Two weeks from today is Election Day in America. Early voting in WV begins today. It’s hard not to struggle with “election fatigue.” The harshness and rancor between Americans are hard to watch.

God blessed our Pure in Heart Conference yesterday with about 200 men, women, and teens in the main sessions. Interweaving fascinating illustrations and his personal life story, Pastor Kell’s message will be a tremendous help and challenge to any believer. Because we as believers died with Christ and have His indwelling Spirit (Romans 6-8), we can say “no” to sin and yield the members of our bodies to glorify God. He also wisely advised parent about having a plan to protect their children.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God, said Jesus in Matthew 5:8. Purity and holiness are the genuine desires of true believers. And this must come from the heart. Two verses earlier, Jesus said, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Does that describe your heart and mine?

Gerri and I just experienced the joy of hosting our eight grandchildren, ages 6 to 17, for six days of “Camp Johnson.” It was a precious time of bonding, fun outings, devotional chapels, yard games, and lots of ice cream and desserts. We had never had all eight with us without their parents; but it was a blessed (though exhausting) privilege.

IBC is looking forward to Guest Speaker Garrett Kell for our church-wide Pure in Heart Conference on Saturday morning, August 24. Today, Garrett is Lead Pastor at Del Ray Baptist Church in Alexandria VA and a nationally known author and speaker. Twenty years ago, Garrett was a VA Tech student from Berkeley Springs that God saved out of a sinful lifestyle. He and other newly born-again friends were used by God to bring many others to Christ in their hometown through meetings dubbed “Christ Nights.”

It is a joy that ABBA CARE, which began in Winchester, has opened a branch in Martinsburg to minister to mothers, babies, and families. They are an IBC-supported mission agency that upholds the sanctity of life and spreads the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For more information and for prayer requests, see their website at http://abbacare.org

Pastor Phillip opened last night’s Annual Congregational Meeting with a devotional from Psalm 111, which begins, “Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.” It truly was an evening of giving thanks in the congregation, as expressed from the start with the heart-felt singing of “To God Be the Glory.”

When you arrive at IBC this week, you may notice that the sign out front is missing. We are excited that the deacons have been able to order a new electronic digital sign for our entrance. It is arriving soon.

IBC recently received a letter from Alex Sheldon, an IBC member who attends Appalachian Bible College. Her letter included the following encouragement….

It had been three years since IBC been able to have a Global Outreach (GO) Team, sending IBC’ers on short- term mission trips. It’s exciting that God enabled us to send five teams in 2023—to Brazil, Vietnam, Utah, Kosovo, and now Spain. This week and into next, five of our members (Dave and Helen Stansbury, Linda Watring, and Chad and Michelle Wingert) are partnering with IBC sent missionaries, Daniel and Karrie Bethel in Spain. Our team departed on October 6 and will return October 17.

Today in both services, Marc Hagley, leader of our Pastor Prayer Partner Team, will invite men to consider joining this important ministry. I would not want to be a pastor without the prayers of the flock. I believe that my survival in ministry and certainly, any fruit from it, is due to people’s prayers. Thank you, all of you who pray.

Currently, our Welcome Center renovation is well underway. Thanks to estate gifts from Melissa Swaim and Johnny Welsh, the cost of this purpose-driven face-lift to our upper and lower Welcome Center areas is progressing. The purpose—to better love God’s world with hospitality to those who enter our doors and to better love God’s people by providing more appealing and effective fellowship space for growing disciples.

Pray for our summer ministry outreaches coming up soon—June 12-16 Teen Week and July 9-13 Kids Week. And, pray as week in and week out the Gospel is shared through IBC’s weekly ministries and especially through our people who witness in their daily lives.

Grief and joy often go together in the Christian life. “As sorrowful yet always rejoicing,” wrote Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:10. That is our experience as an IBC family this week, as we grieve but celebrate the homegoing of three long term members, Bill Shingleton on Monday, Mary Dugan of Wednesday, and Grace Hanshew today.

Last week was a big week of service for IBC’s Impact Youth Ministry department under the leadership of Pastor John Rickman. A nice breakfast of Chik-fil-a breakfast minis, juices, Black Dog coffee, fruit, and granola bars was served to eleven different schools.

Starting Easter Sunday and continuing into the future, our first worship service will start at 9:00 AM instead of 9:15. It’s only a 15-minute difference; but you might be surprised how much thought, discussion, and prayer went into this decision by our pastors, volunteers, and elders!

I love Missions Festival at IBC! We call it a Festival because we deliberately design the program to positively celebrate what God is doing through IBC among the nations and in our neighborhoods. Come join us in lifting up what you see God doing in our world today.

I am very grateful for IBC’s elders and their prayerful planning and transparent communication with the congregation. This Sunday, we shared a Pastoral Succession Planning Update.

Happy New Year! The next two Sundays, I am excited to preach messages on God’s love for His church and the importance of church membership. It’s my burden that God’s people love and enjoy the church as He does. Last summer, the Voice magazine of IFCA, International published an article that I wrote on the uniqueness of the Church. I am posting it here as a way of sharing my heart. 

I have been enjoying Christmas in Isaiah, a series that Pastor Phillip and I are sharing on prophecies of the Messiah from “The Gospel According to Isaiah,” as some have referred to this wonderful book. It has enriched my Christmas season already and, I trust, that of many others. Please pray for the remaining messages and invite your friends and family….

Robyn Joan Lowry, our friend, colleague, and a pastor’s wife at IBC for 40 years, went to be with her Savior around midnight on Tuesday. She was looking forward to seeing Jesus and I believe she has already heard Him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant, Robyn.”

Last week, Gerri and I, along with Pastor Phillip and Joanna Macdonald, were privileged to attend the Shepherd 360 conference in Cary, NC.