Last night I had the privilege to travel with the Hope Trio to the Bay Area Baptist Church in Newark, California. Pastor Jeremy Stalnecker and his wife have been there for just over one year, and it is obvious that the Lord is using them in a great way. I was impressed with the beautifully remodeled auditorium and the good crowd in attendance on a Wednesday evening. The trio did a great job and the people were very open and responsive to the preaching. I am blessed every time I see a church placing an emphasis on getting out the Gospel. It is our prayer at Golden State Baptist College that we would see many more gospel-preaching churches started throughout the Western United States and around the world.

A few times each semester I have the privilege to travel with one of our tour groups on Wednesday evenings. This past Wednesday I was with the Hope Trio at the Central Valley Baptist Church in Manteca, CA. There was a great crowd and we had a good service. The pastor, Dr. Eric Tharp, was out of town preaching and singing, so I had the opportunity to preach in the service. The Lord blessed in a great way, and the altar was filled during the invitation time. What a blessing it is to see what God is doing here in Northern California!

We are in the midst of mid-terms here at GSBC, and I must confess that it is hard to believe that we are half-way through semester. This is a challenging week for our students, but also a rewarding week. I am so thankful for the good young people that the Lord has sent our way this year. We have had a wonderful spirit on the campus, and it is such a blessing to see God working in hearts and lives.