Goodwood Church of Christ

Building Up the Faith
By Doug Burleson

Last week was one of those weeks when it was easy to count our blessings. We rejoiced that two souls were added to the Lord’s church through baptism. Sydney Rametta was baptized by David Gregor on Wednesday evening after Bible classes. Sydney did not come to class that night anticipating being baptized, but in Katie Hedglin’s high school girls’ class she was involved in a discussion on baptism and was convinced that she needed to have her sins washed away. We give thanks that Katie Gregor brought her friend to class and that Sydney responded to the Lord’s invitation. We also rejoice with Rickey Garrett who was baptized by Bob Bayham on Friday afternoon. Rickey grew up a preacher’s son in rural Alabama and through the study of God’s Word on Friday determined that he needed to be baptized. Isn’t God’s Word powerful? Let’s give thanks for the power of the message and the reality that when the seed of the Word is planted it will come to fruition. Let us make sure to welcome Sydney and Rickey to our church family.

As of Wednesday morning there are over 35 TEENS AND ADULTS heading to Camp Maywood this coming Sunday. I wish that all of you could see this beautiful campground operated by the churches of Christ in Northwest AL. Summer sessions of Camp Maywood have been going on there since 1965 and the camp has been expanded to hold up to 400 campers at once (three new girls cabins will welcome us this year!). But even more beautiful than the camp or the cabins is the Christian spirit that is evident when young people from all over the SE United States come together to grow in faith through the study of God’s Word. This year I will be teaching a morning Bible class, speaking on the summer series at the Hamilton Church of Christ on Wednesday evening, and speaking at the camp devotional on Thursday evening. I especially appreciate Brian Egerton (the summer youth intern), Marcine Lanier (member at Zachary), Terry Peeples, Nicholas Stacks (the preacher at Zachary), and of course Kristi and Eden for going with us this year. The group will leave at 6:00 AM on Sunday morning and return on Saturday evening, June 6.