Jesus likened His kingdom to leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened ().

Make no mistake, growth is an inherent part of the kingdom of heaven. The influence of the kingdom can’t help but spread. It is like leaven, that pervades all it touches. It is like a seemingly insignificant seed that grows into a formidable tree. The kingdom is contagious. The Lord intended it to be that way.

The Lord has provided this church many opportunities both nearby and abroad to plant the kingdom leaven and spread the kingdom seed. Our Lectures are a means for us to influence our friends and neighbors by providing an opportunity for the seed to be planted in their hearts. Our children’s Bible classes supply the opportunity to instill a leavening agent to work in the minds, hearts, and lives of a new generation. The work of our evangelists both at home and abroad is a continuation of the kingdom model represented in another parable, “the sower went forth to sow” (). Preaching is divinely mandated mechanism for sowing the seed of the kingdom.

This summer we have another unique opportunity to spread the influence of the kingdom and assist the disciples in Timmins, Ontario, Canada who have already become so dear to this congregation. Brother Bubba Garner and Jason Moore will be taking ten of our brethren for a week of teaching and preaching in Timmins. All twelve of these brethren will be involved in some aspect of the week’s work.

. Bunny Balmer and Peggy Henson have helped to shape the class curriculum and train our ladies who teach in the children’s Bible classes. They will be teaching a training class for the women in Timmins to help them in shaping their own Bible class curriculum and in effectively teaching the Bible to children. Melissa Garner, Denise Bowman and Jennifer Moore will also be assisting Bunny and Peggy in teaching these sessions.

. There are very few churches in Canada that can support a full-time gospel preacher. There are not the opportunities available for young preachers to work in a Paul-Timothy training arrangement. Simultaneous with the classes for the Bible class teachers, Brother Garner and Brother Moore will conduct classes for the men on sermon preparation and delivery. Brother Bowman’s book, Common Sense Preaching, will be used as a text. Brother Garner has also been asked to assist in teaching some new songs. Brother Usrey will be along to offer his sage wisdom whenever the two preachers get themselves into a jam.

. The men’s classes on preaching and the women’s classes on teaching will be conducted two hours each morning and two hours each afternoon. During the afternoon sessions, Bubba and Jason will split up and one will teach a class with the young people of the congregation. Adam Wooster, Justin Campbell, Teena Powell, and Melanie Stansell have been invited to help in working with the young people. They will all provide good role models and Christian influences for the young men and women who live in a region where such examples and peers are few.

. The brethren in Timmins are also planning to conduct nightly preaching and to invite their friends and family from the community to attend. Brethren from other locations in Ontario are planning to come for this week of edification and gospel preaching.

The trip to Timmins is planned for the week of July 19-25, a Wednesday through a Tuesday. Departing and returning midweek assured lower fares and permitted a greater chance for the brethren there to take long weekends to attend the day classes. The cost for the trip is relatively inexpensive. Tickets were secured for $462 each making the total for twelve plane fares, $5,544. Each of the brethren from Southside making the trip will contribute at least $100 toward their own fare, not including incidental expenses. The brethren generally are also invited to contribute individually as they desire to the cost of the trip. Those contributions can be given to Brother Garner or Brother Moore. The brethren in Timmins are going to provide transportation, lodging, and meals for the brethren from Southside during the week-long series.

Pray for the work of all these brethren who will both encourage and be encouraged by our Canadian brethren. Express to them your gratitude for exchanging their summer breaks to labor in the Lord’s vineyard. Pray for more opportunities for the kingdom’s influence to be spread both at home and abroad.