A Special Time of Year

October is a special time of year that always brings fond remembrances of God's hand at work. After four weeks of "get acquainted" meetings in the Ansonia Red Cross building, we held the first service of the River Valley Baptist Church in Ansonia, Connecticut on October 25th, 1987, in the gymnasium of the Lincoln-Hayes School. This week marks the 25th Anniversary of that church plant, and we are looking forward to attending the special services, and seeing old friends again. Pastor Barry Brown, who is the assistant pastor at Central Baptist Church in Southington, Connecticut will bring the message Saturday evening at the anniversary banquet. Bro. Brown was the founder and pastor of White Oak Baptist Church in Stratford, Connecticut back in the early '80s, and it was under his preaching that God called me to preach. After many years at White Oak, Pastor Brown became affiliated with the New England Baptist College in Southington, as well as a staff position at Central Baptist. He has always been a good friend in the ministry, and I am looking forward to hearing him deliver the Word of God. I will have the privilege of preaching the Anniversary Sunday morning message at River Valley, am looking forward with great anticipation of standing behind the pulpit once again, of the work God used us to begin. Brother Chris Camp, who was my able associate for many years, is now the pastor at RVBC, and doing a great job of keeping a good testimony for the Lord in the Naugatuck Valley area. The Lord has been faithful to that work for all these years, and there are still some folks at River Valley who were in that first service 25 years ago!
RVBC is our sending church for our missionary work among the elderly in the nursing homes of America. They have stood by us and faithfully supported our work, as well as having a significant presence on the mission fields of the world through a solid church missions program. White Oak Baptist Church, from which we were sent to plant River Valley, also plays a very real part in supporting our present work. Without partners in the ministry like this, we could not be able to make  a difference for the Lord. We do not take it lightly that we represent not only the Lord, but also those faithful friends who share our burden for the lost and who financially help us to remain "full-time" on the field. Our prayer is that if the Lord tarries in His coming, He will raise up others to catch the vision of reaching those who are living literally "on the brink of eternity".

Missionary Pastor,
Norm Aabye