“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11 NKJV
“For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” 1 Corinthians 3:4-7 NKJV
“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.” 1 Corinthians 3:9-10 NKJV
Paul asks: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 NKJV
In 1923, the First Baptist Church congregation in Mount Carmel, Illinois bought property at the corner of Sixth and Chestnut Streets. In 1947, J.C. Greer was called to pastor, with a goal of putting a “top” on the basement facility, using evangelistic endeavors to win men and women to Christ. His first Wednesday night as pastor, there was one deacon and the Greer family in attendance.
Pastor Greer’s daughter Mary and I helped establish Mt. Carmel Youth for Christ as high school students, and soon began dating.
Easter Sunday afternoon, 1950, we drove to Vincennes to meet with Dr. H.E. Wright from Rome, Georgia, on the Bob Jones University board. As we sought counsel, Dr. Wright recommended we go that afternoon and ask for our parents’ blessings on marrying each other and transferring to Bob Jones.
Mary’s Dad had three requests: First, wait until Mary turned 18 (her birthday was June 13). Second, have the wedding ceremony in the newly completed First Baptist auditorium. And third, allow him to perform the wedding ceremony.
Pastor J.C. Greer introduced his daughter Mary and me as Mr. and Mrs. George Dooms to the congregation that had packed the new First Baptist Church auditorium to capacity, June 18, 1950.
Mary and I chose Romans 8:28 as our life verse together.
Our marriage was built on the firm foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ. God gave us 64 years together until He called Mary home to her heavenly reward October 12, 2014.
We were privileged to co-found Tri-State Youth for Christ (now known as TTT Christian Youth Ministries), February 5, 1966. Those attending that first Saturday night with us were our daughter Tami (less than a year old), two teenagers, and a few adults.
Tami and I are continuing to serve the Lord together through TTT Christian Youth Ministries, with her serving as President, in me as Ambassador at Large. As God provides “truth-telling connectors,” we are endeavoring to go Together Toward Tomorrow.
Will you pray for this summer’s Fair Share outreach, that the Lord will “send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38)?
The next Leading Youth evangelism training is scheduled for June 13 (3 pm through TTT Saturday night). Pray for students and adults who will be participating (and prayerfully consider whom you could inform and invite), preparing for Fair Share, to be equipped and challenged to present the “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” message at county fairs – through bottles of cold water, tent banners, Bibles, God’s ABCs of salvation, and one-on-one sharing.
Fair Share teams, God willing, will go with the Gospel to fairs and festivals in Gibson, Warrick, and Knox Counties, Indiana; and Richland and Wabash Counties, Illinois. And if enough co-laborers in His harvest are willing and available, and receive evangelism training, there are also potential open doors in McLean County, Kentucky; and Lawrence, White, and Edwards Counties, Illinois.
The prayerful goal: partnering with local Bible-believing congregations and ministries in each of these counties who will send 10-19 year-olds and adult youth workers to be equipped in peer evangelism through Fair Share – in their own counties and/or other counties. Pray for leaders from Bible-Believing congregations to follow-up those who respond to God’s plan of salvation in their communities. “… that we may become fellow workers for the truth.” 3 John 1:8 NKJV
“Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 NKJV