To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven: …
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance …
(Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4)
Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous,
And give thanks at the remembrance of
His holy name.
(Psalm 97:12)
With all that is going on in our world, there is plenty to mourn—wars, natural disasters, etc… We should all take time to mourn and repent of the sin in our country, state, communities and especially our own lives. However, we are also blessed with times of rejoicing, and now, here in the Ogeechee River Baptist Association, we have much to rejoice over!
Of course our association and member churches had many successful summer camps/mission trips, Vacation Bible Schools and Camp “I AM”—where 5 children made professions of faith. Then we ended the summer season last Saturday, August 24th, with a wonderful time of fellowship at our very own campgrounds, the W.W. Mann Retreat & Conference Center. Members from sixteen of our churches gathered to celebrate this ministry—all the camps and other Christ-centered activities that take place here as well as all the work that’s been done (still going on) to refurbish this scenic facility. We had a wonderful meal, a time of prayer and tours, testimonies from Camp “I AM,” and topping it all off … the voting in of our new Associational Missions Strategist, Bro. Jeff Parmer. He and his wife, Sandra, will be moving over the next few weeks, and Bro. Jeff will officially “take office” on October 1st.
As the summer concludes with the Labor Day weekend, we are looking forward to two huge opportunities for us to gather together with Christian brothers & sisters.
FIRST … ORBA’s Annual Fall Meeting
DATE: October 13, 2024
TIME: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
PLACE: Cedar Street Baptist Church (255 Cedar St., Metter, GA)
SPEAKER: Kevin Ezell, President of the North American Mission Board (NAMB)
SECOND …
This year it is our honor to welcome members of churches throughout the state to Statesboro First Baptist Church for the 2024 Georgia Baptist Convention. [Go to gbcannualmeeting.com for info & to register.]
Furthermore, as the year concludes, our individual congregations have various plans to gather and celebrate Immanuel—God With Us, the Word Made Flesh, the birth of our Redeemer into this world. And through all of these, we thank God, rejoicing in the many blessings He has provided.
God has so greatly blessed us—family, friends, shelter, jobs, food, REDEMPTION! May we never forget to pray for others and thank Him, rejoicing as we recount all of our blessings!