Author Archives: Pastor Jud

Preached at New Hope BC in Bertha, AL on 5.31.15 morning service.

Preached at New Hope BC in Bertha, AL on 5.24.15pm

Preached 5.24.15 at New Hope BC in Bertha, AL

Preached at New Hope BC in Bertha, AL  pm service on 5.17.15

Preached May 17, 2015 at  New Hope BC in Bertha, AL

Preached at New Hope Baptist Church in Bertha, AL on May 10, 2015.

This article was shared with me the other day and it served as a reminder as to why I always try to honor all women on Mother’s Day instead of just the moms.   It’s called “An Open Letter to Pastors” and is written by Amy Young.

Click on the link below to read the article.

http://timewarpwife.com/open-letter-pastors-non-mom-speaks-mothers-day/

Preached at New Hope Baptist Church in Bertha, AL  on May 3, 2015  11:00am

Preached at New Hope Baptist Church, Bertha, AL on April 26, 2015

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This story comes from a book I am reading called  The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken.  In Ripken’s book he interviews a Russian man who was also a Christian Pastor.  There was a time in Communist Russia that pastors were being arrested and often killed for their faith.  In one of the testimonies a man told Nik,  “I remember the day like it was yesterday.  My father put his arms around me and my sister and my brother and guided us into the kitchen to sit around the table where he could talk with us.  My mama was crying, so I knew that something was wrong.  Papa didn’t look at her because he was talking directly to us.  He said, ‘Children, you know that I am the pastor of our church.  That’s what God has called me to do – to tell others about Him.  I have learned that the communist authorities will come tomorrow to arrest me.  They will put me in prison because they want me to stop preaching about Jesus.  But I cannot stop doing that because I must obey God.  I will miss you very much, but I will trust God to watch over you while I’m gone.'” “He hugged each one of us. Then he said: ‘All around this part of the country, the authorities are rounding up followers of Jesus and demanding that they deny their faith.  Sometimes, when they refuse, the authorities will line up whole families and hang them by the neck until they are dead.  I don’t want that to happen to our family, so I am praying that once they put me in prison, they will leave you and your mother alone.'”  “‘However,’ and here he paused and made eye contact with us, ‘If I am in prison and I hear that my wife and my children have been hung to death rather then deny Jesus, I will be the most proud man in that prison!'”

This was several years ago, however, today Christians are still being persecuted and even killed for their faith.  It may be a strange thing to us in America, but in other places it is very common, even a routine part of life.

1 Peter 4.12-16 (nkjv) Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

I pray that you and I are never called on to deny our faith or die, but if we are I know He will strengthen us to stand firm for the sake of the gospel.  I want to encourage you to pray for persecuted Christians all over the world.  They are facing this on a daily basis.