A Look North

Nine hundred sixty-four miles northeast of Grace Baptist Church a group of our brothers and sisters in Christ gathered this morning. As members of Open Bible Baptist Church, they assembled for the same reasons we in Chattanooga did: to obey, worship, and proclaim Jesus Christ. You may never have met them, nor they you. Nonetheless, we share a bond with them that runs deeper than what the average person would guess: we are part of the redeemed family of God, and, as such, we will spend eternity with Him and each other.

The village of Cambridge, New York, has about 2,000 residents, and the pictured building was constructed in 1844. Notice the bell tower at the top. Every Sunday morning a large bell is rung to announce to Main Street and beyond that the eleven o'clock hour of worship to the Living God is at hand. Cambridge Baptist Church of the Open Bible began in 1947, and later purchased the building and shortened its name to Open Bible Baptist Church.

There are two reasons I chose to feature OBBC for my Cup of Grace rotation. The first is that it does our souls good to know that there are other believers genuinely devoted to knowing and living for Jesus Christ. In a world increasingly hostile to all that Christianity represents, there are still many scattered pockets of disciples who "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus" day in and day out. You are not alone in your devotion to Him. Your family is not alone. Your church is not alone. The Lord used this fact to encourage Elijah, and it should encourage us as well...no matter what is happening in our nation.

The second reason to feature OBBC is that last Sunday my husband accepted the invitation to be their new pastor, so our family will be moving to Cambridge as soon as possible. Bill has long had a desire to minister in the Northeast, and the backstory to how the Lord has opened this specific door is beautiful. We are excited about the opportunity to join the believers there in shining the light of the gospel.

Thank you, dear friends at Grace Baptist Church, for all that you have meant to each of us! We will miss you, but look forward to seeing you anytime we're visiting Chattanooga, and will seek to keep abreast of all that God does for you here. Please pray for the Lord to continue to guide all the aspects and timing of our transition. Know that we will continue in prayer for you as well.

Susan Warner, a native of New York who became the first American author to sell more than a million copies of a book, once wrote a child's hymn that encapsulates the goals of both Grace and Open Bible. I conclude with her lyrics, simple yet profound:

"Jesus bids us shine with a clear pure light,
like a little candle burning in the night;
in this world of darkness we must shine –
you in your small corner, and I in mine."

Amen, may it ever be.
-MaryBeth Hall