Last weekend Debbie and I made a flying trip to Miss. to check on her mother.  Most know she lives in Corinth, MS and is a resident of Cornerstone Nursing Home due to Alzheimer's.  She is physically doing well but the disease continues to progress.  She doesn't know anyone but seems content and happy.

As we headed home Saturday morning we make a side trip through Kossuth, MS on our way to Brush Creek.  Brush Creek is a very small community where Debbie's mom grew up.  Some of Mrs. Roaten's sister's lived at the old home place until they died.  Debbie use to spend a lot of time at the home place in the country when she was a little girl.  She remembers sweeping the yard under the trees to set up house as she played the summer days away.  

Debbie's dad, Willie B. Roaten, pastored Brush Creek Baptist Church a few years before he passed away in 1980.  Mr. Roaten surrendered to preach late in life following service in Navy.  At times he pastored 2 or 3 small country churches at the same time.  You will notice his name is next to last in the list of former pastors in the picture to the right.

Brush Creek is also the place where Deb's dad is buried.  It had been a long time since we had visited his graveside.  Even though it was emotionaly difficult for her it was good to reminisce as we walked among headstones of her family and friends.  

On an interesting side note...my dad use to attend this church when he was a little boy.  He grew up a short distance from the area and remembers attending there.  Sometimes it is a really small world!

We had a great day Saturday during the 2nd Servant Evangelism day. We had a good turn out and touched a lot of lives. I heard reports from the teams who were doing yard work, handing out bottles of water and light bulbs as well as reports from those who were handing out certificates for free pretzels, coffee and Chick-Fil-A at Wal-Mart. Debbie and I went to Joey's to help someone who needed a ride to pump gas. There were so many cars already in line we decided to stay there and help out.

I wish you could see from the picture just how many people were really in line at 10:00 to get gas at a discounted price. As you can see, as they waited in line the good people of First Baptist Lavaca were washing windows, handing out drinks, tracks and info about the church. We had folks asking them about their relationship with Christ, where they went to church and if there was anything we could pray with them about. People as a whole were very friendly and appreciative. We had a great time meeting, visiting with and blessing those people.

THE RADIANT CHURCH
I am so excited about the direction of the church becoming The Radiant Church. Of course being "Upward in worship" is the passion of my life. No greater joy than lifting Jesus up in worship and sitting under passionate preaching with the family of believers at Lavaca. Being "Inward in discipleship," getting back to small group emphasis in Bible study, accountability and ministry will only grow us deeper in the truth and knowledge of the Word of God. And then to be "Outward in evangelism" and get out and be the church is awesome!

Thank you Bro. Danny for challenging us to be the Radiant Church!