This book is a collection of editorial articles written by George in the monthly newsletters he published over a period of thirty years. Some are funny, some are inspirational, and some are nothing more than information about the activities that may have been going on at the time.

by George

The Wit and Wisdom of George DavisBy George H. Davis

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 George H. Davis
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4389-8941-9

Chapter One

To George

He's a good man, a wise man - I call him my friend When the going gets tough - He will not break or bend He'll just size up an issue, decide what is right Then guard and defend it - with all of his might. He's a preacher, a teacher, but no Holy Joe And if you have a problem - To him you can go. Then "By George" he will help you. His judgment is sound His head may be in the air, but his feet on the ground. He has a great sense of humor - gets a bang out of life With three sons and Jane and Leona, his wife We know that his life has been fruitful and full Maybe sometimes quite hectic, but it's never been dull I've known him in pleasure, I've seen him in pain I've shared in his loss - I've rejoiced in his gain As he walks down life's highway - you know that you can Say with every assurance, Friend, there goes a man One of life's greatest blessing, Is to have such a friend May his seed multiply, may his tribe never end For Heaven alone will be able to save us If we run out of men of the stripe of George Davis by David Dickey

The Tie Mt. Erie/Greater Wabash Baptist Association April 1973 - August 1980

A New Era

It hardly seems possible, but I've just completed one month as missionary of the Mt. Erie Baptist Association. My doesn't time fly when you're having fun!

These have been busy days. I have been getting settled, finding churches, attending meetings, meeting people, and preaching. I have preached ten times this month. I have visited three churches in revival.

I have discovered that one could almost keep busy simply visiting revivals. There seems to be one or more going on all the time. Next week there are five in our Association. (I'm afraid I won't make all of them.)

Work on the additional bedroom at the missionary's home is progressing nicely. The room is closed in now. The walls will be paneled and the floor carpeted. A large closet and a small bath are being fixed along the North side.

I don't know when my family has received a warmer welcome than we did here in Fairfield. Men were ready to help us move in. Meals were brought to our home. It has been a real joy meeting new people and making new friends.

A special word of appreciation is due Norris Price. During this time without a missionary, he has served as Director of the Baptist Hour. He is also chairman of the committee to turn the carport into a bedroom. He has spent a good deal of time and I know you join me in saying, "Thank you, Norris."

I also appreciate the work of the committee to secure a missionary. I suppose it would be immodest of me to call attention to their wisdom in recommending me. But seriously, they have been most kind and considerate of me and of the church I was serving.

Brother Kelley has also carried extra responsibility during this period of adjustment. He has seen that the work of the Association and planning for camp progressed.

Now, a word about the paper. I have had to compile a mailing list from hither and yon. I want to include the associational officers, pastors, church officers, and board members. If you are getting two copies please let me know. If you are not getting any ... how did you get this? Let me know about others who should be included.

The First Baptist church in Fairfield has provided an office. Come in the back door (on the South) and go down the hall until you come to the first room on the right. I plan to visit on the field each morning and be in the office in the afternoon. I haven't kept that schedule very well so far, but that is still my plan.

My phone-number here is 847-3041. The home phone is still 842-2744.

April 1973

What is a Baptist association?

I doubt that many of us have thought through the purpose of our association. We assume that Baptists have always had associations and always will.

District associations do go way back in Baptist life. Within thirty years of the establishment of Baptist churches in England, they were forming associations. In this country, it took sixty-three years.

Some would look on associations as a carryover from a bygone era - an appendage to the body of Christ which has outlived its usefulness. I believe the association exists for the sake of the churches. The churches come first, not only in time but in function as well. It is the job of the association to strengthen the churches.

This is reflected in the constitution of our state convention. "The purpose of this Convention is to assist in establishing and developing Baptist churches...."

A group of leaders in Williamson Association drew up a statement of their objectives a few years ago:

(1) To afford and promote a larger fellowship of Christians in the work of Christ.

(2) To discover needs which cannot be met effectively by churches individually, and to coordinate the use of resources in meeting these needs.

(3) To provide programs and projects to strengthen the churches and to assist them in achieving their objectives and goals.

(4) To encourage every church to support the missionary, educational, and benevolent causes of the Association, the Illinois Baptist State Association, and the Southern Baptist Convention.

(5) To discuss such subjects as biblical doctrines, polity, and ethical standards and to interpret the Baptist position.

If the association exists to help the churches, then our talk about how cooperative or uncooperative a pastor or church is may be out of place. Maybe we should ask instead how we can help that pastor and church to do the work God expects them to do.

Meetings and projects need to be seen, not as something we have to drum up attendance for but, as a means to meeting the needs of churches for assistance in special areas.

Our need for fellowship certainly has not diminished. We shall surely be poorer if we see ourselves only as isolated congregations in a hostile world. We need not only the presence of God's Holy Spirit - we need each other!

May 1973

Nominating Committees

This is the time when some very important decisions are being made by churches. Nominating committees are meeting or will be soon. Workers are being selected to serve this coming year. They will set the pattern for the church for years to come.

I have found it helpful at times to elect the nominating committee by ballot at a Sunday morning service. Members could be instructed to write down three or five names of persons they feel should serve. When these have been tabulated, the top three or five are contacted to see if they will serve. If not, you simply go to the next person on the list.

It is also helpful for the committee to have a complete list of the resident membership of the church. Ideally every church member should have a place of service suited to his talents and abilities. Perhaps not everyone should teach, but all can use God-given gifts.

Some will serve through the church organizations. Others may serve as effectively through other organizations in the community. Both are sharing their faith in Christ and bearing witness to his salvation.

As the nominating committee considers a person for a job they should ask, "Could this person do the job?" and "Would they be acceptable to the church?" The committee has no right to try to answer the question of whether the person will take the job or not. Only the person may answer that.

One person should be selected for the job and someone should be chosen to contact them. This contact should be made personally. Do not stop a person in the hall at church and ask them to teach. If the job is really important it deserves a visit in the home. Don't try to enlist workers over the phone - it's awfully easy to say "no" there.

On the other hand, I don't feel we should beg people to work. They should be told what the job is and what they can expect to work with. Materials should probably be taken and shown to the prospective worker. I would try to get a decision then. Most people will know when first contacted if they will serve.

If we leave people without asking them to give us their decision, they may doubt our earnestness. Some may ask for time to consider the decision and this should be granted. Set a time (soon) to get an answer.

June 1973

Busy! Busy!

Phew!!!

I didn't know one person could be so busy!

I just finished a one week revival with Dan Zoeller at Barnhill. Enjoyed getting to know the folks there.

This week and next I'm getting the paper out and getting Camp materials out. I'm also meeting on Tuesday nights with a group of Young Adults from North Side Church to study Revelation (among other things).

On July 13-15 the family will be returning to Charleston for a Baptist Student Union Retreat in Forest Gregg's pasture. We were there last summer and had a great time. I don't know whether they liked my preaching or my wife's cooking.

On Monday, July 16 I begin helping the Ten Post Oak Church with a Vacation Bible School

After that I think I'll be ready for a vacation.

We plan to take off the last week of July and into August. We'll be back a week and catch up before Youth Camp.

Folks continue to ask how I like the work and how we are getting along in the house. I keep saying, "Fine, Fine." And I really mean it on both counts.

So often we use "fine" as a by-word when we don't really want to get involved in a detailed answer. But I am enjoying my experience as an associational missionary. Individuals and churches continue to respond and request assistance. In some cases I can provide help. In others I can refer them to someone who can help.

I value my years as a pastor highly and feel I know something of the joys and disappointments of churches. I am resolved to try to help pastors and churches to do the work God wants us to do.

We had a good response to the Preacher's Family Picnic, June 30. There were nine families present with 30 people eating, hiking, and visiting. We're going to do it again soon.

The enclosure of the carport to make another bedroom has made the house quite comfortable. We really appreciate your provision for us. You have been most considerate of our needs.

Let's continue to remember Allen England, pastor at Olive Branch. He has suffered a heart attack and will be off work and out of his pulpit for about two months.

Let's a1so remember Grayville First and Wayne City as they seek a pastor and Carmi First as they seek a music and education worker.

July 1973

My First Youth Camp

I'm looking forward to my first Youth Camp.

My whole camp experience to date is spending one night as a watchman two years ago.

As I recall, Homer Short and I spent the night listening to a ball game, talking about fishing, squirrel hunting, and farming.

I believe we admitted one car to the grounds - parents bringing a camper something or another.

I'm glad to have an experienced hand like Dewitt Kelley directing the Camp. He has been working in Camp for about as long as he's been around - going on 7 years now.

I have sensed a great deal of excitement about Camp. Almost everywhere I have gone, folks have asked about Camp.

Young people have been planning for some time to attend. Their enthusiasm is rubbing off - others are deciding to come.

New registrations are coming in every day. It's not too late! If campers show up Monday (with parent's permission) we'll take them.

Camp can mean a great deal to youth. Not only for the initial conversion experience, but for growth and maturity as a Christian.

They need each other for fellowship and encouragement. Spending five days with other youth and growing adults can be a great experience.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will bathe all of us with His presence and power.

August 1973

What's Next?

Well, Camp is over and the Association is coming!

What is it about out of the frying pan into the fire?

Busy days! Busy days!

Camp is over but not forgotten. How could you forget the kids? I guess I have never been so aware of the tremendous importance of the family.

Broken homes certainly have their effect on the children. They can be hurt spiritually as well as socially and emotionally.

I am impressed with the great need for churches to minister to families in distress.

Before the Association, I plan to attend an orientation session for new missionaries at the Home Mission Board in Atlanta.

I'll be there September 17-19. 32 of us will be considering concepts of associational work under the leadership of men with wide experience.

Almost daily I realize anew how big a job you have given me. I continue to rejoice in it and I am also more than ever aware of my need of your prayers and God's help.

September 1973

It was a Great Day!

The churches in Mt. Erie Association experienced a l5% increase in Sunday School attendance last Sunday, October 28 over a week ago. It was a Great Day!

15 churches that set attendance goals for the Day had an 18% increase. They were up 24% over a year ago! It was a Great Day!

This tells me that anytime we want to increase our Sunday School attendance by 15%, we can do it. If we are willing to contact people and invite them to Sunday School, we can reach them for Christ.

I don't want to minimize other factors - good teachers, adequate space, appropriate organization, and challenging literature. But I believe the primary factor in Sunday School growth is our concern for people. Without this all our other provisions are wasted.

If you want to reach more people for Christ, let them know you care about them! It may surprise them!

Speaking of surprises - I remember taking my car to a garage for some work. All the mechanics were busy so the shop foreman worked on my car. When he had finished, I asked him what I owed him. "You probably couldn't pay me what I'm worth," he laughingly replied. I laughingly agreed with him, thanked him, and drove off . But I haven't forgotten him.

You probably can't pay your pastor what he's worth! The thing that really disturbs me though is that many churches go out to "hire" a preacher for as little as they can get him.

The joke maybe on them though. They may get about what they pay for! Churches that pay their pastor as little as they can get by with may find they have little preacher.

If your pastor has to worry about how he's going to pay his bills he's not going to be his best in studying and sharing God's word and in ministering in the community. All of us have some concern over our finances and preachers need to be careful in managing their money. But churches should attempt to pay their pastor a livable salary.

Your pastor likely won't ask for more money, but he probably should have it!

November 1973

Energy Crisis

The energy crisis is not new to Baptist churches.

For years we have tried to lead people to serve Christ wholeheartedly and have gotten a halfhearted response. Only about half our resident members are actively involved in the life of our churches.

Many of our churches are not finding it hard to raise the money needed to finance their work. But, they are having difficulty reaching people for Christ.

Perhaps the real crisis is we too often depend on our own plans and ingenuity to get the job done. We attempt to do spiritual tasks with physical power. We forget the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit." (Zechariah 4:6)

We certainly ought to use the best intelligence we have in planning and promoting God's work, but let us never forget "God gives the increase." (1 Corinthians 3:6)

Again,

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. (Proverbs 21:31)

(Continues...)

Excerpted from by Georgeby George H. Davis Copyright © 2009 by George H. Davis. Excerpted by permission.
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