Messenger Vol. 1 : simplebooklet.com

iiWelcome to the MessengerNew Look, Same MessageSince 1939, the Messenger has been a standard for truth and a beacon forhope. Though its look, content, and publication has changed over the years,the truths it proclaims have not changed. The Fellowship Messenger is still “earnestly contending for the faith.” Overthe decades, the Messenger was designed to help exhort, inform, and connectus as a Fellowship. Even though this publication has a new look, it continueson with the same message. Some portions are published here to inform us, like the President’s Pen andCamp Corner. Others are provided to connect us, like the the MinistrySpotlight and A Look Back. The Messenger also provides us exhortationthrough our various articles, sermons, hymns, and commentaries.We would invite all pastors and churches to utilize this material in their ownstudy as well as in the discipleship ministries of their church. A good exampleis our Hymn History section. Connect with other churches by sharing thehistory of the hymn and singing it as a congregation at least once in thequarter. The Messenger is dedicated to the work of the Lord and the editor and writersdesire to see God glorified through it. May we as a Fellowship seek to be aunited voice for Christ, standing firm in God and on God’s Word.We stand firmly on the Fundamentalsof the Faith and believe the Bible tobe God’s Word to us today.

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“What Can the Righteous Do?”“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”—Psalm 11:3This is an age-old question that brings us into a head-on collision with uncertainty,tempting us to fear. These times, like previous generations throughout world history, giveus reason to doubt and fear. The “What If Monster of Terror” peers around the cornerand calls us by name from the shadows. He tries to get us to focus on the problem—theuncertainty and sinfulness—as the foundations of our society seem to be crumblingunder the weight of sin and actions of evil players directed by the god of the world. Thisquestion presses into our own feebleness and insecurities. “What can the righteous do”in light of the foundations of our society crumbling all around us?The “foundations” of society seem to be law and justice which were eroded under KingSaul’s rule. Today, law and justice are on shaky ground as the unrighteous often seem tobe set free as lawlessness is excused. The legal system, in ways, leans toward the side ofpower revealing more of a justice that is subjective more than objective.“What can the righteous do” when the powers of this world rule and reign with injustice,hypocrisy, and unrighteousness? “What can the righteous do” when immorality isglorified by the loud voices of society calling evil good and good evil? “What can therighteous do” when the “What If Monster of Terror” pounds on the door of our life,reminding us of the uncertainty of tomorrow? “What can the righteous do?”1President’s PenRev. John Lashuay(Pine Island Bible)

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To run and hide is to submit to the fear of uncertainty. To blend in with the world aroundus is to submit to the fear of criticism and/ or mocking. With these thoughts in mind, wemust ask ourselves, “Where am I putting my trust if this “What If Monster” brings meunder its powerful influence as I submit to worry and fear? The truth is that this questionis revealing that my heart is betraying my strongest statements of dogma (i.e., myprofessed theology is not lining up with my practical theology.).The “What IF Monster of Terror” must be confronted by the “What IS Minister of Truth.”The fear of uncertainty must be replaced with faith in the certainty of WHO God is andWHAT God does.David began the psalm with the answer before the question was asked. He said, “In theLORD put I my trust.” He then directly answers the question (v. 3) by stating the truthwhich undergirds his trust. He says, “The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD’S throne isin heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men” (v. 4). In this verse we seethe Lord’s place of power, His perception of all things, and His providential working. Then in verse 7 we see what pleases Him—“For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness;His countenance doth behold the upright.”In the face of these uncertainties, fears, and crumbling societal foundations, “What canthe righteous do?” Choose to stand in faith. As the “What If Monster” comes knocking,submit and draw nigh to the “What IS Minister of Truth”—“In the Lord I put my trust.” We must stand fast, being “strong in the Lord and in the power of Hismight.” Because “the Lord is in His holy temple,” He is still on the throne, ruling and reigning inrighteousness. “His eyes [still] behold, His eyelids [still] try the children of men.”We must remember that we are here “for such a time as this” not to cower but to standcourageous in Christ and live with a redeeming influence that is Christ contagious.2

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The Annual Conference of the Fellowship of Fundamental Bible Churches beganour 85th year as a group of believers “earnestly contending for the faith.” We alsocelebrated 75 years of Tri-State Bible Camp.This year, our speaker was Dr. Bruce McAllister, vice president of ministry for BobJones University. His focus was on a healthy heart. For those who missed theservices, or would like a copy of the services you can reach out to WonderfulGrace Radio (wonderfulgraceradio.org) and they will provide you with a digitalcopy free of charge. Janie Wolfe directed the children’s services.Our business meetings covered a range of topics, including the launch of ourupdated FFBC website (ffbchurches.org). This new website will provide ourFellowship with a more visible web presence. We also passed two resolutions: “OnThe 85th Anniversary of the Fellowship” and “On Andy Stanley and theUnconditional Conference.” Both of these resolutions can be found on the FFBCwebsite (ffbchurches.org).On the second day of our Annual Conference, we had a picnic lunch followed by apresentation on both Tri-State and a documentary on the Fellowship ofFundamental Bible Churches. In additional to those attending the Conference,many people connected with Tri-State over the years also attended theseactivities. We praise God for his faithfulness to both of these ministries andcontinue to pray for God’s direction and blessing in the coming years. Like every year, the Conference ended with our Fellowship Circle. The singing of“Blest Be the Tie that Binds” has been the concluding tradition for decades. Welook forward to what God has in store for the FFBC this coming year, and inviteyou to pray with us that God will continue to use us for His Glory!3Annual Conference Recap

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Greetings to all! I pray that this column, which will explore important theological terms,will be a great help and blessing to all. Our word for this issue is justification. It is basedon the Greek word δικαιόω (dikaióō), which signifies being declared or pronouncedrighteous.One of the key passages in this regard is Romans 3:23-24, which addresses the universalnature of sin and the gracious provision of justification through faith in Jesus Christ. InRomans 3:23, the Apostle Paul declares that every human being has sinned against God(the only exception being the Lord Jesus Christ). We have all “come short of the gloryof God,” meaning that we fall short of His perfect holiness and moral excellence. GodHimself is the standard of perfect righteousness which we cannot hope to attain on ourown.However, the good news of verse 24 is that God offers justification freely. Justificationis a legal declaration by which a person is pronounced righteous in the sight of God.This legal standing is God’s gracious gift to us, meaning that it is undeserved andcannot be earned. How does one obtain this free gift? He receives it freely “through theredemption which is in Christ Jesus.” Therefore, the means or way in which justificationis received is through faith alone (Romans 1:17). The ground of justification is thefinished work of Christ (the shedding of His blood on the cross).4Justification must be distinguishedfrom sanctification which, in theprogressive sense of the term, isGod’s act of renewal andtransformation in our lives afterconversion. By contrast, justificationis a one-time act (again, a legaldeclaration) at the moment ofconversion, while sanctification is aprocess culminating in glorificationat the return of Christ. Justificationdeals with our standing before God;sanctification deals with our state orcondition. There has been much confusion in church history due to failure to distinguish the two. Though they aredistinct works of God, sanctification will always follow justification if genuineconversion has occurred (Romans 8:30).Quarterly QuestRev. John Mark Turner(Hardingville Bible)

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Additionally, justification is related to the doctrine of imputation (which meanscrediting something to the account of another). God imputed the perfect righteousnessof Christ to our account and, at the same time, imputed our sins to Christ on the cross.On this basis, we who have trusted Christ as Savior are fully justified in the sight of God(2 Corinthians 5:21). Therefore, our justification is not a legal fiction; it is based on therighteousness of Christ imputed to our account at the moment of conversion.What are the practical implications of this doctrine? First of all, the doctrine ofjustification reminds us that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christalone. God is the One who justifies! Secondly, justification brings peace with God(Romans 5:1), freeing believers from the fear of condemnation. This peace allows themto live confidently and joyfully in their relationship with God. Thirdly, recognizing thatjustification is a gift of grace fosters humility and gratitude. Believers understand thattheir righteous standing before God is not earned but given, leading to a life ofthankfulness. Fourthly, justification encourages believers to live morally and ethically,not to earn God’s favor, but as a response to the grace they have received (Romans 6:1-14). Finally, the doctrine of justification motivates us to share the gospel with theunsaved, offering the hope of justification through faith in Christ.As we consider the meaning and implications of this important doctrine, let us bemoved to greater thankfulness for what God has done through Christ on our behalf.“Justification is a legal.” As Charles Ryrie explains: “To justify means to declare righteous. Both the Hebrew (sadaq)and the Greek (dikaioo) words mean to announce or pronounce a favorable verdict, to declare righteous. Theconcept does not mean to make righteous, but to announce righteousness. It is a courtroom concept, so that tojustify is to give a verdict of righteous. Notice the contrast between to justify and to condemn in Deuteronomy 25:1;1 Kings 8:32; and Proverbs 17:15. Just as announcing condemnation does not make a person wicked, neither doesjustification make a person righteous. Condemning or justifying announces the true and actual state of the person.The wicked person is already wicked when the verdict of condemnation is pronounced. Likewise, the righteousperson is already righteous when the verdict of justification is announced (Basic Theology, 298).”“Justification must be distinguished.” The Westminster Catechism defines sanctification as “the work of God’s freegrace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die untosin and live unto righteousness.”“By contrast, justification is a one-time act.” Charles Hodge, in his Systematic Theology, puts it this way:“[justification] is a transient act... [sanctification is] a progressive work” (Vol. 3, 213).“There has been much confusion.” One famous example can be found in the theology of Augustine. He “viewedjustification broadly as the entire movement of salvation from regeneration through sanctification.” As BruceDemarest explains, “not well versed in the Greek, the bishop [Augustine] interpreted dikaioo as to ‘make righteous,’rather than ‘pronounce righteous.’” It should be noted that Augustine still defended the doctrine of salvation asentirely a work of God’s grace against the heresy of Pelagius.5

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In 1978, the doors of Canaan Christian Academy opened with 68 childrenattending kindergarten through twelfth grade. The year 1979, saw its firstgraduating class, with one student. Now celebrating 47 years of educating the nextgeneration of Christian leaders, Canaan Christian Academy serves over 200students on a daily basis, and has had over 400 graduates.Led by the administration team of Pastor Dan Henwood and Principal MichaelBoole, Canaan Christian exists to come alongside Christian parents and provide“quality, godly, disciplined instruction to equip students to become distinctiveChristian citizens and leaders.” Though the school is directed by the pastoral staffat Canaan Bible Chapel, the school has over thirty churches represented withinthe student body. Nestled on a thirty-acre campus, Canaan Christian seeks to engage the local,unsaved community with various outreach events. Many of these activities inrecent years have been well-attended by many who have never realized CanaanChristian existed. The school also endeavors to live out the Biblical maxim: “Andas ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Luke 6:31). Every schoolyear, Canaan Christian Academy sets aside two days to host theirServe-A-Thon. The school divides the student body into two groups, and everystudent from kindergarten through twelfth grade participates. While the youngergroups may do a community outreach to those in a nursing home, many of theolder students take on harder responsibilities like keeping litter off roadways anda group of students often accompany Pastor Henwood to Tri-State Bible Campwhere they help out with various projects there.6Ministry SpotlightCanaan Christian Academy (Lake Ariel, PA)

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The global Covid-19 pandemic also aided Canaan Christian Academy in theircommunity reach. Pastor Henwood noted that with students learning from home,many parents had their eyes opened and saw the need for a better education fortheir children. Pastor Henwood praised the “staff who did an amazing job pivotingto a virtual setting” allowing for Canaan to stand out above the rest. Though manycame for Canaan’s approach to COVID, many remained because of the solid,Christian education being provided to the students. In his praise for the staff, Pastor Henwood believed, “The key factor of our growthis the staff.” Assistant Pastor Nicholas “Rod” Schweinsburg agreed, saying the“staff does an incredible job connecting with the students.” What makes Canaanunique is that there is “more than just a teacher-student relationship, there is adiscipleship aspect between the teachers and students.”It is this discipleship aspect that comes through in the burden Pastors Henwoodand Schweinsburg along with Principal Michael Boole feels for the nextgeneration. “Seeing the culture and the spiritual need around us, my greatestdesire is that God raises up the next generation of Christian leaders with a burdenfor ministry,” said Henwood. “This has been a prayer of mine for several years.Canaan is uniquely positioned to be able to train the next generation to follow theLord’s leading.”7

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To equip the students with the tools necessary for ministry, Canaan includeschapels every week in addition to daily Bible classes. This burden has beenblessed by the Lord as not only COVID, but also second-generation students arealso attending— enrollment rising by roughly 80 students since COVID. PastorSchweinsburg noted that “second generational students, many whose parentsnever graduated but saw the value of the school and what it can provide, senttheir kids to Canaan.” Even the pastoral team is second-generation, being the firstpastoral team that are also graduates of the school.Canaan Christian Serve-A-ThonAs Canaan Christian Academy approaches the midterm period, Pastor Henwoodasked prayer for the continued spiritual strengthening of their staff as theyminister not only to the students, but also the families; and wisdom for theadministration team to know how to carry on the burden’s the Lord has placedon their heart. 8Christian education prepares youngpeople to become servants of God, inwhatever field He calls them.

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9FACE TO FACERev. Walter S. PatrickPublisher’s ForwardOne of the men who spoke out against the Methodist Union at the Eastern Conference was Reverend Walter S. Patrick. Called a man “of character and conviction,” Reverend Patrick was instrumental in leadingthe charge for separation and was the first editor of The Messenger. The BibleProtestant Press published his book Face to Face, filled with twenty devotionalmessages. In the coming publications, various chapters will be reprinted here,with minor grammatical corrections for readability. Chapter 1: Seeing Jesus Christ Face to Face"I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eyes seeth Thee!" (Job42:5).--------No, we in the flesh, dwelling here upon the earth, cannot see the Lord Jesus Christ in Hispresent corporeal form. No matter how long we've been saved or how close we may feelourselves to be to Him, it is naturally quite impossible for us to physically behold the Son of God,whose heavenly position is that of being at "the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in theheavens" (Hebrews 8:1). He is right now in the Third Heaven, tabernacled in the identical physicalbody that died on the Cross, that was entombed and ascended, the only difference being that Hisis a bloodless body, that precious soul-saving element having been literally poured out at Calvaryfor our salvation nearly 2,000 years ago.--------However, in the Spirit, we can and do see Him continually. No, we do not mean in avisionary or hallucinatory manner, nor via a dream, as experience by so many of His own inbygone dispensations when He made himself known in theophanistic appearances. True, we readin John 1:18 that "No man hath seen God at any time." This speaks of God the Father, and Hebeing spirit, and not possessing a physical body, makes this readily understandable. But the versecontinues: “The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.”Indeed, Jesus Christ the Son of God hath revealed, declared, shown, presented and mademanifest God the Father.--------The time is coming, and soon, when true believers shall see Him as He is, when they shallhave resurrected bodies, "made like unto His own glorious body." The Apostle Paul gives morethan just a hint regarding, this metamorphosis: “For now we see through a glass darkly, but thenface to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know, even as also I am known" (I Cor. 13:12).

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--------While we remain here upon this mundane sphere we are spiritually "in" Christ. In Glory weshall physically be "with" Him; it will be a flesh and bone reality, a vis-a-vis contact. Just how weare not told. God doesn't always give us the whys and wherefores of His acts. "It will be done,"that's all. We're to leave all the ramifications to Him.--------Today we see our blessed Lord via His written Word; in Glory we will behold Him, the livingWord. Today we see Him spiritually; in Heaven it will be physical. When the writer was in theservice during the First World War, he would "see" his sweetheart through the written word of herletters. Later, after being discharged from the service, he was in the presence of the living writerof those letters.--------No, we do not know as to how our loved ones will appear to us in Glory, or we to them. TheBible doesn't tell us—and we certainly have no right to state as biblical any suppositions orconjurations we may imagine. We only know that, as has already been pointed out from Scripture,"Then shall I know, even as also I am known." An illustration might suffice: The writer's motherwent Home to be with the Lord when she was twenty-nine years old. Her son is now over seventy-five. In Glory how will they appear to each other? Suppose we leave all such "problems" with theLord!--------However, our Lord has revealed many things to us while we are yet here upon the earth.Indeed, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard; neither hath entered into the heart of man the thingswhich God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by hisSpirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things; yea, the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).--------It goes without saying, that the one Person we are going to look for first of all when we getto Glory will be our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have no idea as to who will be on thereception committee when we arrive there, but whoever it is we're going to say: "Sir, we wouldsee Jesus!" And then we are going to see Him as He is— face to face!--------We repeat, that in a spiritual manner we can behold Him even now, as the hymn writer putit: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full into His wonderful face, and the things of earth will growstrangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." This, in turn, brings to mind another hymn soapropos: "Some day the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing. But oh the joywhen I shall wake within the palace of the King. . . and I shall see Him face to face, and tell thestory saved by grace."10

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11--------And so in Glory, when we behold the Son, we will also be looking upon the Father, for theSon has already told us: "I and the Father are One!" Remember also the Lord's remarks to Philip:"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also, and from henceforth ye know Him,and have seen Him! Philip saith unto Him, Lord show us the Father and it sufficeth us. Jesus saithunto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He thathath seen me, hath seen the Father. And how sayest thou then, show us the Father?" (John 14:7-9). Thus, when we see the Son we are also seeing the Father, face to face.--------This great revelation is so clearly presented in John 1:14: "And the Word (Christ) was madeflesh (Christ the Spirit becomes Christ in the flesh) and dwelt among us (for 33 years), and webeheld His glory (on the Mount of Transfiguration), the glory as of the only begotten of theFather, full of grace and truth." Even with all this Scripture, Jesus the Christ remains a mystery:"And without controversy, great is the mystery of Godliness. God was manifest (revealed) in theflesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world,received up into glory" (I Timothy 3:16).--------Moses saw the invisible God, via a theophany when Jehovah appeared in human form: "Byfaith he (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing Himwho is invisible!" (Heb. 11:27). The Apostle Paul made reference to the Lord Jesus Christ as being"the image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15). The same apostle wrote at another time: "We look notat the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seenare temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). In other words,"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35).--------One thing is certain: We are all (saved and unsaved) going to see the Lord Jesus Christ faceto face some day. These days will be a millennium apart. To the saved it will be a day of gladness;to the unsaved a day of sadness. In either case Jesus Christ will be seen face to face. There'll beno escaping one or the other of these meetings. For the saved it will occur at the Rapture of theChurch, the mystical Body of Christ, when the Lord Jesus Christ will call His own to be with Himas is so plainly seen in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.--------And this One who is spiritually invisible to the rejector now, will be definitely visible at theterrible White Throne judgment when all deniers of the Word will stand before Him and hearthese words of condemnation from the Saviour's lips: "I never knew you!" This awful scene at theclose of the millennium is irrevocable and inescapable, for those standing before the One whowill then be their Judge, will see Him face to face, even though but to hear Him pronounce thatterrible sentence.--------Whether man believes it or not, thinks it or not, knows it or not, likes it or not, it's going totake place. There will be no ignoring this subpoena; there will be no exemption; it will make nodifference as to who you are or whom you may know; no postponement, no habeas corpus. Thedate, the time and place are already set in God's calendar, and no one can change it.--------In Genesis 32 we read that Jacob "wrestled with a man until the breaking of the day. . . andJacob called the place Peniel, for I have seen God face to face." But that was the Lord in anangelic form. At the Rapture and at the Great White Throne it will not be a theophany or aChristophany, but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who will be seen face to face. Indeed, it will bethe incarnate Lord in flesh and bone, the crucified, risen and ascended One, the King of kings andLord of lords. Gideon cried out, "I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face" (Judges 6:22). Butat either judgment seat it will not be an angel of the Lord, but the Lord Jesus Himself.

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12--------When the prophet Job said that some day he was going to see the Lord, he didn't mean hewas going to behold an apparition of Him, or someone similar to Him. But—here, read Job's ownwords for yourself: "Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were printed in a book!That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever. For I know that my Redeemerliveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, and though after my skin wormsdestroy this body, yet in my flesh (resurrected body) shall I see God, whom I shall see for myselfand mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed within me" (Job19:23-27). Remember that beautiful refrain: “When by His grace I shall look on His face, that willbe glory, be glory for me."--------What a wonderful anticipation: Face to face with Christ my Saviour, Face to face, what will it be, when with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ who died for me. Face to face I shall behold Him, far beyond the starry sky. Face to Face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by.

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13Church SpotlightIn the small town of Meshoppen in northeastern Pennsylvania, Gary and JanetMyers have been faithfully serving their community for 48 years. Though onepassing through Pennsylvania could easily miss the town, the impact for Christthat the Myers and Biblical Baptist have had in this region is obvious.Gary Myers was born about 50 miles from his current location, but it was at aBible college in Saskatchewan, Canada that he felt called to plant a church inMeshoppen. “Meshoppen,” Pastor Myers noted, “had no good, solid Biblebelieving churches.” It was also in Canada that Gary met his wife Janet and thecouple married in August of 1976. In late November of the same year, thenewlyweds opened Biblical Baptist. The small church opened in Keiserville Community Center, a converted one-roomschoolhouse, a few miles outside of Meshoppen. This location was important toGary as he attended Good News Clubs in the schoolhouse growing up. With a 22-0vote, the township committee unanimously agreed to the start of Biblical Baptist.That first Sunday had about 15 people in attendance.Now about to celebrate 48 years of existence, Biblical Baptist has some 40 peopleattending Sunday services. Though the numbers are lower than pre-Covid, PastorMyers notes that they are continuing to grow. The church ministers to not onlylongtime attendees, but also to many children, teens, and young families. BiblicalBaptist continues ministering to their church not only through services, but alsothrough various additional ministries.Biblical Baptist Church (Meshoppen, PA)

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The annual VBS ministers to about 20 kids each summer, with over half of themcoming from outside the church. The church also hosts an afterschool Good Newsclub every Wednesday, to reach students with the Gospel. Like many smallchurches, Pastor Myers’ wife Janet is an integral part of the church. Janet teachesa Sunday school and Jr. Church class, plays violin and organizes various ladies’events. Thankfully, several other church members volunteer their time to help outto ensure all the church’s events are successful.In 1988, a mutual friend introduced Gary Myers to Harold Haines, the executivesecretary of the Fellowship of Fundamental Bible Churches. After Pastor Hainespresented the ministry, focus, and opportunities the FFBC had to offer, BiblicalBaptist unanimously voted to join the fellowship. Since then, Pastor Myers hasfaithfully served in the FFBC, being president twice.As the church began to grow, the congregation began looking for a morepermanent residence. In 1993, Biblical Baptist purchased eight acres of land andbegan building their present church on the site. The church rented out a vacantchurch building until early 1998, when their new church was completed. From thenew church building, the Myers and Biblical Baptist continue seeking the severalthousand people in their immediate area. Gary and Janet Myers seek to live out the biblical expectation of a pastor found in1Timothy 3:7 and often lacking in many churches today: “Moreover he must havea good report of them which are without.” When Meshoppen elected a new sheriffmany years ago, he came to Pastor Myers and informed him that “The communityconsiders the pastor the most respected person in town.” This fact was evidencedin the community putting the church’s booth front and center every year whenthey had their Meshoppen Community Day.14

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Pastor Myers has also had the opportunity to helpsend other ministers out and help others preparefor ministry. One pastor was a man Pastor Myershad the opportunity to lead to the Lord throughhis prison ministry many years ago and has goneon to pastor for nearly two decades. Another oneof the men who was influenced by Pastor Myerswas Pastor Dave Field, the pastor of Truth BibleChurch in Alloway, New Jersey. Pastor Fieldnoted, “Gary and Janet both have a servant’sheart for their church. He loves the people. It wasclear he was known in his community.” 15This November marks the church’s 48th anniversary, and another FFBC ministerPastor Andy Merkle and his family will be preaching for this celebration of God’sgoodness. Pastor Myers continues to look long-term and invites other churches topray for the church’s ministry outreaches. Biblical Baptist is working to grow itsteen ministry and Pastor Myers desires specific prayer for the indifference theMeshoppen community exhibits. While the community appreciates Pastor Myers and his service, the adults do notdesire to attend services or functions of any kind. Pastor Myers doesn’t want toleave anyone without the Gospel, and the church emphasizes evangelism to theirchurch members, and Biblical Baptist has many members who faithfully dooutreach in their community. “Many in the community send their children,” Myersnotes, “but refuse to attend themselves.” Their indifference is the hardestchallenge to reaching the community. Biblical Baptists focus on teens and theyouth, ensures the next generation will not be indifferent to the truth of theGospel.Continue praying for this region of Pennsylvania, the ministry and outreach ofBiblical Baptist Church, and the Myers as they seek to faithfully follow the Lord. Moreover he must have a good report ofthem which are without; lest he fall intoreproach and the snare of the devil.

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There is nothing quite like camp ministry! Over the course of the last few months,we have seen God work in many powerful ways, and we are grateful to continue toplay a small role in how God continues to build and strengthen His church. Manylives were reached with the gospel and stirred to grow closer to Him while atcamp. Over the course of this summer, we had the opportunity to minister toabout 550 campers through our various camps, retreats, and conferences, andmany life-transforming decisions were made! During our youth camps, the campers were equipped with tools to build a strongfoundation for their lives as they learned why (and how) they should study God'sWord and memorize Scripture. During the first week of August, we were thrilled tocelebrate our 75th anniversary of serving the churches in our region, and as welook to the future, we are excited to see how God will continue to use this ministryfor many years to come.Our fall ministry schedule began the last week of August, and we have a fullschedule of school and church retreats over the next eight weeks. The completerenovation of Taggart Hall has also begun. Please pray for safety for the workersand that all the necessary items will line up efficiently. Please also pray for theadditional $20,000 needed to complete this project.16Save the DateWinter Weekend 1: January 17—18, 2025 (grades 7—12) Pastor Mark Herbster Winter Weekend 2: January 24—25, 2025 (grades 4—8) Pastor Josiah SansoneSweetheart Getaway: February 7—8, 2025 Pastor Rand HummelChurch Leadership Conference: March 14—15, 2025 Claudia Barba (emphasis: pastor’s wives)

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John Fawcett soon had a wife and family, and the small town could not provide well fortheir minister. It was at this time that Fawcett received the offer of a lifetime: to takeover the pastorate from the esteemed, but ailing, theologian John Gill in London. Aposition that would have not only provided for his family but established him as aprominent preacher in the country. It was this church that Charles Spurgeon wouldcome to pastor many years later. Upon the counsel of friends and what seemed to be the Lord’s leading, John Fawcettaccepted the position in London and began to pack his belongings. In what is certainlyan apocryphal story, but with some kernal of truth, it is reported that as they began toset off, that John’s wife exclaimed “I can’t stand it, John! I know not how to go.” Towhich John replied “Lord help me Mary, nor can I stand it! We will unload the wagon,”before turning to the crowd sending them off and proclaiming “We’ve changed ourminds! We are going to stay!”It is commonly reported that it was this incident that spurred John Fawcett to write thepoem “Brotherly Love” which begins with the phrase: “Blest be the tie that binds.” TheSunday following their abrupt remaining, Reverend Fawcett preached from Luke 12:15:“for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Itis believed that the poem was written to be recited at the end of the sermon and waslater published in 1782.Called “Perhaps the best poetical expression of the sentiment of Christian brotherhoodin the English language,” by one hymnologist; the origin of Blest Be the Tie that Bindsquite fortuitously foreshadowed its use by the Eastern Conference of the Methodist 17Hymn HistoryBlest Be the Tie that BindsThe author of this hymn was Reverend John Fawcett.Fawcett was converted under the preaching ministryof George Whitefield and joined the early Methodistmovement. His first pastorate, however, was in a smallhamlet with a Baptist church. It was there that Fawcettgained experience as a preacher, and soon the smallvillage and surrounding regions were experiencingrevival.

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18Protestant Church. With the opportunity of a life time, they determined to lose it all forthe truly greater reward. And whether they knew it or not, they chose this hymn as theunifying call for all who determined to stand for the faith. The sentiment of Fawcett was echoed many years later by those refusing to join theMethodist Union. “We were reminded constantly that the most valuable asset we haveis our testimony for Jesus Christ, not our property. If we lose our testimony, we loseall.”This coming quarter, would you consider joining with other churches of the fellowshipin sharing this hymn history and singing this hymn in your congregation? Some mightalso want to include the original 5th and 6th verses. The 5th builds our anticipation ofmeeting again, while the 6th stanza reminds us for all the joy and fellowship weexperience here on earth, only in heaven will we fully experience, enjoy, and participatein an eternal “tie that binds.”Optional 5th and 6th stanzas V. This glorious hope revivesOur courage by the way;While each in expectation lives,And longs to see the day.VI.From sorrow, toil, and pain,And sin we shall be free;And perfect love and friendship reignThro’ all eternity.“In what is certainly an apocryphal story.” Micah Hendry, “Hymn History: Blest Be the Tie The Binds”Enjoying the Journey (accessed September 20, 2024).“Perhaps the best poetical expression.” Hezekiah Butterworth, The Story of the Hymns (New York:American Tract Society, 1875), 37.“We were reminded constantly.” Newton Conant, How God Delivered 34 Churches (FFBC: Online, 1964),18.

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19Pause for PrayerWhat greater way as a Fellowship of saints and especially pastors then to beknown as a group desirous to pray. What an opportunity is bestowed upon us:one that no other religion offers. Access to God, fellowship with Him, and anoccasion to intercede to Him on the behalf of others. We have the opportunityto come before God’s throne boldly (Hebrews 4:16), to have Jesus Christintercede on our behalf (1 John 2:1), and have the Holy Spirit aid us in ourpetitions before God (Romans 8:26). No other religion offers this kind of accessand aid from one’s god. But with much freedom, comes much responsibility andoften much lacking in our zeal and fervor to pray. In his Lectures to my Students, Charles Spurgeon noted:Of course the preacher is above all others distinguished as a man of prayer. He prays asan ordinary Christian, else he were a hypocrite. He prays more than ordinary Christianselse he were disqualified for the office he has undertaken. . . .If you as ministers are notvery prayerful you are much to be pitied. . . .If you become lax in secret devotion, notonly will you need to be pitied, but your people also. . .and the day cometh in which youshall be ashamed and confounded.The Preacher ought to set the spiritual temperature in the church. The greatEnglish revivalist Leonard Ravenhill perhaps rightly noted that “Today we seemmuch more interested in having churches air-conditioned than prayer-conditioned.” May our churches be filled with those who pray. Too many pewsare filled with Christians ceasing to pray rather than living a life where they “praywithout ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). And while Pastors set the spiritualtemperature, it is a wholly poor church where only the minister desires to pray.In his Counsel to Christians, George Mueller, a champion of prayer, exhorts: There is not a more blessed and powerful weapon for the children of God, than thatthey should give themselves to prayer. For thus they can have the power of God ontheir side—the almighty power of God. And by making use of this power, through theinstruments of prayer in all things we need, we can have the infinite wisdom of Godbrought to work for us, and have God Himself at our side, as children of God.May the children of God seek to pray and commune with our Heavenly Father!

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It was such a privilege to research the history of our Fellowship in the context of our85th Anniversary celebration. We were thankful that we were able to include quite a bitof our history in the video documentary. However, there is a lot we were not able toinclude. One of my main questions that I wanted answered – and maybe you as well –was why these men were part of the Methodist Conference to begin with. The secondquestion follows quickly. Why didn’t they withdraw at the first sign of apostasy ratherthan wait a few years?Research showed that the Methodist Church upheld the fundamentals of the faith intheir Articles of Religion from the very beginning. We were told that these articles canbe found in the front of many of the Methodist hymnbooks now in use. Any pastor whodesired to be ordained by the Methodist and preach in a Methodist Church wasrequired to sign that he agreed with these articles. If a man did not sign, he was notallowed membership. If a member of the Methodist Conference preached, taught, orwrote anything contrary to these doctrines, they were to be brought to trial. These menprobably assumed that all the pastors, leaders, and professors held very firmly to thesefundamentals just like they did.As the video makes clear, talks of the Union began in 1935. It seems like the EasternConference of the Methodist Protestant Church was the more conservative of all thebranches and voted against this merger three times. The leaders in our group hadbecome more aware of the apostasy, heresy, and blasphemy in several of the bishops,leaders, and professors of the other branches. To go into the Union would mean thatthey would be associated with these teachings. Their knowledge and adherence to theliteral interpretation of the Bible would not allow them to do that. They claimed 2Corinthians 6:14-18 as their foundation:20Our HeritageMrs. Ardie Racite

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21Quotable Quotes“For this sin-hungry age we need a prayer-hungry Church.” - Leonard RavenhillGeorge Washington Carver once noted that he prayed to God to reveal why Hemade the universe, but that was too great a knowledge for his finite mind. It wasn’tuntil he prayed that God reveal the mystery of the peanut, that “then the GreatCreator taught me to take the peanut apart and put it together again,” givingCarver his life’s work.“Thanksgiving is good, but thanks-living is better.” - Matthew Henry“We have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved usin peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainlyimagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings wereproduced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.” - Abe Lincoln (1863) “Restraining prayer, we cease to fight,/ Prayer makes the Christian’s armourbright;/ And Satan trembles when he sees/ The weakest saint upon his knees.” - William Cowper (sung to the tune “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”) “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousnesswith unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hathChrist with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement haththe temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwellin them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore, comeout from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and Iwill receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith theLord Almighty.” Years later, our forefathers would give glory to God for the way He led them,provided for them, and showed without a doubt He was their Father. As we, theFellowship of Fundamental Bible Churches, continue this ministry, the words fromthe third verse of the song, “Praise Ye Jehovah” (page 49 of the Rejoice Hymns) isvery fitting:Praise ye Jehovah, for heroes before us – Battle-scarred victors at rest from the fray.Praying, contending, proclaiming, defending,Faith of our fathers we will not betray.

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“Lo, children are an heritage from the Lord” Psalm 127:3How many times have you been asked, “So, what do you want to be when yougrow up”? How many different ways have you answered that question? One weekyou want to be a fireman, the next a police officer. You might want to be a teacherone week and a nurse the next. No matter what your decision will be when thetime comes, there are a few things you need to decide now. You need to realizethat you are a sinner who needs to accept Christ as your Savior. The Bible saysthat “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and that the wages ofour sin is death. The good news is that the Bible also says that God loved usenough that He sent Jesus to die on the cross for our sin. Jesus rose again fromthe dead – only God has the power to do that! All we need to do is to confess toGod that we are sinners and we want Him to save us from our sins. We need to askHim to be our Savior. When He is our Savior, not only we will spend eternity inheaven with Him, we also will have the Holy Spirit to help us live for the Lord. Ifyou would like to do this, please talk to your parents, Sunday School teacher, orpreacher. I am including a cryptogram for you to solve. A cryptogram is a sentenceor phrase written in code. One letter stands for another letter. For example, “Godis love” could be written as “Hpe jt mpwf.” A clue would be that the letter “O” isreplaced by the letter “P.” I will give you more than one clue – hope you enjoydoing them. They are a lot of fun!!!22Mrs. Ardie RaciteKids Korner

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Psalm 1 — Truly HappyIs there a psalm that is special to you? Most likely there are multiple psalms that haveministered to your heart over time! The book of Psalms is one of the most-belovedbooks in the entire Bible. One of the reasons we are attracted to this book is itpossesses an emotional quality that is personal and relatable. The various writersmention their fears, failures, sickness, dangers, frustrations, hopes, etc. John Calvin –called Psalms “an anatomy of all the parts of the soul.” William Graham Scroggie said ofit many “have derived therefrom cheer for their tasks, strength, for their burdens,courage for their battles, comfort for their sorrows, light for their journey, and hope fortheir ventures.” The Psalms are the inspired responses of human hearts to God’srevelation. It is the real life in the real world. Did you know? Psalms is the 3rd longestbook in the Old Testament (behind Jeremiah and Genesis). It contains the shortest andlongest chapters in the Bible (117, 119). It is the most oft-quoted Old Testament book inthe New Testament. The first book of the Hebrew song-book of Psalms is about two pathways of life. Itbegins blessed is the man. . . The word “blessed” means happy, having exceeding joy, ordivinely approved. Read the psalm and I am confident you will see that the man orwoman who is walking with God will know true happiness. In the matter of a fewmonths, you and I will say, share, or receive the famous New Year greeting – “HappyNew Year.” If we are to have a daily experience that fits the criteria of happy, then ouronly sure and infallible source of instruction is the Word of God. We must look to God’sauthoritative truth to understand how He defines this concept. The constitution of theUnited States guarantees the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but itdoes not promise happiness. Many in this land are in failing marriages, suicide rates arealarmingly high, people are addicted to drugs and alcohol, and many are bent on livinglife for themselves. I believe that when people think of happiness it is merely anemotion that is based on one’s circumstances. Biblically, happiness or true joy is muchmore than a feeling; it is based on the choice of submitting to God. 24Psalms in FocusPastor Dave Field(Truth Bible)

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and night.” Are you taking in God’s Word? You do this as you sit quietly and read yourBible and you do this by attending a sound, scriptural church. We live in a noisy world.It seems that everywhere we go, noise runs constantly in the background. In stores andrestaurants, what is playing? Music. Go to a professional sporting event and when thereis a pause in action, there is the stadium DJ playing something called music. You caneven buy noisemakers because some cannot sleep unless there is noise. Some cannotstudy unless there is noise. For many students quiet is disturbing. Too quiet and it isdistracting. Our lives are often noisy is ways other than decibels. Many of us pride ourselves with busyness, we have little time for anything else. Psalm 1is describing the godly, blessed person – he meditates on God’s Word. Meditation isn’temptying your mind. When you empty your mind, it’s like leaving your wallet sitting onthe sidewalk; somebody bent on mischief is likely to show up. Meditation is focusingyour mind on something and giving it your investigative consideration. The truth mustoccupy our heads and our hearts. What digestion is to the body, meditation is to thesoul! If you ate good quality nourishing food but never digested it, you would not be ingood health. Is it possible that our Sundays are much like the fast-food industry? We goto the meeting, we listen to the message, we quickly get some key points from themessage, and then we rush off to something else. The sad result is a gap betweenlearning and living.Are you in the book and is the book in you? If you avoid sin and are in the Scripture,Psalm 1:3 assures us that we will be planted (i.e. Secure), productive, and a truly happyperson. Which category fits you in Psalm 1? Are you the godly or ungodly man? Youranswer has everything to do with whether you will be truly happy or not.25Psalm 1 speaks of just two types of people (the godly vs.ungodly man) and they are contrasted in just 6 verses asbeing on different paths. Both life choices end indrastically different destinations. The ungodly man’s endis frightening and ends in death (i.e. Separation foreverfrom God’s presence). To be happy verse 1 teaches youmust avoid sin. You cannot be blessed by God if youchoose a life of sin. You are to watch out for sinfulcounsel, sinful companions, and sinful conversation. Ifyou live in the sewer of ungodliness, you make Satanhappy but not God. When you sin, seek God’s forgivenesswith a repentant heart.Also, to be happy verse 2 teaches you must absorb Scripture. “But hisdelight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day

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