Larry’s Letters

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Seeking People to Step Out to Do Something Significant for the Lord

The truth of the Gospel is as real and applicable today as it was 2000 years ago.  In Matthew 9:37b-38 Jesus says, “That harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.  Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”  The harvest has plenty of people who need and want to be saved.  That has always been the case.  We just need more workers to get the job done.  Therefore, we are praying for you and for your friends to participate in this project.

We are looking for lay people in our churches who are surrendered to the Lord Jesus and who will participate with a team of other leaders who will start bible-centered relational small groups with the intention of reaching people for Christ.  The groups that are started can relate to one of our current churches or be used to start a new church.

Where does this need to happen?  Everywhere.

Who are we seeking?  Willing people surrendered to the Lordship of Christ.

We will provide complete training for everyone and we will connect you with a group of people that you will work with.  If you are interested in discussing this opportunity to help expand God’s Kingdom, call Dr. Larry Richmond @ 618-581-6221 for more information and to ask questions, or pass this information along to someone who needs to know of this opportunity.

Understand:  Pastors Are Human Too!  

I have been aware for years about the impact of pornography on missionaries serving in foreign lands.  Recent studies have shown that up to 90% of college men engage in some form of internet pornography.  I was reading in Genesis yesterday about the angels who visited Lot when he was living in Sodom.  Here is the shocking statement from Genesis 19:4-5:  “Before they went to bed, the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, the whole population, surrounded the house.  They called out to Lot and said, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Send them out to us so we can have sex with them!’” (HCSB)  Sodom was filled with people having immoral life styles.  Unfortunately, human nature hasn’t changed.  That is why we all need a Savior.

We are sexual beings, but thoughts and actions can get out of control if there is no accountability in one’s life.  Our society, as we are all aware, has deteriorated a great deal over the last several decades.  The reality is clear:  Christians and churches have given the assignment by the Lord to impact society by sharing the Gospel and encouraging others to develop a relationship with the Lord.  However, instead of our lives making a positive impact on the world, we have allowed the world to impact the believer’s lives and the church.  We are about as secular as people outside the church.  That is why churches and individuals need spiritual renewal and revival.  Until we have a spiritual movement in the pews, we will continue on a downward spiral of moral decay.  Let me encourage you to place that need at the top of your prayer list.

Because of the moral degradation of our society, I want to suggest something to protect your pastor.  In this society we all need to be accountable to others to protect us from falling into temptation.  I am suggesting that your church take some steps to protect your pastor from internet temptation.  Taking this step will guard your pastor’s heart and integrity.  Here is what I suggest:

 

Enroll your pastor in Covenant Eyes.  It is a website that monitors internet usage on a computer.  It costs $9.00 a month.  Go to www.covenanteyes.com.

 

Your pastor will identify accountability partners (wife, deacon, another pastor, etc.).  Those persons will get monthly reports of the internet usage on your pastor’s computer.  If the computer is used to go to a questionable web site, the accountability partner will contact your pastor for a discussion.

That is it.

I enrolled in Covenant Eyes.  David Brown (Dow Baptist) and Richard Newcom (Whitelaw Avenue Baptist) are my accountability partners.  They will get reports on how I use my computer.

This is also great for you to use on your home computers, especially with younger members of your family.