Planting Churches
Across America
We have many areas that desperately need churches. Find out what area of the U.S. that are in need and how you can help.
Upcoming Events 
09/14 - Sept. 14-15 BCP Annual Council Meeting
10/04 - Oct. 4-7 BCP Timothy Program presented at FBBC, Ankeny, IA
10/08 - BCP Banquet Hearth Restaurant, Chaffee, NY
10/09 - BCP Banquet Hilton Garden Inn Buffalo Airport, Buffalo, NY
President's Letter
September 2009
September 2009
Why does God often take home the best people? That is a question that has been asked for thousands of years. Two weeks ago, I attended a school to learn how to effectively use a Bible program I recently received. On our way to the school, this question came up and the names of godly men and women who were taken home, seemingly prematurely, were mentioned.
Two weeks later, I received the call that Roger Ridley, church planter in Nebraska with Baptist Church Planters, had a heart attack and was with the Lord. Roger was fifty-five years old. I will never forget what his wife Sheryl said the following morning when I called her. She said, “I don’t understand why the Lord would take Roger. He was so willing to plant churches when there are so few willing to do so.” Roger was willing, for sure. He was passionate about church planting! He was a leading church planter in Nebraska and a spokesman for church planting in the USA. Roger had a great vision for the future of Baptist Church Planters and church planting in general. He will be greatly missed.
Roger’s funeral service was attended by nearly 500 people, with pastors attending from surrounding states. The church he planted and served, Gretna Baptist Church, did a superb job hosting the memorial service. Please pray for his wife, Sheryl, and her children and grandchildren.
John Calvin once wrote that the struggles, the pain, the heartache and overall agonies of this world should loosen our grip on earthly things and cause us to long more for heavenly things. This life experience surely sobered and reminded us all not to hold on to the things of this world, for they are fleeting.
Are you banking on the hopes of this world? If the Lord were to take you today, would you be satisfied with your service to Him? Is what this world offers worth sacrificing our lives for? I think not! The song writer said it this way. “Only one life, so soon will pass, only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Roger lived his life for others. He died serving others. His reward awaits him. What have you done for someone else? How are you serving God?
For each person supporting a missionary or Baptist Church Planters directly, you are laying up treasures in heaven. You can be sure God keeps the records. If your giving is for the glory of God, it will remain. The Bible says, “Whatsoever the Lord does shall be forever.”
