Last Wednesday night I had the privilege to be in Marysville, Washington at the Northwest Baptist Church with Pastor Kerby Campbell. We have prayed for Pastor Campbell this year as he has had some very difficult struggles with his health. The church has rallied behind him, and they have seen the Lord bless in unusual ways during a time when most would have expected them to just be hanging on. Pastor Campbell still needs our prayers, but God has given him the ability to do more physically in recent days. As a matter of fact, he is right now on a missions trip to Africa with a group of men from the church!

The Lord gave us a great service last Wednesday. It was encouraging to see a great crowd in attendance, and the people were very responsive. I was blessed by the music and I especially enjoyed hearing a harp duet during the service and an energetic choir practice afterward. Pastor Campbell and his wife went to Marysville fourteen years ago to start a church, and it is amazing to see what the Lord has done there in such a short period of time. To God be the glory!

The first two weeks of this semester have been marked by a steady succession of exciting events and spiritual highlights. In addition to the regularly recurring events of the opening week, we experienced the largest attendance day in the history of North Valley Baptist Church as well as the largest attendance ever for the college bus ministry. Over 500 people were saved ministry-wide and it was amazing to see the many miracles that took place.

This incredible day was immediately followed by our 25^th Annual National Pastors’ and Workers Conference where we were blessed by old-fashioned preaching and an outpouring of the Spirit of God. I think everyone here would have to say that we are abounding with blessings. After a great day of classes and chapel today, we are looking forward to what the Lord has for us this weekend.

My heart was blessed today as we welcomed hundreds of students back to this campus to begin a new school year. Of course, it was wonderful to see the students who were gone for the summer break once again, and hear about how the Lord has blessed them in the last few months. It was also exciting to meet the many new students from all over America and the parents who were able to bring their children to college. With so many wonderful young people here, I am looking forward to what God is going to do here at GSBC this semester.

With the beginning of the fall semester only two months away, it is exciting to know that students can now register online for classes. Online registration simplifies the registration process, saves time, and helps ensure that students are able to enroll in the classes they need. Find out more at www.gsbc.edu.

We are looking forward to our 27^th Annual National Youth Conference here at North Valley Baptist Church. Our campus will be teeming with teens, and we will hear great preaching, laugh at hilarious skits, participate in amazing competitions, and enjoy exciting activities throughout the week.

Don’t miss this fun-filled adventure! Learn more at http://www.nvbc.org/nyc.

Earlier this week I said goodbye to the Blessed Hope Quartet and our graduate Brother Stephen Russ took up the baton as group leader. I truly enjoyed the time I spent with these young men and I believe that the Lord is using them in a great way. Since my last post, we had wonderful meetings with the group at the Mountain View Baptist Church in Kelso, Washington, First Baptist Church of Rose Hill in Redmond, Washington, and Bethel Baptist Church in Spanaway, Washington. The group is pictured below with Pastor Brent Fore in Redmond. Please pray for these men as they continue to travel throughout the summer.

The Blessed Hope Quartet with Pastor Fore

I have been so encouraged by all of the churches that we have visited here in the Northwest, and last night was no exception. Brother Jared Rhodes, who has been at the church almost from its very beginning led the service and also took us to Red Robin afterwards. The Lord has given these folks a beautiful facility in an excellent location, but I was most impressed with the people of the church. There was a great spirit in the service and it was obvious that these folks love the Lord.

Please pray for us as we travel today to Kelso, Washington to the Mountain View Baptist Church.

Last night we were at the Greater Portland Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon. The quartet did a great job singing in the service, and I was honored that Pastor Rick Adams allowed me to preach. We had a great time in the service. The people seemed to really enjoy the music, and the altars were filled during the invitation time.

After the service, Brother Greg Adams hosted a fellowship for all of the senior high teenagers. It was a blessing to spend some time with the teens and, of course, the food was great.

This morning, Brother Brad McFeters took us to a public high school in the area for a Bible club meeting. The men sang and testified and I was able to give a brief challenge. We were amazed to see 43 teens in attendance! My heart was touched by the testimony of these young people who are doing their best to maintain a Christian testimony in a public school.

After the Bible club meeting Brother McFeters and his family took us to Burgerville and I had deep-fried asparagus for the first time. Delicious!

Tonight we will be at the Timberline Baptist Church in Sherwood, Oregon.

For the next several days, I have the privilege of travelling with the Blessed Hope Quartet. Last night we were at the Liberty Baptist Church in Fircrest, Washington. We had the opportunity to go out soul winning before service and the Lord allowed us to see one person saved. God gave us a great service last night. There was a great crowd in attendance and the people were very responsive, both the fellow’s singing and to the preaching, and a man was baptized at the close of the service. Yesterday was Isaac Young’s birthday (Isaac sings bass in the quartet) and so we all sang “Happy Birthday” to him in the service.

After the service Bro. Faulkner and Bro. Boyer took us out to Famous Dave’s BBQ along with some young people from the church for a great time of food and fellowship.

Please pray for us tonight as we travel to Portland, Oregon to be at the Greater Portland Baptist Church with Pastor Rick Adams.

On Friday night, our college family had the opportunity to watch as our 2010 graduates crossed the platform of the North Valley Baptist Church and received their diplomas. My heart was encouraged as I thought about these young people going out into the Lord’s work. We certainly live in a day of great need for Christian workers, not only in our own country, but also around the world. I believe with all my heart that our graduates are going to make a difference as they labor for the Master.