Growing Together Blog

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Saturday, 24 July 2010 05:17

Twenty-six years ago – it was November 28, 1984 – Gary and Deby Wiley joined Immanuel, coming to us from Mesquite Bible Church in Mesquite, Texas.  Through the years we watched their children – Paul, Sarah, Leah, and Joel – grow up before our eyes.  Gary’s passion for the gospel and for the lost led him into the ministry as he served with Good News Jail & Prison Ministries locally and was supported by the church as one of our missionary families.

In the fall of 1992, as Gary and I enjoyed a lunch together, the possibility of his joining our church staff was briefly mentioned.  That was followed up with further discussions and on October 28, 1992, the Wiley family became part of the church staff with Gary serving as our Pastor of Christian Education and Missions.  Deby willingly served alongside her husband in the Nursery, Sunday School, Church Time, Wednesday Clubs and Vacation Bible School.  Together they gave of their time and energies to provide direction for the training of our children in the Word of God.

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Written by Michael Saunders Friday, 16 July 2010 11:42

I had the grand opportunity to talk to Rebecca’s Grandpa while on vacation and he was talking to me about a strategy that he had.  This strategy was his own idea – not something he read in a book or something someone else in the church was doing. What was this strategy? Well it had to do with a particular problem – the problem was the college age students. His church was smaller – so there was no college age group, the youth pastor at his church had recently left, and seemingly when the college students went off to college it was good riddance and see you later. Grandpa Williams, or Sid if you prefer first names, wanted to invest in their lives…but how? What could he do so far away from them?

This is where his strategy comes in. He told me, in his Long Island accent, “You know Mike, I just figured I would write our college students each week. I’d try to send a few bucks in the letter so they could have a meal on “Uncle Sid.” You know what happened? I’ve had all these college students coming back to church, thanking me, hugging me – and at my age it’s great having all these pretty girls giving you a hug! [Yes, he was joking!] The neatest thing though, is that I am now starting to get invited to their weddings, they’re asking me for practical advice/spiritual advice.”

I was floored! How awesome is that? Here is a man who just decided to do the little that he could. He’s by no means rich. He wouldn’t be able to travel to see each of these students, but he has decided to do the little that he could. And that little, like a cruse of oil, God multiplied.

I told him how excited I was to hear that and how great it would be for others in church to do the same – to look around, see a need, and then act. He replied, “You know, I can’t do that much anymore. I wish I could do more, but I just figured I wasn’t going to let my age stop me. I know my limitations, but I’m going to do all I can do.” He started telling me how he gets in early to set up the coffee, he greets people at the door, helps in other areas…it was a blessing to hear someone who has chosen to be faithful their whole lives and then chose like Paul to not stop.

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Friday, 09 July 2010 13:24

Over a century ago James and Mary, a missionary couple serving in Tientsin, China, welcomed a second son into their home.  As he and his older brother grew up and entered a boarding school in England, these boys excelled in sports – rugby, cricket, and track.  The younger of the two even set a record for the 100-meter dash.

While attending the University of Edinburgh, this second son continued to show flashes of brilliance as a runner.  Soon he emerged as the fasted sprinter in Scotland.  He was heralded as a national hero.

Both brothers were involved in sharing their faith during these years.  And for the younger boy, Eric Liddell, his evangelistic “talks” made front page news in the local papers.  Eric was moved by this response as God blessed his witness.  Doors opened for him to speak to thousands throughout the British Isles.

His notoriety grew as he continued running and with the 1924 Olympics approaching.  Eric made the track team, and every Englishman (and Scot) hoped that Eric would accomplish what no other Scot had ever achieved – a gold medal in the 100-Meter.

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Friday, 02 July 2010 12:09

On this day we celebrate the birth of our nation and offer our thanks for the privileges we enjoy as citizens of these United States.  There is no doubt that America boasts a “storied” history which is the direct result of God’s good hand upon us.  Exploring the roots of our country reveals the deep seated faith of so many of our founders.  Rising from the wilderness of a new world, we grew and flourished.  After declaring our independence and fighting for our freedom as a nation, our forefathers established a solid foundation upon which this republic has rested for 234 years!

One of the keystones of our rise to greatness could be summarized in a proverb from the Old Testament: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).  That verse is rich in meaning.  Writing in the 1600s, here is what Matthew Henry had to say about those words.

“Justice, reigning in a nation, puts an honour upon it. A righteous administration of the government, impartial equity between man and man, public countenance given to religion, the general practice and profession of virtue, the protecting and preserving of virtuous men, charity and compassion to strangers …, these exalt a nation; they uphold the throne, elevate the people’s minds, and qualify a nation for the favour of God, which will make them high, as a holy nation, Deu. 26:19.  Vice, reigning in a nation, puts disgrace upon it: Sin is a reproach to any city or kingdom, and renders them despicable among their neighbours.  The people of Israel were often instances of both parts of this observation; they were great when they were good, but when they forsook God all about them insulted them and trampled on them.  It is therefore the interest and duty of princes to use their power for the suppression of vice and support of virtue.”  Another author comments that verse 34 “makes righteousness the key to a nation’s greatness, a recipe that has perhaps not yet been tried, though its converse (34b) has often been proven” (from the New Bible Commentary).