September 12, 2024
If you missed the installation for Nate Stevenson as a church planter this past Sunday night, I encourage you to watch it when you have a chance. David Strain's sermon on Ezekiel 37:1-14 was powerful, and it was a joy to see the great turnout from our congregation and from First Presbyterian Church (the other congregation that is heavily involved in this new church plant on the Old Canton Corridor).
God is at work in our Presbytery, as we currently have three churches being planted: Steen's Creek PCA in Florence, Ouachita PCA in Monroe, and now the new effort in northeast Jackson. Like the plant in Monroe, the Old Canton plant is a scratch plant - which means that it is starting from scratch, without a core group of members. Sometimes scratch plants are done by necessity, and sometimes by choice. In the case of the Old Canton plant, being a scratch plant allows the focus to be evangelism growth rather than transfer growth, and allows the plant to be more intentionally reflective of the diverse community from the start. Our prayer is that the unconverted, deconverted, and dechurched from a variety of backgrounds might be reached for Christ through the ministry of Nate and those whom the Lord raises up to labor with him.
I rejoice that we are, and have long been, a church planting church, and I pray that this will always mark us.
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The joy of seeing God at work continues this coming Sunday night, as we will install Charles Marchman as associate pastor of POPC. Kelly Dotson, a pastor at South Baton Rouge PCA (where Charles formerly served), will be preaching God's word. Some of you remember Kelly and Amy from their time here while in seminary; he was a good friend of mine at LSU, so I'm looking forward to getting to hear him preach. Let's fill the Sanctuary in celebration of God's kind provision for our congregation, particularly for the young adults and young families in our midst. And don't forget about the reception following the service!
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I write this on Wednesday night, the evening of September 11. I was in seminary when the World Trade Center towers were struck by terrorists and collapsed into a heap, killing so many. It's hard to believe that it's been 23 years ago. There were many stories of heroism and sacrifice in the midst of tragedy and loss. If you've never seen the eleven minute video, "The Man in the Red Bandana," about Welles Crowther, it's worth your time. It's a beautiful illustration of Jesus' words in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" - or in this case, for strangers.