And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (Luke 10:23, 24 KJV)

I was baptized in the Spirit at age 11 at Sunday school camp while in this church. By my early teens I had grown cold in my walk with God. One of the thoughts that stood out in my mind at that time as a young person was that God might call on me to do something that He wants, but that I wouldn't want to do. At that young age I had the stubborn notion that I wouldn't be able to do God's will if it went awry of my own dreams or desires. I had a teacher once that said he knew who was ready with the answers to his questions by whether or not a student looked him in the eye, or looked down or away. I decided to look away from God in stead of looking him in the eye.

Fast forward a few years. After spending some time on my own, doing my own thing, I found myself back at this church. I took on the youth ministry as youth leader/youth pastor for 6 years. I served as administrative pastor for a couple of years. I plied on the responsibilities, volunteered for everything, did anything I was asked. I had to feel wanted, I had to feel needed, I was insecure, and I couldn't let go of anything. I was no longer running from God; I thought I was embracing God's will for my life. It was into this ministry madness that I entertained the calling to do a work for the Lord in Jackson. But it was because of this very madness that a detour was necessary. We went for 2 whole years to another church that provided us the chance to get out of the nest and find ourselves in God. When we came back to Beech Bluff, back to the vision God had given us, it was with the full intent to go back to Jackson and pick up the work the had ceased 2 years before.

Here is what we do each and every time we meet in our home group:
- pray
- fellowship and share testimony
- study the word
- preach the gospel (even if it is only a moment to confirm the salvation message, or presenting Acts 2:38 during prayer with visitors)
- most weeks there are words of exhortation, prophecy, and a move of the Holy Ghost
- always affirm the vision God has given us- we are starting a church to the glory of God

What makes this a church plant?
- the blessing of the parent church and the organization (Acts 13:1-3; 15:40)
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. (Acts 13:1-3 KJV)

- the intent with which these things are done (Acts 14:22-23)
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. (Acts 14:22, 23 KJV)

- the calling of the people doing the work: Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. (Acts 14:22, 23 KJV)

This call of God is a personal calling. There are things only God can do, but there are also things that only you can do- only you can take up your calling.

I'm a church planter. I didn't ask for it, I never foresaw it, I didn't aspire to it. But it is what I am.

I ached at missing Bible study when I had to be out of town.
When Sis. Barbara came the first time to church, I was compelled to pray for her. Because she came from Jackson, she's my people. I won't let these people go without being prayed for by me. And she was renewed in the Holy Ghost and baptized for the first time in Jesus name in that service.

When you do all these things we're doing, you get to say, "come join us a Beech Bluff!" We get to say, "We need you to be patient, join in with us, and help build a congregation that brings Beech Bluff to Jackson!"

Up until now I have described the kingdom calling I have experienced. But I also want you to know- the Kingdom is calling you.
Now is not the time to relegate your visions to the past, remote or recent; their place should be in present hope of future fulfillment.

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. (Matthew 9:37-38 KJV)

The prayers to send forth laborers worked- the 1st journey was 12, the second was 70 Mt. 9:38-10:1; Luke 10:1-2
The Master called: And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. (Luke 6:13-16 KJV) They followed. Some turned Him down.

He showed: And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. (Luke 6:17-19 KJV)

And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, (Luke 8:1 KJV)

In Luke 8, they witnessed the sea calmed (22-25), the legion cast out (26-35), the issue of blood healed with only a touch of Jesus' garment (43-48), and the dead maid raised (49-56).

John's disciples were told the proof of the Kingdom was in these miracles Jesus did: Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. (Luke 7:22 KJV)

He taught: And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. (Luke 6:20-23 KJV)

Parable of the sower Luke 8:5-15 They learned of the Kingdom.

He sent: Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:1, 2 KJV) They went and returned again: And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. (Luke 9:6, 10 KJV)

The kingdom calling was to be witnesses, teachers, and healers. All of these things proclaim the Kingdom. How amazing would it be if we relied on the calling of God so much that we just started doing miracles all over the place?

The more things change, the more they stay the same. We may recognize a need for change, even gripe and complain about the need for change, but rarely do we initiate it. It often take some tremendous offense or crisis to get us to change.
It isn't easy going every week to do the work God has called us to amid all the other activities of life. It's a stewardship.
Time, effort, and competing activities must be evaluated. Room has to be made to do the work God has called you to do.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. We may recognize a need for change, even gripe and complain about the need for change, but rarely do we initiate it. It often take some tremendous offense or crisis to get us to change.
It isn't easy going every week to do the work God has called us to amid all the other activities of life. It's a stewardship.
Time, effort, and competing activities must be evaluated. Room has to be made to do the work God has called you to do.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. We may recognize a need for change, even gripe and complain about the need for change, but rarely do we initiate it. It often take some tremendous offense or crisis to get us to change.
It isn't easy going every week to do the work God has called us to amid all the other activities of life. It's a stewardship.
Time, effort, and competing activities must be evaluated. Room has to be made to do the work God has called you to do.

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. (John 1:19, 20 KJV)
Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:28, 30 KJV)

I described the ministry madness I had gotten myself into a few years ago. It is easy to feel that you have to do everything, easy to develop pet projects that you take ownership of, easy to feel slighted by not being the one doing the latest, greatest thing in ministry. But praise God I am more content in my calling, more satisfied in being broken, than ever before.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:44-46 KJV)

There's danger in thinking we have done anything of our own. Christ bought the field. Christ bought the pearl. All that we do, we do in imitation of Him for the sake of His holy calling.

I had prayed in the weeks leading up to coming back to Beech Bluff that God would show me an open door where the son of peace resided and open the opportunity in the community. And he has. But between that prayer and the answer to that prayer, a lot of things took place. I envisioned going out on my own and some audible voice telling me where to go . But the answer came in the form of a tent revival. We have to have each other.
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (1 Corinthians 3:8-10 KJV)

Generosity- supporting others' calling. It is all about the kingdom, not the church. God will bless.

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Mark 16:20