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Bulletin
Lay Lake Church of Christ
Volume 4 June 07, 2009 Number 23
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Boy Sows Seed For Eternity
Samuel Jeanette
A child can count the seeds in an apple, but only God knows how many apples are in a seed.
When Samuel B. Kelly was 19, he started working in a hardware store in the county of Aruba. He had been raised in an active Catholic family but he felt that something was missing. For several months he went off by himself during his two-hour lunch break and prayed to God, asking for help.
One day Nuevo Semeleer, an eleven-year-old neighbor boy, came to him and asked if he would like to go to church with his family. Samuel said he was a Catholic, so would have to go to mass first, but afterwards, he would go with him.
After hearing the first sermon, Samuel thought: “This is the church I have been looking for!” From that day on he never missed a meeting, Sunday morning, Sunday night and two mid-week Bible studies, but only as a visitor.
In less than a year, Nuevo died with leukemia.
When Samuel was 20 he became engaged to Jeanette who also worked at the hardware store. He gave her a Bible and told her she should read it because it was a very important book. As he grew in
knowledge, Samuel concluded that he should be baptized according to the Scriptures. But when he told his fiancée, she replied: “If you do that, you can forget about me!”
Samuel tells of his struggle: “That was very hard for me because I knew that if I died I would be lost forever. I lived with that fear and feeling for several years.” Samuel and Jeanette were married on April 2, 1973. When he asked if she would attend services with him, she agreed, and on August 26, 1973 they were both baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.
Samuel regrets that he waited so long. He now advises others: “The moment the Lord touches your heart, accept Him right away. Don’t hesitate to do so, no matter what conditions or what pressure others put on you. Salvation is too precious!”
When Samuel started attending the Tamarijn church of Christ, his family were very upset. But after he became a Christian, he taught them the gospel. One by one, ten of his twelve family members were baptized into Christ. Many years have passed. Now Samuel and Jeanette have four grown daughters who are Christians, and Samuel has been one of the preachers in that congregation for thirty years.
This began when an eleven-year-old boy, who was dying with leukemia, asked his neighbor if he would go to church with him.
[What a wonderful example for us. . .]
Prayer List
Barbara Myrick; Misty Wood; Ken White; Jan Peoples; Margaret Walker (Mareen’s mother); Janice Clem (Christy Kearley’s mother); Gayle Higginbotham; Bill Nelson (Frieda’s dad); Elizabeth Smith; Colin Chandler; Jesse Spillman; Harold Lee; Bob Spurlin; the Jones family; Elizabeth Childress; Phillip Webb; Tommy Moon; Julianne Evers; Sam Spraggins; Angela Goodwin; Martha Eckert; Adam Pilling; Corey Boothe.
Upcoming Activities & News
Scripture Reading Today: 2 John 1-13 (following our morning announcements).
Men’s Meeting: TODAY at 4:30.
Gospel Meeting: June 7-11 at Panama St. (Montgomery) with Kenneth Randolph speaking at 7:00.
Pantry: jello (PLEASE help us re-stock our pantry - see the bulletin board for needed items)
Gift Basket: Frankie & Kim are carrying a gift basket for Colin Chandler to Mobile on Saturday (13th). Any items for the baby or his parents would be appreciated.
Backwoods Christian Camp: 1st Session will begin TODAY! Please pray for our campers and summer workers (Josh, Laura & Kellie Smith).
Rejoice in the Lord. . .: Christy Patterson responded to the invitation Sunday night and was restored. Wednesday evening Chase Davis responded confessing sin in his life.
June Bug: June 19,20 We need everyone’s help!
VBS: July 20 - 22
June Birthdays & Anniversaries
- 5 Stephen Kearley
- 5 Glenn & Lisa Russell
- 6 Chris Bass
- 7 Chris & Elizabeth
- 10 Whitney Gaut
- 14 Rett Russell
- 15 Kellie Smith
- 20 Stephen & Christy
- 21 Lynn Dodson
- 28 Rusty & Lynn