2025 January Newsletter

 Our New Theme For 2025 at OPBC:                                                                     

  In the New Year at Old Paths Baptist Church we have a New Theme: “GOING FORWARD WITH CHRIST THE LORD” –based out of Matthew 26:46 which says, “Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.” In this verse we see that there are many that will betray you as you walk in the path of Christ, but that is not the Only Point in this verse that we can learn from. The first part of this verse gives us the MOST Important POINT when it says, “Rise, Let us be going:…”, this is our Emphases. This verse is also saying that there are other things to be accomplished, even though there are and will be set-backs and the Devil’s constant attacks do not let that detour you in following the Lord. I am looking forward to what the Lord can do here at Old Paths Baptist Church. There are Victories to be had ONLY if we keep following the path, Christ has trod. If we will Go through the betrayals and the Calvaries, we will get to the Victories, but we, as Christians, must go with Him along in His path!!! On Sunday, January 5th I set out some Goals, Plans, and my Vision for the Member’s at Old Paths Baptist Church that I believe can result in triumphs. I am looking forward to what the Lord can do here at Old Paths Baptist Church.

Our Old Theme For 2024 at OPBC:

In 2024 our theme at OPBC was “THE CHURCH THAT GOD BUILDS” – based on Psalm 127:1, “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Building God’s House has got to be God’s Doing and has to be done God’s Way. Throughout the year I was able to teach and preach on this theme and it was exactly what the Lord demonstrated to OPBC through the events that took place throughout the year. That

was a pretty alright thing to see! In 2024 from January – July, we saw the Lord Do some Wonderful Things through: Two Families getting Saved, Baptized, and Added to the Church (Although Satan has Disrupted in it; God had His way in the other family through a God Designed Marriage, in them Continuing their Christian growth at OPBC. Throughout 2024, We have learned how God has Designed and Builds His Church through the Bible and the putting of it into action. That is a Big

Difference from how many, so called churches are built today!!! The Bible Is Our Blue Print and We Must Stick to it in order to be BIBLICAL!!!

November-December Activities:

Along with another church visiting us, we at OPBC on Sunday evening, November 10th we had our Service around Thanks giving and Harvest, the Blessings of God’s Bounty on us. During these holiday months my wife was asked to go and tell about Ghana W. Africa and our life there for 19 years at Wynford Public School where I head up a Prayer meeting with the other bus drivers every Monday morning, as I mentioned in our last newsletter. The school is about 3 minutes away from

OPBC. In the Country that is a big deal, because that is where you find the kids. Back at OPBC November was our Scripture Month where we were able to Raise $ 1,485 for Scriptures, $625. Of that was for the translation of the book of Jude into a dialect that does not have the book of Jude yet; and $860 of that money raised was for a Roll of paper to Print the Bible. Raising that money was a blessing to see in how the Lord worked in an unusual way at OPBC, even within the first week of

November of our Scripture Month. Amen and Praise the Lord! In December we Finished-up as whole at OPBC going over our “Continue” discipleship Book of 14 lessons in which we look to implement in this New Year. Please Pray for Them and Us as we GO FORWARD WITH CHRIST THE LORD!!!

News From Ghana, W. Africa:

Thank you for your prayers for Pastor Prince and for Pastor Koasi as they are pastoring in Ghana at the Cornerstone Biblical Baptist Church and the Anaji Bible Study there in Ghana W Africa. Pastor Prince has mentioned to me that his wife is expecting in about May their 3rd child. Which he would like me to come over for and do the Naming Ceremony; Also, he mentioned a burden and need to me. His mother, Mary Tackie, She has some tumors that are affecting her liver that needs to be removed. He has asked prayer in being able to fund that. It is about $1,400 as I know of right now. If anyone would like to help with that I know that they would appreciate that. If there is any surplus, I would like to put that towards going over for the Naming Ceremony if that would workout.

Prayer Requests: Our sons, Joseph and Nehemiah in College at Bill Rice Ranch Bible Institute and traveling back; Old Paths Baptist Church work and growth; My wife and I would still like to go visit our church plant and Pastors back in Ghana, West Africa.

Thank you to all those who have sent us cards, Faithfully Supported us Prayerfully and Financially in our Missions Here In America!

Bits Of Bread: “Going Forward With Christ The Lord” “Rise, let us be going:…” – Matthew 26:46a

I. Going Forward With Christ The Lord, Is What the Spiritual Will Point You To – Jn 1:35-37;

II. Going Forward With Christ The Lord, Will Bring Glory To God – Mt 5:14-16; I Pt 4:14;

III. Going Forward With Christ The Lord, Whatever that Maybe or May Consist Of??? Takes More Than Words – Mt 26:33,

35; Takes Being Resolved – Mt 26:42b; Takes Complete Trust, Unwavering Faith – Mt 26:42, 44;

IV. Going Forward With Christ The Lord, Is Not Always Seemingly, Something You Look Forward To – Mt 26:46b-47;

V. Going Forward With Christ The Lord, Can Be Done Even Though You’ve Failed – Mt 26:40, 43,46, 56; Lk 22:32; Mt

26:69-75

VI. Going Forward With Christ The Lord, Will Always End in Victory – Mt 28:5-6; Romans 8:37; Phil 4:13

Mathew J Siekbert