Tag: news

Devotionals, FaithLeave a comment

Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men

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By Res Spears Message delivered December 24, 2018 at Liberty Spring Christian Church 1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in … Continue reading Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men

Faith, SermonsLeave a comment

Be Informed

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By Res Spears Message delivered December 16, 2018 at Liberty Spring Christian Church Many of you know that I had a career as a journalist before entering the ministry. I’ll pause here for everyone to say, “Boooo.” I spent most of the past 33 years in the newspaper business, and I was editor of the Suffolk News-Herald for eight years before leaving to focus my attention and energies on seminary and ministry. I loved that job. In fact, I always figured I would work at that desk right up to my last day – hopefully hanging on until after our … Continue reading Be Informed

Newspaper workLeave a comment

A man I will never forget

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  Originally published July 2, 2017 in the Suffolk News-Herald Thirty-one years ago, a scared, dumb kid barely out of college sat in an office in Franklin for his first job interview ever. He had no education and no experience pertinent to the job he sought, but his parents had made it clear he needed to find work — and soon. As it would turn out, this would be one of the shortest job interviews I would ever be a part of — on either side of the desk. I would eventually come to see the humor Hanes Byerly could … Continue reading A man I will never forget

Haiti, Newspaper workLeave a comment

Thank you for the Christmas lesson

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  Originally published December 17, 2016 in the Suffolk News-Herald By R.E. Spears III Editor I’ve been having a lot of trouble focusing on my work lately. It’s a common problem for many during the holiday season, and many of the things that distract us all this time of year have done the same for me — Christmas shopping, holiday events, an ill-timed but needed vacation. But a young man who runs an orphanage in Haiti has been the main distraction for me this year. Last month, I made a quick trip to Montrouis, Haiti, on behalf of Supply and … Continue reading Thank you for the Christmas lesson

Haiti, Newspaper workLeave a comment

Roadblocks on the way to Haiti

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  Originally published October 17, 2015 in the Suffolk News-Herald By R.E. Spears III Editor When I returned to Suffolk from a short-term mission trip to Haiti in August 2014, I was gratified by all the support I received from friends and acquaintances here for my trip and for the accounts I shared about it within the pages of this newspaper. At the same time, I was surprised at the number of folks who responded that they were tired of reading about Haiti, suspicious that my motives for sharing the stories were self aggrandizing and generally wishful that I’d leave … Continue reading Roadblocks on the way to Haiti

Haiti, Newspaper workLeave a comment

A new perception after a trip to Haiti

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  Originally published August 30, 2014 in the Suffolk News-Herald By R.E. Spears III Editor One of the first things I noticed upon returning from Haiti on a recent mission trip was how quiet our ride home from the airport was. To be sure, we’d had a long trip (17 hours, from door to door, including seven passport checks and a dead truck battery) and folks were too tired for a lot of chitchat. The roads in America were also much quieter. In Haiti, driving is punctuated by the out-of-tune brass ensemble of cars, trucks, buses and scooters blaring their … Continue reading A new perception after a trip to Haiti

Haiti, Newspaper workLeave a comment

‘Called to go to Haiti’

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  Originally published August 23, 2014 in the Suffolk News-Herald Group returns from weeklong mission By R.E. Spears III Editor Early Friday morning, 26 people, including a large contingent from Suffolk, returned from a weeklong mission trip to Haiti, the first major effort on behalf of the Haitian people by a ministry founded by a Suffolk pastor. Supply and Multiply was founded by Pastor Chris Surber of Cypress Chapel Christian Church and his wife Christina, who will be moving to the town of Montrouis, Haiti, with their four children early next year. They have been on several mission trips to … Continue reading ‘Called to go to Haiti’