August 2017

Volume 39 Issue 6

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Men’s Ministry Rally July 31st at 7pm

South Side Baptist Church 505 W. Greenwood Street in Abbeville, SC

Speaker: Scott Moore with W.A.C

Wild About Christ - Outdoor Ministries

wacoutdoors.com

Catfish, yellow grits, hush puppies, & french fries

Tuesday, August 29th

6:30pm at LBA

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature;

because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward

appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

Page 2 LAKELANDS LEADER

Budget Committee Meeting

Thursday, August 10th

7pm

LBA

Biker Rally at Lowndesville Baptist

Sunday, August 13th

11am

Preacher Greg Ramsey from Freedom Biker

Church will bring the morning message with a

sandwich lunch and bike ride to follow.

Lowndesville Baptist Church

464 Main Street

Lowndesville, SC 29659

For Info: 864-348-2194

Lander Baptist Collegiate Ministry

ANNUAL PRAYER WALK

Tuesday, August 15th

5:30pm

Meet at the BCM Baptist Student Center

154 W. Cambridge Ave. Greenwood

Thank you to all who served on

the West Virginia Mission Trip!

We had a total of 42 attendees and served in the

areas of construction, Good News Club, evangelism,

and block party. While there we handed out New

Testament Bibles, personal supply kits, as well as

200 of the LBA ministry health kits.

Lander BCM BBQ Kickoff!

Thursday, August 17th

5pm

BCM Baptist Student Center

154 W. Cambridge Ave. Greenwood

Mission Mobilization Team Meeting

Tuesday, August 22nd

6:30pm

LBA

AUGUST 2017 PAGE 3

“It’s a Small World”

Okay…so like before I get to that “It’s a Small World” thing,

let me share some “big” world things. For those who may not

know it, I’ve been sorta out-of-touch recently. Yep, done

something I rarely ever do…travel for non-business purposes.

You see, while I have traveled the world in some respect,

having spent time in Brazil, Honduras and multiple trips to

Rwanda, Africa, they have all been for one purpose…ministry.

And mostly, in the states, I have been to Nebraska, Texas,

Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, West Virginia, etc., but mostly for

the same purpose…ministry. Yep, sad to say, but when I take

my family on family trips to see the world, it is usually to

incredible places like Calhoun Falls State Park or Gatlinburg. I

know…you can see why my wife stays so impressed with me.

But that kinda changed this summer. My first trip was to the

Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix. And yes, that was for

ministry purposes as well. But you see, I got a little smart and

decided to take Addie Lee and Kim with me to the convention,

and well, we decided to go a couple of days early and take in

the Grand Canyon. And so we did! And while the Grand

Canyon was absolutely spectacular because of its ginormous

views, we also went to Sedona and took in the Red Rocks

Scenic Highway. And to us, that was even more spectacular

than was the Grand Canyon. And to top it off, while in

Flagstaff, we boarded a 2000 foot chairlift at Snowbowl and

ascended nearly to the gates of glory as we were carried up to

the highest point in Arizona. It’s probably as close as I will

ever get to feeling raptured before the actual rapture occurs.

And we did all that in basically two and a half days…and then

it was to Phoenix for the Southern Baptist Convention.

Interestingly enough, as spectacular as all of God’s creation

was, probably the most moving experience of the whole week

in Arizona was the IMB commissioning service on the Tuesday

night of convention. Yep, it was something to behold!

And then it was back to Abbeville for me to repack and head

to West Virginia with forty-two of the good folks from our

Lakelands Association churches to once again, serve in

ministry to the people of Lashmeet and Matoaka, West

Virginia. But, I’ll get back to that experience in a minute…so

stay with me.

Well, after returning home from that mission trip to West

Virginia, I was home just long enough to repack and board a

plane to southern California. While this wasn’t a vacation

inspired trip per se, we turned it into one. You see, this trip

was sponsored by Dixie High School for the purpose of

sending fourteen students to FBLA (Future Business Leaders

of America) national finals for which the students qualified for

through local and state competitions, of which Addie Lee was

one. There were nearly 10,000 high schoolers present from all

over the country for this competition.

So Kim and I tagged along and we were able to take in

Hollywood (whoop-de-do) and other actually interesting

places, like two days at Disney Land, a stop at Laguna Beach

to see my niece and her husband and attend their ministry

service at an assisted living home, and we took in an Angels vs.

Mariners game at Anaheim stadium. Addie Lee got to stick her

toes in the cold Pacific and eat lunch just inches from a 100

foot drop off to the Pacific Ocean with nothing but a guard rail

stopping her. All I can say is, “Wow, what a view that was!”

So now I am back at my computer in Greenwood and all I can

hear in my brain is that song from Kim’s favorite ride at Disney

Land…and it goes like this, “It’s a small world after all, it’s a

small world after all, it’s a small world after all, it’s a small,

small world…,” and then it would start all over again…get my

drift. And now that I have stuck that tune in your brain for the

remainder of the day, let me explain another reason why it is

stuck in my brain.

So now, let’s go back to Matoaka, West Virginia! After seeing

God’s big, big world in Arizona and California, I was reminded

of the small, small world of Matoaka, West Virginia. Matoaka

is a place that no one wants to go to and everyone wants to get

out of. It’s an old coal mining town that has become a bastion

of spiritual depravity. Drugs, alcohol, prescription drug abuse

(ophiods), corruption, incest, hopelessness, loneliness,

lostness…and if I could think of any more depressing words to

describe this place I would. It has been described by locals as

the armpit of the county. Most of the county just wishes it

would go away…literally!

Matoaka is, after all, a small, small world. No one would notice

its demise. Perhaps even a celebration of sorts would happen

if it disappeared. And yet in this small world of darkness and

lostness, there is a small remnant of the faithful who are

praying for the salvation of those in their little town…including

the prayers of the mayor. They are praying that God will show

up in a big way in their small world. But who would come to

such a small world as Matoaka? I mean, after all, it is not a cool

place to plant a church, there is nothing lovely about this

burned out piece of real estate, no attractions like the Grand

Canyon and Disney Land…only hopelessness and lostness.

In a world where boutique churches seem to be the norm and

church planting emphasis is in boutique places, God still hears

the cries of His lonely and forgotten people in lonely and

forgotten places as well.

I pray that this association of churches will never forget the

forgotten in places like Matoaka. I would love to see a house

church planted in this small, small world of a place called

Matoaka. Would you pray that we as an association can be used

of God to do just that? There are a lot of incredible places in

God’s big, big world, but sometimes the call of God is to the

single soul in a forgotten place. Yep, Matoaka may be a “small,

small world,” but it has a big, big place in the heart of God.

Jesus Christ was with God the Father before the world was created. He

became human and lived among humanity as Jesus of Nazareth. He came to

show us what God the Father is like. He lived a sinless life, showing us how

to live, and He died on a cross to pay for our sins. God raised Him from the

dead. Jesus is the source of eternal life. Jesus wants to be the doorway of new

life for you. In the Bible, He was called “Lamb of God” (John 1:29). In the

Old Testament, sacrifices were made for the sins of the people. Jesus became

the sacrificial Lamb offered for our sin. Jesus said, “I am the way and the

truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John

14:6). He is waiting for you now.

Admit to God that you are a sinner. Repent, turning away from your sin.

By faith, receive Jesus Christ as God’s Son and accept Jesus’ gift of

forgiveness by dying on the cross.

Confess your faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

You may pray a silent prayer similar to this as you call on God to save you.

“Dear God, I know that You love me. I confess my sin and need of salvation. I

turn away from my sin and place my faith in Jesus as my Savior and Lord. In

Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.” After you have received Jesus Christ into your

life, tell a pastor or another Christian about your decision. Show others your

faith in Christ by asking for a baptism by immersion in your local church as a

public expression of your faith.

The Holy Bible, Book of Romans 10:9-13

Lakelands Baptist Leader AUGUST 2017

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Lakelands Baptist Association Periodical Paid At

David W. Little, Associational Missionary

Greenwood, SC 29649-9998

dlittle@lakelandsbaptist.org USPS 391-110

bjones@lakelandsbaptist.org (Financial Secretary)

admin@lakelandsbaptist.org (Administrative Assistant)

Website: www.lakelandsbaptist.org

Telephone: (864) 227-6261

310 Panola Avenue

Greenwood, South Carolina 29646-4562

Please visit www.lakelandsbaptist.org for details on each of these positions and

contact information regarding how to apply.

Calhoun Falls First Baptist Church Pianist for Sunday mornings and Wednesday

nights

Turkey Creek Baptist Church Pianist for Sunday morning worship service

Coronaca Baptist Church Part-Time Minister of Music

Abbeville First Baptist Church Part-Time Praise Team Leader

South Main Baptist Church Full-Time Minister of Students

Laurel Baptist Church Part-Time Worship Pastor/Leader

Jordan Memorial Baptist Church Part-Time Pianist for Sunday mornings

Hyde Park Baptist Church Part-Time Church Secretary/Financial Secretary