While we are away, the Deacon Body will be on call to serve the needs of our congregation. Every deacon is ready to reach out through visitation, phone calls and other means to serve your needs. Call on your family deacon with any prayer needs, spiritual or physical needs you may have. Reverend Earl Pirkle will be standing in during this time should there be an emergency. God has blessed our church through sending Brother Earl and Sherry to serve among us here at Grace. Call on him should you have need.
Earl will preach in my absence on the 1st and 5th Sundays of this month. Brother Trent Campbell will preach on the 2nd Sunday, with Terry Weatherford preaching on the 3rd Sunday and Reverend Edward Grant preaching on the 4th Sunday. Pray for the dedicated men of God as they open God’s word, study and deliver God’s message each week. All of these faithful preachers of the gospel are members of our church family, with Brother Terry being a former member and a Gideon. He will call on our church family to give a love offering in support of the Bible distribution ministry of the Gideons International when he preaches on September 15th.
The membership of Grace will vote and approve the Greeters/Security Manual this morning along with a Resolution of Security which guides our church concerning House Bill 60, “Right to Carry” legislation passed by the Georgia State legislature. This resolution states that our church has determined to be a “Carry” church with its preferences that weapons either be kept in vehicles or home. Should someone determine to carry or be appointed to carry on campus, the weapon should be concealed at all times. This resolution gives common-sense preferences to guide folks in their security concerns.
Richard McLawhorn, Chuck Whitehead and Brother Earl Pirkle will lead the voting process. I trust you will pray and respond to these important decisions as the Lord leads you. I give thanks for our Deacon Body who has shepherded these documents and decisions for months now. I am grateful for their faithfulness and diligence in researching the information, interviewing leadership from other churches in our area, and seeking out professional guidance from law enforcement officials. I believe these documents will lead our church to become a more welcoming and inviting church as we put them into practice every week.