“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”  (Proverbs 11:30)  A wise person is a model of a meaningful life.  His(Her) sense of purpose attracts others who want to know how they too can find meaning.  Gaining wisdom yourself, then, can be the first step in leading people to Christ.  The Amplified Bible says “he who is wise captures and wins souls [for God—he gathers them for eternity.]

Why is it important to lead people to Christ?  Because it keeps us in touch with Him while it offers others eternal life.  To have a passion for the lost is exemplified by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:19:  “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.”  The goals of Paul’s life were to glorify God and to bring people to Christ.  My dear brothers and sisters, it is this Pastor’s desire that those will be your goals as well.  To glorify God and to bring people to Christ.

Dear Ones, you know it is not the will of God that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)  The thought of anyone spending eternity separated from God should motivate us to lead people to Christ.  The life of the believer, the Wiseman says of it:  “The fruit of the [consistently] righteous is a tree of life and he who is wise captures and wins souls [for God—he gathers them for eternity]. (Proverbs 11:30 AMP)

Let’s continue to walk in wisdom.,

Pastor J. Amos Jones       

What are you thankful for and about?  For many the answer is quite predictable.  We are thankful for life, health, and for the many blessings our heavenly Father has bestowed upon us.  We are thankful to Him for our salvation, for our relationship with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank Him for our spouses, our children, grandchildren, etc.  Those answers are obvious.  The more probing question is: Are we thankful when things are not so pleasant.  The Psalmist gives us the answer:  “I will bless the Lord at all times:  His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”  (Psalm 34:1)

In good times and in times that are not so good, we know that God is working a work in our lives.  In times of adversity our character is being developed and our faith strengthened.  In the down times of life, God demonstrates His awesomeness.  Hear the Apostle James:  “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for you.  For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”  (James 1:2-4 NLT)

Dear Ones, for this I give Him thanks.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

St. Paul says it so well:  “God is faithful, by whom ye were called into the fellowship of His son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1Cor. 1:9)  He can be trusted to do what He has promised, namely, to “confirm you unto the end.” (v.8)

When the Lord called this Pastor to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, He promised His perpetual presence.  All of you know folks, “…in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11.b)

As Pastor of Friendship, the Lord has graciously directed my steps.  From the beginning, the Lord has made it crystal clear that the members of Friendship are His people and are to be treated as such.  Love that is manifested by respect and dignity is the Friendship way. 

 The Apostle Paul has a message for every Pastor and it has been a blessing in my life.  1 Thess. 5:24 & 23:  “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.”  Who will do it!  What God will do: “Now may the God of Peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” (NLT) Praise God for His faithfulness during these  years.  To God be the glory!

Dear members, thank you for your loving care, your compassion, and your constant followship!

Pastor J. Amos Jones

The months of July and August of every year are wonderful, amazing, extraordinary, and challenging.  By August 31, it is as if we have run the Houston or Boston Marathon.  Physically, we are tired (our bodies but not our inner person) but there is such a sense of accomplishment.  We can all join in the refrain “Look What The Lord Has Done!”  Perhaps Zechariah said it best in Zechariah 4:6: “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, this is the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.”  When we consider all that we do during July and August, we know, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit.”  The key words are “by my Spirit.”  It is only through God’s Spirit that anything of lasting value is accomplished. 

Be encouraged as we “work the works of Him who sent us.”

Pastor J. Amos Jones