My Beloved,
 
Nehemiah knew what it was to desire a homecoming.  As we press toward our 87^th Homecoming let us hold on to the Holy Spirit that indwelled Nehemiah. Nehemiah was the captive cupbearer of King.  Israel had been carried away captive for 70 years just like Jeremiah prophesied.  Now, the Israelites are returning when Nehemiah is blessed with a burden to rebuild the wall.  And I believe there were some Unionites who were blessed with burden to build when they founded this church.  Unionites were blessed with a burden to build a place of worship.  Unionites were blessed with a burden to see souls saved.  Unionites were blessed with a burden to see Saints live sanctified lives.  There were some Nehemiah’s here at Union, who were blessed with burden to build.  
 
I’m not fooled or foolish enough to believe there were no haters in the midst Union’s founding. I know there were some Sandblots’ and Tobiahs’ here when this church was established.  And if the truth be told when the church is burdened to build, the Devil will set out to destroy.  The Bible says, “the thief comes but to kill steal and destroy.” But, there were some people, who had a mind to work.  There were some folk who said, I’ve been bound, but I got to get my blessing.  Behind me is burden, but before me blessing. And I won’t look back.  What's behind you is unchangeable, but what's ahead of you is transformable!  I WON'T LOOK BACK! My life is moving forward with or without you. .... get right or get left! I WON'T LOOK BACK! What's behind you is your history, what's ahead of you is your destiny!  I WON'T LOOK BACK! It hurts my neck!  I WON'T LOOK BACK! Church, God is calling you forward and toward Him!  “I press toward the mark of the High calling in Christ Jesus.”  
 
Sincerely yours and securely His,
Pastor Darryl K. Fields  
 

My Beloved,

 

The woman at the well is a familiar passage of scripture. It is in this passage that we can learn much from Jesus evangelistic example.  There is connection, conviction and change in this account. John 4:28 says, “The woman then left her waterpot.”  Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Evangelism is the communication of the gospel (the euaggelion) message that includes a warning, an explanation, and a call.  The English word “evangelism” comes from the Greek word euaggelion or gospel. The Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon said of evangelism, “Let eloquence be flung to the dogs rather than souls be lost. What we want is to win souls. They are not won by flowery speeches.” God has called Christians to “Winning Souls As Wise Waterpots.”

 

I need to tell you, you are a water pot.  The question is “Are you wise water pot or unwise water pot?”  All of us are carrying something!  Some of us carry the gospel and others carry gossip, but we all of us are carrying something.  Some of us are carrying blessings and others are caring cursings. But, all of us are carrying something.  What are you carrying in that water pot that world calls a body?

 

The Bible is fully of verses that compare our bodies to vessels, pots, or containers. Our bodies were intended to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  The Message Bible says, “In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.” (2 Timothy 2:20-21) Jesus is calling every believer to a life filled spiritual living water.  Jesus is calling us to “Win Souls as Wise Waterpots.”

 

Sincerely yours and securely His,

Pastor Darryl K. Fields  

My Beloved,

As I prepared for Bible Study, I stumbled across several of passages of scripture in Nehemiah Chapter 3 that demonstrate the necessity of holiness in our homes. The chapter is easily overlooked as it contains fifty names of people who put their hand to the rebuilding work of the wall. Their names seem beyond pronunciation at times, but upon further study the chapter is profound. I say this because of four verses (10, 23, 29, 30) that sanctify our homes as holy. Five times in Nehemiah 3, it speaks of people who worked on the section of wall right in front of their own homes. And if holiness is to be rebuilt it must be done, if anywhere in our homes. Jedaiah (v. 10) rebuilt the wall near his house and his name means, "He who calls on the Lord." Jedaiah prayed in his home. Benjamin (v. 23) built, but his name means, "Son of my right hand" speaking of the protection and peace God provides to our homes. Zadok's (v. 29) name means justice. Our homes should be places of justice and integrity, especially integrity in keeping marital vows. Meshullam (v. 30) means devoted. Our homes should be places of devotion and sanctification unto the Savior.

If we truly desire to rebuild the African-American family and rejuvenate righteousness in our homes, we must pray, protect, keep the peace, hold fast to our marital promises while making our homes places of devotion to the Lord. Don't wait on the teacher or the preacher to teach these principles at church or even at school, let the rebuilding work begin in the home. Nehemiah 4:6 says, "...for the people had a mind to work."
We got work to do, Saints.

Sincerely yours and securely His,
Pastor Darryl K. Fields  

My Beloved,

 

John the Baptist is a great example of the humility that God honors.  It was John the Baptist who said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)  Warren Weirsbe tells this story to illustrate the importance of humility:

 

 A Presbyterian pastor in Melbourne, Australia introduced J. Hudson Taylor by using many superlatives, especially the word great. Taylor stepped to the pulpit and quietly said, “Dear friends, I am the little servant of an illustrious Master.” If John the Baptist in heaven heard that statement, he must have shouted “Hallelujah!”

 

Stay small enough long enough for God to make you big enough soon enough! Union remember James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 

 

Sincerely yours and Securely His,

Pastor Darryl K. Fields

My Beloved,

 

We are fast approaching Union’s 87th Church Anniversary.  We are excited that we have come this far by faith.  Faith and not fear has sustained Union over the years.  Thereby, we are excited to lift up the Lord as we celebrate our theme, “Faithfully Focused on the Author and Finisher.”  Our scripture basis is Hebrews 12:1-2.

 

We are greatly encouraged that Pastor Ray Douglas has agreed to bring the gospel message. The Mount Olive Baptist Church Choir will also be lifting the Lord in song.  The celebration will begin on November 10, 2013 at 3:30PM.

 

The song declares we have come this far by faith!  Leaning on the Lord!  Trusting in His Holy Word.  He’s never failed us, yet.  Oh, I can’t turn around.  We’ve come to far by faith.  

 

Union, we are at the finish.  We are very close to finishing the payments on mortgage on the remodel of our church.  Our goal is to be done on  or before November 1, 2013.  Then we will be prepared to pursue our mortgage burning on our 87th Homecoming and Church Anniversary.  I know you’re asking what can I do. Get this, you can give sacrificially knowing you can’t beat God giving.  God is faithful.

 

Sincerely yours and Securely His,

Pastor Darryl K. Fields

My Beloved,

 

Nehemiah asked the Lord to lead the rebuilding of the wall.  And any good leader knows we need the Lord to lead.  Perhaps that’s why the song writer declared, “LEAD ME, GUIDE ME, ALONG THE WAY; FOR IF YOU LEAD ME I CANNOT NOT STRAY; LORD LET ME WALK, EACH DAY WITH THEE; LEAD ME OH LORD LEAD ME…”  And when the Lord’s leading resistance won’t ruin you.  When the Lord’s leading strong opposition won’t stifle you.  When the Lord is leading you can know you’re doing a great work.  When the Lord is leading you can stand like Nehemiah and boldly proclaim, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down…” (Nehemiah 6:3)  Some of us just need to have a Nehemiah spirit and say, “I can’t come down.”  You got to categorize God’s work as great and tell the world, “I can’t come down.”  When the Sandballot’s and Tobiah’s in your life try to stop your work on the wall tell them, “I can’t come down.”  You have got to know some people who won’t do a “come up,” want you to “come down.”  When the Lord is leading you can tell some people you used to lay down with, “I can’t come down.”  You’ll tell them same people you used get high with, “I serve the Most High God now and I can’t come down.”  Don’t let one negative comment move you to come down.  Nehemiah understood I can’t worry about some negative folks because, “I can’t come down.”  You can keep your criticizing, but I can’t come down!  The Lord just lead a remold at Union and “I can’t come down!”  We just baptized three this morning and I can’t come down.  Tell the world, people are growing in Christ and “I can’t come down.”

 

Sincerely yours and Securely His,

Pastor Darryl K. Fields

My Beloved Union,
  
We serve a merciful, magnificent, and matchless master, Jesus the Christ!  I have tried Him and searched Him for myself.  I have yet to find a singular fault in Him!  God is Good!   
   
The Lord has promised to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ. (Phil. 4:19) He is faithful to His Word.  Union we have prayed for laborers and God continues to send them into His fields.  We are grateful for the three (3) souls that were saved this past Sunday.  Union has reason to praise, as did the early church.  The bible declares, "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47)  Jesus is still in the saving business.  Now, let's us model Christian character, conduct and conversation before our new believers as we disciple them in the way of Jesus Christ.  I find no fault in Him!
Sincerely yours and Securely His,
 
Pastor Fields