Newsletter for April 29, 2026

We are excited to welcome Patsy Markham, a volunteer with the Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes, to Family Night! She will be sharing about the ministry of the Children’s Home and the ways they are making a difference in the lives of children and families.

On The Menu
Brisket, Baked Beans,
Slaw, and Chocolate Dessert
 

Seperate Bible study for children and youth. 

Mark your calendar!

Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Wednesday, April 13, 2026

We would love to have you.

Don’t miss Brother David’s Mid-Week Devotions.
New messages are posted every Wednesday on our media page—take a midweek moment to be encouraged and refreshed in God’s Word.

Budget for 2026 . . . . . . . .  $343,528.00
Tithes Needed to Date . . . . $112,307.27
Received to Date . . . . . . . .  $93,230.97    
Needed for weekly budget . . . $6,606.31
Tithes Received this week . . . $1,663.99


 

This week, I attended a meeting in Waycross, Georgia, where several city officials shared updates about the fires affecting their communities. They were very grateful as they thanked others for the support, supplies, and help they had received. Several spoke about immediate needs and what firefighters' needs were right now in the middle of the battle.

But then, an older woman from Nahunta, a small town about half the size of Ashburn, stood up and said something that really made me think. She was very thankful for all the help, but then she added, “If your city is looking to do something, think about us in the long term.”
A fire director in Brantly County explained that it could take 9 to 12 inches of rain to fully extinguish the fire, and they expect to be fighting it for at least another month. That means millions of gallons of water, aging equipment running nonstop, and large amounts of fuel being used from this little town. Even when the fire is finally out, the strain on that small town will remain. Her request was simple: “Remember us six months from now… even a year from now.”

Listening to her, I was reminded of the Christian life. We often focus on the moment someone comes to Christ. Of course their nothing wrong with celebrating because Jesus said there is great joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). But that moment is just the beginning.

Jesus didn’t just call us to make converts, but to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). Growth takes time. New believers still face struggles, old habits, and the pressures of the world. They need encouragement, guidance, and support along the way.

Scripture reminds us to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) and to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2).

Getting someone to church is just the start. Seeing someone baptized is just the start. Real ministry happens on the long road that follows.

Let’s not forget that road. Let’s be faithful not just in the moment, but in the months and years of helping others grow in Christ.