If you have read or watched the news this week, you have seen where the California courts ruled against the people’s vote and declared gay marriage constitutional.

This fall in Florida this issue will be on the ballot as a constitutional amendment. Florida citizens worked hard to gather signatures to get the item on the ballot. Now we need to vote for marriage being defined as between one man and one woman. That should settle the issue in the Sunshine State. Arguments abounded earlier this year about Florida votes counting or not counting in the presidential primary. Rest assured that your vote counts this fall on the Marriage Amendment and make sure you participate.

It has been confirmed that my dear friend, Forrest Pollock, and his 13-year-old son, Preston, have been found dead from the result of a plane crash yesterday. Baptist Press has the full report.

Please keep his wife, Dawn, and the other five children in your prayers.

Pastor Ted Traylor

Saturday was a big day for our family. Bennett graduated from the University of Mobile. We sat a long way from the stage. As over 400 graduates walked in everyone was looking for theirs. While I could not see his face, I knew my son’s gait as soon as he appeared in the long line. Funny how we know our own. Jesus says He knows His sheep and they hear His voice. In that same manner I recognized my son. Liz and I are proud of him. Now it is on to the next phase for him. I ask you to pray for Bennett as he makes this transition. Paying for your own gas is a shock to grads that have been using Dad’s card!

Sunday was a big day for our family. My parents were in town for graduation and Mother’s Day. It was delightful to have them with us. Mom and I rarely get to be together on this special day. I am most always preaching and she and Dad are active in their own church. Thank you, church family, for loving my parents and making them feel at home at Olive.

Sunday afternoon was also good for our family. We received and accepted an offer on our house. In today’s market we are excited to get this deal done. It looks to be very solid. The move will make for a busy spring and summer.

This morning there is grave concern at the Bell Shoals Baptist Church in the Tampa area. Pastor Forrest Pollock was flying a private plane to Texas with his son, Preston. They were to arrive at 4 p.m. but have not been heard from as of 7 a.m. this morning. I ask you to pray for this sister church and Dawn Pollock. I am asking the Father to give us a miracle in my friend’s life.

Pastor Ted Traylor

For several months I have been concerned about the election of the next president of the SBC. During the past three weeks, the burden has been building. Last night at 3 a.m. I was awakened and stirred in my spirit. I walked upstairs to my computer and started constructing a nomination speech for Dr. Johnny Hunt. It became apparent to me I was to give this nomination for Brother Johnny in Indianapolis in June. At 11 a.m.  today I spoke to Dr. Hunt. I did not tell him of my early morning encounter. But in that conversation my name was added to a list to be considered to make the nomination. I then said I was ready and asked for the honor of presenting my friend to the convention.

Dr. Johnny Hunt

 
Just three weeks ago, Dr. Hunt was dead to the idea of being a nominee. However, God did a fresh work in him. I saw it in his eyes a few days ago in Orlando. The Holy Spirit has since fanned the spark into a flame and he now feels called to be nominated. I can say with that same conviction that I feel called to nominate him.
 
The 2008 convention election is about the future of the SBC. Our future demands we strive to reach the nations. That is the heart of Johnny Hunt. Our future is about being united – not divided. Our times demand a leader who can forge a hopeful future centered around the Gospel and connected to the churches. Dr. Hunt is a great churchman who is equipped to do the job. Our future requires we connect with and inspire young leaders to be a part of the SBC. No pastor I know has a greater impact on more young preachers and church leaders than Dr. Hunt. His Timothy Barnabas Conferences instill hope in thousands of young men.
 
I ask you to pray for the SBC meeting. It is just five weeks away.

Pastor Ted Traylor

The Ministry Village Commitment Sunday was a big success. After the cards came in our counting team went to work. The preliminary total of pledges and cash came to $1.5 million. The goal for the first year is $2 million. So we are well on the way to making the first phase a reality. Thank you, church family, for a marvelous faith response. Commitments and checks are continuing to arrive at the office. It is not too late for everyone to get onboard.

On Sunday evening we enjoyed glorious weather for the ice cream fellowship and prayer walk. I was elated to see families out on the grounds having fun in the bounce houses, talking to friends and asking God for His favor on the Ministry Village. Sharon Parrish was my coordinator for the event. Many of our staff team and an army of volunteers made the evening possible. Thanks to all who helped pull off the event. Yes, we are going to have some more nights like this!

To effectively touch our culture we must endeavor to grow new ministry opportunities like our own Ministry Village. Baptists must continue to lay up treasures in heaven by continually investing in people going there. The two accounts to which we must make deposits are our “gospel” account and our “good works” account. We cannot attempt to allocate all our resources to one or the other. Balance is a crucial link. I look forward to the future at Olive.

In order to accomplish our vision walk more funding will be required. Olive is a generous people. However, to do what we envision will necessitate a large infusion of money. I was pleased to announce last Sunday evening that at the end of this month Sheila Reed will be coming on our team as our Fund Development Director. Pray for her as she becomes involved through entrepreneurial means of facilitating the raising of money for the Ministry Village.

For several weeks many of the church family members at Olive have been praying with me about being nominated as a candidate for the president of the Southern Baptist Convention. It has become apparent to me in the past couple of weeks that now is not the time for me to pursue this role. Do pray for the SBC. These are critical days and we must have the right leader elected to take us into the future. 

Pastor Ted Traylor                                         

This week in Baptist Press Trevin Wax wrote an article about finger-pointing in the SBC. His idea revolved around the new statistics in Baptist life seemingly indicating that our membership as a denomination has declined. Baptismal numbers have been on a slide for a few years. Now our membership numbers are showing a dip. Some have said that our fat rolls are being purged by some and that has led to decline. No one for certain knows all the reasons for this current downturn. Obviously we are not in good health as a denomination. Trevin warned that we should not point fingers at others as we search for the cure to the decline. Rather he called us to love one another and build our lives around Jesus and the Gospel.
 
Trevin is currently the Minister of Education at FBC Shelbyville, TN. I first met this young man in Romania where he was a student at Emanuel University. When I spoke at the graduation there three years ago Trevin was the valedictorian of the class. He is a native of Tennessee. While in Romania he met and married his wife. He speaks the language fluently. I have encouraged him to return and teach if the opportunity presents itself.
 
What encouraged me about Trevin’s article is simply that he wrote it. Here is a young man who is burdened about his denomination. There are young men with whom I speak who say they have no place at the SBC table. Neither does Wax. Still he is getting involved by leading in his church and using his pen to state his convictions. Thank God for a young man who is stepping up to the plate. Some believe that the coming generation will walk off from the SBC and leave it to die. While that could happen I am optimistic when I see young men like Trevin with the desire to be involved with the issues right now.
 
I was once a young pastor with no seat at the SBC table. Now I am 54 and see the issues outlined in the finger-pointing article by another young man. Baptists really do not have a table or chairs. Instead we have a field for world mission in which we all must be vigorously active. With intentional cooperation we must link together in our denomination. If one young or old wants to be involved in the SBC he should get out of his chair and go to work for the Gospel. 
 
At Olive we have a large group of young adults who must be trained and turned loose with the Gospel. Praise the Lord for the coming generation! Excitement fills my soul as I see them live the Gospel.

This Sunday at Olive is our Ministry Village Commitment Sunday. The under-30 crowd is with us. What we do Sunday will pour a foundation for ministry for years to come.

This is not the time to point fingers. Hand-in-hand let’s all work for the Gospel until Jesus comes.

Pastor Ted Traylor

On Monday I was the speaker for the chapel service at the Florida Baptist College in Graceville. I am always delighted to be on that campus. The students energize me as I see their zeal for Jesus. My message from the sixth chapter of Matthew dealt with a challenge to these students to always be kingdom seekers. I sought to compel them to remember to constantly lay up treasures in heaven by investing in those going there. I illustrated with our Ministry Village commitment. The coming generation in the church seems poised to be Gospel-tellers and doers of good works. I like what I see. Our local churches need to provide venues and settings for the future infusion of new and vital ministry and evangelism opportunities as other younger believers join in to bolster and expand our kingdom work.

Today’s online devotional from the ministry of Rave Zacharius Ministries spoke to this issue. Margaret Manning wrote about ministry to the least of these from Matthew, chapter 25. She asked what hunger, poverty, illness and despair have to do with righteousness. “What do they have to do with Jesus?” she asked. She then wrote this line, “They are the vehicles for a revelatory encounter with Jesus, unto whom we minister through acts of mercy, kindness and justice.” Her expressions are what I have been trying to say to all of us at Olive for several months now.

This Sunday, May 4, we will bring our commitments for the monetary support of the Ministry Village. Then in months and years to come we will have opportunity to work in the Village. We must constantly display hand-in-hand good works and the Gospel as we strive to touch people and meet their needs. I ask you to pray that May 4 will be marked as a “miracle day” as we step up to the plate.  

During the month of April we have seen the wind of God’s favor blow upon our church. Our total baptisms for this month were just under 100. God is at work. Keep telling the story of Jesus and showing His kindness. It is working.

Pastor Ted Traylor