Columnist: “At the end of your beginning”

Greetings from The Springs! Just think! As we are about to end the first half of this year we are about to start the rest of 2012. Read on and this statement will make more sense to you later.
Youth Week for USBC will run from June 11 to June 15. Several special activities have been scheduled, which promise to keep young and old alike very busy. Youth Day will be held Sunday, June 17 and along with a great message, recognition will be given to those that have excelled throughout the school year.
Start planning now for Pastor Robert Terrell’s ninth anniversary and The Springs will honor him Sunday, June 24. Although many of us often tell Pastor T throughout the year that we appreciate him, this will be more of a group effort by the church to say, “We love you.” I hope you can join us.
Last Wednesday Pastor Terrell started a new series entitled, “Shadows and Types.” He explained to us that these are divine illustrations of truth and that we also must study symbols and numbers to really understand them. This series may take a few weeks so if you have some questions about this topic join us. Don’t forget that our homework is to read Hebrews chapters 8-10.
By the way Bible Study is held every Wednesday night beginning at 7:30p.m. except for the Wednesday leading up to the second Sunday of the month. On that particular Wednesday we have Prayer and Testimony and it starts at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday was a special day at The Springs where we honored Tom and Kathy Kelly for their service to the Greensboro Dreamers. The Kellys, along with Beth Thomas and Mattie Waller have worked with these students for 12 years helping them to reach the goal of attending college.
Pastor T and Sister Toni presented the Kellys and program coordinator Beth Thomas, Humanitarian Awards for appreciation of their work and generosity to the students in the program. I must share with you that Rom and Kathy Kelly also gave over 40 scholarships to the well deserving youth that put forth years of hard work and dedication to achieve their foals. “And of some have compassion making a difference…” What a difference they have made in this community.
The message for Sunday was in keeping with the mentor/ mentee relationship as we looked at Paul and Timothy in the entirety of 2 Timothy. In these passages as Paul was turning over the reigns to young Timothy he was giving him advice and reminding him of those things he had learned in the past. All in attendance and especially the students could relate the words given by Paul as encouragement for ourselves.
Paul reminded the young preacher that the same instruction that his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice received is in him, too. Pastor Terrell stated that God has given all of us a special gift on the inside to use. Yet there are times when we may need someone to come by and get that gift moving.
As Paul gives further encouragement to Timothy he tells him that his job is to be done as that of a soldier. A soldier is focused and determined on the task put before him. Ad he performs his mission he must not “entangleth himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” He must remember his instruction and work to please God.
As we like Timothy work towards completing our assignment God requires us to be disciplined and to “study to shew thyself approved…” It takes hard work and determination as we persevere. Once we start on that particular task the work really begins and in many cases it is not necessarily easy.
Finally, Paul charges Timothy to remember his mission and to stay the course. He is to, “Preach the word; be instant in season out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering.” We must remember our charge and apply this to our lives as well.
There are times in our lives when our gift lies dormant and appointed people such as Tom and Kathy Kelly come along and help stir up that gift. Young or old we all can look forward to celebrating the end of a phase of life as we go into our next beginning. Glory be to God!

Printed in the June 7, 2012 edition