Dr. James Rushing has been a faithful minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for several decades.  He pastored the Lake Cities Baptist Church in the Atlanta area for more than twenty years.  A number of years ago he began serving the Lord in the field of evangelism.  It was our privilege to introduce him to many pastors here in the west, and we are thankful for the way God has used him in evangelism.  Most recently, Dr. Rushing has been teaching here at West Coast Baptist College and has been a tremendous blessing.

In May, upon returning to Georgia, Dr. Rushing learned that he had a cancerous tumor.  Since then, he has had a series of surgeries and treatments.  Please pray that God would heal this wonderful servant of the Lord.  Please pray for his wife of more than fifty years, Mrs. Betty Rushing, as well as their children and grand children.

Dr. Rushing spoke with me on the phone the other day and indicated his strong desire to be here with us as soon as possible, teaching the Bible college students once again.

I so admire the generation of godly pastors represented by Dr. James Rushing.  These men have a great passion to serve the Lord and to finish strong in the ministry.  It is my prayer that we might emulate this type of passion in our ministries today.

Last Wednesday night Terrie and I drove to the church and took some time to have prayer and devotions with the team heading to El Salvador for a week of ministry. The team is lead by our oldest son, Larry, and his wife, Ashley, and they will be helping with two new church plants. Their efforts will include door knocking, teen basketball camps, and preaching in public schools. The team is comprised of high school students from our youth group as well as a few students from West Coast Baptist College.

We are thrilled with the open door that God has provided in El Salvador. Souls are being saved every day and many hearts are open toward the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a blessing to see our son coordinating and leading such an effort. It is my prayer that God will use this team in a great and mighty way. Please pray for them as they hand out tracts and preach the Gospel throughout the country.

Each year I am amazed by how the Lord works during the Spiritual Leadership Conference. Although months of labor by our staff and lay people go into this one week, we realize that we cannot manufacture the presence of God.

I am especially thankful for the Spirit-filled preachers who brought convicting and applicable messages from the Word of God to each service. Dr. Sam Davison, Dr. Bobby Roberson, Dr. R. B. Oullette, & Dr. David Gibbs, Jr. were each used of God in a unique and powerful way.

On the final night of the Spiritual Leadership Conference, Dr. Gibbs brought one of the most powerful missions messages that I have heard in my lifetime.  As a result, over twenty men and women surrendered their lives to serve on the foreign field.

In the days following Leadership Conference, I have heard personally from dozens of pastors whose ministries were helped through the daytime sessions.  This was the first year to conduct the daytime sessions in the Revels Academic Building.  It was exciting for me to see this building used in such a large-scale way to encourage and equip the conference delegates.

We praise God for the great things He has accomplished.  May we each continue to strive together for the faith of the Gospel.

Twenty-two years ago, my family and I arrived in Lancaster to begin our work here for the Lord. Generally, when people think of Lancaster Baptist Church, they think of the thriving work that it is today, but it wasn’t always this way. Those first few days in Lancaster were not always easy. At the time, my wife and I didn’t know anyone, nor could the church afford a salary for us. Even through the difficult times, we never doubted God’s plan for us or the ministry here.

This past Friday, as we celebrated the Fourth of July, I spent time thanking God for our freedoms as a nation. Although, at times it is disheartening to think where our country is headed, I am still thankful for the freedoms we enjoy and for those who paid for them with their lives.

I began my day by golfing with several of our church members at Edwards Air Force Base. Needless to say, for me personally, the fellowship was better than the golf!

After playing a round of golf, our family gathered together for an afternoon barbeque. We had a great time of relaxation and fun. I try to do my best to take advantage of each opportunity the Lord gives me to spend time with them.

Friday evening, our family met up with our friends, Rex and Carrol Parris. Rex was recently elected mayor of the city of Lancaster. After enjoying some pie and ice cream, we headed to the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds where we watched a spectacular fireworks display. I was amazed by the thousands of residents who gathered together for the patriotic celebration.

God has blessed America, but let us remember that America is only great because America is good. Please remember to pray for our country daily, and then do your part to take a stand for what is right in your community.