Spoken word by the spiritual poet

I was given the opportunity to write a thought for my church which will celebrate its 58th anniversary on Sunday, March 24, 2024. Thank God for the continued inspirational writing.

“Emmanuel Baptist Church, Chosen As Salt and Light, Here, Near, And Far“

It is with great joy and delight with which we celebrate the irresistible, irrevocable, and effectual call of Emmanual Baptist Church by the will of God. She was chosen by the Light of Life fifty-eight years ago to be part and parcel of the eternal ecclesia of Creator God—the Ancient of Days and King of ages. For He did not call an individual but a covenant community with unapologetic faith to be salt and light as entrusted earthen image bearers, here, near, and far.

We join in concert with King David’s prayer and praise saying, “May you be blessed, LORD God of our father Israel, from eternity to eternity. Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from you, and you are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name.”

Therefore, Emmanuel Baptist Church bow on bended knees in the presence of Yahweh Sabaoth—the LORD of Armies, and we give Him unabashed praise. We give Him unconditional praise, and we give Him unapologetic kingdom praise. For your right hand and everlasting arm has held her fast down through the days, decades, and ambivalent ages of our lifetimes. She has not bowed the knee to age of cancel culture. She has not bowed the knee to the age of gender genocide. She has not bowed the knee to the age of quid pro quo, and she has not bowed the knee to age of live your truth. But with the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, she continues to preach the indomitable unstoppable gospel—the message of reconciliation bearing fruit in the brick-less, block-less, and whosoever will call upon his name. For it is the wisdom of God and the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. And like the great Psalter of Psalms, she still sings the song from ages ago on the frontlines here, near, and far.

“As I journey thro the land singing as I go, Pointing souls to Calvary to the crimson flow,
Many arrows pierce my soul from without, within, But my Lord leads me on, thro’ Him I must win.
O I want to see Him, look upon His face, There to sing forever of His saving grace;
On the streets of Glory let me lift my voice; Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice.”

We pray, LORD, as Emmanuel Baptist Church sojourn on this foreign soil in this foreign, dry, and thirsty land, send her mercy drop showers of blessing from your superabundant atmospheric river water of life that flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Hydrate her with all the fullness of God, His great grace, miraculous mercy, and steadfast everlasting perfect peace. Give her unshaken brazen boldness to uphold your Word, the standard we need to exposit right doctrine, right belief, and right behavior, for right living in a sinful world. As we believe Emmanuel Baptist Church has been chosen as salt and light, here, near, and far until her work on earth is done.