Tag: christianity

Ministry Update – Fall 2025

Dear Friends

Do you ever have strong ideas and desires to get more done?  There are so many opportunities for ministry and things we could do if God would bring it together.  I was taught many years ago that a need does not necessitate a call.  In other words, just because there is a need and you could do it, does not mean that the Lord would have you fill that need.  One part of our ministry has been to help hurting churches, pastors and people.  At this time, there seems to be so many.  Like you, we wish we could do more.  One burden is the many churches seeking pastors; some are listed here.  Please pray.

  • Calvary Baptist Church in Bremerton WA is seeking a pastor.
  • Big Horn Independent Baptist Church in Worland WY is seeking a pastor.
  • First Baptist Church in Dillon MT is seeking a pastor.
  • Wapiti Valley Church, outside of Cody WY is seeking a pastor.
  • Grace Baptist Church in Randolph UT is seeking a pastor.

Here are some special health needs:  please pray.

  • Rebekah, wife of Pastor Aron Schrepfer at Pioneer Peak Baptist Church in the Palmer AK area has terminal cancer.  Please pray for God’s comfort and grace.
  • Pastor Jonathon Edwards had a serious accident.  He is in recovery from losing his leg below the knee and other injuries.  Please pray for recovery.
  • A pastor with Parkinson’s disease is trying to navigate the effects while continuing ministry.
  • Many pastors near or past retirement age are dealing with age related physical issues, while seeking someone to take over the leadership and care of the churches where they pastor.

Jeneen and I have been busy in ministry as God leads.  We recently had meetings in WY and MT along with some Sunday fill-in in churches.  In November, Jeneen and I will go to WY to be at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Pinedale, where Chris Best is Pastor.  We will also be there in January.  When home, we are busy at our church, teaching, staff meetings, and Bible studies.  Every trip this fall was filled with the beauty of God’s creation, especially so this year.  Thank you for your prayers and care for us as we continue to do what God sets before us. 

The Need for “God with Us”

“His name shall be called Immanuel, which means, God with us.”  What is the reason for the birth of Jesus?  What motivated God to do this?

The greatest reason for God coming to be born as a babe was His love for us.  “God so loved the world that he sent his son…”  God wants a relationship with us.  The problem is sin for all have sinned.  There is no perfect human being.  Wrong actions, reactions, or thoughts keep us from a relationship with God.  The core of the matter is that we are all sinners and the penalty for sin is eternal separation from God.

The sin penalty must be paid before we can have a relationship with God.  We, in our arrogance, desire to make ourselves good enough for God.  Mankind cannot pay the penalty for sin, no matter how many good and religious things we do.  The penalty for sin is eternal separation from God.  When a person dies without God’s salvation, they must suffer the judgment.  An eternity of suffering will never pay for sin.

Someone outside of mankind had to pay the price.  The penalty, being death must be paid.  Immanuel, God with us came, took upon Himself the likeness of man in order to pay the price for our sin.  God could not do it without becoming human.  God cannot die so Jesus humbled Himself and came, born of a woman, to die for sin.  Jesus came as the spotless Lamb of God to sacrifice His life for our sin.  He was born the Babe, a perfect human being while being fully God.  He is the God-Man.

Being the God-Man, qualifies Him to be an adequate Savior.  He needed to be human in order to die because God cannot die.  He needed to be God in order to make that death a satisfactory payment for sin.  Only a sinless person can pay the price for someone else’s sin.

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.  He was buried.  He rose from the dead three days later according to the Scriptures.  This proves the penalty for sin was paid in full.  There is no more needed to satisfy the judgment against mankind.  His sacrifice is complete and sufficient.

Does this mean that all of mankind is saved?  No, because it requires each person to decide whether to accept or reject what Jesus has done for us.  It’s personal.  God has provided the means for us to be saved from the penalty of sin.  We must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. 

Jesus was born to save us from our sin.  God became the God-Man to pay the payment.  If you haven’t accepted Him as your Savior, you need to do so.  If you have, you have peace with God, no fear of condemnation, and can now experience a relationship with God the way He intends for you.  We can experience a life of meaning and purpose.  He provided everything needed for a relationship with Him.  Now, it’s our choice what we do with what He has freely offered and enabled.  Immanuel – “God with us.”

For Further Study – John 3:16-18; Romans 10:9-13; Ephesians 2:1-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Matthew 1:18-23; and so much more.