First, thank you to all who came over to the new facility to help do some general clean up. You guys made the building look much better and the early setup for tomorrow afternoon’s gathering helped take the pressure off preparations. It’s an honor to serve with you all.
Jim Ranking at LifePoint tomorrow
As we have been sharing with you the past few weeks, our missionary friend and explorer, Jim Rankin, will return to LifePoint tomorrow. Based upon his investigations to discover the rumored Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia and his ministry to the Ethiopian people, Jim has learned and experienced many amazing things. Tomorrow, he’ll be sharing a special message in our 11am service entitled, “The Frankincense King.” I am excited to hear this new message. I know it’ll be a blessing. You won’t want to miss it.
Many thanks for 50 years in the ministry
As most of you know, this year I am celebrating my 50th year of preaching. Honestly, it is unbelievable to even contemplate that number. As a frightened 16-year-old boy preaching his first sermon at Faith Freewill Baptist Church in south Ft. Smith, AR, I would have never imagined back then that I would still be preaching 50 years later. It is certainly only by God’s mercy and grace that I have been honored to preach at all – especially for 50 years. Incredibly, I was only 23 years old when I began serving vocationally under Dr. Bill Bennett at First Baptist Church, Ft. Smith, AR and I have been serving on a church staff since then – which is 43 of my 50 years of preaching. That is amazing to me.
In addition to God’s mercy and grace, I owe a great deal of gratitude to many people. First and foremost, I want to thank my wife, Pam. No doubt, her constant faithfulness to the Lord and to the ministry; and her steadfast love for me (though completely undeserved) have made it possible for me to continue in the ministry so many years. This year is not only marks my 50th year in the ministry, it is also marks almost that many years of Pam’s faithfulness as well. I could not have accomplished any of this without her. Beyond the Lord, she is the force that has propelled me forward. Thank you, Pam. I love you.
I also owe a great debt of gratitude to my first pastor, Brother Gilbert Pixley. It was under his leadership that I first felt the call to preach. Even though I was just a young boy of 10, Bro Gilbert did not push me aside, but instead, encouraged and endorsed my call. As the years passed, he supported me and invited me to preach on several occasions in his church. His faith in me meant more than he ever knew. In fact, I’m not certain I would have ever even taken my first step into the ministry without Bro. Gilbert’s help. Although he’s been in heaven many years, I look forward to thanking him when I see him again.
Someone else to whom I owe a great deal of gratitude is Dr. Bill Bennett, the long-time pastor of First Baptist Church in Ft. Smith, AR. Because Dr. Bennett was willing to “take a chance” on a young, unprepared, untried, untrained kid preacher from Van Buren, AR, I was able to not only join the Southern Baptists among who I found a home and place of ministry, but I was also able to learn much in preparation for these many years of ministry I have enjoyed. Without his instruction and endorsement, I would likely never have been invited to pastor a single church. Although Dr. Bennett went to be with the Lord a few years ago, I want to give him the recognition he deserves. As with Bro. Gilbert, I look forward to seeing Dr. Bennett again in heaven where I will be able to thank him again for taking a chance on someone like me.
Two other people I would like to recognize in this email have stood faithfully beside me in ministry since 1992. They are Gary and Belinda Davis. Not only have they faithfully served in every church I’ve pastored since I came to central Oklahoma 34 years ago, they have also stood with us through many challenges and trials. I’m not certain where Pam and I would be without their friendship, but I’m pretty certain it would likely not be in the ministry. Thank you, Gary and Belinda, for your friendship, support, and constant labor in the Kingdom. You are greatly treasured – not just by Pam and me, but by many others as well. The Lord will not forget your service on His behalf. You guys have been and continue to be an incredible blessing to us.
Church wide fellowship tomorrow
Although I feel extremely underserving of the effort, many in our church have organized a special fellowship tomorrow afternoon to celebrate my 50 years in the ministry. There will be a wonderful meal prepared by our hospitality team and then a short program. The “festivities” will begin at 5:30pm at our new facility located at 11200 N. Eastern Ave. Everyone is invited to join in. I hope to see you there.
Valet Parking now available for those who need it
Thanks to our wonderful Greeters Ministry, valet parking will be available to those who find it physically difficult to walk from the parking lot to the Nigh Bldg. A Welcome Team member will be happy to park your car for you and bring it back after service. Just pull up under the covered entrance on the east side of the Nigh Bldg. If you would like to reserve this valet assistance for Sunday morning, please text Susan today at (918) 619-5461 and let them know.
Tomorrow at LifePoint
Here’s what tomorrow will look like at LifePoint:
Pastor's/BRR Class, 10 am - we will continue our verse-by-verse study of the Book of Revelation with lesson 10: “Philadelphia – the church with an open door.” Of the seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor, this letter has incredible relevance to us today. This will be a great study and introduce the topic of “The Great Tribulation” – don’t miss study!
Worship/Preaching Service, 11 am - we’ll have a great time of worship and then get to enjoy Jim Rankin’s message, “The Frankincense King.” At 5:30, we’ll enjoy the church wide fellowship at our new facility at 11200 N. Eastern Ave.
See you tomorrow,
Dan
Jim Ranking at LifePoint tomorrow
As we have been sharing with you the past few weeks, our missionary friend and explorer, Jim Rankin, will return to LifePoint tomorrow. Based upon his investigations to discover the rumored Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia and his ministry to the Ethiopian people, Jim has learned and experienced many amazing things. Tomorrow, he’ll be sharing a special message in our 11am service entitled, “The Frankincense King.” I am excited to hear this new message. I know it’ll be a blessing. You won’t want to miss it.
Many thanks for 50 years in the ministry
As most of you know, this year I am celebrating my 50th year of preaching. Honestly, it is unbelievable to even contemplate that number. As a frightened 16-year-old boy preaching his first sermon at Faith Freewill Baptist Church in south Ft. Smith, AR, I would have never imagined back then that I would still be preaching 50 years later. It is certainly only by God’s mercy and grace that I have been honored to preach at all – especially for 50 years. Incredibly, I was only 23 years old when I began serving vocationally under Dr. Bill Bennett at First Baptist Church, Ft. Smith, AR and I have been serving on a church staff since then – which is 43 of my 50 years of preaching. That is amazing to me.
In addition to God’s mercy and grace, I owe a great deal of gratitude to many people. First and foremost, I want to thank my wife, Pam. No doubt, her constant faithfulness to the Lord and to the ministry; and her steadfast love for me (though completely undeserved) have made it possible for me to continue in the ministry so many years. This year is not only marks my 50th year in the ministry, it is also marks almost that many years of Pam’s faithfulness as well. I could not have accomplished any of this without her. Beyond the Lord, she is the force that has propelled me forward. Thank you, Pam. I love you.
I also owe a great debt of gratitude to my first pastor, Brother Gilbert Pixley. It was under his leadership that I first felt the call to preach. Even though I was just a young boy of 10, Bro Gilbert did not push me aside, but instead, encouraged and endorsed my call. As the years passed, he supported me and invited me to preach on several occasions in his church. His faith in me meant more than he ever knew. In fact, I’m not certain I would have ever even taken my first step into the ministry without Bro. Gilbert’s help. Although he’s been in heaven many years, I look forward to thanking him when I see him again.
Someone else to whom I owe a great deal of gratitude is Dr. Bill Bennett, the long-time pastor of First Baptist Church in Ft. Smith, AR. Because Dr. Bennett was willing to “take a chance” on a young, unprepared, untried, untrained kid preacher from Van Buren, AR, I was able to not only join the Southern Baptists among who I found a home and place of ministry, but I was also able to learn much in preparation for these many years of ministry I have enjoyed. Without his instruction and endorsement, I would likely never have been invited to pastor a single church. Although Dr. Bennett went to be with the Lord a few years ago, I want to give him the recognition he deserves. As with Bro. Gilbert, I look forward to seeing Dr. Bennett again in heaven where I will be able to thank him again for taking a chance on someone like me.
Two other people I would like to recognize in this email have stood faithfully beside me in ministry since 1992. They are Gary and Belinda Davis. Not only have they faithfully served in every church I’ve pastored since I came to central Oklahoma 34 years ago, they have also stood with us through many challenges and trials. I’m not certain where Pam and I would be without their friendship, but I’m pretty certain it would likely not be in the ministry. Thank you, Gary and Belinda, for your friendship, support, and constant labor in the Kingdom. You are greatly treasured – not just by Pam and me, but by many others as well. The Lord will not forget your service on His behalf. You guys have been and continue to be an incredible blessing to us.
Church wide fellowship tomorrow
Although I feel extremely underserving of the effort, many in our church have organized a special fellowship tomorrow afternoon to celebrate my 50 years in the ministry. There will be a wonderful meal prepared by our hospitality team and then a short program. The “festivities” will begin at 5:30pm at our new facility located at 11200 N. Eastern Ave. Everyone is invited to join in. I hope to see you there.
Valet Parking now available for those who need it
Thanks to our wonderful Greeters Ministry, valet parking will be available to those who find it physically difficult to walk from the parking lot to the Nigh Bldg. A Welcome Team member will be happy to park your car for you and bring it back after service. Just pull up under the covered entrance on the east side of the Nigh Bldg. If you would like to reserve this valet assistance for Sunday morning, please text Susan today at (918) 619-5461 and let them know.
Tomorrow at LifePoint
Here’s what tomorrow will look like at LifePoint:
Pastor's/BRR Class, 10 am - we will continue our verse-by-verse study of the Book of Revelation with lesson 10: “Philadelphia – the church with an open door.” Of the seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor, this letter has incredible relevance to us today. This will be a great study and introduce the topic of “The Great Tribulation” – don’t miss study!
Worship/Preaching Service, 11 am - we’ll have a great time of worship and then get to enjoy Jim Rankin’s message, “The Frankincense King.” At 5:30, we’ll enjoy the church wide fellowship at our new facility at 11200 N. Eastern Ave.
See you tomorrow,
Dan
Recent
Archive
2026
January
March
August
2025
July
September
Categories
no categories
Tags
no tags