Church-family updates.

TALKING WITH YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER

Prayer isn’t performance or panic. It’s a relationship. Because of Jesus, we get to talk to God like a child talks to his dad. The disciples watched Jesus pray and finally asked, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Lu. 11:1). They heard Him teach on a variety of topics, but they wanted this skill most. We treat prayer like a last resort, a duty or a wish list. So, we either feel guilty for not doing it, or frustrated when God seems silent.

Prayer is access to the Father. Before Jesus, only the High Priest had access to God but through Him, we all can approach the Father (Heb. 10:19–25). When we pray, we say FATHER. That was radical. The Jews didn’t call God “Father.” A five-year old doesn’t need perfect words to speak to his father, he just needs his attention. We have the Father’s attention (1 Pet. 3:12).

Prayer is shaped by God’s kingdom, not just our needs. In the model prayer in Matthew 6, you have six lines. The first three are God focused: Your name, Your kingdom and Your will. The last three are us focused: bread, forgiveness and deliverance. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us to seek first the kingdom of God. God wants conversation, not the same old thing every time I come before Him.

Prayer is persistent trust, not perfect technique. In Luke 11:5–13, Jesus tells the story about a man banging on a friend’s door at midnight. Point: Ask, seek and knock. Then in verse 13, Jesus says, “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask!”

There are three enemies to prayer:

Distraction: Set a time and place to pray.
Discouragement: God hears even weak faith.
Doubt: Ask in faith (Jas. 1:6).

Father, teach us to pray like Jesus did. Forgive us for treating you like a vending machine. Give us hungry hearts for your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen. — Ray Rose

RECORD

The attendance for Wednesday Bible Study was 21; Thursday Prayer Meeting was 32, Sunday Bible Class 32; Church attendance Sunday Morning was 66; Night Service 34. General contribution $3,937.00; Debt Reduction: $20.00; SWCC: $46.00; PayPal $335.43 for a total of $4,829.43.

Sunday Bible Study Lesson 11: Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor. 12:1-31; Rom. 12:6-8)

FAMILY BIBLE HOUR

PLEASE ATTEND FAMILY BIBLE HOUR. YOU WILL BE RICHLY BLESSED!!

Please join in this very productive class to enhance our Bible knowledge and have fun doing it! Let’s increase the attendance.

PLEASE ATTEND ALL BIBLE CLASSES AND WORSHIP FOR AN INCREASE IN KNOWLEDGE AND FELLOWSHIP.

BAPTISMS

The angels in Heaven and the Russell Rd Church of Christ family are rejoice as Melanie Posey and Savannah Dansby were baptist. Please keep them in your prayers.

BREAST CANCER MONTH

IN OBSERVANCE OF BREAST CANCER MONTH ALL ARE REQUESTED TO WEAR SOMETHING PINK ON THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF THIS MONTH.

PRAYER LIST

William Snow, George Price, Melvin Thomas, Roosevelt Crosby, Eva Rambo, Leonard Cummings. Magnolia Manor: Felicia Willis, Freddie Jones. Spring Lake Rehab Center: Ruby Bolton (Atlean Snow’s sister). Home: Kathy Dunn, Thomas Harris, John A. Graham, Richard Graham’s brother, Lola Daniels, Andrea (Nikki) Watkins, Wanda Day, Gertrude Pitts, Thad Monson. Dallas, TX: Prince Brown. Monroe, LA: Lamar Allen. Chicago, IL: Dr. Daniel Harrison, Frances Harrison, Brenda Gilbert. Los Angeles, CA: Charles Owens; Mandrell Ross, Ricardo James (Kim Hunter’s nephews).

ADVERTISE RUSSELL ROAD

Please communicate with all you relatives, and friends all the activities available at Russell Road. Sunday Morning Bible Class and Worship (Morning and Evening) and Wednesday Bible Class on line at Russell Road Church of Christ YouTube. Prayer Meeting on Thursday on ZOOM 623162-6606. Let everyone know that we will be honored by their participation. ALL MEMBERS SHOULD ALSO TUNE IN IF IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON. WE HAD 15 VIEWING OUR SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE, WE CAN HAVE 1,200 IF?

NURSING HOME VISITATION

“Monthly Nursing Home Visitation is this Saturday, at 9:30am – 9:50am, at Magnolia Manor Nursing Home….Letting the world know that the Church of Christ cares. /s/Brother Eric Patterson.”

EVANGELISM

Evangelism involves preaching, announcing, or otherwise communicating the gospel, which is the message that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who gave His life as a sacrifice for humanity’s sins, offering eternal life to those who believe, repent and is baptised. (John 3:16; John 14:6) It is not limited to formal preaching but can include personal conversations, teaching, media outreach, and missionary work.

In Your Brokenness

There are times in life when you may be fearful, overwhelmed, or broken, and don’t really know what to do or if you can even keep on going. It may be because of sin you have committed or a situation you find yourself in that is causing great uncertainty or anguish. In these times, you can turn to the One who knows the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7) – the One who lovingly handcrafted you (Psalm 139:13). God KNOWS you and the heaviness of your heart. Psalm 34:18 tells us that God “is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Oftentimes, it may not be you, but someone you know who is going through something very difficult, and your empathy causes your heart to cry out for them.

Not only does He know you intimately, but He sent His Spirit to intercede for you when the words and thoughts of your prayers are not able to articulate your sorrow, your suffering, or even what you need. Romans 8:26 assures us that the Spirit helps our weakness and intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. You have a helper in the Spirit who can translate your heartache to God.

In these difficult times, consider the example of Jehoshaphat and his prayer in 2 Chronicles 20:1–12. Judah faced an invading army and was very afraid. Their prayer acknowledged that they were powerless and did not know what to do, but their eyes were on God. Even in distress and fear, Judah turned to and trusted in the Lord.

Throughout scripture, you can clearly see that God has a protective love for you and no detail escapes His notice. Trust Him. Trust Him in times of distress. Trust Him even if the outcome is not what you want. Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our heart, not lean on our own understanding, and acknowledge Him in all our ways.

— John Seibel

Attendance Record

• Wednesday Bible Study: 23
• Thursday Prayer Meeting: 32
• Sunday Bible Class: 47
• Sunday Morning Worship: 78
• Night Service: 34

Contribution Record

Category	Amount
General contribution	$10,667.00
Debt Reduction	$300.00
SWCC	$137.00
Rent Income	$60.00
FCB	$45.00
PayPal	$564.59
Total	$12,364.59

Sunday Bible Study

Lesson 10: Grieving The Holy Spirit — Ephesians 4:30.

Church Announcements

Family Bible Hour

Please attend Family Bible Hour. Join this productive class to enhance our Bible knowledge and have fun doing it. Let’s increase the attendance. Please attend all Bible classes and worship for an increase in knowledge and fellowship.

Brothers Breakfast

Brothers Breakfast is this Saturday at 8:00 AM at Denny’s on Mansfield Road. All brothers are asked to participate.

Breast Cancer Month

In observance of Breast Cancer Month, everyone is requested to wear something pink on the fourth Sunday of this month.

Prayer List

William Snow; George Price; Melvin Thomas; Roosevelt Crosby; Eva Rambo; Leonard Cummings.

Magnolia Manor: Felicia Willis; Freddie Jones.

Spring Lake Rehab Center: Ruby Bolton (Atlean Snow’s sister).

Home: Kathy Dunn; Thomas Harris; John A. Graham; Richard Graham’s brother; Lola Daniels; Andrea (Nikki) Watkins; Wanda Day; Gertrude Pitts; Thad Monson.

Dallas, TX: Prince Brown. Monroe, LA: Lamar Allen. Chicago, IL: Dr. Daniel Harrison; Frances Harrison; Brenda Gilbert. Los Angeles, CA: Charles Owens; Mandrell Ross; Ricardo James (Kim Hunter’s nephews).

October Birthdays

• 10/2: Doris Dansby; Tamika Edwards; Stephen Wilson
• 10/3: LaNaiya Preston; Lamale Rawls
• 10/4: Bonita Snow
• 10/5: Robert Hunter
• 10/10: Phyllis Rattler; Robert Jenkins
• 10/13: Pam Monson
• 10/16: Dwayne Ealy; Kathryn Harris
• 10/19: Anthony Hall
• 10/21: Janel Edwards; Vencent Gordon
• 10/22: Clint Chitman; Tara Waddles
• 10/23: Briana Lee
• 10/24: Irish Johnson
• 10/27: Gary Richardson, Sr.
• 10/29: David Hollinger
• 10/31: Eva Rambo

Anniversaries

10/2: Cathy Dunn — 33 years; Travis and Vega Gordon — 12 years; Meka White — 6 years.

Advertise Russell Road

Please communicate with your relatives and friends about all the activities available at Russell Road. Sunday Morning Bible Class and worship, Sunday evening worship, and Wednesday Bible Class are available online through the Russell Road Church of Christ YouTube channel. Prayer Meeting is held Thursday on Zoom, meeting ID 623162-6606. Members who cannot attend in person are encouraged to tune in. The bulletin reports 15 viewers for the Sunday morning service.

October church-family updates, transcribed from the bulletin supplied on October 3, 2026. The source does not print an issue date.

Jesus Did Not Quit

By Raymond C. Kelcy

Jesus did not quit meeting with His disciples, because Judas was a thief, or because Peter was fickle at times. He did not quit preaching and living right, because some of His brethren were unforgiving and unkind. He did not quit His post of leadership, because He had in His presence the adulterous woman, a gang of Pharisees, or narrow-minded demon worshipers. Jesus did not quit.

Have YOU quit? What is the reason for it? Any reason you might name, Jesus could have given the same. He had every reason to be discouraged. His own disciples were so slow to learn. His enemies were so bent on His destruction. But He did not quit. He said, “Know ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). And when the end of His earthly life was in sight, Jesus said to His Father, “I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do,” (John 17:4). He did not quit. He finished His task.

When YOU come to the end of life, will you say, “I finished the work God has given me to do?” Or, will you be compelled to say, “I started, but quit”? Will you stand before the judgment bar of God and admit that you were a quitter? Eternal life is promised to those who endure to the end – Matthew 10:22. There will be no consolation in the judgment day to point back to your baptism, unless you can also point back to a life of faithful endurance.

Church announcements

Grow through study and fellowship

Join Family Bible Hour to grow in Bible knowledge and enjoy fellowship with the congregation. All members are encouraged to attend Bible classes and worship.

Sisters’ Bible Class

All sisters are invited to Bible Class on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 2:00 PM Central for prayer, study, and fellowship.

Stay connected online

Sunday Bible Class, morning and evening worship, and Wednesday Bible Class are available through the Russell Road Church of Christ YouTube channel. Thursday Prayer Meeting is held on Zoom; the bulletin lists meeting ID 623162-6606. Contact the church for access details.

Share the invitation

Invite relatives and friends to worship, Bible study, and prayer. If you cannot attend in person, stay connected online.

Evangelism

Share the gospel through conversations, teaching, media outreach, and missionary work. The bulletin points to John 3:16 and John 14:6 as encouragement to share the message of Jesus Christ.

Sunday Bible Study

Lesson 9: Our Divine Intercessor — Romans 8:26–27.

Prayer list

William Snow; George Price; Melvin Thomas; Roosevelt Crosby; Eva Rambo; Leonard Cummings.

Magnolia Manor: Felicia Willis; Freddie Jones. Spring Lake Rehab Center: Ruby Bolton (Atlean Snow’s sister).

Home: Kathy Dunn; Thomas Harris; John A. Graham; Richard Graham’s brother; Lola Daniels; Andrea (Nikki) Watkins; Wanda Day; Gertrude Pitts; Thad Monson.

Dallas, TX: Prince Brown. Monroe, LA: Lamar Allen. Chicago, IL: Dr. Daniel Harrison; Frances Harrison; Brenda Gilbert. Los Angeles, CA: Charles Owens; Mandrell Ross; Ricardo James (Kim Hunter’s nephews).

Birthdays

• 10/2: Doris Dansby; Tamika Edwards; Stephen Wilson
• 10/3: LaNaiya Preston; Lamale Rawls
• 10/4: Bonita Snow
• 10/5: Robert Hunter
• 10/10: Phyllis Rattler; Robert Jenkins
• 10/13: Pam Monson
• 10/16: Dwayne Ealy; Kathryn Harris
• 10/19: Anthony Hall
• 10/21: Janel Edwards; Vencent Gordon
• 10/22: Clint Chitman; Tara Waddles
• 10/23: Briana Lee
• 10/24: Irish Johnson
• 10/27: Gary Richardson, Sr.
• 10/29: David Hollinger
• 10/31: Eva Rambo

Anniversaries

10/2: Cathy Dunn — 33 years; Travis and Vega Gordon — 12 years; Meka White — 6 years.

Attendance record

• Wednesday Bible Study: 23
• Thursday Prayer Meeting: 32
• Sunday Bible Class: 29
• Sunday morning worship: 70
• Night service: 34
• Sunday morning online viewers: 15

Contribution Record

The reported total excludes the separately listed SWCC Special contribution.