Praise & Prayer

Michael (Paul) Nemmers, 29, In the providence of God went to be with the Lord, Friday, February 17, 2012. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., with Funeral services to follow at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at Saylorville Baptist Church, 6429 NW 6th Dr., Des Moines, IA.

Paul was born December 8, 1982 in Blue Earth, MN, the son of Pastor Mike and Linda Nemmers. In 1990 his family moved to the Waterloo/ Grundy Center, IA area. Paul received Christ as his Savior during his senior year in high school. He graduated with the class of 2001 at Waterloo Academy and then attended Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, IA. Paul was actively involved in Basketball and Soccer. He loved music and playing his guitar. Many have fond memories of these times with him.

Paul was a gifted young man and had a servants heart, having compassion towards any who crossed his path. This fueled his passion for the waitering work that employed him at several restaurants in the Des Moines area. Paul served people for the last 10 years as a waiter at Biaggi's (a casual Italian restaurant in West Des Moines). This place of employment became a second family to him. Paul was a hard worker and loved his job.

Paul was always surrounded by many friends. Whether attending a Widespread Panic concert, playing frisbee golf, setting up his fantasy football team, watching the Chicago Bears, or hanging out with his buddies playing cards...Paul enjoyed life. He had a great appreciation for different styles of music and enjoyed traveling to see many bands perform. Paul also loved his family and was "the favorite", playful uncle to all his nieces and nephews.

Paul will be sadly missed by his parents Mike and Linda of Grundy Center, siblings Rebekah Nemmers Boyd and her husband James of Chicago, IL; Nathan Nemmers and wife Susan of Polk City, IA; Rachel Nemmers of Des Moines, IA; David Nemmers and Jonathan Nemmers of Grundy Center, IA; girlfriend Kiley Kacher of Des Moines, IA; grandparents Charles and Betty Kruse of Allison, IA; 4 nieces and 4 nephews and too many aunts, uncles and cousins to be numbered. Paul was preceded in death by his grandparents Robert and Shirley Nemmers of Waterloo, IA.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Paul's family.

[Pastor Mike and Linda Nemmers serve at First Baptist Church, Grundy Center]

PRAISE NOTES:

We encourage all of our IARBC  Churches and our IARBC Missionary Churches to email PRAISE NOTES to us like the following one from Calvary Baptist Church in Grinnell.  If you can include pictures that would be great but we would love to share your PRAISE NOTES            even when you have no pictures.  We will place these PRAISE NOTES on our website and let you know in our UPDATE when they are there.  I think this kind of PRAISE NOTE honors God, encourage the brethren by letting us hear how God is answering our prayers for our sister churches and encourages us to pray more diligently and more knowledgeably for one another.

PRAISE NOTES from Calvary Baptist Church in Grinnell

    Sunday, Feb. 5, we had the privilege of baptizing a dad, mom, and their 2 children all together.  They've been attending our church for about 2 years.  This couple was saved about 14 years ago in an AOG church in Oskaloosa, but had never been baptized.  Their teenage son was led to Christ by our youth pastor, Dan Cox, in April of 2011.  Their 7 year-old daughter came to Pastor Johnston after the morning service in June of 2011, and he led her to the Lord.

    It was a great victory when they all came forward to present themselves for baptism and membership in our church!  This is a rarity to have the privilege of baptizing an entire household together!  I read the account of the Philippian jailor before the baptismal service, and shared how Scripture indicates that his whole household BELIEVED, were BAPTIZED, and REJOICED together.  About a dozen of their relatives came to witness their baptism, including a sister that came all the way from Wyoming.

    I'm sorry I don't have any pictures to go with this article (although a video was taken), but surely it was recorded in Heaven and was the cause of much rejoicing and thanksgiving there and  in our church family.  We're praying this will encourage others who need to make similar decisions for Christ, as we average about 30 non-members attending our services  every Sunday.  Praise God from Whom all blessing flow!

Pastor Don Johnston

Calvary Baptist Church

Grinnell