I do trust you had a great Thanksgiving. We enjoyed time with the Chapman's (Amy's folks) in Greenville, SC. Her entire family is there now and makes it easy to see them all on holidays, etc. We enjoy Thanksgiving on Thursday, and Christmas the next day on Friday of every year. If it were my choice, I would move the entire world to this efficient holiday system: Thankfulness; Christ's Birth-----it goes together well.
We will be returning on Wed. afternoon and will see everyone in the evening service. We will miss you tomorrow and pray that you will have tremendous services at LBC. Please encourage the Assistant Pastor's by your faithful attendance :)
Some of you may have not been at the Thanksgiving service when I announced we are expecting child #5. It was a great surprise to Amy and I and I jokingly say her name will be "Providence". Of course it is too early to know the gender, but little girls smell better when snuggled. If it is a boy, we will be giving it to Jeff and Jess. :) (Oh the joy of getting the last word!) Honestly though, we will cherish boy or girl, so don't send me hate mail about the boy comment :)
One last sad note...Jack Miller's "Pop" died earlier this week. You may know that Jack was greatly burdened for him. I spoke to him today and the funeral will likely be on Thursday. Of course, Lighthouse will do all we can do for the family.
May the Lord bless each of you, we will see you when we get back.
pw
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Community Meeting
Good Morning!
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. Ps 118
This morning I do give thanks to the Lord! The meeting last night went very smoothly. There was very good attendance- thanks to those who came! I didn't count, but I would guess at least 80 (or more?) from LBC and then some more from the Community. The only concerns raised were respectful questions about lighting, entrances, the dangerous intersection that we already have, etc.
Overall as Community people left, they shook my hand and gave their happy support. There was no one there against the project. Amen! Councilwoman McClellan publicly said it was the shortest Community Meeting she ever had.
So, we live to plan another day. As our economy tanks, that actually favors our project somewhat with quicker permissions and cheaper construction. Our builder (Jim Nowland) told me last night that contractors are begging for work. Construction materials are low also. This is a good time to be building.
The issue of course on our side is continuing to raise the money to put us in the position come Fall of next year. IT IS IN GOD'S HANDS. HE IS NOT EFFECTED BY THE ECONOMY EVEN IF HIS CHILDREN ARE. WE TRUST HIM, WE THANK HIM, HE IS GOOD.
I know He has not brought us this far to make us stumble for lack of money in the final stretch of the race. We wait on Him.
Love Him today!
pw
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. Ps 118
This morning I do give thanks to the Lord! The meeting last night went very smoothly. There was very good attendance- thanks to those who came! I didn't count, but I would guess at least 80 (or more?) from LBC and then some more from the Community. The only concerns raised were respectful questions about lighting, entrances, the dangerous intersection that we already have, etc.
Overall as Community people left, they shook my hand and gave their happy support. There was no one there against the project. Amen! Councilwoman McClellan publicly said it was the shortest Community Meeting she ever had.
So, we live to plan another day. As our economy tanks, that actually favors our project somewhat with quicker permissions and cheaper construction. Our builder (Jim Nowland) told me last night that contractors are begging for work. Construction materials are low also. This is a good time to be building.
The issue of course on our side is continuing to raise the money to put us in the position come Fall of next year. IT IS IN GOD'S HANDS. HE IS NOT EFFECTED BY THE ECONOMY EVEN IF HIS CHILDREN ARE. WE TRUST HIM, WE THANK HIM, HE IS GOOD.
I know He has not brought us this far to make us stumble for lack of money in the final stretch of the race. We wait on Him.
Love Him today!
pw
Thursday, November 20, 2008
What !?!?!!!
Amazingly enough, I announced last night in the service that we would no longer be taking a Wednesday evening offering. This may come as a "shocker" to those who realize we are building a building. However, you may not realize that the giving on Wednesday evening is almost a formality, and those who give would naturally give their tithes and offerings on Sunday anyway.
Another reason for the change is the goal of developing our Mid-week service into a service that focalizes on Biblical Teaching, Prayer, and Missionary Education. We also want to Concentrate this service into a block of an hour and fifteen minutes. Removing the offering will help.
In addition to these changes, beginning in January, our Adult Wednesday Service will move to 6:30pm for a trial period of 3 months. We then will evaluate the change and continue accordingly. Thank you for all the great input we received from the questionnaire on this issue. Your input mixed with prayerful and Biblical wisdom made this decision.
PW
Another reason for the change is the goal of developing our Mid-week service into a service that focalizes on Biblical Teaching, Prayer, and Missionary Education. We also want to Concentrate this service into a block of an hour and fifteen minutes. Removing the offering will help.
In addition to these changes, beginning in January, our Adult Wednesday Service will move to 6:30pm for a trial period of 3 months. We then will evaluate the change and continue accordingly. Thank you for all the great input we received from the questionnaire on this issue. Your input mixed with prayerful and Biblical wisdom made this decision.
PW
A Bit Late
Good Morning LBC Folks!
I had promised to post the totals from the Fall Informed Offering on the Website. As of now, the offering is a bit over $16,000.00.
In our present economy, with the fear of recession, etc., I think we should be thankful for this amount. As a man last night prayed, "thank you Lord for this offering...we know the next one will be bigger..." I think that's good thinking.
May the Lord bless you today. The office is closed this morning for the staff to get away together for some bonding/training/schooling. It will reopen around 2pm.
PW
I had promised to post the totals from the Fall Informed Offering on the Website. As of now, the offering is a bit over $16,000.00.
In our present economy, with the fear of recession, etc., I think we should be thankful for this amount. As a man last night prayed, "thank you Lord for this offering...we know the next one will be bigger..." I think that's good thinking.
May the Lord bless you today. The office is closed this morning for the staff to get away together for some bonding/training/schooling. It will reopen around 2pm.
PW
Friday, November 7, 2008
November 16th
I am writing today especially to those who regularly visit this website that are not in our church. Perhaps you live in another state or in an area where you do not have a good Fundamental church to attend.
Our Website tracks those who visit it and the areas of the country and the world where people are enjoying sermons, music, etc. There are many that visit us regularly all over the globe.
I am writing to you to invite you to have a part in what LBC is doing. No doubt by now you realize we are in the process of building a new Auditorium. The Lord has allowed us for over a year now to overflow our present 211 seat auditorium into a video overflow. We presently average around 260 on Sunday mornings and are in serious need of a new auditorium. It is our desire not to go to two services in order to preserve the "family" spirit that we so much enjoy.
Our November Quarterly Building offering is called the "Fall Informed Offering". We brought in our Builder: Jim Nowland and our Site Engineer: Bruce Tease from Landmark Engineering to speak to our congregation last Sunday night. After the presentation, questions were taken from the floor. I encourage you to watch the meetings in our sermon video section.
As a church, we are presently giving through weekly commitments, surplus income, and these quarterly offerings. Our building is not a matter of mere wish, but present need. I am asking you, our worldwide visitors to have a part in what you see God doing at our church. Soon, we will have an online building donation "gateway" through Paypal - but for now, would you please pray about sending "offerings" (not your local church tithes) to:
Lighthouse Baptist Church Building Fund
1842 Otts Chapel Rd.
Newark, De 19702
Your gifts are tax deductible and a tax receipt will be sent to you at the end of the year.
May the Lord bless your consideration of this worthy building for the cause of Christ.
Faithfully Christ's,
Pastor Witmer
Our Website tracks those who visit it and the areas of the country and the world where people are enjoying sermons, music, etc. There are many that visit us regularly all over the globe.
I am writing to you to invite you to have a part in what LBC is doing. No doubt by now you realize we are in the process of building a new Auditorium. The Lord has allowed us for over a year now to overflow our present 211 seat auditorium into a video overflow. We presently average around 260 on Sunday mornings and are in serious need of a new auditorium. It is our desire not to go to two services in order to preserve the "family" spirit that we so much enjoy.
Our November Quarterly Building offering is called the "Fall Informed Offering". We brought in our Builder: Jim Nowland and our Site Engineer: Bruce Tease from Landmark Engineering to speak to our congregation last Sunday night. After the presentation, questions were taken from the floor. I encourage you to watch the meetings in our sermon video section.
As a church, we are presently giving through weekly commitments, surplus income, and these quarterly offerings. Our building is not a matter of mere wish, but present need. I am asking you, our worldwide visitors to have a part in what you see God doing at our church. Soon, we will have an online building donation "gateway" through Paypal - but for now, would you please pray about sending "offerings" (not your local church tithes) to:
Lighthouse Baptist Church Building Fund
1842 Otts Chapel Rd.
Newark, De 19702
Your gifts are tax deductible and a tax receipt will be sent to you at the end of the year.
May the Lord bless your consideration of this worthy building for the cause of Christ.
Faithfully Christ's,
Pastor Witmer
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Clarify
In the last post, I mentioned pray for General Fund "Cash-Flow". I DID NOT MEAN WE WERE TIGHT IN ANYWAY.
What I did mean was the Lenders look at our Cash-flow to determine if we can support a future mortgage. The better our present cash-flow looks, the more willing they are to negotiate a loan with us. Cash-flow is the amount of money after the bills are paid.
That is all I meant - we are doing great at LBC! - look at the weekly offerings for yourselves and rejoice that the Lord is above and beyond paying His bills.
PW
What I did mean was the Lenders look at our Cash-flow to determine if we can support a future mortgage. The better our present cash-flow looks, the more willing they are to negotiate a loan with us. Cash-flow is the amount of money after the bills are paid.
That is all I meant - we are doing great at LBC! - look at the weekly offerings for yourselves and rejoice that the Lord is above and beyond paying His bills.
PW
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