When God Asks, Say Yes.

Family Blog, October 2025

Brian Van Doren

Hey Second Family,

There is always a lot going on in our world, and especially at times like recent days it can be tempting to wonder what God is up to. Well, we can rest assured that God is not only up to something, He is busy doing a thousand things all over the world. The real question is, will we join Him in what He has for us to do?

There are always opportunities in our daily lives to make Christ known. But sometimes He gives us special opportunities to be a part of His work.

Recently I got to lead a small team from our church to Bulgaria to assist our partner churches over there. While we were there, the churches had a joint retreat in Greece where we got to lead 3 teaching and discussion times about being disciple-making disciples through intentional relational discipleship. We got to minister to and fellowship with seasoned believers, new believers, and unbelievers all in one place. We also participated in several prayer meetings where I got to teach about biblical marriage a couple times. There were so many gospel centered conversations that our team had, too many to recount. But the Lord knows them all, and we pray He uses everything we said and did for His glory and the growth of His Kingdom.

One upcoming special opportunity you can have to reach people is to work with your Small Group to reach your neighbors this October 31st. We know our neighbors will be out and about with their children or grandchildren that night, so we are asking each of our Small Groups to make a plan to gather together in one of your neighborhoods and connect with people where some of you actually live. The objectives are really simple: gather together for fellowship as a Small Group and connect with people in the neighborhood where you are gathered. If you have any questions or ideas about this, please talk to your Small Group leaders. If you are not in a Small Group, take a look at our Small Groups (see here) and talk to their leaders to find out what their group is doing and invite yourself in! Now is a great time to get connected.

I also want to make sure you know about another opportunity to be a part of God’s work on the other side of the world. On Sunday November 2nd we are hosting our annual Missions Conference with special guests Nick and Melissa Scott. Nick and Melissa are International Mission Board missionaries in Japan. They live there with their young daughter and son, but they are in the United States on furlough until the end of the year. So, I asked them to come and speak to us about what missions looks like for them and why it is important to partner together for the sake of missions. Nick will be preaching for us that morning, and that night we will have a Q&A time with them as well. During our morning service, we will take up a special offering that will go toward the missions efforts of Second Baptist Church. That would be a great way for you to participate in God’s work through the missions of our church. But I also want to encourage you to be praying about the possibility of God calling you to do more than give. It is possible that God could be calling you to go on a short-term mission trip, or maybe even to become a full-time missionary.

It is also possible that God could be calling you simply to be more faithful in your gospel witness in your daily life. Just remember, God is always doing a thousand things. And He will give you opportunities to be a part of what He is doing. When God gives you that opportunity and asks you to take it, I encourage you to say yes.