You are cordially invited to attend the PILGRIMS FELLOWSHIP on Thursday, November 11th. The theme will be one of "Thanksgiving" and "Worship." The schedule is as follows:
At 11:00 --Mr. Jim Oates, Bible Baptist Church, Augusta, GA
12:00 --Lunch (Dutch)
2:00 --Mr. Wade Trimmer, Grace Baptist Church, Augusta, GA
3:00 --Mr. Edward Coy, interim pastor, Augusta, GA
4:00 --Mr. Robert McCurry, Calvary Temple, East Point, GA
6:00 --Supper
7:30 --Mr. Ashley Royal, Isle Reformed Baptist Church, Savannah, GA
Often in pastors’ fellowships we lose sight of Jesus Christ as the object of our Worship and substitute it with an intellectual concept instead. For this reason we have adopted the theme of Worship, and look for this to be a time when we can sit at the Master’s feet.
On account of the time of year, which we traditionally set aside for the giving of Thanks, we have adopted this as our theme as well.
THE PILGRIMS BIBLE CHURCH
We have been witnessing the moving of the Spirit of God among us. We have been experiencing strong conviction of Sin and have seen tears shed over the lack of personal Godliness.
Visitors are returning. Oh, that the Lord would raise up a few men whose hearts He has touched --Praying men --men who are spiritually minded, who crave the things of the Lord. Will you intercede for us at the throne of God that He would raise up and add a few such men?
The Lord has put in our hearts the desire to see a church established among these people. Pray for us because within three short months we will sink or we will swim. While there are four large churches within a two-block radius the people in the immediate community are largely not interested in the things of the Lord. Pray the Lord may be pleased to open the hearts of some. It is not attendance we are seeking but the desire instead that the Lord would add to His Church such as should be saved.
CASSETTE TAPE: "The Inerrancy of Scripture" -- Is it possible that erring men could write the Word of God free from error? However, could Heaven be a place of Perfection if the Word of God, which is settled in Heaven, is errant?
WARNING!
Life, Liberty and all we hold sacred is in very real danger because Americans and indeed the entire western world is "running scared" over the threat of Nuclear War. It is common knowledge that to gain considerable advantage over an adversary all that is needed is to cause them to become fearful, because "The Fear of man bringeth a snare." (Proverbs 29:25) When any people becomes afraid, they lose the ability and the will to stand.
The strength of a nation does not lie in Nuclear stockpiles, but in the character of its people. In order for a nation to be strong its people must be Good. "The Righteous are bold as a lion but the Wicked flee when no man pursueth." (Proverbs 28:1)
But we have good Reason to be afraid; for we have refused to be governed by the Law of God. Nevertheless it is Idiocy to run about in consternation on account of the Nuclear threat. It would be far better to prostrate ourselves before the Lord of Heaven and Earth, and "Cease to do Evil, and Learn to do Well." We should not fear what man can do unto us, but rather we should fear the Lord of Hosts and make Him our Dread." The kings of the earth can prepare themselves for battle, but "He that sitteth in the Heavens shall Laugh. The Lord shall have them in derision." But woe be unto us if the Almighty shall fight against us. (Isaiah 1:16,17; Hebrews 13:6; Isaiah 84:13; Psalm 2:1-4)
The Lord Jesus Christ warns, "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into Hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him."
Pastor
Timothy Fellows
1731 Fenwick Street
Augusta, Georgia 30904
October 18, 1982
Dear Brother
The majority stands with you that a man’s first responsibility
is to his family. However, I cannot agree. The concept of
"Jesus--Others--You" is a Bible-centered concept.
Paul instructed Timothy to "endure hardness as a good soldier of
Jesus
Christ", and that "no man that warreth entangleth himself with
the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen
him to be a soldier." Roman soldiers were forbidden to have a
coffee shop on the side or a sandal shop, because a
"double-minded man is unstable in all his ways." The disciples
"forsook their nets, and followed (Christ).
You quoted I Timothy 5:8--"If any provide not for his own and
specially
for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is
worse than an infidel." The passage, however, should not be
interpreted to mean we are to provide the comfort and ease
acceptable in a materially minded age, but "with food and
raiment let us therewith be content." The passage is intended to
show that families are to care for their own, and not to burden
the church whose duty it is to receive them that are "widows
indeed." Is this not so?
Again, you quoted I Timothy 3:4,5 that if a man does not know
how to "rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church
of God?" But you know as well as I the context is speaking of
discipline, and of not having unruly children, and not of fiscal
management.
I have not read after Jay Adams or Bill Gothard, but I am quite
sure I am out of step with these men. Nevertheless, it has been
this kind of dedication and consecration that God has used to
shape His Church. Illustrations are endless.
John Bunyan confined in the Bedford Jail lamented his being
unable to provide for his family like he could were he to submit
to civil magistrates and refuse to preach the Gospel. Should he
have put his family first? You don’t believe that any more than
I do. His wife took in washings to "provide" for the family, and
she exhorted her husband to stand true to his conscience.
When William Carey announced his intentions to go to the mission
field, his wife declared she would not go with him. If Carey had
consulted modern counselors, they would without doubt have told
him his first responsibility was to his family. But in tears he
said he hated to leave his family behind and continued his
preparation.
The widow of Martin Luther was in awful straits when he died;
and Bullinger received into his house the poor widow and
children of Zwingli. According to your handling of I Timothy 5:8
you would make both men to be Worse than unbelievers, and would
throw in George Mueller among them. I cannot accept such a
meaning is intended here. "The poor you have with you always,"
Jesus said.
By your definition, was Adoniram Judson "providing for his own"
when his wife followed him through the jungles and prisons of
Burma? You will remember he went through three wives. He buried
them on the mission field.
Under the excuse of "providing" for one’s family is housed the
common sin of covetousness with its lust for possessions, for
comfort, and ease. But Peter who was married was told along with
the other disciples to "provide neither gold nor silver, nor
brass in your purses, nor script for your journey, neither two
coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy
of his meat." "Godliness with contentment is great gain."
I do hope this does not render me "worse than an unbeliever" in
your eyes, but if it does, until God causes me to understand His
Word differently, I cannot believe otherwise.
While we may disagree, I have no desire to be disagreeable. On
Thursday, November 11th, the first meeting of the Pilgrims
Fellowship will be held. I would like to extend a warm and
cordial invitation to you to come. It will begin at 11:00 A.M.
and will continue into the evening. I will send you further
details later.
"May God Smile On You." --Bach
Timothy Fellows, Pastor
