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State Representative
R. Craig Golden
1726 Union Center Highway
Endicott, NY 13760
Phone: 607-748-0860
E-mail: cgolden@esfrbc.org
Craig's itinerary and current meeting schedule can be found in What's Happening in the Empire State Fellowship of Regular Baptist Churches and the weekly Running with the Rep linked from the home page. This is also where you will also find Senior Saints Trip schedules.
You can also learn more about Craig by reading his bio by clicking here.
Annual Report (approved 10/17/2011)
Annual Report of the State Representative
R. Craig Golden
October 17, 2011
“It will be a year that will live in infamy.” Our twenty-third year as the State Representative was highlighted by two life altering events, my announced retirement and the historic flooding in the triple cities area that damaged our home extensively. As I reflect on my 23rd year, I think about Psalm 23 as I personalize it to fit my situation.”The Lord is my shepherd [He sure led me (and Shirley through it all]; I shall not want [all my needs and a lot of my wants, He provided]. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures [a downstairs uninhabitable but our upstairs “apartment” is now our home, our green pastures]; He leadeth me beside the still waters [in our case it wasn’t so still but rising and rushing, leaving two inches of mud behind]. He restoreth my soul [and our house, bit by bit]; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness [and to contractors, salesmen, etc.] for his name sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death [I wasn’t near death, or at least I didn’t think but our lives did go through the valley of water], I will fear no evil [I can truly say I did not fear. I trusted my Lord and Shepherd to lead me through this trial]; for thou art with me [Shirley and I surely experienced His presence in a big way and in every small detail, an amazing experience to see God orchestrate our lives during our flood experience]; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me [His comfort inwardly came from His Spirit and the outward encouragement that came from Him through family and friends, so beneficial]. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies [His table was full of food, tools, cleaning equipment and everything that was needed in just the exact time. He prepared things to arrive even before I knew I would need them, unbelievable]; thou annointest my head with oil [that sounds so refreshing and He sure refreshed our head and our entire body and gave us health and strength to meet the huge challenge]; my cup runneth over [if you have six hours, I will tell you the hundreds of blessings. I will bubble over sharing His goodness. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life [our house and our lives will be so much better and improved, not to mention what is yet to come, Heaven and everlasting life]; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever [it was a good reminder from the Lord that this life – all of our material things are nothing but junk (everything will end up in the land fill), but our eternal home with Him is our ultimate destination. Amen
As I announced last April, Lord willing, I plan to retire from the greatest job of my life on April 17, 2012. Please make this a reality by voting favorably for Dr. Jim Vogel to become our next State Representative. I have known Jim for 30 years and truly believe God led him to be my successor. I am confident that he will do a terrific job. I personally highly recommend him. He and Jeannie are one quality couple. It will be an honor to have him as our fifth State Rep. He will take our Fellowship to a higher level of effectiveness. I am thrilled that God led him back to New York to minister to our pastors and churches. As far as I am concerned, “the best is yet to be.”
This is my last annual report. It has been an incredible twenty three years serving our State Fellowship. Thank you for your calling me in 1988 to serve as your “leader.” It has been all joy (okay, there’s been a few heartaches during that stretch of time). Thanks for your financial support, invitations to speak at your church and your attendance at the many (probably too many) activities that we have organized. I was 48 when I started and am now 71. I’m ready for a change of pace but not ready to quit serving the Lord. I have no idea what the Lord has in store for me, but I am determined to press on serving the Lord in some minor way after I retire. I will always treasure the time I served as your State Rep. It truly was rewarding and enjoyable. May God bless the ESF.
Statistical Report of my twenty-third year:
• Spoke in 40 churches and at the following: Harvest dinners at Forestville, Preble and West Caton; Christmas banquet at New Woodstock; Valentine’s banquet at Dresserville; Good Friday Service at Fulton; Farewell service for Merle and Bonnie Brown at Preble.
• Preached/taught 111 times.
• Ministered to 3770 people.
• Assisted numerous pulpit committees 19 times.
• Processed 17 resumes.
• Traveled 15,351 miles at the Fellowship’s expense.
• Edited 49 issues of the “Fellowship News” in the Baptist Voice and three “Empire State Baptists.”
• Wrote ten monthly pastor’s letters/Fellowship News
• Organized 12 activities which 4052* attended.
• Oversaw 33 mailings with 87,075 literature items.
• Attended five pastors/wives dinners, BBC/S school play, commencement and Minister’s Enrichment Day, GARBC Conference in Denver, Advance the Church Conference in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, New Yorker’s luncheon with Tom Stiles in Binghamton and Baptist Church Planters promotional banquet in Binghamton.
• Sponsored three Senior Saints Trips (256 attended – 15 days) – Hudson Valley, Yellowstone and Virginia Beach.
• Mowed the lawn 23 times (it would have been more but the flood came and put a stop to my mowing).
• Shoveled my driveway 24 times (and pumped out my cellar once).
• Attended eleven funerals or calling hours.
• Involved in ten committee meetings and four Council of Ten sessions.
*Fall (300), Shop Talk #34 (51), Holiday Getaway (168), Winter (225), Men’s Adventure (718), Youth Seminars (1413), Shop Talk #35 (62), Spring (200), Talents For Christ (90 Contestants and 150 spectators), Ladies’ Advance (412), Connect (48), The Gathering (215).
Mission Statement:
The Empire State Fellowship endeavors to assist independent Bible-believing Baptist Churches to exalt God’s glory, expound God’s Word, exhort God’s people and expand God’s church.