Comments on: Remembering a Home Church http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/ By Russell D. Moore. Russell D. Moore serves as the teaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. In addition, Dr. Moore is the Dean of the School of Theology and Senior Vice President for Academic Administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Find sermons and other resources to help Christians engage the culture from a biblical worldview at www.russellmoore.com. Sun, 19 May 2013 06:03:43 +0000 By: erotika http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-164807 erotika Thu, 22 Dec 2011 06:59:41 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-164807 <strong>erotika...</strong> [...]Moore to the Point – Remembering a Home Church[...]... erotika…

[...]Moore to the Point – Remembering a Home Church[...]…

]]> By: Michael D. Moore http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-162080 Michael D. Moore Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:33:53 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-162080 Dr. Moore, Thank you for your kind words of our mutual home church. I regret I could not attend that seventieth anniversary, our schedule would not permit. However, you did so eloquently express my feelings of having grown up with the congregation of Woolmarket Baptist Church. Like your own experience, I too, came to know Christ as a young boy through the example, prayers, teaching and love of this dear congregation. Although the congregation of my experience and those of yours are somewhat different, the missional objectives, philosophies and doctrine were much the same. As I reflect back upon my childhood in this dear congregation, I know that some of the greatest Christians who served our dear Lord attended worship and worked tirelessly in this fellowship of believers. Anything I might accomplish for the glory of our dear Lord, must in some great degree be attributed to the foundation of my faith that was laid, Sunday after Sunday, Wednesday after Wednesday, class after class and worship service after worship service, all one at a time, but carried out and delivered by faithful servants of our Lord. I must say, my greatest memory of attending this rural Southern Baptist congregation, was that of the faithfulness of so many people who contributed to the greatness of this church to me. These were my first mentors of the faith, and remain so to this very day. It was not a perfect church and the older I became, the more I realized this fact. The truth is, there are no perfect congregations. My children had the privilege of growing up and attending the same congregation throughout their childhood, teenage and young adult years where I was pastor. They too, have their roots of faith established in a similar congregation in West Tennessee. However, they like we, have come to the same realization that their are no perfect congregations, only congregations comprised of people who, by the grace of our Lord Jesus are forgiven and redeemed and are trying the best they know how, to serve Him. I thank my God upon every remembrance of Woolmarket Baptist Church, and as you so eloquently stated, it's fragrances, it's summer Vacation Bible Schools, it's Sunday School Classes, it's ever renditions of the same hymns, mostly those written by Fanny J. Crosby, Issac Watts, Charles H. Gabriel, B.B. McKinney and Phillip Bliss; with often a popular a Southern Gospel or traditional Gospel rendition performed by the choir, a duet or a solo immediately prior to the sermon; however, each melody was performed with the greatest amount of perfection and dignity as was possible by the vocalist. Some of my closest moments to our Lord I have experienced within the confines of the two sanctuaries in which I attended church with this congregation. May our dear Lord bless our memories and the truths we were taught through this dear congregation. Woolmarket Baptist Church will ever be my home church, the church where I met Christ, where I made my profession of faith and was baptized, then, many years later, was ordained into the Gospel ministry at the request of Success Baptist Church, a sister church only a few miles north of her location. Both of these congregations will ever hold a special place in my heart. Most of the members who attended Woolmarket Baptist Church when I was a member there, have long since passed on to their reward with the Lord, only a small remnant remain of the congregation of my childhood; but, amazingly, every now and then, even though I am four hundred miles removed from that location, my path will cross that of someone who came to know Christ at Woolmarket Baptist Church. As recent as this past spring, I met a man who had migrated to our little community from Iowa. He desired membership in our church so, my first question to him was of his salvation experience. He related a story to me that thrilled my soul to no end. He said he was saved in a most remote location in a small rural Baptist church in south Mississippi while stationed in the US Air Force at Keesler Field in Biloxi, MS. He had been invited by a friend to attend church with him. After attending several services and having been inspired and stirred deeply by the vigorous congregational singing of the hymns, stirring renditions of Gospel songs by soloist, choir and duets, and hearing heart wrenching, powerful sermons by the preacher, he walked the aisle one Sunday evening to receive Christ. He was moved by the military before he could be baptized but later did follow up on his profession of faith and baptism at his next assigned location in a Baptist Church. I asked if he happened to remember the name of the church, his memory faltered, he said it was a different type of name, "wood" or wool" or something like that. I asked if he could describe the church building. He did and said the preacher was a man of medium stature, stocky in size who spoke with a medium pitched tone and was very emotional in his delivery. I asked if that could have been Woolmarket Baptist Church, "Yes" he exclaimed, that was it, and a man named Al Wilson had invited him to attend worship with him. Unfortunately, he passed away suddenly before he could move his membership to our church, but I was blessed to be with him as he passed from this life into the next. The last thing he said to me only moments before his death, was, "Preacher, I am so glad Jesus is my Savior, I am leaving, but not alone, I am only going home." His family were new in our community and did not know many people so they requested a private funeral service limited to family only beside myself. As I spoke the last words over this man, I shared with his family his testimony of God's grace through Woolmarket Baptist Church, Brother Al Wilson and my father who was the preacher who led him to Jesus. It is a small world indeed, especially when one reflects upon the far reaching effects of a small rural Southern Baptist congregation in South Mississippi, the congregation of Woolmarket Baptist Church. Dr. Moore,
Thank you for your kind words of our mutual home church. I regret I could not attend that seventieth anniversary, our schedule would not permit. However, you did so eloquently express my feelings of having grown up with the congregation of Woolmarket Baptist Church. Like your own experience, I too, came to know Christ as a young boy through the example, prayers, teaching and love of this dear congregation. Although the congregation of my experience and those of yours are somewhat different, the missional objectives, philosophies and doctrine were much the same. As I reflect back upon my childhood in this dear congregation, I know that some of the greatest Christians who served our dear Lord attended worship and worked tirelessly in this fellowship of believers. Anything I might accomplish for the glory of our dear Lord, must in some great degree be attributed to the foundation of my faith that was laid, Sunday after Sunday, Wednesday after Wednesday, class after class and worship service after worship service, all one at a time, but carried out and delivered by faithful servants of our Lord. I must say, my greatest memory of attending this rural Southern Baptist congregation, was that of the faithfulness of so many people who contributed to the greatness of this church to me. These were my first mentors of the faith, and remain so to this very day. It was not a perfect church and the older I became, the more I realized this fact. The truth is, there are no perfect congregations. My children had the privilege of growing up and attending the same congregation throughout their childhood, teenage and young adult years where I was pastor. They too, have their roots of faith established in a similar congregation in West Tennessee. However, they like we, have come to the same realization that their are no perfect congregations, only congregations comprised of people who, by the grace of our Lord Jesus are forgiven and redeemed and are trying the best they know how, to serve Him. I thank my God upon every remembrance of Woolmarket Baptist Church, and as you so eloquently stated, it’s fragrances, it’s summer Vacation Bible Schools, it’s Sunday School Classes, it’s ever renditions of the same hymns, mostly those written by Fanny J. Crosby, Issac Watts, Charles H. Gabriel, B.B. McKinney and Phillip Bliss; with often a popular a Southern Gospel or traditional Gospel rendition performed by the choir, a duet or a solo immediately prior to the sermon; however, each melody was performed with the greatest amount of perfection and dignity as was possible by the vocalist. Some of my closest moments to our Lord I have experienced within the confines of the two sanctuaries in which I attended church with this congregation. May our dear Lord bless our memories and the truths we were taught through this dear congregation. Woolmarket Baptist Church will ever be my home church, the church where I met Christ, where I made my profession of faith and was baptized, then, many years later, was ordained into the Gospel ministry at the request of Success Baptist Church, a sister church only a few miles north of her location. Both of these congregations will ever hold a special place in my heart. Most of the members who attended Woolmarket Baptist Church when I was a member there, have long since passed on to their reward with the Lord, only a small remnant remain of the congregation of my childhood; but, amazingly, every now and then, even though I am four hundred miles removed from that location, my path will cross that of someone who came to know Christ at Woolmarket Baptist Church. As recent as this past spring, I met a man who had migrated to our little community from Iowa. He desired membership in our church so, my first question to him was of his salvation experience. He related a story to me that thrilled my soul to no end. He said he was saved in a most remote location in a small rural Baptist church in south Mississippi while stationed in the US Air Force at Keesler Field in Biloxi, MS. He had been invited by a friend to attend church with him. After attending several services and having been inspired and stirred deeply by the vigorous congregational singing of the hymns, stirring renditions of Gospel songs by soloist, choir and duets, and hearing heart wrenching, powerful sermons by the preacher, he walked the aisle one Sunday evening to receive Christ. He was moved by the military before he could be baptized but later did follow up on his profession of faith and baptism at his next assigned location in a Baptist Church. I asked if he happened to remember the name of the church, his memory faltered, he said it was a different type of name, “wood” or wool” or something like that. I asked if he could describe the church building. He did and said the preacher was a man of medium stature, stocky in size who spoke with a medium pitched tone and was very emotional in his delivery. I asked if that could have been Woolmarket Baptist Church, “Yes” he exclaimed, that was it, and a man named Al Wilson had invited him to attend worship with him. Unfortunately, he passed away suddenly before he could move his membership to our church, but I was blessed to be with him as he passed from this life into the next. The last thing he said to me only moments before his death, was, “Preacher, I am so glad Jesus is my Savior, I am leaving, but not alone, I am only going home.” His family were new in our community and did not know many people so they requested a private funeral service limited to family only beside myself. As I spoke the last words over this man, I shared with his family his testimony of God’s grace through Woolmarket Baptist Church, Brother Al Wilson and my father who was the preacher who led him to Jesus. It is a small world indeed, especially when one reflects upon the far reaching effects of a small rural Southern Baptist congregation in South Mississippi, the congregation of Woolmarket Baptist Church.

]]> By: This and That 11-05-11 « The Thompsonian Times http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-157999 This and That 11-05-11 « The Thompsonian Times Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:39:04 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-157999 [...] Remembering A Home Church – Sometimes we tend to think of “church” generically as a synonym for Christians, some invisible blob of everyone who believes the same facts about Jesus or who follows the same principles from the first century. Yes, the church is the transnational, transgenerational Body of Christ, the redeemed of all of the ages. But the church expresses itself in this age in local, palpable gatherings of believers in covenant with one another. – Russell Moore [...] [...] Remembering A Home Church – Sometimes we tend to think of “church” generically as a synonym for Christians, some invisible blob of everyone who believes the same facts about Jesus or who follows the same principles from the first century. Yes, the church is the transnational, transgenerational Body of Christ, the redeemed of all of the ages. But the church expresses itself in this age in local, palpable gatherings of believers in covenant with one another. – Russell Moore [...]

]]> By: Bryant Owens http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-157843 Bryant Owens Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:57:21 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-157843 Touching thoughts. Thank you for honoring your heritage by sharing these personal memories with us. Touching thoughts. Thank you for honoring your heritage by sharing these personal memories with us.

]]> By: Don Sartain http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-157346 Don Sartain Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:03:26 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-157346 Please tell me you're not making your kids memorize the KJV...no one deserves that at such a young age, lol Really touching post, though. Thanks for sharing with us. Please tell me you’re not making your kids memorize the KJV…no one deserves that at such a young age, lol

Really touching post, though. Thanks for sharing with us.

]]> By: Fran Yeatts http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-157248 Fran Yeatts Mon, 31 Oct 2011 03:36:39 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-157248 Dr. Moore: I was at the 70th anniversary celebration of Woolmarket Baptist Church today and your letter was read to our congregation. I must say it stirred my own childhood memories of Woolmarket Baptist Church. And it was a double blessing as I was sharing this day with my children. Thank you so much for your kind words. It meant so much to us all. Fran Yeatts (formerly Passman-member since Aug.1985) Dr. Moore:
I was at the 70th anniversary celebration of Woolmarket Baptist Church today and your letter was read to our congregation. I must say it stirred my own childhood memories of Woolmarket Baptist Church. And it was a double blessing as I was sharing this day with my children. Thank you so much for your kind words. It meant so much to us all.

Fran Yeatts (formerly Passman-member since Aug.1985)

]]> By: Stephanie Files http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-157166 Stephanie Files Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:36:10 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-157166 Thank you, Dr. Moore. I get teased where we're currently planted for talking about my "home church" with many saying "This is your home now." Yes. It is my home now, but that little congregation in Pennsylvania that I have attended since I was a week old, where I was baptized, where Russ and I were married, where my sons were dedicated is home too. Stephanie Files Thank you, Dr. Moore.
I get teased where we’re currently planted for talking about my “home church” with many saying “This is your home now.” Yes. It is my home now, but that little congregation in Pennsylvania that I have attended since I was a week old, where I was baptized, where Russ and I were married, where my sons were dedicated is home too.

Stephanie Files

]]> By: John Leek http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-157156 John Leek Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:30:16 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-157156 That's beautiful Dr. Moore. Thanks for sharing it. That’s beautiful Dr. Moore. Thanks for sharing it.

]]> By: Paul Kevin Lee http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-157149 Paul Kevin Lee Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:49:14 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-157149 I remember those days when Brother Moore was the pastor, and trust me things were much different in those days.....Its too bad that they are not the same now.....Thank you for sharing I remember those days when Brother Moore was the pastor, and trust me things were much different in those days…..Its too bad that they are not the same now…..Thank you for sharing

]]> By: Ann West Rushing http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-157142 Ann West Rushing Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:10:43 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-157142 What a wonderful tribute to our home church! You are so right--It shaped us into who we are today! God Bless You and Your Family! What a wonderful tribute to our home church! You are so right–It shaped us into who we are today! God Bless You and Your Family!

]]> By: Rebekah Johnson http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-157138 Rebekah Johnson Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:38:53 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-157138 Amen. Amen.

]]> By: This and That 11-05-11 « The Thompsonian Times http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-157133 This and That 11-05-11 « The Thompsonian Times Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:26:18 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-157133 [...] Remembering A Home Church – Sometimes we tend to think of “church” generically as a synonym for Christians, some invisible blob of everyone who believes the same facts about Jesus or who follows the same principles from the first century. Yes, the church is the transnational, transgenerational Body of Christ, the redeemed of all of the ages. But the church expresses itself in this age in local, palpable gatherings of believers in covenant with one another. – Russell Moore GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_bg", "ffffff"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_border", "eeeeee"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_text", "555555"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_link", "2970A6"); GA_googleAddAttr("theme_url", "c8c7c7"); GA_googleAddAttr("LangId", "1"); GA_googleFillSlot("wpcom_sharethrough"); Like this:LikeBe the first to like this post. Categories: Uncategorized Comments (0) Trackbacks (0) Leave a comment Trackback [...] [...] Remembering A Home Church – Sometimes we tend to think of “church” generically as a synonym for Christians, some invisible blob of everyone who believes the same facts about Jesus or who follows the same principles from the first century. Yes, the church is the transnational, transgenerational Body of Christ, the redeemed of all of the ages. But the church expresses itself in this age in local, palpable gatherings of believers in covenant with one another. – Russell Moore GA_googleAddAttr(”AdOpt”, “1″); GA_googleAddAttr(”Origin”, “other”); GA_googleAddAttr(”theme_bg”, “ffffff”); GA_googleAddAttr(”theme_border”, “eeeeee”); GA_googleAddAttr(”theme_text”, “555555″); GA_googleAddAttr(”theme_link”, “2970A6″); GA_googleAddAttr(”theme_url”, “c8c7c7″); GA_googleAddAttr(”LangId”, “1″); GA_googleFillSlot(”wpcom_sharethrough”); Like this:LikeBe the first to like this post. Categories: Uncategorized Comments (0) Trackbacks (0) Leave a comment Trackback [...]

]]> By: Tammi Ledbetter http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-157127 Tammi Ledbetter Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:56:30 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-157127 It would be hard to settle on my favorite of all your columns but this one touched my soul, having similar gratitude and memories for First Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where a moderate taught me to personalize John 3:16, a liberal prayed over our wedding and a "fundamentalist" in the good sense let me "preach" Eph 4:1-3 from a lecturn on a Wednesday night weeks after responding to his appeal to vocational ministry. My kids and spouses gather there every Christmas and I pray they have that similar appreciation of which you wrote. From their gypsy upbringing they are now in three SBC churches that all preach the gospel though vary from traditional to experimental to an inner city mission. I think my home church helped them value the local church as well with those same VBS experiences while staying for weeks visiting the grandparents. Thanks for sharing an important memory and reminding us of legacy building. It would be hard to settle on my favorite of all your columns but this one touched my soul, having similar gratitude and memories for First Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where a moderate taught me to personalize John 3:16, a liberal prayed over our wedding and a “fundamentalist” in the good sense let me “preach” Eph 4:1-3 from a lecturn on a Wednesday night weeks after responding to his appeal to vocational ministry. My kids and spouses gather there every Christmas and I pray they have that similar appreciation of which you wrote. From their gypsy upbringing they are now in three SBC churches that all preach the gospel though vary from traditional to experimental to an inner city mission. I think my home church helped them value the local church as well with those same VBS experiences while staying for weeks visiting the grandparents. Thanks for sharing an important memory and reminding us of legacy building.

]]> By: Brian http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/10/30/remembering-a-home-church/#comment-157120 Brian Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:34:57 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=8000#comment-157120 This post brings me to tears, for I have a home church like yours, Dr. Moore. Mine lies not in coastal Mississippi, but in Southwest Arkansas where the red-brick building sits atop a hill on Highway 82. Those saints will gather there in a few hours and though I love the congregation of which I am now a member, I would love to be there with them this morning. Happy anniversary to Woolmarket Baptist Church. May God grant 70 more years, 7 times over in gospel faithfulness. This post brings me to tears, for I have a home church like yours, Dr. Moore. Mine lies not in coastal Mississippi, but in Southwest Arkansas where the red-brick building sits atop a hill on Highway 82. Those saints will gather there in a few hours and though I love the congregation of which I am now a member, I would love to be there with them this morning.

Happy anniversary to Woolmarket Baptist Church. May God grant 70 more years, 7 times over in gospel faithfulness.

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