This is a tribute to Howard and Oleta Goodger, former members of First Baptist Church, Covington, Louisiana, who blessed their church and helped it to grow and become like Christ.
Oleta passed away this week in Cleveland, Georgia, at the age of 93. Howard passed away previously.
This is a tribute to Howard and Oleta as well as a host of other people who have loved FBC. Some of the people I am paying tribute to are well known to me and others. Many others are known only to our Lord. Some are living today; most have gone to be with the Lord.
Good and healthy churches are made up of many people who love the church and love the Lord. Howard and Oleta were those kind of people.
While Howard and Oleta moved out of state not long after I became pastor of the church, they and others set the stage for the church FBC Covington is today.
Blessing your church is not as difficult as you think.
Here are ways to do so.
First, pray for your church and her leadership each day. Certainly, you want to pray each weekend when you worship. Ask God for wisdom and guidance for the church. Ask God to bless the church according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).
Second, attend faithfully and look for the best in all those who serve and lead. You usually get what you look for. If you expect the best out of people, you will see their good. If you look for the worst, it will quickly come into view.
Third, participate in worship, Bible Study, congregational meetings, and major events of the church. Nothing shows your love for the church like your participation.
Fourth, give. Giving pleases God and makes your church ministries possible. When we give we show we are willing to make an investment in the ministry of the church.
Fifth, take the long view of your church. Make decisions which will bless the church for years to come.
Finally, bless people. Blessing the church means blessing people. Look for people to love and care for. Love everyone Jesus loves. Smile. Laugh. Care.
Churches that have people who do these things are normally healthy, growing, and make a difference in their community.
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2 Responses
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given in hospitality. 14) Bless them which persecute you: bless and curse not. 15) Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16) Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17) Recompense to mo man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Deuteronomy 6:5 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord
Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another
Thank God for the shade tree planters. It is up to His to keep the trees from being cut down, to satisfy the lusts of a single season.
Blessings
What a special precious tribute to Howard and Oleta who loved First Baptist Church and served FBC for forty plus years. I know because I’ve been a part of FBC for forty plus years. They were very special people to me and others who knew them. To know them was to love them. Thank you.