Early Wednesday morning, we drove to the Southern Surgical Hospital in Slidell, LA, where Benjy had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and have some bone spurs removed. The surgery went well, and we brought him home the same day in cheerful mood with no pain whatsoever thanks to the marvel of the nerve block pain ball which was installed by the anesthesiologists by inserting a tiny tube into the surgery site. The pain ball (similar to a pain pump) held about 30 hours of meds that totally numbed his arm and made the first hours of recovery much more bearable than it has been for patients in years past.

After the pain ball emptied, we realized just how wonderful it had been, because the pain pills he was prescribed has not managed to completely ease the pain. As many of you know, shoulder surgery is NOT fun, and there is a long road of recovery ahead. Please remember Benjy in your prayers throughout the next few days and weeks as he works through the pain and tackles the physical therapy that will help him regain the use of his right arm.

On His Exciting Journey,

Due to Benjy’s upcoming shoulder surgery, Big Level Baptist was our first and only spring revival for 2011. We’ve never had the pleasure of worshiping with this congregation before, but we were immediately taken with the beauty of their sanctuary and the warmth of their fellowship. Pastor David Perry and his wife, Faye, lead this congregation with a tenderness that is truly welcoming.

Bro. Dean Belton (Big Level’s minister of music) and I went to college together many moons ago, and we were recently reconnected via Facebook. When he learned that Benjy leads revival music, he invited him to join Bro. Bill Renick as the evangelistic team for their spring revival … and what a great team they were! Bro. Bill is the long time pastor of Lemoyne Boulevard Baptist Church in Biloxi, MS.

We’d like to thank the kind people of Big Level Baptist Church for making us feel so welcome while we were with you and for your kind hospitality in making the minister’s room available for Benjy during the week. We hope to worship with you again soon!

On His Exciting Journey,

Thanksgiving baskets were filled and prayed over, then we loaded them up and delivered them to several widows and shut-in couples in the Picayune area. McKenzie and I were privileged to participate in this ministry which the Lord led Lisa McCaskell to start several years ago. And what a precious ministry it is! Benjy, McKenzie, and I would like to encourage all our friends to reach out and bless those who are in need this season. Most of us have been blessed with more than enough to share.

Ms Ethel was one of the sweet little ladies McKenzie and I delivered a basket to Wednesday morning. She still mows her own lawn, blows the acorns and leaves off her driveway, participates in a bowling league, and takes hula dancing classes! She mentioned that she meets with a group of retirees every Tuesday from 8am – 10am at the Subway located inside Walmart. She invites any senior that would like to join that time of fellowship to come have a doughnut and coffee with the group.

We easily remember the disgusting sins of Sodom, but do you know that God destroyed them because they were arrogant, overfed, unconcerned, and they did not help the poor and needy (Eze 16:49-50)? Oh, Lord, forgive us for being a nation of unthankful and greedy people. Help us honor You as we share Your blessings with those in need.

On His Exciting Journey,

The whole Altered Heart crew (plus a waiter!) at Outback Steakhouse for a celebration of Sherri’s birthday. What a fun evening, and good food too!

The birthday girl, Sherri Lawley, husband Terri, and “Muslim Baby” at Outback Steakhouse.

On His Exciting Journey,

One thing Benjy loves to do at West Poplarville Baptist Church is to give the children an opportunity to participate in the revival. Every year he invites the children from the congregation to come sing a couple songs, and they REALLY get in to it! Benjy has always felt that our children should be given more opportunities to serve in the ministries of the church. They LOVE to participate, and it’s a good idea to start training them to be involved.

The camera caught a silly expression on Bro. Kevin Wilcox‘s face, and you all KNOW how rare that is … NOT! Bro. Kevin is such a fun pastor, but he is also serious about the Lord and His work. The Lord led him to put together a GREAT revival team this fall … Bro. Shad Kennedy preaching and Benjy leading the music. We love the people at West Poplarville, and we were thankful to have a part in the Lord’s work there this season.

Bro. Shad Kennedy did a fantastic job preaching this revival. The Lord used him powerfully and a goon number of people responded to the messages he was led to preach. We really miss Shad and his precious family here in Picayune, but we understand that the Lord is using him in a mighty way at First Baptist Zachery, LA, now, and that makes us proud.

Also, it was good to have Altered Heart in the Sunday evening service … Benjy Rigney, Sherry Lawley, and Geri Grubs.

On His Exciting Journey,

Tara Pooleson, Matty Fox, and Benjy were a great music team for the fall revival this year at Central Baptist Church. We can’t say thank you enough to the musicians we work with in each church. We are SO appreciative of your willingness to use your gift in the worship services.

Birds of a feather! Benjy and Bro. Danny Johnson have a lot in common. They are both music ministers, they both have a good time regardless of where they are, and they both have the sweet Spirit of the Lord all over them!

For Monday evening’s special music, McKenzie sang “I Wanna Know How It Feels.” I love that she got Benjy’s genes where music and voice are concerned! And we are so thankful that she uses her gift for the Lord, when she has an opportunity.

Pictured in the far left is Pastor Billy Galloway. We LOVE doing revivals under Bro. Billy’s leadership because he recognizes the need for preparing hearts before the service even starts. We’ve done many revivals with him, and I don’t think he has ever started a service without asking his whole congregation to come kneel at the altar and pray first. I also can’t remember ever experiencing a dry revival under his leadership.

Altered Heart sang a few songs during the Sunday evening service. They sound great, and the Lord uses them to move our hearts to worship every time they sing.

Bro. Clark Stewart did an outstanding job, delivering the messages this week. Don’t let ANYBODY ever tell you that he is too laid back. That guy was all over the sanctuary and all over our toes! Bro. Clark preaches when he preaches … and he can’t be still. That’s ok, though, because we saw the Lord use him to move a number of people out of their comfort zone, and into the family of God!

On His Exciting Journey,

We celebrated Homecoming services with First Baptist Nicholson last Sunday. It was a sweet time of fellowship with this loving congregation. It was REALLY good to see Bro. Ken Rhodes back in the pulpit, too. He has had some concerning health issues this year, but he was back on his feet Sunday morning, and he fed us meat from the Word! I’m sorry I didn’t get a pic of Ms. Elaine, but she was with him, and she was looking good and testified that her health is holding strong. Most of you probably know that she has battled cancer for a few years now.

Altered Heart (Benjy, Sherri Lawley, and Gerry Grubbs) did a mini-concert before the sermon. What a way to draw our hearts into worship! Gerry did take a moment to tease when he introduced the group, though … He told the congregation that they had trouble finding the right name for their ministry. He wanted it to be called Beauty and the Beast, but he said Sherri didn’t like being called the beast! HUMPH! If you ever decide to whip him, Sherri, I hope I’m around to see it!

Bro. R.T. Buckley, interim pastor, took a few minutes after Bro. Ken’s sermon to preach a short sermon of his own … LOL! You know how preachers are! Actually, he was welcoming the guests and inviting them to come join us for dinner and time of fellowship … and then he gave a brief word of encouragement about paying attention to the potential of the mission field right around FBC Nicholson. And that’s a good word of encouragement, isn’t it? We SHOULD be actively involved in ministering to our own communities.

On His Exciting Journey,

• Central Baptist Church Revival, McNeil, MS, Oct. 24 – 27: Benjy will be leading the music, and Bro. Clark Stewart will be preaching. Also, Altered Heart will be joining Benjy on Sunday evening for a mini-concert.
• West Poplarville Baptist Church Revival, Poplarville, MS, Nov 7 – 10: Benjy will be leading the music, and Bro. Shad Kennedy will be preaching.
• For more ministry and family news, visit us online at www.RigneyMinistries.com

Benjy had the privilege of serving alongside Bro. Shannon Marshall in the Ohio Simultaneous Revivals which were sponsored by the Mississippi Southern Baptist Convention. The 21 teams of preachers and music ministers from Mississippi led revivals along the north coast of Ohio.

Benjy and Bro. Shannon served in Port Clinton Baptist Church, which is a small congregation led by Pastor Gene Smith, pictured here with his wife, Shirely. Bro. Gene’s family and congregation were gracious hosts and they have become dear friends. Facebook is helping us stay connected!

Benjy (self portrait) at Marblehead Lighthouse on Lake Erie … Bro. Shannon and Bro. Gene in background. Benjy was glad to have some free time during the day to take in a few of the interesting sights in the area.

I absolutely LOVE this pic of Marblehead Lighthouse on Lake Erie! Benjy says it is a beautiful place to visit, and he has been trying to figure out how we can manage a family fishing trip to this area some time.

Beautiful views from the hotel room in Port Clinton, OH.

Beautiful views from the hotel room in Port Clinton, OH.

There was a large group planning session before the 53 ministers were taken to their assigned churches.

All the ministers, waiting in the lobby after the first night in Ohio. They were waiting for the bus to take them to lunch and the planning session.

Riding the ‘Magic School Bus’ to lunch and the planning session. Benjy and Bro. Shannon are in the second and third seats on the right. Bro. Alex Craft, further back, is waving … or maybe he is praying over the bus and asking for safe travels and good food!

I can’t speak for the other churches in the simultaneous revival event in Ohio, but Benjy tells me that the people of Port Clinton Baptist certainly did experience a true revival, as evidenced by the tender tears and humbled hearts of many in the congregation.

On His Exciting Journey,

Pastor Braque Cutrer invited Benjy to preach and sing, and then there was a fantastic time of fellowship and dinner on the grounds after the worship service. Like I said, it was a GREAT day, but at the end of it, Benjy was ONE TIRED BOY!

Benjy invited Sherri Lawley and Gerry Grubbs to sing with him at the homecoming. They have started calling themselves Altered Heart … and do they EVER sound good together! I especially love to hear Sherri singing Press On.

After the singing, Benjy spoke about how a homecoming is really like a reunion, and then he preached about a very special reunion in Scripture … the reunion of the Father and the Prodigal Son. He pointed out how, sometimes, the prodigal comes to himself and recognizes what he needs to do, but for some reason, he doesn’t follow through with leaving the pig pen and returning to the Father. And he encouraged anyone who might be in that situation to leave it all behind and go back ‘home.’

I was hoping to get a decent pic of Sherri, Gerry, and his wife, Lauren, as the morning services began, but I never expected to catch a glimpse of the newest Olympic sport … Synchronized Head Scratching! You may notice that, not only are the pastor’s wife and son training for this new sport, but also the lady on the end of the pew!

Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck! Seems to me that ‘hens’ aren’t the only ones gifted with gab!

Long after the meal was over, there was still a faithful handful, breaking down tables, putting away chairs, cleaning up the kitchen and it’s utensils, and enjoying a few more minutes of good fellowship together! I love being with God’s people, don’t you?

On His Exciting Journey,

• Northcoast Baptist Association, Simultaneous Revivals, Elyrie, Ohio – At the end of this week, Benjy will be flying out with a group of ministers from our area, headed to Ohio where they will be doing simultaneous revivals in a handful of churches in the Northcoast Ohio Baptist Association.
• Central Baptist Church, Fall Revival, McNeil, MS -  Benjy will be leading the music, and Bro. Clark Stewart will be preaching.
• For more information, visit www.RigneyMinistries.com

Week before last, we got a phone call from Sherri Lawley. She was supposed to lead the revival music at Sandy Hook Baptist Church, but she was sick and losing her voice, so she asked if Benjy might take the revival for her. I’m glad she thought of us, because we had never worshiped with the congregation of Sandy Hook before. What a nice bunch of people they are! We really enjoyed their fellowship.

In the above pic, Benjy is singing Freed before Bro. Argile Smith’s Sunday evening sermon about how Jesus prepared his disciples for what was going to happen on the other side of the cross … He was preparing them to bear fruit that will last. That’s our calling too, isn’t it?

I love the beautiful sanctuary at Sandy Hook. It is one of the prettiest modern churches we’ve been in. I’m sorry I didn’t think to take a pic of it before it got dark, but even the night time view was pretty. I was told that this building was constructed around 2001, and the beautiful landscaping around the buildings was just added this summer by two women who are members there. I met those two women at dinner one evening, and I just loved them! They SAY they aren’t professionals, but you should see what a great job they did.

Another thing I love about Sandy Hook is this sign which has been given a prominent place along the path from the sanctuary to the fellowship hall. Ever since the big stir in Alabama when Judge Roy Moore refused to remove the 10 Commandments from the courthouse, I’ve paid attention to how many of our churches still have the 10 Commandments displayed … and I’ve been surprised at how seldom I see it.

I snapped this quick pic of Benjy and Pastor Ricky Daugherty and his wife, visiting after the Sunday evening service. I appreciated the easy going, humble attitude of Bro. Ricky and his wife. We could tell that they are very loved by the congregation at Sandy Hook.

Here’s the revival team … Dr. Argile Smith, Benjy, and Pastor Ricky Daugherty. You may recognize Bro. Argile as the pastor of First Baptist Biloxi. We’ve had the pleasure of serving alongside him several times now, and we have learned that he always does an outstanding job. He has a unique ‘story telling’ style of preaching that is easy to listen to, but packs a powerful punch.

As a special treat, Altered Heart (Benjy, Sherri Lawley, and Gerry Grubbs) sang on the last night of the revival. I love to hear their voices together … it’s GOOD STUFF! We were really thankful that Sherri got some meds early on and was feeling and sounding a lot better by Wednesday evening.

Next On Our Calendar

• Benjy will be preaching for a homecoming service at Harmony Baptist on Sunday, and Altered Heart will be providing the special music.

• At the end of the week, Benjy will be flying out with a group of ministers from our area, headed to Ohio where they will be doing simultaneous revivals in a handful of churches in the Northcoast Ohio Baptist Association. Benjy will be teamed up with Bro. Shannon Marshall for the week. Please pray for Benjy, Bro. Shannon, and the other ministers as they serve the Lord in this special event.

On His Exciting Journey,