The Son & The Sand
November 2005
“The Longer I Preach, the Longer I Preach”
I’ve been preaching since 1999. Most Sundays I preach at two different locations. I preach once at 9am and then again at 10:30am. The places that I preach vary depending on what time of year it is. I have had many opportunities to preach in various churches over the past six years; however, most Sundays I can be found at a campground worship service or on the beach preaching. These types of worship services are unique. The posters that we put up at places like Island Retreat RV park, Gulf Breeze RV park, and Luxury RV to promote resort worship services typically read “everyone is welcome”, “dress casual / come as you are”, and “come join us for a wonderful time of worship.”
The entire resort worship service is typically between thirty and forty five minutes long, but it seems that the longer I preach, well the longer I preach. What I mean is the first year or two that I would share sermons at resort worship services, I would often receive comments such as “your sermon was not very long.” I thought this was quite amusing since preachers of all backgrounds and denominations are often teased for how long their sermons are. Well now that I have been at it for a few more years I no longer receive comments based on the “shortness” of a sermon. Now it is more likely that someone may make a comment on how long (not short) my sermon was.
Now that I have said all of that, I would like to invite you to a resort worship service. If you are in our area and have the time, we would love for you to come and be a part of a truly unique worship experience. Go to the resort ministry website, www.barefootbelievers.com, drop us an email, and we can send you the directions and the time of our next worship service. I’ll try to keep the length of the sermon reasonable (ha, ha, ha), and I will be sure and share a challenge to you from God’s Word. See you soon.
Planning for the Summer of 2006
How long does it take to prepare for a summer of resort ministry on Alabama’s Gulf Coast? I would estimate approximately 12 months. That’s right, preparing for a summer of ministry is a year round affair. I received several emails and phone calls last month regarding mission team partnership possibilities and other contacts related to our new 2006 “barefoot believers interns” summer ministry as well as those related to regular summer missions opportunities for ‘06. We have much to do between now and the fast approaching summer season. Please pray for us as we push ahead. The harvest is great (for more see Luke 10:2). We look forward to another summer filled with many wonderful opportunities to share the Good News.
An Update from “Uncle Jeff” and “Aunt Thea”
Here’s the latest on the ever expanding Ford Family. (Jeff’s brother Scott, his wife Dixie, their daughter Allie, and Allie’s brand new baby sister) They live in Conyers, GA.
Amber Madison Ford was born on Wednesday, October 26 at 12:11 a.m. She weighed 6 pounds and 13 ounces she was 19 inches long.
Please pray for Scott, Dixie, Allie, and Amber.
Prayer Requests
> Betty Glasscock will be traveling to Alabama’s Gulf Coast in November. Betty is from Illinois, and she works with the resort ministry each season. Pray that she would have a safe trip.
> Amber Madison Ford, our new niece J
> Ongoing Resort Ministries at Various Resort Locations
> Bill and Shirley Crews. This couple will be working with us again in December of 2005. Pray for them as they safely make their way back to Alabama. The Crews Family is from Ohio.
> The Baldwin Baptist Association is currently preparing for a special missions event that will take place in February called an On Mission Celebration. Missionaries from all over the world will visit Baldwin County to help educate and inspire the churches that are connected to our association. Please pray for us as we help plan this uplifting event.
> An answered prayer: In October the resort ministry staff and over 80 volunteers provided wonderful encouragement to thousands of children and adults at the Children’s Art Village of the 2005 National Shrimp Festival. www.nationalshrimpfestival.com A special thanks to college students from FBC Decatur and Fred, Kim, and Korey Bueto and the dozens of other resort ministry / children’s art village volunteers.
One Last Thing
Some truth from Scripture…
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 1st John 3:16
Keep us posted with your prayer concerns.
God bless you,
Jeff Ford
resort missionary
Baldwin Baptist Association
www.barefootbelievers.com
Gulf Area Resort Ministries is a ministry of the Baldwin Baptist association ( www.baldwinbaptist.com ), and we are partners in ministry with the Alabama State Board of Mission ( www.alsbom.org ) and the North American Mission Board ( www.namb.net ).
