Fall Festival and Pumpkin Smash

Saturday night we had a groovy Fall Festival. Sis. Shelley outdid herself. She is really awesome and follows through so well on all her commitments to our kids. We had over 30 people at the Fall Festival, and there were several visitors. There were games for the kids along with prizes. There was lots of food, a hay ride, and a pumpkin smashing. During the night, we all wrote our fears and things that bother or worry us on four different pumpkins. Then after Bro. Dale gave us a devotional speaking about the power of God, we gave our fears and worries to God and preceded to smash our pumpkins. We had a wonderful hayride and as my husband sometimes says "you couldn't have stuck a biscuit on there." It is just so great to get together with people from church and have uplifting and safe fellowship.

My Church Is Like Family

I just love my church family. We are always there for each other when we need each other. Sometimes, our blood families are not always supportive of us. They my not understand why we follow God, or there may just be some forgiveness problems. I love my earthly family and we visit, talk, and keep in touch, but I really love my church family too. I see many of my church family members more than anyone else. In Hebrews 10:25, it says that we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but so much the more as the day approaches. I like how it says it in the NIV "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Why do we need to be together. It doesn't say that we need to "have singing, offering, specials, preaching and then go home". It says to assemble and to exhort or encourage. Fellowshipping with our church family should be like a spiritual B-12 shot. My daughter loves church--mostly because she likes the people she sees there. Unfortunately, she's not itching to sit and listen to Bro. Donis for 30 minutes. This doesn't really bother me, because she likes to be with these people who I trust and feel are a good and positive influence on her life. When we go to church, our goal should be to go and encourage someone. Everyone gets encouraged in different ways, and that's why it takes all of us being there together. I'm still humming that song "I'm glad I'm a part of the family of God"

Bro. Dan Pettersen Is Ordained

God's Man--Bro. Donis

October is Pastor Appreciation month and we (youth group) have been trying our best to think of ways to appreciate our pastor. The following poem was presented today in his honor. We truly do not have the words to say how much we care for and appreciate what Bro. Donis does for us.

Our Pastor is a one-of-a-kind,
And many things he must do.
We mostly see him preaching
About Jesus as we sit in the pew.

He prays and reads his Bible
So he has the words to say.
He goes about saving lives
That are the Devil’s prey.

He sings loud and low
Sometimes the words he will change
But most of all he leads our church
In the straight and narrow way.

Because of all the many things
We see our pastor do, We want
To say Thank You, but don’t
Know quite how to.

So after lots of thought, we’ve
Decided what to do–We will
Each one pray for you
Because we love what you do.

Big Day at Mt. Moriah

Today was a big day Mt. Moriah. I arrived at 9:00 a.m. this morning and left at 4:15 p.m. this afternoon. We had Sunday School, morning worship, fellowship dinner, then at 2:00 p.m. we ordained Bro. Dan Pettersen (our missionary to Scotland), and finally about 3:30 p.m. members of Mt. Moriah partook of the Lord’s Supper. Sis. Cathrine blessed us with a wonderful rendition of "I know my Redeemer Lives" and she and Kreg also sang "Because He Lives" together during the church service. At the end of service, Bro. Donis surprised Bro. Dale by presenting him with a license to preach. He can now officially perform marriages and has been officially endorsed by Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church.
All through the day, I kept thinking of the song by Bill Gaither entitled "I’m Glad I’m a Part of the Family of God". I just really enjoy being with the church people. Yes, I do get tired from being at church for seven hours straight, and it is not something I want to do every Sunday, but the more I’m with my church family, the more I want to be with them. I know some do not get to enjoy the fellowship of our church, whether it’s by choice or because of health reasons, and it saddens me. Because I know that they have truly missed a great blessing. God has been good to our church, and I pray he continues to bless us as we work for Him.

Thank God For Bro. Dale

Many of us at Mt. Moriah were privileged to hear Bro. Dale Hamilton preach his very first message on Sunday night which was entitled Seek, Follow, and Live For God. He didn’t seem nervous at all, and I suspect God had something to do with that. I have some DVD’s of his first sermon and anyone who is interested, please let me know and I will get you a copy.

Tammie Diggs

Workday at Mt. Moriah