People Sharing Jesus

Do you recognize the above phrase as a quote from Isaiah 52:7?  Paul also referred to this in Romans 10.  ”How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”  Yesterday I saw some of the most beautiful feet in action that I have ever seen.  More than 120 people from Crestview visited more than 700 homes on our first night of distribution.  We intentionally made a smaller assignment to each team to test the amount of time the assignments would take.  The afternoon teams and evening teams were given one and one half hour to complete their assignments.  Almost every team completed the assignment in one hour.  Now we know that we can give more assignments next week.  We also know that we are going to do some special distributions to supplement our effort of visiting 10,000 homes.  Many of our people reported good experiences of lives that were visibly touched by our contacts.  We need to cover these seeds that have been planted with prayer.  We are learning so very much about the church field where God has planted us.  The things we are learning can be learned in no better way than personal contact.  As I said on Sunday, the question “What would Jesus do?’ needs to be “What did Jesus do?”  The answer of course is that He went where the people were and talked to them on their turf.  Those who follow Him should do the same.

Dan Wooldridge

Tomorrow afternoon the first wave of visitors will sweep out from Crestview Baptist in Georgetown, Texas carrying a gift of hope to households.  At 6:30 PM the second wave will go out.  Perhaps as many as 1000 homes will be visited by the time the night is done.  Hope 2010 has been in our prayers for over one year.  There is a component of meeting human need which we have been busily doing for years.  For years we have been meeting needs in the Hispanic community through our relationships formed by our midweek ministries of tutoring and ESL.  We have been able to step up that part of our ministry of hope by blessing the lives of children through a Backpack Buddy program.  There is a discipleship component to Hope 2010 which is visible in our growing participation in Operation Multiplication, a program of one on one discipleship.  Additionally a program called ”One by One” is provided to young women by our women’s ministry.  The anchor component of Hope 2010 is the mass distribution of a cd rom which contains testimonies and Scripture as well as links to the message in hundreds of languages through the internet.  The jacket that the gift comes in also has a message for those persons who receive it.  Many conversations will occur as our teams make personal contact with thousands of people over the next 11 weeks.  If you are reading this will you stop right now and ask God to use our efforts for His glory? 

Dan Wooldridge

I marched in the streets of Georgetown today holding the hands of two young African American boys named Marcus and Trey.  We sang the song, “We Shall Overcome” accompanied by my friend Ruffie and two students on woodwinds.  One of the students was Matthew Cooper from our church.  Ruffie of course blesses us from the platform week after week.  Dennis Leedom marched in front of me holding hands with a group of young adults.  Several times as we sang my voice broke as I thought of all the acts of unkindness and violence that have happened through the years because of the blindness of racism.  One of my favorite quotes on racism comes from a great African American pastor named Manuel Scott.  Manuel said, “Racism is the foolish and blind accentuation of the flesh.”  I absolutely agree.  We ended our march at Macedonia Baptist Church which has for some time been interacting with us for mutual fellowship and encouragement.  There was music and four speakers who each spoke briefly about the difference that courageous lives can make in the world.  We held hands and sang these words for our benediction, “Reach out and touch somebody’s hand.  Make this world a better place if you can.”  We can and we will.  Reaching out has been my passion for more than four decades.

Dan Wooldridge

When God opened the door for our family to move to First Baptist Church in Kingsville in 1985, I had several trusted friends who urged me not to go.  Some were concerned about the reputation of the church to which I was being called.  They had been in a series of years of struggle much of which concerned a disconnect with pastors.  Others flatly stated that I would “kill my career” by moving to South Texas.  That statement invited this response, “I don’t have a career.  I have a call from God.”  In fact it was the ten years in South Texas that helped shape me for the ministry.  Our ministry in Kingsville was miraculous and filled with meaning.  There is something about the lands south of San Antonio that stir my heart as to what the work of God is really all about.  The pastors who serve there often serve in obscurity.  During my years there, I would have former friends say things like “I thought you moved out of state, or I thought you left the ministry.”  Those who serve there often must train up every leader who serves by their side.  There is a constant need for committed leaders and teachers to disciple those who are reached.  If they can afford staff, it is often difficult to get staff people to leave the Dallas metropolitan, Houston, Austin, or San Antonio areas to come to the lands of South Texas.  I had several experiences while there talking to people who were serving part time in Dallas, but preferred that to serving on my staff in Kingsville.  It is strange how people who claim God has called them to ministry sometimes seem to feel that the call is restricted to places where they would rather live and serve.

To my brothers and sisters who serve in South Texas, I say:  You are doing a vital work.  Be faithful, and God will make you fruitful.  You are even now seeing the future of our entire state.  What you are learning and experiencing will be necessary to the future leaders of Texas.  “I thank God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:3-6)

Haiti can expect large numbers of Baptists to come and meet the needs of their people.  Already there are leaders from Florida in the country assessing the need.  Groups are mobilizing to go and help in the name of Jesus.  One of the first calls made in times of crisis is to the various Baptist men’s organizations in different states to ask for their mobile relief units to come and feed hungry people.  This work is always done in the name of Jesus.  Pray for this tragedy to be the occasion of many turning to the Lord.  I remember well when a great earthquake hit Mexico City.  Thousands came to Christ.  Churches were begun and lives were changed.  The world is a dangerous and difficult place, but God’s love shines brightest on the darkest days.

Dan Wooldridge

When we use the word “redemption”,  we usually think of our salvation through Jesus and the fact that he has redeemed us from our sins.  The word means to buy back.  As I child I remember going with my mother to a green stamp redemption center and buying nice things with books of stamp which had been saved up over time.  It seemed like we were getting things for free.  God’s redemption is free even though it is not cheap.  Through the great cost of the cross, Jesus has bought us back from slavery and loss. 

 Redemption is so very much more than simply settling where we will spend eternity.  God’s redeeming power can redeem broken relationships, cause beauty to arise where there was formerly only ashes, and restore that which has been destroyed.  God sets into motion a tidal wave of redemptive love that washes over the confusion and darkness of humanity.  As surely as Jesus rose from the dead, the hopeless can move from a hopeless end to endless hope.  So do not be discouraged, the same Jesus who gave His all on the cross can mend your broken heart and restore your broken and battered lives.  Trust Him deeply and watch for the waves of joy. 

Dan Wooldridge

Once, without my knowledge or permission, I was set up with a facebook account.  It was only with great effort that I had it pulled down.  A picture was taken of me at an event and used on the front page.  The picture was okay, but imagine my consternation at someone having the capacity to post anything they pleased on a page that they managed in my name.

Sunday’s message was from Proverbs 22:1 which says “A good name is of more value than great riches . . .”  My problem with the whole facebook phenomena is that I am keenly aware of people whose lives have been ruined by the distribution of information that has carelessly been posted in the public domain.  Certainly, there is much harmless and sometimes helpful information that is shared, but what of the capacity to destroy.  Almost weekly I hear of broken marriages, lost jobs, ruined reputations, suicides, deep depression, slander, spoiled job opportunities, and unholy alliances that can be traced to online communication.  The key word in all of this is “accountability”.  Back to my story about the mysterious facebook account that was set up with my picture and my name.  I am sure that whoever did that had no bad intentions.  There was nothing posted that was embarassing or hurtful.  They may have even intended to help me “get with the times”.  Suppose however that the intention had been evil.  To this day I have no idea who set the site up.  I am uncertain that I will ever know.  I am not aware of any means whereby I could find out.  If that person had intended to harm me they could have done so and then vanished into cyberspace without ever having to face any sort of accountability.  Indirect communication by its very nature produces the potential of damage to reputations.  Since things may be published which are not necessarily directly communicated to those of whom they speak, there is no opportunity for correction.  It would be like publishing a magazine article about someone and offering them absolutely no opportunity to comment on what is written.  In such communication no other perspectives are permitted.  This is tabloid journalism at its worst.  The intent is to say what one wishes with no intention of any balance or corrective viewpoints.

Now I should say that many simply keep up with friends and former acquaintances and see the whole thing as harmless.  To them I simply ask that you would be wise in what you put into print.  Think of words out in the public domain as you would think of words quoted from you and placed in a newspaper interview.  Imagine your agony when misquoted in such a way that your meaning is completely missed.  May I also ask that you remember my remarks when you see yourself or others hurt deeply by this new means of communication.  A good name really is more valuable than great riches and a reputation really is more to be desired than silver or gold.

Dan Wooldridge

In the Baptist tradition we put great emphasis on a public profession of faith.  We believe that at some point in your life you need to stand before a community of faith and say “I choose Jesus!”  Whether you say the words or someone says them for you, the principle is biblical and practical.  Jesus invited people to follow him openly.  Even secret disciples like Nicodemas and Joseph of Arimathea could not remain secret.  They openly asked for the body of Jesus for burial.  Because they did, the glorious miracle of the resurrection was made even more noticeable to friend and foe alike.  Some Baptists are backing away from calling for public responses.  I disagree with this trend.  Baptism itself is a public response.  It is an open confession that Jesus is worthy of our humble obedience.  We are publicly identifying with his death, burial and resurrection in the act of baptism.  We are also revealing our desire to lay down our lives for him in order to rise anew with him in a life of discipleship.  If we ever back away from asking people to take a stand for Christ, we will soon become a footnote in the history of Christianity.  As for me, I say to all who will listen “Stand up for Jesus, take your stand, state your faith, He is worthy!”

Dan Wooldridge

How I sensed the presence of God while at Alto Frio!  I saw many tears and fervent praying from God’s servants on their knees and on their faces in prayer.  It was so obvious that God was dealing with us.  Although I tried to provoke us to seek God ernestly, it was obvious to me that the Lord and He alone was the source of what happened.  We also had good fellowship and I sensed some deepening relationships and ongoing burdens for one another taking place.  All Christians need Jesus desparately.  They also need one another.  The Lord loves to touch us through the Spirit led touch of others.  Thank you for praying.  Your prayers were felt, and more importantly, answered.

Dan Wooldridge

Today I will travel to the Frio River and the Alto Frio Baptist Encampment to meet with pastors and leaders from the Frio River Baptist Association.  I have been asked to lead them in a prayer retreat as they begin 2010.

For a number of years now, I have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with this Association of churches.  They are in towns like Pleasanton, Poteet, Devine, Jourdanton, Lytle, and many other small communities and cities near San Antonio.  This relationship began when Crestview partnered for several years with Hosanna Baptist Church in Poteet.  We helped that great Hispanic church by upgrading their facilities, doing field evangelism, and assisting them with church planting in the area.  Their pastor, Juan Florez, came and preached in Georgetown at the beginning of our large ministry to Hispanics here at our church.  I have preached at two evangelism meetings, led a pastor’s seminar, spoken at a building dedication, and corresponded with leaders there for years.

Pastors need encouragement.  They need to hear spiritual counsel.  I need this also.  God uses a number of faithful people to speak to my heart from time to time.  Because I am an avid reader, I am constantly encouraged by the written testimonies of great theologians of the past and present as well as countless Christian leaders and authors.  I am certain that God wants to bless each of these ministers during this retreat.  If you are reading this will you take a moment to pray for them.  Pray that they may hear the Lord’s voice and not merely my own.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will take what I say and breathe the life of God into it so that in turn new life will be imparted to each of these servants of God.

Dan Wooldridge