July 31, 2026, 6:00 PM
Greetings in Christ and greetings once again! I hope and pray you've had a good week so far.
It's been a great week at FCC as our first-ever Family Camp has wrapped up on a high note!
We held our "main" sessions from Monday (07.27.26) through Wednesday night (07.29.26). There was an average of 16 children and 18 adults each night. Yesterday (07.30.26), we finished by taking over 40 people to the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY.
Overall, this was the smoothest-running children's ministry event I have EVER been part of.
The kids were very well behaved, and there were no major problems. Working with Donna & Chad Rousey (my two primary helpers) was an absolute JOY! A big THANKS as well to Bob Clark and Rafaelito Fraden for helping with security during the week!
Christian Ladies Fellowship helped out tremendously by providing chips, cookies, and drinks each night.
We were able to feed everyone each night THANKS to the generosity provided by Chris Graven, Papa John's Pizza, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, and the McDonald's located on Harrodsburg Road.
While we had a good time, the week was not all about just fun and games. In fact, I believe a lot of good teaching was accomplished, and many seeds were planted!
During the week, we talked about the life of Jesus, including: 1) His Birth, 2) His Growing Up, 3) His Ministry, 4) His Death on a Cross & Rising from the Grave, and 5) His Return.
One of our goals of the camp was that each child and adult would have the tools and ability to tell anyone and everyone about Jesus and the hope we have because of Him!
Jesus said something interesting in Matthew 11:11: "Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
What did Jesus mean in saying that? How are you and I "greater" than John the Baptist and other great heroes of the faith from the Old Testament?
I never fully understood this passage until this week.
Nicky Gumbel explains it very clearly, saying this: "First, we are in a better position to tell the good news about Jesus. Second, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit given on the day of Pentecost. Every Christian (whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven) has the opportunity to proclaim the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit – the most powerful message in the world."
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came "upon" people from time to time, but it never came to live "inside" people. Why didn't the Holy Spirit come to "live" inside people during those times? It's because Jesus had not come to provide the ultimate sacrifice for sins. People were sinners, and God (even in the form of the Holy Spirit) cannot be in the presence of sin!
In John 14:16-17, Jesus told of what was to come, saying, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever -- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."
Let us then THANK the Lord for the amazing privilege we have been given to us Christians – being able to pass on the most powerful message in the world. Thank You, Lord, that Your message transforms lives, communities and cultures. That surely is a challenge for us, but also encouraging news!
This coming Sunday (08.02.26), I will continue in our "Head for the Hills" sermons as we will talk about a big showdown on Mount Carmel between the prophet of God, Elijah, and the false prophets of Baal!
I pray we will see you at FCC this coming Sunday. If not then, Lord willing, I'll see you again soon. May God bless!
In Him,
Greg Herriford
