Sunday, September 1, 2019

On September 15, 2019, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate her 79^th Anniversary.  This Church, and every other Christian Church, has her connection to Matthew 16:18: “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  The rock upon which Jesus would build His Church has been identified as:

•  Jesus Himself (His work of salvation by dying for us on the cross)

•  Peter (the first great leader in the Church at Jerusalem

• The confession of faith that Peter gave and that all subsequent true believers would give (and that my brothers and sisters, includes all of us at FMBC)

All believers are joined into this Church by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, the same faith that Peter expressed in Matthew 16:16.  Know this, dear ones, believers are the body of Christ and constitute the Church.  In 1 Corinthians 12:12ff, Paul compares the body of Christ to a human body.  Each part has a specific function that is necessary to the body as a whole.  The parts are different for a purpose, and in their differences they must work together.  The Church is composed of many types of people from a variety of backgrounds with a multitude of gifts and abilities.  It is easy for these differences to divide people, but despite the differences, all believers have one thing in common – faith in Christ.  On this essential truth the Church finds unity.

On September 15, 2019, we will celebrate seventy-nine years of faith in Christ.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

“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].

Let’s continue to walk in wisdom.

Pastor J. Amos Jones

Musings with the Pastor.

What a week it was.  Three major events and Friendship excelled in all three, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”  (Zechariah 4:6 [b])  Lest we begin to think it’s us) We had an outstanding Vacation Bible School August 5^th thru August 9^th.  What a tremendous effort by some Holy Ghost inspired people.  A big “God Bless You” to all of the wonderful members who contributed to the outstanding outcome.  During VBS 2019, five souls came to the Lord.  To God be the glory!

On Saturday, August 10, 2019, Friendship participated in the “Four Corners Back To School Rally” along with Church on Fire Christian Center and the Recharge Christian Fellowship Church.  “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.”  (Proverbs 19:17)  What a great effort in putting this rally together and bringing it to fruition.  To Pastor Daphne Kannady and all who contributed to this great event, Thank you for a job well done.

And then on Sunday, August 11^th, we had Family and Friends Day.  Another grand event.  “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”  (Proverbs 18:34)

To the dear people who shephered this program, Thank you for a job well done. “Not by,” you know.

Let us continue.

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, grand-children, 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

Kenneth Johnson                              

 Alexandria Spurlock

Suntera Scott  

Latasha Tayler-Pope

Sheila Dixon

Lawanda Dogan

Jaren Foster 

Shandra Burton

Beverly Hurd

Grace Ferguson

Kiara Smith

Carolyn Taylor

Ryan Brisco

Craig Miller

Maranda Oliver

Vernon Rock

Deacon Edward Dogan

 Hilda Arscott

Norris Jackson

Minister Vanessa Adderly

 Hanna Harris