From the Pastor’s Desk

April 10, 2025

Dear EBC Family,

Last night at our business meeting, I shared a brief message from 1 John 4 that I believe speaks directly to our calling as a church community.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:7-12)

These verses remind us of the extraordinary foundation for our love toward one another. Think about it:

• Our God is love itself – the very source and definition of true love (v. 8).
• This same God demonstrated the greatest act of love imaginable by sending His Son to pay the penalty our sins deserved (vv. 9-10).
• As those born again through Christ, we’ve been given new hearts that naturally beat with love for God and for our brothers and sisters in Christ (vv. 7, 11).
• But there’s something even more remarkable that happens when we love each other well: the invisible God becomes visible to a watching world (v. 12).

As 1 John 4:12 teaches, “No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.” When we genuinely love one another, we make the presence of our invisible God tangible and recognizable to those around us. Jesus himself emphasized this in John 13:35, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This perspective transforms how we understand our relationships within the church. Our love for one another isn’t just about maintaining harmony or feeling connected – it’s profoundly evangelistic. When a divided world sees united believers, when a self-focused culture witnesses selfless service, when bitter conflicts are met with forgiveness and grace – God’s presence becomes undeniable.

Let’s pray together that God would deepen our love for one another in the days ahead. As we grow in authentic, Christ-centered love, may our witness to our community become increasingly effective and compelling.

Announcements

• Easter Week - Next week we will not have Bible study on Wednesday night. Instead we will have a Maundy Thursday Lord's Supper service on Thursday night at 6 PM. Additionally, on Sunday morning, we will have an early service at 8 AM. Immediately following the service we will have a churchwide fellowship meal at 8:30 AM. Please bring a dish. We will not be having Sunday School on Easter Sunday. Instead, we will go directly from the fellowship meal to our worship service at 10 AM.

• Deacons - Our deacons have been assigned a list of names from our church membership list to contact. The reason for this is so that they might assist me in caring for the members of our church. So, be expecting to be contacted by our deacons in the near future.

• Office Renovation - Our church office is currently undergoing renovations. I will still be working at the church everyday, but I will be working in our main church building. If my car is in the parking lot, you can know I am at the church. If you need to talk or stop by, feel free to contact me by phone, and I will be happy to assist you. My number: (228) 344-8911.

• Nashville Mission Trip - Al & Karen will be leading a mission trip to engage Somali Muslims in Nashville on May 3. If you are interested in going, please contact Al Hodges in person, or at (804) 306-3274 or alhodges@gmail.com. 

• Volunteers Needed - We are in need of additional volunteers for the following areas: worship team, media/technology team, nursery/preschool, facilities/maintenance team, and kitchen/hospitality team. We are also looking to start a new K-2nd grade Sunday School class, and we are looking for a volunteer to teach this class. We will also need a new lead teacher for our 3-5 old class (Emma Hanson will no longer be able to lead this class once she has her baby this summer). These are great opportunities to serve at our church. Please let me know if you are interested!

• Classical Conversations - Last night our church agreed to allow Classical Conversations (a Christian homeschool group) to use a few of our Sunday School classrooms on Tuesdays each week from 8am - 3:30pm. 

• Bible Study Fellowship - The women's group for Bible Study Fellowship meets at our church on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM. Anyone is welcome to visit the class. If you would like to officially join, visit bsfinternational.org, and then click "Find a Group." Once you have located the group meeting at Excell Baptist Church, click "Request to Join" and someone will be in touch with you about enrollment. 

• Theology For Breakfast - I am starting a men's discipleship group that will meet on the 1st & 3rd Fridays of the month at Starbucks at 6:30 AM. This group will be focused on reading a theology or ministry book together. If you are interested in participating, please let me know! Our first meeting will be on May 2.

Upcoming Events

• April 12 - Men's Breakfast (8 AM)
• April 12 - Emma Hanson's Baby Shower (2:30 PM)
• April 17 - Maundy Thursday Service (6:00 PM)
• April 20 - Easter Early Service (8 AM)
• April 20 - Easter Fellowship Meal (8:30 AM)
• May 3 - Nashville Mission Trip (10:30 AM)
• May 10 - Youth Ice Cream Social (6:00 PM)
• June 13 - Blooming Onion Cook Off
• June 29 - 5th Sunday Fellowship during the Sunday School hour (9:00 AM)
• August 8 - Church Game Night
• August 31 - 5th Sunday Fellowship during the Sunday School hour (9:00 AM)
• October 10 - Chili Cook Off
• November 30 - 5th Sunday Fellowship during the Sunday School hour (9:00 AM)
• December 5 - International Missions Meal
• December 14 - Holiday Meal

In His love,

Hunter Hanson