June 2000

Greetings in the Name that is above every name, even Jesus Christ.

God has granted us 135 YEARS OF BLESSING!  We are truly blessed by the faithful work of those faithful followers of Christ who have labored hard and long for the Master.

 “Wherefore seeing we are compassed about us with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set forth before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.”   Hebrews 12:1,2a 

One hundred and thirty five years ago, a small group of people gathered together to form a Baptist Church in Vineland, NJ.  Little did they realize how their decision would affect the lives of each of us today, and countless others in the years that have passed since that time.  Today they have taken their places in that great cloud of witnesses gathered around us, and are joining us in rejoicing at this anniversary of God’s work.

We can but praise God at this 135^th Anniversary time for their foresight and obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit in founding this work that we pray shall continue until Jesus returns.

It is our responsibility, as members of the great fellowship of the Redeemed, to take our place in the work of God today, that in the generations to come, if the Lord should tarry, and our church should observe other milestones and anniversaries.  May the future church take great pride and be eternally thankful for the work done by the faithful members and friends down through the ages.

At the time of this celebration, we are reminded to “Lay aside every weight” also “every sin” that would beset us and run the race with patience.  We are encouraged in the race of life today.  The way we run, the successes we have, may be determining the course of our Church in future generations.  For just as those, the founders and leaders of the past years have been ushered into Eternity, so we every day have one day less of service to give for the Master.  The old saying is so true today:  “Only one live twill soon be past, only what’s done of Christ will last.”

Let us pray and labor that this year and the years to come may be years of rich blessing, that First Baptist may continue to grow in grace, in knowledge and in members that it might effectually serve Christ in our community until the day of Christ’s return.

Pastor Bob