Pastor Letter: August 21, 2019
Dear Buck Run Family:
What an incredible August we are having! The Lord is blessing us with a season of harvest as we are experiencing an increase in attendance, baptisms, giving, and new members. I am grateful for the Lord’s faithfulness through you. Our giving this year is about 10% ahead of last year. We had a great Reach Frankfort day last Saturday and saw the Lord work in wonderful ways. I just about broke down and melted on the platform last Sunday when Matt Morvay baptized a precious couple who recently came to faith in Christ.
That’s not all! Our Magnificent Mondays are so encouraging and uplifting. We are privileged to have some of the best preachers in the United States come to Buck Run and feed our souls. Kevin Ezell and Nathan Lino were both right on target. One of the sweet things I noticed was the way so many who attended stood around and just talked and fellowshipped with one another for nearly an hour afterward. Buck Run is all about community and it’s a joy to enjoy that.
Next Monday night is our last Magnificent Monday and I am not exaggerating when I tell you that Dr. Charlie Dates is one of the greatest preachers of our generation. You do not want to miss this—and I certainly don’t want you to! I know life is busy, and I don’t gauge anyone’s spirituality on whether they come to church on Monday night, but I am asking you to make a special effort. First of all, it will do you good. God blesses His Word, and I only bring in speakers who preach the Bible. Second, if we go to the trouble and expense to bring in such great preachers, I want them to preach to a full house. Finally, we need our church community more than any other community in our lives. The extra time we get to spend with one another is precious and it is part of God’s shaping us to be like Jesus as we “provoke one another to love and good works.” Just in case you want to see what you are in for, watch this video of Dr. Dates preaching in chapel at Southern Seminary.
I want to remind you that our Wednesday night services will resume on September 4. I am excited about it and chomping at the bit to get going because I will be preaching through parts of Genesis this year. I won’t have time to cover the whole book, but Genesis is foundational to the rest of the Bible and the stories of Genesis shape the moves and rhythms of all of Scripture. You can’t really understand the Bible unless you understand Genesis, so I hope to help you do that.
For the men, I am teaching through Nehemiah at Bibles and Biscuits this year. The next one is Tuesday, September 3, at 6 am at Cracker Barrel. It’s a great take on leadership and this particular study will be on a leader’s prayer life. I especially hope to see a lot of dads and sons there!
Finally, thank you for your encouragement as I preach through Luke on Sunday mornings. Bringing the Word to you gives me unspeakable joy. This week is a great text about spiritual warfare and our need to be filled with Christ. Don’t miss it!
I love you, dear friends. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of being your pastor.
Gratefully, faithfully,
Bro. Hershael