When we moved to the new building, we were well aware that our work must not cease but increase with our new opportunities. And so it has. Our time in the new facility has brought new opportunities and new challenges. We have had our difficulties, but we have also seen growth and maturity in other areas. We have had a busy Spring, and the Summer is already full of plans for spiritual work and progress. Here’s a summary to keep you abreast of what’s coming:

The first week in June: Three of our preachers will be away. Brother Bowman will be preaching in a lectureship in Coppell, TX where Chuck and Wilna Durham are working. Bubba and Melissa Garner will be counselors and teachers at Dry Creek Camp, along with Bunny Balmer and Denise Cambell. Many of our young people will be in attendance there. Jason and Jennifer Moore will be in a meeting in Pagosa Springs, CO. Brother Dan Chaney will be taking care of the work here at home.

June 21-24: The Twentieth Annual Southside Lectures will feature the theme “How Great Thou Art!” The lectures are always a major source of enthusiasm and growth for our congregation. This series promises to be no different. Four capable gospel preachers, qualified by their character, their talent and love for the Book, will speak in this year’s program: Russ Bowman of Beaumont, TX, Thaxter Dickey of Temple Terrace, FL, Robert Harkrider of Orlando, FL, and Bob Owen of Temple Terrace, FL. R.J. Stevens will be back for the twentieth year to lead us in our congregational singing.

July 1, 8, 16: A weekly series of Summer Studies for young people will be conducted at 7 PM on each of these dates. “How Shall The Young?” will address timely themes for our teenagers (grades 7-12 especially), but all who are interested may attend. All of our preachers will be involved in planning and teaching these sessions, and Brother John Kilgore has been invited to lead a period of congregational singing each night. The series promises to be as successful and certainly as needed as the spring series on marriage.

July 9-23: Bubba and Melissa Garner, along with Dan Chaney will be spending these two weeks teaching the gospel in Jamaica. David and Flora Tant take a group of preachers and teachers every summer to this island in the Caribbean to conduct Bible classes for young people, teach Bible studies with both saints and prospects, and preach gospel meetings or street corner services during the evenings. Brother and Sister Bowman will also be gone during part of this period for the annual lectureship on which Dee speaks in Lakeland, FL.

July 30-August 7: Wilson Usrey, Bill Lowe, Giles Baker, Bubba Garner, and Jason Moore will be traveling to Timmins, Ontario in Canada. A small, young, but growing congregation meets in this city of northern Ontario. Bubba and Jason will be preaching a gospel meeting for the church there. The brethren were especially excited about the prospect of visiting and studying with some of our elders and men who are experienced, older Christians like Brother Baker. Most of the brethren there have never met an elder in the Lord’s church. The week promises to be an encouraging one for them and for the brethren from Southside.

August 1-13: Dee and Norma will be away in gospel meetings. The first week will be spent in Madison, AL and the second in Fayatteville, TN.

TBA Fall of 1999: A weekend gospel meeting is being planned for sometime this Fall. The lessons will be evangelistic in nature and will provide an opportunity for our people to invite friends and acquaintances interested in hearing the good news. Plans are being made to secure the services of Brother Dee Bowman of Pasadena, TX to preach this important series of lessons. Details will be available later.

It will be a busy summer. Pray for our evangelists and elders. Thank the Lord for our opportunities. Make yourself available to assist in our collective efforts. Spend yourself in the areas where the Lord equips you with the talent and resources to work. Plan to encourage and contribute to our efforts to edify this local body and to save the lost. And look out for the Devil who is always working a counter maneuver to blunt the efforts of the Lord’s people. Don’t give him a place.