Sunday, June 14, 2009, Nashville, Tn., Christ Community Assembly of God Church~

Dear Journal~

Pastor Bruce Bilkey here.  Just got through with church; what an awesome, anointed service we had!  The presence of the Holy Spirit was very much in evidence tonight; several people gave their hearts to the Lord, and the worship was out of this world!  It was incredible!

I am sitting here in my study, trying to revel in the joy of the moment.  My heart is still pounding, my hands are shaking, and I feel so good I want to fly straight up to Heaven! 

Today we introduced three new families that joined our church:  they just completed the "Newcomer's Class" (a four week course, learning about our beliefs and why we believe the way we do), and after the second morning service, five people got baptized.  It was an awesome day all around!

Today I talked about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how God gives us different gifts to fulfill His purpose for our lives.  I also talked about the Agape Love our Father has for us, His Children.  I only hope that the congregants got what I was trying to convey to them.

We had a good turnout at church:  lots of families, older people present, in addition to the usual conglomorate of kids, teens, singles.  We have an awesome church family: so many different backgrounds; yet through the blood of Christ, they are truly brothers and sisters in the Lord!

Next week, in the morning, we will be feeding the fathers in light of Father's Day, and I will have a special Father's Day message guaranteed to get the men of our church thinking about their roles as fathers and why it is so important to God, and how they can become true men of God. 

There will also be special music and photos of the fathers who come to our church, as a way of showing our appreciation for them.  It will be a most wonderful day!

I will be going away for a few weeks after the Fourth of July:  going to Kenya, Africa, on a missions trip.  It will be my first time to Africa; I am really looking to ministering and bringing the hope of Christ to those who might never hear of it or get the chance to know what it is all about.  I will be gone for two weeks.  I already got my necessary papers, shots, and requirements needed, and I am just about packed.  It is going to be a very exciting, once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, my wife, my family, and selected staff members!

This coming weekend (from Thursday through Saturday) is our revival:  the McKameys and McGruders will be singing, as will our choirs and local young teen sensation, Ronee' Reaux, who is a member of our church.  I will be preaching about Christ's reason for giving His life for us, as a way to stress the importance of having Jesus in your life and what would happen if you didn't.

I only pray that people realize that they need Jesus and make that all important, life-changing decision!  They won't be sorry that they did!  :)

Well, it is about time for me to pack up my Bible, my other belongings, gather the family, and head on back home.  I will write in here again another time; just pray our revival (and my upcoming trip to Kenya) go without incident; pray for God's blessings and protection as we embark on this next chapter in our church's history!  Pray for those who come to the revival and those who come see us in Kenya!  I appreciate it!

Thanking you in advance~

~Sincerely, Pastor Bruce Bilkey.  :)