The Church That Won't Quit
- Rev. Bob Thebeau

Some churches start out on fire and end up in a slow burn, while other grow big, only to fall in their pride back into mediocrity. On August 1,1992, after a prosperous twenty-five years, Brother Charles Miller's ministry at First Free Will Baptist Church of De Soto came to an end. He was the only pastor many of the church had known. There will always be a special bond between the long-time pastor and the church on the hill.

With overwhelming support the church voted to build on its solid foundation. It would begin a third phase, a new beginning, with Brother Bob Thebeau, and his family, wife Kathy, sons Ben and Brett, and daughter Amy.

One of the greatest challenges a church must face is the challenge of "Change." Change in church life, as in physical life, is inevitable. Some refuse to be supple, as is a young branch bending and swaying, accepting its changing environment in order to reach maturity. The De Soto church accepted change.

 

 

Brother Bob accepted the challenge before him. His ministry had included several small churches, De Soto would be the largest by far. Though he must have felt he had to try to fill the shoes of the former pastor, that was not so. God's use of Brother Bob's ministry was not to start a new church, nor take a young church to its full growth. The ministry would be faced with expanding upon a church that God had already had His hand upon.

An associate pastor was added in 1994. Brother Chuck Lotz ministry resulted in many souls being saved. He was called to the mission field in 1999. A youth pastor position was then created and filled by Brother Rick Pirtle.

Preachers come and go, but willing workers must remain to continue the work. As long as the church holds to Biblical principals, spiritual worship, Christian fellowship, has a burden for the lost and willingness to spread the Gospel, it will be on top of the hill until the Lord calls her home.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

 

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The cross leads you home