The Missing Link?

I admit it! I love to watch the Discovery Channel. I especially like the shows that deal with archeology – the stuff that Indiana Jones is made of. Not long ago, I saw a documentary about the building of the pyramids in Egypt, the centerpiece of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World. And while all the pyramids are architectural and engineering marvels, the Great Pyramid staggers the imagination. According to the documentary, that one stands 450 feet from the desert floor and covers 13 acres. It contains more than 2 million stone blocks that average 2 1/2 tons each. The program host, attempting to explain the difficulty of building such a huge complex structure using ancient technology said, “It’s the equivalent of carving Mt. Rushmore with a butter knife.”

But while we’re overwhelmed by the finished product, the process is simple – not easy but simple. If you have a good plan, add enough people doing their jobs according to the plan, blend in the appropriate amount of energy, and equip them with the right tools, over time you’ll get a pyramid. It isn’t a quick process (there’s no such thing as “instant pyramid”) but it produces results.

It occurs to me that evangelism is much like that. Like pyramid building, regeneration of a human heart is not an instantaneous event. Certainly, there comes a time in the process when one must decide to accept God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, but the words “quick” and “conversion” just don’t go together. In fact, "Quickie Conversions" are often the result of misunderstanding or deception, built more on emotion than on grace through faith. Coming to Jesus is a process of seeking the “missing” in our lives. I wonder how many questions Nicodemus asked before he brought his list to Jesus; how much rejection the Samaritan woman experienced before she experienced the acceptance of the Savior; how many Christian testimonies Saul silenced before he yielded to their message.

Ron Walters describes conversion as a journey of 1 to 100. Each step is linked together to form the pilgrimage, and God uses believers to create those links. A person moves from 1 to 6 as she’s invited to church for the first time. A Christian friend shares a simple testimony and moves her from 11 to 14. Seeking more, she begins to read the Bible…19 to 27. A co-worker reaches out to meet a need in the name of Jesus…30 to 36. She attends a Christian concert....40 to 45. She comes back to church with an open mind....58-70. She asks questions about the message....75 to 86. Someone walks her through the plan of Salvation....90 to 98. She prays a prayer of faith and repentance....99 to 100.

A new soul in the Kingdom! The Angels rejoice! But who led her to Christ? Lot’s of folks. God designed the perfect plan. He called believers to do their jobs; filled them with the energy of the Holy Spirit; equipped them to fulfill their roles; and in his time, you get a new Christian! That’s the formula: God’s people willingly and obediently answering his call to share the love of Christ in situations and under circumstances that he designs and creates.

This divine construction plan uses every phone call, every visit, every sermon, every Sunday School lesson, every song, every prayer, every testimony, every need met in the name of Jesus. God calls every believer to be a vital link in that chain to equip the saints and to build up the body of Christ. Do you sense his call? Respond today. Don’t be the missing link!

Blessings,

Mike

Weekly Activities

Minister on Call

 

If you have a ministerial need over the weekend please contact the minister on call:

2nd & 3rd Caroline Allen
Home: 467-8692
Cell: 522-3046

9th & 10th Mike Eddinger
Home: 469-4174
Cell: 805-1022

16th & 17th Michelle Anderson
Home: 481-6673
Cell: 368-6508

23rd & 24th Caroline Allen
Home: 467-8692
Cell: 522-3046

30th & 31st Mike Eddinger
Home: 469-4174
Cell: 805-1022

*Look every month in the West Wind for the
schedule.

 

May Sermon Topics

3rd -Confident Christian Living
1 John 3:16-24

10th - The Not So Simple Gospel
Acts 8:26-40

17th - One Spirit - One Body
Acts 10:44-48

24th - The Ripple Effect of Prayer
John 17:6-19

31st - Youth Sunday

 

Mission Statement

A community of believers
worshiping God, making
disciples and sharing
Christ’s love

Mike Eddinger, Pastor
Caroline Allen, Minister of Music
& Worship
Michelle Anderson, Minister of Youth
Becky Bullock, Administrative Assistant
Sandy Dennis, Secretary
Rob McLain, Deacon Chair
Diane Owens, Pianist
Kim Taylor, Organist

May 3rd ~ 6:30pm, YAC

May 10th ~ Mother’s Day, No YAC

May 15th & 16th ~ Camping Trip

May 17th ~ 12:00pm, Church Picnic, No YAC

May 24th ~ 6:30pm, YAC

May 27th ~ 6:00-7:30pm, Dress rehearsal for Youth Sunday

May 30th ~ 10:00am-Noon, Dress rehearsal for Youth Sunday

May 31st ~ 10:30am, Youth Sunday—No YAC

Wednesday Schedule

On Wednesdays we have a missions study
from 6:00-7:00pm and Praise Band practice
from 7:00-7:30pm. Those youth not involved
with Praise Band may fellowship quietly or
work on homework in a side room.

 

GriefShare

June 2

A new GriefShare session will start June 2nd through August 25th on Tuesday evenings from 7:00-9:00pm in Room 209. It is a Bible-based, Christ-centered program for anyone who has lost a loved one. Please feel free to pass this schedule to friends and family who might benefit from this 13 week program. For more information, please contact Jackie Woodcock and/or view the GriefShare website: www.griefshare.com.

 

Baptist Men's Breakfast
Saturday, May 2, 8am

A Baptist Men’s breakfast will be held on Saturday, May 2 at 8:00am followed by a mission project at the Carying Place.
Carying Place in Cary provides temporary housing for families in a 16-week transition program. Our job will be assisting in moving furniture either to a house or apartment or moving furniture to storage. Elvin Yancey is the team leader for this project. If you can help, please call Elvin (469-2449). A sign up sheet is located in Hallway A.
Frank Prince and his crew will prepare breakfast. Breakfast is for everyone not just men. Breakfast is free but you need to sign up in Hall A.

Mission Project

During the month of May we will be collecting items for the Pregnancy Care Center at Drexel, NC. The Center needs the following items: Diapers size 2, 3, 4, & 5, baby wipes, baby bottles, diaper rash cream, baby bath, shampoo, lotion and powder, receiving blankets, crib sheets, baby socks and newborn outfits. Please put your donation in the large container beside the Media Center. Your support will help women who are experiencing the challenges of an unexpected pregnancy.

CBFNC State Missions Ingathering

May 3rd

Our ingathering for our CBFNC State Missions Offering will be Sunday May 3rd. This year our goal is $10,000. Of the amount collected, 50% will go to support CBFNC missions projects such as the Boys and Girls Homes of NC, Disaster Relief, NC Missions Initiative, and Church Planting, 25% will go to the Belize Partnership and 25% to the Village of Hope project to rescue street children in Kiev, Ukraine. Plan now to participate in our Ingathering Service and help us share God’s love through our Missions Offering.

A thank you note has been received from John & Anna Ferdinando, Harold Stierhoff, Marcelle Ellers & Family and Ray & Terry Campbell & Family. Please stop by the bulletin board in Hall A to read their words of appreciation.

RA/GA /Mission Friends Recognition Night

May 20

6:30pm in the Sanctuary
Ice Cream Social in
Fellowship Hall

 

Westwood Mission Groups

Are you aware that there are 4 mission groups at Westwood? The purpose of these groups is to learn about Cooperative Baptist Missions, pray for and support mission activities of Cooperative Baptists as well as Westwood mission projects, and to participate in specific ministries determined by the individual mission group.

Round Table Book Club ~ Dot Shearin
3rd Tuesday, 10:00am at church
Project: Packages to troops in Afghanistan

Current Mission Group ~ Wilda Prince
4th Tuesday, 10:00am at church
Dorcas Shop and other projects

Noon Mission Group ~ Penny Faulkner
4th Tuesday, 12:00 noon, lunch in homes
Project: Raleigh Rescue Mission

Monday Night Mission Group ~ Linda McDaniel
2nd Monday, 7:00pm in homes
Project: Western Wake Crisis Ministry, Apex
Call Joann Giles or a group leader for further information.
You will be welcome in any group!

Wednesday Evening Pastor's Bible Study

The Book of Psalms is the longest book of the Bible and it is a compilation of material written by different people. While most of Scripture is God’s revelation to humanity, the Psalms are the words of fellow human beings directed to God. God’s covenant people use these inspired lyrics to express their hearts, their feelings to Creator God. God created us to experience the full spectrum of emotions in our lives. During the months of May through July, we’ll explore the emotions expressed in several of the Psalms, focusing on the godly and ungodly ways to handle these experiences. The topics for May are listed below. Come join us on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall.

May 6
Abandonment: When You Feel Alone
Psalm 22:1-31

May 13
Fear: When You’re Scared Senseless
Psalm 55:1-23

May 20
RA/GA/Mission Friends Recognition Service
Ice Cream Social

May 27
Gratitude: More Than Just An Attitude
Psalm 136:1-26

Annual Churchwide Picnic

May 17

Dress casual for church and join us for a covered dish lunch following the worship service at Apex Community Park (off Laura Duncan Rd.)

Westwood Choir

Now is a great time to join the Westwood Choir. Rehearsal is every Wednesday, 7:40-8:45pm. We invite our Adults, Middle School and High School students to participate! This ministry is growing and we need ALL INTERESTED SINGERS to join us. Please pray about your involvement in this important ministry. We prepare anthems and other music for worship making a joyful noise unto the Lord! For more information, contact Nancy Hunter 469-0035 or Caroline Allen 522-3046.
Look forward to seeing you soon!

Vacation Bible School

July 12th - 16th

5:30pm ~ Dinner
6:00-8:00pm ~ VBS

WE NEED YOU!
If you would like to volunteer to help with VBS, please sign up on the bulletin board in Hall B, in front of the Media Center.