The Bridge - May 2018

A Monthly Newsletter of First Baptist Church

Are You a Neighbor?

We find the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-36. Jesus told this parable to open the eyes of a man who was seeking to justify his lack of love toward his fellow man. Jesus detailed the plight of a man who had fallen among thieves and was left beaten, bruised, and bleeding. He was without resources or even the strength to remove himself from the road. Two religious leaders passed by, saw his plight, but passed by him without giving him help or showing any real compassion. A third man came along: This man was a Samaritan. He was of an ethnicity despised and rejected by the Jews, yet he had compassion on the man. He picked him up, placed him on his animal, doctored his wounds, and gave of his own resources so that the man could be housed and regain his health. Jesus asked, “Which of the three proved to be a neighbor to the one who fell into the hands of robbers?” The lawyer answered, “The one who showed mercy to him.”

help. It would have been safer and less costly to pass right on by like the priest or the Levite in Jesus’ parable. No one would have questioned the wisdom of passing Paul by and leaving him there in that ditch. He was intoxicated, after all. No one had made him drink that alcohol.

Unlike the man who fell among robbers in the parable, Paul had not been ambushed by the bandit of addiction, but he was just as helpless to get himself out of the ditch and just as vulnerable to further harm or even death.

Our brother put Paul in his car and brought him to the church. It was after regular office hours, but Mike Drury was working over at Covenant Ministries. Mike gave me a call, and we were able to secure lodging for Paul for the night. Paul was filled with paranoia, fear, and grief when we left him at the hotel that evening after praying with him. The next morning we were able to counsel with Paul and discern whether he was willing to enter into a treatment and counseling program.

Home of Grace in Van Cleave, Mississippi Paul (pictured with me below) was a (a 90 day Biblically based recovery man one of our members found in a ministry) had an opening, and they were ditch. He was not there because he had willing to receive Paul. The brother who been ambushed by robbers. He had had pulled Paul out of the ditch the night succumbed to the bondage of alcohol. before called me the next morning to see The first time I met Paul, he was in the how Paul was doing. He wanted to help passenger seat of this man’s car and with the cost of sending Paul to Home of could hardly talk. This church member Grace and brought a check to the office had recognized Paul and saw that he and has helped with Paul’s expenses was in a pitiful state. He was intoxicated, while he has been there. homeless, and without resources. His On Tuesday, April 17, I transported life had been held captive by his addicanother young man over to Home of tion and sinful practices. When our brother saw him he had compassion on Grace to start the program. Becky Priest, the intake coordinator, took me to see him, stopped, and asked if he could

Paul. She told me how he had been taking advantage of every opportunity offered to him. He was growing in his sobriety, discipline, and most importantly his relationship with Christ. When he saw me, he shouted, “Brother Paul!” He gave me a huge hug. That morning Becky had received Paul’s G.E.D. he had earned during his time there. She presented it to him. Tears flowed as I prayed with him, thanking the Lord for His grace and mercy. Paul will graduate from the Home of Grace on April 27. He has already secured a welding job in Mississippi. He is leaving with a diploma and a plan, but most importantly he is leaving with a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

God did the work, but He used a compassionate Christian (a Good Samaritan) in the process. There are others lost and helpless, beaten down and in bondage to the enemy, all around us. Are you willing for the Lord to interrupt your day and use you to rescue the lost sheep around you?

Family Daily Discipleship Reading Plan: 

Contact us 950 Self Street Franklinton, LA 70438 Phone: (985) 839-3427 Fax: (985) 839-3572 Prayer Line: (985) 839-3337 Office E-mail: fbc.natasha@gmail.com

Prayer E-mail: fbcfranklinton.prayer@gmail.com

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May 6th Memory Verse: “Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him. - 2 Corinthians 5:9

May 13th

Memory Verse: “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. - 2 Corinthians 5:21

Website: www.fbcfranklinton.org

Facebook: First-Baptist-Church-Franklinton

Service Times: Sunday Worship Services Sundays at 8:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.

Bible Study Groups Sundays at 8:15 a.m. & 9:30 a.m.

Wednesdays 5:45 p.m. Ladies Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Preschool/Children’s Activities 6:00 p.m. Youth Activities

Prayer Times 7:30 a.m. Sundays in the Chapel 5:00 p.m. Sundays in the Sanctuary 7:00 a.m. Tuesdays in the Fireside Room 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays in the Sanctuary

24/7 Prayer Room

Choir Rehearsals Mondays 8:30 a.m. Senior Singers Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. Preschool & Children’s Choir 6:00 p.m. Sanctuary Choir 7:00 p.m. Praise Team Rehearsal

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May 20th Memory Verse: “Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.”

- 2 Corinthians 9:7

May 27th Memory Verse: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

- 2 Corinthians 12:9

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1st: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 2nd: 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 3rd: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 4th: 2 Corinthians 5:11-15 5th: 2 Corinthians 5:16-19 6th: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 7th: 2 Corinthians 6:3-13 8th: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 9th: 2 Corinthians 7:1-4 10th: 2 Corinthians 7:5-9 11th: 2 Corinthians 7:10-16 12th: 2 Corinthians 8:1-6 13th: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 14th: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 15th: 2 Corinthians 9:1-9 16th: 2 Corinthians 9:10-15 17th: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 18th: 2 Corinthians 10:7-11 19th: 2 Corinthians 10:12-18 20th: 2 Corinthians 11:1-4 21st: 2 Corinthians 11:5-11 22nd: 2 Corinthians 11:12-15 23rd: 2 Corinthians 11:16-23 24th: 2 Corinthians 11:24-33 25th: 2 Corinthians 12:1-5 26th: 2 Corinthians 12:6-10 27th: 2 Corinthians 12:11-13 28th: 2 Corinthians 12:14-18 29th: 2 Corinthians 12:19-21 30th: 2 Corinthians 13:1-4 31st: 2 Corinthians 13:5-13

The Vegetable Garden and Student Ministry

REACHing In and REACHing Out in Student Ministry

Rev. Cody Thomas Student Pastor fbc.codythomas@gmail.com

Upcoming Student Ministry Events: Sunday, May 20th

Mandatory Youth and Parent CAMP Meeting

Wednesday, May 23rd REACH Crawfish Boil

Friday, May 25th

Finding Favor Concert at FBC Franklinton

Summer Dates VBS - June 4th - 8th YOUTH will help

Camp Fuego - 7-9 Grade June 18th - 22nd

Camp Fuego - 10-12 Grade July 23rd - 27th

God often reveals to us truths from His Word in the common everyday scenarios of life. One of my “hobbies” is vegetable gardening. Over the years I have found myself illustrating life situations from what I have gleamed from the vegetable garden. The more I grow my own vegetables, and the longer I serve in Student Ministry, the more I realize how similar they are to each other.

Prepare the Soil - Before I sow seeds or plant plants, I always prepare the soil for the incoming seeds and plants. I till up the ground.

Tilling up the ground makes the dirt smoother and easier for the plants’ roots to go through. I will till up the ground one way and then till it up again going a different direction.

- In Student Ministry – how do I need to “prepare the soil” of the students I will be ministering to? PRAYER … prepares my heart to teach and preach the gloriousness of Christ as well as prepares the hearts of students to hear and respond to the gloriousness of Christ. Prayer is essential in Student Ministry because it takes the Student Pastor out of the driver’s seat and says to God, “Not my will be done but Your will.” Our hearts are softened towards God’s will when we seek Him in prayer.

Sow the Seed - Different seasons call for different plants to be planted. Cabbage prefers the cooler weather, so I plant that in the fall. Okra prefers the warmer weather, so I plant that in the spring. Every season no matter how hard I try things grow in my garden that I do not want to grow in the garden.

Weeds spring up from the ground! Weeds if not properly maintained can choke out the vegetable plants and cause them to not grow to their full potential.

- In Student Ministry – what kind of seeds are we planting in the lives of students so that the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26) will be produced in their lives? Students learn by example.

How an adult handles issues will be seen by teenagers and will be “seeds planted” in the life of that teenager? For example, if my daughter sees me throw a fit every time I do not get what I want, I am “planting a seed” in her life that tells her that is the way to do things. Likewise, if I bring my burdens unto the Lord in prayer and allow my daughter to witness this, I am “planting a seed” in her life that shows the value of trusting in the Lord. As a Student Pastor and a parent, the “seeds” I wish to “sow” in the lives of students cannot and should not be done just in word or through the Word, it must be seen in my actions as well as my words.

Tend to the Garden - Once my plants are in the ground, the work has not stopped … it is just began.

The plants need water. Some plants need to be pruned. Weeds need to be pulled.

Vermin and pest control must take place.

There is always work to be done in the

vegetable garden.

- In Student Ministry – what work am I doing to ensure the spiritual growth of students? Discipleship is a never-ending ministry. As a disciple of Christ and as one who is discipling others, I should never reach the point where I throw my hands up and say, “I am finished, I have done all I could do.” If I do reach that point, I am dead, and I have been glorified with Christ. As a disciple of Christ, I should always be refreshing my soul with the Living Water of Christ. As a disciple of Christ, I should always be evaluating my life and pulling sins up at the root so that I can grow in my walk as a disciple. As a disciple of Christ, I should always have the mindset “get behind me Satan because you have no power here” and thus keeping the vermin and pest in my life under control. As a Student Pastor (one who is discipling others), I should always in my word and deed bring forth the truth of Christ in people’s lives. As a Student Pastor, I should always aid in the efforts of pulling sin out of other people’s lives through accountability. As a Student Pastor, I should PRAY for those of whom I am discipling. as well as those who need the discipline that their hearts would follow Christ daily and not follow the schemes of this world. There is always ministry to do.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”

Reap the Harvest - The main thing that keeps me planting vegetable season after season is the fact that I harvest fresh home-grown vegetables. If home-grown vegetables were not an outcome of all my hard work, I would not do it. The end justifies the means. I get my hands dirty because I know one day that plant is going to taste good. I do not stray away from the challenging work because I know my efforts will not be in vain … I will reap fresh home-grown vegetables.

- In Student Ministry – are we doing ministry with the end in mind? Ministry is hard work, but it is rewarding. Lives are changed through the ministry of the church. Sinners come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior because of the ministry of the church. We labor and toil in ministry not to uplift ourselves but to uplift the gloriousness of Jesus. The fruit we can see through ministry is lives changed.

When students begin to have a daily devotion, all the hard work has been justified. When a lost student comes to know Christ as their Lord and Savior, all the hard work has been justified. When we stand before the Lord Jesus Christ, and He says, “well done my good and faithful servant,” all the hard work has been justified. Let us not stray away from doing the hard work of ministry. Let us boldly proclaim and live out the gloriousness of Jesus Christ so that God’s glory will be seen in our lives and be made known in the lives of the people around us.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2018 SENIORS

Emma Louise Bowman

Ashely Lynn Cook

William Luke Garbo

Katherine Olivia Haik

Hannah Grace Henn

Jacob Peyton Magee

Crockett Carroll McElveen

Mary Anne Singleton

Rayah Hope Spinks

Harley Alexander Sumrall

Emily Caroline Taber

Hunter Owen Turner

Kaylee Grace Turner

Haley Elizabeth Varnado

Tuesday, May 1st: Registration for all I Love Tuesday events opens In order to register, students and chaperones alike must come to the office in person and prepay for all trips.

There is a strict limit of 40 students per trip. Most I Love Tuesday events have spots for only 8 chaperones. Each chaperone must pay his or her own way when they sign up.

Sunday, May 6th: Deadline for Baby Dedication Participants Parents that are members of First Baptist Church and have had a baby born since Mother’s Day of 2017 are invited to participate in our Mother’s Day Baby Dedication service. You will need to return your form no later than today. Please be sure that you have indicated which service you plan to participate in.

Kelly McElveen Director of Preschool/ Children’s Ministries fbc.playschool@gmail.com

Happy Birthday!

Briana Walle – 10th Jacob Tullos – 11th Henry James – 14th Madison Smith – 21st Ila Varnado – 22nd Bryce Hall – 24th Turner Knight – 31st

Sunday, May 13th: Baby Dedication & Mother’s Day There is no Wee Worship today, but the nursery is available for children 36 months and under.

Finally, here is all of the information you need to know about this year’s Vacation Bible School! Items marked with an * asterisk are new or revised.

Please pay special attention to these.

*Registration: We will be doing all registration during the month of May (see above) and hope to have almost all of the children registered by the Sundays, May 6th, 20th & 27th Friday before Kick-Off. This is from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., especially important because when you Family Life Center: preregister your child, you will receive VBS Pre-registration your Pick-Up tickets (see Dropping Off Tell your friends and help us get the & Picking Your Child Up) and a coupon word out that VBS Pre-registration is for a free VBS t-shirt. We are ongoing during the month of May! suggesting that you keep your Pick-Up Register early for best selection of track ticket in the glove box of your car. More time options and to receive a certificate than one Pick-Up ticket is available by redeemable for a free VBS t-shirt on the request for those that may be having a night of VBS kick-off. Be sure to pick up friend, family member, or babysitter a VBS “Play by Play” to find out about pick up your child from VBS. A t-shirt all of the exciting changes to our VBS coupon will be given to each child that schedule and our enhanced security preregisters, but they are ONLY changes. redeemable at VBS Kick-Off (see VBS Kick-Off). Shirts will also be available to Sunday, May 6th at 7 p.m. purchase for $5 (tax included). in the A. W. Robbins (Fireside Room): *Kick-Off: We will be hosting our MANDATORY CentriKid Parent Mtg. annual VBS Kick-Off this year on Each child that is attending must have Sunday, June 3rd beginning at 5:30 p.m. one parent in attendance. It is not in the Sanctuary with a time of worship necessary for children to attend the led by The Crowe Boys. Fellowship and meeting. A notary will be on hand to time for your child to see their VBS notarize the forms (signer must be schedule will follow in the Family Life present). Also, please plan to bring a Center. Those that pre-registered and copy of your child’s health insurance attended kick-off will also be able to card. You will also be getting details redeem their t-shirt coupon for a about our final fundraiser. custom VBS t-shirt in their team color.

Shirts will also be available to purchase th Monday, May 7 , for $5 (tax included). during regular office hours: VBS Pre-registration continues Times and Ages: If you know someone that can’t make it We have classes for children ages 4 during one of our Sunday afternoon pre (by September 30th, 2018) through 6th -registrations, drop by the church office grade (currently in and will have just Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. until completed in June). All classes go by 4 p.m. or on Fridays from 8 a.m. until the grades the student will have just 12 noon. If someone is unavailable, completed—not the grade that they will there will be forms on the office foyer be in in the fall. We begin promptly at table. However, remember that 8:30 a.m., and drop-offs begin at 8:15 registration is not complete until you a.m. Please do not drop your child off have returned the paperwork. There are before 8:15 a.m. We dismiss from noon limited spots in each of the track times, until 12:15 p.m. Please see Dropping and they are filled on a first come, first Off & Picking Your Child Up for more served basis. information on this process.

*Dropping Off & Picking Your Child Up: Beginning at 8:15 a.m., Preschool and Kindergarteners drop off in their classrooms, located in the Preschool Dept. at the rear of the church. All 1st-6th graders assemble on the front porch of the Sanctuary in the front of the church. We go into Worship Rally in the Sanctuary just a few minutes before 8:30 a.m. Please do not leave your child unattended.

To pick up your child, EVERYONE must go to the front porch of the Sanctuary. No other adults, aside from our VBS volunteers, will be allowed to enter the building. Please be aware that this is for safety reasons. There will be a team of volunteers on the front porch calling for children. This will be similar to how they are dismissed from school, and it allows us to create a safer environment for the children. Please understand and be patient. ALSO, each person picking up a child MUST have either a pick-up ticket (issued at the time of registration) OR a photo ID. If you do not have a pick-up ticket, the person must be listed on the child’s registration form. CHURCH FAMILY, this will also include each of you!

We cannot expect to be a welcoming church if we have one set of rules for church members and another set of rules for visitors.

*Tracks: This year, 1st-6th graders will have several different options for their recreation time at VBS. There will be more than a dozen different options to choose from and space in each is strictly limited. Track time options include, but are not limited to, Weird Science, flag football, baseball, soccer, How Great Thou ART, girl crafts, guy crafts, cheer, sign language, outdoor games, indoor games, Stomp, and several others.

Children, or the adults registering them, will select 4-5 of the options when they pre-register. Children will be placed into two of the tracks, based on availability at the time of registration.

Commencement: We will have our VBS Commencement Program on Friday, June 8th. A detailed letter will be sent home on the Wednesday of VBS. Children that have a VBS shirt are asked to wear it for the program.

Social Media: Help us share our VBS information on social media sites you participate in. Please plan to use the hashtag #ftonvbs18. There will be several different informational Team Colors: We are going to be doing our team colors pictures and shareable posts on our church Facebook group again this year and children will have the opportunity to earn (First Baptist Franklinton), our church Facebook page tickets for an endless number of things (including wearing (First Baptist Church Franklinton), our FBC Kids Facebook your team color!). Like our Bible Study classes, we go by the page, my personal Facebook page (Kelly McDaniel grade that your child will have just completed at the time of McElveen), and my personal Instagram account VBS (not the grade they will be going into). Preschool and (lsukelly.mc).

Kindergarten are Team YELLOW; 1st and 2nd Graders are Team GREEN; 3rd and 4th Graders are Team BLUE; and, 5th and 6th Graders are Team RED. *Adult & Youth Volunteers: For us to create a safer environment, it is important that we know who will be on campus during VBS. If you have not done so already, please let Mrs. Kelly know that you plan to help. We have new volunteer shirts, and each person volunteering is expected to have it on each day of VBS. It helps visitors identify whom they can ask for help; it helps children identify their leaders, and it helps us know who is supposed to be on campus. Adults and youth that have not gone through the proper channels to help with Vacation Bible School may be asked to leave.

Per-

Mission Projects: All of the children attending VBS will be participating in the Great Missions Challenge. They will compete in teams (see Team Colors). This year will be collecting dried beans and boxes of macaroni and cheese for the Washington Parish Food Bank, as well as monetary donations. The monetary donations will be forwarded to another church in our association to help with the cost of hosting their own Vacation Bible School. Each item or dollar brought earns the child one ticket. Mission project winners will win the giant VBS Missions trophy and bragging rights for a year! Last year, Team BLUE won by a landslide‌who will it be this year? *Check Out & First Aid: Parents that need to pick their child up early may do so by going to the foyer of the Sanctuary. We will have someone stationed there to assist parents. This will also serve as a first aid station.

SANCTUARY FUNDING COMMITTEE UPDATE & SANCTUARY DESIGN COMMITTEE REPORT If you were unable to be with us on Pledge Sunday or if you have not yet turned your Pledge Card in, please know that it is not too late. You may return your Pledge Card in the offering plate or to the church office. Pledge boxes are located in the foyer of the Sanctuary and on the Praying Hands table. Please continue to consider prayerfully how God would have you give.

Funds Raised Thus Far:

$231,557.43

April

For questions and Memory Verses, see the 2017 Family Bible Study Devotion.

Copies are available in the foyers and in the church office.

SENIOR ADULT REVIVAL Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. - Psalm 51:10

SAM Adult 55+ Pigeon Forge Trip Psalm 51:10

October 29th to November 2nd October 29th 8:45 a.m.

Leave FBC for Pigeon Forge Dinner at Calhoun’s

October 30th Dollywood Gospel Fest Greater Vision and Tim Lovelace and many more

Rev. Joey Miller

October 31st

Associate Pastor of Pastoral Care fbc.joeymiller@gmail.com

“A Clean Heart Revival”

Upcoming Events

is the theme of this year’s Senior Adult Revival in the Franklinton area. The flyer above lists all the details including times, places, and speakers. We will host the Friday revival meeting and plan to take the bus as needed.

SENIOR ADULT DAY AT FBC Sunday, May 6th

NURSING HOME MINISTRY

Dr. Bob Adams will be our preacher, and lunch will be served at 10:45 a.m. in the Family Life Center.

May 17th

UPCOMING LUNCHEONS

at 3:00 p.m.

Worship at Good Samaritan

May 21

st

at 3:00 p.m.

Worship at Heritage Manor

There will be no May Adult 55+ Fellowship Luncheon due to our Senior Adult Day and Senior Adult Revival. Our next luncheon will be Friday, June 1st, at 10:30 a.m. Wayne Kuhn will be our guest speaker and will bring a bit of humor and legal wisdom to the fellowship.

Be sure to be there and bring a friend.

Bus trip to Bryson City to see the leaves Dinner at Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Show.

November 1st Leisure morning with Apple Barn lunch 3:00 p.m.

Smokey Mountain Opry show 8:15 p.m.

Dinner at Cheddars and Comedy Barn

November 2nd Return home

NOTES: Staying at Comfort Inn Suites in Pigeon Forge-breakfast included.

You will be responsible for meals in Bryson City at Calhoun’s, Cheddars, Apple Barn, and Dollywood. All events have tax and tips already included.

Total cost $575 ($150 deposit secures your spot)

grace toward us really is amazing, although language fails to express it fully and our puny minds could never completely comprehend the extent to which He has looked beyond our rebellion to embrace us through the shed blood of His only Son, Jesus, the Christ! How excellent, indeed, is His name!

So, how can we not worship with our whole heart? How can we be content to just go through the motions, routine, and religious?

Can we not bow before Him in broken humility, declaring profound gratitude that He so loved the world (and you and me!) that He gave His only Son? Can we not celebrate with rejoicing, reflecting inwardly on our unworthiness and outwardly with expressions of joyous amazement that we have been brought near through the blood?!

Happy Birthday to our

May Delora Bridges Beverly Cooke Diane Cruce Wayne Fleming Ben Fussell Douglas Guy John Harris, Jr. Mardie Hodges Kathy Knight Lynn Mulina Dick Parish Adren Raybourn Leanne Rushing Jerry Thomas Jackie Williams Nan Wood If your birthday is not listed, please let us know!

Email: fbc.joeymiller@gmail.com

or call the Church Office at

985.839.3427

When we come together, let’s worship, church, with our whole heart. Sing the songs. Join in the prayers. Bathe in the Word. Fellowship selflessly with all the redeemed. Grieve for the lost. Fully submit to the Holy Spirit’s promptings to repent, return, renew and redeploy to a world that desperately needs what we have to share.

Hear the Psalmist’s admonition: “Oh come, fbc.butch@gmail.com let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with Psalms. For the Lord is the great God and the great Yesterday (April 22nd) our Bell Choir led King above all gods. …Oh come, let us us in worship with arrangements for bells worship and bow down; let us kneel before of two very well-known worship songs: the Lord, our Maker. For He is our God, Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone and we are the (His) people…” Psalm 95: and Majesty. As I reflect on the lyrics of 1-3, 6, 7a NKJV both songs, I am reminded of King David’s words in Psalm 8:3-6,9. “When I On another note… Senior Adult Sunday is consider Your heavens, the work of Your May 6th. Dr. Bob Adams will be preaching, fingers, the moon, and the stars, which our Senior Singers will be leading in You have ordained, what is the man that worship, and there will be a luncheon for all You are mindful of him, and the son of our senior adults. Y’all come! man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, Congratulations to all our graduating and You have crowned him with glory seniors. May God bless your future and honor. You have made him to have endeavors as you stay faithful and dominion over the works of Your hands; focus on Him. you have put all things under his feet…

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your And to all you moms: May God bless you name in all the earth!” NKJV with endurance, perseverance, and wisdom. And…THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Think about it! This God, the One True God, Jehovah, the Almighty, exists in One other thought… We end the month majestic splendor beyond our comprewith Memorial Day. As we enjoy a holiday hension. Our Father, Who spoke into weekend, may we spend a moment of existence the universe, Who owns the reflection on and gratitude for those who cattle on a thousand hills, Who gloriously have given all for the sake of liberty, reigns over His creation, Who knew you realizing that our national freedoms grant and me before we were born, is intimate- us a platform from which to declare that ly acquainted with every aspect of our ultimate liberty comes only through the lives. He desired so much to be reconSovereign One, whom we worship and ciled to his crowning creation, humanity, serve until He comes. that He planned our redemption in eternity past even before time was. His

Rev. Butch Reviere Minister of Music

Ministries of FBC Franklinton

Sunday, May 20th at 3:30 p.m. Simulcast Planning and Prayer meeting in Joshua classroom in the annex. Calling all ladies interested in helping with decorations, food, organizing, or prayer!

Wednesday, May 30th at 5:00 p.m. WINGS Tea planning meeting in the Circle of Joy classroom.

If you are interested in helping with the tea in any way, please plan on attending. We need ladies to decorate tables and invite their friends! Tables can be casual to formal. Anything goes! Let's make this fun!! All food will be purchased and covered by ticket cost.

We are excited to announce our WINGS Tea on July 28th from 10 a.m.-12 noon. This tea will be different from past teas. The theme is Disciplining Others: Who Are You Pouring Into and Who Is Pouring Into You. Our guest speaker will be Marilyn Osborne. She has been in full-time ministry for over 25 years. She has a passion for leading others to Jesus and disciplining them. She also regularly invests in mentoring women and longs to see more women invest in women following in Jesus' footsteps.

Celebrate Recovery Meets on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.

Join us!

Bryan and Alexandra McElveen are proud to announce the birth of their daughter

Mary Alice arrived at 5:27 p.m. on February 5th, 2018 at STPH. She weighed 7 lbs. and 7 oz and measured 19.5 inches.

Grandparents are Scott and Rosemary Reedy and Randy and Debra McElveen.

Ministries Sponsored by FBC Franklinton

WASHINGTON PARISH FOOD BANK UPDATE Do not grow weary in doing good. ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:13 For the months of May and

June, we will be conducting the annual recertification of all current members of the food bank as per the requirements of Second Harvest, our partner agency, and major food supplier.

This takes extra time and more volunteers trained in the process but necessary nonetheless. Our current list of about 600 will probably be reduced to about 450, and then new applications will likely be accepted again.

We have only enough meat for maybe two more distribution days, and there is not much possibility of that changing any time soon.

Anyone, group, or organization who would like to do a food drive for us, please call me at 322-2017 for more information. Rice, macaroni and cheese, and all vegetables are some of the most needed items this month, but any food items can be used.

The new look of our thrift shop is about 95% complete We have experienced a and was possible because of major reduction in the amount the donation of the racks from of food we have been able to a store that closed. Come in access the last two weeks and check it out. The and have even had to bargains will surprise you, purchase some vegetables to and all purchases help to allow our families to choose enable the ministry of the at least the minimum amount food bank to continue. of 12 cans of vegetables per Thank you for your prayer month. This was only support. We have seen it in possible because of a surso many ways the last few prise monetary donation in weeks.

December that has been saved for food purchases.

Beverly Cooke Unfortunately, this is not a long-term solution so please pray that the food sources will increase in size and frequency so that all our families can be served.

MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gave His disciples and us His program of missions, and there is no better way to describe the mission of Operation Christmas Child.

Jesus first said, “Go.” Not one of us can physically go to all of the places that shoeboxes from First Baptist Church of Franklinton went last year. According to Samaritan's Purse/OCC, our boxes went to the following countries around the world: Philippines Swaziland Honduras Zimbabwe Peru Uruguay Malawi Colombia Burundi Next, He said,“...make disciples of all nations.”

We were able to reach children with the Gospel in all of these faraway places without having to leave our hometown. Each recipient heard the Gospel before receiving his or her shoebox; each was given a booklet about Jesus called “The Greatest Gift” in the appropriate language; and many participated in a 12 lesson discipleship course which trained them to be witnesses to their friends, families, and communities, fulfilling His command to “...teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Consider the power of God working through these simple gifts. Then pack shoebox gifts that can GO where you cannot go and do what you cannot do.

Welcome to the Family Our New Church Members First Baptist Church Office Contact Lee Bates

(Letter)

Ricky & Michelle Ramshur

950 Self Street Franklinton, LA 70438

(Letter)

Phone: (985) 839-3427 Fax: (985) 839-3572

Website www.fbcfranklinton.org

Office Manager Natasha Burris fbc.natasha@gmail.com

Financial Manager Leslie Varnado fbc.leslie@gmail.com

Church Office Hours

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13th

and we will do a

slideshow of pictures to honor our mothers. To be included in the slideshow you must send in a new picture of you and your children to fbc.natasha@gmail.com or you can bring them by the office.

The Deadline is Sunday, May 6th, 2018.

Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Sunday Night Fellowship

Nursery

Wee Worship

May 6th

May 6th

May 6th

Bell, Watts, Jenkins, McElveen, Schilling, Thomas, Varnado & Keaton

Jackie Williams & Brenda Corkern

Karen Spears***

May 13th

No Wee Worship

Carolyn Daniel & Kathy McElveen

May 20th

May 13

th

No Evening Services Mother’s Day

May 20th McElveen, Knight, Bankston, Sandifer, Waskom, Burris, Galloway & Schilling

May 27

th

Cooke, Creel, Varnado, Mobley, Morgan, Sylvest, Lindsey & Branch

May 13th

Cindy Knight* & Samantha Rawls**

May 20th Susan Barber & Judy Simmons

May 27th Cindy Knight* & Samantha Rawls**

May 27th Hallene Magee & Sherry Sylvest *If you would like to volunteer for the Nursery, please contact the church office at 985.839.3427. Volunteers must be a church member, at least 21 years of age, and willing to submit to a criminal background check.

Whenever possible, nursery volunteers are encouraged to also help in our ever growing 8:15 a.m. service.

Wednesday Night Supper

in our Family Life Center at 5:00 p.m.

May 2nd Meatballs and Spaghetti Group C

May 9th Country Fried Steak Group D

May 16th Chicken Rotel Group E

May 23rd Pulled Pork Group A

May 30th No Meal Summer Break for WNS

As a reminder, Wee Worship is for children who are over the age of 36 months up to children currently enrolled in Kindergarten.

*8:15 a.m. Service **10:45 a.m. Service *** 8:15 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. Services

Sound

Projection

Deacons

May 6th

May 6th

May 6th

Matt Westmoreland

John Sumrall

Dick Parish & David Sylvest

May 13th

May 13th

Warren Cooke

Hazel Varnado

May 13th

May 20

th

May 20

th

Bobby Fortenberry & Charlie Corkern

Brandon Lebo

Marie Varnado

May 20th

May 27th

May 27th

Darren Schilling

John Sumrall

Eric Barber & Robby Stringfield

May 27th Jimmy Stafford & B. Burris

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday 1 I Love Tuesday Registration Opens

VBS Pre-Registration

6

7 Senior Adult Sunday 7:00 a.m.

Men’s Prayer Breakfast

3:00 p.m.

Finance Committee Meeting 7:00 p.m. CentriKid Parents Meeting

Friday

Saturday

4

5

10

11

12

Spaghetti

6:30 p.m.

Celebrate Recovery

8

9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

Senior Adult Revival Senior Adult Revival (Hillcrest) (Enon) 5:30 p.m.

Outreach

Thursday 3

Wednesday Night Supper ~ Meatballs and

2:00 p.m.

WMU

Sun. May 6th, 20th, & 27th 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday 2

9 Wednesday Night Supper ~ Country Fried Steak

6:30 p.m.

Celebrate Recovery

9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

Senior Adult Revival Senior Adult Revival (Bogue Chitto) (First Baptist Church)

In Office VBS Pre-Registration Begins

Baby Dedication Forms Due Mother’s Day Photos Due

13

14

15

Mother’s Day & Baby Dedication

6:30 p.m.

Celebrate Recovery

9:30 a.m.

Mother’s Day Brunch

PlaySchool Commencement 5:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

No Evening Services

20

21

22

3:30 p.m.

Living Proof Simulcast Planning & Prayer Meeting

3:00 p.m.

Heritage Manor

5:00 p.m.

Mandatory Youth & Parent Camp Meeting

27 4:00 p.m.

Deacons Meeting

5:30 p.m.

Outreach

28

6:30 p.m.

Celebrate Recovery

29

Memorial Day Office Closed

First Baptist Church Franklinton 950 Self Street Franklinton, LA 70438

16

Wednesday Night Supper ~ Chicken Rotel

23

24

19

25

26 7:00 p.m.

Finding Favour Concert

6:00 p.m.

Youth Crawfish Boil

30

18

3:00 p.m.

Good Samaritan

Wednesday Night Supper ~ Pulled Pork

(Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)

31

No Meal Summer Break for WNS 5:00 p.m.

Wings Tea Meeting

www.fbcfranklinton.org

17

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