HAPPY BIRTHDAY – MT. CARMEL

"CHURCH" means "of or belonging to the Lord," the "ekklesia." It means "the called out" for those who accept Christ Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior are who called out of darkness into His marvelous light.   In Acts 7:38,  Moses  "was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spoke to him on Mount Sinai."  In the New Testament, the congregation is a "theocratic democracy" whose members are free but always conscious that their freedom springs from their obedience to their King.  

In Matthew 16:18,  ekklesia was first applied to the Christian society of believers. It was natural that Jesus would employ a new name for this new body that he was about to create. Jesus proclaims upon Peter's believing confession, "Upon this rock, I will build MY church." The next use of ekklesia is found in  Matthew 18:20.  Here the context "where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them" refers to a universal church.  In the Acts of the Apostles, a more precise definition is given. Ekklesia can be a local body of Christians in a particular place, such as Jerusalem, Antioch,  or Caesarea. 

There are certain teachings of the Christian Church that are mandatory and must be upheld. We are challenged to give the more earnest heed to the teachings which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip" (Heb. 2:1).

For 54 years,  Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church has carried out the Great Commission to make disciplines of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  As we celebrate what God has called us to do, let us remember the Church belongs to Him; we are stewards for Him, for His glory, forever. Let us thank Jesus for his incredible love towards us.