From the Pastor's Desk

To the Deacons, Deaconess, Trustees, Trustee Wives, Sunday School Department, Missionary Auxiliary, Music Department, the Usher Board, Young Adults, Youth Department, and all other beloved members of this Community of Faith, the Shady Grove Baptist Church Family, I extend greetings to each of you in the Wonderful name of our Lord, Master, Savior, and Friend, Jesus Christ.
As your pastor and servant, I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to each department, each committee, and each individual members for your prayers, loving cooperation, sincere faithfulness, and unselfish dedication. I also extend my heart appreciation to my loving and cooperative wife.

God's merciful blessings have been with this Christian Fellowship during the year 2002. As we embark on a new church year and new occasions as servants of the omnipotent God and co-laborers with Jesus Christ, I stress and appeal to EVERY MEMBER of this great church to be more persistent and more supportive to the Lord's work.
My four visions for this community of faith are to enhance the spiritual and physical growth the Shady Grove Baptist Church Family.

THE WORD of GOD
I envision all our members becoming involved in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, the Bible Retreat, and morning worship. This will enable us to become more aware of God's presence, and make Him more applicable in our daily lives.

A CHURCH of UNITY and LOVE
I envision every member united in continuous prayer in LOVE and UNITY. These are virtues that can increase church growth. I see our church embracing an attitude of total dependence on God for the advancement of His kingdom and for His blessings and power upon our church ministries.

A GIVING CHURCH
I envision the church family giving tithes and offerings persistently. God gives to us every day, and we must give back to Him. James 1:17 teaches, "Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." God gave us His Son, Jesus, and the Son gave His life for us.

CHURCH MINISTRIES
I envision the entire church family having a personal relationship with Christ and being equipped to share their talents and abilities to teach, give testimonies, and encourage others. I envision 20% more people receiving life lluuugh faith in Jesus Christ.

May God continue to BLESS, ENHANCE, STRENGTHEN, DIRECT, and TEACH each of us as we face NEW OPPORTUNITIES, NEW RESPONSIBILITIES, ans NEW CHALLENGES for our SAVIOR and our GOD during the year 2003.

Your Caring Undershepherd,
Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Earl, Pastor

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To Our Loving Church Family,
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, blesses us in many ways. We must always give Him the glory and praise for the great things He has done, are doing, and will do.

When many individuals accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they expect their life situations to improve. If these individuals are experiencing difficulty at their places of employment, they may ask the Master for a better job or career. If these Soldiers of the Cross are going through times of depression or misunderstandings, they might pray to Our Lord for healing and understanding.

Church, we are to look to the all-powerful God if our lives are to be enhanced or improved, but the sincere fact or truth is that even though our Loving God does extend to us places of employment, good health, and other blessings, He desires for His children to grow in His grace and knowledge and to be stronger servants.

Each of us can thank God for His Divine guidance, constant presence, and eternal concern as we serve in the vineyard for His glory and adoration.

Submitted by
Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Earl, Pastor

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Wrong Is Always Wrong

In a period of loose and sagging morals, Satan provides many rationalizations for improper behavior. Those who would live faithful Christian lives must NOT be ignorant of his devises. (II Cor. 2:11). Wrong is always wrong despite our efforts to excuse our actions.

WRONG IS WRONG, EVEN If You Don't Get Caught! Let us remember "the eyes of the Lord are in every place beholding the evil and the good" (Prov. 15:13).

WRONG IS WRONG, EVEN If You Do It for a Good Cause! The honorable purpose does not justify a dishonorable deed or action. The end never justifies the means. "All sin is transgression of the law" (I John 3:4, 5:17, 11 John 9).

WRONG IS WRONG, EVEN If Others Are Doing Worse Things! To the lost in the day of judgment, it will be little comfort to know others committed worse sins. "The thought of foolishness is sin" (Prov. 24:9).

WRONG IS WRONG, EVEN If It Doesn't Bother the Conscience! The conscience can be trained or educated to accept wrongdoing; even an honest sin or an evil done in sincerity is sinful in the sight of the Holy God. "...Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7).

WRONG IS WRONG, EVEN If It Is Commonly Considered Acceptable! The Bible says, "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Ex. 23:2). The Christian should "enter not into the path of the wicked, and not go in the way of evil men. Avoid it, turn from it and pass by" (Prov. 4:15). "Prove all things and hold fast to that which is good. Abstain from all appearance (form) of evil" (I Thess. 5:21, 22).

REMEMBER, THERE IS NEVER A RIGHT WAY TO DO WRONG!

Pat Mc Gee
The Sword and Staff

Submitted by
Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Earl, Pastor

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Christian Education

Church Covenant
Having been led, as we believe by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior; and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God, angels and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrine; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagement, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember one another in prayer; to aid one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of the covenant and the principles of God's Word.

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Bible Affirmation

This is my Bible,
I am what it says I am,
I have what it says I have,
I can do what it says I can do.
Today, I'll be taught the Word of God
I boldly confess
My mind is alert, My heart is receptive,
My soul is willing: I'll never be the same.
I am about to receive
The incorruptible,
The indispensable,
The ever living,
Seed, -- the Word of God.
I'll never be the same
Never, never, never
I'll never be the same
In Jesus' name. Amen