1. You need this church because it’s a place where Christian DISCIPLINE is demonstrated

     1. They were saved

     2. They were steadfast

2. You need this church because it’s a place where Christian DOCTRINE is declared

     1. The source of their doctrine

     2. The substance of their doctrine

3. You need this church because it’s a place where Christian DUTY is displayed

     1. The bread that they shared

     2. The burdens they shared

This sermon was preached on Sunday night, August 4, 2019, 6pm at Northcrest Baptist Church, 3412 N Hills Street, Meridian, MS by Mike Stone, Senior Pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Blackshear, GA. This was part of our Awesome August series.

Senior Pastor (June 2002-present), Emmanuel Baptist Church, Blackshear, GA

Mike originally went to EBC in October of 1996 as minister of music and became pastor in June 2002.

Led Sunday School growth from 425 to over 750 average. Oversaw building construction of $2.5 million worship center. Expanded paid staff from 6 to 13 positions. Increased average baptisms from 37 (1996-2001) to 139 per year (2002-present). Grew the general budget from $525,000 (2002) to over $1.5 million (2007) Led church to embrace “The 2010 Vision” which includes a comprehensive plan for church growth, debt reduction, church planting, and the establishment of an accredited Christian school. EBC was noted as one of the fastest-growing Sunday Schools in the GBC for each year from 2003 to present, including #8 out of 3,625 in the most recent report (2005).

Mike currently serves as chairman of the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Southern Baptist Convention Resolutions Committee (2006)

Georgia Baptist Convention

First Vice President (2005-2006)

Executive Committee, ex officio (2005-2006)

Nominating Committee (2004-2005, 2005-2006)

New Church Committee, Chairman (2005-2006)

Wrote 8 Sunday School commentaries for The Christian Index (Nov./Dec. 2004)

Piedmont-Okefenokee Baptist Association

Evangelism Committee (2005, 2006)

Preached doctrinal sermon (2003, 2006)

Director of Associational Music (1997-2000)

Married to the former Andrea Barnes of Macon (July 1995). They have two precious children, both adopted from birth: Michaela Leanne Stone (12/18/02) and Andrew Isaac Stone (6/13/04).