(4-1-07)
On Sun. morning there was a special feeling in the air as we had folks come in for the very first time, along with others who were there for the first time in months. We had 68 in attendance (!!!), and the meeting was great. Bro. Eddie Bedwell and Sis. Mindy Reese preached for us and gave their personal testimonies. Sis. Mandy Smith opened the meeting and Sis. Barbara Bedwell and Sis. Tess Hagan testified before Bro. Ty Smith closed and gave the altar call. Most every person yesterday gave their personal testimony about how God saved them, and there were tears and there was conviction among our congregation. I counted a minimum of 10 unsanctified people in the congregation - praise God for the opportunity to love them and bring the gospel to them!
(4-4-07)
Rev. Gary collier taught Bible study.
(4-7-07)
We had 55 out on Sat. night, and enjoyed being with several from the Camp Ground, along with Bro. Fred Merritt, Sis. Sandy Brown, Sis. Harriette Ferguson, Bro. Charles and Sis. Sammie Riggs, Sis. Diane Riggs and Bro. Don and Sis. April Samol. Bro. Bobby Reese Jr. opened the meeting before Sis. Harriette Ferguson PREACHED!! Her passion was electrifying as she gave her testimony and pleaded with our congregation to seek God TODAY! Sis. Diane Riggs and Bro. Brian Collier testified before Bro. Don Samol gave a passionate altar call. Sis. Peyton walked the aisle with her mother at her side, and there was conviction in the rest of the congregation.
(4-8-07)
On Sunday morning Sis. Becky Collier and Sis. Kelli Miller led their SS class of small children in singing and telling the congregation what they've learned in the past few months. There was a lot of laughter and everyone was touched before our regular service started. Bro. Bobby Reese Jr. welcomed all 101 who were in attendance - WOW! - including 5 of his 7 siblings and their spouses and children. Sis. Fay Hatcher had 15 or 20 family and friends out, and the Davidson family had that many out as well. It was a wonderful congregation with so many there for their first visit ever, and we were all so thankful. Bro. Fred Merritt and Sis. April Samol testified. I preached and closed, and we all enjoyed watching the kids look for Easter eggs outside before eating together in the church. We were joined on Sun. morning by Bro. Tommy and Sis. Nancy Collier and by T.C. Collier and his children Gracie and Evan - what a nice surprise!
(4-11-07)
Rev. Gary collier taught Bible study.
(4-14-07)
Bro. Tom Lamberson preached a beautiful sermon, some of it from Isaiah, Bro. Tom's favorite book, he told us. Sis. Lauren Collier opened the meeting. She said "Hell is the absence of God" and talked about how people have an option to turn to God while they're living, but that option is removed in eternity. We enjoyed testimonies from Bro. Bob Reese Sr. before Bro. Johnny Mills sang "He Didn't Come Down", then sang his favorite song "Thanks To Calvary." Others testified - Sis. Jerri Hartley and Sis. LaWanna Welch, before we closed with prayer.
(4-15-07)
Bro. Bobby Reese Jr. preached - his first time ever! - and boy, did he bring the power down. He preached with conviction and passion and it touched everyone there. Sis. Diane Lamberson opened the meeting - what a sweet spirit she has! - and Sis. Jamie Fulford testified about walking right before God. Bro. Bob Reese . testified from his seat before we closed with prayer.
(4-18-07)
We study in St. John, chapter one. Sis. Mindy Reese will be teaching the first half and Bro. Went Miller the second half. I'll be helping Bro. Robbie hold down the front bench.
(4-21-07)
Bro. J. W. Dempsey was first in the pulpit and preached a good sermon about living for God today and being ready for death. We sang “I’m Free” after he finished and there was a wonderful feeling in the sanctuary. “I’m free from the fear of tomorrow, I’m free from the guilt of my past, For I’ve traded my shackles for a glorious song, I’m free, Praise the Lord, free at last!” That song is Bro. J.W.’s song to me – I think of him every time we sing it – and it really blessed us Sat. night. Sis. Jennifer Miller opened the meeting and told us about talking to her school friends about God. I was amazed at her boldness for a new “baby”! We enjoyed testimonies from Sis. Carolyn Forbes, Bro. Lester Click, Sis. Pam Rodgers, Sis. Marsha Miller, Sis. Doris Dempsey and Sis. Janet Keldahl before Bro. Brian Collier closed with altar call and prayer around our altars. I especially enjoyed Sis. Doris’ talk. She said she wanted to back up her husband, Bro. J.W. She said that she remembered the old “Jay” and that he is a new man who appreciates God in his life every day. She said “If I can’t back him up then no one can”, and that really resonated with me and touched my heart.
(4-22-07)
Rev. Gary Collier preached on Isaiah 43, verses 1-3. Bro. Tommy Collier opened the meeting, Bro. Bobby Reese Jr. testified before Sis. Nancy Collier gave the sweetest altar call. Our new brother Jamie Price had his mother Joanne, stepfather Tommy, great-aunt Dorothy, sister Chrissy and brother-in-law J.B., all for the first time! We hope they enjoyed the service enough to come back and fellowship with us again. We were also blessed to have Bro. Johnny Mills’ 28 y/o grandson Toby out with us, and Toby said he wants to get his life straightened out and get back into church with us. Praise God!
(4-28-07)
On Sat. night we had “Old Trap Night”, and it was awesome! Old Trap is a little town in the n/e part of North Carolina, 11 miles from Elizabeth City and about an hour south of Norfolk, Va. It’s one of the first places that our folks stopped to preach at when they left Chincoteague Island in 1897 and our church building there is the oldest sanctuary that we have in our entire church!
On Sat. night we had 7 people who either live in Old Trap today or who were born and raised there. Bro. Wayne and Sis. Geraldine Overton, Sis. Martha Vaughn, Bro. Joe Albert Vaughn, Bro. Pete Harris, Sis. Marie Davis and Sis. Carolyn Williams – wow!
Sis. Janet Keldahl opened the meeting with passion before Bro. Joe Albert Vaughn preached on the 14th chapter of St. John. He cried as he gave his testimony about coming to God just a few years ago and we were all touched. When he finished I took the wireless mic out to the congregation and we enjoyed testimonies from Sis. Martha Vaughn (at 97 years old!), Bro. Wayne, Sis. Geraldine, Bro. Pete and Sis. Marie, all in a row. Sis. Carolyn came to the pulpit immediately afterwards to complete the “Old Trap crew”! Sis. Diane Lamberson closed the meeting and Bro. Bob Reese Sr. testified before we went into prayer. We had 55 in attendance – praise God.
(4-29-07)
On Sun. morning we had 39 out. Sis. Kelli Miller and Sis. Peyton Fulford taught the young children in Sunday School while the rest of us enjoyed meeting. I don’t always mention this but know that for every Sunday morning report that Sis. Kelli and Sis. Becky Collier are usually back in the SS room planting the seed of God’s word in those little children’s hearts. One day we will reap the fruit of their labor!
Bro. Tom Lamberson opened the meeting on Sun. morning, and Bro. Johnny Mills testified before Sis. Pam Rogers preached from St. John. She was followed by Sis. Ruth Camp, who preached from Psalms 23. Sis. Carolyn Mills closed the meeting with altar call, as she told me she felt led to do. What a great weekend!