From The Pastor's Desk

Who Influences You?

2011-12-09T11:08:00.000-06:00

Our dear friends, Roger and Joy Powell

Twenty years ago, as the result of being a part of a conference honoring Charles Finney and his two hundredth birthday, the Lord allowed my path to cross with Roger and Joy Powell. At that time, Roger was the music director for Pastor R.B. Ouelette in Bridgeport, Michigan. Immediately, the Lord knit our hearts and He used Roger to be a strong influence in my life in the area of Biblical music.

Very patiently, Roger taught me that God does provide Biblical principles in the area of music, and he showed me how to apply those principles to the music ministry of the church. I am very grateful for the time and energy that Roger took to influence me in this way.

Who influences you? As a result of the influence that these people provide, do you love the Lord more? Are you more like the Master as a result of this influence? Paul was a great influence in Timothy's life, but he could only have an impact on his life as far as Timothy would let him. As far as my music standards, I was at the point in my life where I wanted to please the Lord in this area, but I didn't have a clue where to go to learn about this. The Lord, in his mercy, brought the Powells into our lives and I am eternally grateful to God for this.

If people are going to influence me, that means I have to be willing to let them identify areas in my life that maybe are not pleasing to God or areas where I may need some direction. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:10-11, "But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. " Paul allowed Timothy to get close enough to him that the young man was able to be infuenced in many areas by the older teacher. We must be willing to let godly people have that kind of an impact in our lives.

I am so grateful for that time twenty years ago when the Lord allowed me to meet Roger and Joy. I am also thankful that, beginning in February, the Powells will be a part of the ministry that is Greater Cumberland Baptist Church. I am praying that the influence Roger has had on my life, he will be able to have on the lives of many people at this church.

Who influences you? I am interested to hear about the people who have had a positive impact in your life.

RWE 2011

2011-10-12T17:43:00.000-05:00

The Nepali Family Conference

2011-08-15T21:45:00.003-05:00

Dr. Prashant, his wife, Susie and Pastor Ken Shaver

No matter where you live, your marriage and your family can be a great blessing to you. No matter in what part of the world you live, the principles of a godly family and marriage are consistent. Currently, I am in Nepal spending time with some American missionaries and trying to be a help to the Nepali people regarding issues of the family.

One of the couples, pictured above, is Dr. Prashant and his wife, Susie. Prasant, a Nepali, got his medical training in the Republic of Georgia, where he met Susie, who is Armenian. After their marriage and finishing medical school, they came back to Nepal where he opened up a private clinic. Because of her homesickness and Russian Orthodox upbringing, Susie talked her husband in to taking her to church. The first church they came to was the one where the American missionaries that I am visiting are doing a work. By God's grace and mercy Both Dr. Prashant and Susie trusted Christ and have grown in their faith by leaps and bounds.

The challenges that Nepali families face are, for the most part, consistent with the challenges that families around the world face. The answers are also found in the same place, the Word of God. For three days, the Scriptures were presented in such a way so that the families could find help that they needed for the problems they encountered. The vast majority of the teaching and preaching was very foundational. We dealt with the very basic issues of the family and everyone's role in it. The response was very, very encouraging. After the services, the believers would gather around and ask questions regarding what was presented. Pray with me that there will be fruit that remains from this time.

The picture that you see above is from a top-shelf video presentation the missionaries are putting together. It presents the life of a young Russian Christian girl who is arrested at the wedding altar for her faith and imprisoned five years before being allowed to go free. Susie play the girl, and Prashant plays the young man she attempted to marry. It is a very moving story on a young woman's strong faith.

Ken Shaver
www.visitgcbc.com

What Commitment for Christ

2011-08-13T19:47:00.000-05:00

Pastor Pradesh is a faithful Nepali and was my translator during the conference.

I have had the distinct pleasure of speaking to a group of Nepali Christians on issues of the home. I have done this as a part of my trip to Kathmandu and villages in Nepal. Prior to their salvation, the people of Nepal have been under a strong Hindu influence. Also, Buddhism, Maoism and demon possession are very strong here. I was introduced to people who had been demon possessed and delivered by God after the Hinduists, witch doctors, and others failed.

There was a great number of people who attended the conference from within Kathmandu. The local missionary here has been doing a wonderful work and the Lord has blessed the work with much fruit. Additionally, there were a very large number of Nepalis who attended from the villages. Some of the people traveled as far as 14 tortuous hours by bus to be a part of this meeting and to hear the preaching and teaching of God's word. Fourteen hours. At our church in Kentucky we have several families that come from over an hour away to be a part of our services, and one family that has been members for almost nine years drives over 90 minutes. But fourteen hours? What a humbling thing it was for me to represent Christ to these dear people. What a challenging thing it is for me to see the commitment of these saints of God. You have to understand, seven of the ten tallest mountains in the world are right here. the winding roads make circuitous routes up and down these mountains. Catastrophic bus crashes over the sides of these mountains are a way of life for the people from the villages. Typically, there are no survivors. And yet, they came for three days to sit on the floor all day long and hear about the unsearchable riches of Christ. They came to find help for their families. They came to be challeged. Yet I was the one who was challenged.

Oh God, help us to be committed to You and to your Son.

Ken Shaver
www.visitgcbc.com

Reaching the World

2011-08-09T23:56:00.000-05:00

Beautiful, Needy Nepal

There is a responsibility on the part of the local church to take the good news of Jesus Christ to the “regions beyond.” It has been the privilege of Greater Cumberland Baptist Church to be the sending church for missionaries to the country of

Nepal

I believe that for the church to fully respond to this task, she must not be satisfied with just sending missionaries. II Timothy 2:2, says, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” Winning souls, baptizing converts, discipling the believer, establishing churches, providing a quality translation of scripture, and establishing a Bible institute to train the next generation of missionaries and pastors; all of these are important parts of what the church should be doing as she sends out missionaries. I am grateful that we are working toward that goal of doing a complete missionary work.

It is a joy for me to be able to go to

Nepal

and see first hand what God is doing there. It is also a great blessing to be able to participate in a family conference while I am there, and to try to present to the Nepali people God’s way for establishing and maintaining a family. Additionally, I will be taking time to explore the country with the intention of seeing what the Lord has for the future of the ministry there.

Pray with me that the Lord would be glorified and would provide us a straight path for the work He would have us do.

Do you agree with the scope of the missions program presented here? Let me know what you think.

Ken Shaver
www.visitgcbc.com

Family Crusade 2011

2011-08-02T05:53:00.002-05:00

We are so grateful for the times when we can concentrate on issues of the family. For the last five years, Greater Cumberland Baptist Church has taken the month of July and dealt with issues pertaining to the home. Using the Scriptures, we have been able to provide direction to families so that they can get the help they need and be what the Lord wants them to be.

This last month, we have dealt with issues like; using the Bible to determine the direction of the home, problems in parenting, Harmony in the Home, Faithfulness in the Family, and other topics that I believe can be a great asset to any family.

This year, we did something we have never done before. Several families joined Robyn and me on our first-ever marriage retreat. I was so pleased by the response to the time together for the husbands and their wives, and I think it was a great source of encouragement to them. The feedback was very positive. We had several sessions for the couples together, and then we presented several times for the men and women separately. We are already making plans to host our next couples retreat in March 2012. Stay tuned for details.

If you are interested in listening to some of the messages, just follow the link and listen online. If you would like all of them, you can order them for a gift of $30.00. Just email me at pastorshaver@visitgcbc.com and we will ship them to you.

Ken Shaver
www.visitgcbc.com

Five Reasons to Come to the Harmony In The Home Marriage Retreat

2011-07-08T10:26:00.000-05:00

Greater Cumberland Baptist Church will be hosting her first-ever marriage retreat July 28-30 in beautiful New Harmony, Indiana, which is nestled on the Wabash River.

I truly believe this event is one of the most important events that we have ever hosted. Let me give you five reasons why you should make plans and attend:

1. It will be a great time to restart your marriage. A twenty-first century marriage is an on-the-go relationship. The demands of life are hard, and it is so important to take time to get back to the basics in your marriage.

2. It will be a refreshing time with your spouse. There will be opportunities for you and your spouse just to enjoy each other's company. Some great games for the couples are planned, and you will have a wonderful time together.

3. The retreat will allow you to reinvigorate your marriage. With the vast majority of couples that I have counseled, the issue is not, 'what is right,' but, 'we know what is right and need some help.' This time together will give you the help needed for doing right in your marriage.

4. You will be able to renew your commitments to each other. Remember when you knew that this was the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with? Remember the feelings you had? The things you did together? Take a few days and renew that commitment.

5. In Harmony, Indiana, you will be able to rebuild your marriage. The Christian life is about getting rid of the old man, and putting on the new man (Eph 4:22-24). At our marriage retreat, we will take time to show you how to do exactly that.

Ken Shaver
www.visitgcbc.com

Reflections of a Father

2011-06-18T21:48:00.001-05:00

The Shaver Family, 2009

Father’s Day is upon us and this is a fitting time for me to reflect on the goodness that God has bestowed on my family. My children are all grown and married; my youngest, Nate, who is twenty-three, this year married a wonderful young lady named Rachel. The majority of time that I had to influence my children is in the past although we all still share very special times when we talk about goals, dreams, challenges, the present and the future. I am very thankful for my family.

There are very special times with my family that I remember. There is also so much for which I am thankful. I am so grateful for the wife that the Lord gave me. I have made a lot of mistakes in my life, but one of the definite successes that I enjoy is my mate of almost thirty years, Robyn. I am fortunate that she shares my goals and desires to serve and please God, even though we both have often failed Him miserably. She has always had a consuming passion to follow Christ and to instill within our children an understanding of their personal responsibility to their creator. She and I share much love, and she has always been quick to forgive me. I am very blessed in the wife God gave me.

In our house, God has always been held in high regard. I am thankful that we taught our children at a very early age to establish a relationship with God. As soon as they could read, we would help them read the Scriptures. If they couldn’t read yet, we would read the Bible to them. Family devotions for the Shaver family were always a very big deal. We would always enjoy singing together, a habit that continues to this day, and would work hard at memorizing passages of the Bible. All of us would read together; either the Word of God, a Christian biography, or some other type of Christian literature like Pilgrims Progress, Hinds Feet on High Places, or something similar.

Not only did we try to give God his rightful place in the home, but we worked hard at serving the Lord in the church as well. As a family, we would visit together, serve in ministry, clean the church; whatever needed to be done. Robyn and I would always try to show a joyful spirit, teaching our children that it is a privilege to serve the Lord. When the Lord brought me to Hopkinsville to start the Greater Cumberland Baptist Church, my family and I went out together knocking on over six thousand doors, and we each had at least one family visit on that first Sunday almost ten years ago. Today we still try to serve God together. Nate leads the singing in the church and teaches Sunday school with his wife. Kendra sings and plays the piano and works alongside her husband in our Wednesday night children’s ministry which he oversees. Jacob and his family are on deputation for Southern Mexico. Rachael plays the piano for the church and helps me organize the music ministry, and works alongside her husband in the discipleship ministry he leads.

The last thing I think about as a father is all the fun times we have had together. Laughter has always come easily in the Shaver house, and if you visited you were absorbed into the family spirit very quickly. We would always play games together, take trips, play some kind of a ball game together, go to the park, or do something that brought smiles to our faces. We always would have a good time when our children were growing up.

Now, my children are all grown and I have six grandchildren with another one coming in September. I pray that my children will overlook the many mistakes I made as a dad, remember some of the good that the Lord allowed us to see, and pass that on to their children.

Happy Father's Day'

Ken Shaver
www.visitgcbc.com

Seed Sowing Society

2011-04-22T18:27:00.000-05:00

What a privilege it is to take the good news of Jesus Christ to our friends and neighbors in the community. A friend of mine recently said that a church is a "seed sowing society". At Greater Cumberland Baptist Church, we have been very fortunate in seeing a great number of men, women, and young people become born again while visiting the church. Having said that, it is the responsibility of the church to go out into the community with the gospel message, not just wait for people to come to the church.
Join us tomorrow morning at 9:00 for a great breakfast, a time of challenge around the word of God, and then some wonderful fellowship as we go out together here in our neighborhoods with the message of salvation.

Ken Shaver
www.visitgcbc.com

Deaf Night at Iglesia Bautista el Faro

2011-03-14T07:00:00.025-05:00

Deaf Night at Iglesia Bautista el Faro from Ken Shaver on Vimeo.

Monday night at Iglesia Bautista el Faro saw us having a special service for the deaf. I have always enjoyed my time around the hearing impaired. Some people have said I am their favorite singer. I don't know if it is because I am so expressive when I sing, or they are actually thankful they cannot hear me!

We had a wonderful time together that night, and it was a joy to see God at work. My heart was encouraged to see what God was doing among the deaf in Santa Domingo. When many churches are focused on just one segment of society, Iglesia Bautista el Faro is consumed on getting the gospel to all groups of people.

Pastor Ken Shaver with a sweet deaf woman who trusted
Christ during the special service for the deaf on Monday night

During the service, we had specials presented in sign language, and numerous members had the opportunity to participate in signing during the congregational singing. I spoke on the Foundation of the Christian life, from Ephesians 4:22-24, and the Lord blessed with many decisions at the altar. One deaf young lady who trusted Christ has been coming to the church for 3 1/2 years, and Mrs. Joy Wesson has been working with her trying to teach her sign language. It was such a joy to me to see her willingness to acknowledge her need for a Saviour, and then to be born again.

Churches Starting Churches

2011-03-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

There is a Biblical mandate for the
New Testament Church to reproduce itself.

I am grateful for the fact that the four children God has given me serve the God of their father. My children have married spouses who all have a desire to please the Lord has well. Additionally, it is the daily pray of my wife and me that the five grandchildren God has given us, and the two grandchildren who will be here soon, all trust Christ for salvation at an early age and grow up to serve their Saviour as well. God has blessed us in a great way with our family.

But God has also blessed us with a wonderful church as well. I have the privilege of pastoring a group of people who have a desire to please their creator, and who make it very easy to be a pastor. And just as it is natural for a family to reproduce itself, it is also natural, and even expected, for a church to reproduce itself. Greater Cumberland Baptist Church is taking steps to start other churches that will glorify God.

Missionary Josh Wesson, Brother Samuel,
and Pastor Ken Shaver looking at a building
where a church could be established

Iglesia Bautista el Faro in Santa Domingo is also commited to reproduce itself. This week they hosted a commissioning service where Brother Samuel was commissioned and challenged as he is being sent out to a nearby community to start a church out of the church Missionary Josh Wesson established. What a privilege it was for me to be able to present the challenge to the church and Brother Samuel regarding our responsibility as individuals and a church in fulfilling the great commission as given to us throughout the New Testament. Using Acts 13 as our text, it was very clear to see that the Lord gave the direction to the church as he called and separated the men for the work. What a point of reflection it was to see the type of men who were sent out, and what they did once they went. While there may have been a humanitarian work done, it is very evident that was not the focus. The focus was evangelism, discipleship, and church planting.

God give us some first-century-type churches committed to reproducing themselves. Thank God for Iglesia Bautista el Faro, under the leadership of Missionary Josh Wesson, that has a great desire to be this type of church.

Four Generations of Serving the Saviour

2011-03-12T08:42:00.002-06:00

These young people made the decision to surrender
their lives to serving the Saviour.

Sunday night, I preached a message on, A Man and His Call, the story of Paul and Barnabas and their call and commissioning to the mission field. One area where we focused was on Paul's teaching to Timothy in II Timothy, 2:2. Paul told Timothy, "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Four generations of serving the Saviour.

In other words, we cannot be satisfied that we alone are serving the Lord. We must give of ourselves and invest ourselves so that there is multi-generational Christianity. I am investing myself to someone who is investing themself in someone who is then serving others and the Lord as well.

An interesting thing happened that night during the invitation. Three young people came and surrendered their lives, making the decisions to serve the Lord in whatever capacity He has for them. One of the young people was Delayna Schepers, daughter of Missionaries Stu and Donna Schepers. Both Brother and Mrs. Schepers parents are faithful christians, with Donna's dad and mom, Pastor and Mrs. Mickey Hollars, having been in full-time christian service for many, many years. It doesn't stop there however. Mrs. Hollars father, who is 81 years old, began preaching when he was 18, was a missionary for many years, and was a pastor for numerous years as well. Even today, with heaven in view, he is still faithfully serving and loving the Lord. What an encouragement. II Timothhy 2:2 in action! Four generations of family faithfully serving and pleasing the Lord!

Iglesia Bautista - Four Wonderful Years

2011-03-09T05:27:00.000-06:00

Fourth Anniversary at Iglesia Bautista el Faro

It was the first time I had
preached through an interpreter.

Sunday, March 4, was the fourth anniversry of Iglesia Bautista el Faro. Much work had gone into making this day a special day. In the morning, there were a great number of visitors and the auditorium was packed to overflowing. There was a record attendance, by more than fifty people over the previous high. It was the first time that I preached through an interpreter, and that took some getting used to for me. I would have to stop often during my preaching to allow Pastor Wesson the opportunity to interpret what I had said. Initially I would find myself losing my train of thought. After a while though, I thought we made a good team.

Steven Wesson, luekemia survivor,
serving alongside the Dominicans.

The members of the church worked hard to make this day a very special day. There was much special music, and the spirit of the services was very good. I especially enjoy watching the young people sing their specials, and it seemed as though the visitors felt right at home. I was especially encouraged to see the way the two missionary families, the Wessons and the Schepers worked together in the ministry. Acts talks about the team concept in outreach, and it was used most effectively here. It was such a joy to watch the children of the missionaries serve the Lord alongside the Dominicans. They seemed very much a part of what God is doing at Iglesia Bautista el Faro.

We are so grateful to the Lord for the decisions that were made that day for eternity. I am so thankful that Greater Cumberland Baptist Church has teamed up with both missionary families in support, and there is fruit on our behalf here in the Dominican Republic.

"Ven a Iglesia Bautista, Mañana"

2011-03-07T07:50:00.000-06:00

Beautiful Dominican Republic

What a privilege it is to serve the Lord. While there are times that may be challenging, there are also so many times where the Lord allows you to do wonderful things like take missions trips to countries such as the Dominican Republic.

Iglesia Bautista El Faro

I arrived here on March 4. Missionary Josh Wesson had invited me down to preach the fourth anniversary service of their church. He and Missionary Stu Schepers, along with their families, are doing a wonderful job of reaching the Dominicans with the gospel. After they picked me up from the airport, we made our way to the missionary's house. Just the ride from the airport to their house was, to put it mildly, an adventure. I had forgotten how exciting driving in a foreign country could be.

Saturday morning, Brother Wesson and I went to the church to get things ready for the anniversary service. We spent most of the morning bringing in extra chairs, setting up the classrooms, and just preparing for the special day. After lunch, several of us went out into the communities and passed out invitations to the service on Sunday, and we were able to make a lot of progress. "Ven a Iglesia Bautista, mañana," was about the extent of what I could say.

As we got closer, we realized a Catholic
mass was taking place

While out visiting, we came upon a street that was completely shut down. You could see a tarp set up, and a huge crowd under the tarp and overflowing to fill up the street. It was difficult to see what was going on, and as we got closer, we realized it was a Catholic mass taking place. The Catholic influence is very strong in the Dominican Republic, and it was very evident then. We were able to work our way through the throng, and we were challenged to do more for the Lord Jesus Christ. What a blessing to know that it is not what we do for him that saves us, it is what he has already done. I am so grateful for my eternal salvation that I have through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Exhausted, and out of flyers, we stop at a little street size market where we were able to buy a diet coke, coca light. We all were looking forward to what God had in store for the next day.

The Fellowship of the Unashamed - Part I

2011-01-01T23:51:00.000-06:00

The Apostle Paul by Rembrandt

The Apostle Paul was a member of the Fellowship of the Unashamed. In Romans 1, he challenged the church of Jesus Christ that was at Rome by saying, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.” I believe that this passage could be viewed from two perspectives.

First, Paul had been trained in the ways of Judaism by some of the best teachers of the day. Paul, in Acts 22, stated that he had been trained at the feet of Gamaliel. He also notes that he was taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God. But in spite of these statements, there came a time in Paul’s life when he realized that the perfect manner of the law was not sufficient for the sin that was a part of his very nature. He also came to understand that regardless of the amount of zeal Paul had, his zeal could not wash away his sin. Then, on the Damascus Road, the Son of God revealed himself to Paul, this persecutor of the believers, and Paul was gloriously saved. In spite of his success in his former life; in spite of his formal training; in spite of the position he held, Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.

It appears though, that Paul was also challenging the Roman Christians that they should not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ either. Roman Christians lived in a godless society. Debauchery to the utmost, persecution, death; these were the circumstances that were waiting for believers who lived there. In spite of there lot in life, Paul was not making any allowances and told them “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.”

Paul wasn’t ashamed of his great need of salvation, and he didn’t want the Romans ashamed in spite of their circumstances. Let us be challenged today to not be “ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.”

Pennyrile Baptist Bible Institute

2010-12-17T21:08:00.000-06:00

Pennyrile Baptist Bible Institute

What a joy it is to announce the inaugural semester of the Pennyrile Baptist Bible Institute. The school, which will meet on Monday nights starting in January, is a two-year program of instruction that will better equip servants in the local church for minstry.

This semester, we will begin by offering three courses: Old Testament Survey I, Bible Doctrines I, and Personal Evangelism. A basic description of the courses is:

Old Testament Survey

A Survey of the Old Testament law; including History, Poetry, and Prophecy, with special regard to its historical context. The authorship, time of writing, key words, key verse, and outlines are given for each book as well as its place in God’s total, progressive revelation.

Bible Doctrines I

A systematic and progressive study of the body of doctrine in Scriptures. Foundational doctrines covered include the following: Bibliology (The Bible), Theology (God), Christology (Christ), and Pneumatology (the Holy Spirit).

Personal Evangelism

An introduction to effective and faithful personal witnessing for Christ. Bible passages most frequently used in soul winning are covered, and instruction is given on handling and answering difficult questions. Discipleship of the new believer is emphasized.

Join with us on Monday nights starting January 24, for a refreshing time as we gather around the Word of God. If you have questions, email us at PBBI@visitgcbc.com, or see our website at http://www.visitgcbc.com/ and follow the links for PBBI.

Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

Love Defined - A More Excellent Way

2010-10-02T23:07:00.000-05:00

The Apostle Paul, in I Corinthians 13, helps us understand what true love is. In chapter twelve, he is dealing with the issue of gifts in the church. He prioritizes some things, and helps the church to understand that every believer has a role in that church and that every believer's role is important. Then, to help them understand what the priority is, and what the right approach is, Paul tells them about "a more excellent way."

That phrase, "a more excellent way," is a very interesting phrase. One of the examples Strong offers in his concordance is, "a throw beyond others." We are in the middle of football season, and you can just imagine a peewee football player matching arm strength with a top-rated NFL quarterback. If the peewee quarterback were to give it his best effort, there would be no comparison to the heave of the professional signal caller. The toss of the pro would be a throw beyond others. No comparison. A different league. Most people would be ashamed to even make a comparative measurement. That is a very crude analogy of the desire we should have for the love that God has for us.

The Love of Calvary is a love that cannot compare to any other. As a matter of fact, Paul starts off chapter thirteen by saying that if we don't have love, then we really don't amount to anything. The Love of Calvary is the love God the Father had for God the Son. It is the love Christ has for us. But it is also the love we should have for our Heavenly Father and the love that we should have for each other. The Love of Calvary is truly "a more excellent way."

Happy Ninth Anniversary, Greater Cumberland Baptist Church

2010-09-17T21:44:00.000-05:00

Wade Dietrich, the first person baptized at

Greater Cumberland Baptist Church

This Sunday, September 19th, marks the ninth anniversary of Greater Cumberland Baptist Church, "the friendliest church known to man!"

How fortunate we are for all the blessings God has bestowed on us since that day back in 2001. We have seen many, many folks saved and baptized. We have seen young people grow up here and several have gone on to serve the Lord in various places. We have watched as God has strengthened homes, healed wounded hearts and mended broken lives. What a picture of His marvelous grace we have here in Hopkinsville.

Our church is located right next to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, the home of the 101st Airborne. Currently, sixteen soldiers from our church are on the battlefield in the Middle East, and as many as ten more are getting ready to go. We are so grateful for God's abundant grace and mercy in protecting the soldiers who are away. Additionally, we are thankful for the way the Lord has held together the families of the soldiers who have been gone. Not only have the families endured, many, many of them have thrived greatly.

Pray for us as we look toward the future. We are making plans to open a Bible Institute in January 2010. We are also making plans to begin a Christian School next fall. None of this will be possible without the leadership of the Lord and the prayers and support of His people.

As exciting as these last nine years have been, even more exciting is what our Heavenly Father has in store for us.

Ken Shaver

http://www.visitgcbc.com/

No Greater Joy

2010-09-15T14:09:00.001-05:00

My son, Jacob, speaking at his ordination service.

This past Sunday, Greater Cumberland Baptist Church had the immense privilege of hosting an ordination service for my son, Jacob. He, his precious wife, Heather, and their children are making preparations to go to the mission field in southern Mexico.

While Robyn and I never tried to steer our children in one direction or another regarding full time Christian service, we always encouraged them to strongly seek direction from the Lord when it came to God's will for their lives. Having said that, we always had missionaries and full-time Christian workers at our house and we often spent time with them. I am not surprised in the least that our two sons are preparing to take the message of salvation to the regions beyond, and that our daughters are both married to wonderful young men preparing for work in the local church.

It was a very humbling experience to be a part of my own son's ordination. I had the privilege of presenting a charge from the word of God, and for me, it was a very special time to see my older son accept responsibility regarding God's call on his life.

Let me encourage you to expose your children to things of eternal value. Not everyone will be called into ministry full time, but everyone who claims the name of Christ has a responsibility to please Him with their lives.

Pray for my son, Jacob, and his family as they prepare for the next chapter in their lives of service for the King of Kings.

Ken Shaver

http://www.visitgcbc.com/

Faithful Families Fellowship

2010-08-14T21:45:00.000-05:00

As with many churches nowadays, here at Greater Cumberland Baptist Church, there are many families who teach their children at home. To help families be what we believe the Lord would have them be, we are putting in place a fellowship that will provide encouragement, support, and opportunities for participation in group settings.

Some of our objectives and projects are:

Monthly Home Schoolers Fellowships - Where we provide curriculum highlights, question and answer sessions, reading time for preschoolers, show and tell time and other encouraging and helpful information
Widows and Shut-Ins Ministry - Where families will be givien the opportunity to shower love and attenion to widows and shut-ins through letter writing, helping in the home, and holiday thoughtfulness.
Choir and Music Enhancement - Children love to sing and the Lord is pleased to hear them. we want to provide children the opportunity to sing for the Lord. There will be practive times for different musical events.
Field Trips - Starting with a trip to see the Nina and Pinta, replicas of the ships that sailed with Christopher Columbus in 1492, we have field trips scheduled throughout the year.

Watch the church calendar for a list of upcoming events. I know you will want to be a part of what's happening at Greater Cumberland Baptist Church.

Ken Shaver

http://www.visitgcbc.com/

Men For Christ 2010

2010-08-07T17:42:00.002-05:00

We are very excited to announce the 2nd Annual Men for Christ Conference being held at the Coldstream Christian Camp on September 9th and 10th, 2010. We are looking forward, with much anticipation, to what God has in store for us during this very special Friday night and Saturday morning. The main conference speakers this year are Evangelist Bryan Sharp, from St. Louis, Missouri, and Evangelist Tim Booth, from Shreveport, Louisiana. I am confident that the Lord has something just for you during these preaching sessions. Additionally, there will be sessions specifically geared toward laymen, preachers, and young men; each with something that is sure to be a help and challenge.

Our time this year is scheduled so that you will be in a position to receive a great blessing from all the events we have. Beginning at 5:30, Friday evening, our time together starts with an old-fashioned Kentucky Barbecue. This includes pulled pork, BBQ chicken, fried chicken, burgoo, vegetables, salads, slaw, mashed potatoes, and pretty much everything else you can think of. Saturday morning you will get your fill of a delicious pancake and sausage breakfast.

After the service on Friday evening, Intense Archery, a full service touring archery tournament company, will be hosting a 3D pop up archery shoot. We will be awarding a 12 gauge pump shotgun to the winner. Find out more information at www.intensearchery.com.

The cost for attending the conference is 30 dollars (cash or check), which includes the services, dinner and breakfast, as well as lodging for the first 80 people. You can register at the conference, or online at www.visitgcbc.com, and click on the Men For Christ banner. There is an additional ten dollar charge to participate in the archery tournament. Although the conference kicks off at 5:30, Friday evening, you are encouraged to come early and take advantage of the swimming, slide for life, fishing, boating, basketball, and many other things the camp has available. If you choose not to stay in the air conditioned cabins, but would prefer to rent a hotel room, call the church for a listing of preferred accommodations. Coldstream Christian Camp is a beautiful retreat located just off exit 11 of I-24 outside of Adams, Tennessee, just minutes from Hopkinsville, Kentucky and Clarksville, Tennessee. Learn more about the camp at www.coldstreamchristiancamp.org.

Pray with us that we will see the Lord do something in the lives of the men who come to this conference. You will not want to miss being a part of something this special.

The Heart of Her Husband

2010-07-16T21:55:00.000-05:00

Pastor Ken Shaver and his faithful wife of almost 29 years, Robyn.

Every July, we here at Greater Cumberland Baptist Church host what we call our Family Crusade. During that time, we take the whole month and emphasize issues of the family. Recently, I spoke on a topic based upon Proverbs 31:11, "The Heart of Her Husband."

When the passage says that, "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her...", there are three pictures that are painted from the word trust. First of all, when you talk about trust there is a picture of hope. In the book of Job, Job talks again and again about how he struggled with a loss of hope during his challenges. Even his wife told him he would be better to, "curse God, and die." What a discouraging thought that in a person's deepest struggles, his most faithful friend would not be a source of hope.

Secondly, the word trust also is illustrated in the word confidence. Psalms 118:8-9 help us to see that it is better to have confidence in the Lord than in princes and man. How precious it is that there may be a wife that is so honorable, so trusted, that a man can have confidence in her to that same extent. Currently, there are fifteen soldiers from our church overseas. A soldier in combat must be able to have confidence in his wife like Psalms describes.

Lastly, the word trust is demonstrated in the word refuge. Isaiah 26:4 says, "Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:" In this passage, the Israelites were struggling with their enemies, and the prophet Isaiah told them that God would be their everlasting strength. He is a refuge in our most difficult times. A virtuous wife is a great source of refuge for a husband. In the challenges of this world, it is good to know that there are women who are a help for their husbands. Hope, confidence, refuge; what a precious marriage it is when a husband has a wife he can trust.

A man and a woman must be committed to each other. They must see that they can be a great help to each other in even the most difficult of times. A woman can be the type of wife where, "the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her."

The Generation to Come

2010-05-28T12:52:00.001-05:00

Pastor Shaver with Jon and Norma LaFoy and baby Naomi.

A little over 18 months ago, a thirteen year old boy and I knocked on the door of a young couple while we were out soulwinning. This couple, new to the military, new to the community, and new to the married life, was very gracious to my young friend and me. We invited them to come and visit our church, and left them with a gospel tract. Lo and behold, the next day, Jon LaFoy and his wife, Norma, visited our church. Quickly they became a part of our church family, and since they had both trusted Christ, I was able to baptize them and they joined the church. Before too long, they completed our church's discipleship program, and have been faithfully serving the Lord as husband and wife for the last year and a half. What a privilege it is to watch young families commit themselves to the things of God, and to watch them grow in grace.

Wednesday, God, in His mercy, allowed Jon and Norma to have a beautiful little girl by the name of Naomi. As a pastor, it is such a joy to see God bless His people, and the LaFoys have received great blessings from His hand. In addition to giving them a new baby, the Lord showed Himself strong on their behalf and interceded for them. Jon is supposed to join twelve other soldiers from our church who are in the Middle East, but the Army is delaying his deployment for approximately a month so he can help his family get settled and spend time with his little girl.

Pray with us as Jon and Norma adjust to their family growth, and commit themselves to show "to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done."

The Joy of the Next Generation

2010-05-19T13:55:00.001-05:00

May 6 was a great day for my family. Our daughter, Kendra, and Joel Franks were married at a beautiful ceremony at the church that evening. It was a most beautiful event, and the hand of God was very apparent. I am so grateful that these young people commited to please the Lord in their approach to the ceremony as well as their relationship leading up to the ceremony, and I believe He was pleased by what took place. We are very happy for them, and look forward to seeing what God has in store for their future. Kendra has been such a joy to me personally, and I am so grateful to the Lord that He sent such a wonderful young man into her life.

In a day when so many people are trying to do the convenient thing, or are turning their backs on the things of God altogether, it is a great source of encouragement to watch the next generation make decisions where pleasing the Lord is a priority. It is also a source of help for others when they can see that, in spite of the day and the hour, young people can do right.

Greater Cumberland Baptist Church has a great number of young families. Additionally, so many of them are committed to putting the Lord first in their lives and their homes. I am grateful that He would let this church play a part in that.

Plan now to be a part of our Family Crusade coming up this July.

Revival for World Evangelism

2010-04-17T17:52:00.002-05:00

Starting next Wednesday, April 21, Greater Cumberland Baptist Church will be hosting its ninth annual Revival for World Evangelism. It is probably the most exciting week in our church. If you are in the Western Kentucky area, you will want to stop by and hear from one of the following missionaries:

Eddie Trimble and Family - Philippines
Dale Montgomery and Family - Church Planting in Savannah, Georgia
Tom Keller - Outer Mongolia
Zach Bruner and Family - Amazon Basin
Jason and Katy Shirk- Bhatan
James Mansfield and Family - Great Britian

Each night of the conference, Wednesday through Friday, we will be hearing from two of our missionaries as they share with us regarding the places that God has called them. Thursday and Friday night, we will be having dinner with the missionaries at 6:00. Friday at noon, while the missionary men are taking a tour of Ft. Campbell, the ladies will be having a fellowship in the park. During this time, they will hear testimonies from the missionary wives. Saturday morning, we will be having breakfast together and then have the opportunity to go soulwinning with the missionaries and their families.

The conference will culminate on Sunday. We will be hearing from our honored guests during the 10:00 hour in each of the Sunday School classes. Then, during the 11:00 hour, Dr. J.B. Godfrey, our conference speaker, will challenge us from the Word of God. After the morning service, we will be privileged to have an international supper, tasting exotic foods from faraway lands. Following our meal, we will have a question and answer session with the missionaries, which is always a favorite with the church members. Finally, we will have an early afternoon service where we will take our Faith Promise commitments. It is during this time that we will declare our financial commitments regarding world evangelism.

Pray that the Lord would be glorified, that lives would be challenged, and that decisions will be made that affect eternity regarding our responsibility for reaching those in darkness around the world.

Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

The Field Is The World

2010-03-06T16:47:00.002-06:00

We are quickly approaching the time of year where we at Greater Cumberland Baptist Church focus on our responsibility for world evangelism. We call it our Revival for World Evangelism. The theme this year is "The Field Is The World".

It is so important that the church understands her duty regarding reproducing believers, reproducing disciples, and reproducing churches. Although we have a very active outreach ministry; going into the community, using buses to pick up neighbors for church, following up on visitors, we cannot limit our outreach to just the local community. Matthew 13:38 says, "The field is the world." We understand that we have neither the right nor option to limit ourselves in our evangelistic outreach.

It is a privilege to pastor a church that takes world evangelism seriously. We have a family from our church in a closed country in Asia. We have a young man finishing up his missions training to prepare to go to China. My own son, Jacob, and his wonderful family are taking the initial steps in preparation for work in Mexico. On top of all that, we have joined up with over thirty other missionaries, teaming with them for missions work in areas all over the world.

This year, at our Revival for World Evangelism, we have six different missionaries and church planters, representing six different parts of the world: Amazon Basin, India, Great Britain, the state of Georgia, Philippines, and Outer Mongolia. Pray with us that the Lord will do a work among His people.

Ken Shaver

http://www.visitgcbc.com/

Where God's Love Takes You

2010-02-17T15:08:00.001-06:00

I was recently able to spend time with Missionary Joe Consford. He and his family have been faithfully serving the Lord for the last nine years in the war-torn country of Ivory Coast.

He shared with us some of the challenges that they deal with on a daily basis. The missionary told us about physical attacks on him and the people who work with him.He talked about the issues of water and electric shortage, disease (malaria, dengue fever), the infamous and highly-poisonous black mamba, as well as the daily issues of ministry in a foreign culture.

What would drive someone to put themselves in such a precarious environment? What would cause them to set themselves in such a difficult situation? Some would say it is their great love for the Ivorians. It would have to be greater than that. There are days when the Ivorians are not easy to love. It cannot be limited to the Ivorians. Anytime you deal with a cross-cultural people, there are great challenges. We have a family in our church in the country of Nepal. Nepal is a country where lying is an accepted and even encouraged practice. Why would someone move their family to some of the remotest places on earth to minister in an environment like that?

In the gospel of Matthew, the Lord Jesus sent his disciples to a people that did not want them. the reason they went is the same reason people go today. We are servants sent by our Master. The missionary's love for God, more than his love for anything else, is why he goes where God's love takes him.

Where will God's love take you?

Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

State of the Church Address

2010-01-09T20:23:00.002-06:00

One of the highlights of the year at Greater Cumberland Baptist Church is the annual State of the Church Address. During this time, we talk about all the blessings the Lord has poured out on us in 2009. The people we have seen saved, the new families that have joined our church family, and the decisions that we have seen made for eternity, are all areas where we have seen God at work. Additionally, there were a great number of people who accepted the challenge regarding reading their Bible. We have so much to celebrate; God has certainly been so good to us this past year. I am grateful that we as a church can take time to reflect on His goodness.

Not only do we take time to reflect on God's blessings from the previous year, but during our State of the Church Address, we also talk about what God has in store for this year. We understand that this is the only opportunity to do the will of God in 2010. From the calendar of events, to the goals and challenges, we look forward to what God is going to do through us and in us this upcoming year.

Join us this Sunday and rejoice with us in the service of the Lord.

Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

Always Abounding In the Work

2010-01-02T19:15:00.001-06:00

The theme of Greater Cumberland Baptist Church for 2010 is "Always Abounding In The Work," taken from I Corinthians 15:58. My wife wrote a chorus that our church is learning. It is posted here.

One of the things that God uses to describe how we can be abounding is to remain steadfast. Steadfast means to be fixed or firm. Paul, in the book of Colossians, uses it to describe the way we should be in the faith, or those things we believe. In our Christian community, there are those who, if it is new, will run off and follow it. New truths, new doctrine, new perspectives, are areas where our churches today fall prey to this. It is not our responsibility to find something new, it is our responsibility, according to the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul, to continue in the faith that God gave us and not moved away from it.

A Time of Giving

2009-12-12T18:49:00.000-06:00

At Greater Cumberland Baptist Church, Christmas is a very special time. Not only is it a time to celebrate the birth of the Promised One, it is also a time for us to show the love of Christ to our community. For the last several years, we have hosted a Christmas Extravaganza. An event where we have a special time of giving gifts and happiness to the boys and girls who are a part of our bus ministry.

I am so grateful to see the blessings of God as He works through our bus ministry. The Lord has opened many doors and allowed us to have a part in influencing lives in the community. A friend of mine told me one time that the bus ministry is the only minstry where you give without ever getting anything back. It is a ministry where you cannot be selfish.

We have families in our church today as a result of our bus ministry. We have adults serving the Lord here who were reached in the bus ministry. Pray for us this week as many people spend many hours preparing for the events of our Christmas Extravaganza.

A Spirit of Thankfulness

2009-11-27T20:56:00.002-06:00

I have so much for which to be thankful:

That God has not given up on me.
That He allows me to serve Him.
My salvation .
That I have been married to my wonderful wife for over 28 wonderful years. It is amazing how she has put up with me for that long.
That my children serve the God of their father.
That I have been allowed to pastor such wonderful people.
That I have had the privilege of being born in the greatest country on the face of the earth.
My family heritage.
My first buck I shot this year. (of course, it had to be a gimp or I probably would not have been able to shoot it. HAH!)
Vacations. Shaver vacations are awesome!
Preaching. It is an awesome responsibility, standing between God and man, but it is so rewarding.
Fellowship. We have such a wonderful group of families at church that we can spend time with. I only wish we could do it more.
Singing, especially with my family. God can put my big mouth to good use if I let Him.
That our building program is done!!!
The bus ministry. It is a ministry where you give and can expect nothing in return. It is all about giving.
The work that God is doing among His people here at Greater Cumberland Baptist Church.
The kindness of the people I pastor. That is a topic for another day. It would take too much space.
The people I have watched get saved.
The jobs I have had in my life-flying helicopters, air traffic control, traveling the world and helping foreign countries establish an aviation program, especially pastoring.
Spending time with my family.

Pastor Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

Investing In Eternity - Our Greatest Offering

2009-11-17T09:47:00.001-06:00

In II Corinthians, Paul was talking to the church at Corinth about the Macedonians. He didn't talk about all the money that they had. Paul didn't talk about the huge offerings that they gave. He talked about the fact that they gave the ultimate gift, they gave of their own selves.

If we are going to give of ourselves, we must understand that it begins with salvation. we cannot enter into any other level of relationship with God if we are not a part of God's family. We must be born again. In the book of Acts, Cornelius is presented as a man who feared the Lord and gave much alms, but he was not born again. In the Old Testament, the prophets of Baal were as sincere and dedicated as any group of people on the face of the earth, but they were serving the wrong god.

In investing in Eternity, it begins with becoming a child of God. If you are not sure of your eternity, you can call me, email me, or click here and learn the way of salvation.

Pastor Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

A Church of Servants

2009-11-14T21:56:00.000-06:00

One of my greatest joys as pastor is to see how God is working through His people. Just this week, many of the family of Greater Cumberland Baptist Church have gone beyond themselves as they have shown love to others in their time of need.

With all the demands on our lives, it is such an encouragement to watch people give of themselves with their time and their money for the things of God. Again and again the good people here provide food to those in need, show love to others around them, and always try to reflect Christ to those in the community. What a privilege to shepherd such wonderful people.

Keep up the good work. We serve a wonderful Savior!

Pastor Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

Honoring the Veterans

2009-11-07T20:44:00.003-06:00

Sunday, November 8, Greater Cumberland Baptist Church will be recognizing our military veterans. The life of the military family is a life of great change. It seems as though the families are dealing with a soldier getting ready to leave, a soldier being gone, or a soldier trying to transition back from a combat zone to home life. This puts great strains on everybody in the family. Having said that, our God is a great God. His grace is sufficient in difficult circumstances such as these.

I believe there are some things military families can do to ease the load during these times. First of all, God must have an exalted place in the military home. There must be time for Him, and we must point our families to Him. I teach our people that in the good times, we must look to God for help, and in the bad times, we must look to God and thank Him for His goodness. In other words, always look to God.

The second thing that a military family can do to ease the load is to stay involved in church. A good church can be a great source of help and encouragement during deployments. We try to have meals for the families, men who would help the families with maintenance and repair issues, special days where babysitting is provided for mom so she can have some special time, and time where we do special things for the children like fishing, going to the park, field trips and other things. The church should not and cannot take the place of dad, but the church can be a great help to the family while dad is gone which makes his life a little less stressful.

Lastly, the family must have some special days of fun and relaxation. The stresses are great, but we must remember to enjoy the time together that the Lord has given us. It is so easy to get caught up in the demands of the situation that we forget that our stresses affect our little ones in a great way. Play some games. Camp out under the dining room table, go to the playground, roast marshmallows in the back yard. Do something to break up the monotony. We serve a wonderful Savior. Always try to help your family remember that.

Pastor Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

Pictured in SSG (R) Ron Ewer and his wonderful family. They are a faithful family to this church and are a great source of encouragement to me and my family.

Dedicated Child Training

2009-10-31T15:24:00.002-05:00

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child...". The word train means to dedicate yourself for the task. In other words, child training is not some haphazard event that takes place. It is training for which we must be commited, and training that does not take place accidentally, but on purpose. Recently, I said to a young father that the more time he spent influencing his children, the less time he would need to spend correcting his children.

John said in 3 John verse 4, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." What a privilege for a mother and father to watch their children follow in their footsteps of serving the Lord. How happy they must be when parents see their offspring develop a personal relationship with their Heavenly Father. A great number of parents can control their children. However, the goal of dedicated child training should not be to control children. The end result of child training is not control. The end result should be to help their children mature so that they are able to have a spiritually healthy relationship with their Savior.

Spend time with your children. They need quality time. They need quantity time. Say no to some things that take away from you spending time with your children. Turn off the television and take them outside. Shut down the computer and read a book to them. If they are older, take them on a cheap date where you can sit across from them and have a meaningful conversation. Pray with your children. Have them work alongside of you; not for the sole sake of the work, but for the sake of your influencing them. This week, do something specific so that you can have some dedicated child training.

Pastor Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

p.s. This picture is of Elliot Edes, who turns three November 1, and his grandpa, who are both very happy people.

Men For Christ

2009-10-27T21:08:00.002-05:00

This past weekend, Greater Cumberland Baptist Church had the privilege of hosting a men's conference. Sixteen different churches participated in the conference, which consisted of several different preaching and teaching sessions.

There is a great need in our churches for men to rise up and accept their biblical responsibilities. The home, the community and the church all need men who would be willing to labor for the Lord and do as He pleases.
In First Corinthians 16, Paul told the church at Corinth to "...quit you like men..." He was telling them to show themselves a man and to not be a coward. In today's society, we have men who are willing to be men as outdoorsmen, military men, and wage earners. We must pray that men would be men in their service for the Lord.

Pastor Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

The Value of a Gospel Tract

2009-10-08T08:38:00.002-05:00

On a weekly basis, we at Greater Cumberland Baptist Church go into the community, reaching the lost and passing out gospel tracts. Several years ago, our folks went into an apartment complex and went door to door telling others about the Lord Jesus. We saw no one saved that day, but had the opportunity to talk to numerous people and to leave tracts at every door.

A few days later I got a call at the church from an older gentleman from this same complex who wanted to talk to us about baptism. I am ashamed to admit that at first I thought it was someone who just wanted to debate the issue, as compared to someone who was sincerely interested. We had someone go to the apartment however, and soon I got a phone call at the church saying that this older gentleman, Samuel McAmis, a retired army veteran, had read our gospel tract that we left on the door and trusted Christ for the forgiveness of his sins and for his eternal salvation.

Mister McAmis has been coming faithfully to church ever since that time over three years ago. He has since been baptized, and is an encouragement to everyone in our church. All because someone was faithful in telling others about Christ and leaving a simple gospel tract at the door of a man who was not home.

We must never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit, even as He works through the message of a simple gospel tract. Be faithful in telling others about Christ. Be faithful in giving out gospel tracts.

Pastor Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

A Revival for World Evangelism

2009-10-02T10:49:00.001-05:00

Acts 1:8 tells us that, as believers, we have a responsibility to take the salvation message to those that live around us. In an organized way, we go into the community and share the good news of Jesus Christ. We believe that our Savior is the hope for the world, and that through Him we can have forgiveness of sin and enjoy all the blessings that come from being a child of our Creator. Not only do we believe that, we have a responsibility to share that message. And not only do we have a responsibility to share that where we live, we also have a responsibility to share that same gospel message around the world.

I am grateful that at Greater Cumberland Baptist Church, the wonderful members here have accepted their responsibility to be a witness to people both in our community and around the world. We have the privilege of supporting 32 missionaries to different parts of the globe. It has been an honor to support them in our finances, but it also has been an honor to support them in our prayers. We, as a church, spend time every Wednesday night asking to Lord to intercede on their behalf. It is so important not just to give, but to pray as well.

It is also important to go. We have one family from our church that is serving the Lord in a closed country. What an awesome responsibility it is to hold them up to the Lord. Brandon Ewer, a young man who spent several years here, is going with his family to reach the Navajo in Arizona. As a pastor, I am so grateful for being a part of a church that is having a Revival for World Evangelism.

Join us this Sunday, October 4, for Missions Sunday. Our hearts will be challenged and encouraged in the area of world evangelism.

Pastor Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

Paul's Manner of Life

2009-09-26T22:42:00.003-05:00

In 2 Timothy 3:10, Paul reminds Timothy that he had known certain things about Paul. Completely. Fully. Many different aspects of Paul's life were mentioned. He mentions the doctrine that Paul had received, his purpose and his manner of life, among other things. It is interesting that Paul does not just say that he has these things, but that Timothy has fully known them. This must cause us to ask ourselves, "Who are we influencing for Christ?" "Do we live our lives so transparently that those we influence with the gospel would fully know who we are?"

Pastor Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

The Church Can Help The Family

2009-09-18T18:08:00.001-05:00

The Bible very clearly teaches that it is the parent’s responsibility to teach and train their children. “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

Working within this biblical framework, what can a church do to help the family? I would like you to consider several things churches can do to be a help to families.

First of all, in making much of Christ and the church, churches should also make much of the family. At Greater Cumberland Baptist Church, where I have been pastor since starting the church eight years ago, we take a month each year and preach and teach with a special emphasis on the family. Locally, we have named this time “The Family Crusade.” The Sunday School hour, the morning service, the evening service, and our Wednesday Bible study are all used as times to take the Word of God and show the families a biblically-based way to have a God-honoring home. There is much advertising and promotion (many people are interested in how to have a better family), and a special theme is given. For example, the theme for the last two years at our church was, “Having a Healthy Home” and “Helping the Home”. Some of the topics were, “The Joy of Family,” “Training the Next Generation,” “Dealing With Difficulties,” and “Signs of a Healthy Home.”

Secondly, not only could we have a special emphasis every year, but churches can take time during the year where they can and should have sermons or lessons on the practical side of parenting. The roles and responsibilities of family members is a worthy focus. When I first became pastor here, my four children were all in their teens and the church naturally attracted families with teens. As a result of this, my focus fell more on dealing with teenagers and how to help them establish their own relationship with their Heavenly Father. How to have personal devotions; how to have an effective prayer time; how to be a witness for Christ; how to deal with setbacks in their Christian walk; these are all areas where we would spend time in the Word of God. I believe we would be amazed at how many in our churches do not have a good grasp of these basic issues.

After a few years, we had many, many newborns in the church (pray for those nursery workers!) and we concentrated more on helping the family with issues they would face with newborns and young children. Areas such as dealing with a child’s will and consistency as a parent were points of focus.

Additionally, and I cannot understate the importance of this, the families should be shown how to have family devotions. Family devotions are such an important but neglected part of the Christian family. It is a time to draw together as the family draws closer to the Lord. As best as I can recall, every year we have taken a portion of a service, usually one where I was preaching on the family, and actually have had family devotions. In the Shaver family, devotions consist of a moment of scripture memorization, a time of singing, a time of bible reading (sometimes we also read a Christian biography or story like Pilgrim’s Progress), and a short period of prayer. We always have tried to include all the family, maybe one reading, one picking out a song, one praying, and everyone quoting scripture. We also do not try to make it an in depth Bible Study although as our children grew older, we would spend a few weeks on issues like modesty, Biblical principles for entertainment, and other relevant things. Additionally, we would work very hard at keeping it light, and upbeat. In our home, we just tried to take a few minutes to focus on the things of God and, as I mentioned earlier, draw closer together. There are many good family devotion books available, but most of the time we would just take a different chapter of the Bible and take turns reading it.

One of my greatest joys as a pastor is to have a parent bring their child to me and let their child share the fact that they trusted Christ during their family devotions. This shows me that dad and mom are taking home what they are learning at church as impacting their family.

Finally, another help I believe the church can provide is make opportunities for families to serve the Lord together. We have families who work in the bus ministry together, have services in nursing homes together, sing together, clean the church together, visit shut-ins together, and even work in children’s ministries together. I believe it is good for the children to work alongside of their parents and to see their parents serving the Lord. Several years ago, I had the privilege of speaking for a friend of mine during a missions conference. While I was up on the platform in from of the choir, the pastor brought to my attention that right behind me were three generations of adult men singing as choir members. What a source of encouragement that was for me.

The local church has the opportunity and the responsibility to help the family be all that God wants it to be. I can say from first-hand experience that it is a great privilege to serve the Lord as a family.

Pastor Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

Join us for our Anniversary/Open House

2009-09-17T14:23:00.005-05:00

Let me encourage you to visit with us this Sunday, September 20, at 10:00 a.m. for our eighth anniversary open house. We have many wonderful things planned for the day. There is a caring preschool ministry for our youngest ones, as well as graded Sunday School classes for all ages.

We are grateful for the blessings from the hand of God here at Greater Cumberland Baptist Church. Since her inception, we have tried to approach the aspect of a local, New Testament Church, from a totally biblical perspective. We are not ashamed of who God is, and what He has done in our lives. Our services are encouraging and challenging, helping people discover what God says in His word, and understand how that applies to living in today's society.

We have some special things happening this week that I am sure you will not want to miss. I am giving away a biography of my friend, Dr. Russell Anderson, a christian businessman greatly used of God. We are also having a potluck supper after the morning service, which will provide us with a wonderful time of fellowship.

We are thankful for what God has done these last eight years. We have flourished through several building programs, most recently an 11,000 square foot addition and renovation. We are excited about the ministries the Lord has led us to begin; discipleship ministries, evangelistic ministries, children's ministries, military support, women's ministries, and a host of others.

Join us soon and be a part of what God is doing at Greater Cumberland Baptist Church.

Pastor Ken Shaver

http://www.visitgcbc.com/

Serving The Lord As A Family

2009-09-16T11:12:00.004-05:00

When the Lord called me to Hopkinsville, Kentucky, to start the Greater Cumberland Baptist Church, I was leaving a very successful career with the Federal Aviation Administration. The only reason I mention this is because this was a great transition for my wife and four children, pictured to the right in the earliest days of the church.

My family was supportive of me 100% and jumped in with both feet. We worked on the church together, knocked on doors together, prayed together, and served in any capacity needed. What a privilege it was for me to watch my children serve the God of their father.

In anticipatation of our first service, my wife, my children and I knocked on 6,000 doors and passed out invitations. I was so glad that when we actually had our first Sunday, each of my children had at least one visitor in church.

It doesn't matter what your calling is in life. It doesn't make a difference what your occupation is. It doesn't matter if your family is a blended family, a single-parent family, or a traditional family, you can and should serve the Lord as a family. Find a ministry where you can serve; work on a bus route together; make visits together; use the altar together; make some cookies and take them to one of your senior saints; all of these are wonderful times to strengthen the family bond and grow closer to the Lord.

It is a privilege to serve the Lord, and an even greater privilege to serve Him as a family.

Pastor Ken Shaver
www.visitgcbc.com

The People Had A Mind To Work

2009-09-14T13:03:00.004-05:00

In anticipation of our eighth anniversary service this Sunday, many of the members of Greater Cumberland Baptist Church are joining together to invite as many people as we can to be a part of this special day. Just this week, the good people here are passing out 5,000 invitations in Hopkinsville and neighboring communities.

Our church visitation program is on Monday night, and tonight we anticipate 30 people coming out for a time of fellowship and food, and also for a time of visiting. Every year we have had people come to be a part of our church as a result of our anniversary activities and we anticipate the same this year. We are going to have regular church services this Sunday, and then head over to the community center to have a Sunday afternoon potluck supper. Please pray for the blessings of God especially this week.

One of the ladies handing out invitations is a sweet widow by the name of Euton Cohoon. "Miss Euton" has been coming to our church since the very first Sunday we started. I met her when I was out knocking on doors over eight years ago. Tonight, Lord willing, she and a teenage boy will be walking up and down the street in her neighborhood inviting people to come visit us this Sunday. Miss Euton is a retired ICU nurse, and has been a faithful worker in our churches nursery. You may be asking why this is worth mentioning, and the answer is because for the last several years, Miss Euton has been totally blind.

What a privilege it is to serve the Lord alongside of such wonderful Christians.

Pastor Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

Building for the Lord

2009-09-13T08:58:00.004-05:00

It is a challenging thing to step out for the Lord without knowing what is in front of you. I am reminded of Abraham went he responded to the call of God. He was going to a land that God had not shown him yet. What a wonderful God we serve that would not lead us astray.

When we moved to Hopkinsville, Kentucky, to start the Greater Cumberland Baptist Church, we had no clear direction about location or facilities. While looking for a good location for our upcoming tent meeting, my friend, Pastor Jeff Fugate, found a dance studio that was perfect for a church building. The 50 year-old business was closing the doors immediately on the fourteen year old building, and it was exactly what was needed for a church. Since September 2001, we have gone through several modifications and additions, but the building is still perfect facilities for a church.

We should not be surprised when God meets our needs. Even when we don't have a clue how God will answer.

Pastor Ken Shaver
http://www.visitgcbc.com/

Reaping and Sowing

2009-09-10T10:29:00.004-05:00

We have been so blessed by God in the area of Soulwinning and Visitation. On a weekly basis, a good number of people from Greater Cumberland Baptist Church come together and visit those who have attended our services. We also spend much time in inviting new people to visit with us. However, our evangelistic efforts are not limited to just one night during the week. I encourage our dear people to talk to people as they come in contact with them during the week.

A woman, Tina Johnson, and her mother, Jane Chambliss, visited our church one Sunday, three years ago. I told them how good it was to see them, and I proceeded to get egg all over my face when Tina told me I was the one who invited her. I apologized and told her I didn't remember inviting her and she reminded me that she had been a cashier at Wal-Mart when I came through her line, gave her a gospel tract, and told her when she had a Sunday off to come visit us. As she related this story to me, I had to confess that I couldn't even remember the last time I had been to Wal-Mart. I was amazed when she told me that she still had the gospel tract that I gave her when I invited her three years earlier!

Since that Sunday, Tina has trusted Christ for her salvation, and she and her mother are finishing our churches discipleship program.

Don't ever underestimate the effectiveness of a gospel tract, and don't ever "grow weary in well doing."

Pastor Ken Shaver
www.visitgcbc.com

Eight Wonderful Years

2009-09-09T12:53:00.006-05:00

It seems like just yesterday that the Lord allowed us to move to Hopkinsville, Kentucky, to start the Greater Cumberland Baptist Church. Next Sunday, September 20, we will be celebrating eight years as a church family. We are so grateful for the goodness of God during this time. For the next two weeks, I am going to be reviewing some of the highlights of this wonderful time together.