southridge.

You might say "We are 'Building It, While Flying It'." We are getting up and running while up and running. What a challenge!

If you are a part of this great adventure of "Building It, While Flying It," thanks for praying, serving, teaching, organizing, encouraging, making music, caring, helping, and being what God wants you to be. I stand amazed at all the hard work, time, energy, and skill being utilized to ensure that folks come to, grow in, live for, and talk about Jesus! You are a blessing to me!

For the past few months, I have shared with our pastors and others a little TV commercial that captures the concept of "Building It, While Flying It." What we are doing is much like building a commercial airplane while it is flying and its passengers are being served. Enjoy the clip. You will probably relate to all that is going on at Bible Center right now in this historic transition with eternal implications!