My praise and glory for 28 plus years of God’s gracious care for the Tim & Wendy Jackson Family and Community Baptist Church of Lansing, MI.
The History. Tim was serving as Ass. Pastor, Youth Pastor, Coach and in the Bus Ministry when God began to work separately in both of our lives. Tim had always felt church planting was in his future and at a Teen Mission Conference felt God was calling him to investigate this work. At the same time, a dear friend of mine had died and I was searching for God’s leading and trusting that His Will was always perfect. Both of us told the Lord we would go wherever He leads us. As we prayed together that night, we knew God was going to make some big changes in our lives. We had a pretty home, a wonderful church, and a good Christian school for our boys, but the Lord kept tugging at our hearts. After months of praying, counsel, and research, we felt the west side of Lansing, Mi. was the area God was directing us to go to as church planting missionaries. Little did we know that we would come to love this city and the souls here …….so deeply. We have prayed over this city, lead souls to Christ, seen miracles for our ministry, felt humbled at the growth and sweet people the Lord brought our way, cried at the trials and rejoiced with each victory. Our family grew closer as we worked together. We rented a building for many years and prayed for our own church facility. We were sent as missionaries and had good and lean years, and joyfully our supporting churches helped us raise money and workers to build our own building. We were so happy to have our building to meet in, however, we had to install 1300 feet of water lines, pay for storm drains and municipality’s fees. So for 20 years, we have been sacrificing to pay off that debt. I am so happy to announce that we paid off that debt last week and plan to burn the mortgage on Easter morning. God has always been so gracious and we are so blessed to serve Him here. There have been many times through the years when we could have left this ministry for others, but God has truly put the souls of Lansing in our hearts. God has given us sweet peace that this is our ministry home until He shows us a different direction. My home might change because of my inoperable brain cancer, but we are rejoicing on bonus month 7 of the 6 months diagnosis to live. I love Lansing and Community Baptist Church, but I will go wherever the Lord leads me. Please continue to pray for my family and my church family, I love them both. I am so grateful God entrusted me with their care. I am so humbled God let me be a part of this church. Trusting God for healing……HERE or THERE! -Wendy
Gratitude works like a wonder drug (Proverbs 17:22) and dependence on the Lord like a supernatural sedative (Isaiah 26:3). Thank you, Wendy, for consistently modeling gratitude and dependence on the Lord for Belinda and me and for so many others.
We rejoice over God’s goodness to you, your family, and Community Baptist. Along with you, we are asking the Lord to allow you to be at your beloved church for Resurrection Sunday (Mortgage Burning Sunday). That would be so special! To God be the glory!
Pastor Bob Magee