Dan Cooper's Blog

I had Christmas in October this year!  Really!  Gifts were given, great food was shared, we stayed up late, and it was a time for family and special memories.  It is like Christmas for me when all of our elders get together with us preachers for our annual prayer and planning time.  That was last week-end, and I was again humbled to be working with such godly men.  Each shepherd brings his own unique gifts, his own perspective and insight.

And, oh how they love you!  They are spirit-led men, and they are devoted to growing God’s kingdom, especially the church here in Pitman.  They sacrifice for you!  They have the hearts of loyal and devoted shepherds.  So much so that they smell like sheep. 

Our annual time at the shore is always one of the highlights of the year for me.  You have a diverse, but unified leadership.  They are so different in their perspective.  Not one of them is a “head elder.”  Christ is the chief shepherd, and they are all His servant-leaders.  And that’s the way God likes it!  Amen. 

–Dan

Don’t you just love “getting even” with people?  No, not “getting even” when you’ve been hurt.  I’m talking about “getting even” when someone has done something nice to/for you. And you get to “get even” with them by reciprocating. Steve lavished wonderful word gifts on me last week in his “Family Porch” article.  Today I get even!  Yippie!

Steve Sikes is a gifted listener.  He is steady, thoughtful, wise, discerning, non-judgmental and compassionate.  He mentors, teaches, preaches, and leads.  He prays like no man I have ever known.  I love hearing Steve pray.  His giftedness has been noticed by others.  He is in demand as a speaker elsewhere.  Steve almost always approves of an abundant accumulation of alliteration in addresses, arguments and articles.  He has an earned PhD and I’ve never once heard him brag about it.  Did I mention that Steve is a humble man?  I love, trust and respect him.

God sent him here at the right time. I love him. He is my brother in the faith. I love our team approach to ministry. 

God is good all the time and all the time God is good.  Even when we don’t understand Him! 
- Dan

Did you know that we receive calls every month asking us to provide “fill in” preachers?  And we are so blessed with talented and willing speakers that we send someone nearly every time that there is a request.  So far this year I know that Glynn Durham, Garth Hutchinson, Bill Wills and Carl Steiner have spoken at area churches.  From as far north as Randolph, NJ and as far south as Cape May Court House, various Christian brothers have used their God-ordained gifts to teach, preach and edify area churches.  Of course both Steve and I speak to area churches as well.  Add to that the growing list of brothers who speak weekly at Parke Place (Thank you, Jay) and you get a glimpse of the impact our congregation is having throughout the state of New Jersey.  I praise God for willing, capable servants.  To God be the glory.

Matching Gifts Update: From May to Sept. the matching gift challenge of $28,000 was fully matched with gifts of $28,000.  The matching gift challenge for October is $4,000.  For each dollar of new money given in October, that gift will be matched with a dollar. I love you and this great journey of faith excites me. 
- Dan

Imagine my shock on Tuesday as I arrived at the church in Springfield, MO and there sat Ted and Luanne Howard.  (Ted was one of our deacons ten years ago).  They now live in Arkansas, but were vacationing in Branson so decided to stop in for a visit. In addition, their oldest son, Clint, his wife, Sara, and their baby girl, Morgan, drove in from Kansas.  Clint is now a full-time preacher!  And Joe Marshall had invited his elderly Uncle Lee & Aunt Yenn  to drive about thirty minutes to meet me on Tuesday.  My parents from Colorado, Lee & Alma, my sister, Mary Beth, from Washington, and my niece, Jolene, from California were there all there Tuesday night, too. Greetings from all of them to all of you.

On Monday, Steve and Patti’s son, Caleb Sikes, surprised me by walking into church and introducing himself. We ate dinner together. Caleb looks more than a little like his dad.  He even brought a visitor with him!

Sherri’s parents, Phyllis & Dale Herndon, are members at the church there in Springfield.  Sherri’s 91 year old dad did not miss one service.  Amazing!  Guess that means Sherri is likely to be with us a long, long time.

Jeff Klein, who was taught by our own Dwight T, and was a long time member at Tabernacle, is one of their deacons.  He, too, said to tell everyone hello. 

Heaven will be sweeter because we’ve known each other here.
-Dan