Lester, West Virginia, 1980

Here I am as a young preacher with my wife, Coletta and our two young sons, Matt and Aaron with a small group of junior campers from the Lester Baptist Church getting ready to leave for the Bill Rice Ranch at Murfreesboro, TN. These were blessed days. You can see the van we borrowed from a church member for the trip. No air conditioning. While driving, I honestly thought the heat from the firewall and engine were going to burn my legs off during the 10 hour trip. But, it was worth it all! Some of these juniors were saved that camp week, and others surrendered their lives to the Lord in needed areas.

I thank God for how He has blessed and protected our family in each of the four church ministries where we have enjoyed serving. Also, with me at the helm, I thank God that He also "protected' each congregation!

Please scroll down to see three other new blogs I just wrote today.

Thanks.

Jim C. Burns, Sr. Pastor, Liberty Baptist Church, Van Wert, Ohio

Thanks LBC for our 13 Years of Service!

I have been blessed with a wonderful wife who has served with me faithfully in Washington, D. C., West Virginia, Kansas and Ohio for 33 years. Of the four churches where Coletta and I have served, we have been at Liberty Baptist of Van Wert, Ohio longer than any. This week being our Thirteenth Anniversary, I thank the Lord for the privilege of pastoring some of the most wonderful Christians in all the world!

I'm Jim Burns and that's something to think about!

The Pictures Say it All!

Yesterday was a special day for my wife and me at the Liberty Baptist Church of Van Wert, Ohio. It was Oct. 1, 1995 that the church voted to call me to be their new pastor. My official first Sunday to start ministering was Nov. 1st. It has been a wonderful adventure filled with laughter and tears, but also spiritual and numerical growth of which Coletta and I are very grateful. Thank you Liberty family for being so good to the Burns' family! Thank you for taking us in and being patient with us and putting up with my crazy ways for 13 years. May God give us another 13 years!


On a different note, we are making some serious progress at our new building. New sanctuary chairs have arrived, four of our classrooms are ready to go, and it won't be long that the pastor's study, the lobby and hallways and the rest of classes will be completed. Also, a big giant step for our church took place a week ago Saturday with four wall hanging air conditioners being installed. Please pray for us as we ask God for laborers from other churches to come assist us in completing this project. Our biggest giant hurdle now is getting our chapel completed and then our main auditorium. The pictures tell the story.



I'm Jim Burns and that's something to think about! Email: jimmycburns@aol.com

Oops!

Oops! I goofed! All I can say is that September, 08 had Hurricane "Ike" throwing us a curve all the way from Texas to Ohio, and not only did we have strong winds blow over trees all around us here at Van Wert, but it has also been like a Hurricane of activity at the Liberty Baptist Church of Van Wert, Ohio! Sorry for the lengthy wait for today's post! I promise to do better in the future. I'll give you a new church building update in my next presentation, but for now, here's Autumn leaves with Miley Burns on Grandpa and Grandma Burns' front porch! She's now a little over 13 months, and hanging on to scare crows to stand up! Miley's Dad told me on my cell phone yesterday that she took five steps alone at their house, so, "Pa Pa" can't wait to see that. I love this grin and hope you will too.

I'm Jim Burns and that's something to think about! (See photo below).

Miley's First Birthday!

Our one and only grandchild will celebrate being "one" on Aug. 20th. She has added a new dimension to the life of our family more than you will ever know (unless you are a grandparent too)! When God adds another child to your family or a "grandchild," you don't take away love from your present children or grandchildren to add love to the new one. God gives you additional love in your heart for each addition. We love em all!

Tonight, I want to give God praise for this beautiful little girl that has won our hearts. She has the looks of her Mom, the sense of humor of her dad, the charm of her grandma, and my intelligence! :-) She crawls all over the place now, and is pulling up to everything and standing. She's starting to take a few steps as she hangs on to stuff, and if she's not "teething," wet, or hungry (or sleeping), she wears a grin that will turn my darkest day into sunshine.

"Lord, I thank you for Miley. Thank you for bringing her through her first year of life in the world. Thank you that on this her very first birthday, she is healthy, has no physical or mental challenges, and is the new sunshine in the lives of the Riley's and the Burns' families."

Amen

I'm Jim Burns and that's something to think about.

MY SON IN CHINA QUAKE ZONE

Today, our youngest son, Aaron Burns is starting his second week in helping with recovery efforts in one of the China cities hit by the earthquake back in May, 08. Below are some "answers" to some media questions a local newspaper reporter asked Aaron in an Email. Please notice some of Aaron's thoughts about this mission trip after his first week there with 18 other volunteers.

"We are in the city of Du Jiang Yan (about 45 minutes from Chengdu in the Sichuan province) and we are mainly working with a local school which is holding an English summer camp. They have brought in some students who have been affected by the earthquake. Through teaching, playing games, and spending time with the students we're able to encourage them and most importantly make them happy and see some smiles. We have been able to see a lot of the damage of the city and were told that 70-80% of the buildings within the city will have to be rebuilt. In the afternoons, we are able to go to a Styrofoam camp and tent city where the homeless will be living for the next 2-3 years as the city is cleaned up and rebuilt. Last week we experience 2 aftershocks and it really scared the locals as it brings back the memories of May 12 and the 10,000 people that died in this city alone. My personal prayer for this trip for me as well as the team that I am with is that we can simply "encourage."

"In the last 4 years that I've been in China...it is very clear that not a lot of emotion is shown on the outside. I have seen many tears and know the people are hurting inside...I can't even imagine what all they've been going through and seen with their own eyes images that can never be erased. My heart definitely goes out to each person I have come in contact with here.

My favorite times have been teaching and getting to know the people in the tent city. We've been able to go there on occasion and eat supper with locals there and play games of simply talk to people. This is so important so they have somebody to share the things they are holding inside. These people are so precious and such a personal inspiration to me. It's been heartbreaking to see middle school and high school students with tears in their eyes. One night a new friend from the tent city camp to visit us at the school we are working at...I'll never forget walking him down this dark road and then to where all the tents are. I started to cry later on that evening thinking about him living in a tent or Styrofoam home for the next 3 years...I can't even imagine that...but daily as I am spending time hear I am starting to understand and realize what so many people here are going through."

Please pray for Aaron and his team's safety. I'm Jim Burns, Aaron's Dad. That's something to think about. jimmycburns@aol.com

Summer School is Educating our Church!

Gail Alsteiter, a friend from Lima I went to college with stopped by back when snow was on the ground to see the school building our church bought the Saturday after Christmas. As we walked through the building, Gail said, "You're going to be real busy this summer!" I wanted to slap him, because me being the expert in commercial building and school remodelling, I knew he was so wrong. I said, "Nope. We're going to have our first service here Easter!" I didn't tell Gail I meant Easter 2009.
Pictured above is a corner inside the Preschool room at our new building. This is where my wife, Coletta will teach children (Lord willing). Since April 3, the day our church took possesion of the Horace Mann School Building we haven't stopped. We have work nights every night but Fridays, and a workday every Saturday. Today, I walked through the building and across most of the property with Pat Ryan, President of Citizen's National Bank here in Van Wert. He came to give me a $45,000.00 check for the fire/water sprinkler contractor, and to get some "updated pictures." Pat said, "James, this place doesn't look any different than the last time I was here!" I said, "Thanks Pat. But, the sprinklers, fire alarms and burlgar alarms are now completed, and the Fire Marshel and State Inspector will check all that and the electric work next Monday. Once those items are approved, you're going to see some major changes!" Within two weeks, we should have all the ceiling tile back in all the hallways, and most of the classrooms. However, our giants before us are turning the gym into a church santuary, the stage, the nursery, and installing air conditioners. I was a bit discouraged with the project yesterday, just like most of our volunteers. So, I got out of town for the afternoon and evening,and it helped! I feel better today. I am NOT discouraged with our church volunteers! The ones that come work, work hard and tirelessly, and Coletta and I deeply appreciate your labors of love!

This project will be completed and a building dedication ceremony will be scheduled exactly according to God's timing! We are running thin in the finance department, so, we are down to faith and prayer. Please pray that our old building will sell soon, and that the needed funds will come in to complete this project. God has given us a beautiful 4 acre campus, a 40 place parking lot, a playground, a ball diamond, a front yard with trees, 11 large classrooms, offices and an auditorium. All of this is easily 4 times bigger than where we are now and we are so thrilled with what the Lord has given us at 501 E. Third Street here in Van Wert.

And about the "Summer School" educating our church? This too shall come to pass!

I'm Jim Burns, and that's something to think about! jimmycburns@aol.com