Smyrna Baptist Church

As a pastor you always want to be the guy (or girl) that follows the guy that followed "The Man".

It kills me that churches want someone good to stay for a long time, yet the long stay is often the thing the church has a hard time overcoming. We humans are indeed a very strange bunch!

 

Actually I don't think it is the 'long stay' that hurts. Usually the problem is one or two of three things- 1. that the pastor has not prepared the church for his exit, 2. the pastor never leaves the church and everyone that comes after has to compete, 3. the members of the church were in love with the pastor more than with the Lord. I have known a few churches that have changed pastors with nary a blip. Usually it was because the pastor prepared the church aforehand for his exit and then (assuming he was retiring) he left the church so as not to invite comparison.

If their web page is any indication, Smyrna may suffer from problem #3. But I truly hope that I am wrong and that they find a man of God who they can follow and serve with. I won't be applying.:laugh:

 

I want to offer an apology to Smyrna Baptist Church for my remarks before the link was given. After reviewing the website, I do think they are a great church... I wouldn't agree with them 100% on everything, but hey, we're Baptists!!!! lol We're not supposed to.

If I had family in that area, I would suggest this church for them to attend. And my prayers go out to them that they will receive and accept the man of God that God has prepared to lead them into the future.

Thank you, Tim

 

Thank you Tim.
You are a gentleman. And that is all I was saying all along. Just check 'em out b4 spouting off.

May God bless you and yours this Christmas.

 

Please see www.smyrnabaptist.org
Members: My name is Kenny Thorpe, my family and I have been at Smyrna for a long time. I met my wife at Smyrna, raised my children, taught SS, sing in the choir, ect,ect. I love Smyrna. When I read Bro. Tim Barnharts message, I got a little fired up and sent him a message, but being new, I didn't see page 2 and 3 of the post, where he posted after looking at the site. Anyway Bro. Tim and I are straight now, and I respect him for what he wrote.

Now, for some of the others, can someone please tell me what part of John 3:16 on our site is not KJV?

And, as far as worshiping Pastor Julian.....this is not that kind of a place. We loved Pastor Julian, will always honor his memory, but we are ready to move on. Because of his physical condition, and some other staff changes in the past couple of years, there was no full time staff left to step straight into a leadership role.

This is a great opportunity for a leader to come in to a church with a dedicated group of workers, great facilities and location, no debt, and ready to grow. He will have the opportunity to hire and build his own staff. We are looking for someone to take charge. The Pastor of this church will be THE leader, under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Period. That is why they call us a Fundamental, Independent, Baptist Church.

And who is Fred Phelps? and Sanderson?

Thanks,
kt

 

Here are just a few musings regarding some of the post about Smyrna. It is said that publicity is publicity - good or bad....but overall, I have enjoyed reading the post, and even enjoyed some of the controversy.


Smyrna is a good church, good caring people, and I can assure you that Pastor Julian did a wonderful job caring for the "flock". But he also preached against sin, about repenting, about Hell, and he put forth a warning that is was not where you wanted to go when you died. He preached about heaven, about caring for others, about witnessing for Christ, inviting others to Christ, about standing for what is right, and I could go on and on.

It was my honor the last 3 sermons he preached, to carry his very worn, KJV Bible to the pulpit for him, as he used a walker to get to the podium. Putting the walker aside, he steadied himself on the podium, and preached 3 sermons like he did when he arrived at Smyrna in 1972. The last sermon he preached was on a Wed. pm service. He passed away a week later. Yes, he will be missed, always honored, but rest assured that the folks at Smyrna know who we worship - The Lord Jesus Christ!

It will not be easy for the church to accept a new man. Comparisons by some members is inevitable, but as one who has been at the church for the same period as Pastor Julian, I am ready for God's man to arrive at Smyrna. If we do our job, as a church, identifying the man God would have us choose, then he will be accepted, successful and fruitful.

Just a little explanation about the protest type ministries. The gay/lesbian protest is because of a large gay contingent that comes to our city once a year at Memorial Day. They have the support of the media, the local government, and many businesses - because they spend lots of money. At the height of this movement, there were estimates of 60k gays/lesbians in our city. We preached and held bible signs at the entrance (public property) to the county owned civic center, where the main party is held each year....How would you like to bring your family to Pensacola for a vacation on Memorial Day weekend and find this mess?
We have been told that the motels and such warn people when they make reservations, but have not confirmed any of that. How many families have we turned away from our area to receive the homosexual crowd? We have had appx 300 people at this street meeting vs 6,000 perverts (and they dress the part), and it sometimes gets a little confrontational, but wasn't Christ confrontational when he through the money changers out of the temple?

We also protest a pizza place across the street from our church, once every couple of months. Escambia County has a law that says you cannot sell beer, wine, or liquor within 1000' of a church or school. They are 525 feet from our doors. They received a license by using a lying lawyer named Vince Whibbs, Jr., who has since surrendered his license for "borrowing" money from his clients trust funds. He filed and received a varience for them, without sending the proper letters, and posting the proper signs. He told Pastor Julian "well you know signs do blow over" with a laugh.

We do support other protest, such as one at a local abortion clinic, we have men that attend other street preaching meetings around town, and out of town. We don't dwell just on that, however. We have a bus ministry, bringing in about 75 children whose parents couldn't care less if they exposed to Christ or not. We try to evangelize the kids, and then get in the homes to witness to the parents. We support many missionaries throughout the world. We preach at a local mission for homeless men, we have a nursing home ministry, a shut-in ministry, a deaf ministry, a spanish ministry, and internet radio ministry...all of this continues on, while we search for a new pastor. You can see a list of the ministries of Smyrna on the website.

Anyway, I am looking forward to participating with y'all.....

God Bless,
racer84

 

They missed the boat when they wrote, "It is important to be faithful, pray, give, and serve...but...WITNESSING is God's plan for building His Church. Read: Matthew 28:16-20."

The command is to make disciples not just do evangelism. Evangelism keeps the won at the infant stage. Discipleship matures them to the point where they can feed themselves and others.

 

Thank you racer84... I will send you an email later, but I wanted to explain something here...
This is a link to Fred Phelps' site... I think you will be as appalled as the rest of us...

As for Sanderson, he is a poster here on BB.. Click here to see his profile, follow his links and you will soon understand.
He is a bit fanatical to a lot of us.... even to some IFBs.
He will start a thread, advertise a sermon and post a link to it, then most of the time, will never come back.. He is known here by one of his infamous sermons where he destroyed a TV, and terrified a child while doing it with a sledgehammer...
Stick around, you will meet him.
Oh, BTW, welcome to the board.

And the point about John 3:16 is the fact that your church says it uses the KJV1611... but then quotes John 3:16 out of the KJV1769

That is actually a pet peeve of mine. When a church advertises they use the 1611, they should... why not state that you use the 1769? or just say the KJV

Here is the difference: First from the 1611...
John 3:16
(16) For God so loued ye world, that he gaue his only begotten Sonne: that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.

Now from 1769:
John 3:16
(16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

As you can see there is just the spelling differences, but to advertise it is the 1611, is a bit misleading. I think that is what they were refering to.

Again, welcome aboard... :godisgood:

 

racer84,

Great to meet you! Your response to this thread was gracious and well thought out. Your description of carrying your preacher's Bible to the podium for him was very touching. Im praying for your church to find another great preacher.

I agree with Tinytim, and will suggest your church to anyone I know in the area.

Have a merry Christmas!

 

You did post this in a debate forum...
And while yes this is a fundamental forum, you are correct that there are different types...

I believe in the fundamentals, I would die for them, but I think that some IFBs have added things that are not fundamental. Therefore, I would identify myself with the old fundamentalists of yesteryear.

To be a fundamentalist, you must base all your beliefs in the Bible.
There are some that base their beliefs in their preferences and not the Bible... Ex. KJVO, Anti-CCM, Women and pants, No TVS, etc.

But you are right, I for one should have kept my mouth shut.
That is why I apologized.

 

Hey, being a good ole IFB, I love a good fight and I appreciate most of the debate. Maverick, you were being helpful, and I thank you. Bro. Tim and I are straight, and that is a good thing, and many of the post have been encouraging and fun to read.

When I figure out how to put some of the messages preached at Smyrna on the site for downloading, I'll let y'all know......

That should be a lot of fun, 'cause we've had some barn-burners over the years.

Here are some of my favorites in addition to Dr. Roy Julian,

Evangelist and Pastors like Billy Kelly, Jack Hyles, Lee Roberson, Jim Delashmit, Lester Roloff, Mark Cambron, Jason Kendrick, Jason Strickland, Tim Lacoste, David Restucher, Tony Hudson, Jack Parchman, Phil Kidd, Joe Arthur, Stacy Pearcy, and missionaries like Eric Chapman, Bill Haag, and Doyle Roberts.

God Bless and Merry Christmas

 

I fear the real problem for this church is that what they really want is their old pastor, so they constructed a job description that only he could fill.

 

I remember growing up we lost a pastor from a Heart attack... He was only around 40. That church had the hardest time finding a new pastor. When a church loves their pastor as much as we did then, and apparently as much as Smyrna did, it will be hard.

But I am convinced that the new pastor will reach some that the old one couldn't... I have seen it over and over.

 

JD you are too funny...I am sure God has elected the man he would have our church to have, and it is our job to find him. In you world of predestination, it wouldn't matter anyhow, would it?

 

I failed to mention a great missionary member of our church. Susan Edge is a missionary/nurse to Banladesh. She was raised at Smyrna and we are very proud of her.

 

If you would like to hear good IFB preaching, check out the Internet Radio Station at www.smyrnabaptist.org - a mission of our church.

 

Does that mean that you believe that God has not elected someone to lead your church?

 

Ok, once more with feeling.....

In reality, I think called would be a better word that "elect". Would you consider yourself a hyper-calvinist?

 

Sorry, I thought you were being sarcastic. We negative thinkers always assume the worst in people.

Called is a better word. Although technically elect would work.

But what's up with that comment about predestination? Does that mean it bothers you that God has predestinated all things that come to pass, even to the calling of your pastor?