Well, i’m not super excited about the snow as it’s coming down right now! LOL! Probably because alot of believers use weather as an excuse not to come to church. I’ve never understood why people would “predictably” behave this way, when so many sacrifice to be in the house of God! Let’s make sure to make God’s house a priority this winter. I’m not saying that I want people to put themselves in harms way, but the same effort we put toward our jobs, in order to make it to work, should be that much more for the house of God! Well anyway, write me your thoughts…maybe a story about a sacrifice you made, to be at church and how God blessed you because of it. -Pastor
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1. December 2008 at 15:58
I don’t know if you knew, but a little while back my car was broken down and I couldn’t afford to fix it. It stayed that way for about 2 months. I didn’t let that slow me down. I took the bus to church and ICI and when I didn’t have bus fare I walked. Many times some of the wonderful people at church who knew my situation blessed me with a ride. I was finally able to get my car fixed, but the funny part is I enjoyed the time without it. It was me and God time. When I walked or took the bus, I read books for spiritual growth, read the Bible, listened to praise music. When I got a ride with someone, I was able to fellowship with other people who felt the same way I do about God. It was fantastic!! Since then, I’ve learned to make time for God EVERY day and He has blessed me tremendously for it!! I gave Him my heart and He healed it….. Kathy
1. December 2008 at 19:17
Your loving wife here, I wanted to jump on your blog to say hi and leave one of my own stories about going to church. My parents trained us that church came before anything. Before work, sports, friends, ANYTHING! I remember as a teenager waking up on a Sunday morning feeling too tired to go to church (I think I told her I was sick, but moms know better!). She said that if I wasn’t able to make it then I should plan on being stuck in the house for a solid week to “recuperate”. She didn’t have to say another word, I was up, dressed and ready for church. I’m where I am today because of parents who knew the importance of being in the house of God. “Train children to live the right way, and when they are old, they will not stray from it” Prov 22:6
2. December 2008 at 04:31
Valerie J. Yelk here and I’ve been attending FBIM for 7 1/2 years. I’ve been riding the bus ever since. I have received rides from the old van ministry, but for the most part I’ve taken the bus. I live downtown and for the longest time I had to take 2 buses (it took an hour and a half to and from church), but now it’s down to 1 bus (an hour to and back) due to the rerouting of the Transit System. I can’t tell you how much I’ve been blessed because I’ve pressed through this and taken the bus. Some of the blessings I’ve received is a word of encouragement from another believer, a gift, strength and comfort to keep fighting the good fight of faith, hearing God speak through Pastor countless times in the service, learning who I am in Christ and not having to settle for anything less than God’s best, be a blessing to others, being able to help out in whatever means necessary, etc. Has it always been easy? No, but it’s worth it to hear the uncompromised Word of God, to be with other believers, and to serve in the house of God. This year has been the year my whole life has turned around
I have a brand new beautiful apartment, just got blessed with a job in my field (Optical), and am going to MATC for Optical. Before I was introduced to Christ and FBIM, I was on a dead end. I had dreams, but of poverty, sickness, and misery. How did God turn my life around? I gave my life to Christ and have been going to the church that God has called me to. I’ve sacrificed for 7 1/2 years by going on the bus and back to church. That enabled me to grow in my walk with God and surrender my life to Him. I haven’t been perfect in my walk, but I thank God for His grace and mercy. I wouldn’t trade my bus rides to church for anything. I thank God for the bus and all the bad weather I’ve encountered because it’s made me who I am and has allowed me to begin to live the life that God has dreamed of. As I’ve sacrficed, been faithful to what He’s called me to do, He’s blessed me Eph 3:20 style. 
What I’m saying is, if God can do this for me, what can He do for you?
On a side note–Thank You Pastor Pruitt for this Blog because it has encouraged me and for allowing me to share what God has done in my life.
This has made me see how important the bus is and treasure it even more as well as what God has done. Love you lots!
2. December 2008 at 04:33
Thank You Pastor Pruitt and Pastor Robin for always speaking the truth of God’s word and challenging me to come up higher! I know I would not be where I am right now if it had not been for your obedience to the call of God on your lives! Love you both!
5. December 2008 at 06:34
This is way too cool Pastor. The heck with Facebook and Myspace (I’m too old for that stuff anyway LOL). But seriously, I’ve been coming to Faithbuilders off & on almost a yr now. I had stopped coming because I guess I wanted a closer church (excuses). I live near Shorewood on the Milwaukee River (about 10-12 miles), and drive a GAS GUZZLER (Expedition). Anyway, after visiting a couple of local churches, it didn’t take me long to realize what Pastor Rueben said, “A church that’s alive, is worth the drive!!!” FBIM is not only alive, but ON FIRE!!!!!!!!! So I hope those gas prices stay low LOL but if not, well Lets just say I’m here to stay!
5. December 2008 at 19:28
Hi Everybody, I’ve never blogged before in my life, so this should be interesting. I love this feeling of being connected even when I am not there. I have never ridden the city bus, my children say I should experience it at least once. But I am one of those people who seriously thought about calling in and saying it was too slick. Thank God for my children. Tessa says “Mom I can’t miss” Pastor Robin you are right I have raised my children in church and times like this when I’m tired they are the ones to keep me on track! (lol) Praise God!!
5. December 2008 at 21:13
Greetings Pastor, and FBI family,
I am def not a blogger but I know this testimony needs to be heard. I actually have two testimonies of times where I wasnt going to be at church but the Holy Sprirt dealt with me and God recieved the Glory for it. The first experience was in 2004 when at that time I had never attended FBI, and my husband and I were facing the battle of our lives in the arena of our marriage. We were literally one week away from the ink on our divorce papers to be dried. Our cousin Rachel had been inviting us to go to church especially my husband and he called me even though we were living seperated for over a year at this time. HE asked if I would go to church with him, of course stubborn and in my sin, I protested but later gave in. Well of course the service was heavily annointed and when Pastor was closing his sermon he by the holy spirit said ” I feel by the holy spirit there is a couple here so close to divorce and the wife feels violated, and she is a proud woman, and she has many family and friends that are telling her to leave her husband and that she would be better off without him, she is deeply hurt, and for the husband you desire the marriage but dont know how to get things back to where they were. Well God says that he is going to restore your marriage, and it will be so beautiful you will not recognize the marriage because it will be transformed in Christ”. I began to tear and we looked at each other in amazement that God would favor us so highly that he would send us PASTOR PRUITT TO turn it around. Needless to say our marriage and my husband is truly transformed, and completely unrecognizable from what it was GLORY!! Can I JUST SAY THAT EVEN RECOUNTING THIS TESTIMONY BRINGS TEARS OF GODS GRACE!!!!! HE IS SO GOOD AND FOR ANYONE READING THIS HE CAN TRANSFORM LIVES, AND MARRIAGES IF YOU ONLY OBEY, AND SHUT THOSE NAYSAYERS OUT AND FOCUS ON WHAT GOD CAN DO!!
The next one is when we were in the old sanctuary Pastor Pruitt gave us a word basically stating that we would be closer as a family, that we would be serving and become pillars in the house, that we would work together in the marketplace (which we did two months later for the same company) and that we would bless others,….all of this has come to pass and I cannot wait to see what God has in store of our house, and for Gods house. Thank you Pastor for listening and being sensitive to the Holy spirit so that you can accuartely minister the Gospel. Much love Torres Family
8. December 2008 at 19:33
torres…. who said you’re not a blogger? looks like you are now!
8. December 2008 at 19:34
Sandy….. You’re awesome! Aren’t you the one doing temple keepers in Beloit? If so, Thank you!
16. December 2008 at 05:02
WOW, 2004 definately was the year of Restoration in Marriages I guess!! My hubby and I too were separated and got back together in 2004 but it was going to FBI that showed us the true LOVE we both needed to hear and see in our lives, to keep our marriage connected. I started attending the church and prayed that my hubby would attend. He finally did attend after I was going about a month. He liked it , but was’nt 100% sure if this type of church was for him. But I knew Pastor you were showing me a way out of how I felt about my marriage and myself through God’s word. And I knew it would transform both of us. And when we separated we had several friends who had did the same and ended in divorce. And a year ago some of them called me and asked what has kept you too together and I said the word of GOD, and Jesus being our BFFL. Thank you Pastor for keeping it real and NO SNOW or weather will keep me from your message.
5. January 2009 at 19:43
The one and only, 5 string. Thank you and anytime you want to join us we have a vacuum cleaner with your name on it.