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Seeking to Serve Others

By June 25, 2010September 7th, 2023No Comments

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.—Josh Brown, a member of Faith Baptist Church, Winterhaven, Fla., has been awarded the 2010 GARBC Student Service Award, part of the activities on the last full day of the GARBC Conference.

John Greening presented the award to Josh during the evening service, noting his many church ministries, including serving as his church’s VBS director.

Josh was nominated for the honor by Stephen Simpson, Josh’s friend and staff supervisor at Faith Baptist.

“When I think of Josh Brown, I see a young man who enjoys helping people,” Simpson says . “Josh does not strike me as the kind of person who comes to church seeking to be served. He comes to church seeking to serve others.”

The Thursday evening service also marked the final sermon by Dan Davey, preaching from Daniel 10 as the weeklong series of expository sermons nears conclusion.

“I have had so many people come to me, expressing appreciation for Dr. Davey,” John Greening said as he introduced the sermon. “He’s not the person who steps into the pulpit and says, ‘Look at me, look at me!’ He says, ‘Look at God!’ ”

Just before the service started, John Murdoch, director of Regular Baptist Chaplaincy Ministries, had an unusual opportunity.

“Jacob Farrell has prayed for me every day since he was three years old,” says Chaplain Murdoch. “His parents used to complain that he’d pray for me and then forget to pray for the food!”

Murdoch, the GARBC chaplaincy endorser for the past 13 years, kept track of Jacob and had an opportunity to return the favor Thursday. Jacob played his trumpet in the Talents For Christ competition, and was then invited to play for the prelude of the Thursday evening service of the 2010 GARBC Conference.

“Today, I prayed for him!” Murdoch said, happily explaining how he and Jacob met for prayer before the service.

Earlier in the day, Murdoch had reported on several aspects of the chaplaincy, introducing each chaplain in attendance and giving a review of each kind of chaplaincy ministry. In addition to military chaplains, Murdoch said the chaplaincy can also include hospitals, prisons, corporations, police and fire, and different forms of lay ministry.

Bernie Augsburger, state representative for the Illinois-Missouri Association of Regular Baptist Churches, read a resolution drafted by Chaplain Murdoch with the assistance of several other chaplains. Messengers then discussed and approved the “Resolution on the Open Practice of Homosexuality in the Military,” a response to proposed legislation that would revoke the military’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The resolution can be printed from conferencedev.garbc.org.

Chaplain Murdoch ended his summary by addressing the gathered guests: “It’s an honor to serve you” as the uniformed chaplains exited to a standing ovation.

Teens spent most of the day rehearsing and then competing in the annual Talents For Christ competition. Read more in “TFC: One Goal.”

In the afternoon, about 50 former members of Belden Baptist Church held a reunion at the GARBC Resource Center, organized by Donna Williams, wife of retired pastor Roger Williams.