YOUTH MINISTER'S UPDATE

Church Family,

I would like to begin by thanking BK and the congregation for remembering Seventh Street Baptist Church in your prayers during this difficult time. Having grown up in Nederland, I have a number of friends who attend—or have attended—Seventh Street over the years. That church has long been a fixture in the community and a faithful pillar of Christ, and I trust that God will guide them through this challenge so they may continue that witness.

BK’s message this morning led me to Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” The verb Paul uses for “I can do” carries the idea of exercising force or power. When the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, He came with power—but that power would have been useless had it remained in the upper room. It became a force when the apostles went out into their community and began to preach the gospel. That moment marked the birth of the Church, and in the opening chapters of Acts we see the result of acting on the power of the Holy Spirit: the Church grew exponentially.
This weekend, our students attended Hot Hearts and witnessed firsthand the work of the Holy Spirit. Hundreds of decisions were made for Christ, and new members were added to the family of God. That same movement of God is possible here at First Baptist Church of Bridge City—but it will require us to take the power of the Holy Spirit we received at salvation and carry it into our community.

Paul writes in Romans 10:14–17 (ESV):
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?’ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Paul’s call here is not limited to those who have been formally called to preach or to vocational ministry. It is a call to all who claim the name of Christ. Each of us has been sent into our homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods as bearers of the gospel.

Our students are currently walking through a six-week program designed to equip them to share the gospel clearly and confidently. At the conclusion of that program, they will be challenged to go out and share the good news of Christ with someone. I challenge each of you to do the same. That is how revival begins.

In Christ,
Cody Dowden