Jeremiah 8:20-21 says, “the harvest is past, the summer has ended and we are not saved.” “Since my people are crushed, I am crushed.” Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. He shed many tears over the lost-ness of his people.

As we come to the end of another year, I feel like Jeremiah. Harvest is ended, summer has past and there are many people here in Columbia Falls who are not saved. I realize this is the mission field to which God has called me and my heart is broken to realize that this year we only baptized 2 people. Our average of baptisms per year has been 7 per year for the last 12 years since I have been pastor of North Valley Baptist. Though this number is far above the average of Southern Baptist Churches, it does not come anywhere near fulfilling the Great Commission.

I heard on the news today that our population in the United States just topped 300 million people. I could not help but wonder, out of that 300 million people, how many are truly saved. The Flathead Valley and Columbia Falls is growing at a rapid pace as people are seeking a safe and peaceful place to live and raise their families. The thing that they don’t realize is that true peace can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ and our environment is a safer place to live only when people live by Biblical principals. North Valley Baptist church is here to help them discover this truth. So how can we do it?

• First – pray for God’s Spirit to move us as it moved the prophet Jeremiah.
• Second – pray for the President and our church, including your pastor.
• Third – pray for revival in America – that there will be a harvest of souls.
• Fourth – believe God for the harvest (Matt. 9:37-38)
• Fifth – be willing to work in the harvest field. Be willing to go after people to win them to Jesus.

It is my prayer and heart’s desire that in the coming year, we will win and baptize more people than ever before in the life of our church. I pray that next year we can say “harvest is past, summer has ended and a record number of people were saved!”

In His Love,
Pastor Rick

Bible Studies Sunday @ 9:45 AM & Wednesday @ 6:30 PM  -  Worship Sunday @ 11:00 AM