I have been invited to preach this morning at North Lake Baptist Church on their Baptist Men’s Day. I will be having breakfast there with the men of the church and speaking about my mission experiences in North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the official title).
 
Following some reflection about my work there, I was reminded that God first opened the door for me to go and serve in that country following 9/11 in 2001. It was, as you recall, a very troubled time in our world and a very uncertain opportunity to venture into such a remote and unknown frontier mission field. About all I knew about it was that one group of Baptists had traveled there to explore initial contacts and open channels through which humanitarian efforts might begin. There was some participation from Georgia in that initial group. All I knew was that famine had ravaged the country because of typhoons and harsh winters and the need was great. 
 
My involvement there continued until I retired from the Georgia Baptist Convention in 2012. Since those early days, I have traveled to the country several times, served in the inner-workings of planning projects and delivery of services, hosted delegations from DPRK to Georgia, opened my home to DPRK officials and helped raise needed resources for the ongoing work. I can say at this point in my ministry that I was given by God an opportunity to participate with other ministers of the gospel in the opening of a new and strategic field of service through which great good has been done for the cause of God’s kingdom.
 
One of the most striking differences in the work that I was a part of and what we are seeing today is how open and glaring everything is as it unfolds on television and new channels between the two countries. Their first requirement that I was pledged to maintain was absolute anonymity. Everything had to be done quietly. There could be no articles, no interviews, no public statements of any kind. We even had to ask permission from a DPRK official to take a picture. The reason we were told that our contacts were limited and controlled was in respect of the North Korean people who were at that time suffering from the hardships caused by natural disasters. Of course, we obviously complied with the wishes of our host country.
 
Every negotiated project we did was done quietly. We did some great things. While I worked in the country, we opened bread factories, established pig farms—goat farms—farms which produced corn; we hosted athletic teams from this country to theirs, we sent performing groups like Casting Crowns, The Annie Moses Band and the Sons of Jubal. We trained doctors in new medical procedures, we drilled fresh water wells, helped reestablish a portion of their pharmaceutical industry, sent medical equipment and worked with our State Department providing needed Korean Speaking monitors for US Aid services. All this work was done quietly, behind closed doors between DPRK officials and the group of people I was a part of.
 
It is hard for me to get a grasp of things unfolding today in broad daylight with so much publicity and fanfare. When those with whom I had contact from there insisted on absolute silence to protect the integrity of their country and require respect for those who were suffering, I have trouble trusting this new public spectacle. I keep remembering what Jesus said,
 
“So, when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:2-4)

On the last Sunday of 2018 and the first Sunday of 2019, I preached sermons from Deuteronomy about what God requires of His people. We learned from this passage of scripture that God requires us to do five things:

1. Fear the Lord
2. Walk in all His Ways
3. Love Him
4. Obey Him
5. Keep His Rules

 
These requirements are all about the kind of CHARACTER we are to display in our daily lives. God wants us to be Loyal. He desires that we Walk in close fellowship with Him. God’s heart seeks to be linked to our hearts in a vibrant relationship of love. We are not to practice obedience out of fear, but out of our love and devotion to Him. God’s rules are not burdensome. We practice our faith every day because that is the way faithful children act toward their loving heavenly Father.
 
Today, I am preaching a similar message from the New Testament about what Jesus had to say concerning the INFLUENCE of His people in the world. Our character reflects what our relationship with Jesus is like. Our influence demonstrates the difference our faith makes through our actions. I am preaching a passage of scripture from the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5:13-16. Jesus said that we are to act like SALT and shine like LIGHT. In other words, we are to make a difference by penetrating this world’s ungodly nature like salt penetrates food. We are to illuminate its atmosphere of sin and disobedience like light drives away darkness. Everything we do should make a difference and point people to Jesus.
 
We take note today of another step completed in our transition from the corner of Mundy Mill Road and Old Oakwood Road to the place God has provided here at 4026 Mundy Mill Road. We have completed our Capital Campaign relocating to our new property and continuing our renovations of these new facilities. We completed the first phase of renovations in March of last year. We have now completed the Capital Campaign which raised funds to complete the second phase of our renovations adding the lower building space of 6,000 square feet for worship and education ministry.
 
Completion of our Capital Campaign will also provide funds to fully retire the second mortgage loan we opened when the church purchased this property. Today, we will burn the $127,000 second mortgage note because Mr. Jim Walters will contribute his matching donation of $150,000 equal to the amount raised by our church. His donation will eliminate the second mortgage note plus provide a balance of $23,000 to add to the $151,000 raised by the church. We will then have $174,000 to use in completing the renovations on the second building.
 
The most important question to ask now is, “Why has God blessed our church like this?”  The answer is found in Matthew 5:13-16. God has abundantly blessed us so that we can fulfill His purpose to be SALT and LIGHT in this world. Grace Baptist Church is to be a penetrating influence like SALT. We are to be an illuminating influence like LIGHT. In short, we are to make a real difference in this world for Jesus.
 
So, ask yourself, “What difference does it make that I belong to Grace?”
 
Ask the same question another way, “What difference does it make that we have moved to a new location and raised money to renovate these buildings?”
 
The difference it makes is this, “Let your light so shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
 
We are to be God’s SALT AND LIGHT IN THE WORLD.

Before his ascension into heaven Jesus commanded His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them  to observe all that I commanded you; and also, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
 
We call this command, The Great Commission because it gives us the inspiration and authority we need to extend the kingdom of God everywhere. There is no use in worrying about people in other nations if we are delinquent in sharing the gospel in our own neighbors, to our family members and friends right here where we live. When Jesus said, “…all the nations,” He was talking about our neighborhoods, our communities as well as neighborhoods and communities across the oceans and throughout America. We are to be a church that has no borders and no limitations when it comes to our preaching, witnessing and praying. Grace Baptist Church is to be a WORLDWIDE enterprise for Jesus.
 
What makes Grace a WORLDWIDE enterprise for Jesus? In the 2019 Church Budget, there are three places that launch the ministry of Grace beyond the place where we are located to reach people with the gospel. One is the contribution we make to the Chattahoochee Baptist Association. Our church participates with over 70 other local churches to share Christ throughout the Hall County and North Georgia region. We contribute $1,200 per year to local mission work which has resulted in hundreds of salvations through ministries like The Good Samaritan, Camp Hope, Secret Santa, starting of new churches and countywide evangelism events. Jesus told us to witness in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria (Acts 1:8). This involves not only the outreach we do through our own block parties, Vacation Bible School and special events like the Christmas Tree lighting in Flowery Branch, but also includes ministries of the Chattahoochee Association that extend our influence all over North Georgia.
 
How do we spread the gospel beyond the borders of our country? We have an item in our budget called the Georgia Baptist Mission Board through which we contribute $1,800. These funds support missionaries throughout Georgia and the world. We give to statewide missions supporting the work of 170 missionaries here in Georgia. We also support over 4,000 missionaries throughout America and the world. If we only give $1,800 a year and support 4,170 missionaries with that such a small amount, these missionaries only realize 43 cents each for an entire year of work. That’s true, but when our $1,800 is combined with he contributions of 47,000 other churches across the country, the support for missions becomes more than $462,600,000. Our church may be a small part, but it is a part of the largest missionary force in the evangelical world. Grace Baptist Church is worldwide in its outreach through the associations we have with other churches here locally and throughout America.
 
Today, we will hear Reverend Earl Pirkle preach about his missionary calling and ministry. God sent Brother Earl and his dear wife Sherry to Grace this year to share in the worldwide ministry of our church family. Earl works to start and strengthen churches, extend education and ministry to pastors, organize and build facilities to improve health and well-being in the countries of Tanzania and the Ukraine. Our church has placed $2,400 in its 2019 budget in support of Brother Earl’s ministry and outreach to these countries. Brother Earl is our Up-Close-and-Personal Missionary. What if other churches in the Chattahoochee Association or the Georgia Baptist Mission board targeted two countries in the world sending members and money to extend the gospel to people who need to hear about Jesus. Brother Earl will be our missionary to these counties in the coming year and through his work and witness our church will accomplish its Great Commission mandate. I praise God today that Grace Baptist Church is faithful to the Great Commission command of Jesus and is a worldwide missionary force that sends the gospel to the ends of the earth. 

We are observing our 5th Sunday activities today. The Lord’s Supper will conclude the service this morning with the collection of a love offering for benevolent causes as you leave the Worship Center. An offering for benevolent needs will help people who have needs for food, gasoline to travel to and from work, utilities and assistance with rent. The church policies guide the outlay of resources in the amount of $100 per request. Our church participates with the Hall County Benevolence Data Base which tracks the activity of individuals seeking assistance to guard against those who may over burden the churches. The Benevolence account balance in our church’s reserve is approximately $300 which is low right now at the beginning of the winter season. 
 
Jesus said, “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink…naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me…in as much that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it unto Me,” (Matthew 25:35-36, 40)
 
The New Testament clearly instructs us to care about hurting people. Today, as you give from your heart to help others, you are performing a ministry of care and compassion which touches the heart of our Savior Jesus.
 
This afternoon at 6:00 pm our church family will gather again around the table to enjoy a pot-luck meal and share in the fellowship of the Lord. There is no better way to become engaged in the love and community at Grace than to eat the food prepared by our people. You will enjoy conversations with those who brought dishes cooked with joy and loving care. When there is food to eat at church, our people cook like they are cooking for Jesus himself.
 
In the New Testament, such a meal was called a Love Feast:
 
“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)
 
Those gathered together would regularly eat together and share in fellowship before the observance of the Lord’s Supper. The love of God’s people for one another expressed in the sharing of food was a worship expression of praise before the breaking of bread and drinking the cup symbolizing the Lord’s death. Every time we eat together, it is like the disciples once again gathering together with Jesus to break bread and share a meal.
 
Following our fellowship meal tonight, the church will enter into a church conference period in which we will hear reports concerning the ministry accomplished in 2018:

• Our Church Calendar for 2019 will be presented and approved.
• The 2018 year-end financial statement will be presented and approved.
• The new 2019 Church Budget will be presented and approved.
• A new Building Use Policy will be presented and approved.
• The Stewardship and Finance Team will present an important matter related to the disbursement of funds received through the “One Mile for God’s Glory” Capital Campaign.

 
In all, we will celebrate what our church had done and what God is leading us to do for His glory in the coming year.
 
This week, I have created new folders in my computer for sermons, reports and planning with the year 2019 on each one. There is now a long list of these folders in my computer’s directory. The first folders there have the date 2013 on each one. The new ones have 2019 on them which accounts for 6 years of ongoing ministry. I looked at this growing record of work gave praise for the privilege of sharing in God’s work with you:

• We are growing a legacy together.
• We are developing a new chapter of history together.
• We are increasing the kingdom of God together.
• We are establishing a testimony of faithfulness in service and love for Jesus.

 
As we begin another new year, let me tell you once again that I love each of you and I love serving the Lord together with you. Praise God!