Wednesday evening was a fun and inspirational time at Olive. The 4^th of July picnic fellowship supper was packed. Thanks are due to Juanita Decker and her team. Then we transitioned to the concert /worship time. It was a joy to welcome Allison Durham Speer to our church. She has a gracious spirit and a musical ability that moves many. She led us in a wonderful time of God and Country musical emphasis. She and her husband Brian are the best. Liz and I enjoyed the renewal of friendship with them.

Chaplain Neal Hicks told us of his ministry with his soldiers in Iraq. The pastor’s heart in this man shines through. I am proud of him on several fronts. He is a man committed to Jesus and the Lord’s call on his life. He serves on the US Army team that defends our nations. And he is also one of our own as a Southern Baptist NAMB appointed chaplain. Neal stayed way after church was over to talk with young navy personnel who wanted some of his time.

As Liz and walked home Wednesday evening we discussed the service. She used the words inspirational and heavy. Most 4^th of July celebrations will be booming this weekend and should be. However, the Wednesday evening service reminded us of the need for prayer in America. This is a great country - the best in the world. But we are in need of a spiritual renewal. That message came through in music and in testimony. It was good to be in the house of the Lord.

I hope all of you have a blessed Friday as our nation celebrates her birth. Then join me on Sunday for a great day of worship. I am preaching a message from Isaiah 30 entitled Why God Waits on America.

Pastor Ted Traylor
 

Today is July 1. 2008 is half gone. We are now in the second half of the year. What is it you need to do before 2009 arrives? It is time to get started.

 

This morning Liz, Rachel, Bennett and I began reading One Month To Live. I purchased copies and gave them out a few days ago. Pastor Kerry Shook and his wife Chris wrote this challenge. Our family is taking inventory for thirty days. The opening question in chapter one asks, “If you had thirty days to live what five things would you change about your life?” I have made my list. Now I have work to do.

Pastor Ted Traylor

 

 

On Thursday morning Baptist Hospital announced plans to purchase West Florida Hospital and become our new neighbor across University Parkway. Federal regulators approval and other details will be ironed out in months to come. Then a 60-80 million-dollar construction enhancement will begin. Olive has always had a good relationship with West Florida and the doctors group that owns the office tower. The medical records building on our side of the street will remain as is at this time. Through the years we have shared parking with the records building as well as the Cancer Center across the street. I received a call from Baptist on Friday telling me of the coming purchase and assuring me we had a friend and neighbor in the new owners. I expect we will continue to be partners in helping people in NW Florida.

VBS is off to a great beginning. Hundreds of children and workers had a wonderful day on Monday. I watched as parents dropped off their grade school students for the Bible study, fun and inspiration. Be praying for the kids as the week progresses.

This afternoon Liz and I will be packing our household goods into PODS for a few weeks of storage. We are moving to a new place in August.  In the interim, we will be in the Beard Missionary House on campus. The church has done a great service in providing this residence for various needs. Most of the time it is used for furloughing SBC missionaries and from time to time we assist other ministers with short term housing. We are certainly grateful to have this home for a few weeks until we are ready to move into our new residence.

I want to thank you for your positive response to Sunday’s message. I sense God is doing a fresh work among our family at Olive. Continue to pray as we discern God’s vision for the future.

Pastor Ted Traylor   

Pastor Ted Traylor & Pastor Dale Foote

On Wednesday night of this week, I was in Pell City, Alabama, preaching at Seddon Baptist Church. Pastor Dale Foote and his people are a church on fire for Jesus. Thirteen years ago when the church had only seven members the building burned. Many advised them to disband but they stayed the course. They currently have 250 members and have baptized 31 people since January. The spirit of Wednesday’s service was vibrant and alive with worship and praise. These people have a heart to touch the world with the Gospel. I was delighted to be with them and catch their spirit.

Yesterday one of our ministry assistants had a significant birthday. I will let Sandy Fones tell you which number it was. Her husband, Hugh, set up a surprise party at the church office. It was a fun time.

Sandy is shown here with Ginger Leonard. Ginger is the one who helps me make the blog presentable every Tuesday and Friday. All our ladies on our Olive staff team really make the place come alive. We have some of the best on our support staff.

I am looking forward to worship on Sunday and VBS kickoff on Monday. It is going to be a great week!

As a kid growing up in Pisgah, Alabama, I knew what was coming as soon as school was out for the summer. It all started with a weekend parade in our small town that included the fire truck. That got every kid’s attention. The following Monday we were off to Vacation Bible School. It lasted two weeks and I attended each year. Bible stories, crafts, recreation, snacks and loads of fun filled the agenda.

But 1963 was different. That was the year Pastor Nolan Ford confronted me with the Gospel. He did it during the worship time and afterwards he gently spoke to me one-on-one. That made the difference. On Thursday morning of VBS, in week two, I was the first of sixteen to go forward to accept Jesus. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Liz and I arrived home from the Southern Baptist Convention Thursday afternoon. I will share my annual report with the church on Sunday evening. Let me tell you now it was a very successful meeting. Thank you for your prayers for me as I nominated Dr. Johnny Hunt on Tuesday afternoon. God’s favor was on us as we garnered almost 53% of the vote on the first ballot among six candidates. Our good friend from FBC Woodstock, Georgia, is our new Convention president. Pray for him. He has a big task before him. Our Convention needs renewal. Johnny is just the man to point us in the right direction.

Dr. Johnny Hunt and Dr. Ted Traylor

I wish all of you could have witnessed the amazing luncheon Liz put on for over 1,500 ministers’ wives on Tuesday. The room looked fabulous. I expected no less. Scores of ladies walked up to me in the halls and bragged on the event and the leadership Liz gave. One lady said to me, “It was just done with class.” Beth Harris and others from our church family stood alongside Liz to make this event happen. I was just so proud of the whole team.  

Southern Baptists are not easily understood by those outside our Convention. We are often called a denomination and I understand that. However, in the true sense of the matter we are a Convention of churches coming together to cooperate in Gospel ministry. Only when we trust one another and cooperate does the Convention work. When we step toward being denominational and look for authority to come down from an office in Nashville or Jacksonville we will get into trouble and strife may come. The baseline for Baptists is the pew of the local church. When the people of a local church decide to cooperate with people from other churches we are then able to join forces and do more together than we can ever do apart. It all takes trust. I trust Johnny Hunt. We do not do everything just like FBC Woodstock but we are on the same team and we can work together. I am proud to be a part of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is now time to go to work. We have a world to touch in Jesus’ name.

As we were preparing to board the plane in Indianapolis, along with many of our Southern Baptist friends, a lady approached me and asked, “Who are all these people who seemingly know each other so well?”  She quickly added that she was on her way home to Moscow and had not flown in three years. She gave me her name in Russian and said it meant “faith.”  I was able then to tell her who we were and share a little about our message. I placed a tract in her hand and she said she would read it. Pray for Faith today to understand the Gospel. That is what Southern Baptists do best. Let’s go to work.

Pastor Ted Traylor

Liz and I are in Indianapolis today for the Southern Baptist Convention. At 11:30 she will host over 1,500 as president of the SBC Ministers’ Wives’ Luncheon. I am so proud of her and the great work she has done on this event. She has Dr. Gary Chapman coming to speak on “How to Love a Leader.” I plan to get a copy of the CD!

At 2:45 this afternoon I will stand before the convention to nominate Dr. Johnny Hunt to serve as president of the SBC. There is an announced field of six running. Pray for the favor of God to rest on me. I will report back more to you later in the week.

Pastor Ted Traylor

On this first Friday of the month, our Men’s Ministry breakfast meeting was held in the Blue Room. Lonnie Hughes, leader of our Recreation Ministry, gave his testimony. It was powerful. This young man told of his self-doubt and turbulent past as he dealt with the divorce of his parents, a drug problem as a 14-year-old and a speech impediment that was crushing to his self-esteem. The entire Olive family needs to hear this testimony. It was delivered with grace, power and a touch of humor. I was greatly encouraged. 

We finished the morning on our knees in prayer. Mike Goehring led the prayer time. He and his wife, Barbara, lead our marriage-mentoring ministry. This special ministry allows seasoned couples to come along side a younger couple who may need some coaching in their marriage relationship. We are seeing some great things happen through these efforts. You might want to be involved or recommend this for someone you know. Call the church office and they can get you details.

I ask that you pray for me this Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. I will be nominating Dr. Johnny Hunt to serve as our next president of the SBC. At this time six others are said to be running. These are critical days for our convention and as always God’s leader is needed. You can learn more about Dr. Hunt by clicking here.

Pastor Ted Traylor

This morning I will introduce Sheila Reed to our staff family. She has joined the Olive team as our Fund Development Director for the Ministry Village at Olive. She comes to the table with a wealth of experience in this area. She worked with the Pensacola News Journal for many years. I could not be more pleased with her as an addition to the team. Please pray for her that God would grant favor as she reaches out to people who hold the purse strings that can help us fund the life-changing ministry of the Village.

This work is not easy. It is often hard ground to plow. Yet the Father is granting us grace as we minister to ladies in the Charis House and families in need. Continue to encourage the workers, volunteer as needed and intercede for the people to whom we are ministering. Our Lord is pleased when His church reaches out to the least of these.

Many of you have asked if I am over my “jet lag”. The answer to that is no. Liz and I feel exhausted. But we are getting some rest. I can go wide open until about 4 p.m. and then I sink. Just a couple of more days and I hope to be back to normal. No wise cracks please about what is normal for me!

Pastor Ted Traylor