Deep Thoughts by Mr. G

What were you like in the 90s?

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:07:06 +0000

Charlie "Mr.G" Brown

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 15:43:00 +0000

Pat Barrett - I've Got A Fire (Official Music Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:08:51 +0000

Live for Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 14:55:08 +0000

Philippians 1:21 “For me to live is Christ, to die is Gain.” He died for me, I’ll live for Him. Here are some practical ways to do so:

1. **Live for Jesus Every Day**Make it your daily prayer to ask God to help you live for Christ. Whether you're at work, at home, or with friends, ask Jesus to be your reason for everything you do.

2. **Refocus Your Motivations**Take a moment to think about what drives you. Ask God to help you shift your heart so that Jesus becomes your main motivation.

3. **Share the Good News**Look for opportunities to tell others about Jesus. Whether it’s inviting someone to church, sharing your testimony, or simply showing kindness, let your life point others to Christ.

4. **Prepare Your Heart for Both Living and Dying**Remember that living for Jesus means being ready to face whatever comes, including death. Pray for courage and trust that, as Paul said, “to die is gain.” Live with confidence that Jesus is with you always.

5. **Honor Christ in Your Actions**Think about how you can honor Jesus in your daily life—by being honest, loving others, forgiving, and serving. Small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

6. **Support and Encourage Others**Get involved in supporting others—whether through teaching, giving, or simply being a friend. Help build a community that lives for Christ and encourages one another to stay faithful.

7. **Make a Personal Commitment**Consider making a pledge to live for Jesus: “He died for me, I’ll live for Him.” Write it down or say it aloud as a reminder of your commitment. Remember, living and dying for Christ is the greatest purpose you can have. Let’s ask God to help us live boldly and faithfully for His glory.

Some Reminders

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:34:00 +0000

Growth is Not a Mystery, It's a choice.

Church Bulletin/ newsletter can be donation repellent.

Member focused means mission stalled.

Tradition is not a strategy. (Habits may be holding you back)

Pastor, be the Face.

Contacts create Growth.

Follow Up or Fade out.

No Revival Service. Services need clarity, courage, consistent follow through.

Growth isn't a magic trick. It's Leadership. Action.

Pray for the Squirrels and Acorns

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:45:00 +0000

Things that will make your day go better

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 01:24:00 +0000

Things that will make your day go better

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. 10, Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. KM.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the kid in you everyday.

16 . 16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. 24. Make friends with Godly people.

25 25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."

27. 27.Laugh.

28. 28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

Healthy Church?

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 19:54:00 +0000

Getting ready to start a new sermon series. Hoping to blog more about it.

What Most Surprised Me About Christians When I Became One | Rosaria Butt...

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 19:34:00 +0000

Drawings of Mr.G

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 20:24:00 +0000

My Work Priorities

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:30:00 +0000

Sermon Study and Preparation

Bible study and Preparation

Monthly Newsletter Article

Leading and Preparing Worship Service/ Wednesday night study

Work on developing a discipleship pathway

Development of Social Media Presence

Connecting with Community.

Do not Take on Other Responsibilities.

(I saw this seems good but thoughts?)

The Power of Example

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 20:20:00 +0000

The Power of Example

A preacher closed his sermon with an earnest Gospel appeal. Among the many who responded was a woman of wealth and social distinction.

She asked per mission to speak a few words to the audience. “I want you to know,” she said, “just why I came forward tonight. It was not because of any word spoken by the preach er. I stand here because of the influence of a little woman who “He who best knows the world will love it least.” — Balzac sits before me. Her fingers are rough with toil. The hard work of many years has stooped her low. She is just a poor, obscure washerwoman who has served in my home for many years. I have never known her to be impatient, speak an unkind word, or do a dishonorable deed. I know of countless little acts of unselfish love that adorn her life. Shame faced, let me say that I have openly sneered at her faith, and laughed at her fidelity to God. Yet, when my little girl was taken away, it was this woman who caused me to look beyond the grave and shed my first tears of hope. The sweet magnetism of her life has led me to Christ. I covet the thing that has made her life so beautiful.”

At the request of the preacher, the little woman was led forward, her eyes streaming with glad tears, and such a shining face as one seldom sees on this earth. “Let me introduce you,” said the preacher, “to the real preacher of the evening,” and the audience arose in silent, though not tearless, respect. Oh, ye obscure toilers of the world, ye patient “doers of the Word,” think not that no one sees. I say unto you that a great cloud of witnesses will rise up on that great day, and call you blessed.

The next chapter for the Church

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:44:00 +0000

The Next Chapter for the Church. r

Saw this Article in the KYOWVA Evangelistic Association: newsletter earlier this year,

I made a few editorial clippings but the overall message is we need to Prayer for the Church and have lots of work to do. Enjoy.

The American church is facing a series1of challenges regarding its future. 80% of churches pre covid, could be in the category of subtracting or suryiving. Those in the subtracting category are

those who are experiencing a numerical decline. Those in the surviving category are those who have currently reached a state of plateau. Neither growing nor declining. For the first time in the that Gallup has tracked American religious membership, more adults in the United States do not attend church than attend church. In the book the Great De-churching, author Jim Davis reveals, "More people have left the church in the last twenty-five years than all the new people who became Christians from the First Great Awakening, Second Great Awakening, and Billy Graham crusades combined."

Many of those declining congregations are made up of an aging congregation who are growing weary and who also have some uncertainty about the future of their local expression of the Kingdom of God. We are seeing churches close at a rate unlike anything we have seen in America. According to Lifeway Research, in 2019 approximately 3,000 Protestant churches were started in US, but 4,500 Protestant churches closed. Just five years prior, in 2014, the same Lifeway study found that 3,700 churches had closed and 4,000 had opened.

Another challenge that must be considered is a diminished pool of those who preach the Word It is not uncommon for churches to face a ministerial search that lasts more than a year.

Focusing on keeping the people you have and not reaching those who are lost. This type of thinking also confuses what it means to be faithful. Faithfulness is defined as keeping the lights on and the door open instead of being on a mission to reach those who are outside of a relationship with Christ. Faithfulness should be defined as being the best stewards of God's resources.

The changes that are facing us today require us to be very intentional about our solutions. It is also time for congregations to consider what is possible if they were to unite their resources with like-minded congregations. Church mergers have always been a challenge, but examples are available to give us hope for the future.

In the event that a church makes the painful decision to no longer

operate. The best solution is to what to do with the resource to make the most Kingdom Impact. That’s Kingdom thinking even in death of a congregation.

WWJHMD? What Would Jesus Have Me Do?

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:37:00 +0000

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning! Great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:22-24.

A fourth grader celebrating his birthday while on crutches, so he couldn’t carry the cupcakes into school without help. His mother asked her sixth grade son to help his brother carry them in. “I could,” he said, “but I’d prefer not to.” Spotting a teaching moment, her husband asked, “What would Jesus do?” The boy answered, “Jesus would heal him so he could carry his own cupcakes.”

Sometimes I think the whole WWJD (What would Jesus Do) question should be translated to What Would Jesus Have Me Do? This has been a question we’ve been tackling on Wednesday nights with our Intentional Churches study. Looking at from the Street to the Seat perspective of changed lives for Christ. I quote this phase of being Jesus’ hands and feet. And it becomes more than a question but about impact in our community for Christ. May we continue to focus on Him.

Guidelines to Discussion

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:19:00 +0000

I've used the following guidelines for our Small Group Discussion on our study with Intentional Churches and looking at our own church its good and bad.

1. Criticism is Good. A way to look at one's self and improve.

2. Critic the policy, not the person. Personal attacks are not helpful. Politics needs to learn this value.

3. Revisit the past, don't live in it. We like to think the past was the greatest thing and to relive the "Golden Years." The problem is the past is behind us and we have to strive for the future.

4. Remember the Golden Rule. Treat others as you'd like to be treated. In discussion and heated debate, respect goes a long ways.

Others you might add?

Guidelines

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 16:13:00 +0000

From Open Network - 3 Tips to preaching on Sexual Sin.

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:06:00 +0000

3 Tips for Preaching on Porn and Other Sexual Sin

58% of Americans have watched porn online. This is why it's so important that we talk about overcoming pornography from the stage, and we want to help you feel ready.

Use sermon outlines available for free on Open Network, then follow these three tips for preaching on porn at your church.

Be Direct
For many attenders, your sermon may be the first time they've heard a biblical perspective on overcoming pornography.

Those who are struggling need you to clearly share the hope and guidance that God's Word offers.
Give Attenders a Heads Up
Communicate early to help them prepare their hearts and make plans to take their kids to children's church.

In addition to communicating throughout the week, you can use this free slide to remind attenders before the service starts.
Prepare Next Steps
Overcoming an addiction to pornography usually takes time.

While your message will help attenders start seeking freedom, they will need support along the way.

Identify helpful tools and next steps like finding an accountability partner, downloading content-filtering software, devotionals, etc., and have them ready.

You can find the four next steps we recommend in this post.

Planning to speak on this topic soon? Use these sermon outlines, graphics, videos, social media posts, and more to help you prepare your message.

Attenders aren't the only ones who struggle.

Pornography is a serious problem for pastors, too. 57% of pastors are struggling or have struggled with a porn addiction.

If this is you, we're praying for you and trusting God to help you overcome temptation and walk in freedom

Mission Statements for Churches

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:04:00 +0000

How to Create a New Mission Statement for Your Church (With Examples) - CareyNieuwhof.com

Open Network Resources

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:03:00 +0000

Messages | Free Church Resources from Life.Church

Bonnie Brae A1 page

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:01:00 +0000

Bonnie Brae (pastors.ai)

Bonnie Brae prayers1 page

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 16:00:00 +0000

Bonnie Brae Church of Christ, 7610 Staples Mill Road, Richmond, VA (2024) (prayers1.com)

Oak Hill Camp.

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 15:52:00 +0000

I recently wrote about United Church of Christ donating to the Camp. One of the addendums I need to add is that the way the camp began and some of my own connections to the camp. It's land and buildings were donated with a Big Vision from some of the people at the Gethsemane Church of Christ in 1953. Some of the families from the Boshers and Harrises helped start the camp. Many preachers including: Harvey Powell, Leland Short and others were instrumental in teaching and leading there.

Fact is my own wife's grandfather, Paul Ruziak volunteered and stayed at the camp in the late 70s as a Volunteer camp manager of sorts. Glenn Foster was used big time to keep the camp together through the 80s- 2000s. I had served on the board when a youth minister at Liberty Christian, (being Grant Foster's youth minister (Glenn's son) and later when the minister at Bonnie Brae.

At Bonnie Brae, I helped with the transition of the camp. From retirement of the camp manager to new manager. The Board of Jerry Martin, Kim Ellet, Carol Morrison Dymacek-Waldrop, Pam Strong ... helped pave the way. They later had passed the baton to a new board. Personally, I helped with the inspection and sale of the United Facility. (Being the chairman of the board at the time) Having secured a realtor, and getting a sale of $1.2 Million. I can say I left the camp in a better financial setting than found it. There was one time there was like $50 in the bank account and we had a camp manager, who had a family, to pay.. Believe me I was praying big time. Some of the run around with the selling of the building wasn't the realtors but dealing with attorneys. (who seem to run on their own schedule). One time I camped out literally at one of the attorney's offices (who wasn't returning calls for weeks) and only after being there, was allowed to speak to the attorney a few minutes to get their input. Afterall achieved I, too, knew it was time to scale back.

We had the funding, a plan. The reigns were handed over to a new board, interim camp manager and I've not really been involved in the camp in the last few years. Why? cause sometimes behind the scenes is a better view. May God get the glory.

Church Donates to Mechanicsville Virginia Camp.

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 15:14:00 +0000

Church Donated to Oak Hill Christian Camp.

United Church of Christ Fordson Rd. Richmond, VA. Pictured is the new Coptic Church who bought the property over 5 years ago. Source: Facebook St. Mary and St. Abanoub

By Gerrard Fess

In 2016, United Church of Christ decided to shut its doors.

The church had seen its congregation dwindle to just a handful of members in the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia the church didn't have the resources to keep the doors open.

Founded in the 1960s, as a plant as Westway Church and later a merger with Parham Hills Christian Church in 2000 the church was renamed United Church of Christ from the merger.. Beloved minister Ken McCrickard at the time oversaw the merger and a Big supporter of Oak Hill Christian Service Camp..

After a series of trying to keep the doors open, the writing on the wall was the church ran its course what to do? What is the best way for a church to close?

That's when the remnant of attendees and trustees of United Church of Christ approached the board of Oak Hill Christian Service Camp in Mechanicsville, Virginia and asked Would they help the church sell its building and make sure something good came out of a difficult situation?

The answer, of course, was "yes." The camp decided to relocated some of the material and furnishings they could use at the camp itself and had a moving day in the Fall of 2016 with the help of then Mechanicsville Church of /Christ now called Grace Christian.

CLOSING ITS DOORS

United Church of Christ held its last church service in August in 2016.

United Church of Christ is about 35 minutes from Oak Hill Camp..The Church was instrumental in supporting the camp. The idea was to give back and support the local churches and the mindset of “What was best to enhance the Kingdom of God?”

The Camp manager at the time, Travis Jones, and the board found it easy to help this struggling church, though not without its challenges. "It was the right thing to do."

United deeded its building to the Camp itself.

Travis Jones had the challenges of overseeing the task of what furnishings could be used as the camp currently? The items included: chairs, tables, bibles, toys, tools equipment, moving sheds, and playground equipment. Not an easy task.

The Camp Board and trustees had the challenge of the transfer of the property, the way to sell the property (auction, real estate agent etc).. After investigating and going to a few auctions of churches, and having the property inspected and assessed … a supporting church elder (who was also a real estate agent), Roy Campbell from Bonnie Brae Church of Christ helped list the facility and a local Coptic Christian church bought the campus for over $1.2 Millions

PRIORITIES

It took almost 2 years for the process to conclude. There were times the camp was struggling financially itself God had provided big time.

So what would the camp do with it’s funds? Invest for the future.

WORTHY CAUSE'

With a failing pavilion and aging roof – there seemed to be a need to upgrade the camp, and make a master plan of what ultimately the camp needed and plans for the future and savings too, The current need was a new multi-purpose indoor worship gathering place for the camp to host their Worship settings replacing the pavilion which roof was leaking at the time.. An elder from Compass Christian Church, Kevin Layell helped with the Master plan working for Huff-Morris Architects.

'BEING FAITHFUL STEWARDS'

The time had come to strive for the future. Because of United Church of Christ’s donation – the camp had a bright future. The Camp’s pool was paid off. A new building built.(called the Tower ) Anonymous donors, and local businesses started to give back to the camp as well. Transition did happen. The Camp manager at the time had moved his family to Canada – with an opportunity they couldn’t pass returning to family roots.

A new board and new Interim manager lead the way. Heather Ferguson, (Camp Interim) Director of Youth Ministries at Compass Christian Church oversaw the campus changes from upgrades to all the buildings, cabins etc. To new equipment to new road and a new boy’s cabin. God was good. After United set the precedent, a blessing through loss also happened when New Hope Church in Chesterfield closed and gave $200 000 to the camp from some of the sale of their facility as well.

Right now, the camp has many baptisms, and record attendance the last few years of over 500 campers … all because Christians were faithful A lot of praise goes towards those who came behind us. Those that started Oak Hill; Volunteers through the 50s-70s, Glenn Foster’s 30 years as camp manager, Travis Jones’6 years at the camp, its supporting churches and the people seen the impact of the Kingdom of God in children’s lives.

The Future is Bright. There is still more to be done as Oak Hill and it’s all thanks to you too. Let’s go and make disciples.

Since 1953 here are some of the churches that supported Oak Hill Camp through the Years:(and currently have representatives on their camp board)

Bethany Christian Church, Bonnie Brae Church of Christ, Calvary Christian, Compass Christian, Fairmount Christian, Forest Grove Christian, Gethsemane Church of Christ, Grace Christian and Unionville Christian Church. There are many other congregations and individuals that continue to support the camp as well. (almost too many to list).

Believing in the verse “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”– Proverbs 22:6

May God be praised.

Lessons from Leaves.

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:09:00 +0000

With Fall around the corner, I came across this about leaves.

Paul Cotter recently wrote an article entitled Seven Lessons Learned from Leaves. Which I think apply to the Christian life as well. Here are his seven observations, with my insights on how it applies to the church,

1. Leaves feel stress, just like we do. It is how we deal with the stress in our lives that helps us. Turning to God and others for support.

2. Leaves are flexible and resilient. We, too need to be flexible and bounce back when the trials of this life are thrown at you.

3. Leaves know what’s good for them. God knows what’s best for us.

4. Leaves are constantly changing. Our methods to reach others change, the message and our God does not.

5. Leaves know how to work together. The Church works together as a body.

6. Leaves are humble. Greatness springs from the root of humility. James 4:10 says “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

7. Leaves know when it’s time to go .”Whether we’re ending a relationship or departing from this world, saying goodbye is one of the most painful transitions we face. For a leaf, there’s a brilliant mechanism that tells it when it’s time to let go.” For us as Christians, comfort is found in the scriptures such as 1 Thess. 4:13 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.”

As you look at the leaves this Fall, may we learn these lessons and be mindful of our wonderful God.

Uncle Bob.

noreply@blogger.com (Gerrard Fess) — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 14:12:00 +0000

We all have that one uncle. The one we adore, and treats you like royalty. That is Bob Russell for a lot of preachers. He's been at Southeast Christian for years and retired. I think one of the best things he's done wasn't preach, nor teach (though he's great at those things) but was after his ministry at Southeast to pour into ministers.

Bob has become an uncle to a lot of preachers. He has mentored, supported, travelled all over to encourage, equip, and send out Kingdom workers. He loves the church, God's people and most importantly his family. One of the best compliments I got from Bob was "You remind me of my Dad." Basically rough background, but overcame and loved God. I'll take that any day.

I recently reconnected with Bob at a seminar called "Art of the Sermon." We had a brief conversation on which he talked about his home church, one of the ministers we both knew: Jerry Yorks. It was with fondness that we looked back at how people handled rough times and God uses it for his good.

I wonder though as people look to Bob Russell for wisdom, who will be the next Uncle to our church leaders? Then I got thinking we already got that person. It is who Bob and other preachers been talking about, preaching and teaching about: Jesus. As much as I love Bob Russell and his influence, I love the God and Jesus whom we both serve more. And I think that's the way Uncle Bob likes it.