Gary, Frankly Speaking,

This Sunday will be my first Sunday away since coming as your interim pastor on January 2nd, 2024. The reason for my “vacation” this week is to baptize my sixth grandchild. Every time I have this privilege, it is a holy moment. This baptism will be special because it will take place in First Methodist Church of Weatherford, Texas—a church I served as associate pastor, twenty years ago.

For those of you who went through the Catechism training, you will recognize the importance and significance of infant baptism based upon scripture. For those who didn’t take the class, here is the question specifically related to the topic of baptizing adolescents.

41. May we baptize children?

Yes. We believe children are under the atonement of Christ and as heirs of the Kingdom of God are acceptable subjects for Christian Baptism. (Luke 18:15-17; Acts 10:44-48; 16:15, 30-34; 18:8; 1 Cor. 1:16; CoF VI.)

Our guest preacher this week is Jeremy Barbee. Jeremy is a Virginia native who moved to Texas almost 13 years ago. He and his wife Ginger have 4 children and love living the country life in Slaton. Jeremy is a worship leader and part of the preaching team at Aldersgate Church in Lubbock. He is also the co-lay leader and chair of the connectional council for the West Plains Conference. He is a graduate of VCU in Virginia and Asbury Seminary in Kentucky.

Jeremy will be ordained an Elder in the Global Methodist Church at annual conference this June. He was recently elected a delegate to the organizing General Conference of the Global Methodist Church.

I hope that you will come to hear Jeremy and worship with your family and friends this Sunday.