TRANSFORMING YOUR WORLD

Greetings Saints,
It seems so amazing at how fast time seems to fly. Since my last entry I received great news that my brother Eugene (Happy) C. Beard Jr. has been called to serve as pastor at the Triune Baptist Church in Wilkinsburg, PA, which is a suburb of Pittsburgh. Our prayers are with him in this new ministry venture. We are excited to see what God will do.

I want to say hello to my friend and brother Pastor Mohan Rao in India. We are so proud of the great work he continues to do for the kingdom of God. He has planted several churches and a few years ago opened a discipleship training center, ministry for orphans and widows and a medical center. We praise God for his great work. Also, we continue to pray for our good friend and Brother Bishop Pobe in Ghana, West Africa. Bishop does such great work that so many are blessed and coming to the Lord because of his great ministry.

As we prepare for our ministry expansion I have been so proud of our Ministry of Elders, Senior Associate Minister and Chair of our Deacon Ministry, as well as many other leaders who have stayed the course in what is an exciting but challenging time. We are so thankful for the vast majority of our congregation who see the vision and support this great move of our God. While we recognize this is a season of adjustment, our faith declares the wonders of God and are excited to see what He does. Pray for our churches in Charlottesville and the new church start in Georgia and for the new ministries yet in the future. We have received inquiries about the TMI network from other existing ministries who are praying about joining the network. In all things our prayer is that God is pleased and glorified and that God's people, in many places, will be blessed because of this next phase in God's plan and vision.

Many years ago when I first gave the Lord my life, I made the Lord a promise: "I'll go where you say go and I'll do what you say do." That remains my promise. Our King never promised that it would all be easy, He did not promise that people would always understand or be supportive. The twelve disciples were brutally treated and most killed for following the direction of Christ. Steven was stoned and Paul often beaten and thrown in jail for seeking to follow the Lord's requirement to advance His Kingdom. And of course, even Jesus was harshly treated and killed by those who knew the letter of the Law but not the Spirit of the Law. Often these harsh events were at the hands of the people of God who were not evil people, but people who were not spiritually minded. As a result, they deemed the very things that were of God, as evil. Even Christ who stood before them as Savior, they saw as a threat that needed to be destroyed. Often people fear what they fail to understand. Whenever you determine to follow the direction of our Lord for your life, don't become frustrated or give in to hurt. The Evil one recognizes that God is doing something in you and will try to discourage you. But, don't fret. Our King has promised to be with you. Neither should you despise those who come against you. Jesus declared, Father forgive them for they know not what they do. Our Lord says to pray for them who despise and misuse you. Your focus is to do the will of our Lord who called you. Nothing else really matters.

Saints of God, be encouraged. God is with you and your future is bright! Just trust the Lord and behold His wonders. God Bless each of you.