Celebrating anniversary of pastorate, church column

John Settles

“Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.”

On Nov. 15, our little church in Waco will celebrate 24 years of my pastorate. This year also marks 12 years that I have written the Register’s “Church and Community Focus” column.

My years as pastor have been filled with joy and sadness. I have labored to lead God’s people strictly by the word of God. During my years as pastor, I have been blessed to baptize over 30 new converts. God has blessed our ministry, and my prayer is that he will continue to use me as his instrument to spread the gospel in our community.

I also have been blessed to write this newspaper column every week. I thank God for Sis. Lucy Mundy who preceded me as religious columnist for the Register. She was a great inspiration to me and I thank God for the work she did with her column, “Notes and Notices.”

To commemorate my anniversary, Pleasant Green will host a celebration on Sunday, Nov. 15. The special guest at 11:30 a.m. will be Elder Virgil Gardner, associate minister of Richmond Predestinarian Church. The special guests at 3 p.m. will be Elder James McPherson and the Stoney Point Predestinarian Baptist Church. The church prepares a big anniversary dinner, and we invite all of our readers to come and share this day with us. Amen.

We greet you today with life, love and peace in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is our author and finisher of our faith.



Thought for the week

“Don’t consume your tomorrow feeding on your yesterday.”



Bible study

Do you want to learn how to really live right before Jesus Christ? Jesus is soon to return. Will you go with Him or be left behind? We at Greater Faith Ministries would like to help you know for sure. We have our informal Bible study every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at 201 Aquaduct Dr. A-1, Richmond. All are welcome. For directions or for prayer, call 624-9823 or 893-3321.



New church

The Old Regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ with the Indian Bottom Association is establishing a new church in Richmond. The church is meeting the first Sunday of every month at 9:30 a.m. at the Best Western Holiday Plaza, exit 87 on the Eastern Bypass. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call Elder H. B. Reedy Jr. at 859-333-7138.



Freedom Fund Banquet

The Richmond-Madison County Chapter of the NAACP will have its annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. The banquet will be at the Betty Miller Center located at 325 North Estill Avenue. The theme is “Bold Dreams, Big Victories” with featured speaker Kristi Runyon, a WTVQ 36 news reporter. Tickets are $25 per person and are available from NAACP Members or call 624-2045.



Gospel singing

Family Worship Center, 1319 Linden St. in Richmond, will host a gospel singing on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. Guest singer is Earnest Carter and the Blue Grass Hymn Trip with Mary Reedy. Other singers also will participate. There will be food following the singing. For details, call 1-859-585-5788 or 369-7761. Pastor Ike Sams welcomes everyone.



Girl Scouts

The Girl Scouts of Richmond service unit invites everyone to a holiday bazaar, Saturday, Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring handmade crafts, homemade goodies, food and more, at the B. Michael Caudill Middle School gymnasium.



Special note

To all churches and civic organizations: To place your church or civic activity in this column, please send all information at least one week in advance via the U.S. Postal Service. The new address is: Church & Community Focus, 246 Sunset Ave., Richmond, KY 40475. E-mailed announcements should be sent to: tpollary@roadrunner.com and all e-mailed announcements must be received by 6 p.m. on the Tuesday of the week you wish your announcement to appear in the newspaper.



Until next week

May the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus stay fresh in your minds until we meet again.