Last night we saw an answer to the prayers of many people. It has been our desire for many years now to have the opportunity to serve in the local jail by leading Bible studies. Over the last year, especially, Joseph Reidy has kept this prayer requests before us. We are so thankful this door has been opened to us and we pray it remains open.

After Kason Bloom received word there would be an opportunity for us to send in teams of men and women on  a monthly basis he quickly began recruiting volunteers. Over a two week period nearly 35 people had filled out the information needed for the mandatory background check! God had not only provided an opportunity but He had provided the workers as well!

Last week our church received a visit from the officer who oversees this program at the Forsyth County Jail. She gave us a clear understanding of how to move forward. We are very thankful for her assistance in this matter.

Twenty one of us entered the jail last night around 8 pm and spent approximately an hour teaching God’s Word, praying, and having conversations with inmates. It was an incredibly great night of ministry. We had teams enter into 4 men’s pods and 4 women’s pods. We were able to minister to about 45 men and 40 women!

We were well received and treat with great respect and appreciation. It is our desire to not only teach the Word but to help the inmates realize they to can study God’s Word. We plan to teach the Bible verse by verse, teach discipleship lessons, sing together, pray together, and help answer life’s questions from the Bible.

We have created some guiding principles to help us in this ministry. We want God to be glorified in every moment of time we are given with these men and women.

• Principle One: We will show respect to the dignity of life believing that we all are created in God’s image and deal with the struggles of living in a fallen world.
• Principle Two: We will make it evident that we are not morally superior people who can tell them how to work their way out of their mess. We will show them that God has answers and His Word contains the truth they need in their lives.
• Principle Three: We will avoid profane and vain babbling while being willing and able to give everyman an answer to their sincere questions.
• Principle Four: We will take their prayer requests to God in prayer.
• Principle Five: We will work as a team working together to teach the truth of God’s word in a clear and systematic manner.
• Principle Six: We will emphasize the importance of the local church and give clear Biblical teaching of her role in the life of a believer.
• Principle Seven: We will be full aware that this ministry is a privilege and our relationship with the supervisors is of the utmost importance in regards to see this door remain open to us.

Please pray for this ministry. We are seeking new ways to engage the men and women in the jail in the study of God’s Word. We pray more opportunities open to us in the community like this. We will return next month and will have new volunteers helping lead the Bible studies.

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Join us on Thursday, December the 3rd as we will have Seth Austin preaching for us. His testimony of arranging his life around the gospel is a testimony to all. He shares the Gospel in and through his daily life. He deals with the daily pain brought on by cerebral palsy and spondylolisthesis.

Rather walking the halls of the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta as a nurse or walking across the street to share the Gospel with a neighbor you will see he has a strong drive to help other. If you are around him for long, you will hear him say something crazy like “I am a full-time minister and a part-time nurse.”

Seth and Jessica have a beautiful daughter named Claire. By the time you meet them in December they should have their second daughter named, Lily. Jessica is due at the middle of November. They live and serve in Kennesaw, GA.

We believe you will be encouraged from his testimony and from the Bible message he will bring. Remember we start at 7:00 pm on Thursday nights. Bring a friend that needs to be encouraged and join us on December the 3rd.

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I know I could say this about every Thursday Night Service at Vision but it is especially true about this Thursday Night! You will not want to miss learning about “The Messiah in the Passover” as it will be taught by Sam Wilson, Missionary to the Jewish People. It will be an informative and exciting time as we get a better understanding of the meaning of the passover.

I will admit I had to look up the word “seder” when I heard that we will be learning about it. Here is a basic definition: The Seder is a ritual performed by a community or by multiple generations of a family, involving a retelling of the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt.

The service starts at 7:00 pm. Come early and take the opportunity to see many of the items that will be used in the demonstration. Our church has come to love Sam Wilson and his wife, Rhonda. They have a heart for Jesus and as a result have a love for the church and those who are yet to believe.

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Last night we took time to remember the sacrificial death of Christ by observing the Lord’s Supper. We were walked through the New Testament and was reminded of the perfect birth, life, and death of Jesus. Last night was extra special to us all because we had Ben Thomas lead us in the Lord’s Supper. Ben is a student in the Our Generation Training Center. He is preparing for future ministry on the foreign field. He is a Students of Vision Alumni. Which is my “fancy” way of saying he came up through our youth ministry. I included a picture of me with Ben because I am very proud to be associated with this young man. Pastor Robert through his ministry with the OGTC did a great job at helping prepare Ben to lead this service.

We are also excited to announce that Ms. Martha Whited join our church. She came to Christ at the age of 17 at Lucky Street Baptist Church in downtown Atlanta. We have prayed that God would send more grandmothers to our church. We are very grateful to have this sweet lady join our church.

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Last week was an exciting one for me as CLC released my book ‘Send Me, I’ll Go’. A lot has gone into this project, and I’m very thankful for this new opportunity to talk about missions. As the purposes of the book and the purposes of this blog overlap considerably, I thought it would be appropriate to share some of the book’s content for readers here (an excerpt from the introduction is in the last section of this post).

Why did I write it?

Over the last several years, my wife and I have hosted many short-term missions groups. This has given us lots of chances to interact with a generation of young believers who are interested in missions (interested enough, at least, to come on a missions trip). And overall we have been impressed by how little consideration they have given to long-term missions service. So, first of all, I wrote the book to be a challenge to the objections usually raised against becoming a missionary. I endeavor to give responses to the most common reasons for not going. Additionally, I wrote the book to be a tool for all those who, like myself, are desirous of increasing the number of believers who are exported to the world. If you are a regular advocate for those who haven’t heard the gospel, I trust this book will aid you in your mobilizing efforts.

What’s the main idea of the book?

There’s a widespread opinion that only a small minority of Christians could be effective missionaries. Say, maybe, less than one in a hundred. Consequently, no one is very surprised when no one around them is moving toward the unreached. My contention, however, is that most any mature believer should be considered a potential candidate. Not that they are ready to go today! But if they would volunteer, the church could prepare them. The military does not recruit soldiers, they recruit those who could be made into soldiers. This shift in perspective alone has the potential to dramatically increase our global missionary forces. Indeed, I work with a team of missionaries that is constantly growing primarily because it has embraced the notion that volunteering for the mission is commendable, as long as it is paired with a commitment to undergo training. The vision for church-based mobilization presented in the book, then, is ‘every member a volunteer, every member a trainee.’

Who will be helped by this book?

I hope the book will serve you well if you…

• are trying to decide if you should become a missionary
• have questions about a missionary’s job description
• wish to see your church do more for global missions
• want to mobilize other believers to the world’s unreached
• are responsible for making missions-related decisions
• simply desire to magnify God with your short life!

What will I do with the massive royalties?

Well, maybe I should say ‘modest’ royalties! As there’s no Disney theme park in Taiwan, my share of the profits from the book will go towards the church-planting ministry here and in mainland China. So even if the book is just an overpriced paperweight, it is at least a missions fund-raising paperweight!

What’s in the book?

I try to answer this question in the introduction:

“First, this book is an examination of the gap between western churches and missionary service. What exactly are the factors that keep young Christian leaders – who love Jesus and who love people – from being exported to the world? This is a diagnostic task requiring us to open the hood of Western evangelicalism and run some tests that we ordinarily might not think about.

Second, this book is an extended application of theology. There is certainly no new theological innovation to be found here (so the Inquisition can clock out early today), but I do believe that there is something about God and the gospel to be learned. What I hope to accomplish is to follow the threads of the theology you already believe to some of its logical conclusions concerning the world’s unreached. I pray that those who love Jesus will find ways to apply the truth of his Gospel in more radical ways to their lives.

Third, this book is an argument meant to be taken personally. In other words, much of what it has to say is directed at your will, the decision-making part of you. I deeply desire that something said here might, in its weakness, be used to effect a change of mind – specifically, that you would change your mind about going as a missionary. These are the parts that might upset some, because such argumentation necessarily implies that there might be something wrong with how you’ve chosen to live your life.

Fourth, this book is a presentation of a vision. I praise God that it is a vision that was passed on to me by others. It is a vision of churches and believers living with the Great Commission at their very core. Some of you may have met such a Christian before – or maybe even a group of them – and if you have, you know what a rare breed they are. They are not just people with a general evangelistic concern for unbelievers they happen to already know and love; they are people who live and court death to bring the Gospel to the world’s unreached millions. I have asked God to use this book to conform me to this vision, and I pray he does the same for its readers as well. May we see clearly the eternal gains that might be made for God’s kingdom if the abundant reservoirs of Western Christianity were to surge forth to the arid ends of the earth!

If something written here helps to loosen the sediment or dislodge the debris that has dammed up young Christian leaders and all the other valuable resources of western churches, the effort will have been worthwhile. I personally leave this project more sure than ever before that I want the embankment in my own heart to break open, that whatever portion of my energies that I am holding back from the mission might flow out into the nations. That I may spend and be spent like so many great missionaries in the church’s history, and in joyful reenactment of the complete sacrifice of the greatest Missionary who has ever lived.”

You can get a copy of this book Send Me, I’ll Go by clicking here.

World Evangelism would like to give away 10 copies of this book. It is for the first 10 people who will leave a comment below and then email your mailing address to info@ourgenerationpublishing.com. We will get you a copy in the mail. I believe this book will be of enormous value.

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We are very excited to have Brett Broadrick and Amber Daniel. They are engaged to be married this summer. They are wonderful couple with a very evident love for Jesus. We have the joy of getting to know them for the last several weeks. They both attended the Come and See Luncheon this last Sunday. Brett, Amber, and all those in attendance heard about the history and values of our church. Please welcome them into the Vision Baptist Church family! We know God has wonderful plans for this great couple!

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We would like to welcome Bethlehem (Beth) Robi as our newest member! She has already been a great blessing to our church in many ways. She has volunteered in different events. Recently she represented her home country of Ethiopia during a time of fellowship following the first night of our missions conference. She is also a talented photographer and has used this gift in our church.

Beth is engaged to our staff missionary, Edward De Los Reyes. They will be married in the spring of 2015. They have committed their lives to serve in China. Please be in prayer for them.

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We would like to welcome Daniel Bennett as the newest member of Vision Baptist Church. He is a real joy to be around. He has already been helping Pastor Robert with the activities for the Single Focus ministry. He has one sister, Rebekah, who is also a member of Vision. He joined by letter from Stanley Heights Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN.

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This morning the Students of Vision spent several hours at the North Georgia Food Bank sorting cans, making food boxes, laughing, and most importantly glorifying our God! Early this year they took up almost 600 lbs in canned food items at our annual Dodge Hunger event! Today they took the cans of food to a food bank and helped the cans take their next steps in serving some families in need.

It was a great time by everyone involved. A special thank you goes to Ms. Sherry Penland, from the Bridge Builders Class, for going with us today and helping. I love any time I get to spend with our teenagers. Thank you to John Pearson for putting this event together. He and Mrs. Sandy are doing a fantastic job finding opportunities to help our teenagers grow into the God loving adults they are becoming!

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Kamerin and I are officially joining the family of Vision Baptist Church today.  Words really can’t describe how grateful we both are, but I feel that something needs to be said in attempt to make our gratitude known, so here goes…

About a year and a half ago, I received a handout on the door of my home from Vision Baptist Church about a Christmas event that they were hosting.  As with most handouts, I quickly glanced at it and headed straight toward the trashcan.  We had been a member of another denomination for the last 8 years or so, and I wasn’t “looking” for another church.  However, in God’s good providence, my eyes scanned over parts of this handout on my way to the trashcan.  I read the words, “Independent Baptist Church,” and I thought, “Hmmm….legalism.”  I had tried living by the law in another Baptist Church years ago, and I wanted no part of that because I had failed miserably (as the law reveals to us all).   I knew that I could only consider a church if they taught salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ alone.  Then I read the explanation of the Gospel.  They nailed it.  If there was one thing I had learned in the denomination I was in, it was doctrine, and plenty of it.  So as I read this handout, I carefully looked to see that the entire Gospel was presented.  Yep.  Everything was included, nothing was left out (Jesus, the sinless Son of God, died on the cross to save sinners from the wrath of God which we deserved since we all fall short of His glory.  All we must do is repent to receive this free gift of salvation by Grace)…..No talk of a works based salvation….no hints of being driven by the law.  Maybe this church wasn’t legalistic after all?”  Then I read where it said that the pastors are committed to preaching book by book, verse by verse.  “Hmmm”…..I thought.  “No one does that anymore.  I like that.   It sounds very solid. No corny, catchy theme to catch one’s attention each week.  I like that a lot.”

But still, I put the handout in the stack of mail and didn’t really plan on doing anything with it.  Thankfully, God had other plans.  Periodically, the handout would appear again as I would clean the kitchen, moving the stack of papers here or there, and I could not get the words “Book by book, verse by verse” out of my mind.  I was just plain curious about this church now.

As time ticked on, I finally began to admit that the church we were in was not where I wanted to be.  There was a heavy emphasis on doctrine, but very little emphasis on building deep relationships with one another.  Each family was their own little entity, and being a divorced, single mom of 2 girls, there was just no place for us to…….fit.  No doubt my sin nature played a factor in this as well. 

However, I found safety in the doctrine and had come to the conclusion that solid teachings and close relationships could not coexist in the same church.  During my time as a believer, I had experienced one or the other in churches, but never truly a rich measure of both.  In a previous church where the emphasis was heavy on relationships and less on doctrine, it was all very much modeled after the world with some scripture mingled in the service.  I could not accept that again.  So, fear of trying something new led me to stay where I was for a while longer.  Like it or not, I was the leader of my home, and my girls had been yanked around enough.  So my plan was to worship God and study His Word with this group of believers and to just accept the loneliness I was feeling.   I had a handful of precious friends, but for one reason or another, we were not able to “live life together” outside of church.  I wanted that so badly.  

One Sunday last summer, out of sheer convenience, I decided that I might just visit that Baptist church near our house.  So, I thought, “Where is that handout they had put on my door back during the Christmas season?”  “Would I be able to find it?”  I began looking for it in my “less than organized” kitchen, and praise the Lord, I found it!  I hopped in the car, put the address in the GPS, and I was on my way.  Before the GPS had time to calculate the location, I was already there!  A whopping 2 minutes from my house.  “Wow!  How had I overlooked this church during the 5 years I had been living on McFarland?!”    

I came in the doors and was greeted (genuinely, lovingly, warmly) by not just one or two, but several people.     “They sure are friendly”, I thought.  “I bet the teachings will be lacking.”   I was pleased to hear that the pastor would be preaching from Romans 9.  “Well, this will be the test,” I thought.    “If he teaches through this chapter, he will have to address the issue of whether or not salvation is a work of man or of God.  There will be no way to avoid it.”  I decided that if he said that salvation was all man’s responsibility, then I would not come back.  I listened intently, trying to be sure that the Gospel message he was proclaiming was the truth-the whole truth, and much to my surprise, it was.  The emphasis was clearly put on the finished work of Christ on the cross which secured our salvation.  Our sins were forgiven AT the cross.   Yes, we are called to repent, but this was no “works based salvation message.”  There was not one word of contention.  He nailed it.  I was surprisingly encouraged.   

After the service, at least 3 ladies talked to me (genuinely talked to me), and before I left, I had been given several phone numbers to contact if I had any questions.  Well, I used those phone numbers to ask questions, I started attending the Monday night Bible study they were having, and I loved it.  The next week, I brought Kamerin with me to the Bible study….and she liked it too.  Then we attended our first Sunday service together, and the rest is history.   

So, here we are….about to make our new family official.  I couldn’t be more elated and grateful.  I know that Kamerin feels the same.   The relationships that we have built here throughout the past 11 months are just so wonderful and fulfilling.  My assumption that solid teachings and deep relationships cannot exist together in the same church has been blown right out of the water-thanks to ALL of YOU!  What a rare treasure we have stumbled upon, and I know it’s all a part of God’s sovereign plan!  The deep loneliness I had felt is being filled with amazing friends.  I had originally planned to name many specific people who have touched our lives in a very special way.  But there are just too many of you to name, and I do not want to leave anyone out.  So I will just say, “Thank you all.”  Thank you for loving us and for being an example of how to love others.  Thank you for being real with us.  Thank you for laughing with us and for being ready and willing to cry with us when the time comes (as we’ve seen you do with others).  Thank you for helping us with the enormous task of moving this past November (Praise the Lord, we still live close by–only about 7 min. away, and a whopping 2 minutes from the land where the new church building will be built.)  Thank you for checking on us and for noticing if we’re here or not.  Thank you for teaching us God’s Word and for showing us how it really looks to live out the Great Commission. 

Ladies, thank you for being our true friends, for living life with us, and for showing us what it looks like to be Godly women who are genuine, transparent, loving, and fun.  Men, thank you for NOT overlooking us (being that we are a single mom family).  Thank you for having real conversations with us, teaching us, and shepherding us.  Thank you for having jumper cables ready and a plan made to help us get my car started (if needed) before I ever even knew that I had left my lights on during an entire service a couple of weeks ago.  Most importantly, thank you for being the Godly male examples that we so desperately need in our lives right now.   

Betty and Austin, thank you for setting a tone of love and grace among this church family.  Thank you for making our Sunday School class a place of wonder and exploration for the babes in Christ as well as for the mature, a place of refuge and healing for the hurting and broken, and a place of friendship and laughter for us all!!  I look forward to that hour all week long!!

To those who are directly teaching/shepherding/mentoring/loving/spending time with Kamerin (some of you are teens, some are much older), my cup runneth over with gratitude for you.  Every single time I see or hear about conversations, Sunday School or youth group lessons, activities, etc. which she has been blessed to be a part of, I could just burst with happiness knowing that you all are enveloping her in God’s love.  There is just nothing better.  Thank you all. 

Also, thank you for making my oldest daughter, Alaini, feel so loved and welcomed whenever she is home from college and is able to come to church with us!  That means more to me than you will ever know.  She will be moving to Augusta, Ga. In the fall to begin nursing school.  Please pray that she will become connected with a solid Bible believing church in Augusta and that God will lead, guide, protect, and bless her.  

So here we are:  we’re diving in and I can think of no greater joy than to partner with you all in this ministry.  I ask you to pray for us and hold us accountable, as we will do for you as well.    God bless you all.  

Rescued by His Amazing Grace,

Kami Richardson

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