News
and Notes
Vacation Bible School
‘07
The Lord blessed us with a great week! Thanks to all (about 40
in all) who worked hard both before and during the week. 109
different children attended: 32 from East Gadsden, 16 from area
congregations and 61 who have no affiliation with the Lord’s church.
This last group came because of invitations by friends, door
knocking, and “House to House”. We are following up each of these
families through our “Outreach Program”. Let’s pray that hearts will
be open to the truth.
A Brother Responds
Jack Jackson came forward Sunday morning confessing sin and
asking forgiveness. We love and appreciate Jack and his family.
Men’s Leadership Meeting
We had a good meeting this Sunday. A special Financial Meeting
is scheduled for Sunday, August 5th at 3:00 in the fellowship hall.
“Outreach Meeting”
About 30 attended the meeting Sunday night after worship. About
100 assignments were taken on by the group to contact visitors,
sick, shut-in, and those needing encouragement. We will report on
these at the next meeting.
Ladies’ Informational Meeting
Minutes from the July 1 meeting are in the lobby.
Accomplishments & Honors
Please turn in your child’s accomplishments and honors for this
past school year. We will print this information in the bulletin
next week.
Men’s Night Out
All of our men are invited to a Night Out this Friday, July 27
at Fuji’s Japanese Steak House in Oxford. We will meet at 6:00 p.m.
at our building to go down there.
Mission Reports
Pat Lambert has sent us an e-mail from Sister Frances Davidson,
whose husband Jerry heads up the work in Guyana. They report 23
baptisms, 5 restorations and 5 weddings in 2 villages recently.
Also, Jim Waldron’s India report is on the table.
School Supplies & Clothing for Childhaven
These items will be delivered to Childhaven on Saturday, July
28th around 11:00 a.m. If you would like to help, see Kerry Gott.
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Back
to School Lock-In
All of our young people are invited to a “Back to school
Lock-In” on Friday, Aug. 3rd beginning at 6 PM. Participants
need to bring sleeping bags and board games. Kip and Kelly Jones
will be in charge of this event.
School Supplies for Adams Elementary
“The Beacons of Light” are collecting school supplies for
children that need assistance at Adams Elementary School. A list
of supplies needed is in the foyer. Deadline on bringing these
supplies is August 5th. Please place them in Pam’s office.
Seminar: “The Bible and the End of Time”
This seminar will be hosted by the Blessing Church of Christ
at Snead State Community College on August 24 and 25 with Bro.
Stafford North. Info is in the lobby.
In the Area
Annual Singing
North Broad St. Church of Christ – Albertville
Friday, August 3rd
7 until 9 PM
Refreshments served afterwards
Back to School Family Rally
at Glencoe Church of Christ
Friday, July 27th –Young
Children’s Rally
Saturday, July 28th – See schedule in foyer
Speakers: Blake Jones, Shane Clark,
Clark Sims and David
Courington
Gospel Meeting
Highway 9 Church of Christ in Piedmont
Aug. 5-8 - Nightly at 7 PM
Speaker: Steve Hall
Gospel Meeting on Revelation
Heflin Church of Christ
Aug. 5 – 8 nightly at 7 PM
Speaker: Ken Butterworth
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DICTATORIAL ELDERS
Elders are
expected, even commanded, to “exercise oversight” in their congregations
(I Peter 5:2). Every word used to designate those we call “elders”, even
“elders” itself considering its Old Testament background, implies the
right to make some decisions on behalf of those they oversee. But the
command is to “exercise oversight…not domineering over those in your
charge, but being examples to the flock” (I Peter 5:3).
Jesus spoke clearly of acceptable and unacceptable styles of leadership
for his kingdom: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be
so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son
of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a
ransom for many” (Matt. 20:25-28).
One does not have to deny that elders have decision making
responsibilities to speak out against “lord and master” attitudes
exhibited by some elderships.
Elders who have a closed door policy and will not accept or respond to
suggestions or criticisms are surely “exercising authority over” the
church in the way Jesus forbids. When a major decision affecting the
whole church is made behind closed doors and the first the church knows
the matter is even being considered is when the decision is announced as
a “done deal”, the elders are “lording it over” the congregation.
Elders should encourage the congregation to participate in major
decisions. They do not have to abdicate their authority to seek and
consider input from the congregation. “Everyone cannot have their way,
but all should have their say.”
The local Montgomery paper, the Montgomery Advertiser, ran a front page
article on division in churches (4/13/07 , page A1). One of the churches
featured had had the police called three times to break up shouting
matches that developed during Sunday services. Among other things some
members object to the Pastor’s refusal to open up financial records. He
said, “The Pastor is called by God. God is the reason I am at (this
church). Leading a church is like commanding a military unit.”
Unfortunately, high-handed leadership in the military manner is not
exclusive to denominational pastors.
Certainly some matters handled by elders are rightly confidential, but
an atmosphere of secrecy surrounding the business of the church and most
decisions of the elders is disruptive of the trust members should be
able to place in their elders.
Members need to take to heart the admonition: “Obey your leaders and
submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who
will have to give an account” (Heb. 13:17 ). Elders need to take to
heart the admonition: “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you,
exercising oversight,…not domineering over those in your charge, but
being examples to the flock (I Peter 5:2-3).
Cecil May, Jr.
Faulkner University
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In Our Prayers
Updates: Peggy St. John, Mattie Peace, Martha
Kirby, Cristy Chumney, Nancy Phillips, Wanda Laney, Fred & Maxine Duke
and Betty Freeman are sick at home. Floyd Hollis is in Gadsden Regional
Room 945. Katie Pendley is in Gadsden Regional Room 725. Gail Clough was
back at services last Sunday. We are thankful she is better.
Shut In: At Home- Frances Wesson, Martha Phillips and Ruby Brown
Coosa Valley Healthcare: Canolia Bone –Rm 208
Meadowood Retirement-Walter Thompson Rm 107
Prayer Requests: Canolia Bone; Doyle and Betty May; Katie
Pendley; Floyd Hollis; Larry Phillips, needs kidney transplant; Janice
James; Shelia Stansell; Ruby Brown; Ottey Simon-young girl from Guyana
with an eye tumor; Amy Stigers and Anna Sanders and their families as
Robert and Gary are in Iraq; Jennifer Adair; Rodney Lambert, Pat’s
father, has pulmonary fibrosis; Terry Word, father of Dana White, has
serious health problems; Peggy St. John; Jeff Dickson-eye condition;
James Bullard, son in law of Audrey Talbot, has a malignancy around a
heart artery; Jaime Fazekas and Dawn Blair ’s dad will have back surgery
soon; Betty Freeman; family of Laura Thomas; family of Ronald Cornelius;
family of Mary Baker; Gene Pennington and his family in the death of his
brother- in –law; Alberta Whitson has several family members who have
had recent surgeries; Jan Ragsdale and Kevin Edmondson
In the Military- Mack Johnson, William Gregory, Jared Jacobs,
Jeff Brewster, Steven Whitehead, Randy Brown, Johnny Matherne, Jeff
Erwin, Bill McCarver, Stan Gunter, Kevin Latta, Allen Yancey, Gary
Sanders, Robert Stigers, Danny Moss and Josh Jones
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Happy Birthday
July 29 – Hunter Jones
July 30 – Mollie Mitchell
August 2 – Luke Dowdy
August 4 – Dot Miller
August 4 – Georgia Parnell
Happy Anniversary
August 1 – Steve & Melanie Livingston
August 1 – Heath & Dawn Blair
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God’s Word
Luke 7:44-48
44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see
this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet,
but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the
hair of her head.
45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My
feet since the time I came in.
46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed
My feet with fragrant oil.
47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven,
for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves
little."
48 And He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
Weekly Programs
Radio: Sun. at 8 AM - WAAX/570
With Ronny Johnson
TV: "In Search of the Lord's
Way"
with Mack Lyon
Sunday at 7:30 AM - Channel 11
"Preaching the Gospel" with James
Watkins
Sunday at 7 AM - Channel 11
Jerry Jenkins -
Thursday at 7 PM
Channel 5
Earl Barnett - Sunday at 6 AM
Channels 4 & 9
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