pastor Jacob

This is pastor Jacob praying for a new home that they built for a family in a poverty area. I encourage you to visit www.gtsss.org

God moment

Wow, have you ever been in the presence of someone that you knew had been with Jesus. I just had something wonderful happen. I was getting ready for our Wednesday night prayer time and a friend of mine came in the church with a pastor from India. I had met pastor Jacob once before and was equally impressed the first time I met him. This time there just seemed to be something different, he seemed to have an even greater passion for Jesus and the people of India. I really can't explain what I experienced other than I feel like I have seen Jesus. I feel so unworthy of all the comforts of America after hearing and seeing what others around the world go thru to preach the gospel to a lost world. I know God is calling me to make a difference in the world that I live in just like pastor Jacob is doing in India. Will you pray for me and my family that our lives may be filled with purpose and not just possessions. Thank the Lord for meeting with us on Wednesday night! If you would like to know more about pastor Jacob and his ministry go to www.gtsss.org



you are loved,

Kevin

1000 Hills Cowboy Church

Cowboy church is about to begin in Poplar Bluff, MO. I just got home from our first core group meeting of the new Cowboy church that we are planting. It was a great meeting, we had 17 interested people who have committed to help get this church started. Everyone is so excited about ministering the Gospel to the western heritage culture. I am so proud of Emmanuel Baptist, our church gave over $4000.00 to start this new work. They are also willing to share their pastor with another group of people, that shows how giving they really are. The new church will begin Jan. 17, 2007. Pray for us as we make preparation for our first service. We are praying that we will reach as many people as we can in our first service.
The cowboy church is designed to reach farmers, ranchers, ropers, and anyone who just wants to be a cowboy or cowgirl. This is really exciting to be a part of a church start. Pray for us!

You are loved,

Kevin

1000 Hills Cowboy Church

Cowboy church is about to begin in Poplar Bluff, MO. I just got home from our first core group meeting of the new Cowboy church that we are planting. It was a great meeting, we had 17 interested people who have committed to help get this church started. Everyone is so excited about ministering the Gospel to the western heritage culture. I am so proud of Emmanuel Baptist, our church gave over $4000.00 to start this new work. They are also willing to share their pastor with another group of people, that shows how giving they really are. The new church will begin Jan. 17, 2007. Pray for us as we make preparation for our first service. We are praying that we will reach as many people as we can in our first service.
The cowboy church is designed to reach farmers, ranchers, ropers, and anyone who just wants to be a cowboy or cowgirl. This is really exciting to be a part of a church start. Pray for us!

You are loved,

Kevin

Great weekend

Hey everyone hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving weekend. We enjoyed it so much we wanted the weekend to never end. On Friday Johnna and her mom tackled black Friday with all the other brave shoppers and headed for Memphis. Ethan and myself saddled up and headed team roping, Tanner and Logan couldn't miss the Arkansas vs LSU game. On Saturday we all went to Cape and enjoyed the day doing more shopping and more team roping. Wade and Erica Harris and their boys joined us on the trip. Saturday night we enjoyed the Olive Garden and after that we spent some much needed time in the hot tub and swimming pool at the Victorian Inn. It was GREAT! Sunday morning I preached at the Cape County Cowboy Church. It was such a neat experience we all enjoyed the service very much. They had a packed church (sale barn). If you ever have the opportunity to attend don't miss it. It will be worth the drive.

I am looking forward to a wonderful week. We are getting closer to our first service of the 1000 Hills Cowboy Church and there is still much to do. We are having a core group meeting tomorrow at 7pm at the R bar H arena in Poplar Bluff. If you would like to be a part of this church start just join us tomorrow night. I let you know how things are going .

You are loved,


Kevin

Thanksgiving with the Murray's and Coates

Thank the Lord for my moms coo kin'. She's the best. I know what you're thinking but trust me on this one. We have had a wonderful day. My family and Johnna's parents spent Thanksgiving day together and to the best of my knowledge no injuries. That doesn't include the pain of over eating. We all had plenty to eat and it was EXCELLENT! I have so much to be thankful for and I want to start with my family. Johnna and the boys are really what make life so much fun for me, I love them all very much. I know that not everyone has such a Great family. I do want to encourage everyone who has a good family to take time to tell them how grateful you are for them. Words mean a lot when they come from someone as special as a dad, mom, brother, sister. I'm also thankful for my mom and dad and the fact that they now live so close to us. I have many more but I'll just mention one more, Emmanuel. I love being the pastor of such a wonderful group of people and I am thankful for the privilege of getting to be a part of such a wonderful family. Thank you Lord for all the blessings that you have given me. I hope all of you had a great day. Be safe shopping tomorrow and pray for my wife and her mother as the tackle Memphis on the busiest shopping day of the year. Me and the boys are going team roping Friday and Saturday, life is good.


You are loved,

Kevin

A special Lady

Today I had the priviledge of preaching the funeral of a Lady from St. Clair, Mo. She was the daughter of Mae Romine, a member of our church. Her name was Rhonda and the story her husband told me has left quite an impact on this preacher. Rhonda suffered with a breathing disease called COPD for the past few years and had really suffered for the past 2years. She was married and had 2 grown children. The last thing that Rhonda did before she past away was ask her husband to get the preacher to come to their house. The reason for the visit wasn't for her it was so the preacher could share the gospel with her husband. She knew she was going to spend eternity with Jesus but could not leave this life without knowing her husband would be with her again. Rhonda's husband gave his life to Christ that day and shortly after he did Rhonda closed her eyes and the Lord took her to be with Him in Heaven.

What a story! When I heard that I was so impressed with what Rhonda done for her husband. She didn't focus on her own problem, but she was thinking about the lost right up until the day she died. The last thing she did on earth was something she will never do again and that is tell someone how to be saved. Wouldn't that be great to know that the last thing you did on earth was not some trivial thing like coach a basketball game or rope a cow or eat a turkey, but to lead someone to Christ. I'm not saying all of those things are wrong because theyr'e not. I'm just saying that while we are doing those things we should look for opportunities to spread the gospel. I want to be a witness for the Lord just like Rhonda!

You are loved,

Kevin

The Murray house was full of smiling faces last night as all the boys got to experience winning for a change. First Tanner and the Jr. High Mohawks beat Armorel to give them their 1st win of the season. Tanner came out of the game in the 4th quarter with a knee to the right eye. It left quite a mark, a big black eye that cannot be missed. Then later that same night Logan and Ethan got their first win of the season in the elementary league. I was proud of all the boys they all had great attitudes even while we were on a little losing streak.

Winning may not be everything, but I will admit it is more fun than losing. That's why I don't like losing it's no fun. Most people get really upset when they loose that's why you see more and more people spending more and more money trying to get their kids in the right programs. Sports can really get out of hand if we are not careful. The only advice I have on this subject is the verse of scripture that says "what does it profit a man to gain the world and loose his own soul". If we put all our efforts into the things of this world that's all we are going to end up with.
I want my boys to know that their is a much bigger picture to life than wins and loses in an athletic event. I'm still very competitive, but raising Godly young men is about as successful as anyone can be.

Hey it's me just playin around with this blog thing. How 'bout that, I got a picture. Now that I know how to do that I'll try to keep you updated on the latest Murray photos.

It's about 5:30 and I am on my way to watch a basketball game and coach a basketball game. Life is GREAT. Keep praying for our adoption so we can add beauty pageants to our list of activities. I'll let you know how the games go, pray for us.

Great weekend

Good morning everyone! Yesterday was AWESOME! I enjoyed the services so much you folks are the Greatest. Can you believe all the things that God is going to do thru us as we continue to be a RISK taking church. The future is looking very bright for Emmanuel. We had 4 people join our church yesterday. I'll introduce them to you real soon. Keep praying for the new church that will start in Poplar Bluff.

What a weekend, basketball, wedding, deer hunting, movie night at the Murray's and to wrap it up with a community wide Thanksgiving service. I am so thankful for all the wonderful blessings God gives me every day and you are a part of those blessings.

you are loved,

Kevin

Hey everyone, it's been a Great Day! I had brunch with the Young at Heart group from the church and then I visited Ms Sue Hoggard in the Jonesboro Hospital, she's doing better. (heart attack) Now I am looking forward to 7pm that is when the 2 youngest Murray Boys play basketball. I have the honor of coaching them 2 and 6 other 4th-6th graders. We may not have a very good record but we are all still winners. Life is busy but a BLESSING. I am brand new at this blogging buisness but I'll try to keep you posted on teh Murray household.

I'm a blogger - Who would have thunk it!!

Hi folks and welcome to the website of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Piggott, Arkansas and my first every official blog!

GOD LOVES YOU!

And so do we at EBC!

We hope this website when completed can bring not only quick information to you about our efforts in Christ, but we also hope that it can bring joy and show our love for our neighbors around the world. Email us anytime on your thoughts and make sure to send us your prayer requests from around the world. I'll be posting more in the days, weeks and months ahead and I hope that these thoughts help you as we all seek to be more like Jesus. WE LOVE YOU and come visit us in Piggott, Arkansas where all are welcome and we ask for your prayers as we work toward building the Kingdom of God.