Hello guys I hope everyone is enjoying their Labor Day today! I just wanted to tell you about the awesome pool party we had last night, and if you missed it man oh man you missed a great time! We had an amazing turn out of students last night. They came from far and wide! All the way from Ames, to right next door in Ankeny! We all sat in awe at how nice the house was, and the pool was even better! I (Dizzle) had a

great time grilling on the best grill I have ever cooked on. I made

hotdogs, and hamburgers for everyone there. The pool was awesome to swim in and the hot tub was so relaxing to chill in. Can you chill in a hot tub? LOL! The evening was capped off by my amazing wife Becca and her sister Abby making everyone some root beer floats, and we all got to know one another better. I’m reminded of a passage of scripture on contemplating yesterdays events. 1 John 1:7 talks about having fellowship with one another by walking in the light. We are walking in the light, when we are together and sharing in each others lives! I’m very encouraged to see the fellowship of this group continually growing through our events. Impact, fun events, and sunday school will only make our group stronger in the area of fellowship as we seek to please the Lord. I hope many of you that have been coming will encourage others to come, and to you that are faithfully coming now, would seek to strengthen the fellowship amongst the brethren.

The Lord has done amazing things in my life, so much so that I can’t honestly believe that I’m where I’m at in my life today. I grew up in a non-Christian home with no emphasis on church or God. Several of my family members actually believed God was non existent. Growing up, my friends and I loved to play basketball and we would play anywhere possible. My non-Christian friends invited me to play at a church on Wednesday nights after the youth group service was over. I ended up going to this church for a while and then I was invited to a youth convention in Omaha, Nebraska. We went out there as a group but were separated when we stayed with the students of the college. I’m sure the students had good intentions with sharing the gospel with me; however, they shared that if I said a “prayer” I would be saved. So I said the “prayer” and told myself that I was saved. I went home and tried to live the Christian life by my own power and legalistic ways. It worked, for a couple of weeks before I went back to my old sinful habits and even added some new ones. I started to go to a local bible college here in Iowa and was trying to study my way into becoming a better Christian. I was basing my Christianity on my pride and my “prayer”, and it wasn’t until I was hearing the gospel from my pastor that God managed to get through to me. Pastor Nemmers always preached a gospel message and said that if we are basing our Christianity on our own strength then we were not saved. I would drive home from church every Sunday fighting on the inside between “am I saved? Am I not saved?” It was when I read John 5:39-40 which says,

“You diligently study?? the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, ? yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”

Jesus Christ saved me from my sins not because I prayed a prayer or studied at a bible college, but because I believed in Him to wash my sins away with His blood! I have been thankful for His saving grace and I know that I will spend eternity with God in heaven. I have been saved by grace through faith not by works which I have done but by the work that Jesus Christ did for me! I love my Savior and though I’m far from perfect, I know He is and He is perfecting me daily!

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior?

On Thursday nights at 7pm, we meet at Saylorville Baptist Church (directions) for a great time of fellowship, prayer, and worship with other Christian students. Dustin Rankin, our college director, will be teaching a solid, biblically sound lesson from God’s Word every night as well.

We’re really excited to get to know you this fall! If you have any questions, you can call the SBC office at (515) 289-2395 or Dustin at (515) 490-6655. If you prefer to e-mail, office@saylorvillebaptist.com or dustin@experienceimpact.com are both great ways to get more info.

Don’t forget to check out our group on Facebook!

Come next time we go, It will be a good time.

Sunday, February 3, 2008
4:00pm - 10:00pm
Saylorville Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
Click Here for directions