Pastor A

Delaney plays soccer and is her team’s keeper! We were invited on a beautiful January day to watch Delaney play. The field at Golf Links Park is amazing. I think it would be great to play on this field.

Delaney played very well and her team won 6-3! Way to go Delaney! I learned in this soccer game that girls are far nicer than boys! Girls don’t like to get dirty and will stop to clean their knees if they have dirt on them.

Delaney and her family are very active at TBT. It was a joy to spend some time with the family and see their life outside of TBT.

Thank you for inviting us to watch you play!

Bethany is one of our teenagers who is home-schooled and plays soccer for Santa Rita High School. We were given an invitation to watch Bethany play soccer. It was a very, very cold night; however, we bundled up and headed to the high school. Beth has been recovering from an ankle injury and had been give the green light to play on the night we visited her school.

Beth played valiantly, as did her teammates, but a victory was not to be on this particular night. Beth’s ankle was not quite ready for a full game; however, we enjoyed watching Beth play in the first half and fellowshipping with her family during the second half. Beth is actively involved in our ministry by singing specials, singing in the choir, helping with “Date Night,” and in her youth group. Beth is a blessing to have in the TBT ministry.

I am so thankful that in this year 2012 that God is still saving and changing people’s lives. On Saturday, January 14, we had our normal door-to-door visitation and around 25 out for visitation. Two of our ladies knocked on a door and invited the family to TBT. As a result of this visit, the family attended church on Sunday, July 15. At the invitation time, both the husband and wife left their pew and walked to the front of the church. Both the husband and wife were talked to by our counselors. Both accepted Christ as their own personal, Lord and Savior. It truly was thrilling to see the joy that flooded into their soul.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Spears, a young couple in their 20′s, took the next big important step in their new found faith. Last night they followed the Lord’s instruction to be baptized. They publicly identified with Christ (as did 14 adults) and made it known to our church family, their own family, and their friends that a change has taken place in their lives. It is so true… personal invitations to church still works!

Two ladies did not try to go on visitation, they went on door-to-door visitation. As a result of their obedience, two adults have now made the most important decision of their lives. The changes have been evident in just one short week. Praise the Lord for His abundant goodness to this family.

Don’t try today; DO today!

Our revival was rich with words of encouragement and challenge; in fact, here are emails that I’ve received… may they encourage you this day!

Pastor,

I had never taken fasting very seriously until this year.  Now don’t think I’m terrible but I thought it was old fashion and not something many people did these days.  Shame on me!!! I thought o.k. with everything going on in our lives maybe I should try it and see what happens so I did fast on our Thursday fast a week ago.  And boy was I happy I did!  What a revival in me took place that day!  Ask and ye shall receive.  I prayed that the revival would start with me that day and all of a sudden as I prayed that day my worship and service for the Lord took on new meaning I was able to put my goals in perspective and I felt a revitalizing from the Holy Spirit I hadn’t experienced before.  I found a peace with everything going on in my life I hadn’t felt in a long time!  I’m really excited!  Brother Shrock was the perfect evangelist to keep that fire going!  I promise I will never again doubt the power of adding fasting to my spiritual life!

Thank you for scheduling the revivalmeetings!

Have a wonderful blessing filled day,

Love in Christ,

Another email from a TBT member…

Pastor Brent and Bro. Mike,

_____ and I just want to take the time and encourage you both from  the Revival this week.  We thoroughly enjoyed each message, and as I mentioned to you, Bro. Mike, I have sat at the feet of Bro. Dave McCracken several times.  We have enjoyed learning from God’s word from Bro. Dave, Bro. Mike (That’s you), Bro. Kent York, Bro. Mike Pelletier and many others.

This is to you, Pastor – please schedule Bro. Mike again as soon as reasonably possible.  What a wonderful choice for the Revival.

God bless you both!  Bro. Mike:  I am practicing increasing my Virtue and Temperance tonight.  ‘Nuff said.  Neither _____ nor I have ever heard 2 Peter 1: 5-7 taught so brilliantly as to edify us to take action.

Malachi 3:10

Still another email…

Pastor Brent–Thanks for everything you do for our church.  I appreciate all the hard work that you and your family put into making our church AWESOME!!  Revival was amazing I’m DOING more this year than I have in the past.  Thanks for the challenge!!

Your blogs are an encouragement to me and a reminder to DO in 2012.

Thanks and God Bless,

Yet another response…

Good morning Pastor A,

Congratulations on a wonderful week! Your selection of speakers was right on point. You have had several good speakers here through the last 2 1/2 years. Bro. Mike just made such an impact upon our church. The people enjoyed listening to him, the time did just fly by, and more importantly life changing decisions were made. I understand that Neal led a young man to Christ, and that you led the wife to Christ after the service.

My cup runneth over.

Thank you  again for having Bro. Mike  be our guest speaker.

I must echo the last email – my cup runneth over and I am super excited about this coming weekend!

May 10, 12, 13, and 14 are important dates in the life of Tucson Baptist Temple! It is time for our annual Stewardship Dinner Series. Last year was our first Stewardship Banquet and we only had one; this year it has grown to four banquets. How amazing! I will attempt to help others see the need for our campus improvement projects for the 2011-2012 year!

There is so much to be done; yet, together I absolutely know that we can make it happen with the giving of God’s people and the blessing of God upon our ministry. We can never be satisfied that last year was enough. We must press forward to tackle a new mountain of seeming impossibility. I eagerly anticipate the new excitement that will be generated with the three specific projects that will help our campus in a great way!

Our 2010-2011 Stewardship Campaign closes on May 31. The TBT membership was amazing in actually exceeding the pledged amount of $125,000! What a thrill to be a part of a congregation that is willing to give and even give sacrificially to change the face of their church by improving our ability to reach Tucson one family at a time.

Thank you TBT; let’s tackle the next mountain!