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Taking the hope of Christ to every neighbor, our nation, and the nations.

Author: Dr. Joshua K. Smith

Dr. Joshua K. Smith is a pastor and Bible College Professor. He is a graduate of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College and Liberty University. As a pastor, Josh has a love for Christ's church and it's Kingdom work. In addition, he has a passion for helping others to become more like Christ in life and ministry. He is married to Jessica and they have three children Abram, Annabelle, and Ashton.
Something to Celebrate! — August 31, 2018

Something to Celebrate!

/Dr. Joshua K. Smith/Leave a comment

Recovering-Redemption

Something to Celebrate!

Some suggest that our community has a drug problem.  Would it surprise you if I said that I disagree?  We don’t have a drug problem rather we have a sin problem.  In all reality drug use like any other vice is just a subset of a much deeper condition of the human heart.  Therefore, it is absolutely vital that we help folks to recover from a life of addiction by pointing them to the redemption that is only available through Jesus Christ.

With that said, today marks the 3 year anniversary of East Barbourville Baptist Church’s recovery ministry which meets every Friday from 12:30 P.M. – 2:30 P.M.  In these meetings participants are introduced to biblical truth, encouraged through personal testimonies, and have access to a licensed Christian chemical dependency counselor.  In addition, childcare is provided along with lunch.  Therefore, we are not surprised by the recent surge in attendance that we have seen.  As a matter of fact, on a typical Friday, we have the privilege of ministering to 15-17 people.

While we wish that meetings like ours were not needed in our community we are thankful that God is bringing these people our way so that we can show the love of Christ to them.  I assure you from the observations that we have made and the testimonies that we often receive this ministry is making a difference one life at a time.  Therefore, on this day we celebrate our volunteers who commit their time each week to serve.  Thank you, Sherry Harris, Susan Poff, Peggy Messer, Louise Peters, Tammy Farmer, Jerri Campbell, Barry Rowland, Steve Farmer, and Jason Ball for the various contributions that you have made during these last three years.  In addition, we celebrate our participants because of the grit and determination that they are displaying in the fight of their life against this stronghold called addiction.  Ultimately the war on drugs will be won through them as they trailblaze a path to sobriety that others will want to follow.  Finally, and most importantly we thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It is because of Him and His healing power that we have seen some of these folks get saved, baptized, find employment, reconcile their marriage, regain custody of their children, etc.  Therefore, take a moment to pray for this arm of our ministry and be sure to thank God for how He is using it to help our friends and neighbors.  To God be the glory!!

Let’s get ready for Revival!! — August 29, 2018

Let’s get ready for Revival!!

/Dr. Joshua K. Smith/Leave a comment

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Let’s get ready for Revival!!

Yes, we are less than a week away from our revival services with evangelist Rick Coram! In addition, we are looking forward to hosting the music ministries of some of our sister churches in the area during each evening service.  On Sunday night the choir from Oak Grove Baptist Church in Corbin Kentucky will be with us.  Then on Monday night we will host the choir from Turkey Creek Baptist followed by Beacon Baptist Church in our Tuesday evening service. Then we will conclude the services Wednesday night with the choir from Swan Pond Baptist Church as our guests.

With that said I want to ask you to make a twofold commitment. First, I want you to commit to praying for these revival services. In the remaining days leading up to our services please pray for God to impact all of our lives in a way that will forver change how we love, live for, and serve the Lord.  As you pray remember to pray for our evangelist and the choirs who will join us each night. Second, I want to ask you to commit to attending each service (Sunday-Wednesday). Yes, I know we are all busy but this will be time well spent. Therefore, like my own family, there will be weekly activities, practices, etc that will have to be missed or rescheduled in order for us all to position ourselves to hear from the Lord. Again the date of our revival is September 2nd -5th. Thank you in advance for your willingness to honor these two commitments.

In Christ,

Pastor Josh

The Countdown to Revival 2018! — June 26, 2018

The Countdown to Revival 2018!

/Dr. Joshua K. Smith/1 Comment

Starting Sunday, September 2nd-5th, 2018 East Barbourville Baptist Church will host Evangelist Rick Coram for revival services.  Bro. Rick resides in Jacksonville Florida where he is a member of the North Jacksonville Baptist Church.  As you know revival meetings are rare these days yet Bro. Rick has been serving as a full-time evangelist since 1988 holding at least 45 revival/crusade meetings a year in churches and venues of all sizes.

With that said I am confident that we are going to hear some great preaching in each and every service!  However, I’m praying that the 2nd-5th proves to be more than just that.  I’m praying for each one of us to have a divine encounter with God that dramatically impacts the way that we love, live for, and serve the Lord.  Yes, I know how busy we all are but please set aside these dates to ensure that you will be able to attend all of these services.  In doing so you will have positioned yourself and those that you hopefully bring with you to hear from the Lord.  Thank you in advance for your faithfulness in praying for and participating in these revival services!

– Pastor Josh