Dear Friend, June 2005
It is with great joy that I write this first monthly newsletter to you. For over six years I served
as Minister, Pastoral Care of the 29,000 member Bellevue Baptist Church, with Dr. Adrian
Rogers.
Just recently I have answered God’s call to a wider field of ministry and joined the staff of
Abiding Above Ministries as the staff evangelist. What is an evangelist? The Greek word in
the New Testament for “evangelist” means one who announces the good news. The New
Testament gift and office of the evangelist has never been withdrawn from the church. The gift
of the evangelist is to be used like all gifts, “so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
(Ephesians 4:12)
The mission of Abiding Above Ministries is:
To share the gospel of Jesus Christ with every person…
To encourage spiritual growth in every believer…
By the power of the Holy Spirit and
To the glory of God.
We have two primary messages, Christ Died for You, a simple message to the lost. Also, You
Died with Christ, a message to build up the body of Christ by sharing with them their identity
in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. Do you realize the wonderful
encouraging fact that you are right now seated with Christ in the heavenlies? To know and abide
in this great fact truly brings that peace that passes all understanding. All of us know there is
something missing among believers across our nation, and yes, even the world. We are going
from one new thing to another. We are tired. I believe that we already have what we are
looking for but are trapped in all of our activities trying to find it.
This is the revival message for believer’s world-wide. I pray that you will help me take this
simple and encouraging message to the multitudes. To see Christians who are defeated rise
again and become the children of light God intended them to be all along as they began to be
transformed in their minds as they see themselves for the first time through the eyes of their
heavenly Father, perfect “in Christ.”
The decision to step out in faith to do the work of an evangelist was certainly done with much
prayer and counsel with my Pastor. Dr. Rogers guided me in this decision for over a year. He
is a wise man and I am grateful to God for him and his willingness to listen and discern with
me.
Also, during this critical time in our lives, my wife Kellie, and I were in the process of adopting
a little girl. I want to personally thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers and
support through this 20-month process. This has been a faith building 2 years for us, but God
completed what He alone put in our hearts to do. If you have met Maclaren Elizabeth Hodges,
you know she truly is a gift from God to us, and we receive her just that way, “a gift.” We will
continue to be faithful members at Bellevue Baptist Church, being encouraged and instructed by
you and raising our daughter with godly people who love God with their whole heart.
