News, stories, events, updates, and all things Mount Olivet.

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Powerful Prayer Life

I learned something new, praying through the Word of God.  Many people wish they could hear God speak in an audible voice.  I was reminded that we can, every time we read aloud or hear someone else read aloud the Word of God. We are reading His Word in written form. He just uses us to speak for Him, but we should still view it as if He Himself was speaking directly to us.  We need to train ourselves to hear God's voice instead of our own or the person reading scripture. Think of it this way, we are just echoing God's own words.


Here is an example of praying through a scripture passage; John 3:16


"For God so loved the world," God I acknowledge you as my heavenly Father, who truly loves me and all your creation. "that He gave His one and only Son," I am so thankful for the gift of salvation you provided through Your Son Jesus. "that whosoever believes on Him"' I do believe in Jesus Christ as my redeemer, the one who suffered and died for my sins. "shall not perish", I no longer fear eternal death for I am now a Son of the Most High through Christ Jesus, "but have ever lasting life", I now have great joy, peace, and hope for my eternal rest in Heaven when You call me home. In Jesus precious Name I pray. Amen!


Doing this allows us to personally acknowledge that we are receiving the understanding of God's Holy Word and that we are wanting to have it become affective in our life.  We also are acknowledging God as the Divine authority of His Word, and our belief that it is effective for transforming us spiritually. We relay back to God that we want His Word to teach, mold, and lead our lives.  We state our dependence of specific passages to impact our lives and the lives of others. As we read them to our children this way we pray God's authority through the read and spoken Word of God for their spiritual wellbeing and growth.


Try this for a week. Use passages that target a specific spiritual concern you desire God to help you overcome. Choose a passage that will encourage your children and/or spouse. Watch God work through your prayer time and see Him begin to transform your life.


~ Pastor John

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Celebrating 125 Years of Ministry



On Sunday, May 27 at 10:00am Mount Olivet will be celebrating 125 years of service in a special Homecoming Service. There will be a catered meal in the fellowship hall following the morning service.

Mt. Olivet United Brethren Church was established in 1893 in Mt. Solon, Virginia. The land for the building was donated by Mrs. George (Sally) Daggy. The lumber used to build the church came from trees in the surrounding area. The building was 1 room and had 2 front doors, one for women and one for men. The men and women sat on opposite sides. There were 2 woodstoves toward the front, 1 on each side.

We are thankful for the first pastor, Rev. J. E. Hott and the founders of Mt. Olivet for their vision of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ in the Mt. Solon community and to the world, and for those who have continued to carry that vision throughout the years.















This Sunday - Special Guest Abby Farmer of Wycliffe

This Sunday, Abby Farmer will be our guest speaker. Dr. Farmer is a UB endorsed missionary working with GIAL (Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics) with Wycliffe Bible Translators. She is currently raising support for her new position as Distance Education Instructional Designer. Plan on attending to help support Abby in her ministry.

Thursday, April 5, 2018

"I Will Not Apologize"

John 14:1-6 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 17:1-3 “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

Romans 10:8-10 ”But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

The Christian Faith is defined and clearly explained in the Word of God, the Christian Bible. All religions have set belief based in their own religious writings and teachings. Each believes their beliefs are the only truth to live by, and the only path to their eternity. After death is experienced, all will know if their religious beliefs were true.

Reality, the Christian faith is the only one fought against by the rest. Remember, all religions state that if you do not follow their beliefs you have no ability to experience their form of paradise or eternal life. Why are they left alone and allowed to publically live and promote their belief and those of the Christian Faith are told to be silent, or even forced to change their beliefs which others deem offensive?

Truth, Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 1:6-12 “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

I will not change or apologize for living by, preaching, and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ as written in God’s Word and revealed by the Holy Spirit of God. There is only one path to God and eternal life in the Christian Faith, by the forgiveness of sins, through personal belief and confession in Jesus Christ as the redeemer of man from sin, through His death and shed blood on the Cross of Calvary. Those who choose to receive this path of redemption have the promise of eternal life in heaven. Those who do not make that choice will not experience eternal life, but eternal death in hell. Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Pastor John

Monday, March 19, 2018

Upcoming Events at Mt. Olivet

Monday, March 19: Willing Workers meeting at the church at 7pm

Wednesday, March 21: Gospel Music Worship Service at 6:30pm with snacks to follow

Saturday, March 24: Young Couples Bible Study at Josh & Beck's house at 5:30pm

Sunday March 25: "I Can Only Imagine" at Regal Theater in Harrisonburg in the afternoon. Time: 1:20pm.

Sunday March 25: Lenten Bible Study at Sangerville COB from 6-8pm

Wednesday, March 28: Gospel Music Worship Service at 6:30pm with snacks to follow

Sunday April 1: Easter Sunrise Service at Natural Chimney's at 7am. Pastor John will be bringing the message.

Sunday April 1: Easter Egg Hunt for the kids at 9:30am

Saturday, April 7: Prayer Breakfast at Mossy Creek Presbyterian Church at 8:30am. Please see Lois by March 26 if you plan to attend