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01
Sep '18

September 2018 Witness

Posted on Sep 1, 2018 by admin in General, General | 1093

01
Sep '18

FROM THE SHEPHERD’S HEART

     In speaking of the need for patience amidst persecution or troubles as we serve God, the author of the Book of Hebrews writes in chapter 10, verses 35-37these words: “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.   You need persevering patience so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.    For, ‘In just a little while, He that shall come will come and will not delay.’”

     Some of the greatest missionaries of history devotedly spread the Gospel of Christ and yet had to wait long periods before seeing the fruit of their efforts.   William Carey,for example, labored 7 years before the first Hindu convert was brought to Christ in India, and Adoniram Judson toiled 7 years before his faithful preaching was rewarded in Burma.   In western Africa,it was 14 years before one convert was received into the Christian church.   In New Zealand,it took 9 years; and in Tahiti,it was 16 years before the first harvest of souls began.

      So, in the midst of a good work, remember the words of Paul from Galatians 6:9which says, “And let us not grow weary in doing what is right: for in due season we shall reap an abundant harvest, if we don’t lose heart and quit!”

     We had a good month in August with an average attendance of 356 in Bible Study.  Thanks to all those who participated in our annual PRAYER WALK FOR SCHOOLSon August 5th.   MISSION FESTwas a great event on August 12thas we heard from those who served the Lord in Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, Honduras and the Philippines.    On our TEAM NIGHTwe gave our committees a first opportunity to meet together in the new year.    And the women’s worship event called THE CANOPYbrought lots of ladies from our community together for this quarterly event.

     ChairmanSteven Bacon and our STUDENT BUILDING PLANNING TEAM look forward to making a presentation to our church soon.   Carson Selph and his Design and Planning Team, have worked tirelessly on a design for this new building.   In addition, Chairperson Kim Walland our Fund-raising Teamhave selected a company to help us raise the needed funds.   We will be making an initial presentation to our Deacons at their first Deacon’s Meeting of the new year, on September 9th.  Following that, we will be bringing a presentation to our entire church family in the days ahead.   Please continue to pray for the vital work of all our important teams (i.e.; Joe Andrewsand our Prayer Team; Mark Smithand our Finance Team;and Ryal Siemand our Construction Team).

     July has, among other things, some great evening opportunities:

 

  • SPEAKIN’ WITH MY DEACONtakes place on Sunday evening, September 9th, beginning at 6:30 P.M. in our Christian Family Life Center.We’re asking our Deacons to supply finger foods while we supply the tea.   Afterwards, we will have our first Deacon Meeting of the new year.
  • We are also looking forward to our BUGGY DAYS HOMECOMING on Sunday, September 23rd. Notice that Buggy Days is a little later this year than usual.   We look forward to our annual lunch together that day, and to honoring folks who have served First Baptist so well.
     We look forward to a great month in September.   COME EXPECTANTLY! I Love You, Garth
 

 

                                                                                                          
 

 


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01
Jun '18

June 2018 Witness

Posted on Jun 1, 2018 by admin in General | Tags: 976

01
Jun '18
May and June are months when we typically celebrate our families and consider our responsibilities to them.  1 Timothy 5:8 says, “If anyone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Marion Anderson, the famous African-American contralto, was once interviewed and asked to name the greatest moment of her life. She had many big moments to choose from.  
 
There was that private concert she gave at the White House for the Roosevelts and the King and Queen of England.  There was the time that she won the $10,000 Bok Award as the person who had done the most for her hometown of Philadelphia. “But,” she told the reporter, “the greatest moment in my life was the day I went home and told my mother that she would not have to take in washing anymore!” There was a young woman who took seriously her family responsibilities! May we all “go and do likewise!”
 
We had a good month in May with an average attendance of 322 in Bible Study.   May was a month filled with family activities. We celebrated NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER for our community in our gym on May 3rd with the best crowd we have had in years.   We had six children that we celebrated during our BABY CELEBRATION on Mother’s Day.   The worship gathering for women called THE CANOPY was inspirational on the evening of May 17th.  Jason Teal and crew did a great job with the GRADUATION SUNDAY service and luncheon on May 20th. That evening, Greg Burrell and our children’s music ministry presented “O CHICKEN OF LITTLE FAITH,” our end-of-year musical, which was a delight to all who attended.   And we appreciated the opportunity to participate in the LAMAR COUNTY BACCALAUREATE SERVICE on May 23rd.  
 
Sadly, we said goodbye to Kristi Miller, our Children’s Minister, as her resignation was announced on May 20th.  We appreciate Kristi’s service to our church and our community over the last five and a-half years.   She will be pursuing other opportunities closer to her family. Our prayers will go with her.
We voted on our NOMINATING TEAM REPORT on May 27th. Thanks to Russ Jenkins, Chairperson Pat Burnette and our 2018-19 Nominating Team for working hard to staff our multiplied ministries here at First Baptist. On behalf of Chairman Steven Bacon and our Student Ministry Leadership Team, I will be recommending for church approval almost 40 members of  our STUDENT BUILDING PLANNING TEAM at our Regular Church Conference on May 30th. Please keep them in your prayers.

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