This past Sunday I had the honor and privilege of preaching at Faith Baptist Church in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. We were overwhelmed with their hospitality and friendliness. As we walked up to the enter the church, before people knew that we were the guest speakers, we had numerous men and women introduce themselves by name and greet us as though we were their cousins who had just traveled across country to make it to the family reunion. We immediately felt right at home.
Paul Littleton, who keeps a fabulous blog you can link through his name, is the shepherd there and he is blessed with many older men and women who are giving a lot of heart and time to teaching the young children. Both of our boys’ sunday school classrooms were filled with older women and you could tell that their hearts were full of passionate love for every child in the room. There is a large family, the Ellises, in the church, the men of which all stood well over six feet tall, and you would have thought you were just another Ellis in their presence. During the service, many of the youth joined the music pastor on stage to sing the first worship song and then we were all blessed, right before my lesson, with one of the best women’s ensembles I have ever heard. I can’t remember how many there were, perhaps 8, and they rivaled any ensemble I’ve heard at any of the large churches I’ve attended in Northwest Arkansas.
The most difficult thing about leading the teaching time was that every first Sunday of the month they have potluck lunch immediately following the service. The smells were tantalizing and I couldn’t help throughout the sermon referencing food metaphors. My wife told me I was over the top with my food talk. 🙂 But, if you are ever anywhere near Sapulpa on the first Sunday of the month I would highly recommend running by Faith Baptist for great spiritual food and fantastic home cooking.
I praise God for the family at Faith Baptist and their prayerful support of our ministry. Pray that their ministry will be increased as they continue to reach Sapulpa with the Spirit of Christ.