Eastgate Free Will Baptist Church - Visited

I probably think this each time but it's true. I will definitely remember today's visit with my brothers and sisters at Eastgate Free Will Baptist Church. Every visit with each of the 52 churches that call Siloam Springs home (by address) is unique, special and memorable. What helped set this particular fellowship apart really began for me Friday afternoon. I mostly covered that in a previous post. I sensed that conversation with Steve was yet another divine appointment I just wasn't sure to what extent.

Because Eastgate's service didn't start until 11:00 AM I was able to also attend the 9:00 AM service at my home church, Antioch, first. This continues to be very important to me, staying rooted and grounded in a home fellowship while visiting so many other churches.

I pulled into the parking lot at Eastgate, found a space and walked in. I set my bag down in a pew toward the back (had difficulty getting through the aisle) and the pastor was quick to greet. Steve Hill had done a great job of telling the pastor I was coming and after a few words he invited me to share this morning from the pulpit. I readily agreed and now that the aisle was once again clear moved my stuff to a pew in front.

Pastor Jerry Sadler made a few announcements and then was quick to introduce me as being with the International House of Prayer - Siloam Springs. He invited me up, handed me the microphone and I apologized for my cold-induced whispered speech. The first thing that always seems to overwhelm me in these opportunities is the sincere privilege and honor I feel being in that position. It seems I can't help but try to communicate that to that fellowship. I'm sure it never comes across as deeply as I feel it.

I went on to explain what the House of Prayer is doing - praying for the 52 churches of Siloam Springs, one each week of this year and that we would be praying for them specifically this Wednesday night. I explained that I personally visit each church to better understand who we are praying for.

Quickly I transitioned into two other points I felt led to share. The first was regarding the sign they have out by the highway. I blogged a little about this already a few days ago but what I said to the church family was how much I knew that it was a part of their ministry. I shared with them how just last weekend I heard from a young lady visiting our community how the Lord had used their sign to speak to her. I think this is where I heard my first "Amen!". I'm not certain because frankly it surprised me. I haven't heard too many of them from where I was standing at the time. I was blessed and encouraged by it.

I used the telling of this testimony to move into my second point and that was a verse I felt led to share with them. I read John 9:11, "He answered and said, A man called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight." That brought at least another "Amen!". I was starting to like this. I invited the congregation to think about what it would mean if we thought about the greater church of Siloam Springs as being a "pool of Siloam". "Amen!" That people are drawn from hours away, as was the young lady last weekend, to see the Lord in this place and ask for a touch of Him in their lives. "Amen!"

That was all I had so I closed my Bible, reminded them we are praying for them and thanked them again before taking my seat in the pews. The pastor and all the congregation were so very gracious and it touched my heart. They were having a luncheon afterwards and invited me to stay.

On our way to the fellowship hall the pastor and his wife invited me into the office. We shared with one another what the Lord had been doing through our lives and the ministries He had called us in to. The theme the pastor and his wife asked us to pray about over and over was raising up laborers. They sensed an increasing need for those who are called to teach. "May the word of the Lord run swiftly."

We we're there 10 minutes or so before our appetites moved us into the fellowship hall. There was plenty of delicious food and the conversations were also sweet. And I didn't catch the name of the lady that made the strawberry dessert but that recipe alone could cause a surge in attendance in that church. Growing up, my parents always commented that my brother Chris & I would always remember the church by the food. Somethings never change.

- Wade Baker