Were it not for the pandemic F.M.B.C. would be formally celebrating Family and Friends Day. While we are not having a special program to celebrate this day, its spirit and intent is not lost as a result of the pandemic.  First of all, let me emphasize that the celebrating of all Annual Days will return soon. In the meantime, we thank God for family and for friends.  On today we will look at friends.

Webster defines “friend” as “a person whom one knows well and is fond of; intimate associate; close acquaintance.”  During the course of a lifetime, one will have many acquaintances but not nearly as many friends. When one has a friend, he or she has a relationship of great value. We should treasure our friends. It is absolutely amazing that Jesus Christ, who is our Lord and Master, with the right to call us servants, but instead He calls us friends. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:13-15).

How wonderful and comforting to be chosen as Christ’s friends. Because He is Lord and Master, we owe Him our unqualified obedience, but Jesus asks us to obey Him because we love
Him. Moreover, we are to love one another as Jesus loved us, and He loved us enough to give His life for us. We then ought to practice sacrificial love: helping, encouraging, giving, sharing. Be blessed, friends of God, as we celebrate Him together.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

We praise Almighty God for another wonderful session of our Vacation Bible School. We are thankful for the hard work of so many. A special “God bless you” to the Superintendent, Sister Lynne Bryant, and to her staff of dedicated workers. Vacation Bible school is often seen as simply a fun time for the children. While it is a fun time, the VBS is so much more than that. From its title, we can glean that the Bible is the basic handbook of the Vacation Bible School. That is so important. We are told to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). As people of God, we should build our lives on His word and build His word into our lives. As we are taught His word in age-appropriate classes, in a relaxed environment, which makes it conducive for learning there is a truth we must grasp: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). As we approach His word into our lives, it alone tells us how to live for Him and serve Him. However, the Vacation Bible School covers other areas as well. There is the singing, and we are told to: “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands” (Ps. 100:1). There is also, the crafts, where we learn to be productive.

Again, praise God for the Vacation Bible School. Another tool on our toolbelt for the Lord. From an appreciative Pastor to all the VBS workers: Thanks folks for a job well done.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

Dear Members,

Mere words seem so inadequate to convey my thanks and appreciation for all that the Pastor’s Anniversary was. There was such an outpouring of love and goodwill. Although this anniversary was in celebration of forty-nine years of service, this Pastor is humbled by, and in awe of the goodness of the Lord and His loving people. After so many years, your care and concern has not diminished one iota. It is absolutely amazing how year after year the committee can put together an anniversary that is so awesome, so loving, and so wonderful. To add to that, they are able to elicit such cooperation from the F.M.B.C. members. (Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1)  Really, after every anniversary, I can join with David as he humbly accepted all of the goodness of the Lord. “Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou brought me hitherto?” (2 Samuel 7:18)

To the members of the Pastor’s Anniversary Committee, thank you for an awesome job. To all the auxiliaries, auxiliary heads, and the entire membership, thank you for a wonderful anniversary. On behalf of Sister Jones and myself: “The Lord blessed thee, and keeps thee: The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Pastor J. Amos Jones

Wow! J. Amos Jones has been Pastor of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church for forty-nine years.  As we reflect on that period of leadership, there have been three constants throughout that entire period.  First of all, there has been the faithfulness of God and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church.  There has not been a time when He was not there.  Early on, this Pastor learned that we CAN do all things through Christ who strengtheneth us.  It has been assuring to know that His perpetual presence is with us in everything.  The Old Testament Prophet Amos spoke to the calling of this Amos: “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go,prophesy unto my people Israel” (Amos 7:14-15).

The second constant has been the commitment of this Pastor to God, to His work, and to His people.  This Pastor’s first sermon was “Debts That Have To Be Paid,” taken from Romans 1:14-16.  Just as Paul’s debt was to Christ for being his Savior, and it was payable to the entire world, so it has been with this Pastor for fifty-five years of preaching the gospel, the Good News of salvation, and feeding the flock of God.  The commitment has always been to God who “took him as he delivered the mail for the United States Postal Service.”  Obedience has always been the test of a faithful servant of God.

Lastly, there has been the loving kindness, the care and compassion, and the concern of the people for the Pastor.  There has been the embodiment of  Mt. 10:41: “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward”  Dear members, we have come this far by faith, let us continue.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

Join us Sunday, July 24, 2022 at 3:00 to celebrate our Pastor’s & First Lady’s 49th Anniversary of faithful service at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.