February 2012 Press toward the Mark
A decade ago, two influential people in my life went home to be with the Lord. Many of you may remember Dr. W. A. Criswell; few, if any of you, would know Mrs. Melton.
Dr. Criswell’s sermons, books, and personal encouragement blessed and shaped my life tremendously. As a young student-pastor, I encountered liberalism. Dr. Criswell took the time to share and pray with me. His stand for the inerrancy of Scripture, evangelism, missions, and expository preaching influenced my life greatly. Dr. Criswell’s example strengthened my commitment to Southern Baptists during a time when some Southern Baptists were departing from our historical doctrinal positions. Most of all, Dr. Criswell encouraged me by his love for Jesus.
Mrs. Melton helped to introduce me to Jesus. At the time, we lived across the street from the Meltons. She kept my younger sister during the day and me after school until our parents returned from work. One day, she invited my sister and me to Sunday School. At first, we weren’t interested. The idea of “school” didn’t appeal to me. She quickly explained that Sunday School was not an all-day event.
With a twinkle in her eye and a smile as big as all outdoors, she encouraged us to come to Sunday School and learn about Jesus. Due to her encouragement, it wasn’t a very difficult decision. At that time, our family didn’t own a television. I’m not sure if we even owned a radio. After my sister and I rode our stick horses around the house a dozen times or more, there wasn’t that much else to do on Sunday. So we agreed to go.
Mrs. Melton’s excitement about somebody named “Jesus” did create some curiosity that contributed to our decision to go to Sunday School. We had never heard about Jesus; nor did we know what went on inside the church building. With a mixture of anticipation, excitement, and apprehension, we joined the Melton family as they walked to church.
They took us into the church building through a side door. The building was new and still under construction. From the brilliant sunshine of the outside, we stepped into a dimly lit room. Before our eyes could adjust, some other people ushered us down some stairs into a dank basement. To our surprise, they separated us. My sister’s destination was better than mine. They put her in a room at the foot of the stairs, while they directed me to a room at the very back of the basement that appeared to be as large as Carlsbad Caverns. Apprehension had driven all the excitement out of us. We didn’t know what they did to boys and girls in dungeons like this.
Relief replaced apprehension when we recognized our Sunday School teachers. I think Mrs. Melton was my sister’s teacher; Mrs. Anna Stillnecker was mine. Mrs. Anna was a distant relative. She was the sister of the husband of the sister of my stepfather. As I said, she was a distant relative.
Mrs. Anna (who went home to be with our Lord in 2001) would stop sometime during the Bible lesson and ask each member of the class to share a Bible verse. I couldn’t participate because we didn’t have a Bible. She wrote a verse on a piece of paper for me. When she asked the next Sunday, I quoted John 3:16.
Several months later, my pastor shared the entire plan of salvation with me. I repented of my sin and placed my faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. When I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and save me, He actually did it. My pastor (R. A. Bone who went home to be with our Lord in 2005) shared the same Gospel with my mother (who went home to be with Jesus in 2008). She repented of her sin and placed her faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for forgiveness of sin and salvation. Brother Bone baptized both of us in the White River at Batesville, Arkansas into the fellowship of the Calvary Baptist Church. Eventually, all of our family professed faith in Jesus.
All of this occurred as a result of Mrs. Melton inviting us to come to Sunday School with her to learn more about Jesus. With tears of joy and thanksgiving, I praise God for Mrs. Melton, Mrs. Anna, and Brother Bone.
In Ohio, millions of people don’t know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Some know a lot about Jesus while others know very little if anything. Much or little knowledge about Jesus doesn’t solve the sin problem. Only a personal encounter with Him through repentance and faith in the Gospel yields the only solution to the sin problem. Jesus alone has paid the penalty for sin. His resurrection proves that the Father has accepted the sin-penalty payment by Jesus on our behalf.
Our Father loves all eleven million plus people in Ohio just like He loves the whole world. Jesus died to pay the penalty of sin for all who live in our state as well as the whole world. Thus, salvation is available for all who repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mission Ohio is our cooperative effort to tell everyone in our state the Good News of Jesus Christ. The Mission Ohio 2020 Vision is to reach 1,000, 000 believers in 2020 congregations by the end of 2020. We must have more local churches to reach all the people groups in Ohio.
I remember Dr. Criswell saying once that great preachers don’t make great churches; great churches make great preachers. Without question, churches become great because of members like Mrs. Melton. Mission Ohio needs thousands of missionary church members like Mrs. Melton who will be continuously asking boys and girls plus men and women, “Would you come to Sunday School (or Bible Study) with me to learn more about Jesus?” Let’s press toward that Mark.
