February is upon us so spring is just around the corner (even if it's currently below freezing outside)! As a farmer plans and prepares for planting during the winter, so we too must make preparation NOW to enable a fruitful growing season. Here are some things you can do to help our church to have a fruit-filled future:

1.) PRAY! We do our best work when we work on our knees! Our Illuminate 2012 challenge is to pray 20 minutes per day! Keep track and stay on track and let me know how you're doing.
2.) READ! When you read God's Word, you grow! And you help our church grow up! Averaging 3 chapters a day gets you through the Bible this year. Many of you grew in 2011 following this plan, and what a difference it has made in your faith and confidence in God! It's a new year for growing, so start NOW!
3.) SERVE! During the dead of winter, the farmer knows that equipment must be SERVICED so it's ready for the work ahead. When you SERVE, you're not just helping others NOW, but you're getting ready for something GREATER! Do you need somewhere to serve? I can help you with that!
4.) GIVE! Your giving makes all the difference! Keep faithful in your tithe! When you hold back, God can't bless you. Give over and above (like to Illuminate 2012) because that's when the blessings multiply.
5.) MAKE TIME FOR SPECIAL TRAINING! Two special events are coming in March that will help you grow. For the church's sake, you NEED to make time and come to these special events:

FIGHT LIKE A MAN Men's Retreat here on Friday, March 2nd in the evening and on Saturday, March 3rd, during the day. Men, our church will NOT grow stronger until our men step up! It will cost you $20 and a little time, but I promise you'll be challenged and changed. Wives, since your husband will be a new man after this weekend, maybe you should pay his way! Dads, bring your teenage sons. See me for registrations.

Group Publishing's VBS Fun Shop here on Saturday, March 17th! We're privileged to have been chosen by Group Publishing to host this training for our area. A great day of insights, techniques, and ways to communicate God's love to children is sure to get us prepared for a harvest of children come summertime. We need as many as possible to be a part of this special training! Stay tuned for more information and reservation details.

I love you! And I love facilitating your growth in the Lord!

What a great gift this winter has been. 50 degree weather is something I've never seen before. It's a true blessing from God.

Our local Emmaus group that's been trying to have a retreat since November isn't able to attract new pilgrims (people going through for the first time) to the program again this month. Sometimes, it seems our world is growing more secular, but then in January Russell Eggers and I went on a "dad's class" from Wayside Cross Ministries in Aurora down in Vandalia. It really impressed me how much these men wanted to know how to be better fathers. They paid attention to everything that was presented to them, they asked Russell about hard things--how do I forgive someone who mistreated me? He told them that Christ was mistreated for our sins and He forgave all of us and died to prove it. While there, I ran into an old friend of ours. Some of you may remember Keith Heberer, he was our associate pastor a number of years ago. He's now the chaplain at the Vandalia prison. I've never seen a more appropriate man of God for this hard job. He's doing a fantastic job! He offered us every help we could possibly need and we had some great times talking about Brandie and the kids. Their son is a great baseball player now and the family is doing well. He fit the job like a hand in a glove. I'm proud to know Keith, we have many memories and now we have some more.

God really knows how to keep our spirits up. Some programs seem to be dwindling while others are excelling. The Church in the Illinois prison system is growing great and growing in numbers every day. They're not just jailhouse Christians either, they keep their faith alive as they leave the system, going back into society, leading their homes to be Christ followers. I know many families that are still doing great after years of being out of prison; working hard to show themselves approved; an asset to the community.

Our society may be on the skids, but God's still in control. We can't give up our hope in times of trouble when we have the only true God! King David knew that when he stood against the giant Goliath, and we have that same God today. "I will never leave you or forsake you, I will be with you forever." Isn't that a wonderful statement from our Lord?!

Just look around you, someone needs a hand or a prayer. Will you be God's people that make a difference?

I truly love our church and look forward to many more years of service to Jesus. I get all excited about things like the seminar at Vandalia and know there will be many trials for us to overcome in our world. He is worthy to be praised

Bro. Bill Buselmeier
Prison Ministries
trustgodpastorbill3@gmail.com