The Power of
the Printed Page

I read of a grocery store clerk in Czechoslovakia who was sentenced to five years of hard labor for owning anunlicensed mimeograph machine!" Another article told of an order issued by Romanian president-dictator, Nicolae Ceauscscu, forbidding the ownership or even the use of a typewriter by anyone who posesa threat to public order or state security."

These items brought two things to mind: First, how grateful we should be to live 'in the United States of America where freedom of speech is a right guaranteed by the Constitution. Second, the two items mentioned above emphasized something that we perhaps have overlooked or forgotten - the power of the printed page. If the written word was not an effective way to reach people and convert them to a doctrine or philosophy, then communists and other dictatorial leaders would not have such fear of it. As it is, they wish to use it to promote their own causes and disallow it to any who might disagree.

God has put our salvation in a message - the gospel - the good news. The Word of God has tremendous power. It is a two-edged sword which can pierce men's hearts, bring them to repentance, teach them of salvation, change lives, change the world! But before God's Word can be effective, it must be communicated. There are many avenues available to spread the gospel of Christ, but none is more effective than the printed page.

We should use every opportunity available to put Christian literature into the hands of people who need it. Gospel tracts are still a good way to evangelize. They can be handed out to friends, distributed door-to-door, placed in offices, and put in every sack of food or clothing given to the needy. The freedom to share God's word in this fashion is guaranteed to us as Americans, and I believe God expects us to use it!

We should also support the efforts of our missionaries abroad who are making great sacrifices of both money and personal safety to put God's word into the hands of multitudes of people in those nations where the Lord is not known. Their pleas for money, Bibles, and other literature must be met.

So don't just thank God for your freedom - use it to lead others to Christ! ❦

Thanks!
Thanks to all who did their part to make our Gospel Meeting a success. Brother Clark delivered some excellent lessons that both built up the church and reached out to the lost in a straight forward and loving manner. And beside this, the singing was truly awesome. The attendance for the series was:

Restored
We rejoiced with the angels in Heaven at the response of sister Sherry Hobbs who came forward on Wednesday evening confessing sin in her life and asking for the prayers of the church. Keep Sherry in your prayers that she might have the strength to overcome the many problems in her life.

Add To Your Directory
Please add the following information concerning our newest members, the Calero family:

CALERO, Jose & Angelica.........***-****
Kevin
*** ** ******* ** - *** ****** ** *****
(see "Members Only" for details)

Youth Devo
The teen group is scheduled to have a devotional and fellowship tonight after the evening services. See Matt Faneuf or Bob Bauer for more info.

In the following I believe there is more truth than rhyme.Now I sit me down to sleep; the sermon's long and the subject deep. If he should quit before I wake, someone give me a little shake." Did we think about God Saturday night or did the movies or TV take His place.

UPCOMING AREA EVENTS:

• Oct. 17, 2002 - Fla. School of Preaching
Booster Banquet
in the S. Fla Ave fellowship room.

• Jan 20-23, 2003 - Fla. School of Preaching
28th Annual Lecturship.
"Do You Understand Fellowship"
Complete schedules are posted online