Yesterday was a tremendous moment in time for Bethany. We held our annual gathering of all services and campuses called Bethany United. This years gathering was themed “For the glory of God”. His presence was there in a mighty way. Dad preached on how we should live our lives for His glory and not for ourselves. It is humanism that comes in and causes us to think that God exists for our happiness instead of us existing for His glory. Boy, what a message for the church of today!
Yesterday’s gathering was a small picture of what the Lord is doing all over the nations of the world in uniting His Church for the final harvest of souls. When we are able to lay down our differences, preferences, and pre-conceived ideas for the sake of the Kingdom of God and the glorious King, things that we never dreamed possible can take place.
It was a great joy for me to see the beautiful variety of young and old, black and white, rich and poor coming together for the cause of Christ and under the banner of the local church. Sadly, not many churches have come to such a place of Kingdom awareness that they could gather and be so well represented by every sector of society. It should be our prayer that this happens more and more!
Psa. 133:1- How wonderful and pleasant it us when brothers live together in harmony!
hey Pastor Joel i was watching over the live campus and it was really cool to see how wild and crazy you get for god i love seeing that In your church! I love the fans that people have down there after worship that was awesome from up here in the north we dont use fans but i thought it was cool that yyou had them that was really cool your awesome passtor Joel keep preaching the word and your dad was amzing omgosh your really cool and really sweet!! Love you p Joel keep announcing the word of god
love ya
rachael
Pastor Joel,
I was excited to see all the campuses unite yesterday. The praise and worship seemed so strong and powerful. I was excited to see you playing the violin again!! I love it when you play…there is such an anointing. Bethany World Prayer Center has impacted my life and the life of my family in such a way that is indescribable. I praise God every day that BWPC was established and I know the mission of the house is sound and unshakable.
Brad B.
I just wanted to say amen to all you just wrote! Yesterday was so exciting! When u started singing the presence of the Lord is here, i felt like I was going to jump through the roof. Everyone was so excited, on one accord, worshipping Jesus. I didnt want to leave or want it to end. also, a friend of mine and i brought someone who was not saved with us to the service. he got saved, and asked us to bring him to the journey service that night to get baptized! so from the awesome presence of God that was in the church yesterday, someone we had been praying for for a long time was saved and per his own wishes, wanted to get baptized! Jesus is great and we have the best church ever! Im forever grateful for everyone at Bethany:) Love ya pastor Joel, and be blessed in Jesus’s name!
Bethany United was fantastic! I’m so glad to be part of a church that does so much to glorify God & spread the gospel. The extended time of worship with dancing, Deluge, the choirs, the always striking addition of the violin & the harp made for a great celebration of the successes in the Lost series & the work accomplished in the schools already. The worship & P. Larry’s message worked together in such a powerful way. It always amazes me how a church the size of Bethany can have such a welcoming & family-like atmosphere, & Baton Rouge is blessed to be its home.
Praise God! Not only did all that happen but the girl i brought got saved! I thought she would be scared of how crazy we were but the Holy Ghost convicted her heart and she went forward without hesitation for salvation! Hallelujah!
This is awesome. God is definitely raising the bar where this kind of community is concerned. We need each other! Thank God for all the things that He has done.
Praise God for unity. People have been saying that we need to have more than one Bethany United service each year. The beauty of the sanctuary filled with people who are hungry for Jesus was glorious to behold.