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October 2018 Witness
This past Sunday was our annual Homecoming Sunday celebrated on Buggy Days weekend. On such Sundays, I always enjoy sharing a message that focuses on the good things that God has done in and through our church over the last 193 years! I have the privilege of serving as the 34thpastorof First Baptist Church of Barnesville. And this church has accomplished an amazing record among Baptist churches. After 34 pastors, this church has never fired a preacher! Well, at least not yet! In any and every generation, the church is in the life-changing business. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone be in Christ, they are a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” When I was a freshman at Banks High School in Birmingham, Alabama, I remember having a substitute teacher on several occasions who was going to seminary in the evenings and wanted to be a minister. I was so impressed with his character and his caring – with the joy and purpose that he had in his life –that I thought that if I pursued the same vocation he was pursuing I would become like him. That young man so impacted my life that I wanted to become a minister before I even became a Christian! All of my tomorrows were transformed by a Christ-filled substitute high school teacher whose name I can’t even remember! We had a good month in September with an average attendance of 373 in Bible Study. “Speakin’ with My Deacon” took place on Sunday evening, September 9th, with a good attendance from our Sunday School classes and divisions. We also focused on three TOWNHALL MEETINGSconcerning the STUDENT/YOUNG ADULT BUILDINGthat has been in the works for months now. ChairmanSteven Bacon and our STUDENT BUILDING PLANNING TEAM made very strong presentations to our church at those meetings. Our Deacons unanimously supported the plan for this new building at their September 9th meeting. I want to thank our Student Building PlanningTeam for the many hours they have put in. A special thanks goes to ourPrayer Team led byJoe Andrews. Carson Selph and his Design and Planning Teamhave 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. The work of Mark Smithand our Finance Team,as well as Ryal Siemand our Construction Team will soon begin provided the church adopts this new building plan. On Sunday, September 30th,we will share a CONGREGATIONAL PRESENTATION AND VOTE on this new building plan at all three of our morning services. Please be much in prayer for this most important day for us and for our future! October has, among other things, some great evening opportunities:
- The women’s worship event calledTHE CANOPY takes place on Thursday evening, October 25th, at 7:00 P.M.Doors open at 6:30.
- The kick-off of OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILDwill be on Sunday evening, October 14th, at 6:30 in the gym of our C.F.L.C. Thanks to Nancy Cloudt for leading this ministry of providing the greatest gift of all, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to children all around the world!
- TRUNK OR TREATtakes place on Sunday evening, October 28th, on our west side parking lot. Thanks to our Children’s Ministry Team for putting this together for us this year!
We look forward to a great month in October. COME EXPECTANTLY! I Love You, Garth
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September 2018 Witness
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.
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