As I was weeding this past week, I thought about the post I wrote last year; how I related weeds to the sins in our lives. Just about that time I was yanking on a fairly large dandelion growing between some sandstone steps that lead up to our fire pit. It wouldn’t budge, but I was determined to get the roots in hopes it wouldn’t return. I firmly grasped the root at the base, slowly wiggled it, and then pulled straight up. Low and behold, all the roots came with the weed. Of course, it caused me to fall backward from which I am sure all of God’s creation got a good laugh.

Meet the keynote speaker for the 2025 Annual Conference, Cecily Thompson, and get an inside look at and come prepared for her message titled, “What kind of vessel are you?”

She is deeply passionate about women’s ministry as she stated: “Ministry for me began with a very tentative longing in my heart to love and do life with other women. I had no idea what I had to offer but often found myself looking back on my life with regret and thinking, “If I had only known.” I soon realized that many other women were struggling with trying to do it all, be everything to everyone, and wondering why they were always striving but felt nothing except weariness and failure.”

February 15, 2023, was the day that H2O Ministries (Help to Offer Hope to Others) was birthed and has become a mission outreach ministry through Mt. Hope Baptist Temple.  A small group of church members work diligently to provide a hot meal for those in need.  The first free dinner was attended by 34 people from the community.  Since that first dinner was offered over two years ago, we average 150 plus meals with 200 meals being served Thanksgiving of last year.

God has made it possible for us to

John outran Peter, but I speculate that he ran so fast that he had to stop at the entrance to catch his breath giving Peter the opportunity to step inside first even though he was second to the site. Then John entered. Seeing that the body of Jesus was gone, what did the men do? According to verse 10, they went back to their homes!! Were they scared? John writes that when he went in, he “saw and believed.” So, were they going home to wrap their heads around what just happened? Why did they just go “back to their homes”?

My husband (the aforementioned pastor) continued with this focus which made for a beautiful Resurrection lesson for us to apply to our lives. He asked the parishioners in attendance…. “When we are done here today, will you just go home?” He encouraged and even challenged the people to do more. To go into the world and share the Good News… that He is alive!! Death is conquered!! Hallelujah! Amen!!

But that was where he stopped, and where I want to pick up with you. In the very next verse….