ChesWes

ChesWes ChesWes is a Wesleyan Church located in Chesnee, SC. Dr. John Burgess is the Lead Pastor & his son Jeff is the Assoc. Pastor for Outreach and Discipleship

Technology is wonderful. Sitting in my vehicle reading my Bible while I charge our phones.
09/28/2024

Technology is wonderful. Sitting in my vehicle reading my Bible while I charge our phones.

07/15/2024

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who came out for “Motorcycles for Missionaries” on Saturday. We raised a total of $1530.00 for a great cause. Special thanks to the Armored Saints M/M for great work on the safety crew and the Knights for Christ M/M for doing lunch. Also thanks to Nancy Branton and Jessica Boarman from my congregation who handled registration. To the folks at C & C Thunder thanks for hosting us and a special thanks to God first great weather and a great day. See you on June 28, 2025 when we do it again.

09/17/2023

Remember me in your prayers this morning. Preaching the 10:30 worship service at Sandstone Congregational Church in Jackson, MI. This is the closing event of a 50th HS reunion with folks I went to elementary and middle school with years ago. Headed back to SC in the morning. Hope to 2 lane it home and see the real USA.

Sometimes someone does something that restores your faith in the goodness of some people. I carry four little tokens in...
09/16/2023

Sometimes someone does something that restores your faith in the goodness of some people. I carry four little tokens in my pocket to remind me of people groups I need to
pray for. Yesterday I lost my Harley poker chip which reminds me to pray for my bikers brothers and sisters. This morning when I got on my bike to get some breakfast this is what I saw. Thank you to whoever did this.

07/15/2023

Wanted to give everyone an invitation to two important events coming up at Chesnee Wesleyan later in July.

On Saturday, July 29 our clothes closet will be open from 10-noon for a clothing give-away. We have a good selection of women's and children's clothing and would love to be of assistance to any families that need some help in this area.

On Sunday, July 30 we will be having a concert with Ronnie Griffin, a sing/song writer from Macon, GA. Mr. Griffin will be sharing a selection of his original music in an afternoon concert starting at 1:15 p.m. We'd love to have you join us at 11:00 for worship with dinner following before the concert.

04/19/2022

April 19: As I was reading my Bible early this morning I came to the end of 2 Thessalonians and Paul’s final advice to the people of the churches of that great city. Starting at verse 12 Paul gives them a list of instructions that are just as applicable to us today as they were in the first century. Here is the list (condensed, paraphrased and numbered by me for ease of reading): 1 – honor, respect and love your spiritual leaders; 2 – live peacefully with each other and be patient with each other, 3 – warn the lazy, 4 – encourage the timid, 5 – care for the weak, 6 – don’t pay back evil with evil, 7 – to good to everyone, 8 – always be filled with joy, 9 – never stop praying, 10 – be thankful no matter what happens in your life, 11 – don’t stifle the Holy Spirit of God or scoff at prophecies (good preaching) but test everything you hear to make sure it from God, 12 – hold on to the good, and 13 – stay away from evil of all kinds. If those who call themselves Christians and who fill the pews of our churches were putting these 13 principles into daily practice we would live in a very different world and the Church would be making a difference. These are God’s words given to us through Paul, they are not my words. Listen to what God is saying and let’s make a difference. Pastor John

04/18/2022

Yesterday was a great day at Chesnee Wesleyan Church. We started with a breakfast – feeding 27. Thanks to Darryl and Morgan for the farm fresh eggs and to Terry Couch for turning them into delicious omelets. Also thanks to our worship team members – James, Pastor Jeff, Sue and Jennifer who assisted in the kitchen and worked as servers. It was a great morning. We continued with worship where we had the largest attendance (about 160% of normal attendance) in over two years for which we praise the Lord. It was one of the best Easters I can remember in some years. I love serving the Lord at Chesnee Wesleyan and God is doing good things in our midst and I thank God and my congregation for the privilege. We look forward to His continuing blessing. If you don’t have a church home we would love to have you come and join us any Sunday at 11:00 a.m.

04/18/2022

April 18: As I shared my Easter sermon with my congregation yesterday, I noted the words that the gospel writers used to describe the reactions of Jesus’ followers to the empty tomb. Those words include the following: frightened, puzzled, bewildered, and unbelieving. These are certainly not the kind of words that would describe people who expected to find an empty tomb. Despite Jesus repeatedly telling them He would rise again His followers went to the tomb expecting a body to prepare for burial. Early on that Sunday morning they were a sad, defeated group of people. But how quickly that changed! Very soon Jesus Himself would stand among them. They would see with their eyes, hear with their ears and touch with their hands the very thing that the angels had announced – Jesus was risen from the dead! And what a difference an encounter with the risen Savior made in the lives of these men and women. Those who had just hours before were hiding for their lives, trying to grieve the loss of their best friend were not bolding proclaiming the truth of the resurrection to anyone who would listen. And this proclamation came with a cost. History tells us that all of the disciples ended up dying a martyr’s death for their faith. From fear to faith, from grieve to joy, from timidity to boldness, these were the transformations that occurred in these men and women. And I’m here to say to my readers that these same transformations are still available to you today. If you don’t know the resurrected Jesus the Bible says “today is the day of salvation.” Ask Him into your heart and He will forgive your sins and make you heaven ready. You can be transformed today by the power of the resurrection. That is my prayer for you. Pastor John

Today five of us from ChesWes had the privilege of being involved in a local CMA "diaper run." We had collected diapers...
04/17/2022

Today five of us from ChesWes had the privilege of being involved in a local CMA "diaper run." We had collected diapers at church for the past six weeks and along with some 30 other folks we were able to bless a local crisis pregnancy center with these diapers and other supplies. The pictures show the trailer full that our congregation collected (love the coffin trailer don't you) and the other picture is the total donation to the Cherokee Pregnancy Center. I am so proud of my congregation for their assistance with this project,

04/17/2022

April 17: EASTER SUNDAY – He is Risen!! The tomb is empty!! This is the reality that we celebrate today. Recently I received a text message from my son, John, in NC reminding me that we had “slacked off” on writing the daily devotionals that many of you read regularly. I must admit that this is true and I apologize for the fact that we haven’t put anything out there in a while. I could make lots of excuses but none of them would really be worth much, so I won’t do that. Which brings us back to today. While the world celebrates with bunnies and jelly beans, chocolates and colored eggs, we celebrate the risen Savior, King of the universe. In my sermon today I will talk about the topic “Three Unexpected Appearances.” Jesus appeared the first time as a baby in a manger, and no one was really watching for Him and few seemed to appreciate His birth. He appeared the second time as the resurrected Messiah as he conquered death once and for all. A careful reading of the gospels lets us know that even though He repeated told his followers that He was to die and rise again they didn’t seem to understand. When the women went to the tomb they expected to find a body to prepare, not an empty tomb. And even the 12, when told that Jesus had risen, “Didn’t believe” according to the scriptures. They would soon become convinced of the truth of the resurrection and their preaching of this doctrine would change the world. But the Bible tells us that Jesus is going to make a third appearance when He returns as the King to judge the world and usher in the realm known as eternity. Sadly, many aren’t expecting this appearance either. While the church warns of the end times and the potentially imminent return of Jesus the world goes blindly on its way, oblivious to the truth of the scriptures. Many are not prepared for that day and that is our job as Christians: warn and witness and help the lost prepare for the final appearance of Jesus. Let’s be about the Father’s business as we celebrate the risen Savior today. Pastor John

04/02/2022

April 2: I love the story of Paul’s presentation of the gospel in Athens that we find recorded in Act 17:16-34. Here we find Paul speaking to the philosophers who met regularly in Athens, discussing “the latest ideas” as verse 21 tells us. When Paul preached, he attracted a lot of attention and he eventually ended up standing before the high council of the city where he was asked to talk about “the new teaching” as they put it. When I hear people say that they don’t know what to say to share their faith, I think about this story. Because notice what Paul did, it’s fascinating. In the ( ) you’ll find some ideas for you to share your faith. Paul begins by noting their religiosity and all the shrines he saw around the city. (Compliment something about the person you’re dealing with.) He then specifies one monument “to the unknown god” and focuses on it. (Find some common ground with your listener. He also uses something in their world as an object lesson, this is typically easy to do.) He then introduces them to this “unknown god” with simple facts – creation and history, in this case. (We can share the same facts about God with anyone – what we believe is as important now as it was then. God created the world and moves in its history.) Paul then lets them know that God wants to be known to them, not an unknown entity, and that He is not far from us at all. In doing so he quotes one of their own writers. (Again, tap into what the person knows and says. We can draw God out of what they already know.) He then shares the need for repentance and faith in God and turning to Him. (This is an easy step once we have established rapport with the earlier things mentioned.) And what happened. According to verse 34 some became believers but even those who didn’t wanted to hear more at a later time. Open the doors and good things will happen. You don’t need to be a pastor/preacher or have a seminary degree to share Jesus – just use what you have. It worked for Paul and it will work for you. Have a great day of worship tomorrow. Pastor John.

03/30/2022

March 30: We live in a world wracked by racism (or supposed racism at times), inequality and injustice. We are more divided than we have ever been along political and socio-economic lines. There are times it seems that the world is falling apart all around us and there is nothing we can do to stop it. But God has, as He always does, an answer. We find it in Galatians 3:26-29. Here we read these words: “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. Did you get that? No more Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female (all huge dividing lines in the first century). Instead, we are all one in Jesus. If Paul were writing today I’m sure he’d add Democrat or Republican, rich or poor, black or white or Asian or Hispanic, and many other things that divide us. Maybe he’d even add Catholics or Baptists or Methodists. (Sorry, I’m no longer writing, I’m meddling now.) But the truth is that God doesn’t see but one difference – those who have accepted Him and become part of the family of God, and those who haven’t yet. Our job as Christians is to promote unity in the Body – because divisions happen in churches too – and help eliminate differences by bringing those outside the body to Christ so that they can be on the inside. It’s pretty simple isn’t it? That’s my thought for today. Pastor John

Address

209 E. Union Street
Chesnee, SC
29323

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