Thank you for praying. I mentioned in church a few days ago we really needed the IRS to act on our request for 501c3 status for the Ministry Village. The paperwork came back this week giving us approval. Praise the Lord! Our Fund Development Director can begin to solicit more aggressively since our purse is now open. Continue to ask God to give us favor with donors outside the Olive family. We have much to do. This step excites me. I believe God will open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings we cannot even begin to understand. The world will look and say, “It is the Lord who has done this.”

Don’t forget the time change comes this weekend. This is the good one as we fall back and get and extra hour on Saturday evening. Be on time for church. Come prayed up and ready for a wonderful day.

We are now in the final push for the November election. Come Wednesday we will have new leaders selected. If you have not voted early make sure you are a part of the process. Every vote is important.

Today is October 31 and for most people Halloween comes to mind. But Christian history records that on this day in 1517 Martin Luther released his 95 Theses. His writing was the spark of the Protestant Reformation. Luther challenged the Pope on his sale of indulgences. The church was seeking to raise money to build St. Peter’s Church in Rome. Luther was resistant to this concept. He stood to say Christ alone could forgive sin and no man could find forgiveness through what he gave to the church. As you go about your October 31, be thankful for a man that stood for truth years ago. Every generation needs a Luther.

Pastor Ted Traylor

Last night I had the pleasure of preaching at First Baptist Church of Chipley, Florida. Pastor Mike Orr is doing an outstanding job leading that congregation. They are in two morning worship services and looking at a third. They average over 600. On Monday night the building was comfortably full. One young boy was saved and a warm spirit of renewal filled the place. Our former members, Roland and Judy Whittington, are members there now and were in the service. They are not well but God gave them grace to join us Monday night, Amen!

The deacons pulled one on me Sunday morning. I was getting ready for the offering and this weird music started. I then looked up and here comes Jerry Wood riding down the center aisle on a John Deere lawn tractor. It was the last week of Pastor Appreciation Month and they had a gift for me. With all the grass I have to cut at the new house I can surely use it. Thank you, church family and deacons, for being a great family of faith. I am rarely surprised but I was on Sunday morning.

One week from today we will go to the polls and elect new leaders for America. We need revival. Be praying. Be involved. Be at the polls. I submitted a letter to the editor to the Pensacola News Journal about the Marriage Amendment Act. I hope it makes it to print in the next few days. Vote YES on TWO!

Pastor Ted Traylor

It is good to be home from my preaching assignments in Ridgecrest and North Alabama. It was a pleasure to have a group of 18 Olive members at both of the meetings. These were great days.

Saturday is a big day with our 5K Run and Fall Festival. I look forward to meeting many of the visiting families as well as a host of our own children. I encourage you to drop by for a visit.

We are just a 12 days away from our national election. A few days ago Colin Powell endorsed Barak Obama. In his remarks he waded into theological waters speaking about the Muslim/Christian issue. He asked a rhetorical question regarding the dream of a 7-year-old Muslim-American (those were his words) boy or girl wanting to grow up to become President of America. He asked what is wrong with that. While a dream of any child is a good thing, the larger question is one that needs to be explored. Could a member of the Islamic faith be elected President of the US? In Muslim countries the Sharia law is based upon the Koran. There is certainly no separation of church and state. Sharia is the totality of religious, political, domestic and private life. This religious law rules the day.

Would Americans vote for someone who wanted Islamic law to be implemented in America? I think not. General Powell has his rights to criticize and endorse as he deems wise. In an Islamic state he would not have such liberty.

Pastor Ted Traylor

I am here for two days along with 700 senior adults for the 55+ Fall Celebration. We had a wonderful start last night. It is cold this morning but the crisp mountain air feels great! It is a joy to be back here.

We have 18 from Olive who are attending the conference. Kim Waters is a fantastic leader in our 65+ ministry. Every Southern Baptist should visit one of our conference centers. They are top shelf.

While at the Alabama Ole Miss game on Saturday, I ran into Thom Rainer and his son, Jess. We were on the sidelines before the game getting a closer look at the players warming up. Those guys are enormous. The Ole Miss line is mammoth. Dr. Rainer is the president of LifeWay and a graduate of Alabama. His son is currently a student at Southeastern Seminary. It was a pleasure to be with them.

Have a great day. I am off to have a fun day of ministry with senior adults in the mountains.

Pastor Ted Traylor

Tonight will be an extraordinary evening at Olive. The PANORAMA presentation will be a worship experience the church and community will long remember. Don’t miss it. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m.

For a long time October has been designated as Pastor Appreciation Month. Each year during these days I receive many cards with heartwarming personal notes. This year was no different. One of those came from Forest and Shirley McKinney. Then just two days ago word came that Forest had passed away. He had been sick for a long time. The McKinneys have been faithful at Olive for many years. When these circumstances occur these cards take on even more special meaning.

Thank you for allowing me to be your pastor. During October, I encourage you to say a word of thanks to any of the Olive staff team members who have been a blessing in your life. Our team is filled with remarkable people.

Pastor Ted Traylor

The first grade class at Creative Arts Charter School in San Francisco recently took a field trip. Many classes do this. However, this one was a little different. Their teacher, Erin Carder, was getting married to her partner, Kerri McCoy. The city mayor, Gavin Newsom, was officiating. School officials approved the trip to the lesbian wedding by calling it a teachable moment. This is what happens in a state where gay marriage is sanctioned by Supreme Court judges. It has happened in California and also just recently Connecticut.

Teachable moments are important for first graders. The pro gay agenda is to teach children early that gay marriage is acceptable.

Amendment 2 on the Florida ballot in November seeks to define marriage in Florida as being only between a man and a woman. This is a needed wall of protection from Supreme Court judges in our state who may try to legislate from the bench. I am voting YES on TWO and urge you to do the same.

Pastor Ted Traylor

Today is a big day at our house. Liz has a birthday today. Please pray for her. Moving into our new home has been great but tiring for her. She has worked hard to get the new place in living order. I am so proud of what she has done. Many cards have arrived in her mailbox. I am grateful that you honor the pastor’s wife at Olive. Our pastor would be in a mess without Liz!!!

Get ready for the ad campaign to come at you. The opponents of Amendment 2 are well funded. The case is going to be made that we do not need to amend the Florida Constitution with the Marriage Protection Amendment. But court cases in other states tell us we must do this to insure that marriage in Florida is defined as being only between a man and a woman. I encourage you to vote YES on TWO!

Pastor Ted Traylor

Good morning from New Orleans. I am here for the North American Mission Board meeting. Last night we commissioned 106 missionaries. One of those was Gail Powell from Olive. She currently serves in Cleveland with our church plant. Church of the Hills is led by Pastor Randy Chestnut. Gail has been there many months already serving as the prayer and assimilation coordinator. Pray for Gail and the church. I was glad to get a picture with Gail and NAMB Board President Tim Patterson.

Remember that every member at Olive is to be a missionary. A missionary is a person who, in response to God’s call and gifting, leaves his or her comfort zone and crosses cultural, geographic or other barriers to proclaim the Gospel and live out a Christian witness in obedience to the Great Commission.

On Saturday afternoon Rachel and I had a fun time at the Alabama/Kentucky football game. We had the joy of spending the day with Stan and Kristin Lewis.

I will return from New Orleans shortly. Look forward to seeing you in town this week as we all pray for the people on our 316 cards and reach out to them as missionaries.

Pastor Ted Traylor

Team is very important. At Olive I have been blessed to have great staff members. This week we were on retreat for our annual planning time. These are always good days as we look at the future, pray together and brainstorm.

Time is also built in for a little team building fun. On Wednesday we took time to race go-carts at Sam’s Fun City. It was wild as the true competitive nature of some came to the surface – that excluded me of course.

I ask that you pray for the Olive staff. These people do great work. Some of the things they do would surprise you. It surprised me as I learned of the ministry they are involved in that has gone by me. Thank God for our team.

Pastor Ted Traylor