Category: News from the Road

This morning I preached at the Bible Baptist Church in Dubuque, IA. Pastor Larry Stark and his wife have been personal friends for over 20 years. God blessed us with a great morning. The auditorium was full and God blessed us with souls saved and full altars.

Bro. Stark and his wife have been old paths Baptists ever since I met them. He has not changed, and God is using him to reach his city. It is pleasing to this preacher to be around older men of God who still stand strongly for the old paths. That is how it is supposed to be. What is exciting is that you can see that the next generations in his church want the old paths as well. His son-in-law, Bro. Scott Griffin, and his family went to lunch with us and it was comforting to see that they too desire to walk the old paths. It is exactly what God intended that every generation continue on the old paths like the previous ones.

I’m thankful for Pastor Stark and his friendship and influence upon this preacher. It is always encouraging to see men who are still standing. I look forward to seeing what the LORD will do through this church in years to come.

This morning I preached in Winthrop, Maine, for Pastor Rick Walter at the Victory Baptist Church. It was a great morning service with the auditorium full. The people of this church received me warmly, and listened intently as I preached on the Meaning of the Cross. When the invitation was given, one was saved and several came forward to make decisions. I’m looking forward to the rest of the week to see what the LORD is going to do in the services.

I have preached for Pastor Walter for several years. I appreciate his steadiness in the ministry. Bro. Walter has firmly stood for the old paths for many years, even though there have been times when he lost people because he wouldn’t change. The benefits of standing for the old paths far outweigh accepting the winds of change. The benefits of standing for the old paths can be seen by the poem written below by their teenage son, Ricky. It is great to see that even the maniacs of Maine love the old paths.

If you are in the area for the next couple of days, I would love to see you at the services on Monday and Tuesday. Come meet a man and his family who have a heart for God and a people who love old paths preaching.

GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.!

I love these great United States
Where I live, and work, and play.
A place so grand,  it can’t be beat.
God Bless the U.S.A!

A place of gorgeous mountains
That take your breath away.
A rushing brook completes the scene.
God Bless the U.S.A!

It is a place of vast, green plains
Where the grass does gently sway
And where the summer breezes blow.
God Bless the U.S.A!

We’re founded on the Bible
“In God We Trust,” we say.
We are a nation under God.
God Bless the U.S.A!

Our flag is flying up so high
Where the wind does make it sway.
It stirs my soul down deep inside.
God Bless the U.S.A!

Our military is the best
As they charge into the fray.
In air, on sea, they’re everywhere!
God Bless the U.S.A!

We have no king or tyrant
No dictator to obey.
We have the right to cast a vote.
God Bless the U.S.A!

When I think of all these things
And what has come our way
I get excited in my soul.
God HAS Blessed the U.S.A!

But, no matter how much we’re blessed,
God’s laws we don’t obey.
We are selfishly ungrateful
Yet God Blesses the U.S.A!

“Forget the Ten Commandments!
We don’t like them anyway.”
This is the cry of rebellious souls.
Yet God Blesses the U.S.A!

An abomination to the Lord
Aborting babies every day.
Our hands have shed the innocent’s blood.
Still God Blesses the U.S.A!

We lie, we steal, we cheat, we swear.
It’s getting worse each day.
But as we mock and curse His name
God Still Blesses the U.S.A!

America, come back to God
We have gone so far astray.
Let every one, both far and near
Bless God in the U.S.A!

~Ricky Walter~

This week I am preaching in the beautiful central coast of California at the Central Baptist Church of Marina. This church was started out of my father’s church back in 1981, and they are still going strong. Church planting really does work.

It was great to see a full house of people coming to be fed by the Word of God. The music was exciting, the spirit was great, and the Holy Spirit’s presence was evident. When the invitation was given, the altars were full and one man walked the aisle to receive Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour.

Pastor William Wallace has been a friend of mine for many years. We have both grown up in the ministry together, and it’s great to see how the Lord is working in his ministry. It’s exciting to be with a man who believes that the old paths still work. Pastor Wallace has not looked for new ways to build a church. He has not tried to change to the emerging church philosophy to build a church. Pastor Wallace has stuck to the old paths, and God is using him in a great way to reach the Central Coast of California.

Please pray for the remainder of this week as the meeting goes through Tuesday night. We have a special service on Tuesday night with Bro. Alvin Martinez singing and preaching with me. If you’re in the area, I invite you to come to the services on Monday and Tuesday evening at 7 PM.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of being picked up at the airport by Missionary Church Planter, Nathan Owens. He drove me over to a building in Tyler, TX where he plans on starting the Victory Baptist Church. His goals are to get the church started, and after several weeks of discipling the converts, he will hand the church over to a pastor.

Tyler, Texas is a town of over 200,000 people. God allowed a building to be given so that a church could be started. Though there are several projects that require financial assistance, we are excited that an old paths Baptist church will be planted in this town. My home church, Longview Baptist Temple, is assisting in the start. Our church has sent several soul winners and passed out thousands of flyers with many promising to come on the first Sunday.

Please pray for the opening Sunday which is May 18, 2014. Pray that many will be in attendance and that souls will be saved. Please pray that the finances to help with the parking lot and several building improvements will be supplied. Pray that the right man will be found to pastor this great work. Most of all, please pray for Bro. Owens, his family and those helping for wisdom in establishing the great work.

This morning I started a meeting at the Gospel Light Baptist Church in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Over twenty-five years ago, Pastor Brent Lenentine started this church. Little did he realize what God would do through that church plant. The church has continued to grow and they are aggressively going after the lost in the Albuquerque area.

God was awesome this morning giving us a great crowd and meeting with us. The music, led by Bro. Mark Lenentine, was outstanding. The auditorium was full and the people were very responsive during the music and preaching. I preached this morning on “The Meaning of the Cross.” Three meanings of the cross were explained, then I reminded the people that the cross is not the end, but it’s the beginning. I reminded them that it doesn’t matter what cross a person may have to carry, if they will keep going they too can see a resurrection. They were reminded that there is no resurrection without the cross. The altars were filled and the God gave us several salvations and 9 baptisms.

One of the things I love about this church is they have not lost the vision of planting churches. They have assisted in starting several churches around New Mexico, and Pastor Lenentine told me he has plans of helping plant many more churches. With a vision like this, the state of New Mexico has hope that they can be reached for Jesus Christ.

I’m looking forward to the remaining services of the week. If you are in the Albuquerque area, we would love to have to support the meeting by attending Monday and Tuesday night at 7pm. We look forward to seeing you there.

On Saturday, I flew into Huntsville, Alabama, and rented a car to drive to Hixson, TN, as that was the only flight that could get me there in time to preach a youth rally for Pastor Steve Cape and the Hillside Baptist Church of Hixson, TN. There were several churches represented with the auditorium full. The youth enjoyed the barbecue and activities that the church provided.

After several activities, I got up and preached to a group of young people who were very receptive to old paths preaching. I showed how Eve listened to a voice she never knew over a God Who loved her. I told the teenagers that this story happens over and over again today when teenagers and adults alike will listen to someone who has done nothing for them over their parents, pastor and God who has done everything for them. When the invitation was given, the altars were full with young people getting things right with God. The invitation continued as pastors and youth pastors gathered their groups together around the auditorium and they prayed together to let God be the voice to which they would listen. God gave us 2 saved and 3 surrendering to full-time service in this invitation.

This morning started the revival meeting with the church. The presence of the Holy Spirit was evident from Sunday school throughout the morning service. I preached on The Key to Finishing. When the invitation was given, there were many people at the altars with 2 more accepting Christ as Saviour. Tears were being wiped from faces as God did a work in each individuals heart.

What is very evident is that people truly want old paths preaching. Preaching that is not afraid to name sin, but also preaching that will be the healing balm of Gilead. The old paths have worked since the beginning, and they still work today. They are not just for the old, but it is very evident that the youth of today still desire the old paths.

If you are in the Hixson, TN area for the next couple of days, come be a part of this great meeting. The services will start at 7pm Monday and Tuesday evening. We would love to see you there.

Today I started a meeting at the West Park Baptist Church in Rockwell, NC. Pastor Charley Carver has been the pastor at this church for 29 years. It is an amazing church! Today the auditorium was filled with people coming to church to have God work in their hearts. God certainly did so with the altars filled this morning and tonight. I would invite anyone in this area to support the meeting Monday and Tuesday evening at 7pm.

I have known Pastor Carver for many years. What I enjoy about Pastor Carver is his love for the old paths. Though he has recently endured some battles in his church, he unapologetically stands for the old paths. This is the type of preacher that this country had when it was strong. I appreciate the people at West Park Baptist Church and the hospitality they have shown to this preacher.

I look forward to seeing what the LORD is going to do in the next two nights as we continue to preach about the old paths. Please keep this meeting in your prayers that the LORD will do a great work in the Rockwell area the next couple of days.

This week I have the privilege of being with the great people at Maranatha Baptist Church in Bethany, Oklahoma. I am privileged to be able to share the pulpit in each service with Dr. Bob Gray, Sr. In Sunday school I taught a lesson on marriage and in the morning service Dr. Gray preached a great sermon on “Longsuffering.” It’s amazing how the LORD took both sermons and put them together to feed His people. The altars were filled as many were making decisions for Christ.

I feel like I’m in the presence of greatness this week. Bro. Charley O’Daniel has pastored this church for 33 years. Then, Dr. Bob Gray Sr. pastored the Longview Baptist Temple, my home church, for 29 years. There is something to say about longevity. Both of these men are able to talk about the blessings of God and what He did through their ministries because they stayed. They didn’t just stay, but they have strongly stood for the old paths and not wavered or looked for growth or new paths. You will never see the greatest blessings of God without longevity and faithfulness to the old paths.

The services will continue through the rest of the week. Come hear Dr. Bob Gray Sr. and myself on Monday and Tuesday night at 7pm if you are in the area.

This week I am preaching at the Calvary Baptist Church just outside of Fresno, California, in the Caruthers area. Pastor Billy Robinette took over this country church over 4 years ago. They are literally located in the middle of farm country. All around the church are vineyards, but the people still drive in to hear the preaching of the Word of God. It was exciting to see the church house filled in this country church. Their theme for the year is, “A Place to Grow,” and they are taking it seriously. They are a country church who still practice the old paths. I’m looking forward to the rest of the week to see what the LORD is going to do in the hearts of His people.

One thing that I enjoy about Pastor Robinette is his vision. He is excited about where the LORD has placed him, but he is not confining his vision to a small farming community. It’s an honor to preach for someone who understands the need for people to have an old paths Baptist church in a rural community, but also has a world vision for souls like Christ has. Thank God for faithful men like Bro. Robinette.

There was another special blessing we had this morning when Evangelist Buddy Blunkall and his family sang the special for the service. Bro. Blunkall at the end of last year had a stroke and was put into a medically induced coma. It was exciting to talk to him this morning and to see him on the mend. Please continue to pray for his healing so he can get back on the evangelistic trails to be a help to churches.

Today I had the opportunity to preach at the Commonwealth Baptist College. It was a great privilege that Dr. Jeff Fugate would ask me to preach in the college. The college has built a new building, and the LORD has already filled it for them. They are part of the team who prepares young people to carry on the old paths. I appreciate a college that is not looking for new paths or growth paths, but they are very set in walking in the old paths. God blessed in the services, and the altars were full. Thank you to the college students and faculty who made me feel welcome.