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Stories from our church family on why they love their church.
A Blessing
The King Family
When the Federal Government transferred my husband and our family to Albany, Georgia I REALLY didn't want to go. Originally from California, we were living in Tennessee and had not heard much about South Georgia, except that it was hot and they had these awful gnats. I was sure I would be miserable there. Irregardless of my feelings in July of 2003 to Albany, Georgia we came.
Once we arrived in the area, it seemed like everyone I came across asked, "Where do you go to church?" I thought, church, I don't even know how to get to Wal-Mart! So once we got settled into our new life, I started asking myself, where can we go to church? Other churched were convenient to our home, but co-workers of my husband Scott had invited us so many times to Sherwood, I felt it was time to go.
Scott grew up in a small church and really wasn't excited about the size of Sherwood. He felt he would be more comfortable in a much smaller church. I on the other hand didn't grow up in church. My family believed they could say "we believe in God, but we don't have to go to church to do it" and then they could act like the world and not feel guilty about it. So, with Scott’s reluctance and me not knowing what to expect, in January of 2004 to Sherwood we went.
I was in awe of the fellowship, the friendliness and the WORD. Our middle school children loved it, but our pre-schoolers didn't. They cried and didn't want to go again. We had never forced our little ones to do anything against their will before and I wasn't sure we would get to go again. We rarely had them in church other than the occasional Easter Sunday.
Then, Monday night, God sent a visitation team to knock on our door. They brought bread and told us they were glad we had visited them. I also remember them asking about our salvation. They wanted to know whether or not I had a relationship with God. I had given my heart to Jesus Christ in Nashville, TN. sometime in 1994 at Trinity First church of God, but I wasn't in the Word. My life took a few rough turns and when I hit rock bottom, I ran from the blessings of being involved with my faith.
By the standards of my up bringing, my faith still didn’t need church. Scott still wasn’t sure that Sherwood was the right place for us, but having those folks from the church come by prompted us to take the kids back. I decided whatever it took; I wanted to get my family in church. I even offered to teach Sunday School for 2 year olds, so our youngest would feel at home in this new routine.
As I began to settle in, I couldn't get enough of Michael's preaching, but I found myself questioning my salvation. There have been plenty of reasons in the life of my family that caused me to feel pulled away from the church during that time. Sometimes I just wanted to give up. In those particular times I would just give it to God and stayed plugged in. I didn't know how to pray and didn't have much scripture memorized, but I had, since my troubled childhood called upon God. My daily walk was becoming a desire. I turned off the junk on T.V., switched to Christian radio and began to really read my Bible. I couldn't wait for Sunday mornings, Wednesday nights and Ladies Bible Study on Tuesday mornings.
I once heard that if you hunger for food, when you eat, you are full, until you are hungry again...but when you hunger for God's word it's just the opposite... You fill yourself and the Holy Spirit makes you hunger for more. God was molding me and teaching me to desire him more.
My struggles haven't disappeared, but I have learned to rely on the Lord and not myself. The devil has tempted me to question my salvation so many times in the last few years. It frustrated me, put sadness in my heart and brought tears to my eyes. As I have listened to the teaching of the Word from the pulpit of this church, (Michael, Stephen and Glen Shultz) I have realized however, that the enemy is trying to get me to deny the grace and mercy of a holy God; my God. Much of my doubt was centered on not knowing the date of my salvation. I now know it doesn't matter the date you were saved, because God knows. Looking back now and knowing God so much more intimately, I do not want to question my salvation anymore. God has loved me and protected me, even from myself at times. I have always had a desire to live for him, but didn’t know how. The difference now, is I am actively surrendering to Him daily.
At Sherwood I have learned about "My Purpose Driven Life"; about being "A Women After God's Own Heart"; encountered "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob~ The Patriarchs"; studied "Daniel"; found I was "Loved By God~ through Leah and Rachel"; learned I could have "A Mary Heart in A Martha World"; learned how "To Have Financial Peace"; and heard God call me through scripture in studying 1 John 3:16 in the bible study "Living in Love with Jesus". I was prayed with and prayed through a kidney donation to my brother in law, by that single verse.
In hospitals here at home and in Nashville Tennessee, the staff of this church has prayed over us at my kidney donation, tonsillectomies and knee surgeries. Sherwood has covered us with their prayers and God has given us His blessings. I am still learning "Life Sentences" and "Facing Some Giants", but I am so filled with the Love of Christ and Sherwood Baptist Church has been the vessel.
Our family got to coach T-ball, basketball, cheerleading and now baseball through Upward Sports. We have crafted our hearts out at VBS and cleaned up more saltine crackers in Wee Care than one could imagine. It all has been a blessing and we are thankful we have had a place to serve. All four of our children have given their life and hearts to Jesus and been baptized at Sherwood. What a blessing your children and youth ministries have been. Our now High Schoolers have been on Mission Trips to Mississippi twice and have come back with a better understanding of God's love each time. Our pre-schoolers can't wait for church now and anxiously run through the doors to learn about and praise God. Our Fellowship Sunday School class under Jim and Edna Clark has blessed us so many times. It has been a privilege to be apart of that family. Families like the Sanders, the Roberts and the Jorgensons have housed and blessed our children in our times of need. I could go on and on....
I want to express my gratitude and heart felt thanks to all of you, who have loved on us, prayed for us, cared for our children beyond expectation. My heart is sad today because it is our time again to transfer, but this time it is because I have to leave a place called Albany, Ga., where God sent us to grow us at Sherwood Baptist Church. I know God has a purpose for us in Peoria, Ill. that I can't see right now. I pray I am ready to leave the care and guidance of this one of a kind church. I feel God saying take what you've learned and be a blessing to the needy. I know now that when I ran from God's blessing, I missed so much, but he was faithful and kept refining me in those years in the wilderness. I pray that after being at Sherwood for 3 1/2 years, "God's Reflection" in my life is a lot clearer! (Mal. 3:3 thanks Dr. Shultz). Thanks and God Bless!
I love you all and will never forget you!
Mrs. Julee King
Why We Love Sherwood
Captain Ken and Lauana Bevel
The love we demonstrate to others is one of the greatest gifts Christians have to offer. Jesus says in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you …” This scripture identifies that our love, as Christians, is direct reflection of the love Christ has shown to us. This is the type of love we have experienced at Sherwood Baptist Church. From the dynamic teaching and preaching to the Sunday school family, we have been “loved on,” inspired and encouraged to do more for the LORD. The love we have received from our brothers and sisters in Christ has been nothing less than phenomenal and this is why “we love Sherwood!” There have been many demonstrations of the love we have received from the church body, but there are two particular instances that come to mind.
A demonstration of love was evident during our second week at Sherwood. While my wife and I were attending the Discover Sherwood Class, we were invited to attend a Cornerstone Sunday School class fellowship. In view of the fact that this was our second week at the church we were hesitant about accepting the invitation, but since we were continually reassured this would be a great time to meet other members, we attended. When we entered the home of the hosts, we expected an abundance of firm handshakes and plenty of “thank you for coming(s).” Instead, we were embraced and welcomed into the class like we had been there for years. As the fellowship continued, we were thoroughly delighted to hear the sincere prayers and praise reports offered on behalf of absent and present class members. This was especially important for us because we were able to see that the function was a warm and inviting fellowship focused on having a good time while connecting spiritually. The fellowship was great and we could definitely feel the love of GOD through our connection with the class.
Another demonstration of love occurred just three weeks ago when my father passed away. It was a difficult time for my family and I, but the entire Sherwood Family covered us with love, sincere concern, and prayers. Throughout our walk with Christ, my wife and I had never experienced such an outpouring of love. We were overwhelmed with prayer cards, phone calls, and gifts that helped us to refocus and understand that GOD was our comfort and provider. Not only did this strengthen us, but it allowed me to share the Gospel at my father’s funeral and as an end result my Aunt was SAVED. I would like to be perfectly clear. The results were not a single person’s effort, but it was an outcome based on the grace of GOD and a collective effort by a body of believers who prayed and demonstrated the love of Christ. For this, we will forever be grateful.
In conclusion, we would like to say thank you to the entire church family for demonstrating the love of Christ. Jesus says in John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” We have unquestionably seen this scripture exercised. Through the love you have displayed to us in the past four months, you have accomplished many things that are not readily visible in the physical realm, but are continuing to happen in the spiritual realm. As GOD guides the Sherwood Family together to higher heights, we are delighted to be a part of what GOD has planned for the Sherwood Family and this is why we love our Church!
SHERWOOD
Our Family in Christ Jesus
Never have we in all our lives been to a Church with this much love. We came to Sherwood on Christmas Day 2005. We wanted to get back in church and Sherwood was having a service on Christmas Sunday. But what led us to want to get in Church? God was making us miserable because of lack of fellowship with His people. We had decided to go to Church but where?
We had been dealing with Bates propane for many years and just before Christmas we needed to be filled up, we called them to come out, when the man had finished filling our taken and was leaving, he wished us a Merry Christmas. I thanked him for saying Merry Christmas and not Happy Holidays. Well he then got in his truck and came out with a tract. This tract said it was alright to say Merry Christmas and on the back it gave the details of Sherwood's Christmas day service. Right then, we knew where the first Church to try was going to be. We had been to Sherwood several times in the past and always enjoyed the services, but we would look for a smalled Church, one closer to home.
Well the Prophecy Conference came and yes praise God we were there. We enjoyed the service immensely but then came the invitation. My wife who thought she was saved, got saved. God has blessed our lives and filled our cup to overflowing. We were still looking at other Churches but God kept pulling us back to Sherwood and on February 19 we became part of this wonderful family.
Our story didn't end here but has just started. We are so glad that when we joined we had a ministry here where we can serve. Our lives have become full of activities and various ways to serve our Lord. Our spirit still sings in the presence of our Church family and we are so blessed. Since joining and serving. Jesus, He has saved two of our grandchildren.
We would like to thank the staff at Sherwood for helping us to grow in the Lord and being part of our family. Educating us in the life of Jesus and helping us to walk with Him. We would be remiss to not thank the wonderful forefathers of this great family, who had a vision, a commitment to the great commission and a compassion for the lost of our community. Also to our Pastor who wants the next generation for Jesus, we hope to be a help to him in this endeavor.
P.S. Thanks to the man at Bates Gas we are still getting filled.
Love in Christ,
Sue & Wayne Holt
Fifty Years at
Sherwood
Baptist
Church!
June 16,1956 – June 16, 2006
When I first came to Sherwood, we were meeting in the
Seventh
Day
Adventist
Church and holding Sunday School wherever we could find a place to put people. I was sixteen and along with eight other girls sat on a bed in Daisy Markey’s house for two years every Sunday morning for Sunday School. I was one of only nine youth in the youth choir at that time; of course there were only fourteen in the adult choir. We’ve grown a little since then!
When we broke ground for the first building I remember thinking that we were really out in the boondocks, but the Lord knew it would not be that way for long. Those were exciting days in the life of our church; so many firsts, moving into the first building in 1958, the first baptism in the new building, the first wedding, the first revival service and so much more. I am thankful that it is still exciting here at Sherwood. We have had so many great men of God come and preach here in fifty years. In 1976 when we began worshiping in our “new” sanctuary (our current fellowship hall) Billy Graham was to come and preach. I was quite disappointed when he became ill and could not come. Even without Billy Graham we have been so blessed as men like Warren Wiersbe, Ron Dunn, Lehman Strauss, John Phillips and so many others have taught us God’s Word.
On a more personal note Sherwood has always been family to me. I tell people we are the most caring, big little church. I was married here in the first fellowship hall and the church has stood with me in good times and bad. In the past twenty years I have had thirty surgeries and our ministers and members have always been there praying for me and encouraging me. When my husband was fighting cancer we received 4000 prayer cards in that two year period. When I lost my mother, mother-in-law and husband in the same year, God used our ministers and members to remind me I was not alone and He would not give me more than I could bear. Doctors have told me I would not walk or talk again due to injuries over the years, yet today I am still climbing into the choir loft and singing most Sundays. I praise God that I can still serve Him in the choir, prayer ministry and story telling with the children. He gets all the Glory and I am thankful everyday for
Sherwood
Baptist
Church.
Annette Collier
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