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.

Last night we had a great meeting with the Hope Trio and Pastor William Wallace at the Coast Hills Baptist Church in Marina, California. There was a good crowd in attendance and the people were very responsive. Their teen choir sang during the offertory and did a beautiful job. Praise the Lord for this wonderful opportunity!

On Tuesday and Wednesday we had the privilege to have many of our graduates here for our annual Alumni Days celebration. What a blessing it was to see our graduates and hear about the work that they are doing for the Lord. Several of our graduates preached in the chapel services and also in the Wednesday night service at NVBC (see photos). On Wednesday, some of our alumni who are youth pastors taught sessions on the subject of youth ministry.

What an encouragement it is to see how God is using our graduates in His harvest field! It is our prayer that as the Lord tarries in His coming we will be able to see many more young people trained to work for Him.

One of the things that I like most about this time of year is the excitement that accompanies each new beginning. With the opening of the dorms, new students arriving on campus, returning students moving back in, and everyone looking forward to the first day of classes there is certainly a lot of excitement around here these days!

Of course, this is a new beginning for the incoming freshmen, but it is certainly a new beginning for every other student as well. The victories and defeats of last semester are now in the past. Each person has the opportunity to succeed in the semester that lies ahead. We must press forward, concerned only with what we can accomplish for the Lord between now and graduation on May 7.

With each new beginning, we would do well to remember the words of Paul. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

Last night I had the privilege to preach with Dr. Trieber at the Rock of Ages Baptist Church in Fallon, Nevada. Brother Trieber was preaching in a revival meeting there and Pastor Darren Robinson also invited the Victory Trio (Dr. and Mrs. Zachary and my wife and me) to sing in the services. The auditorium was packed and extra chairs were set up in the foyer. There were a several pastors there from around the state as well. The singing and the preaching were very well received and the altars were filled in the invitation time. I also met several young people who will be students here at GSBC in the fall. We had a wonderful time and I am so encouraged by what I can see the Lord doing these days here in the West.

Though you may not find a lot of good news in the headlines these days, God’s Word has a great deal of encouragement for those who love the Lord. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). If we as Christians will trust God and allow Him to lead us, He will give us His best in 2010.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).