The TIE – October 2018
Spilman Memorial Baptist Church
A Living Community of Faith – by Dr. H. Powell Dew, Jr.
When Karensa asked me to write an article for the TIE, I began reflecting on the events over the past year. It was one year ago in October I began serving Spilman as a supply minister. As many of you are aware, Dan has undergone a lot over the past year. My presence has always been as one supporting the ongoing ministry of Dan during his absence while he was receiving treatment for cancer. I came to Spilman to minister to you, but what I found instead, was Spilman ministering to me and my family. It was your love for me and my family that motivated us to join this church and become members here.
Over the past year, many in our congregation have undergone a lot of changes as well. Several long time, faithful, servants among us, have passed away and have joined that whole host of witnesses that have preceded us. Many have undergone serious surgeries that have brought healing to their bodies. Some have moved away, while others have returned to the church and rejoined the ongoing story of Spilman Memorial Baptist Church. We have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, and most recently gone through the hurricane Florence.
The TIE that binds us together is our love and desire to worship Jesus Christ.
The TIE that binds us together is love for one another.
The TIE that brings us together is genuine friendship and fellowship.
The TIE that binds us together is the love of God’s word as we study together.
The TIE that binds us together encourages us to share the love of God with others through evangelism and missions.
Sometimes when we gather for Communion, we sing the song, “Bless Be the Tie that Binds.” The first Sunday in October is recognized as “World Communion Sunday.” It is a time where churches throughout the world, from many different denominations, languages, and cultures, celebrate the “Lord’s Supper, Communion, or Eucharist.” Our community begins with our family and moves outward into a local body of believers called the church. As churches around the world celebrate Communion on October 7th, let us remember the Communion (unity, fellowship, relationship) we have with other believers in our Lord Jesus Christ around the world!
“Blessed Be the Tie that Binds” was first published by John Fawcett in 1782.
- Blest be the tie that binds, our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds, Is like to that above. - Before our Father’s throne, we pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts, and our cares. - We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows, the sympathizing tear. - When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.
As a church family, let us continue to be found faithful in word and deed until the Lord calls us all home. Let us not be weary doing good for one another. (Galatians 6:9) And also, let us continue to pray for one another during life’s most challenging moments. (I Thessalonians 5:7)
As a living community of faith, may we continue to lift up our Pastor Dan Cromer in prayer that God’s complete and perfect will be done for him and his family as well as Spilman Memorial Baptist Church. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6)