Calvary News September 28

Calvary Baptist News
September 21,2006

Calvary Baptist News
September 28,2006

PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA. I Bob Riley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim October 1,2006 as William "Banks" Greer day.

We will celebrate William "Banks" Greer day Sunday October 1,2006 at Calvary Baptist Church, Dadeville Al. with a special service during our 11:00 Morning Worship Service. There will be proclamations from the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Senate of Alabama, Attorney General of Alabama and others. Everyone is invited to attend this special service. Lunch will follow the service.

Banks Greer, a highly decorated World War II veteran, has been a member of Calvary Baptist for 72 years. He served as a member of the United States Army in Company B of the 399th Infantry from 1941 to 1946 and was critically wounded at the Battle of the Bulge. December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945

On 16 December 1944 the Germans started their ARDENNES OFFENSIVE. The 106th Infantry Division, in place on a salient jutting out into Germany was hit with full force. After three days of battle, two of the Regiments, the 422nd and the 423rd were surrounded. The 424th, south of the other two regiments, was able to withdraw and join with the 112th Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division. They formed a Regimental Combat Team and were successful in the oncoming days of January 1945 in helping counter the German attack driving the Germans back through the same area where the 106th had been in position in mid-December 1944. This German Offensive became known in the U.S. Forces journals as The Battle of the Bulge.

William "Banks" Greer received the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, with four bronze service stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII.

William "Banks" Greer was born in the Jackson Gap Community of Tallapoosa County, Alabama on September 7,1918.
He was married to the former Mary Lillie Sexton for 65 years. They had three daughters, seven grand children, and 11 great grand children.

Truly William "Banks" Greer's life has modeled the words of Jesus when He said, "Greater love hath no man than he be willing to lay down his life for a friend." Banks Greer has demonstrated his willingness to lay down his life for total strangers as he defended our country and the freedom that we too often take for granted. In doing so, he has earned the gratitude of His Church, the people of our state and our nation.

Susan Owens had knee surgery Monday, September 25th at E.A.M.C. Keep her in your prayers.

Sunday, September 17, finally came, a day that many if not all at Calvary had dreaded. We knew that it was coming but it was a day that we had not looked forward too. Tim and Leigh have given almost two years of faithful service to Calvary. Tim has given up his vacation time at his work to be able to take the youth on their mission trips each year. The Davis family has sacrificed above and beyond what was expected of them time and time again. They have a loving spirit that is unsurpassed by anyone. Wilma and I have only known them for a little over a year, but during that time we have come to love them very much. God has called Tim, Leigh, Tad and Amber back to Beulah Baptist Church, their home church, were Tim will be the Associate Pastor.

There was a good crowd in the 11 o’clock service. You could tell that the Holy Spirit was there. Ricky T ended his performance by singing happy birthday to Tad who turned 15 Monday (and I might add a deep shade of red). The youth presented Tim with a signed picture of the youth group and Calvary presented him with a plaque commemorating his years of service.
Shawn Harrelson sang one of Tim’s favorite songs Holy Holy Holy and then Cassie Clevenger, owner of LakeMartin.net sang Somebody’s Praying.
Tim preached from Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” He titled his message “Are we there yet” and pointed out how we start out with many well-wishers and end with many welcoming us home but in the middle of our journey we often must go alone. Tim pointed out that Isaiah makes it clear that God is with us and will strengthen us even when we are traveling that road alone.
We had a great dinner after the service (all good Baptist believe that if you have a reason to meet you have a reason to eat) and a time of fellowship with our Church Family and the Davis clan.

It was really great to see Mrs. Jean Williamson in the service Sunday morning. Mrs. Jean has had some serious problems with her back and has to go every day to Opelika to take antibodies by IV. She still faces major back surgery as soon as the infection is taken care of. Be much in prayer for her.

Dewayne Sanders had liver surgery on Friday, September 15 to remove two tumors. He under went a very serious surgery procedure and is still in ICU. The Doctors believe that they were able to get all the cancer but recovering from the surgery is going to be an up hill battle. Pray for Dewayne and his family. We know that God is a God of healing and a God that answers our prayers. Pray for Brother Tom and Mrs. Sandra as they undertake caring for the kids (Curt and Conner are less than a year old). Tom is not a spring chicken anymore and you can tell the stress is getting to him. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you once again if you would like to help this family, especially with the twin boys, you can contact me at rickworthy@bellsouth.net and I will tell you how best you can be of aid. Dewayne has been notified that his job will end in November; therefore, they need your help and most of all your prayers. (Dewayne is home from the hospital as of Saturday, September 23,2006. He is doing well.)

Mrs. Bernice Whittle had lung surgery this past week to remove a cancerous tumor in her lung. She is doing well but as of this writing she was still in E.A.M.C. recovering from that surgery. She is expected to come home soon. Keep her in your prayers. (She has returned home and is recovering from her surgery)

The Youthful Defenders continues to grow and have a lot of things planned for the future.
Wilma and I have our work cut out for us. Tim and Leigh have some big shoes for us to try and fill. We are taking a group to Atlanta during November to help check the shoeboxes that are donated to “ Operation Christmas Child”. Operation Christmas Child sends a message of hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoeboxes. The youth have started taking orders for their annual fundraiser, a fully cooked Boston butt or a turkey breast. At $20.00 each you can’t go wrong. We will be taking a group to the Big God Conference December 30 - January 1 at Myrtle Beach, SC. So you can see we have our work cut out. Wilma and I are also working with the younger children on Sunday evening at 5:30-6:00 teaching them about puppets. They have been named the socketts due to the type puppets we are using. They are doing a tremendous job and have become a hit with the Sunday night crowd.

It was reported that our new church bus should be on site by the end of September. Brother Tom and Brother Larry McMichael will be going to Nashville, Tenn. (Not to sing, they both have a great deal of trouble carrying a tune in a well covered bucket) to pick up the bus as soon as one comes available. We are all looking forward to that day. (It has been reported that it may be as late as November before a bus is available)

We invite you to come visit Calvary. Our services are: Sunday School at 9:45 A.M. and Morning Worship at 11:00 A.M. Evening Worship at 6:P.M. Wednesday night Ministries begins at 6:30 P.M.

Check out our web page at calvarybaptist1.blogspot.com

In His Service
Dr. Rick Worthy