WEBVTT 00:00:04.766 --> 00:00:05.099 Well. 00:00:05.099 --> 00:00:07.232 Good morning, Valley View. 00:00:07.232 --> 00:00:11.432 It's great to be with you today to celebrate 85 years together. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:12.965 It's already been. 00:00:12.965 --> 00:00:13.333 Go ahead. 00:00:13.333 --> 00:00:17.832 It's fun. 00:00:17.899 --> 00:00:24.832 It's already been exciting just to see how many people God has had here for so many years. 00:00:24.899 --> 00:00:27.832 And today we're going to talk specifically about our history. 00:00:27.832 --> 00:00:31.865 And there's an important reason you've probably used this phrase. 00:00:31.865 --> 00:00:36.600 You've probably heard this phrase I'll let you complete it all started. 00:00:36.665 --> 00:00:41.899 You either use it or or lose it. Right. 00:00:41.899 --> 00:00:51.765 This becomes very painfully aware to me each time one of my kids, it's about seventh or eighth grade math, right? 00:00:51.765 --> 00:00:53.865 I have an engineering degree. 00:00:53.865 --> 00:00:55.732 And that's about that's where I'm out. 00:00:55.732 --> 00:00:57.566 I'm like, I'm done. Okay. 00:00:57.566 --> 00:01:01.799 I haven't used complex math in a really long time. 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:05.165 You use it or you lose it. 00:01:05.165 --> 00:01:13.365 If you're not actively working to keep things you've gained, they're fading away. 00:01:13.365 --> 00:01:18.933 And the same is true of our history, of our foundation. 00:01:19.033 --> 00:01:26.465 Remembering actively remember how God has worked in our lives in the history of Israel. 00:01:26.566 --> 00:01:30.332 They got derailed when they quit remembering. 00:01:30.433 --> 00:01:38.533 And when we stop actively remembering is just a matter of time before we forget about God all together. 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:45.365 And so today we want to be purposeful, to be intentional, to actively remember, not to praise us. 00:01:45.465 --> 00:01:48.000 Look at how great we've been for 85 years. 00:01:48.000 --> 00:02:03.000 That's ridiculous. To praise him, to give gratitude for his goodness, for his generosity, for how he has shown up. 00:02:03.066 --> 00:02:07.566 Now to do that, I'm going to do that through the lens of four people. 00:02:07.665 --> 00:02:11.699 We're going to look at four different people in the history of the church. 00:02:11.765 --> 00:02:15.733 And as I talk about each of them, I want to talk about four principles. 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:24.133 One principle for each of them and one verse of scripture, because we don't just want to remember what they did. 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:32.332 We want to also ask now how then does God using that to call us to repeat what they did moving forward. 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:38.366 Because the history of the church doesn't stop today, Lord willing, I hope not. 00:02:38.366 --> 00:02:39.366 Right. 00:02:39.366 --> 00:02:42.765 We're looking forward to the next 85 years. 00:02:42.832 --> 00:02:46.300 This is the beginning of another season of his blessing. 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:50.300 And so what is he calling us to do in response to what happened? 00:02:50.300 --> 00:02:56.800 We're not just remembering what happened long ago, but we're looking forward at the same time. 00:02:56.800 --> 00:03:02.366 So I'm going to walk through four different people, four lessons, four points from them, and four scripture. 00:03:02.366 --> 00:03:09.665 So the first person go ahead and throw out this picture of Miss Lula Tyree, and this is a picture of her at the time. 00:03:09.665 --> 00:03:11.633 She's 98 years old now. 00:03:11.633 --> 00:03:14.165 Who's Miss Lula Tyree? 00:03:14.165 --> 00:03:20.699 Well, one morning across the street from here on old third, that's where she lived at the time. 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:24.599 She was sitting on the porch with a friend of hers, Annie Quillen. 00:03:24.665 --> 00:03:35.500 And she said, Annie, Annie, I really feel that God has put on my heart a burden to start a Sunday school, but I don't know how to do that. 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:37.133 What should I do? 00:03:37.133 --> 00:03:41.400 Would you join with me and pray for wisdom for that? 00:03:41.500 --> 00:03:45.699 Now, Annie was a member at Impeachment Baptist. 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:49.665 Lula was a member at Beech Mom Baptist, which is a ways up the road. 00:03:49.733 --> 00:03:53.800 And so she really felt like we need something here in this area. 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:58.300 Plus, there were kids everywhere, everywhere they looked, there were children playing. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:01.800 We got to do something to reach these children. 00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:03.566 And so they began to pray. 00:04:03.566 --> 00:04:11.165 And it wasn't long before in her home they had the first Sunday school service that Natalie just mentioned. 00:04:11.265 --> 00:04:16.365 Five children, five adults and 12 children right off the bat. 00:04:16.365 --> 00:04:25.899 That was really the beginnings of Valley View Baptist Church was in her home for that first Sunday school meeting. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:36.399 And then as they continue to meet and pray and begin to gather more and more, it just began to grow and grow and eventually her house couldn't hold them anymore. 00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:39.000 And she said, Where are we going to meet now? 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:46.065 Right across the street there was a farm and there was a huge shade tree just right across the street from it. 00:04:46.132 --> 00:04:47.966 And, you know, this was the summer. 00:04:47.966 --> 00:04:49.432 Let's go meet over there. 00:04:49.432 --> 00:04:50.833 Let's go meet under the shade tree. 00:04:50.833 --> 00:04:54.266 This was back before air conditioning, if you can imagine that. 00:04:54.333 --> 00:04:57.899 I'm sure it was some place, but it wasn't common. 00:04:57.966 --> 00:05:00.966 Let's go meet under that cool shade tree. 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:04.865 So they started to meet and it kept growing and kept growing. 00:05:04.865 --> 00:05:13.033 The word got out among other churches and other churches said, Hey, we want to be a part of helping that Highland Park Baptist. 00:05:13.033 --> 00:05:14.899 Highland First Baptist. 00:05:13.033 --> 00:05:14.899 They sent a pastor. 00:05:14.899 --> 00:05:16.333 He'll come and preach. 00:05:16.333 --> 00:05:20.399 Some 19 old Baptist gave money towards the start of Valley View. 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:24.833 Multiple churches were involved and people from all over the community came. 00:05:24.833 --> 00:05:33.100 And before long, this was one of the first major services they had under that tree of 40 people gathered under that tree. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:40.833 In fact, Lula tary. 00:05:40.932 --> 00:05:42.432 I don't think you're in that photo, George. 00:05:42.432 --> 00:05:45.165 Are you are you looking at it, trying to decide? 00:05:45.165 --> 00:05:46.699 That was a couple of years before your time? 00:05:46.699 --> 00:05:54.600 Not many, though, but Lula Tyree, she actually brought that picture to the pastor here at the church in 1979. 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:58.399 Brother Howell was the pastor then, and she brought that picture. 00:05:58.466 --> 00:06:00.000 She said, I found this in my records. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:04.033 I want you to have this as one of the first gatherings we had. 00:06:04.100 --> 00:06:08.899 And, you know, this would have been 40 years after the church started. 00:06:08.966 --> 00:06:10.800 Yeah, 40 years after that. I'm doing math. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:13.699 I'm had, as I already talked about, use it or lose it, right. 00:06:13.699 --> 00:06:18.766 40 years after the church started, brother, how he was so amazed by that. 00:06:18.766 --> 00:06:20.300 He said, You know what? 00:06:20.300 --> 00:06:24.632 Your seed of faith has led to so much happening here. 00:06:24.733 --> 00:06:27.199 Just five adults and 12 children. 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:37.699 And in your living room, look now look at what God has done, because at that time, multiple buildings were here and he started to walk through, Here's all that God is doing at Valley View. 00:06:37.699 --> 00:06:40.699 Now here are the ministries at work. 00:06:40.699 --> 00:06:44.065 Here's what God has brought about. 00:06:44.132 --> 00:06:49.932 And you know what she said to that after he got done explaining all that God has been doing. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:54.665 And she said, I saw it all from the very beginning. 00:06:54.766 --> 00:07:01.865 I had the vision at the very start for where this would be today. 00:07:01.966 --> 00:07:12.899 And I thought about her in that statement, that vision, looking forward to God, working throughout this community, bringing all kinds of different people together. 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:18.800 I think the lesson for us in that is just just one word for us to take from that. 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:24.966 The word faith walk by faith. 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:35.065 What has God put on your heart that has called you to take a step of faith, to walk by faith, to do something that requires you to depend on him? 00:07:35.132 --> 00:07:38.132 She even said to her friend, How do we do this? 00:07:38.300 --> 00:07:39.333 I don't know what to know. 00:07:39.333 --> 00:07:40.033 I don't know what to do. 00:07:40.033 --> 00:07:44.132 But I know he has put this on my heart to reach this community. 00:07:44.233 --> 00:07:46.899 A key verse for us, and that is in Hebrews Chapter 11. 00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:47.600 Turn to Hebrews. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:48.466 Chapter 11. 00:07:48.466 --> 00:07:51.466 If you have a church Bible that will be on page 947. 00:07:51.565 --> 00:07:58.800 If you don't have a Bible, you can go out to the connection corner any time and get one and the pages on the screen tie into that Bible. 00:07:58.800 --> 00:08:00.466 That's a free copy for you to have. 00:08:00.466 --> 00:08:02.000 We want you in God's Word. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:05.966 Turning there, reading it on your own, studying the Bible on your own. 00:08:05.966 --> 00:08:09.565 It's such a powerful way to grow as a Christian. 00:08:09.632 --> 00:08:14.833 But Hebrews Chapter 11 is often called the Hall of Faith, the chapter of Faith. 00:08:14.966 --> 00:08:16.533 I encourage you to read the whole thing. 00:08:16.533 --> 00:08:18.565 You'll see in Walk Through. Here's what this person did. 00:08:18.565 --> 00:08:20.300 Here's how they leaned on God by faith. 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:21.932 By faith, by faith. 00:08:21.932 --> 00:08:24.833 But look at how the chapters starts. 00:08:24.899 --> 00:08:26.065 Chapter 11, verse one. 00:08:26.065 --> 00:08:30.199 Now faith, and this is often considered the definition of faith. 00:08:30.266 --> 00:08:32.600 Faith is the assurance of things. 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:37.633 Hope for the conviction of things not seen. 00:08:37.700 --> 00:08:41.332 And you think back to literary. 00:08:41.399 --> 00:08:44.932 I'm not I've not seen it come about yet, but I can see it in my mind already. 00:08:44.932 --> 00:08:47.700 Here's what God is going to do. 00:08:44.932 --> 00:08:47.700 I'm sure of it. 00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:52.299 I'm convinced he is going to work for by it. 00:08:52.299 --> 00:08:56.299 People of old recovered their commendation received their commendation by faith. 00:08:56.299 --> 00:09:04.399 We understand that the universe was created by the Word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 00:09:04.466 --> 00:09:22.832 Skip down to verse six and without faith it is impossible to please him for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him. 00:09:22.932 --> 00:09:34.865 So when we think about Lula's example of having a vision for how God will move and her taking a simple step of faith, you know, she didn't have to have it all figured out. 00:09:34.865 --> 00:09:43.533 She didn't have to have a master plan and already have the buildings laid out and know who were going to be the key volunteers and leaders. 00:09:43.633 --> 00:09:45.966 She said, God, would you move? 00:09:45.966 --> 00:09:47.066 Let's start. 00:09:47.066 --> 00:09:50.066 Let's trust, let's trippin. 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:53.765 Let's take a simple step of faith. 00:09:53.865 --> 00:09:59.466 I think that's a powerful testimony for us today. 00:09:59.566 --> 00:10:09.399 And I know there are a number here in this room that feel like God has given you a vision for how he wants to use you to reach some in this community. 00:10:09.500 --> 00:10:12.200 Maybe it's a group of people that have been neglected. 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:20.966 Maybe it's someone you feel especially connected with and God has given you a vision and maybe it's not all clear. 00:10:21.033 --> 00:10:24.765 Don't give up on that. 00:10:24.832 --> 00:10:32.100 Don't get What if Lula had said, But I'm not a leader, but God can't use me. 00:10:32.166 --> 00:10:38.533 But somebody else will probably step up and do that. 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:40.666 Don't give up on that vision. 00:10:40.666 --> 00:10:43.299 Keep walking by faith. 00:10:43.299 --> 00:10:45.332 Keep trusting. 00:10:45.332 --> 00:10:46.432 He's going to move. 00:10:46.432 --> 00:10:48.966 It might not be way that you think he would. 00:10:48.966 --> 00:10:50.666 It may not all be spelled out. 00:10:50.666 --> 00:10:57.100 You may not have it all figured out on the front end, but that's what it's part of what faith is moving forward in faith. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:10:59.432 So that's the first person. 00:10:59.432 --> 00:11:05.166 Lula literally walk by faith, take a step of faith. 00:11:05.166 --> 00:11:10.899 Now for the second person, the second example for us to look at today, and you can go ahead and put up this picture. 00:11:10.899 --> 00:11:13.533 This is of Morris Roberts. 00:11:13.533 --> 00:11:17.566 His nickname was Rosie. I don't know why. 00:11:17.633 --> 00:11:18.100 Who knows? 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:20.299 We could speculate about that for a while. 00:11:20.299 --> 00:11:26.966 Morris Rosie Roberts and his family and Rosie was the interesting guy. 00:11:26.966 --> 00:11:33.566 He heard about this vision that Lula had, that Annie had. 00:11:33.633 --> 00:11:37.633 And he was his sister and he lived right across the street as well. 00:11:37.700 --> 00:11:40.732 He heard about what God was doing, what God had put on their heart. 00:11:40.865 --> 00:11:45.700 He was watching this group grow and he got excited about it. 00:11:45.799 --> 00:11:52.299 He was excited to see what is God going to do in our community. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:59.265 And so when he heard other churches were getting involved, when when they needed a place to meet, he said, Yeah, go across the street to my shade tree. 00:11:59.265 --> 00:12:01.765 That was his farm across the street. 00:12:01.765 --> 00:12:03.732 Y'all are welcome to meet there. 00:12:03.732 --> 00:12:10.066 He made his place available when people needed a place to sit under the shade tree, he donated the lumber. 00:12:10.066 --> 00:12:14.166 He even got his hands dirty, helped build the benches that everyone sat on. 00:12:14.265 --> 00:12:23.100 Kind of created an outdoor chapel environment, took some of that money that other churches had donated. 00:12:23.166 --> 00:12:27.232 In fact, I asked Larry Piercey, Larry knew Rosie. 00:12:27.232 --> 00:12:29.000 I asked him, Tell me a little about Rosie. 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:30.666 What was he like? 00:12:30.666 --> 00:12:40.000 And he said, you know, the interesting thing about Rosie, I don't know that he ever held any, like official leadership positions in the church. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:45.033 He may have, but he wasn't really a prominent leader. 00:12:45.133 --> 00:12:46.666 But he was there. 00:12:46.666 --> 00:12:48.399 He was committed. 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:52.700 He was all in he was giving of himself in so many ways. 00:12:52.899 --> 00:12:57.600 In fact, as I've said, his name, some of you may know that name is so familiar. 00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:58.732 I know I've heard that name. 00:12:58.732 --> 00:13:01.600 Where have I heard that? 00:13:01.600 --> 00:13:06.299 Well, if you've been out at the ball field, go and throw that sign. 00:13:06.299 --> 00:13:09.100 Morris Rosie Roberts Memorial Field. 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:12.832 But they dedicated the whole ball field to him. 00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:15.200 You've probably some of you are going, How did I not see that? 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:17.033 I've walked past that so many times. 00:13:17.033 --> 00:13:20.232 I'm so embarrassed when I take a poll. It's okay. 00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:20.865 All right. 00:13:20.865 --> 00:13:25.200 I may have had to have had that pointed out to me, even. 00:13:25.265 --> 00:13:28.500 But part of what Roosevelt did was he gave to the church. 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:31.500 He that was his land. 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:37.365 And he said, I'm so excited about what God is doing here. 00:13:37.432 --> 00:13:39.633 I love the fact that people can gather. 00:13:39.633 --> 00:13:53.100 He was really excited about softball and seeing people just come gather fellowship, have a place to connect in a way that hopefully honors God. 00:13:53.166 --> 00:13:57.799 And when I think about him, the principal, I think about Rosie. 00:13:57.799 --> 00:14:00.399 Let's just be generous. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:08.432 I be generous, of course, with your finances, but also with your time and talents. 00:14:08.533 --> 00:14:12.299 He didn't have to be the person upfront. 00:14:12.365 --> 00:14:16.166 He said, I'm going to be used by God by the way he's wired me. 00:14:16.166 --> 00:14:18.732 I can build things I can give of my time. 00:14:18.732 --> 00:14:26.600 When it came time to build the first building, which isn't here anymore, but he he was all in on that, helping to create it. 00:14:26.865 --> 00:14:33.899 When that building was overflowing, he said, We need to build a basement underneath this thing. I'll help dig it out. 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:35.166 What? Understand? 00:14:35.166 --> 00:14:43.899 A basement leaked its entire history of the building, which I think we might still have some of those issues in our basements here. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:47.265 But he said, I want to be used by God. 00:14:47.265 --> 00:14:48.566 I'm going to be generous. 00:14:48.566 --> 00:14:50.299 In fact, there's a great section of scripture. 00:14:50.299 --> 00:14:55.066 Turn to second Corinthians eight, Second Corinthians. 00:14:55.066 --> 00:15:12.000 So right after first Corinthians, which is after the Gospels and acts in Romans, second Corinthians eight, when I read the description of the people in this passage, this is how I want to be described. 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:14.666 Look at verses one through five. 00:15:14.732 --> 00:15:22.332 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia. 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:38.566 So he's speaking about these churches in particular for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed and a wealth of generosity on their part. 00:15:38.633 --> 00:15:52.799 Notice the conditions here in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty all work together towards extreme generosity. 00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:56.566 And look at their attitude here in this part. 00:15:56.633 --> 00:16:14.700 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means of their own accord, and then their attitude begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the Saints. 00:16:14.765 --> 00:16:18.732 You know, they say give with a joyful heart. 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:21.133 I mean, what a picture here. 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:27.033 Out of the abundance of joy, begging us earnestly to give, please, can we give some pause? 00:16:27.033 --> 00:16:31.000 I have to say that's enough. But. 00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:32.533 Whoa, hang on. 00:16:32.533 --> 00:16:33.932 You need this for yourself. 00:16:33.932 --> 00:16:38.566 You guys are already poor. 00:16:38.633 --> 00:16:44.533 I want to be known as that kind of giver, begging earnestly. 00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:48.666 And I think Valley View in its history. 00:16:48.765 --> 00:16:54.100 I mean, just look at the fact I was just talking with the guy right before the service, he says. 00:16:54.100 --> 00:17:06.500 I remember when we first started talking about renovating the fellowship hall and in it was a year ago was a year ago July, where I said, Hey, let's see if God might provide the funds for us to renovate this. 00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:07.932 Let's see what he might do. 00:17:07.932 --> 00:17:17.099 And in a year he provided the funds and it's and is done both out of your generosity. 00:17:17.165 --> 00:17:21.500 It's really amazing. 00:17:21.566 --> 00:17:28.700 And, you know, it's not only the financial giving, though, a whole bunch of you helped out recreating that space. 00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:33.133 In fact, if you were I'm going to have you stand in a second, but let me just mention some of the things. 00:17:33.133 --> 00:17:36.500 And I know a lot of the people that like to serve in the background don't want to stand. 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:38.000 They want to stay in the background. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:42.932 But I want you to stand it when I say to stand, because I want everyone to see how much went into it. 00:17:42.932 --> 00:17:47.766 It's not about you individually, it's about collectively how many people served. 00:17:47.865 --> 00:17:57.732 But we hauled out all those old panels, ripped out carpet, repainted that area, and then replaced ceiling tiles and light bulbs, painted a number of elements. 00:17:57.932 --> 00:18:01.365 But then also there was a number of people involved in preparing for our reception. 00:18:01.365 --> 00:18:02.333 That's afterwards today. 00:18:02.333 --> 00:18:07.200 So if you were a part of any bit of that, go ahead and stand now. 00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:08.532 Go ahead and it's okay. 00:18:08.532 --> 00:18:09.965 I'm going. 00:18:09.965 --> 00:18:12.566 Keep going. I know there's more. 00:18:12.566 --> 00:18:24.799 Keep going. 00:18:24.865 --> 00:18:26.932 Be generous. 00:18:26.932 --> 00:18:33.732 Be generous with your time, with your talents, with your finances, and watch God work. 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.066 All right. 00:18:34.066 --> 00:18:36.032 That's Rosie Roberts. 00:18:36.032 --> 00:18:39.465 Now for the third person I want to mention. 00:18:39.532 --> 00:18:41.133 We'll just go ahead and throw up this sun. 00:18:41.133 --> 00:18:46.165 How many of you know where this sign is in the building? 00:18:46.232 --> 00:18:53.532 I see a couple of hands, not too many, because it's pretty kind of hidden away if you're looking. 00:18:53.532 --> 00:19:00.333 I'll just tell you, if you're looking at the front of the church there's a building to the far right if you're standing on third, which I don't recommend. 00:19:00.333 --> 00:19:07.400 But if you if you are look at the building, the far right, there's a door there that used to be kind of a chapel area. 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:16.633 Now that's the children's wing right inside that door is this sign the Jean Cook building now thought the picture of Jean Cook, Jean and his family. 00:19:16.700 --> 00:19:18.299 Jean was a member here for a long time. 00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:23.465 The nameplates 97, he passed in 96 and they named the building after him. 00:19:23.633 --> 00:19:32.932 Jean was known for being a man who cared deeply about this church, who was committed to this church at so many levels. 00:19:32.932 --> 00:19:35.133 In fact, let me just read to you. 00:19:35.133 --> 00:19:37.732 I had to write all these down to make sure I get them right. 00:19:37.732 --> 00:19:45.566 Let me just read to you some of the roles he served in in this church, some of the titles he held, some of these I don't even know what they are. 00:19:45.566 --> 00:19:47.566 We don't have some of these around anymore. 00:19:47.566 --> 00:19:49.766 But listen to this list. 00:19:49.833 --> 00:19:53.900 Softball Program Director, Training Union director, Deacon, Trustee. 00:19:54.133 --> 00:19:55.365 Sunday School Teacher. 00:19:55.365 --> 00:19:57.799 Brotherhood President. Financial Secretary. 00:19:57.799 --> 00:19:59.432 County Committee Chairman. 00:19:59.432 --> 00:20:15.432 He usually served two or three widows at a time, regularly visit an inmate on death row hospital visits, building and grounds maintenance, supervised custodial staff, oversaw bank deposits, helped with answering the phones. 00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.099 Y'all are gone. 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:18.900 Why do we need all this other staff then? One guy can do that. 00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:24.200 All right, Now, why did I say that? 00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:28.599 I didn't mean that. 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:33.500 Listen, all those titles here was the most honored one that I had mentioned that was on the list. 00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:40.965 The one that he valued the most day care and Kindergarten Committee chairman. 00:20:41.032 --> 00:20:44.032 His passion was the children. 00:20:44.266 --> 00:20:56.266 When we had daycare here every day, he was there talking with the children, talking with the teachers, investing in them, loving on them. 00:20:56.333 --> 00:21:03.099 He was so excited about what God was doing through the children. 00:21:03.133 --> 00:21:09.200 It's no coincidence that that's how Valley View started was a burden for region. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:12.032 The children. 00:21:12.032 --> 00:21:27.965 And when I think about him and part of the reason they put his name on a plaque and put it up on the wall is so that we would remember that and model that in fact, I think the key phrase is invest, invest in future generations. 00:21:28.066 --> 00:21:31.700 As a church, we need to be thinking ahead to future generations. 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:40.400 There's a great verse that I love in first Corinthians six, and the verse is in the context of sexual immorality. 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:46.000 But the point it makes is really critical and and applicable to so many parts of life. 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:56.599 First Corinthians 619 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you whom you have from God? 00:21:56.599 --> 00:22:03.665 And here's the phrase to remember You are not your own, you are not your own. 00:22:03.665 --> 00:22:08.333 You've been bought with a price, so glorify God with your body. 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:15.532 Now, that applies to a lot of realms, but just having that phrase in mind, you are not your own. 00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:20.032 And you've heard Rick Warren say this Life is not only about you. 00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:22.000 Life is not only about me. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.732 In fact, life is never worse. 00:22:23.732 --> 00:22:27.299 When then I'm totally self-absorbed and make sure it's all about me. 00:22:27.365 --> 00:22:28.665 It's not good for me. 00:22:28.665 --> 00:22:31.299 It's not good for anybody. 00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:39.633 But when I get my eyes off myself and onto others and on to future generations and I'm thinking about serving others, that's where you start to really find life. 00:22:39.633 --> 00:22:43.133 We talked about that in John Chapter 12 last week. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.900 If you want to find your life, lose it. 00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:48.732 That's where you start to gain real life when you're giving. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:50.566 And we got to give from a place health. 00:22:50.566 --> 00:22:53.799 All that's true. 00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:55.133 But we are not our own. 00:22:55.133 --> 00:22:58.099 We want to be investing in the next generation. 00:22:58.099 --> 00:23:11.700 You know, the amazing part of that story with Jean Cook, one of the neat things is he continued to do what was modeled at the beginning of this church. 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:18.566 So early on, this church was all about how do we invest in the children, how do we invest in the next generation? 00:23:18.633 --> 00:23:21.633 And I'm going to show you a series of pictures. 00:23:21.633 --> 00:23:24.200 Don't put them up yet. But that went out when I found these photos. 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:28.700 We have this box of old material of history of the church. 00:23:28.766 --> 00:23:32.532 When I encountered these pictures, I thought they were copies of the same photo. 00:23:32.532 --> 00:23:39.365 At first I just kind of flipped through them until I realized, Now, these are all different pictures. 00:23:39.465 --> 00:23:41.266 These are pictures go ahead and start putting these up. 00:23:41.266 --> 00:23:46.633 When we have them in groups of two of early children, Sunday school class. 00:23:46.633 --> 00:23:50.333 That's our first white building that was out front. 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:54.865 These are individual Sunday school classes, groups of children. 00:23:54.932 --> 00:23:56.432 George, you probably are in one of those. 00:23:56.432 --> 00:23:57.200 I'm guessing. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:58.266 We don't know. 00:23:58.266 --> 00:24:01.799 We'll examine that later. 00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:03.599 And by the way, we left one off. 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:05.900 There was one more. 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:05.900 We actually had seven photos. 00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:11.066 You can put up the full collage just to show them all early on. Very early in the church. 00:24:11.066 --> 00:24:12.400 This is the 1940s. 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:19.599 We've got Sunday school class kids, Sunday school class stack of kids, stack of kids, stack of kids. 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:23.066 From the very beginning, God was using Valley View to reach kids. 00:24:23.066 --> 00:24:36.200 And you and I today, when I look at our church and all that we're doing, I think you'd be hard pressed to find many other churches that are intentional as intentional to serve children. 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:39.665 Of course, we could do better every church could. 00:24:39.665 --> 00:24:43.599 But that legacy has continued. 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:48.965 And the important thing for that is, look, we're not a church that's only about children. 00:24:49.066 --> 00:24:52.665 And part of my burden is to serve everyone who's here. 00:24:52.732 --> 00:24:58.965 I to make sure whether you're 100 or one that we're serving, who God has brought us. 00:24:59.032 --> 00:25:00.599 We're not just a kids church. 00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:03.333 We're not just the senior citizens church. 00:25:03.333 --> 00:25:05.333 We're serving everyone God has brought us. 00:25:05.333 --> 00:25:13.500 However, as I say, that the sign of a healthy church is that there are lots of children in your church. 00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:23.200 The sign of a growing church is that there are lots of children in your church, and if your church doesn't have children, it's just a matter of time before the doors shut. 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:30.000 In fact, TIME How many of you, if you're comfortable raising your hand, would say, Yeah, the last church I was a part of. That's what happened, right? 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:32.299 Raise your hand if that happened to you. 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:34.965 You can just look around and see a number of people. 00:25:34.965 --> 00:25:47.566 You were in a church that, for whatever reason, stopped multiplying and slowly trickled away and died off. 00:25:47.633 --> 00:25:49.566 And so we want to be active. 00:25:49.566 --> 00:25:51.599 And how do we reach the next generation? 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:53.900 How do we invest in the next generation? 00:25:53.900 --> 00:26:02.333 The other amazing part of that God use that burden to not just reach kids but to multiply value. 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:06.700 Early on they wanted from that probably within the first ten years said, you know what? 00:26:06.700 --> 00:26:07.700 What happened here? 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:08.932 We need to multiply that out. 00:26:08.932 --> 00:26:19.333 And so they went and started a Sunday school class off St Andrew's Church Road that ended up becoming Cardinal Hills Baptist Church, which is still up on St Anthony's Valley. 00:26:19.333 --> 00:26:31.432 View was a part early on of saying, We need to multiply, we need to plant other churches Valley View as a part in giving, investing in West End Baptist being started and some of you have been a part of serving. 00:26:31.432 --> 00:26:36.865 They're serving on Saturday morning feeding the homeless. 00:26:36.932 --> 00:26:46.333 I love seeing how God use the burdens for one ministry to multiply, others to send out others into other areas, to multiply out other churches. 00:26:46.333 --> 00:26:49.833 Because a healthy church is growing. 00:26:49.932 --> 00:27:03.299 And so Gene could model that for us out of his passion, out of his burden for children, God used him to continue that legacy of investing in future generations. 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:05.165 So that was the third person to focus on. 00:27:05.165 --> 00:27:06.732 That was our third point. 00:27:06.732 --> 00:27:10.365 Invest in future generations. 00:27:10.432 --> 00:27:12.232 And now for the fourth one. 00:27:12.232 --> 00:27:17.500 And before I mention this person, I want to just share a little lesson I learned from Dennis Rainey. 00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:22.599 He was a guy I served under in ministry in Little Rock marriage and family ministry called Family Life. 00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:25.965 When we came there, one of their buildings, they have three different buildings. 00:27:24.465 --> 00:27:25.965 At the time. 00:27:25.965 --> 00:27:30.599 One of their buildings was called the Ingle Building and it was named after a guy. 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:43.665 Merle Ingle and Merle had been an incredibly successful, successful executive at one time, managing over 7000 people in the role he was in as a vice president of a big electrical company. 00:27:43.732 --> 00:27:45.532 But Merle Ingle, he gave all that up. 00:27:45.532 --> 00:27:52.865 He came to serve at FamilyLife to help assist all help that was needed there, to bring more organization, more order, more structure. 00:27:52.865 --> 00:27:53.799 He became the CEO. 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:56.066 Oh, now here's the cool part about Merle. 00:27:56.066 --> 00:28:00.599 When Julian, I showed up to serve there, he was still there. 00:28:00.665 --> 00:28:03.665 He was still serving as the CEO. 00:28:03.833 --> 00:28:05.000 And Dennis said this. 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:11.965 I heard him say it many times, Let's not wait to the people we want to honor our gone. 00:28:12.032 --> 00:28:14.700 Let's honor them while they're with us. 00:28:14.766 --> 00:28:19.932 Let their current example can inspire us as well. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:26.432 So for the fourth person that I want us to make note of today and learn from today, it's not a person. 00:28:26.432 --> 00:28:27.465 It's a couple. 00:28:27.465 --> 00:28:38.599 Larry and Charlotte Pierce are the ones we want to mention today. 00:28:38.665 --> 00:28:41.766 And if you don't know who they are, go ahead and put up a picture of them on the screen. 00:28:41.766 --> 00:28:46.566 Oh, wait, that one's kind of old. That's well, no, that's jumping ahead a little bit. 00:28:46.566 --> 00:28:47.299 Go back. 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:54.932 I had them in a specific order to try to make a humorous point about myself because that's a picture of me that got mixed in. 00:28:54.932 --> 00:28:58.932 Go ahead to the next one of Larry and Charlotte a little older. 00:28:58.932 --> 00:28:59.266 Okay. 00:28:59.266 --> 00:29:03.232 Now let's see their current picture that we already saw bring back up. 00:29:03.232 --> 00:29:18.465 That's Larry and Charlotte Piercey and Larry and Charlotte, much like where Dennis said, we're going to honor those who are with us while they're with us. 00:29:18.532 --> 00:29:23.732 What I want to do today is to announce we're going to rename the fellowship hall, the Larry and Charlotte Piercy. 00:29:23.732 --> 00:29:37.099 HALL Yeah, Yeah. 00:29:37.165 --> 00:29:37.700 Not going to. 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.865 We did. It's done. 00:29:38.865 --> 00:29:41.633 As you can see. 00:29:41.633 --> 00:29:44.633 And here's why. 00:29:44.665 --> 00:29:53.400 When I think back to my time at Valley View, So I grew up here, started coming here and I think 78 is about the time we came here. 00:29:53.400 --> 00:29:54.799 It was here until 2002. 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:57.799 We moved to Little Rock. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:01.232 As Eddie Lee mentioned, the church has had its ups and downs. 00:30:01.333 --> 00:30:03.266 It's had its highs and lows. 00:30:03.266 --> 00:30:04.700 We don't ignore that reality. 00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:15.066 And I remember being here in college and Brother Howard had left maybe not under the best circumstances either, and the church was declining in attendance. 00:30:15.232 --> 00:30:21.865 And the associate pastor at the time, Tony TRANEL, he moved into the role and Tony was a great guy. 00:30:21.865 --> 00:30:24.333 But attendance continued to decline. 00:30:24.333 --> 00:30:26.665 And we were in a lot of debt as a church. 00:30:26.665 --> 00:30:29.633 And it got to the point really, we could have just met in the chapel. 00:30:29.633 --> 00:30:34.766 I mean, it was basically kind of just a group of people right here in the middle. 00:30:34.766 --> 00:30:38.266 And then Tony left, and that was hard for me. 00:30:38.266 --> 00:30:42.400 I was in college at the time and I felt like I was in a key season of growth. 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:46.665 In fact, I felt like Tony's influence, specifically mentoring and discipleship. 00:30:46.665 --> 00:30:53.000 My dad had a big influence on my growth, which is such a powerful principle. 00:30:53.066 --> 00:30:54.732 So to see him leave, that was really hard. 00:30:54.732 --> 00:30:56.732 It hurt. 00:30:56.732 --> 00:31:02.266 And I wondered, Well, what are you doing? God, what's going to happen here? 00:31:02.266 --> 00:31:06.099 Where do we go from here? 00:31:06.165 --> 00:31:11.900 And I watched after that, and there were a number of men and families who stepped up in the church. 00:31:11.965 --> 00:31:15.766 But for whatever reason at the time, Larry and Charlotte really stood out to me. 00:31:15.833 --> 00:31:18.833 Here I am a young college guy, and I'm watching them. 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:21.165 They started Wednesday night, suppers back up again. 00:31:21.165 --> 00:31:24.799 It had been on the hiatus and they were there. 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:35.333 And at the beginning of the meal, Larry's there, setting up chairs, and at the end of the meal he's cleaning off tables and folding up chairs and tables, and Charlotte's back there cooking, making the meal. 00:31:35.566 --> 00:31:37.766 And they were there. 00:31:37.766 --> 00:31:46.965 And it seemed like everywhere I turn here they were serving here, they were making sure that things kept and he didn't have to say it. 00:31:47.032 --> 00:31:50.432 The message was, We're all in. 00:31:50.532 --> 00:31:52.299 We're not going anywhere. 00:31:52.299 --> 00:32:01.500 We're going to do whatever we can and pray that God moves and brings his favor back on this church. 00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:06.732 And as I thought of them, whenever think of the fellowship hall, I think of them. 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:09.799 And it just felt like a natural connection. 00:32:09.865 --> 00:32:16.766 And by the way, there's probably a lot of rooms here that could be named after lot of people. 00:32:16.833 --> 00:32:24.099 But the phrase that comes to mind with them, the principle that I think we all can take is just to serve. 00:32:24.165 --> 00:32:30.732 Serve Jesus modeled this, Larry and Charlotte modeled it. 00:32:30.732 --> 00:32:32.032 In fact, I love Mark. 00:32:32.032 --> 00:32:34.566 1045 You can put that up on the screen. 00:32:34.566 --> 00:32:44.365 The son of man did not come to be serve, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many serve. 00:32:44.365 --> 00:32:51.532 Pour out, invest, be generous, walk by faith. 00:32:51.532 --> 00:33:21.500 Those are four principles that I think moving forward as a church, if we are embodying those, if we are looking at the names that have been put on the walls for a reason, following that example, I think over time we'll see God continue to bless and multiply this church in exciting new ways, in ways really we couldn't have even imagined. 00:33:21.566 --> 00:33:28.400 In fact, here's what I want to do during this time to to close the service. 00:33:28.465 --> 00:33:32.833 Going back to Lulu Tyree and watch what she said. 00:33:32.900 --> 00:33:35.333 I feel like God has put on my heart to start a Sunday school. 00:33:35.333 --> 00:33:38.700 Will you help me? 00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:45.932 I know in this room some of us feel like God has given me a vision and I am passionately committed to seeing that happen. 00:33:45.932 --> 00:33:51.833 And then some have said, I feel like he's given me a vision and I've given up on that. 00:33:51.900 --> 00:33:55.766 And some have said I want that kind of vision. 00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:56.965 Here's what I want to do. Now. 00:33:56.965 --> 00:34:12.132 Wherever you are on that spectrum, I want to pray for you and I want to, as a result, I want to pray for us because I believe God has some of the best years ahead for valid use, some of the most amazing years ahead for Valley View. 00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:16.666 Not so that we can feel great, but so that he gets more glory, right? 00:34:16.733 --> 00:34:21.166 That's the goal. 00:34:21.233 --> 00:34:23.900 And so here's what I want to do. 00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:29.632 If you feel like if you fall in one of those categories, yes, God's given me a vision and. I'm praying for that. 00:34:29.632 --> 00:34:31.400 He's given me one, but I've given up on it. 00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:34.965 I need renewed hope. 00:34:31.400 --> 00:34:34.965 I want that kind of vision. 00:34:35.032 --> 00:34:40.699 I just want to ask you to come down here, just come down front to stand, kneel, whatever you want to do. 00:34:40.699 --> 00:34:42.032 Go ahead and do that now. 00:34:42.032 --> 00:34:56.000 And as you're coming and as people are here, no matter how many they are, whether it's one or 20 or 100 or whatever, I'm going to pray that God would multiply that vision over us. 00:34:56.065 --> 00:35:00.099 So go ahead and come now and our worship team is working their way up here. 00:35:00.199 --> 00:35:06.632 And after I pray over us, we'll worship together, we'll continue to worship. 00:35:06.632 --> 00:35:10.965 And then after all of that, I'll give us some instructions on the reception. 00:35:11.032 --> 00:35:14.099 But just come now if you feel like, God, I have a vision. 00:35:14.333 --> 00:35:15.500 I want a vision. 00:35:15.500 --> 00:35:28.000 I need a renewed vision for how you want to use me, how you want to use this church, how you're going to multiply out through the world, through the community in missions, and giving generosity. 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:49.432 Just just come now and stand where you can or kneel or whatever, and pray for God to bless us, to give us great wisdom, to take steps of faith, to see him move God. We thank you for how you have moved for 85 years. 00:35:49.500 --> 00:35:55.300 And there have been ups there have been downs. 00:35:55.432 --> 00:36:00.365 And as we saying earlier, all through it all, you've been faithful. 00:36:00.465 --> 00:36:02.900 God, you are faithful. 00:36:02.900 --> 00:36:07.532 Thank you for being faithful when we are faithless. 00:36:07.632 --> 00:36:11.000 And I thank you for giving vision for ministry. 00:36:11.065 --> 00:36:18.032 And I know there are some here who know you're going to move in some powerful ways and they've already seen you move in some powerful ways. 00:36:18.032 --> 00:36:20.565 I know there are others who've given up on that vision. 00:36:20.565 --> 00:36:23.965 Maybe they think you can't move that way or you can't use them. 00:36:24.032 --> 00:36:30.599 And others who are saying, God, I want to see you move in ways I haven't even imagined. 00:36:26.932 --> 00:36:30.599 And I just pray right now. 00:36:30.666 --> 00:36:46.833 I pray today would be the day where we see you move in ways we could never imagine that you would use each of these families and many more to move in powerful ways in this community. 00:36:47.065 --> 00:36:51.565 This fellowship hall is not primarily about us. 00:36:51.632 --> 00:36:52.733 Yes, we gather. 00:36:52.733 --> 00:36:55.032 Yes, we fellowship. 00:36:55.032 --> 00:36:57.166 Yes, we connect. Yes, we study your word. 00:36:57.166 --> 00:37:02.833 But the hope is ultimately so that we spill out into world. 00:37:02.900 --> 00:37:04.032 And so give us wisdom. 00:37:04.032 --> 00:37:06.099 Lord, give us a favor. 00:37:06.099 --> 00:37:09.965 Help us to be more and more dependent on you. 00:37:10.065 --> 00:37:10.465 Jesus. 00:37:10.465 --> 00:37:13.532 We love you. Amen.