Canaan Baptist Family Blog

Angela Price posted the following from the team:

The team had a great worship service this morning (4.5 hours)!  We are missing what worship is about when we get “antsy” after 45 minutes!

The team reports their plans might have to change for this week.  Due to the abundance of rain (lot more than normal), several roads are flooded.  They are readjusting to other projects this week.  God is still going to get the glory during this week.

Please pray for our team!!

Our mission team left on Saturday, September 4 to Guatemala.  This is our application of our Acts 1:8 strategy and the further implementation to the Journey process - Showing Jesus to our world!

Mission Team: Bro. Morgan Bailey, David Foreman, Mike Dunn, Diana Hawk, Shamblin Griffice, Ronald McCrary & Betty McCrary!

The Journey’s Begun!

“Having made known to us the mystery of His will…”

Ephesians 1:9

Hand’s lifted towards heaven. At the conclusion of both services scores of hands were lifted heavenward acknowledging a desire for enhanced personal and corporate worship. Certainly the Father smiled at our desire to love Him with all of our hearts. Every aspect of worship seemed to be punctuated with His presence. Paul is revealing to us the mystery of His will – joining Him on the Journey. This Sunday we’ll explore the second step in the Journey – Sharing Life. Another banner will be unfurled, testimonies shared, praises sung and a sermon preached underscoring the importance of the small group experience.  I hope you’ll invite others to join us during Journey Month.

This Sunday we’re also reminded of the need to remain vigilant in the defense of the sanctity of human life. As our secular humanistic culture continues to devalue human life the church must stand in her defense of life.

I’m excited to able to share with you our Showing Jesus strategy for 2010. Please take the time to review our Acts 1:8 efforts locally, regionally and globally. Begin now to ask the Father how He would like you to be involved in the New Year. We’ll share more about these trips on Sunday, January 31^st.

Shepherd’s let’s invite our absentees to Sharing Life Sunday!

Your grateful partner for the Journey,

Bro Morgan

 Pressing Towards the Prize

“Brethren I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching toward to those things which are ahead.” Phil 3:13

January will be Journey Month at Canaan. Beginning January 10^th each Sunday we’ll focus on one of the steps in our Journey – Loving God on 10^th; Sharing Life on 17^th; Serving Others on 24^th and Showing Jesus on the 31^st. I hope you’ll make your plans to be in attendance each of these Sundays. We will have special music, props, testimonies and sermons to highlight each leg in the Journey. We’ll culminate the month with our Annual Journey Commitment Sunday on the last Sunday in January. Sunday School Shepherd’s please support the effort by contacting absentees weekly.

Sunday, January 3^rd we’ll have our Family Devotional Books ready. These devotionals for January are written by members of our Fellowship to be an encouragement to couples and families. I hope you’ll get you’re copy and spend time together with the Lord. Remember the family that worships (prays) together stays together. This Sunday we’ll celebrate Bro Charles 5^th anniversary at Canaan. This is an important milestone in His Journey here. Please let him, Angie, Briley and Matthew know how much you appreciate them this month!

Sunday, January 17^th we’ll celebrate the arrival of several new additions to our Fellowship. At the beginning of both services we’ll share in a Family/Baby Dedication. God is increasing our number in a multitude of ways. Too Him be the Glory!

Let me close by expressing our gratitude for the many expressions of love during the holidays. Church family you blessed me and Ritta in a number of ways and we are so grateful. We love you!

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

We had an awesome day of worship!  Dr. Rick Lance brought a great challenge to live different in an indifferent world!  Bro. Michael Gay challenged us after the Young at Heart Choir to treat God as a “He” instead of an “It”.  It was even a great blessing to have our pastor worship in all the services today!  It was so good to have our family together in worship!!!

More details forthcoming!

“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

Michael Gay

Welcome Michael & Whitney Gay to Canaan Baptist Church!

Michael will be serving as our Student Minister.  He has a great heart for students and their families.  He has a real passion for our Lord!  Come and visit with our Student Ministry to see for yourself! 

Email him: mgay@canaanbaptist.net