God Wink

Have you heard these words before?  “God Wink” is a new term for me which I picked up in a conference I attended this month in Dallas, Texas.  No, I don’t think it is strictly a Texas term.  But, as I thought of its meaning the Lord brought to mind a conversation that I would definitely include in the use of these two words.  A “God Wink” is that passing moment, a mental flash, an unexpected meeting, a touch of God’s finger in one’s life that is completely unplanned and unexpected.  This is how it turned out for me…

I was sitting in the lobby of a hotel at 4:30 in the morning, waiting for the shuttle bus to take me to the airport.  A young woman came down and began immediately to talk to me.  I learned several interesting facts.  She was on her way to a college in Georgia to attend a specialized medical course for three months.  She is a nurse.  As we talked, she also mentioned that her husband had died two years previously on this very same day.  And, following that, her father died two weeks later.  So, this was a tough time for her.  Thus the visit turned to a spiritual, rather than just a social, conversation.  She mentioned that God was the One who keeps her going.  Replying to my question as to whether she was a follower of Jesus, she noted that she most definitely was.  In fact, she said, “My husband was a pastor before he died.”  “Oh,” I said.  “Where was he a pastor?”  Her response was certainly a surprise. She said, “At Calvary Baptist Church in The Dalles.” Well, I know that church very well.  Pastor Jim and Barbara Bull were there for several years.  As a new pastor right out of seminary, the pastor of Calvary Baptist was a great mentor to me since I was pastor at a neighboring Baptist church.  Then, I asked her what her husband’s name was, and to my surprise he was someone whom I had met, though did not know intimately.  The conversation continued; she and her husband had met while students at Judson Baptist College, from which I also graduated.  We had a host of common acquaintances from school, ministry and the mission field.  It was one of those moments of immediate bonding and fellowship in Christ though we may never meet again.

As we parted she told me that this conversation was definitely from the Lord.  On this very day in which she needed encouragement the most, God stepped in, unexpectedly and unplanned, to bring her that encouragement just as she was ready to step on the plane to an area in which she knew no one. That, my friends is a “God Wink!”  Look for them in your own life.  They happen almost every day.

~~Pastor Ed

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

Do You Trust Me?

Have you ever heard your Father ask you that question?  I did.  I vividly remember in June of this year the Lord said many times, "Do you trust Me?"  At first it was for Sonshine School.  We were going to lose three very good teachers to retirement and other job relocations. The second wave came during the week that our friend Kinley Adams was missing.  That same week a good friend of mine died in a freak accident.  God once again asked me that question, "Do you trust Me?"  I always said yes, but honestly, it was mostly in my head and not my heart.  

Two more waves came through by the end of the summer.  Each prompting a deep struggle with the same question, "Do you trust Me?"  

One day on a prayer walk down town, I reflected back on a journey we began as a church.  It was called Set Free.  We said in January 2013, "It was not about paying off the debt, but it was about growing our faith."  The vehicle God was going to use to grow our faith was paying off the mortgage we owed on our facility.  Little did I realize God had many vehicles He was going to use to grow my faith.  

Our church walked the painful but joyous realization that Kinley was climbing mountains in heaven.  My friend Henry left behind his family (wife and four young kids) as did Kinley, to struggle with loss and hope.  In each case I witnessed people of courage and faith answering yes to that question, "Do you trust Me?"  None of us got the answer we wanted but we trusted.  In each case I heard family members affirm the goodness of God.  They trusted.  

As we pressed toward the fall, I could see something different happening with Sonshine.  We got three new, but very experienced teachers.  Each of them coming to us in different but very God ordained ways.  But the shock to me was the number of students.  We began our school year 25% above last years numbers.  There is a buzz around the school that is significant.  Our new website (www.sonshinechristianschool.com) is like our school,  it feels like a new day has arrived.  

Set Free?  Glad you asked.  We are less than $75,000 from being SET FREE.  It's been seven months on this journey.  Multiple struggles, multiple challenges, all asking the same question, "Do you trust Me?"  We asked the Lord to grow our faith.  That is what we prayed for and God said, "I will."  Get ready for the burning of the note.  It's just around the corner.  

Pastor Mark Hanke

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

H2O Work Crew

This summer marked my fourth year being a THRIVE leader at camp H2O, SFB’s high school summer camp. As I reflect over the years, each summer gets better and better. From the unity of our staff, to the amazing boat drivers, to our fantastic cooks, every year seems to emulate a well oiled machine.

This year we added a new element to camp for our graduated seniors, which we called “work crew”. Three of our graduates came to serve at camp, in return receiving half off the cost of camp, with the understanding that the work they did would pay off the remaining half. In my opinion, the work they did went above and beyond just half their camp payment. All three of them worked incredibly hard, and not just when asked to.

Throughout the week they each took on a sense of higher responsibility around camp, looking for things to be done and doing them without any leaders having to ask, whether it was taking out the trash, re-filling water jugs, or replacing paper towels in the bathroom. It was definitely the cleanest camp we have ever had!

 One day in particular, we had a bit of a problem with the restrooms. Our only work crew guy graduate spent a couple hours in the bathrooms, mucking out water that had flooded. He volunteered to help and gave up his entire free time, including time on the boats, to do this. That evening, the other two girls on our work crew asked if they could do the kitchen duties by themselves, to give the guy a break since he worked so hard that day. To me, they represented such sacrifice and a willingness to serve not only the camp, but each other as well! I am extremely proud of them and the work they did there. It excites me that these are the young men and women that are coming out of Thrive – they set such an example for the ones that come after them. I am also very excited to see this element of our camp grow and flourish.

On behalf of all the leaders and students of THIRVE I want to thank each of you who support and pray for student ministry here at Salem First. Your prayers were evident as we experienced God revealing His character and love to us through another great summer at Camp H2O.

Jessica Ivanitsky

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org