Shirley

No discussion of John M Edie would be complete without talking about Shirley. Every good man I ever knew out-married himself. John and I are no exception to the rule.

Look around our building. You will see Shirley's touch everywhere. When Ruth and I see in other churches bad decor, we say, "They need Shirley Edie".

She has annually made Second's building one of the most beautiful in Springfield at Christmas. When we first arrived in Springfield, she took Ruth to see houses. When my son went through a tragic time and desperately needed to sell his house, Shirley oversaw an army of volunteer laborers, and also worked tirelessly herself.

Thanks, Shirley, for 24 years of faithful service to Second.

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John Edie #2

When I came to investigate the possibility of coming to Second, John M Edie was my host. The key moment came when he took me to see the new auditorium under construction.

I knew a building like this, being constructed without a Pastor, was a tribute to the man who was hosting me. The steel girders were making a massive building skeleton.

John, knowing a preacher's heart, took me to a huge mound of dirt. He had me climb it with him. When at the top, he said, this is where the pulpit will be. It was a surreal moment, overwhelming. I think John knew it would be a clincher for the deal.

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Edie #1

I was Pastor at East Side Baptist Church in Ft Smith AR when Bill Shook, chairman of deacons at Second, called to see if I would consider coming to Second. He said my friend and former Minister of Education, Cliff Jenkins, had recommended me.

I called Cliff and asked him to tell me what he knew about Second. He had been doing Sunday School consulting at Second.

After he had bragged on Second a while, Cliff said, "They have the best Minister of Education in America today, John Edie." And that's how it all began.

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Our College Group

To say Ruth and I are enjoying our college small group would be a huge understatement. We are literally discovering a whole new world. Ruth says she is grateful God let us be a part of this.

Some of the students' comments fascinate me. They are amazed to be in a home. Life in a dorm or apartment isn't for them the same as being in a home. They marvel at how clean Ruth keeps the house. They love our elderly advice and humor.

One trait of theirs especially fascinates me. When my generation goes to the kitchen for food, we fill our plates and then head to living room to chat. The college students stay in the kitchen, stand, and form a tight knit circle around the food, and talk there. I think they could visit for hours while standing. They love interaction with each other.

Ruth and I are learning a new way of doing small groups. So far so good.

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Missions to and from USA

Missions still makes my heart skip a beat. The Great Commission is branded deep in me. Because I love it, I study it, and read about it.

Christianity Today (April 2012) magazine reports that the USA sent out more than 127,000 Christian missionaries to serve around the world in 2010. This makes us the largest missionary sending nation in the world.

That same year, 32,400 missionaries were sent to the USA from other countries. This makes us the largest missionary receiving nation in the world. I pray missionaries will come here from all over the world, and bring the anointing of God with them. We need revival.

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Greene County Baptists

Tomorrow night, Sunday September 9, the Greene County Baptist Association, consisting of over 90 congregations, will have its 140th Annual Meeting (6-8pm) and Missions Fair (5pm) at Second Baptist Church. In 1873, seven Baptist churches came together to form the Association. Second joined them when we started as a church in 1885.

Of the many partnerships Second Baptist has, the Greene County Baptist Association is the longest lasting, 127 years and counting. This truly is amazing.

The main theme for tomorrow night's session is church planting. Greene County Baptists, under the leadership of our Director of Missions Dr. Mike Haynes, is on the cutting edge of how associations should be leading the way in helping our congregations plant new churches. I consider it an honor to be part of the progressive, forward looking, Greene County Baptist Association.

By the way, I'm preaching at the meeting tomorrow night. My assigned topic is church planting. I can do this.

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