Canaan Baptist Family Blog

Blessed are those on the Journey

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,

Whose heart is set on the pilgrimage (Journey)”

Psalm 84:5

Sunday, we culminate our Journey Emphasis with Commitment Sunday. I hope you have been blessed by our annual emphasis. The Journey Video and testimonies have been inspirational. It’s encouraging to see how God is transforming so many lives in the Family of Families. Let me again express our gratitude to all those who participated in this process. Sunday, we will have a two-fold emphasis. We’ll develop the last step in the Journey – Showing Jesus to our world. You’ll have an opportunity to indicate your interest in upcoming TOUCH Training Camps; our Regional Mission Trips and/or our Guatemala Partnership. We’ll also call for a new or renewed commitment to the Journey for 2012. Remember the Father promises to bless those whose heart is set on the Journey!

I have a personal plea to make to our Class Shepherds and Care Group Leaders. We’ve started 2012 with wonderful attendance in worship! The Spirit is drawing many new folks to Canaan and we’re seeing an increased harvest. However, at the same time Sunday School attendance has been anemic in 2012. There is no substitute for personal touches! I want to ask every class, preschool through senior adult, to contact your absentees this week. Let’s fill our S.S. classes and God’s House for the culmination of Journey Month.

D-Now Weekend is here! Bro Michael reports that we have nearly 30 students signed up at this time plus our leaders. Please be in prayer for Bro Michael and all those who’ll be leading over the weekend. Let’s ask for the Holy Spirit to bring a revival among our students – it could spread through our church!

Don’t forget the Canaan’s Walk for Life this Saturday at 9AM on our campus. Our RA’s, GA’s and Students will be participating along with some of our adults. All of your contributions go to support Save-a-Life. This is such a worthy cause. Our center ranks in the top 10 nationally in its ministry!

Finally, let me mention our upcoming Annual Leadership Team Retreat. This is the time your staff and church leaders get away to seek God’s face for His Church and plan the upcoming annual calendar. Please join me in praying for the Spirit’s leadership during this important weekend.

Thank you church family again for your prayer support for us! We feel so blessed to be a part of this Family of Families. We continue to praise His Name!

Your grateful partner in the Journey,

Bro Morgan

More Like Jesus

“He (Jesus) poured water into a basin

and began to wash the disciples feet…

I have given you an example,

That you should do as I have done…”

John 13:5&15

Someone has said “we’re never more like Jesus than when we serve others”. Sunday, we’ll celebrate our third installment in Journey Month – Serving Others. Other than the Cross, the most poignant demonstration of service in Scripture is of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Volumes of commentary have been written on this intimate moment in the Upper Room. My hope in this brief article is that we would be motivated to follow Christ’s powerful example of service. The Sovereign of the universe became the servant of soiled sinners! Jesus embraced the most menial task to teach us the most penetrating truth – We should do as He has done and serve!

Sunday, we’ll be reminded that those who are on the Journey Loving God and Sharing Life – will naturally Serve Others. Sunday morning, you’ll be challenged by our video and testimonies, have an opportunity to bless His Name in worship and hopefully be given insight from the Psalms in what it means to Serve. Sunday afternoon, Bro Charles will lead a Ministry Class to help you discover your giftedness. Then, Sunday evening, I’ll overview the place and purpose of Spiritual Gifts in the Body. Don’t miss this important Sunday that will equip you to take the next step in the Journey Process.

Your staff is introducing a new ministry this Sunday – Staff Suggested Reads. Every couple of months a staff member will introduce a book in the Journal that’s been meaningful to them. We’ll make that book available for purchase in the Welcome Center. I’m excited about this opportunity for us grow deeper in our walk in 2012 and beyond. Mine is Henry Blackaby’s “Experiencing God” book and Devotional Guide. Available now in the Welcome Center.

Sunday evening January 29^th will be Guatemala Night. God is doing so many wonderful things in our partnership in Conrado De La Cruz. It will be exciting to hear from our teams and see all that the Father is doing through His Body.

Remember to contact class absentees weekly and invite someone to join you this Sunday!

Your grateful partner in the Journey,

Bro Morgan

To God be the glory!! Bro. Morgan has been in New Orleans for follow-up and received the word from his doctor that they found no tumors and his blood work is all within normal range. It is in these moments that we are reminded Who our Great Physician truly Is. Please continue to remember Bro. Morgan and Mrs Ritta in your prayers and be sure to thank God and give Him all the praise for this wonderful news! The Baileys will not have to go back for check-up for a few months and will be able to revel in his latest report.

The Blessed Hope

“Looking for the blessed Hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Who gave Himself for us”, Titus 2:13

What a glorious weekend celebrating the Christmas Hope! As advertized Canaan’s inaugural Dinner Theater was a stunning success. Not counting those in the production approximately 500 were in attendance both nights maxing out our capacity. Everyone shared with me how they were blessed and most said it was the best event of its kind they’d ever attended! Truly our hearts were filled with the mystery and majesty of the Christmas Hope. Sandwiched between Saturday and Sunday’s productions we experienced His presence in both morning worship services and God added to His Family two by profession of faith! How grateful we are for EVERYONE who worked so hard to bring this incredible production together! Thank you Bro Jeff and Kristie for your wonderful leadership!

In every generation people are searching for Hope. Christmas reminds us that our Heavenly Father sent His Son Jesus to secure that Hope.

In Titus the apostle Paul had in view the Imminent Hope of the Second Coming of Christ. Jesus will soon come and Judge the world He created establishing His Kingdom without end. The gospel writer John reminds us that “The Word would first become flesh…” providing first our Incarnate Hope. By faith we “Behold the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” The mystery and majesty of Christmas is God coming in human form as a babe in a manger to ransom His fallen creation. Before Jesus comes again to establish His Kingdom without end, He longs to reign as Lord of our lives. Crown Him Lord this Christmas!

The Journey to Bethlehem continues! This Sunday we’ll enjoy our annual pilgrimage to Bethlehem through the eyes of the Christmas Visitor. Then on Wednesday, December 21^st we’ll celebrate our Family Candle Light Service. This is always an intimate yet informal worship experience for the Family of Families. Finally, remember that we’ll be having one joint service at 10AM on Christmas Day (no SS). This will be an informal Canaan Christmas. We have some special things planned. These are all wonderful opportunities for us to invite neighbors, friends and inactive members on our SS roll!

Your grateful partner on the Journey to Bethlehem,

Bro Morgan

Grateful

“Thanks be unto God for His indescribable gift(s)!”

2 Corinthians 9:15

The Thanksgiving Season for Christians is an appropriate time to reflect upon God’s goodness. The Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian Church of the indescribable Gift of the Gospel. Certainly we should pause this special time of the year and offer thanks to God for our Salvation. This past Sunday evening, during our Community Thanksgiving Service, we sensed heaven come down and glory fill our souls as we celebrated together our Gratitude for God’s Amazing Grace. Abundant life today and unimaginable life all of our tomorrows with God in Glory!

While we are grateful for His indescribable gift we’re also thankful for the undeserving gifts we enjoy daily…I’m grateful for my wife and best friend Ritta, for family, my Church family, my health, God’s daily provision, my Call, the privilege of serving as pastor at Canaan, our wonderful staff, our Nation and the myriad of good gifts God bestows on us daily. I know you’ll join me in pausing to give God thanks this Season and all year for His indescribable gifts!

While you’re giving thanks be sure to remember those who may be less fortunate than us. Maybe God would use us to encourage them.

Your grateful partner on the Journey,

Bro Morgan

More than we THINK!

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or THINK…!

An Angus Porterhouse was more than I ever expected! Ritta and I had planned to eat at the Alamo Steak House in Gatlinburg on our last day of vacation. We’d pass the restaurant daily and the parking lot was always full of cars (it didn’t hurt that we had a 15% off coupon). We settled in our seats after a brief wait and discovered veterans ate free in honor of Veterans Day. Well, I expected the offer to be limited but our waiter assured us it was anything on the menu! I’d been eyeing the $10.00 8oz sirloin but with that news I was ordering the 22oz Porterhouse at $24.99! It was heavenly – I’m sure it was the first one I’d eaten in my entire life. This was more than a recognition of service to country it was truly a blessing from God! Our Father delights in serving us porterhouse instead of sirloin. He often does much more than we can ask or THINK!

This past week, the Father smiled on Canaan and did more than most of us could THINK! Don’t get me wrong, sirloin steak is good. But we all know porterhouse is better. We all rightfully rejoiced that a record 50 more families (216) had committed to the OJC campaign. $721,000 would be more than enough to service our note for the next three years. But the commitments continued to trickle in and today we’ve far exceeded our Victory goal of $750,000 and are sitting at $764,000 at this time. Yes! God is able…to do even more than we think! Our contributions to the OJC campaign are steadily coming in and we’re not seeing a dip in our tithes to the budget. Thank you Church Family for your continued faithfulness!

Let me use the remainder of my article to remind you of a couple of important events on the horizon:

·        Sunday morning we’ll vote on our proposed 2012 budget. Copies are in the welcome area.

·        Sunday we’ll commission our Guatemala VBS team in both our morning services.

·        Sunday evening we host the Annual Community Thanksgiving Service. It’s our privilege this year to lead the worship service.

·        Sunday, November 27^th is ALCAP Sunday. Dr Joe Godfrey will be our guest at 6 PM.

Please make your plans to be involved in these important services. Remember to bring your Bible in one hand and a new friend in the other.

Let me close by bragging on our children that participated in Bible Drill. It is exciting to see them hiding God’s Word in their hearts! Ritta and I would like to thank you for your support and prayers for her. We’re getting good reports!

Your grateful partner in the Journey,

Bro Morgan

To Him Be Glory

“To Him be glory in the Church…”

Ephesians 3:21

When you read this article Ritta and I will be enjoying a few days away in the mountains. While most of God’s kaleidoscope of cascading colors will be gone, hopefully they’ll be a few left for us to enjoy. It has been a marathon Fall and we’ve been looking forward to getting away. Continue to pray for her healing and for my nursing (ability)! We’re so very grateful that you afford us this opportunity; we feel loved and love our church family. We are giving the Great Physician glory for the good news concerning Ritta’s tumor – we’re grateful for your prayers.

We give God glory in His church for our Guatemala partnership. Over 100 heard the gospel and nearly 20 prayed to receive Christ on our Evangelism trip in September! A solid foundation is being laid for a new church in Conrado De La Cruz. There is still time to make contributions for our VBS trip the end of this month and our Medical Mission trip in January. Lift our teams as they prepare to leave. We’ll commission the VBS team on Sunday, November 20^th.

We give God the glory for the Our Journey Challenge campaign results - $764,000 committed with 216 families and growing! Considering this is our third campaign and the state of our economy we have much to celebrate. Our obligation over the next three years is $670,000 and we have $94,000 more in commitments. I am most encouraged that we have 56 more families on the Journey than our last campaign – that reflects a deepening commitment by our Body.

We give God the glory for an incredible Hallelujah Carnival! Our largest ever with 800 in attendance and 22 decisions for Christ! This is a significant Showing Jesus event in our Jerusalem. We’ll began at our Shepherd’s Gathering following up on those decisions and others that were made at the Carnival.

We give God the Glory for the Budget process that we’ll soon embark upon. In the third year of a deepening recession our giving has remained solid even while we’re entering our third capital campaign. God is awesome and you are faithful!

Most of all we give God the Glory in His Church for our wonderful Family of Families! Ritta and I can’t wait to see you this Sunday. I’m looking forward to sharing an important message on Tackling Temptation in our lives. I hope to see you with a Bible in one hand and a new friend in the other.

Your grateful partner on the Journey,

Bro Morgan

Making the Father Smile

“The harvest truly is plentiful…

Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest…

To send out laborers into His harvest.”

Matthew 9:37-38

The Father smiled Sunday morning when scores of His Children responded to Jesus’ prayer for laborers. I sensed that our congregation truly understands the prophetic conditions we currently are living in. We were reminded of the desperate confusion of our culture and the deep compassion of our Savior for the souls of men. Just as Jesus sent His first disciples into the harvest, He is calling His Church today. Yes, our obedience brings Joy to the Father – “If anyone loves Me he will keep my Word…” John 14:23. What are some practical ways we can be laborers in the harvest?

·        Daily pray that God would give you eyes to see

·        Daily invite acquaintances and friends to church

·        When the opportunity arises, share the gospel

·        Contact your class absentees weekly using all the methods at your disposal.

I sensed the Father smile as your staff gathered for our annual retreat. It was so refreshing to gather with these men who passionately love the Lord and His Church. Heaven fell on us as we heard from the Father, honed our relationship with Him and each other. That foundation of trust and transparency enabled us to hammer out a calendar and program for the New Year that will honor Him, edify and equip the Body while enabling us to more effectively penetrate the darkness. We’re looking forward to sharing what God has shown us at our Annual Church Leadership Team Retreat the first of February.

We experienced a great Hallelujah Carnival. I just want to thank Bro Russ, Vicki Hughes, Debbie Phillips and the small army of volunteers who make this annual Jerusalem outreach a possibility. We are so blessed to have so many faithful servants in our Fellowship. God used this event, as He does every year, to touch our community while reaching folks with the gospel.

Our 2012 Annual Budget will soon be presented to the church. Please continue to pray for our Stewardship Committee as they finish up their work on the budget. The budget will be available for review on Sunday, November 13. The Stewardship Committee will present it to the church on Wednesday, November 16. Then on Sunday, November 20 we will vote on the budget without discussion in both of the morning services. We’re grateful for the work of our committee and the timely way our ministry teams have submitted their requests.

Let me use this opportunity to express our gratitude for the many expressions of love and support for Ritta during her surgery and recovery. Church family you are awesome!

Your grateful partner on the Journey,

Bro Morgan

We Continue to Rejoice Over

All  God is Doing

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.  To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen   Ephesians 3:20 & 21

Ø Our Journey Challenge total is $705,942.39 and growing.

 Ø Our Journey Challenge families total committed 210 and growing (Record number of families that are part of the process).

 Ø You may want to join the many that are increasing their commitment to help us reach our Victory Goal.  If so, please contact Kerri in the office (425.4381).

 Would you join me in praying over some key issues in our church?

Ø Pray for the staff while they are away Thursday through Saturday.

 Ø Pray for the Hallelujah Carnival which is Monday, October 30, 6:30-8:30pm.

 Ø Pray for the Guatemala Gift Bag Collection as our VBS Team prepare to go on trip.

 Ø Pray for our Annual Budget Adoption Process. Available for viewing on November 13.  If you have any input for your ministry, contact Rick Gandy, Chairperson of Stewardship Committee.

 A very special thank you again to our OJC Steering Committee, who did such a stellar job leading us through our program.

 Classes continue to contact your absentees weekly!

Your grateful partner in the Journey,

Bro Morgan

Victory Sunday

“This is the victory that has overcome

 the world – our faith!” 1 John 5:4

It’s with great anticipation we look forward to Our Journey Challenge Victory Sunday. Our campaign got off to an encouraging start after The Gathering with 140 families committing $544,682.00. That left us with well over 200 families to visit during our Commitment Visitation phase. Our campaign will come to its climax on Victory Sunday (October 23^rd). Just as we make commitments to purchase things for our families, members understand we must make commitments to enhance our ability to make disciples in our Jerusalem. Our beautiful multipurpose Children’s Building has been an incredible asset to our campus. Every commitment card is in reality a sapling that will be planted by faith to insure the victory for generations to come. Have you planted your shade tree?

October is Cooperative Program month across or convention. Since 1925 Southern Baptists have cooperated through the CP to send missionaries to North America and the World. Canaan has budgeted 11 percent of every dollar to go the CP to support the work of our 10,000 missionaries in reaching our Nation and the Nations for Christ. Our mission strategy remains the envy of the Christian world. I’m excited to report that for the first time since 2007 we’ve seen a slight increase in CP gifts in the SBC. While we remain committed to mobilizing members to Show Jesus to our world through the Journey Process, we will always staunch CP supporters.

Please begin praying for our Annual Hallelujah Carnival on Monday, October 31^st. This remains an important part of our strategy to touch our Jerusalem with the Light of the World during its celebration of darkness. Be sure to bring candy and 2 liter drinks to the welcome center and sign up to help if you can.

Be in prayer for our next VBS/Sports Camp Guatemala team. They’ll be leaving in just over a month. We hope you or your class can support them by contributing to the Guatemala Gift Bags. We still need to purchase some other items for the new church – be sure to check the bulletin board.

Our Annual Bessemer Baptist Association meeting is Monday, Oct 24^th at the Baptist Church of Macadory. I’ll be moderating the meetings and preaching the closing message around 7:45 PM.

Teachers and classes please contact your absentees this week and encourage them to be present for Victory Sunday!

Your grateful partner in the Journey,

Bro Morgan