In a matter of days, Pole Creek will be celebrating
a birthday—a big one! It is hard to
believe, but for 100 years this church has been a beacon of light in the
Candler community—whose impact reaches around the world. That is what a missionary church does—and that
is what Pole Creek has been, and by the help of God will remain until Jesus
comes!
Pole Creek was birthed in the red-hot fires of
revival, and we pray the fire will keep burning as we have a revival scheduled
for Homecoming weekend. Young Derrick McCarson,
who grew up in Pole Creek—shaped by its ministry—will preach on Friday night,
September 9 at 6:45 PM. Along with our
choir, special music will be provided by his wife, Caitlin. Derrick now serves our sister church,
Liberty, just down the road. God has his
hand on that young man. Dr. Doug
Ferguson will preach on Saturday, September 10 at 6 PM with his wife, Joan, singing
for us. When I came to Pole Creek’s
staff twenty-one years ago, Doug was the Senior Pastor. How I was blessed by the ministry in sermon
and song from this godly couple! They
now serve Heritage Hills in Conyers, Georgia and are doing a great work. Sunday morning starts early, 10:30 AM worship
(no Sunday School) with Dr. Johnnie Tiller preaching. Dr. Tiller will have just turned 90, and we
are praying the Lord will give him great stamina to share with us that
day! He has made a huge impact on many
for the kingdom in a lifetime of Christian service. Of course, we will eat all the delicious food
you bring when Homecoming concludes with fellowship around the table.
It is a good thing to remember what God has done and
give Him thanks. That is what the
children of Israel did when God parted the Jordan River miraculously and
brought them into the Promised Land.
And
those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal.
Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their
fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let
your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for
the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had
crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before
us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the
hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God
forever.” (Joshua 4:20-24)
Remembering the past would give them a foundation for
the future. There was much to celebrate,
but much more to do! Let us be inspired
by the past, but recognize that these “stones” have been put to place to give a
platform for future ministry. I refuse
to accept the premise that Pole Creek’s best days are behind us—wonderful as
they have been—but, that God is going to do incredible things in the years to
come! Let us pray, trust, and obey so if
time lasts another 100 years, Pole Creek will still be shining—a light of hope
for the world!
