....................................................................................................................................."a fellowship of love!"
Our new Preschool/Childrens Wing was dedicated on January 14, 2007.
On March 20, 2007, Pastor Garth reported inThe Witnessas follows:
Let me share with you that we have secured our permanent financing on our new Preschool/Children's wing from one of our local banks. Both local banks were highly competitive. We were able to put about $125,000 down on the principal so that we only had to borrow $1,475,000 on our permanent mortgage. I know that's a lot of money, but when we began the project we voted on borrowing $1,800,000! Our five year fixed note has a monthly payment of $11,415 on a twenty year amortization. It will be paid jointly through the Debt Reduction line item in our budget ($6,667 per month) and through continued capital campaign contributions ($4,747 per month). Excess capital contributions will be placed on principal, so that we will be paying off this indebtedness from the back side towards the front and believe we will have it paid off in far less than 20 years. Thank you for your financial faithfulness!
Before beginning any great or important undertaking, we must look at where we have been, assess where we are, and take a strong hard look at where we want to be, all the while serving Him and His kingdom. We are about to embark on a journey of faith: something for everyone, everything for Him.
First Baptist Church
founded 1825
A HISTORY TO CELEBRATE & A FUTURE TO ANTICIPATE
In the late 1980's, First Baptist launched a study program that produced FBC2000, a set of goals that laid out the framework for growth in the 21st century. These goals were:
Develop an intentional, flexible visitation ministry which seeks to identify human needs
Establish mission action groups responsive to specific communityneeds
Coordinate ministry response to discovered congregational needs through a called lay leader
Growth in worship and Sunday School attendance through the present has led the church to form a Long Range Planning Committee to provide direction in this new century. One of the most important considerations was the look made at present facilities and the need for new ones. A Master Site Plan has been developed and presented to the membership for action. This plan includes a new preschool wing being added to the Educational Building with a connector between that building and the Christian Family Life Center (CFLC). An elevator will also be provided.
The plan also proposes a new, larger kitchen in the CFLC, more space for storage, and additional room for Christian Education and Bible study. All this is included in the Phase 1 plan.
Phase 2 calls for a new (additional) sanctuary as First Baptist anticipates continued growth in the new century.
Pictures from January 14, 2007, dedication. Click on a picture to enlarge!
The new "CHILDRENS' CHURCH" is located upstairs in the Educational Building (the 1952 addition). Click on a pictire to enlarge.
Our Need Growing churches, like growing families, have a regular need for additionalspace. In the last eleven years, First Baptist Church of Barnesville has averaged 55 additions per year, our church membership has grown by a net total of 400 new members and our Sunday School enrollment has climbed from 706 to 1,146! Because of this consistent growth, we are now facing the need for more space! This is especially true as so many young families with small children have joined our church.
The Solution: “Something for Everyone…”
Our solution is to complete the task our church started in 1952 when we built our present Educational Building and made preparation for a new wing to continue off the south end of that building. Our goal is to build a 16,600 square foot Phase 1 addition that will include:
State-of-the-art first-floor Preschool space to house our growing ministry to this age group.
Updated Children’s space on the second floor to accommodate this growing age group.
An elevator by which all people will be able to access all the second floor space on our campus.
Adequate and attractive restrooms that are long overdue.
A two-story lobby connector which will merge our existing Educational Building
with our C.F.L.C.
A covered drive-through on the far side of our C.F.L.C.
The Challenge: “…Everything for Him!” If First Baptist Church is to continue to build God’s Kingdom in Lamar County and beyond, and if we are to continue to experience God’s blessing of growth and influence, then we must expand our facilities to accommodate the people that God expects us to reach and serve. That is the motivation behind our church’s vision in building Phase 1 of our Master Site Plan – everything will be for Him! The estimated cost of this building project will be upwards of $2 million. To see this vision become a reality, we will embark on a capital stewardship campaign called “Journey of Faith” that will forever transform our attitudes toward and habits of giving. Our goal is to raise at least half of our estimated cost through the three-year duration of this campaign. This is an undertaking the likes of which our church has never experienced. Many people will be asked to do many different tasks. Be in prayerful consideration and please say “Yes” when asked to help with this campaign. As we prepare for this “Journey of Faith,” remember that everything we accomplish is for Him – the One who did more for us than we can every repay! “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible… everything got started in Him and was created for Him.” -Colossians 1:16 Your Opportunity Four Ways You Can Serve: Information Meeting Team – This group will be responsible for arranging the meetings to be held March 29-April 3, to inform all church members of the capital stewardship campaign. Invitations will be sent to all members along with a list of the times and locations of the information meetings. (Pledges will not be discussed or received at these meetings). Leaders: Brian Hughes, Kathy Martin, and Walter Swift
Contact Callers Team – This group will be responsible for contacting all members to confirm which informational meeting they will be attending. Each caller will be assigned 10 calls. The calls will be made between March 24 and March 28. (No one will be asked to discuss pledge amounts). Leaders: Kim Bankston, Suzanne Forster, and Kelly Runyan
Hospitality Team– A special event for all church members will be held on May 2. The Hospitality Team will be responsible for organizing a team that will call all church members to confirm attendance at this event. Each caller will be assigned 10 -12 calls to make between April 21-27. The team will also serve as hosts and hostesses for this event. Leaders: Angie Walters, Ann Wiggins, and June Green
Response Callers Team– This group will be responsible for enlisting people to call all members from whom a commitment has not been received. Callers will remind members to return their commitment cards in time for the announcement of the results of the campaign on Celebration Sunday, May 16. Calls will be made between May 12 and May 15. Leaders: Greg Perkins, Joel White, and Trey Woodall We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
FIRST BAPTIST CAPITAL STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN LEADERSHIP Jeff Manley, Campaign Leader Ken Chambless, Assistant
Bruce Akins and Mary Ann Leverett Advance Commitment
Clay Kitchings and Greg Burrell Visual Communication
Mary Beth Burrell, Bobby Cone & Bob Wiggins Special Event
Emily Reems, Dee Kitchings &Dede White Children’s Activity
Kathy Selph Prayer Leader
Tommy Freeman & Belinda McCall Student Activities
Etoile Brown Enlistment
Kim Wall & Cindy Owens Coordinators
Harry Waller & Missy Parker Follow-Up
Kelly Hughes, Leader Amy Matthews, Elizabeth Matthews & Jannellen Rigg, assistants Print Communications
