Ebenezer Fellowship | Cool Springs Primitive Baptist Church

Brethren,

This past weekend (September 19-21), the churches of the Ebenezer Fellowship located in middle Georgia convened for the 200^th session. Trail Branch Church hosted the meeting, and this was the first time that Elder Stephen Dyar – their pastor – had the responsibility to moderate such a meeting. They were excellent hosts, and the Lord smiled upon Brother Stephen in his duties to not only make preaching arrangements that were heaven sent but also keep the meeting moving in a decent and orderly manner.

Trail Branch Primitive Baptist Church, located outside of Cochran, Georgia

Elder Stephen Dyar, pastor of Trail Branch Primitive Baptist Church

This session of the Ebenezer Fellowship was a special time during the preaching arrangements. Many times in days gone by, the old fathers in the faith would refer to a set of preaching as “all of a unit.” Even that expression fails to capture the flow in which the sermons connected, tied in, and intermingled. Some brethren arrived after certain sermons were preached, had no idea what had been spoken at services before their arrival, and when called upon would take their text right where the others had left off. On Saturday morning, it was really amazing beyond compare as a minister who had just arrived lit a preaching fire right where the Friday night services had concluded. In amazement yet again, I looked at Elder Garry Hall and remarked, “He wasn’t even here last night.” His response, “It’s one sermon. It’s one sermon. It’s one sermon….” as his voice tailed away in awe.

Beloved, that truly is the summation of the meeting – it was one sermon. We heard God’s love to us extolled beyond measure, coupled with the fervency of spirit to walk in appreciation of that love. We truly feel encouraged beyond measure that the Lord would not just come down and bestow mercy upon us, but that He has displayed merciful majesty beyond our expectations during this blessed weekend. He truly has done in this meeting exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or think. Continue to pray for our immediate area as several of our sister churches are still looking for a pastor. Pray that they would have the wisdom and patience to know who the right man will be. Next year’s session will be hosted by Oak Grove, which is one of our bodies without a pastor. Pray that the same Lord would smile upon their efforts next year that has been so abundantly in our midst this year.

Rejoice with us!

Thursday Night

Prayer: Elder Rabon Lord (Sycamore, GA)

Preaching: Elder Charles Broadway (Monroe, NC) – II Corinthians 5:17-18, God reconciled the world unto Himself by the death of His Son.

Preaching: Elder Ronald Lawrence (Goodlettsville, TN) – Hebrews 4:14-16, Christ is touched by us and thereby He touches us Himself.

Prayer: Elder Frank King (Danville, GA)

Elder Charles Broadway

Elder Ronald Lawrence

Friday Morning

Prayer: Elder Philip Conley (Cochran, GA)

Preaching: Elder Jabin James (Fitzgerald, GA) – Psalm 138:6, God looketh upon the poor but putteth down the proud.

Preaching: Elder Ronnie Loudermilk (Lula, GA) – Psalm 3:1-3, God lifteth up the head of His people over sin, sorrow, death, and the world.

Preaching: Elder Chris Crouse (Plant City, FL) – Psalm 37:1-11, Do not fret over this world or the things in it, for God has blessed us above them all.

Prayer: Lic. John Forehand (Warner Robins, GA)

Elder Jabin James

Elder Ronnie Loudermilk

Elder Chris Crouse

Friday Afternoon

Prayer: Elder Eddie Whidby (Haddock, GA)

Preaching: Elder Craig Lanier (Metter, GA) – Luke 17:11-19, The cleansing of the 10 lepers and the one stranger that returned to thank the Lord.

Preaching: Elder Michael Gowens (Mt. Juliet, TN) – Matthew 11:1-6, The forgotten beatitude of not being offended in Christ over His doctrine, loss of popularity, or the circumstances of life.

Prayer: Elder Dan Bryant (Macon, GA)

Elder Craig Lanier

Elder Michael Gowens

Friday Night

Prayer: Elder Franklin Bryant (Danville, GA)

Preaching: Elder Jon Mizell (Cairo, GA) – Revelation 1:1-5, The majesty of Christ as seen by John unlike what had been seen to that point, and the glory of it for us today.

Preaching: Elder Sam Bryant (Hoover, AL) – Revelation 1:5, The blood of Christ washing us being the direct expression of God’s unfathomable love for His people.

Prayer: Lic. Win Kuck (Cochran, GA)

Elder Jon Mizell

Elder Sam Bryant

Saturday Morning

Prayer: Elder Garry Hall (Danville, GA)

Preaching: Lic. Ric Stewart (Statesboro, GA) – Romans 3-4, The 3 courtrooms of justification: 1. Grace and blood before God, 2. Faith before our conscience, and 3. Works before others.

Preaching: Elder Dwayne Hooven (Augusta, GA) – II Corinthians 8:9, The grace of God through the love of Jesus Christ, looking at His poverty making us rich.

Preaching: Elder Ronald Lawrence (Goodlettsville, TN) – Book of Luke, God opening and no man shutting and shutting with no man opening.

Prayer: Elder Dennis Johnson (Oglethorpe, GA)

Lic. Ric Stewart

Elder Dwayne Hooven

Elder Ronald Lawrence

Saturday Morning Congregation

Trail Branch Tea Brigade – Sisters Catherine Howard, Angel Dyar, and Lynn Register; Brothers Hubert Fulford and Marvin Howard

Lunch Time

A “Deacon Deluxe” Session: Brothers Mike Sheppard and Dan Hall

The “Kiddie Korner” with Hannah McDaniel, Bailey Davidson, Elizabeth Howell, John Conley, Jonathan Howell, Samuel McDaniel, Olivia Mizell, and Elisabeth Conley, while a couple of “guardians” Kathleen Howell and Betsy McDaniel look on

Watch for the sermons of the meeting to be posted on our website at coolspringspbc.org.

In Hope,

Bro Philip

Brethren,

This past weekend, the Ebenezer Fellowship convened with Bay Springs PBC hosting the meeting in the Cool Springs PBC meetinghouse. Even though Bay Springs is currently without a pastor (as are 3 other churches in our fellowship), the Lord richly blessed them as excellent hosts throughout the weekend. Indeed, the Lord smiled upon all of us from start to finish. Words fail to express the fulness of the Spirit, and mighty power that was felt throughout the services. As the forefathers and sages of old in the faith used to say, "Heaven came down." We thank Him for dwelling amongst us, and we pray that He continue to do so for many days to come.

Our thanks go out to all our friends and kindred in Christ who came to meet with us. While our hearts were knit together while engaged together, we pray that they are still knit though we have had to part once more. For all the prayers that were obviously offered up on our behalf, we thank each one that was mindful to pray for us. Thank you; thank you all. Most of all, thank the Lord for His abundant mercy.

In Hope,

Bro Philip

Elder Garry Hall

(Guest Moderator for Bay Springs PBC who is currently without a pastor)

Order of Services:

Thursday Night

Prayer: Elder Rabon Lord
Preaching: Elder Harold Hunt (Maryville, TN) – I Timothy 1:11-16, The glorious gospel of the blessed God and how it personally touched the life of the Apostle Paul.
Preaching: Elder Chris Crouse (Plant City, FL) – II Thessalonians 1:7, The rest for the troubled soul in this life, centered and anchored upon the eternal glory.
Prayer: Elder Wesley Watkins


Elder Harold Hunt	Elder Chris Crouse

Friday Morning

Prayer: Elder Dan Bryant
Preaching: Elder Tony Lester (Starkville, MS) – John 7:47, Never man spake like this man and how His voice reaches and works like no one else's.
Preaching: Elder Will Martin (Cartersville, GA) – Faithfulness of God, contrasted with the unfaithfulness of man.
Preaching: Elder Ronnie Loudermilk (Monroe, GA) – Galatians 5:4, fallen from grace. Things we can fall from vs. things we can't.
Prayer: Elder Philip Conley


Elder Tony Lester	Elder Will Martin

Elder Ronnie Loudermilk

Friday Afternoon

Prayer: Elder Michael Meek
Preaching: Elder Randall Cagle (Canton, GA) – 5 types of business in God's word: Father's, certain, appointed, needed, not slothful, and own.
Preaching: Elder Danny Wisner (Vidalia, LA) – Jeremiah 31:3, Everlasting love of God to His people.
Prayer: Elder Garry Hall


Elder Randall Cagle	Elder Danny Wisner

Friday Night

Prayer: Elder Stephen Dyar
Preaching: Elder Chris Crouse (Plant City, FL) – Psalm 115, II Peter 3, Answering the scoffer's questions about God and His promise.
Preaching: Elder Ronald Lawrence (Nashville, TN) – Ephesians 3:20-21, God does exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think.
Prayer: Elder Frank King


Elder Chris Crouse	Elder Ronald Lawrence



Congregation during Friday night services

Saturday Morning

Prayer: Elder Bufrey Dean
Preaching: Elder John Scott (Statesboro, GA) – Hebrews 9:27, Appointment to death and the future appointment to change in the resurrection.
Preaching: Elder Danny Wisner (Vidalia, LA) – I Corinthians 15:4, Being saved in the memory of the gospel, knowing that the things we remember can deliver us from the troubles that are coming.
Preaching: Elder Ronald Lawrence (Nashville, TN) – II Corinthians 5:17, Old things are constantly passing away, but the new things of a spiritual nature are ever new and remain and abide forever.
Prayer: Elder Dennis Johnson


Elder John Scott	Elder Danny Wisner

Elder Ronald Lawrence


Scenes from Saturday Lunch

Elders Chris Crouse, Ronald Lawrence, Dan Bryant, and Sister Judy Bryant	Left to right (Counter-clockwise): Brother Dustin Bryant, Sister Retha Mae Bryant, Brother Aaron Bryant, and Sister Janice Bryant

Clockwise from bottom left: Elder Tony and Sister Crystal Lester, Brother Jeffrey Weeks, Sister Samantha and Brother Vins Howell	Elder Jabin James, Sister Beth James, Lily and Becca James

Clockwise: Elisabeth Conley, Hannah McDaniel, John Conley, Elizabeth Howell, and Jonathan Howell	Counterclockwise: Brother Win and Sister Laura Kuck, Brother Carson Kuck, Sister Amanda Howell, sitting across from Sisters Cameron and Kathy Moore