Baptist World Mission
John, my husband, aka the Earnest Contender (where IS the Earnest Contender?) brought a really neat website to my attention last night. Well, it was neat to us. The reason we were looking for it is because John had some booklets written by the late Dr. Earnest Pickering and he was trying to find out where he could order some more. Baptist World Mission is a mission agency that was co-founded by this man, Dr. Earnest Pickering (a fine Calvinist preacher).
Dr. Pickering was a part of John’s life, and was influential in that life, when a young John Cole came onto a personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1983. He was the pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio at that time. This same man had helped to form Baptist World Mission some 20 years before John had known him.
I never went to Emmanuel Baptist Church while Dr. Pickering was the pastor there. In fact, I don’t think I was a believer until after he was gone. I was, at that time, headed straight for hell. I did meet Earnest Pickering at a later time, however.
Some five years after the Lord came into my life, I met John and started going to Emmanuel Baptist Church with him. (I won’t talk about the wonderful man of God serving there at that time, I must save that for another post). Soon after John and I began to date, he announced he wanted me to marry him and move to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Much to everyone's surprise, I did this.
Guess who was the pastor at Fourth Baptist Church in Minneapolis? Yes, it was Dr. Earnest Pickering. Guess who had never been baptized as a believer? Indeed, me. What happens when you put a believer in Christ (with a husband like John) who has never been baptized ... together with a great man of God? Voila! ... you get a baptism. I had always wanted to be baptized since I was converted from darkness to light, but I had not been a part of a real church for the first five years of my Christian life. (That is another story, too!) I am so glad to have known Dr. Pickering for our brief stay in Minnesota.
About 5 years later, after having been ravaged by brain cancer, he became blind in both eyes. He came to Emmanuel Baptist Church (where I was now happily a member, John and I having moved back to Toledo) and preached so powerfully at our 100th anniversary celebration. He stood before all those people with absolutely no eyesight, and he still seemed so strong and confident. The impression it left on me is one I will never forget. He died about a year later.
On this website, you can read about the mission agency that Earnest Pickering co-founded: why it started, what they do and what they believe. You can also order some of his books and booklets here. I have read about ¾ of his small booklets. There is one that is especially needful today.
the END
Dr. Pickering was a part of John’s life, and was influential in that life, when a young John Cole came onto a personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1983. He was the pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Toledo, Ohio at that time. This same man had helped to form Baptist World Mission some 20 years before John had known him.
I never went to Emmanuel Baptist Church while Dr. Pickering was the pastor there. In fact, I don’t think I was a believer until after he was gone. I was, at that time, headed straight for hell. I did meet Earnest Pickering at a later time, however.
Some five years after the Lord came into my life, I met John and started going to Emmanuel Baptist Church with him. (I won’t talk about the wonderful man of God serving there at that time, I must save that for another post). Soon after John and I began to date, he announced he wanted me to marry him and move to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Much to everyone's surprise, I did this.
Guess who was the pastor at Fourth Baptist Church in Minneapolis? Yes, it was Dr. Earnest Pickering. Guess who had never been baptized as a believer? Indeed, me. What happens when you put a believer in Christ (with a husband like John) who has never been baptized ... together with a great man of God? Voila! ... you get a baptism. I had always wanted to be baptized since I was converted from darkness to light, but I had not been a part of a real church for the first five years of my Christian life. (That is another story, too!) I am so glad to have known Dr. Pickering for our brief stay in Minnesota.
About 5 years later, after having been ravaged by brain cancer, he became blind in both eyes. He came to Emmanuel Baptist Church (where I was now happily a member, John and I having moved back to Toledo) and preached so powerfully at our 100th anniversary celebration. He stood before all those people with absolutely no eyesight, and he still seemed so strong and confident. The impression it left on me is one I will never forget. He died about a year later.
On this website, you can read about the mission agency that Earnest Pickering co-founded: why it started, what they do and what they believe. You can also order some of his books and booklets here. I have read about ¾ of his small booklets. There is one that is especially needful today.
the END
posted by Rose~ at 3:43 PM
11 Comments:
It is always inspirational to read of men who remain faithful to God and their impact on the lives of others. Good post.
By
Gordon, at 1/30/2006 4:43 PM
Thanks for sharing that stuff, Rose.
I am tempted to make a contentitous point about the bureaucratic nature of mission agencies and their unscriptural basis, but I think I shall give that a miss.
I am sure many have been brought to new life in Christ through the Baptist World Mission.
Every Blessing in Christ
Matthew
By
Matthew Celestine, at 1/30/2006 5:49 PM
Theologically, the Baptist World Mission definitely seem to be on the right lines.
As with Baptists in general, my disagreement with them would be over Church structures.
By
Matthew Celestine, at 1/30/2006 6:22 PM
That reminds me, a friend of mine said there are two sorts of Christians; those who are fascinated by Church structures and those who do not care in the slightest about Church structures.
God Bless
Matthew
By
Matthew Celestine, at 1/30/2006 6:25 PM
Thanks Gordon. I am glad it was good for you to read. We miss him.
Dyspraxic Fundamentalist,
Thanks for "giving that a miss." There is always plenty to criticize in organizations.
Are you the one that is fascinated with church structures or the one that couldn't care in the slightest?
By
Rose~, at 1/31/2006 12:43 PM
It's obvious you've both been blessed by your association with Dr. Pickering and I suspect all who know you have been indirectly affected in a positive way by him. ;-)
By
Kc, at 1/31/2006 1:50 PM
Rose,
Thank goodness for missionaries. May God keep us praying and encouraging and helping missionaries.
By
Shawn, at 1/31/2006 2:09 PM
Your friend in the Lord, Dr. Earnest Pickering, sounds like a man after God's own heart as well.
By
Shawn, at 1/31/2006 2:10 PM
Having mentors in the faith is always a blessing. Sadly we frequently don't realize the value of these men of God until they are nigh unto deaths door.
By
Jim, at 1/31/2006 2:13 PM
I thought Calvinists weren't supposed to be missionaries?
;-)
By
Jonathan Moorhead, at 2/01/2006 8:54 AM
KC,
That was sweet to say! John really appreciated it, as well. You are a fine mouse. :~)
Shawn,
Dr. Pickering was a very godly man, you are right. Thanks for reading.
Jim,
Your comment brought a tear to John's eye. (shh...) Thanks for reading.
Jonathan,
All Christians are supposed to missionaries, otherwise, who will "persuade men"? ;~)
Sheena,
Thanks for visiting. I know that quote "sin will keep you from this book or this book will keep you from sin". It is good to know that there a good preachers for God's church. Thanks for the blessing!
By
Rose~, at 2/01/2006 10:43 AM
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