Canaan Baptist Family Blog

“Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full…”

John 16:24

On Sunday School Sunday we were challenged by Jesus’ Model to multiply our classes. Remember that the Lord spent three years preparing the disciples for the time He would send them out to change their world. Effectively Christ was multiplying His small group by twelve! If we’re to double the joy we experience sometime in the coming year we need to be deliberate. Let me suggest a few tried and true steps.

Decide – the Shepherd must lead the class to commit.

Date it – choose a date to work towards multiplying.

Disciple – enlist an apprentice and prepare them.             

Do it! – multiply your joy and celebrate the birth!

Healthy classes that birth new units see themselves in the mirror in one year to 18 months. Twice as many folks experiencing the blessings you enjoy today.

We launched our Season of Discovery this past Sunday evening. How rewarding it is to see so many gathering to discover their unique giftedness and place in the Body of Christ. There’s still time for you and your class to join us this Sunday evening. I’m praying you will commit to three Sunday’s to discover how the Father has uniquely wired you and the fulfillment that awaits as you plug in His Body.

Please pray for our Summer/Fall TOUCH Training Camp. We’re encouraged by the good turnout. Your intercession is critical for each of our teams. Please pray for that the Lord of the harvest will lead us to the homes we need to visit and for the relationships that will be forged over the next seven weeks.

Don’t forget to take the opportunity during August to encourage Bro Jeff, Kristie and their precious family. It has been a real joy to have the Stith’s to be an integral part of our team. Share your appreciation through a card or gift.

Finally I want to mention a few things from this past Sunday. Despite all the distractions God showed up in a marvelous way! How we rejoice in the increased attendance and the wonderful harvest the Spirit is bringing. I hope you’ll take to heart the challenge God gave us Sunday to invest in an unchurched neighbor or friend this coming year. Only heaven will be able to record the results if we’re intentional with our evangelism.

Remember to contact absentees weekly!

Your grateful partner in the Journey,

Bro Morgan

Greetings Prayer Warriors,

You may hear that Bro. Morgan experienced a set back last night after services. He did go to the doctor’s office today and found that this is normal for what he’s going through. The doctor sent him home with medication that should help deplete the symptoms he was having. Please continue to keep him and Mrs. Ritta in your prayers. Our God is an awesome God. He reigns and is still in control.

Bro. Morgan had his scan this past Thursday.  The scan did show two spots on his liver.  The doctor’s opinion is to watch it for three months and repeat the scan to see if anything has changed.  As Bro. Morgan echoed yesterday, God still is in control and using this time in his (and our) life to show His grace and love to others!  Thanks for your continued prayers for our pastor and Mrs. Ritta!

Bro. Morgan went back for a follow-up cat scan today. The doctor delivered the good news that everything came back clear! Thank You Lord!  He will go back in four months for another follow-up. Please continue to lift him and Mrs. Ritta up in your prayers. Your calls, concerns, and prayers have been greatly appreciated.

God’s Formula for Spiritual Renewal

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

These last few weeks we’ve explored God’s formula for revival. First we discovered God’s people are the catalyst God uses to bring revival. Then we considered the four prerequisites for renewal. In this article we’ll delve into the incredible blessings we can expect when God sends revival. Certainly the Father longs to send the refreshing rains of renewal to His people who perish for His presence. However, God moves only in response to our hunger for Him. The only reason the rains tarry is that His Children are unwilling to pay the price. I’m praying that the Family of Families will pant for Him as the deer pants for the water.

In response to our humble prayers our loving Heavenly Father longs to pour out His blessings. Our focal passage reveals three results we can expect.

1^st We will hear from heaven

When we genuinely hunger and thirst for righteousness we can expect the Spirit to reveal God’s Truth in a fresh and powerful way. How we need a Word from the Lord!

2^nd God will forgive our sins

Certainly forgiveness is available to the child of God daily

(1 John 1:9). When the winds of revival blow through a church there will be dramatic repentance and renewal experienced by many. Change will evident everywhere.

3^rd The Father will heal the land

The evidence of genuine revival is changed lives, churches and communities. Relationships will be healed, marriages saved and bingo parlors shut down for lack of customers!

God is willing to send revival, are we willing to pay the price?

It has been appropriately said that revival is 99% preparation. I hope you will take the time to allow God to prepare your heart. Pick up Calvary Road in the Children’s Building or foyer for your personal devotional time. Join us at your convenience from 6-9AM to pray for revival. Be sure to participate with your Sunday School class in their Cottage Prayer meeting on Wednesday, October 14^th. Let’s ask and expect God to do great things during our Spiritual Renewal week.

Thank you for praying for us while we were away in revival in Cottondale, FL. I’m looking forward to being back in the pulpit Sunday, October 11^th. I’ll be preaching the second message from the 10 Commandments entitled Our Relationship in the Fellowship. The key hindrance to revival is sin in our relationship with the Father and the folks.

Remember to contact absentees weekly and everyone monthly!

Your grateful partner in the Journey,

Bro Morgan

“…I will build My Church, And the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Jesus, Matthew 16:18

Monday, August 10th we launch our TOUCH Training Camp and again we will be pushing back the very gates of Hell! Every Monday TOUCH night is special but there’s something very captivating about our 7 week camps. Equipped with the empowering Spirit of God and the enlightening Sword of His Word we’re

privileged to penetrate the kingdom of darkness with the marvelous light of His Gospel. In every visit there is a sense that Heaven comes down combating the forces of evil in the ongoing Spiritual warfare for the souls of men. How encouraging it is to Pastor a church that is not content to sit on the sidelines but is eager to bring Hope to those entangled in the web of hopelessness. Jesus remains the answer to the questions that plague contemporary man. If you have not made your commitment for TOUCH it is not too late! Call the office and let us know your desire to be counted as we push back the gates.

I’m looking forward to being back in the pulpit on Sunday, August 9th Lord willing. Please know that your prayers, support and encouragement have been an incredible part of our healing process. Sunday I’ll launch our Fall Sermon Series in Exodus entitled – Our Journey Home. I hope you’ll make plans to join us as we explore the incredible parallel between Israel’s journey to their home in the Promise Land and our journey home to Heaven. As the Father prepared Israel He is preparing us to enjoy Him now and forever as we live for His glory.

Our Annual Sunday School Summit is just a week away – Sunday, August 16th. Your staff is excited about being the faculty this year. It will be a wonderful opportunity to bond with Russ & Michael and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share with our adult teachers. Bro. Charles will be meeting with our Care Group leaders and officers. As always, Sunday evening will be a wonderful Sunday School celebration!

Your grateful partner for the Journey,

Bro Morgan

“Him who is the Head – Christ – from whom the whole Body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according the effective working by which every part does it’s share, causes growth in the Body for the edifying of itself in love.”  Ephesians 4: 15-16

Ritta and I remain grateful, humbled and blessed by this wonderful Body of Believers. In showering us with your love and support you have lived out Paul’s admonition to the church. The Great Physician has heard you’re prayers bringing us through surgery and placing us ahead of schedule in our recovery. We have received a wonderful “report” from the

doctors and the prognosis is encouraging! Every card and visit has encouraged us. The wonderful meals have provided fuel for our healing. Your faithfulness to church in our absence has inspired us. Our love for the “Family of Families” grows with each passing day!

Our next TOUCH Training Camp begins Monday, August 10th. Remember that we now have 7 week spring and a fall camps to prepare us for our TOUCH Season which lasts all year. This Sunday, August 2nd is our TOUCH Commitment Sunday. Shepherd’s and Leaders should be enlisting their teams from their class or department and Sunday bring those cards to the alter. If you’d like to be a part of the Camp and be trained to share your faith comfortable just place your card at the alter as well Sunday. Your life will be

enriched, your class enlarged and the kingdom advanced. Together we can join the Lord of the harvest and touch the Quad cities for His glory!

We’re in the final phase of enlistment for Sunday School workers. Most of our faculty has committed for the 2009/10 church year. However we still have a few opportunities in our Preschool and Children Department. I am confident the Sprit will touch the right people. Why? In the same way you blessed your pastor according to Ephesians 4:15-16, I know you want to bless our children. God has faithfully provided an awesome facility. He’s brought us Russ and his precious family. So I know He will bring us the workers we need for the Fall. Will you make yourself available?

Finally, let me remind all of our Shepherds and SS workers to reserve Sunday, August 16th for our annual SS Summit. This year our own staff will be leading the conference. I’m so excited about having an opportunity to hear the heart of our adult teachers and share with them mine. I believe 2010 can be another historic year at Canaan. The Father has impressed me about several things I’m anxious to share.

Your GRATEFUL partner in the Journey,

Bro Morgan

Ritta and I remain grateful, humbled and blessed by this wonderful Body of Believers. In showering us with your love and support you have lived out Paul’s admonition to the church in Ephesians 4:15-16. The Great Physician has heard you’re prayers bringing us through surgery and placing us ahead of schedule in our recovery. We have received a wonderful “report” from the doctors and the prognosis is encouraging! Every card and visit has encouraged us. The wonderful meals have provided fuel for our healing. Your faithfulness to church in our absence has inspired us. Our love for the “Family of Families” grows with each passing day!

This morning, we find Mrs. Ritta is feeling better but Bro. Morgan has been running a fever off and on since Wednesday. After a visit to the Doctor’s office yesterday, their fear was mirrored by the doctor that it is most likely infection causing the fever. He removed a couple of the staples to leave the wound open for cleaning and draining. They are going to have to clean and pack it each day until his return visit next week. Bro. Morgan and Mrs. Ritta seem in good spirits and just ask for your continued prayers. Also, keep their son Jonathan in your prayers today as he graduates from Troy University.

Bro. Morgan was out and about yesterday with the help of Mrs. Ritta but today we find their roles are reversed. Mrs. Ritta woke up not feeling well and Bro. Morgan is trying to help care for her as she has been trying to care for him. Let’s give them a couple of days to recoup. Any visits or phone calls would have to be addressed by Bro. Morgan while Mrs. Ritta is sick and he is still not up to par. I will update again when she is well and they are more up to visits. Please continue to keep them in your prayers. Thanks!