Genesis 2:18  Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper as his complement.", (HCSB)
 
It is also not ideal for women to be alone as well. The scriptures tell us we are to help widows who are alone and need help. The Bible often depicts those who are alone as desolate, unprotected, and weak.
 
Ecclesiastes 4:9  Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 
10  For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 
11  Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? 
12  And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. (HCSB)
 
Are you 65 or older? There is someone who wants to talk to you if you are lonely or feel isolated or want someone to pray with you. Our North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry has people ready to talk to you free of charge. They are waiting for you to call them daily from 9am to 9pm at 866-578-4673. This is a ministry of our North Carolina Baptist State Convention. “One Hope is NCBAM’s dedicated outreach to offer a spiritual response to social isolation and loneliness that affects many of North Carolina’s seniors. The outreach features the NCBAM Hope Line where trained volunteers encourage callers with a friendly voice and compassionate ear.”, https://ncbam.org.
 
Loneliness and social isolation is associated with a number of health risks. God put us in families for a reason. We need other people to keep us mentally, physically, and spiritually strong. We all need someone to listen to us and encourage us from time to time.
 
Our North Carolina Baptist Aging Ministry provides a number of additional services. They help with smoke alarm installations, safe at home strategies, Red Bags for medication management, connect senior adults or their caregivers to resources or volunteers, assist with wheelchair ramps, smoke alarms, grab bars, and light yard work. They even do friendly visits. They can help with spiritual needs as well as physical needs.
 
They are waiting for you to call them daily from 9am to 9pm at 866-578-4673. The calls are free.
 
Pastor Pat

              It is amazing what our church is able to do for Christ each month. We are ministering to many others, delivering meals to nearly 200 people each month, teaching over 30 little children every Tuesday that Jesus loves them, going on mission trips to help those made homeless by hurricane Helene, teaching the Bible in a local care facility, sending shoeboxes full of goodies and the gospel across the world through Samaritan’s Purse, teaching the Bible to groups of women and young men, proclaiming the gospel here and online week after week through singing and telling the good news.
                This takes a lot of work from hard working precious people who faithfully labor to help others month after month and week after week. But a lot of them need a break. Some are no longer physically able to carry on as before while others have had life changes that are leading them to other important priorities.
                Jesus said, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”, (Luke 10:2, HCSB). Will you pray for Jesus’ prayer request? Will you consider working for Jesus?
                Sadly some people faithfully come to church, yet never serve Jesus as part of His church. They don’t know the joy of giving of their work for Jesus. While attending worship is important, Jesus didn’t ask us to pray for attenders, but workers.
                Some are dealing with overwhelming issues and are unable to serve at this time. I am not speaking to them.
                Please bear with me to be bold and challenge you a bit if you are not serving others for Christ and are complacent. Are you selfish and focus on what you want but not on what others need? Don’t you know that it is a sin not to serve others in some capacity? Will you be like the servant that hid his talent instead of investing it for his master? God forbid! Step up and be a real man or woman for Christ and serve for His sake. After all your service or lack of it is unto Christ. “Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’”, (Matthew 25:45, HCSB). 
                Your help is needed now. Jesus said, “Don't you say, 'There are still four more months, then comes the harvest'? Listen to what I'm telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest”, (John 4:35, HCSB).
                There are many needs and ways to serve. You can ask Pastor A.J. or Pastor Pat how you can serve. Here are just a few ways. You can volunteer to deliver meals for Hope Kitchen or help in the kitchen preparing the meals the last Saturday of the month. You can teach children about Jesus. You can help with our annual Christmas Toy Store for needy families. You can help with our monthly VBS night on the first Wednesday night of the month. Will you choose to serve and please Christ?
                Will you be among those who hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”?, (Matthew 25:23, NKJV).
                “Who will go for Us?” asked the Lord in Isaiah 6:8. “Here I am. Send me.”, Isaiah replied. What is your reply to this question? The Lord is calling all of us to do good works, “For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.”, (Ephesians 2:10, HCSB).
 
Pastor Pat