Steel Valley Association Challenged
Gary Frost, associational missionary for Steel Valley Baptist Association challenged pastors and church leaders to Experience God …Again! Churches were encouraged to study together Experiencing God beginning January 2019 in preparation for beginning a three-year Kingdom Cohort of churches, resulting in healthy churches planting healthy churches.
First Baptist Church Newton Falls (pastor Steve Spurlock) hosted the SVBA 53rd annual meeting October 13. Pastor Randy Langham (Cornersburg Baptist Church) moderated the gathering focused on Psalm 85:6 “Will you revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” Frost reminded the association of Matthew 9:35-38, calling attention to Jesus being “moved to compassion.” He noted:
“Jesus was not so much concerned with the “hands” in the work. He was focused upon “hearts” for the work. His challenge to “pray the Lord of the harvest” was in the context of His own compassion for the weary and scattered multitudes. The issue was not a “labor deficit,” the issue was a “love deficit.” Christ challenged His disciples to pray that the Father would send (compel, force) laborers who shared His compassion for lost and hurting people. I have found that when people are moved by compassion you don’t have to motivate them, you simply must direct their motivation.”
Claude King, co-author of the best-selling book Experiencing God and LifeWay Discipleship and Church Health Specialist, brought a challenging message on being ready for revival. King noted before God sends revival to a nation He always “shakes” a nation, creating a hunger and hopelessness, readying the people to seek Him. He said, “God sometimes takes us to school to show us what we can’t do.” We then learn with the indwelling Holy Spirit there is no limit to what God can do.
Revival comes when God brings His people back to Himself, but that is “too small a thing.” When we return to Him, we must also be a “light to the Gentiles,” chosen by Him to share “to the ends of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:5-7) Isaiah 49:14-16 reminds us He has not forgotten us, we are inscribed on the “palms of His hands” as He prays for us (Hebrews 7:25). Claude King led a closing concert of prayer for revival in America.
