Preparing for Change

For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state, Philippians 2:20.

On November 1st of this year (2024), Pastor Timothy McVey an occasional contributor to this blog will become the pastor of the Black Creek Baptist Church. Brother McVey has been a contributor to the life and doctrine of this church for 14 years. In accordance to marching orders that I have received from the Lord, I will be moving one county over to become the Pastor of the Sandusky Baptist Church of Sandusky, NY.

I am 70 years old and I find that I am no longer as sharp or energetic as what is needed, nor as diligent to keep up with a congregation, supervise our seven preachers in training, keep up with the annual meetings, and keep up with the various ministries associated with the church. Brother McVey has been in on the ground floor of the spiritual workings of this church. To quote Luke, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, Luke 1:3.

Whereas many visiting evangelists or preachers are often flummoxed by how we do things here, or are suspicious of those things wherein we have deviated from standard fundamentalist procedure, Brother McVey has understood. He has not only understood, but has richly contributed to the work of God here through his excellence in understanding of the scriptures, and by his longsuffering compassion towards the weak and the lost.

In July of 2007. I received a phone call from a deacon of the Black Creek Baptist Church. In his typical humorous style he informed that he had bad news for me, I had been voted in as the pastor of the Black Creek Baptist Church. The church had 11 members and the average age was well over 70. It was situated far out in the country and was on the brink of closing its doors.

In the church's 185 years (up to that time) if there was a mean or callous thing that could be done in the neighborhood to make people hate it, if they hadn't done it, it's only because they hadn't thought of it. The church had a terrible reputation among the 30 or so households within a mile of it.

Today, there are at least 9 houses within sight of the church from which people attend services. I know of no other Baptist Church in America that can say that. We regularly have 60-70 people attend our Sunday Morning services with another couple of families out filling other pulpits in the area. Almost all of the core group of the church is composed of people who led miserable lives outside of the grace of Jesus Christ.

These are now people who never miss services and who wholeheartedly attend all special meetings. Their homes have become Christian. Children who once went to bed at night listening to drunken brawls, now go to bed at night listening to the songs of Zion playing in the background. They now have parents whose lives are in control and who raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

The singing in the church always amazes visitors. It is rich, well conducted and based out of the traditional hymnals. There is a zest and a love in the congregation to take part. A drunken neighbor who has so far resisted our invitations recently told a visitor that sometimes he just stands in his yard and listens to the singing coming out of the doors and windows.

A common saying we have here is that when other pastors visit here, is that they love our cake, but they hate our recipe. They are not satisfied with their cake, but cannot bear to change their recipe. The time has come for pastors who believe the King James Bible and who want to see true holiness in their converts, and to see services and meetings bulging with excited converts, to shun the same old procedures that may have worked a generation ago but do not work now.

No one who visits here can accuse us of using contemporary music or tactics. Instead we have reverted to behaviors from over a century ago. We don't pressure people into making professions. We love the lost and go out of our way to be involved in their lives.

We make it clear that the King James bible is perfect. We teach it line on line and doctrinally. Quit running people through your little one, two, three evangelistic spiel. Preach the cross, preach the cross, preach the cross. If the Holy Ghost cannot show a person under the sound of the preaching that they are lost and that they need a savior, and if he cannot show a person that they are truly converted, there is no Holy Ghost.

It took years of that kind of preaching before we saw even the first conversion that wrought a true change of life. We have had doctors amazed. We have had social workers, spouses, old friends and judges amazed at the changes wrought by Holy Ghost conversion. This is fruit that lasts.

Brother McVey saw and understood what was happening here when others couldn't. He then as an evangelist became a contagion and carried the principles practiced here to other churches. A few have cast off the shackles of stale fundamentalist format, have used their liberation to exercise their gifts and understanding to see true conversions in their respective churches, followed by a growth in attendance.

My wife and I will be moving to Sandusky which is about 30 minutes away. There were 19 people at the services last Sunday with and average age well over 70. They are grateful to have a pastor. I am grateful to be accepted by them. As I told them, there is no guarantee that the Lord will do in Sandusky what he did in Black Creek. What is guaranteed is that he loves the preaching of the King James Bible and he works miracles thereby.

This Sunday the 27th, I will preach my last messages as the pastor in Black Creek. You can watch them live on Facebook, BCB Church. Some of you have noticed that I have not published as often. We are in the midst of a family emergency and in the midst of moving. Thank you for your patience. God bless each and every one of you.