In Indiana

We left Saturday for Franklin, Indiana.  We arrived safely in the afternoon and had a great day in church on Sunday here at First Mount Pleasant Baptist Church.  I have known Pastor Kent Kirchmeyer for 30 years since we were in the same church together in western New York.  We are preparing this week for a revival here that starts this Sunday (June 3rd) and goes thru the following Sunday (June 10th).  Pastor Kirchmeyer and I are both open and praying that if the Lord wants the meeting to go longer, then we will extend it.  Please pray that God does some great and mighty things!  We will be having a prayer meeting tonight as well as prayer on Thursday night.

In with the "NEW"...

If you are have been keeping up with the blog, you know that this past Friday night (May 25th) was the dedication of our new church building.  It was an unforgettable evening. 

We started out with a couple of congregational songs and a welcome from Pastor Guadagno.  Special music was provided from several of our groups: The Palczewskis, The Donaths, Songs of Praise, Crown of Glory as well as a group of young people who grew up in the church and now have moved into adulthood with some being married and now have children of their own. 

There was also special testimonies from Pastor Don Green and Evangelist Larry Clayton.  A highlight was a friend that goes back with our Preacher to the old days before Old Time even existed - "Bro. Al" sang a song he wrote and we have loved called "Grace in the Wilderness".  Our special speaker for the night was Pastor Doug Fisher from San Diego, California and he preached a great message from the book of Ezra.

We want to thank everyone who came to join us for this special evening.  Many friends traveled from around the country to share in this special time.  As I looked around the sanctuary there were folks from all over New York state as well as Virginia, Alabama, Ohio and Michigan. 

I have posted a few of pictures below, but you can click here to go to my Flickr photo gallery for more pictures from the dedication.

Old Time Baptist Church Building Dedication LIVE STREAMING!

Tonight is the dedication of our new church building.  I have been told by our media department that we will be live streaming the service "if all goes as planned".  You can click here to view the service starting at 6:30pm EST. If the link does not work go to Old Time Baptist Church's website and click on the "click here to watch live" box towards the bottom of the home page on the right. 

It is going to be an absolutely wonderful evening. Pastor Doug Fisher will be preaching the message and a lot of exciting things are planned.  I will be posting details and some pictures later (hopefully tonight).

Out with the "old" PART TWO...

What a wonderful time we had at Old Time tonight as we "closed out" 6790 Gowanda State Road with the last service.  There was some congregational music, some special music and a few great testimonies.  As I said on my Twitter post - we generated new memories as we re-lived old memories.  We heard from a young Christian saved a year ago as well as our pastoral staff. 

I had the privilege of also giving a testimony on my memories of "6790".  Stacie and I were married there (actually the last couple to get married in the building that was knocked down and replaced with this current one).  Stacie got saved there.  I preached dozens of times there. 

It was a very emotional time and ended with a very fitting and somber event - our Preacher singing the song he is known around the world for - "Tiny Little Hands".

I can't wait for Friday!!!

Out with the "old"...

We arrived home safely from Maine yesterday. 

Tonight is the last service in our old building at Old Time Baptist Church before heading over to Camp Road and I am really looking forward to it.  Stacie and I were able to go to the new building today and look around.  It is the first time we have seen it since it has been finished and let me say that it looks AWESOME!!!  What a miraculous blessing and testimony of the working hand of God.  It is hard to believe that the move is almost here!

Here are a couple of pictures I took this afternoon as well as an aerial shot of the Gowanda State Road property (which I did NOT take - the internet is a wonderful thing!).  The building dedication at the new building is Friday night.  I will post more on Friday.

Sign in front of 6790 Gowanda State Road

Old Time Baptist Church - 6790 Gowanda State Road in Hamburg, New York

6790 Gowanda State Road - The home of Old Time Baptist Church for 21 years (1991-2012)

                 

Bible Baptist Church - Bangor, Maine

Yesterday (Sunday, May 20th) we were privileged to be at the Bible Baptist Church in Bangor, Maine.  This was our third year to be there and it is a blessing every time.  Pastor Artie Dean has a great family and we enjoy our times of fellowship with them. 

I really believe it was a good day and the altars were full both services.  In the morning two young ladies who are sisters came forward struggling with salvation.  Mrs. Dean dealt with them during the morning invitation and they both got it nailed down and are sure of heaven! Praise the Lord.

Please pray for this church as they are in the beginning stages of a building project.  After several years of meeting in a store front, they are looking to build on some land they purchased a few years ago.  We look forward to being back in the future.

Link to Bible Baptist Church, Bangor, ME
YOU MUST check out this link to the Anvil Monument

Bible Baptist Church - Bangor, Maine

Follow me on Twitter

I have toyed with the idea over time about using Twitter.  I know some people have varying opinions on the social networking issue and trust me, I have my opinions too.  I have been back on Twitter for about a year now and am using it as a ministry tool for updates with the occasional personal tweet.  I do not use it to tell the world when I blow my nose, what I ate for breakfast and so on (I think you get the picture!).

Anyways, that being said, if you would like to follow me on Twitter, please click this link.

Follow @EvangCraigCobb

Thank you to New Life Bapitst Church

I want to thank Pastor David Ireland and the good people of New Life Baptist Church for their hospitality these past six weeks in Maine.  I preached our annual Spring Revival here April 6th thru the 13th.  They graciously allowed us to stay in their prophet's chamber as we used it as kind of a "home base" for us as we had meetings in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and a couple other churches in Maine.

We sure do appreciate all their kindness shown to us.  They all go out of their way to be a blessing to us and make sure we are comfortable.  We will be back for their tent meeting in August.  My good friend, Evangelist David Evans and I will be preaching together and I am looking forward to it.

Link to: New Life Baptist Church in Dover Foxcroft, Maine

New Life Baptist Church - Dover Foxcroft, Maine

Baptist History In Maine

On Thursday, May 9th I had the privilege of joining up with the Baptist History Preservation Society's annual tour which this year was in Maine.  I am thankful the Lord worked it out for me to join them for the day.  Pastor Jeff Faggart does the most outstanding job in researching and preparing these tours every year.

We traveled to and spent the day in the coastal town of Sedgwick.  It was an unforgettable experience and we learned how God led a Congregational preacher in 1805 see the light of the Word of God and make some life changing decisions for the truth. 

Daniel Merrill, in an attempt to stop some Baptist influence on some young preachers he was training, went to the Bible to prove not only the Baptists wrong, but set his "preacher boys" straight.  Much to his amazement he discovered that the scripture he wanted to find did not exist.  So after two years of study, he decided the Bible needed to change him and he discovered the teaching of the Baptist church was biblically correct.  He submitted himself to Bible baptism and the Lord changed the Congregational church into a Baptist church.

I have posted some pictures from the day as well as some good links below to check out.
Link to: Baptist History Preservation Society.
Link to: Daniel Merrill autobiography and account of changing to Baptist preacher & Church
Link to: Seven sermons preached by Daniel Merrill on Scriptural Baptism
Link to: Brief account of early Baptist ministers in Maine

Sign on Pastor Daniel Merrill's Baptist Meeting House in Sedgwick, Maine

First Baptist Church of Sedgwick, Maine early 1800's to approx. 2010

Unveiling of the Daniell Merrill marker at the Eggemoggin Baptist Church in Sedgwick, Maine by Pastor Jeff Faggart of the Baptist History Preservation Society.  This church was started by the ministry of Daniel Merrill in the early 1800's and is still operating today and is an independent, King James, Bible-believing church.

Smelling like maple smoked bacon...

The past week has been rather busy with two meetings that were added to our schedule since we've been in Maine. Sunday before last we started a four day meeting at Second Baptist Church in Palermo, Maine with Pastor Chuck Barnes. One lady (a church member) got saved Sunday evening. It was a good week. We stayed in a furnished cabin with a wood burning stove as the only source of heat. Most of the wood we had to work with the first couple of days was pretty green so it was either cold or hot, and often smoky! Then we got a bunch of dried birch, ash and maple. Much better fires! It was fun, but after we left, all our stuff smelled like a smokehouse. Some of it still does.  Definitely nice to vacation with, but for daily living – give me a thermostat!

With only one day to do laundry and repack, we were off for a weekend trip to Amherst Open Bible Baptist in Nova Scotia with Pastor Jamey Grooms. Craig preached all day Sunday. A gentleman made a profession of faith Sunday night. We are scheduled to return for a week meeting next year. At both places, we enjoyed fellowshipping with our new friends/family. God is filling our schedule abundantly!

Being only an hour from Prince Edward Island, we decided to visit there on Monday. It was a beautiful place.  Definitely worth the time if you ever get close enough.

Tonight, Craig is preaching at the church that has been our "home base" for these last weeks, New Life Baptist Church. On Sunday we will be with Pastor Isaiah Hill at Sebec Corner. This man is one of Craig's "heroes of the faith."

Our time in Maine is quickly drawing to a close. It is amazing how fast time goes by. One more church in southern Maine as we head home for our building dedication.

The battle seems to be waging more intense every day. Churches and pastors all over are struggling. We need to be sure that we are prepared for what lies ahead. Pray, Read, Witness!

       II Cor 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;
     Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

Fighting with you in the battle
  --The Cobbs

The "Maranatha" cabin at South Liberty Baptist Church, South Liberty, Maine

Second Baptist Church, Palermo, Maine

Sign for the meeting