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

Elder Charles Broadway

Elder Ronald Lawrence

Friday Morning

Elder Jabin James

Elder Ronnie Loudermilk

Elder Chris Crouse

Friday Afternoon

Elder Craig Lanier

Elder Michael Gowens

 

Friday Night

Elder Jon Mizell

Elder Sam Bryant

 

Saturday Morning

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