Hello all!!
Here it is, Easter Break again! Hope all is going well with all y'all. Once again, we are feverishly working on this years edition of "The Messiah". Practice has gone well so far and we are having our last practice tonight, which is our dress rehearsal. We pray that, once again, this passion play touches those of our community who come out to see it. Hopefully all of c2 has been inviting our friends and acquaintences. We would like to have a great turnout this year and share the Gospel with alot of new people. Let's do this together and see what God has in store for His church.
Just a note to the c2 peeps. I have really been enjoying our time together on Sunday Mornings and hope it has been enjoyable for all of you also. I pray that we take advantage of every opportunity to draw closer to God and reach out to those around us and watch God annoint us and use us in His Kingdom. God Bless and Bye for now. Bro. Martin

Greetings in the Name that is above every name, Jesus!

2009 is coming to a close really quickly. Alot of us, I'm sure have been met with challenges and, I pray, with some victories. I, for one, can say that I have been blessed beyond measure. God has been faithful!
We are about to embark on a new year. A new day. A new decade. I pray that we seize this time and realize "it is high time" to live for the Lord. This next year, it is imperative that we seize every opportunity to reach those around us and let our Light so shine before men. My desire is to see more c2 students added to the Kingdom of God in 2010.

Let's get in one mind and one accord this year c2 and do a work for God, what do ya say?

Don't forget to invite somebody to 2:38 Conference Dec 30th- Jan 1st.

In His Service,
Bro. Martin

Greetings!!

Hey all!
How are things in the c2 world? I know! we are so busy as a church that we have not had any time together as a group lately(Ireally miss it). But, as I just stated and is said alot around our church, we are a busy church.
I really enjoyed the Missions Conference. It was a success as far as I could see. Services were great! Around The World Dinner was awesome! God moved mightily and if you don't want to do something for God after those services you probably never will want to. Luke said "that repentance and remission of sins should be preached, beginning at Jerusalem." In other words, start at home and go OUT into the surrounding areas and eventually, the world. I'm thankful we have a Pastor and leadership in place that loves the message enough to spread it beyond our four walls.
I really want to get a c2 event together soon. We had a Harvest Party on the calendar(ahem!) but it just was wrong timing, I guess. Hopefully, we can have some fellowship soon.
Just for your info, sorry nothing was posted for a while now. I thought I had a visiting blogger but he has been very busy. If you want to help in posting to this blog, let me know and we'll get you involved in the Kingdom somewhere. God Bless all y'all!!! Bro. Martin

OUR SHEPHERD

Greetings! My name is Chad Bradley. I am a college and career (c2) student in Bro. and Sis. Field’s Sunday school class at Greater Bakersfield’s First Pentecostal Church (GBFPC­­). Bro. Fields asked me to write something for our c2 blog and so, here we are. I have a great passion and desire to spread God’s word, not only in verbal communication, but as a living example and witness to everyone I come in contact with. I would like to just ‘kick back’ and share something with you that has been on my heart and mind for some time now. I am so thankful to know a God, the only God, who is filled with grace, mercy and such a wondrous love that never seems to end.
I have grown up in church and I have been blessed with many wonderful things that can sometimes be easily taken for granted…i.e. God’s Protection. God has kept me from many things and has sheltered me from a lot of the filth of this world. I am definitely NOT faultless, but because of God’s grace and mercy he has kept me and for that I am SO grateful. I am only saying these things to give God glory, not to be boastful in any way. I have a wonderful family, friends, church, pastor and of course an amazing God. It really can be eye opening, thinking about everything God has blessed one with, but in an instant it can all be taken away. I am reminded of the story of Job who had many blessings of God, but in the blink of an eye, it is all taken away from him. Through it all he kept on praising God and thanking Him no matter what the circumstance. Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; and I shall not want.” You may be thinking how this ties together, but what exactly comes to your mind when you think of this passage? It is a puzzling culmination of words to me, but if you really think about it, I believe this psalm fits in conjunction perfectly with Job’s story. I think God would like to know from each of His children the answer to this question, with innumerable possible conditions. If your blessings were taken away, or every material thing you treasured was gone, or had a sickness that was life threatening, or lost a loved one, or lost your job in these tough economical times, whatever the situation, would you still praise God, would you still glorify Him, and believe that He is in total control and knows what is best for you? When the Lord, our shepherd, is in control we don’t have to worry about any provisions and we don’t have to worry where the next pay check is going to come from or where the next meal will come from. All we have to do is simply put our trust in Him and believe God will make a way. Philippians 4:19-20 says “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Isaiah 26:4 says ”Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:” I want to have the attitude of Job, whether God puts me through the same tests and trials or not. We need to have a “Job mindset” that no matter what God brings our way, He is still worthy of all our praise, He is still the almighty God and is able to bring us out of our trouble and keep us through our storm. I believe in God’s word and I put my trust in Him. I am so thankful for such a wonderful God and will always be thankful no matter what!

God Bless,
Chad Bradley

Hey all!
Greetings in the NAME of JESUS! Just a little note to let everyone know what's goin' on. I have asked some of the c2 peeps to give me some 'stuff' to post, so here it goes. Bro. Chad Bradley is gonna be the first one to post. I should be getting something from Bro. Matthew Forsythe soon. When you read these, be kind and let them know how much you enjoyed it. God Bless and Keep on Rollin'. Bro. Martin

M242 UPDATE

Hello all!!
Just a little update on the Mission 242 status at CSUB. We are going to shift gears a little bit due to some circumstances beyond our control. We do not have enough students from GBFPC going to CSUB to serve as officers of the registered club. Therefore, we are going to try to get M242 started at BC instead. Bro. Matt did a GREAT job last year balancing 2 jobs, a full schedule, and M242 and even managed to be faithful to church(good on ya, mate). He is disappointed, as I am, that for now we cannot continue at Cal State, but it is for the better.
I do want to say that we are also looking into more get-togethers at *Bucks and things of this nature to get out of the box and reach out to those around us. I believe we can draw some attention to us and our God by engaging in Bible studies in public places and thus engage people in conversation. You never know who might just be interested in what you're doing.
I challenge c2 to look inside ourselves in this new school year and lets see what God can do in us and through us. We should not be on this earth to just satisfy our flesh but we should be reaching those around us with the Gospel of Christ " for it is the power of God unto salvation".
We have a beautiful gift from God and it should be shared with others. Let's touch our 'community'. By that I mean our neighbors and our fellow students or work-mates.

God Bless,
Bro. Martin

Sometimes you just wonder, shouldn't the proprietor of this establishment be more diligent in making sure this type of thing doesn't occur? When I saw this sign it didn't make me think of tires and all that goes with a tire place. It brought about a train of thought that I couldn't quite shake.

How many churches do you think there are in Bakersfield? How many of them are promising salvation? How many of them will tell you that they teach truth? I know Truth. 1 John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." I also know truth when I hear it and what some churches are touting as truth is far from it. There is an agenda by the denominational sector to become unified. This is a prophesy that will be fulfilled, but those of us who know the truth will never become a part of this unification.

I'm thankful for a church that teaches the truth. Not what we think is truth, but the bonafide Word of God is taught. I do know that there are churches that advertise things and never really deliver on these promises. The Bible tells us that " many will say Lord, Lord, didn't we do things in Your name" (paraphrased, of course). The Lord will tell them, "I never knew you". All this being said, Do I think that the sign at this particular place of business being out of 'alignment' reflect bad business practices. I really don't have proof of that,but do I want to take a chance? Not really. Neither do I want to take a chance on my salvation. I'll go where I know I'll have a preacher give me the unadulterated Word of God.

And for the record, I'll take my alignment business elsewhere.

Regards,

Bro. Martin

Psalm 78:5-7 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know [them, even] the children [which] should be born; [who] should arise and declare [them] to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

Doesn't she look innocent? A young life so full of potential. All she needs is direction and she'll be looking for it in a few short years. This passage of scripture is so awesome! Two things go hand in hand in this passage. The law of God and the testimony of the generation of old.

I know, you are young people and you may wonder why I'm posting about the law of God and the testimony of the generation past, but you need to testify NOW and fall in love with the law of God NOW. This will be your life in a few short years. Married with a child or 3.(lol) "that the generation to come might know them..." We don't have time to play with our relationship with God. We need to understand that now is the time, it is 'high time' to live for God and to fall in love with Him and his word and His law. And then it behooves us to testify of Him to our peers, so that when it comes time for our offspring to come into this world we have laid a firm foundation for them to build upon. There is a generation coming up that HAS to know our God! They have to know His Word! They HAVE to KNOW who they serve and it is cyclical. They in turn will testify of their God and teach their children the Word of God.

Not too long ago this picture could have been you or me. Just a year or so old. Now? 18, 21, 26, 37? "That they might set their hope in God". Where is your hope? Do you have a hope?

1Pe 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
1Th 2:19
For what [is] our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? [Are] not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? My hope is not in this world but it is out of this world. It is an understanding that one day if I continue in the path of my father and those before me, I can also testify to this generation and they can have the same hope that I have. Let's do this! Lord, help me to declare your Word to this generation that they might set their hope in You!

In His Service,

Bro. Martin

Wild horses have always been interesting to me. So much energy and strength and ability! Bro. Brock mentioned wild horses just last week in YPOWT Service. Their potential is extraordinary. I wonder just how much of a correlation between us and them we can make? Bear with me.

If you are going to go out and catch some wild horses, what are you looking for?

1. Youth




2. Strength




3. Stamina




4. Speed




5. Leadership

All of these factors are given thought in looking for a good horse, but it's still wild! It must be tamed! Romans 12:2 says"And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed..."

Until that horse is tamed it's potential is really untapped. It has no purpose other than running the country side. Once it allows itself to be transformed into a tamed horse, it not only becomes a blessing to it's owner but it also is taken care of by its owner. 1 John 2:14 says"I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong". Young people, I love your potential but, sometimes there is some taming to do. We need your strength! We need your stamina! We need your leadership abilities! But you need to understand that you can never tap into your potential until you allow yourselves to be transformed. 1 Peter 5:5 "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility:" and Hebrews 10:36 "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise". Allowing yourself to be transformed is not so hard. Really. God's not finished with me yet either.

In His Service,

Bro. Martin

Bro Jeremy Brock is the Youth Leader of YPOWT at FPC(www.gbfpc.org). Bro. Brock has been in youth work for over 10 yrs and is a great leader. I consider him a great friend and fellow youth worker (although he is my leader). HaHa

Breaking Out!!

Well, c2 students, here we grow!! I have wanted to get a site going for awhile and it seemed to never come to fruition. My vision was for a website, however, the blog is much easier to post to and update and one thing we all should be happy about in the rough economical times, it is FREE! Hallelujah!
I am confidant that you all will have some imput as to how you want this blog to look. We are going to have to work as a team to keep it updated with new pics and calendar, etc... Tell me what you think and we'll work on this until it is perfected.

I just want to say I LOVE ALL Y'ALL! Let's win some more College Students for God this year.

In His Service,

Bro. Martin