The Task Before Us By Dr. Bill Lewis

Written for the February 2005

Georgia State Association of FWB Promotional Bulletin

In Nehemiah chapter 2 beginning in verse 11 you find the account of Nehemiah’s first step in rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. Nehemiah went out by night and inspected the broken down walls and burned gates. This damage assessment occurred just three days after his arrival in Jerusalem. What Nehemiah found was a city in great desolation without a way of defending itself; however, the desolate picture neither destroyed his hopes nor his determination to do the will of God. Nehemiah used the bleak site as a rallying point for those living in Jerusalem. In verse 17, he said to the inhabitants, “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach.”

The first month in Valdosta has been a month of inspection. What we have found is a church with great needs; however, we have also found a remnant of God’s people dedicated to serving God. Even though many needs exist; like Nehemiah, we will not allow the bleak picture to destroy our hopes or determination to do the will of God.

God has brought us to a land of great opportunity. The community is growing at a rapid pace and the need for a strong, viable Free Will Baptist church has never been greater. This is a time to look forward to God’s blessings not to dwell on men’s past failures.

To begin the rebuilding process, a new name has been chosen for the ministry work in Valdosta. The name is Open Door Fellowship, A Free Will Baptist Congregation. The new name is one that sets forth the mission of this work to evangelize and make disciples of any and all in the community who seek God’s grace. The emphasis will be to win the hearts of men and women, boys and girls, for Christ and to teach them that they might grow in wisdom and knowledge about the Lord.

To accomplish this, we at Open Door Fellowship desire your prayers. We need you to encourage those you know in this area to attend our services. We especially need young couples to help develop a ministry to youth and young adults. Just as Nehemiah appealed to the remnant in Jerusalem, we also appeal to Free Will Baptist in Georgia, “Come, let us rebuild the wall of the Free Will Baptist Work in Valdosta so that we will no longer be a reproach.”