January 5, 2009

(December Preaching Report)

Ed Barnes

Chester Church of Christ

12100 Winfree Street

Chester, VA 23831

 

 

 

 

Dear Brethren,

       Thank-you for your fellowship.  My work with the congregation here in Chester, VA continues to go well.  My normal schedule of study, personal work, visiting, preaching and teaching was to some extent interrupted by the holidays, but as of today things are getting back on track.   My family spent four days between Christmas and New Year’s visiting friends in our former home of Loudon, TN but I stayed here and was able to spend a little extra time studying and sending out support request letters, as I am still lacking about $1750.00 in outside support. The contribution of the church here has been a little better than anticipated over the last few months so I have been assured of having all the support needed until the deficit can be made up.

 

       My schedule of regular preaching and Bible class teaching continues unchanged from the previous month.  The teen class on Sunday morning is still in Ecclesiastes as is the Wednesday evening adult class which I also teach.  Our “Know Your Bible” class continues with our first meeting of the year scheduled for this evening (Mon. Jan 5th).  Our Sunday morning attendance hit a high of 49 on Dec. 7th. 

 

       Bible classes with non-Christians include a continuing class with Patricia Starke with whom we have been working for three months.  She is still worshiping with us every Sunday along with her eight year old son.  A young man named Yahmon Yaughn, contacted in our door knocking efforts, has been worshipping with us each Sunday for the past four weeks.  Yahmon recently moved to Chester from New Jersey.  He is currently unemployed, but looking for a job.  His religious background is in Pentecostalism.  My first personal study with Yahmon is scheduled for later this week.

 

        Another Interesting, rather large and rough looking fellow, also recently moved from New Jersey, has been visiting our worship services lately. His name is Frank Sica.  He lives close to our building and just dropped in one Sunday evening to check us out.  He has been back several times and has revealed a curious knowledge of the Bible and an interest in what we believe and teach. He requested our prayers in reference to a couple of former Jersey associates with whom he had issues, leaving the impression that they were still looking for him.  (We have since been on the lookout for two visitors wearing pin-stripes and carrying violin cases.)  I have not yet begun a study with Frank, but plan to bring up the subject with him soon.

 

       In reference to the church here and our future plans to become self-supporting, it has not been a topic that has been formally discussed up to this point.   The securing of my monthly support has been the primary topic in discussions concerning finances.  Possibly, during the month of March or April, we will discuss the prospect of becoming self-supporting and I will have something then to report on that topic.

 

       Again, thank-you for the commitment of the church there to support my work during 2009. 

 

 

 

In Christ, 

Ed Barnes