High Hopes, 92 Years and Counting!

By J.A. West I was born and reared in Wilmington, NC, but when I was 18 years old, the US Navy changed all of that.  I was about to be drafted into the army, but I chose to join the Navy instead.  The Navy took us 19-year-olds and spent a year training us and hoping […]

Overcomer: A Journey Through Grief

By Suzanne Martin In June 2015, my husband, Don, and I flew from Oklahoma to North Carolina for an annual month-long stay with family. All the emotions were in tow: excitement, anticipation, anxiety, and happiness. The morning after we arrived, my world changed abruptly and I would never be the same. As Pop, as Don […]

Prayer for Inauguration Day, 2017

Dear Father, as the transition of power is taking place in our nation this week, we take time to pray for our leaders as Paul brings the charge in Scripture, “The first thing I want you to do is pray.  Pray every way you kow how, for everyone you know.  Pray especially for rulers and their […]

Whose Voice is It, Anyway?

By Carol Ann Forgas God gives every single one of us a very specific talent – one that, I believe, should be used to return praises to Him – so that all may hear and learn of Him.  I have said many times that my voice is just a voice on loan. I wish I […]

Pastor’s Log, Stardate 1-10-2017: Destination Peace

Perhaps you can remember the television show Star Trek from the late 1960’s. The show was a science fiction adventure into the vast reaches of the universe and week after week the voice-over of Captain Kirk from the bridge of the Starship Enterprise would begin, “Captain’s log, Stardate 41239. Our destination is ……,” and the episode, duly identified, would […]

My ‘God-Moment’

by Marie Hendrick In November,  June Yarboro shared the opportunity for our JOY Sunday school classmates to join her on a mission trip to assist Hurricane Matthew flood victims in Lumberton, NC. We were to work with the NC Baptist Men in recovery operations.  God spoke to our hearts and cleared our calendars and Susan Beam, […]

Carry Your Candle!

One week ago on Christmas Eve and standing at the door to wish folks a “Merry Christmas” upon their departure from our service, I noticed several members of Fred and Joan Flowers’ family departing the service still holding their candles from the candlelighting and the flames on the candles were still aglow! Joan made a […]

Come to the Light, Jesus!

by Tony Tench I look forward to worship on Christmas Eve! For all of the fun and excitement that comes with the shopping and games and gift giving and joyful reunions and celebrations, it is not until I get to worship on Christmas Eve that I know I have been face to face with the […]

In Her Footsteps!

Grandparents are nothing but thrilled to see what their grandchildren are doing as they grow.  It is a real blessing of life to have this “grand” experience and Janet and I are really taking it in with absolute joy! We received a texted photo from yesterday at church where our daughter’s family serves.  It was […]

4:45 AM, The Day After Our Election and God is ABLE!

It’s a quarter til five this morning and I have not looked at the news to see the outcome of our national election. Like everyone in the country, including the candidates no doubt, I have grown weary of such a long and distressing campaign season. The neck and neck reporting from the polls last night […]