THE PASTOR’S PEN
Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Richard Williams, Jr., Senior Pastor
Come Back to God: Before God Does It Again, Let God Work on You
Church Family,
Yesterday, we were reminded of a truth we cannot afford to overlook: Before we ask God to do it again, we must be willing to come back to Him!
Our message from Joel 2:12–17 challenged us to examine the condition of our hearts. It is possible to keep coming to church while slowly drifting away from God. We can maintain our routines, hold our positions, and sing our songs while neglecting our prayer lives and our personal walk with the Lord.
God’s invitation through the prophet Joel was clear: “Turn ye even to me with all your heart” (Joel 2:12, KJV).
We learned three important lessons:
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Return to God with Your Whole Heart. God is not asking for a Sunday portion of us. He desires our wholehearted devotion.
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Repentance Must Be More Than a Show. God is not impressed by outward appearances when our hearts remain unchanged. He wants us to be honest about where we are and willing to let Him change us.
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Rally the House and Seek God Together. Revival is not just an individual experience. It calls the entire church family to pray, seek God, and renew our commitment to Him.
Church family, we cannot keep asking God to change our circumstances while refusing to let Him change us. As we prepare for our upcoming revival, “Lord, Do It Again!”, let this be our prayer: Lord, bring us back to You. Start with our hearts. Start with our homes. Start with Mt. Vernon. And, Lord, start with me!
This Week at Mt. Vernon
Tuesday, October 13 | Small Group Bible Studies | 7:00 PM
We are taking the Word beyond the sanctuary and into smaller settings where we can grow together, ask questions, and put Sunday's message into practice. Choose a group and join us!
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Sis. Sharisse Hinnant’s Zoom Room
Connect virtually for fellowship, Scripture, and meaningful discussion.
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The Pastor’s Couch
Pull up a seat for a relaxed, honest conversation about God’s Word and how it applies to everyday life.
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The Pizza Pulpit: Santino’s Pizza Study
Good conversation, God’s Word, and pizza! Join Elijah at Santino’s Pizza as faith and fellowship come together outside the church walls.
One message. Different spaces. One growing church family. Get connected and grow with us!
Wednesday, October 14 | Prayer Meeting at 6:30 PM
Before we ask God to move, let us come together and seek His face. Join us for prayer as we lift up our church, our families, our community, and our upcoming revival.
Wednesday, October 14 | Bible Study at 7:00 PM
Stay with us as we continue growing in the Word. Bring your Bible, bring your questions, and come ready to learn. We are committed to becoming a church that does not just hear the Word but lives it!
Pastor Williams Preaching Engagements
Church family, let us continue to keep our pastor lifted in prayer as he carries the Word beyond the walls of Mt. Vernon.
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Monday, October 12 | 7:00 PM
Rev. Richard Williams, Jr. will be preaching at St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church in Georgetown, SC.
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Sunday, October 18 | 3:00 PM
Rev. Richard Williams, Jr. will be preaching at Flag Patch Missionary Baptist Church in Loris, SC.
Let us pray for safe travels, a fresh anointing, and hearts prepared to receive the Word of God.
A Word to Carry With You
This week, ask yourself three questions:
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Is my heart completely surrendered to God?
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Is there anything I need to repent of or release?
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What can I do to help Mt. Vernon become a praying, serving, and spiritually growing church?
Remember, revival begins when we stop pointing fingers at everybody else and allow God to work on us.
I look forward to seeing you this week as we continue our journey toward revival!
In Service,
Rev. Richard Williams, Jr.
Senior Pastor
Mt. Vernon Missionary Baptist Church
“Turn ye even to me with all your heart.” — Joel 2:12 (KJV)
