Today is the 43rd Anniversary of High Street Baptist Church! Whenever I think of the 4th decade, it connotes a level of maturity. The first years mark the zealousness of new babes in Christ grounded on the solid grasp of believing the all sufficient work of the Lord. Such zealousness passes through tests that shake this foundational ground. It is characterized by enormous miracles from Christ's inward work in the believer. That of having a clear spiritual insight of God's truths falling in the puzzle...so simple yet so profound marks this new believer who once was an alien to the simplicity of the gospel. That which is of the natural mind is converted to have a mind of spiritual things. The hunger for milk grows as the believer feeds on God's Holy Words. Communing with the Saviour is as natural as one's breathing...spontaneous, informal and non-pretentious. Every word that comes out is a voice that resounds heaven's gift...that of the Saviour. Always so eager to proclaim the nobility of Christ's redemptive power over the believer's life. Realities of the believer's frailties ensue. A battle that goes on is sensed that this new life has in store. Sin is still as real as the hope of Heaven. The Holy Spirit working in the believer's heart whenever he fails in the snare of the enemy. It feels so different before his new birth when he fails. There is a string that pulls him back to call upon Christ who is his Saviour. Christ's grace always present wherever he turns. Such graces can not be shrugged away. It pulls the believer back to those arms that embraces him time and time again to a love that never fails. And yes, there are battles that goes on and on. The believer can be marked by scars of failures caused by eyes that wander away from the Saviour. Yet, through it all, God's own is embraced by His unfailing love...He can not disown a child of His...and yes, through it all, God does reclaim His own...and the believer praises the Saviour all the more..."All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
Yes, it is the 43rd Anniversary of High Street Baptist Church! God led us to this wonderful church after a desperate plea of where He wants our family to be. Indeed, we found a gem in a very odd place. Years back, the building was so visible to us but we missed the road on how to get to it! Nonetheless, we went there one December 2006 service. Surprised about the representation of people of different years of life has been a rare sight after searching churches around the city of Columbus. People converses with each other and the social dynamics was something we are not used to. But indeed, the shaking of hands left an impression of friendliness to foreigners like us. Yet more than that, we are more interested in knowing the fundamental doctrines that the church stands for and the biblical basis of faith and practice are what we are looking for. Next to that was our interest in the Christian School. The Lord put everything into place after we conversed with some people of the church. We continued on visiting the church. At which point, we have decided to close on a house so our lives will revolve on this new church. And the kids started to go to the Christian School. The church is filled with different "recipes of preaching" from preachers all over the country. This side of the world made us understand the work of our missionary pastor whose ministry has been an avenue for the gospel to be preached and for us to be saved. Being more appreciative of how America has played a great role in evangelizing our country with the gospel, supporting missionary work and most specially, through such, Christ's redemptive power became true in our lives.
Of all these, the best in High Street Baptist Church are real people whose examples touch and continues to touch our lives.
Bro. Tom Bernacki is the principal of our kids. We have never known such a meek and amiable man. His testimony to us is that of faithfulness and love for his work in the Christian School. He has left a mark in the heart of our kids.
Mr. and Mrs. Moore's testimony is that of an ideal Christian family whose faith was faithfully passed on to their children; all of which are faithful workers in Christ's kingdom and are building the next generation.
Molly Carlisle is a woman of God's miraculous touch. A life that has been full of the world's marks but turned around into a woman touched by God's mercies, graces and love. One of the sweetest Christian ladies that I have ever known.
Ruth Harden's testimony is that of love...an agape love move into action...faithful, constant, humble and sweet!
Lou Anne and Doug are silent workers...whose ministry is that of handshakes and encouragement. Unsung heroes who touches lives by simple ways.
Mrs. Morgan is an epitome of a faithful Christian widow...constantly serving and keeping on in the pursuit of the gospel.
Mr and Mrs Frink are deaf people whose faith was shaken but remained steadfast before our eyes. Resting and just trusting in the hands of God. Such an encouragement to know these people.
And there are more...as we cast our eyes on the examples before us...such a privilege to be encouraged by the faithfulness of our brethren at the pews of High Street Baptist Church!...To God be the Glory HSBC!
Thoughts of yearning engulf her soul. She gazes up longing for answers from whence cometh her help but from Above. Who else will she place her hope but from the "Great I Am..."...the God of Heaven and Earth...will He stay silent? His word assures her that He neither sleeps nor slumbers...neither will He forsake forever...not in any merit she has for there is none...her filthy rags are all laid down so is the deceitfulness of her heart...she is importunate despite...for she depends upon the One who is Righteousness Himself, Him who is mercy and grace...who promised His steadfast love...and that goodness and mercy will follow her all the days of her life despite of her humanly circumstances...for she said, "Yet, I will still hope in Him..."...and truly He did and He is....Then...SAM...her firstborn was an answer she patiently waited for from the 'GREAT I AM"...she thought that the Lord will not look upon her...yet He did!
Sam is a gift...the news about him being conceived in her womb was a miracle! She had thought and hoped for him even when he is not yet...the ultrasound revealed a silhouette of a baby...Yes! He is definitely a boy...didn't she ask that exactly from the Lord! The months of conception was full of anticipation...until, 6 weeks earlier than her expected date...she had labor pains...then bleeding ensued...the Doctors tried to prevent early contractions yet it is his time to come out to this world...and he did...Sam's first cry was such a joyful announcement to his parents...a miracle indeed! ...Sam being a preemie had respiratory distress syndrome though...He was placed in the high risk nursery for close observation and placed on CPAP machine...her mom, though exhausted from labor came to be near him on his first day of life...crying before the Lord and constantly praying for his recovery was now her sighs as she stays with her newborn...Sam, indeed, was a fighter...he pushes the CPAP just trying to communicate that he can be without it...it was an agonizing night for mom and son...yet, even before the first 24 hours came to a close...he was released to stay with mom...He stayed in the hospital for a week and had all the pains he can experience at an early life due to procedures that he needs to go through...but God was indeed merciful...he came about as healthy as a normal baby...
Sam, is truly a survivor...he never let up though he can be quiet. As a boy, he is as curious as he can be...his wrinkled forehead when he was little always attest to his questions about phenomenon that happens around him. His inclination to toys that requires logical patterns and creativity engrosses him. His analytical ability is so eminent at a young age. He has learned his letters so early that he learned to read during his early months at three years. He designed and built his Lego blocks without guidance. His consuming desire to unravel his toys out of curiosity of what makes them work was there. As early as 2 years old, he can open the first Mac computer he was ever exposed to and put the folders in a mess trying to figure out the why's of what he is seeing. Sam is a boy who loves cartoons. He joyfully chuckles and laughs so easily though to some he may appear so serious. His wit can only be discovered when you read his writings, when you see him create his own games. At first, you may think of him as a young man who is so naive...he can be...but when you dig deeper, he is more than that...he has been endowed by God with such prowess...which he in himself knows he must use to bring glory to his Creator. Yes, Sam today will be 17 years of age...still a young boy in his mom and dad's eyes. Yet, God is molding him to be the man he is intended to be to fulfill His glory! Yes, there is dross from here to there to take out. Yes, there are bents and ways that need to be straightened. Yes, there are innate motives to be aligned. Yet, Christ will perform it in His time to mold this young man to that purpose! ...and, his parents will continually pray for him and love him like the baby they have ever longed to ask from their Savior! SAM "Anak", BLESSED 17th BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Mom and Dad
