Sweet Fellowship - a little painful though

This past weekend has been one that I have enjoyed greatly. The family of First Baptist Church Harlingen enjoyed some down time together. We spent Saturday morning at war with each other, a paintball war that is. We had so much fun plastering each other with different colors of paint. Some of us resembled Joseph and his coat of many colors by the time we were through. Some of us, especially the older guys, were a little sore the following day from all the diving and running, not to mention the whelps from the paintballs. Through it all, we laughed, played, and of course ate together. Once again, we experienced the family life found in FBC Harlingen.

On Sunday we enjoyed a special mission report from the Ackerman family about their work in Nepal. We worshipped the Lord together and were blessed to hear a great word from the Lord in our Life Groups and in our worship service.

During the afternoon hours, we participated in our second annual TURKEY BOWL. It was a great afternoon of flag football and hamburgers in Arroyo Park. The "Cogers" beat the "Whippersnappers" in a close game, but fun was had by all. One of the coggers actually had to have small shoulder surgery that night, but overall everything went great.

During all of these events, we saw our church having fun together. People of all ages coming together to love each other and spend quality time together.

Praise God for the sweet fellowship of First Baptist Church Harlingen.

sore but loving it,
Bro. Wade

Second Saturday - Mission Day

What a blessing today was in my life. Our wonderful church family had the privilege of housing another mission group heading into Mexico. This group was special to me as they were from northeast Arkansas, the association where I first served as pastor. They were so appreciative of our church's desire to bless the many groups that travel through our town to obediently serve in God's kingdom work in the valley and in Mexico.

We also held our intial Second Saturday missions day and I was blessed to join with several members in our church and some who do attend our church to minister to the Warner family again. We continued the remodel process on their home. Allison is improving daily in the Cleveland Clinic. Please continue to pray for her improvement and healing. Please consider ministering to others by participating in the next Second Saturday. We believe this will be a strong ministry in our church for many years to come.

Blessed to be a servant,
Bro. Wade

Staff Appreciation Month

I do not believe that I can express my gratitude enough to those who have loved on our wonderful staff this month (and of course all during the year). During this month, your staff members have experienced a great outpouring of God's love through the membership of First Baptist Church Harlingen. The letters, gifts, words of encouragment, and many other acts of love have touched our hearts and have served to once again remind us of how blessed we are to serve this great church.

Thank you for your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Each of these gifts of the spirit have been shown to my family and to the staff. "Thank you" to our family at FBC Harlingen for allowing the Holy Spirit to live through you.

humbled by your love,
Bro. Wade

Amazing Servants at the Fall Family Festival

Computer problems have kept me away for a while, but I seem to have access again; even if for a short time.

Wednesday evening was a clear evidence of how the Holy Spirit is working in and through First Baptist Church Harlingen. Our Fall Family Festival was such a great success. The wonderful volunteers of FBC once again stepped up to the plate and hit a smashing homerun. Everywhere you looked you could see the love of God evidenced in the lives of those who were serving with a smile. The wonderful people on mission with God volunteered to serve food and clean up in the kitchen, to run the many games, to oversee the bouncers and large games, to stand in the door or in the hall to greet people. Each of them were vessels of God's love and were blessed by how they saw God working through them.

I was overwhelmed with the comments I heard that night and since then. Many said things like, "everybody here is so friendly" or "we are so thankful that you do this each year" or "we have never been to your church, but we feel so welcome here" or "how can we be a part of what is going on here?" So many expressed appreciation and amazement at the kindness experessed to them.

Please allow me to add that I too was amazed once again and I am so thankful to be a part of what God is doing through our wonderful church family.

Please pray for those who made decisions at the festival and accepted Christ or rededicated their lives. Pray for those who will be coming to our church in the next few weeks, seeking the same love and grace they experienced at the Festival.

serving and loving together with you,
Bro. Wade