In two weeks, we will begin a Gospel Meeting with brother Jerry Fite, of Pasadena, TX. The effort will start on Saturday night at 7:30 pm, and will continue through the following Thursday. There will be a special Wednesday morning study together with our regular Sunday services and the weeknight preaching.
Jerry preaches for the Parkview congregation in Pasadena, and has been a faithful proclaimer of God’s word for many years. He is known to the brethren here, having spent a number of years at the Castleberry congregation as a young man, while his father Harold preached for that group. He held a meeting for our congregation in May of 1999, and we are glad to have him return to preach for us again.
A great deal of effort and expense goes into a meeting such as this, both on the part of the preacher, and (hopefully) by the congregation as well. In addition to the support we will offer to Jerry, there is the expense of lodging, advertising, printing and mailing. It is our hope that each of the members have been and will continue to be active in inviting others to come. Other Christians, as well as those who have not yet obeyed the gospel will benefit from the lessons he brings. Jerry is an able Bible student, and a conscientious man. He will be prepared, and his lessons will be edifying.
Some might ask, why have gospel meetings? They do not always result in a conversion or other outward indications of success, so some question whether they are of true benefit. I wish to go on the record and say that they are extremely important, and beneficial to the congregation, and our time with brother Fite will be well spent… if we make a true effort, and determine to be helped by the events of the week.
Consider the following:
- Brethren receive edification. If this were the only benefit derived from the meeting, it would be sufficient. The Hebrew writer reveals that a primary purpose of saints assembling is to edify one another. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25). In the meeting assembly we will have an opportunity to hear the word of God preached by an able and faithful man. We will have the privilege of addressing our Father in prayer. We will have the added opportunity, not only in the preaching service but earlier in the evening with a special singing service, to edify one another in song (cf. Ephesians 5:19). Considering these opportunities, any Christians who says there is no benefit to gospel meetings is not thinking clearly. We do not have to have visitors from the community, or visitors from other churches, to have a successful meeting. We simply need you here, to be edified and to edify others.
- Brethren receive the opportunity to bear fruit. The importance of bearing fruit is noted on the front page of this bulletin. Please read the “From the Preacher’s Pen” article. In John 15:2 our Lord said, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” A gospel meeting gives Christians a number of opportunities to work in the vineyard of the Lord. For example, we will have a workday on May 2nd, to prepare for the meeting. There is much work to do, and seldom are there enough workers to get all done on a single work day. The work done has no direct spiritual emphasis, but it is needed, and will benefit the congregation and the meeting effort in an indirect way. I encourage the young to take part.
On a more direct level, it is important to invite others to come to the meeting. Many souls have been saved after being initially approached with a simple invitation to a gospel meeting. Trust that Jerry will do an able job of proclaiming the gospel, and do what you can to invite friends, neighbors and family to this spiritual feast.
- The Gospel is Preached. Again, we can’t over emphasize the importance of inviting the lost to come and hear the gospel. For every 50 souls invited, we may receive a single visitor. But, that one person will hear a potentially life changing message. Not every meeting ends with a visible response, but some do, and the effort is a worthy one. Too, even if an immediate response is not seen, the seed is sown, and the potential for growth in the kingdom is there. Jerry will do his part by supplying the message. Will you work at supplying an honest heart to hear it?
Gospel meetings are certainly worthy of our time and effort. Personally, I can’t wait for May 9th!
