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Notes from Sunday – 12/18/11

December 19, 2011 in 2011 Speaking Engagements, Notes from Sunday 2011 with 0 Comments

Happy Birthday Crystal!

I am not good at surprises. But I did a pretty good job this weekend. I sent from my niece Harriette, who is very close to Crystal, to visit for the weekend while I am away. I think it is the best birthday gift I have ever given Crystal.

I am writing this post from Chicago.

I filled in this Sunday for my friend, Romell Williams, at the Lilydale Progressive Baptist Church, as he is recovering from surgery.

Romell has bailed me out on many occasions. It was a privilege to return the favor.

Romell and his family mean so much to me that I not only left my pulpit on a Sunday morning, but I was also away on my wife’s birthday. This is an indication of what the Williams family means to the Charles family.

I am a better friend to Romell than he is to me. He preached for me last month. And I brought him from the cold of Chicago to the warmth of Jacksonville. But to preach for him I had to leave the warmth of Jacksonville to come to a snowstorm in Chicago!

It was a great day of worship and fellowship!

I preached to messages from the Psalms that I have recently preached at Shiloh. I love the Psalms!

I have been battling a cold all week. I felt the best Sunday than I have all week. Credit prayer, rest, and Dayquil.

I really missed being with at Shiloh today.

I received good reports of how the Lord used West Wilson and Donald Lewis to minister the word today. Praise God.

Praise God for those who were saved and added to the church today.

I am looking forward to preaching Christmas morning, God willing.

Did you know that the Dallas Cowboys whipped up on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday night?

I missed a really good boxing match Saturday night. Can’t wait to see the replay.

Was the Lord with Tim Tebow Sunday?

The Indianapolis Colts finally won a game. And then announced that Peyton Manning will not play this season.

I can’t tell you how glad I am that the Green Bay Packers lost this weekend.

I think I am beginning to get excited about the upcoming NBA season. Go Heat!

Breaking News: This season, I will also be cheering for the Los Angeles… Clippers!!!

Speaking @ the East Caribbean Baptist Mission (Antigua)

November 26, 2011 in 2011 Speaking Engagements, Antiqua, Crystal with 0 Comments

I am writing this post from Antigua & Barbuda.

Crystal and I arrived Friday evening. I am here to speak for the East Caribbean Baptist Mission led by Dr. Hensworth W.C. Jonas.

Dr. Jonas is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, where he has served for 26 years. Under his leadership, the congregation has planted several affiliated churches across the island. It was what we would call “one church in multiple locations.” Central is also the home of one of the leading schools on the island, which is also led by Dr. Jonas.

I am here to speak for their Harvest Sunday and circuit anniversary. There will also be a 3-night evangelistic crusade.

I was privileged to speak for this meeting last year. It was a rich time of fellowship and worship. I am glad and grateful to have been invited to participate in the meeting again this year.

I will speak at their leadership banquet tonight. And I think I am scheduled to speak 3 times on Sunday. Then there will be services Monday through Wednesday.

This trip is already a better trip than last year, because I am not traveling by myself. Crystal is with me. This is the first time we have traveled out of the country together. And I am hoping to get some rest and refreshment during our stay.

Please cover us with believing prayer this week.

May the Lord bless the ministry of the word to draw the lost, edify the saints, and bring glory to his majestic name!

Notes from Sunday – England Edition

August 14, 2011 in 2011 Speaking Engagements, Notes from Sunday 2011, The Proclaimer's Place with 0 Comments

I am writing these words from London, where it is Monday morning. When I finish typing this post, I will help to the airport for my flight home.

I had a great day of worship with the Loughborough Baptist Church in Loughborough. The city is about an hour’s train ride outside of London.

Saturday evening, I stayed with Michael and Katie in their home. Michael is the secretary for the church.

Michael and Katie were wonderful hosts. They have been married for 47 years, having met at a Christian youth camp. I enjoyed the conversation.

Michael and Katie were shocked that I did not use milk in my tea. I was equally shocked that they did.

Their home was built in 1740. Of course, it has been fully refurbished. It was beautiful.

Across the street from their home was a sign commemorating the fact that John Wesley had preached in that stop from his horse. Way cool.

Gert Sassius is the pastor of the Loughborough congregation, where he has only served for nine months. But the congregation is very excited about the prospects for the future under its new pastor.

Several members of the congregation had watched the streaming of our services at Shiloh over the past several weeks. So they had a sense of what to expect from my preaching.

When I asked how long I should preach, the answered was, “It is not for me to say. We are here to hear the word of God. It is not our place to say how long or short the ministry of the word should be.” The best answer to that question I have every heard!

I preached from Psalm 23, hoping I would be able to connect through a familiar passage. My exposition of the passage seemed to be received well.

I quoted Charles Haddon Spurgeon and John R.W. Stott – two famous English pastors/preachers – in the introduction. The congregation smiled.

Though very quiet during the sermon, the members were eager to share with me how they were helped by the message after the service was over. There were many specific references to thoughts in the message. It was obvious they were listening well.

There was no choir. Only congregational singing. Rich hymns. It was great!

There was no invitation to discipleship extended in the service, even though the church obviously has a commitment to evangelism. I did not ask by what means new members are received into the church.

They thought it was novel that we have Sunday school for adults, as well as children.

The congregation has a pipe organ that was donated to the church by Dale Carnegie in 1908. The congregation celebrated its centennial in 2008.

Several members expressed how troubled they were by the riots that had been taking place in London. Different perspectives; mutual concern.

I really missed being with my congregation today. It was the first Sunday I have not been at Shiloh all year.

Brodes Perry preached at Shiloh on “Friends Don’t Let Friends Die Lost” (Mark 2:1-11).

Over the evening, I received several reports about how great the service was. Praise God!

I met up with several colleagues here who had preached in different places. All seemed to have had a good experience. Very encouraging.

Ready to go home.

A Unique Preaching Opportunity

August 13, 2011 in 2011 Speaking Engagements, The Proclaimer's Place with 0 Comments

I am writing this post from London. The Proclaimer’s Place preaching conference in Oxford ended yesterday. Part of the conference this year a festival of African-American preaching, in which preachers from the conference have been assigned to preach in local Baptist churches in the area.

It will be my privilege to preach in the morning at the Loughborough Baptist Church in Loughborough, where Michael Tebbatt is the pastor. It is about 150 miles away from where I am presently. So I will be taking the train there soon to preach in the morning.

Please remember me in prayer as I prepare for this unique preaching opportunity. Likewise, this is will really be the first time I have travelled here by myself. And I am chronically “directionally challenged.” This should be interesting.

Over the past day or so, we have traveled freely around London. But we have not encountered any of the riots firsthand. However, there are constant reports and warnings about the riots breaking out in different places. And there is some obvious level of anxiety in some places.

Please pray for this city. And thanks for your prayers for our safety.

I cannot wait to go home!!!

Speaking @ the E.K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference 2011

July 12, 2011 in 2011 Speaking Engagements, E.K. Bailey, expository preaching with 0 Comments

The E.K. Bailey International Conference of Expository Preaching is taking place this week in Dallas (July 11-14). It is a great week of study, fellowship, and good preaching!

The conference is named after its founder, the late Dr. E.K. Bailey, founding pastor of the Concord Church in Dallas. Dr. Bailey was a noted African-American expositor. And God used his ministry and this conference to introduce many to the principles, tools, and disciplines needed to preach what the text means by what it says.

I was drawn to expository preaching by divine conspiracy. I was hearing preachers, reading books, and having conversations that were all calling me to it. But hearing Dr. Bailey sealed the deal. I walked out of the service after hearing him for the first time and said, “That’s what I want to do.” I was not talking about his style or delivery or anything like that. I was talking about how he simply explained the meaning of the text.

This preaching conference is now lead by my friend, Pastor Bryan Carter, who now leads the Concord Church. In his capable hands, this conference continues to be a premiere meeting on biblical preaching. At the same time, Dr. Sheila Bailey leads the Stand Women’s Conference, and continues to honor the legacy of her late husband with her love for ministering to the word of God to women.

The conference kicked off last night in a great way. Dr. Michael Duduit, editor of Preaching Magazine, lectured on the conference theme – Preaching Under Pressure. It was a very thoughtful, challenging, and encouraging message. Pastor Jeffery Johnson delivered the evening message.

I am scheduled to teach on expository preaching this afternoon, teach and preach Wednesday evening, and teach and participate on in a panel discussion Thursday, along with other commitments. It will be a long week. But I am looking forward to it. May the Lord give me strength.

Crystal is here! She flew in yesterday from Los Angeles, where she and the kids are spending several weeks with family and friends. I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am to see her. When she arrived, I shaved for the first time since she left!

Likewise…

My brother, Pastor Kevin Willis and his wife, Linda, are here.

Four of my pastoral staff members – B. Perry, D. Beckwith, A. Robinson, and A. Letson – are here.

My pastor from Los Angeles is here. My adopted dad from Oklahoma City is here.

Several of my closest friends from around the country are here.

There are quite of few preachers from both Los Angeles and Jacksonville here.

And this all up and what you get is very little sleep for H.B. Charles, Jr. this week. But I should be a great time of fellowship.

Please remember this meeting in your prayers.

Speaking @ the 2011 OKC Simultaneous Revival

April 27, 2011 in 2011 Speaking Engagements with 0 Comments

I am in Oklahoma City. I am preaching for Pastor John A. Reed, Jr. and the Fairview Baptist Church.

Dr. Reed and my father were great, longtime friends. And my father preached this meeting for some years. I remember my dad preaching three times on Easter Sunday morning and then we would change clothes and hit the road. He would drive to Oklahoma City and we would arrive in time for him to preach Monday night.

When my father passed, “Uncle John” became “Pop” to me.

I was invited to preach this meeting the year after my father’s death. And I have been preaching it since with, with the exception of a several years. The entire Fairview congregation is family to me. And it was good to see familiar faces again and to preach to this precious congregation one more time.

Without a doubt, my life and ministry have been richly blessed by participating in this meeting over the years. And I am glad to have the opportunity to participate in this great meeting again.

For the record, a “simultaneous” revival is when a group of churches hold revival services at the same time. In the evening, each congregation meets with its own preaching. At noon, there is a mass service preached by one of the guests. And here in OKC there is even a late-night service, with even more preaching!

Last night, my boyhood friend, Reginald Payne preached the late-night service. Reginald and I have been friends since we were boys. He didn’t have a choice. His mother “Aunt Pat,” to me) would make Reggie, who is a little older than I am, take me with him a lot. Since he was kind of stuck with me, we became friends. We both starting preaching as boys. And Reginald served as my assistant at Mt. Sinai until he was called to his own congregation, which he has been serving now for some 18 years.

It was great to hear Reginald preach last night. I was so encouraged. And my heart was filled with gratitude as I thought of the goodness of the Lord in my life. To hear Reginald – now a seasoned pastor and preacher – reminded me of how far the Lord has brought us over the years. Praise God!

Likewise, my mother and other family members live here in Oklahoma City. My mom, little sister, and cousin were in worship last night. It is a treat to see family.

Please pray for the meeting this week. I have four more sermons to preach – three at Fairview, and I am the late-night speaker Thursday evening.

Please pray for all the guest evangelists who are ministering the word this week. Pray for every pastor and congregation participating in this meeting. May souls be saved, lives be changed, and church’s be revived to the glory of God.