Safely Home

Well, we're finally home from Florida . . . a day later than planned. The delay was not a bad thing, however. We had a wonderful time and God truly blessed us over the weekend. Sorry I was unable to update the blog while we were away, but every time we got near a computer I was too busy to even think of trying to sit down at a keyboard.

Stephanie did a great job singing at a leadership rally on Saturday night and again for morning worship yesterday at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Pensacola. It was a blessing for me to be able to attend a service and just be ministered to. I didn't have to do anything other than enjoy it. We preachers need that every now and then, and I just soaked it in. It was a time of refreshing for me, and I am definitely excited about getting back to EFBC and getting back in the pulpit.

We were blessed over the weekend to be able to stay in a missions home that is owned by retired missionaries Mel and Mary Lou Gentry. They had long dreamed of having a house that could be used only for ministry purposes, and when the house next door to theirs went on the market, they bought it. What an incredible experience to have full use of a four bedroom, two and a half bath, fully furnished home during our stay in Pensacola. Trust me, you would have stayed an extra night, too!

It was also great to spend some time with our good friends Johnny and Beth Carr and their three children. This was our first chance to really get to know their son James, who they adopted from China back in September. James was born with serious hearing loss, and because of that he was abandoned at age three and placed in a Chinese orphanage. Johnny and Beth had long wanted to adopt a deaf child, and when they found out about James, they worked tirelessly to make the adoption happen. Now, they are planning on adopting a deaf girl from China who is about the same age as James, who is now five years old. They don't know how long it will take for all the pieces of the international adoption puzzle to fall into place, but they are already making plans to expand their family once again. Please keep them in your prayers.

Well, I've rambled on enough for tonight. Looking forward to being back with my church family on Wednesday night. Hope you'll be there!

Bro. Shane