App: First Baptist Owensboro Facebook: FBC Owensboro Instagram: fbcowb Twitter: @fbcowb 270.683.3505 | fbcowb.org PASTOR, Paul Strahan pstrahan@fbcowb.org ADMINISTRATION and MINISTER TO SENIOR ADULTS Bob Farmer bfarmer@fbcowb.org MINISTER OF DISCIPLESHIP Wesley Dunn wdunn@fbcowb.org MINISTER TO CHILDREN Suzie Horner shorner@fbcowb.org MINISTER TO STUDENTS Will Smith wsmith@fbcowb.org MINISTER OF RECREATION/MISSIONS Nathan Scott nscott@fbcowb.org MINISTER OF MUSIC Derry Billingsley dbillingsley@fbcowb.org PRESCHOOL/WOMEN’S MINISTRY COORDINATOR Cheryl Goss cgoss@fbcowb.org OFFICE MANAGER Judi West jwest@fbcowb.org ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Michele Burton mburton@fbcowb.org Susan Dant sdant@fbcowb.org Maeghan Adams madams@fbcowb.org FINANCIAL SUPERVISOR Barbara Wright bwright@fbcowb.org
01 Connect with Paul 02 God @ Work an interview with Jamie Howard 04 Connect with... Missions/Recreation Senior Adults/Administration Worship Discipleship 08 Freedom in Christ by Woody Maglinger 10 Connect with... Preschool/Children Students 12 FOM (First on Mission) by Tanner Turley 13 Women’s Ministry Connecting Women 14 Press on...by Bo Alexander 15 Connect with One Another 16 Calendar
By the time you receive this copy of “Connect” we will have a full team again. We welcome Derry Billingsley and are excited to have him on board. Derry is familiar with FBC, having served as interim during the period after Grover retired and before Mark was called. I know you will make Derry, Jana, Harrison, and Hayden feel at home and welcome them to our First Baptist family. One of the most helpful things you can do for Derry is for the first three months or so when you see him, tell him your name. Remember he has about six hundred names to remember and you have only one.
What can you and I do about it? We can be a part of praying for spiritual awakening in our church, nation, and personal relationship. Secondly, we can repent and recommit our lives to sharing the Gospel with our neighbors, acquaintances, family, and friends. The Great Commission has not changed: We are to “go into all the world and make disciples”. Will you make a fresh commitment to share the good news of Jesus Christ with people wherever God has placed you?
Two mission trips during the month of July! We have a team going to Seattle, WA and a Senior Adult team going to Medford, MA. I am thankful The Southern Baptist Convention met in June in that First Baptist not only gives and prays for misBaltimore, Maryland. I did not attend this year’s sions but takes literally the Great Commission to meeting but wanted to pass on some information “Go” into all the world! Please begin praying for about our denomination. The following is a report these who we will send to the West Coast and the released prior to the convention. East Coast to share the gospel of Jesus Christ! Also, we will welcome Jeff and Denise Gray The nation's largest back in Owensboro on August 3rd! They will . . . we will welcome Protestant denomination be sharing in both worship services, so be Jeff and Denise Gray saw membership decline praying for them as they will be stateside for back in Owensboro on for the seventh straight two months. August 3rd! They will year in 2013, according be sharing in both to an annual report reWednesday Prayer Meeting Lunch! We conWorship services. leased Wednesday. The tinue to have really good crowds during our report by the Southern lunch meeting on Wednesdays at noon. At Baptist Convention's publishing arm, Lifeway the end of July we will welcome Jonathan Bailes, Christian Resources, puts total membership in the son of Steve and Shannon, who is on staff at New Nashville-based SBC at 15.7 million. That's down Life. He will be sharing with us and we will then from 15.9 million in 2012, a decrease of a little less have the privilege of praying for their ministry! than 1 percent. Weekly church attendance decreased more than 2 percent last year, falling to Thanks for your faithfulness in giving! I want to say 5.8 million as a weekly average for the year. The thanks to our church family for the consistent report also notes a 1.5 percent decrease in the manner in which you provide financial support to number of baptisms, falling to 310,368. Baptisms FBC through your weekly giving. I realize that you are an important measure for the denomination are giving sacrificially and appreciate your sacribecause of its strong commitment to evangelism. fice. God has blessed us in many ways and I am The convention has been concerned about the grateful to him for you! membership and baptism trends for several years. After 2012 saw a drop in baptisms of 5.5 percent, PERA Committee! Continue praying for the PERA a task force was convened to study why. The Committee as they work through the process of group of pastors released their report earlier this bringing plans for renovating the 1920’s building. month and recommendations included This will require a team effort on the part of our praying for a "spiritual awakening in church family. Our number one desire is to please our churches and our nation." the Lord!
Give a description of growing up...What was your childhood like? Growing up was a little different than most people. My biological father left me, my sister, and mother when I was three years old. My mother worked two jobs to support me and my sister during that hardship. My mother remarried when I was nine years old, leading to my adoption by my step-dad at the age of twelve. That was a long process, but I finally had a father figure to look up to. Do you have any memories of attending church as a child? My family is of the Catholic faith. I was baptized as a Catholic when I was an infant, and continued to go to Catholic church in Whitesville throughout my childhood. My mother did not go to church often when I was younger because she worked two jobs and tried to support our family as much as possible. My grandparents would take us with them every so often to the same Catholic church in Whitesville. I continued to go to Catholic church on and off throughout my childhood, never really developing a relationship with Christ. What was your connection to First Baptist Church? How did you get involved? I started attending with the Browning family mid -way through 2012, which later got me involved with playing basketball at the CLC almost daily. Brent Phillips was the interim Youth Pastor at the time, and he got me involved with the youth group and invited me to all the Wednesday night youth gatherings, and also to all the youth group activities even though I was not a member of FBC. How did you come to know Christ? What were the circumstances that contributed to you coming to know Christ? I had always known who Jesus Christ was, but never really developed a relationship with him. As a Catholic I never really felt a relationship with Christ: it was more of a tradition, or religion, rather than a relationship. I broke away from the Catholic faith at the age of thirteen years old. I continued to pray to God although I was not attending any church at the time. I did not know any other prayers besides Catholic
prayers and blessings, so I continued to pray those prayers. I absolutely fell in love with learning about Christ when I started to actually listen to Pastor Paul and Brent preach the Word. I stopped being the guy who was going to church because of a girl, and started to become the guy who was absolutely in awe at what I was learning as a young man. I am the first man in my family to fall this far in love with Christ, the first man to attend another church other than a Catholic church, and the first man to attend church every week.
What has God done in your life since becoming a Christian?
Since becoming a Christian, God has allowed several hardships to come my way, but I feel like they were His way of making sure I stayed close to Him and would continue to place all my trust in Him. At times I wanted to give up. I couldn't find the words to pray many times, but my friends held me up. Tim Bickel, my best friend, showed me this verse one day while talking: “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” —Psalm 34:17. That verse made me realize that I cannot get Will Smith then came to FBC, through any hardship on my and we started to meet at differown. Jesus has to be my rock. ent restaurants around town. He Also since becoming a Christian, would just get to know me and I’ve been to the Act Like Men pray for me and teach me conference in Indy, and the Pasabout Christ. Soon, sion conference in he bought me my Atlanta. I heard I felt convicted, I felt like very first Bible, many great speakJesus was ready for me and taught me ers at both events. how to use it. We to be a new man, my The Act Like Men continued to own man that would conference was meet as often as share His beauty with the my favorite by far, possible, and entire world. because I feel like started going God has called me through a beginto be my own man that will ner’s guide to help me with my share His Word, and embrace His walk with Christ. We had been light. meeting for several months by the time summer camp of 2013 What do you feel God is leading rolled around, and I was maturyou to do in your future and ing deeply in my walk with Christ. when did you decide you wantAt summer camp, I felt convicted to join the armed forces? ed. I felt like Jesus was ready for I am joining the United States me to be a new man, my own Navy in August. I leave for boot man that would share His beauty camp on August 11th. I had alwith the entire world. When we ways wanted to join the armed got back to Owensboro, I shared forces since I was a child. My with the church that I was ready step-dad, who adopted me, to become a member of the was in the Army, and I thought church and to be affiliated with that was the coolest thing in the Jesus Christ in every way possientire world! I loved looking at ble. A few weeks later, Will bapmilitary pictures of him in his unitized me on August 3rd of 2013. I form and would dress up in his was my own man now.
old uniforms. So I grew up thinking I would join the Army, until I reached the point in life where my friends started deciding on college, and if we would do college athletics or not. At this point I also realized the Army was not a good option for me because I did not think it would help once I got out of the military. So I decided on the Navy in October of 2013. In the Navy, my job title is an Operation Specialist. I will be dealing a lot with radars and sonars, and communications. I will willingly defend our country’s flag and support my brothers in the military. The American Flag is a beautiful thing, and I will lay my life down for it and all that defend it if need be. I feel like God wants me to share His Word to several people in the military. I trust God very much in this decision, and I pray every single night that God will lead me to a brother in Christ in the military. How can we as a church be praying for you in the future? As a church, if you all could just pray for my safety and security in the military. Pray that God will lead me to a brother in Christ. Pray that He can just show me the way He wants me to go in my future, and that He will lead me to a church that has a great understanding of Him, no matter where I am. You guys are the greatest congregation, and have supported me through a lot. Thank you and God bless all of you. Interviewed by Will Smith Full video of the interview is available on our website fbcowb.org/godatwork/.
iPlay Soccer Camp Come out and take part in the largest off-campus ministry event of the year. Invite your neighbors to participate. Last year we had 70 kids from our community participate and this year we expect to have over 100. This SERVE Owensboro event is an opportunity for you to build bridges with families in our city. You can be on mission right here in Owensboro, and you do not have to be a soccer expert. Coach Dale Poole, a member of First Baptist, will be the lead instructor, providing training for all volunteers on Sunday, July 6, at 6:00 P.M. We need about 45 volunteers to make this camp run smoothly. This camp also serves as a training ground for our Seattle Mission Team that will be leading a soccer camp for LifePoint Church in Lynnwood, Washington.
Opportunities where You can Serve! Lead Coach | Coaching Assistant | Registration | Snacks Signup on our website: www.fbcowb.org/iPlay or contact Nathan at nscott@fbcowb.org
Seattle Mission Trip July 19-26 Going to assist our church partners at LifePoint Church in Lynnwood, WA Prayer Points Pray for the team as they prepare through the iPlay Soccer Camp and
their team meetings. Team Members: David Moore, Mike Monroe, Christina O’Bryan, Kaylee Whitehead, Isaac O’Bryan, Jacob O’Bryan, and Nathan Scott. Pray for the pastors of LifePoint Lynnwood as they organize the week: Dale Braswell and Greg Fuller. Pray for the families who attend the camp and that relationships will be built with the local church. Pray for the student Bible study that takes place at Greg and Shelly Fuller’s house. Many of the students come from homes of other religions or no religious background. Pray for the other teams partnering in the soccer camp: Bellevue Baptist of Memphis, TN and LifePoint Church of Smyrna, TN.
Vacations with a Purpose Summer is here. Are you getting ready to head somewhere on vacation? How about going on vacation with a purpose? Look for an opportunity for you and your family to serve others on vacation. This could be for a few hours or a whole day. Remember the church gathers each week so that it can scatter and take the Good News to others wherever we go. As we are going we are to make disciples (reference to Matthew 28:19). Contact Nathan if you need some ideas or visit fbcowb.org/vwap.
July 8-10 6:30 – 8:00 P.M. OHS Sports Complex 2875 Bittel Road Boys and Girls completed K-5th Grade
Campers signup at: www.fbcowb.org/iPlay
Prentiss Mississippi Mission Report…
Boston Mission Trip…
hank you for allowing me the opportunity to spend a week at the Sophia Sutton Mission Assembly. The mission, named after my grandmother, continues to serve the very poor black community in Jefferson Davis County. Hurricane Katrina did a tremendous amount of damage to the property and it is evident to this day that some of the buildings on the property are uninhabitable.
We will have 12 adults traveling to Medford, MA to serve during “Serve Medford” week the last week of July. Our group, along with seven other churches, will be working with Redemption Hill Church. Our group will serve at the Senior Center apartments and also help during the Community Fun night on Friday evening of that week. Please pray for us and for the people we encounter to see the love of Christ revealed through the many acts of kindness that will happen throughout the week. Our plan is to share with FBC about our experience some time in August.
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My reflection of the week was one of encouragement. My grandmother’s desire to minister and educate the poor black population is still ongoing after 60 years. Each week there are volunteers who continue to help with the mission and provide services to the community. It was an honor for me to share a devotional each day and to share some small tidbits of information about Sophia Sutton Begley. I was blessed to Sophia Sutton speak to a few people who had known “Ms. Sophia” and to hear how much respect they had for her vision and ministry. Although the property may show its age and damage from the hurricane, the mission continues to serve a population that is in need of the Gospel and continues to help serve a vital need in the community. I returned home blessed that I had the opportunity to serve at the Sophia Sutton Mission and to continue my grandmother’s desire “to multiply the power of the Lord”.
Sabbatical continues… In July, I will be attending the National Association of Church Business Administrators Conference in Orlando, Florida. This year I will be up for recertification as a fellow in Church Business Administration. There are some requirements for recertification so I will be taking a few days prior to the conference for reading to prepare. I look forward to spending time with my colleagues and to share ideas in our area of ministry. This is the major church administration conference for all denominations. Thank you for the opportunity to attend.
Church Directory… Over these past few months we have given you the opportunity to have your picture made for our new church directory. Our desire is to have a “hard” copy available for you at the end of July. We are also working on allowing you to access the directory through our website which will be password driven. Once we have all those details worked out we will let you know when to go to our website and register with a user name and password. Our participation has been very encouraging and we believe this directory will allow you to connect with other members who you may not know. Also, thank you for “humoring” me by having your picture made again since our last directory did not happen.
Senior Adult News… .
No BLT during the month of July July 26-August 2 Boston Mission Trip August 14-15 Mystery Trip August 21 BLT September 18 BLT October 23 BLT October 27-29 State Park Trip Blue Lick State Park December 1-5 New York Trip
Remember the story about the emperor’s new clothes? The ruler valued fashion above all else. The swindlers convinced him they had created the finest material ever made, so fine that only someone truly worthy could even see it. No one, not even the emperor, confessed that they couldn’t see the cloth. The emperor then parades through the streets of town without a stitch on, prompting an honest child to state the truth: “He doesn’t have any clothes on!” The fable speaks to a quality we value but is elusive in our society: sincerity. We want it and want others to have it. However, in many cases, it’s difficult to speak truly about our feelings, thoughts, and desires. Sincere expression carries risks, so we often filter what we honestly think. At the same time, we expect our family, friends, and leaders to be sincere. It is a quality of being natural and simple; open and truthful. God expects our worship of Him to be sincere (See John 4:23). He wants us to keep it real. Sincere worship of God, whether personal or corporate, happens when I daily surrender completely to His will (which is often a challenge to do). It happens when I stay in the moment with Him, not letting my mind wander, but rather letting Him think His John 4:23 thoughts in me. Sincere worship is not dependent on emotion. I believe God is pleased with the person who says, “Father, I don’t really feel like it right now, but You are worthy of worship, and I am going to worship You anyway.” Sincere worship happens when I take a song lyric that I’ve sung 100 times or more and sing it to Him as if it were the first time, singing from my heart, making the words my very own. “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him.”
Personally, I’d rather not be like the emperor, thinking one thing but doing another. God knows best, and He’s looking for “spirit and truth” worshippers. Let’s live it each day!
It’s fascinating how God works out His plan. Jana, the boys, and I are thrilled to be in Owensboro! Jana and I are once again part of the FBCO family and are pleased that Harrison and Hayden get to experience the love and acceptance we know are here. We look forward to living and growing together. Thanks for making us feel so welcome. We appreciate your cards, calls, and online messages. We were overwhelmed (in a good way) the weekend of May 18th. It was fun to both reconnect with folks we already know, and to begin new friendships. We returned to Alabama with hearts filled with gratitude. Thank you, and thanks to God!
A HALF-YEAR RESOLUTION We are officially halfway through the calendar year. How is it going with your 2014 resolution of following a Bible reading plan? Maybe you have gotten really far behind or potentially have given up the plan altogether. Do you have a plan for Bible reading this year? Maybe you don’t even have a plan or have never heard of such a thing. No matter the situation with your current plan or lack thereof, I want to encourage you to READ, READ, READ the Word of God! If you are behind on a plan, don’t be ashamed…get back at it! Resolve to pick up where you left off and continue to dig into His Word! If you don’t have a plan or are looking for a new one, let me encourage you to find or make a plan and pursue it with great intensity! Plans for Bible reading can vary from covering the entire Bible in a year (or two), or just reading the New Testament in a few months, or covering just a section of Scripture (like the four gospels), or maybe just a single book. The options for a plan are numerous, but the importance of having a plan is key. If you are like me, approaching something like Bible reading without a plan usually gives way to inconsistency and eventual abandonment. Let’s have a plan and dig into the great treasure of God’s Word! Isn’t it worth it?
The Psalmist tells us in 19:7-11... “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings from the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” To taste the sweetness of the Word and attain its great reward, we must read it, know it, and apply it! Let’s make this a great “half-year” resolution! Here are a few suggestions for finding a plan: bibleplan.org - This site provides 14 different plans that can be used! blueletterbible.org/dailyreading/ - This site gives six different plans that can be used! Phone apps – There are several different apps that provide daily reading plans. Ask another believer their plan! – This is a great tool to use for discovering a plan. Ask your Sunday School teacher, one of the ministers, or another friend in the faith. This lends itself to potentially getting to read through the Bible together!!!
If you are interested in a hard copy plan, please let me know and I can help you find one!
It was for Freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
September 3, 1783 After more than seven years of war against the world’s preeminent military power, the American colonists are finally free. Imagine for a moment that, instead of celebrating their newfound liberty, citizens of the fledgling United States continued to pay the oppressive taxes decreed by Great Britain’s King George III. A ridiculous scenario, right? Sadly, however, we as Christians can often find ourselves obeying our former masters—rather than enjoying the precious freedom that has been won for us. The apostle Paul warned against this in his letter to the Galatians. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 Many of Paul’s first-century readers had fallen into a trap that can ensnare us even today. It all seems too simple. Surely there must be more than faith required to gain God’s acceptance. While we may not be tempted to observe Jewish ceremonial rituals, we may feel that God will love us more if we just work a little harder for Him. The scripture’s message is clear: Once you have been freed from the Law, do not place yourself back under its heavy yoke. As followers of Christ, we do not work to earn our salvation, but rather we enjoy the privilege of allowing God to use us to accomplish His work. The great paradox of the Christian faith is that to be truly free, we must become slaves to Christ. We relinquish control of our own lives and seek to conform our will to His. “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13
Jesus paid the ultimate price for our freedom, and it is wrong to abuse His grace and use it as a license to sin. He did not die for us to chase selfish desires and fleeting pleasures. In fact, if we take hold of His free gift, thinking solely of our own benefit, we miss the point entirely. God’s plan is for us to give our lives to others, just as His Son did. He ransomed us so that we would build up our fellow believers and share His precious offer of freedom with a world still in the shackles of sin. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 Finally, Paul reminds us who we are in Christ. If we have indeed become new creations, we should live like it! But how can we navigate the narrow path of Christian freedom between the treacherous canyons of Law and license? The answer is that we do not walk alone. The person of the Holy Spirit dwells inside of every believer to teach, guide and empower us to walk in the “Freedom of Christ”. He strengthens us to resist temptation and the lure of the false masters of Law and license. We undoubtedly still sin, but we are no longer slaves to sin. Jesus beckons us: “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30). We are servants of a holy, perfect Master—a King who welcomes us into His family and invites us to approach His throne and share in the glory of His eternal kingdom.
JULY 11TH m a 0 3 : 1 1 0 9:3
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Playtime and snacks at Panther Creek Splash Park! Email CGoss@fbcowb.org for more info.
July 15th 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. no lunch or drink needed
Build-A-Bear Workshop of Evansville
For K-2nd Graders Total cost for both days is $25 per camper
July 29th 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. bring your lunch and drink
Children’s Museum of Evansville
This year we will offer two separate fun days in July instead of two consecutive days. On the 15th we will travel to Build-A-Bear to make an animal at a cost of up to $15. Clothing can be purchased at an additional cost, so please discuss pricing with your child before the trip. We will stop for lunch before returning home. On the 28th your child will need to bring a lunch and drink for our Children’s Museum trip. Registration for both days is due by July 8th. We must fill ten spots to qualify for camp. Adults, please consider signing up to chaperone. We need one adult per five children who register. Register at fbcowb.org/ CheeriosReg and download the necessary notarized FBC Medical Release Form at fbcowb.org/ios.
Well, summer finally made it and we are now about half way through it. After a crazy winter, I didn’t think we would ever get a summer break! Fortunately, school let out and the summer break is in full swing! One of the things I enjoy about the summer is that I get to reflect on the past school year. As I look back I can’t help but be proud of our students, their parents and the volunteers who have served with me this past year. My focus in student ministry has always been about making disciples. This could not happen if we didn’t have volunteers who were willing to invest in the lives of our students. We’ve had wonderful volunteers in Sunday School who have prepared and invested in our students as they have taught through the life of Jesus this year. We've taken nine months to really dig into the details and study the prophecy of these events and how they affect and apply to our lives today. On Wednesday nights, our adult volunteers have been able to involve new students in the student worship band. They have sacrificed their time to involve students in ministry and I appreciate the adult musicians helping to lead and guide the students in what it means to "lead worship". It’s a joy to see students serving in that capacity. Also, on Wednesday nights, we have spent several months working through Galatians where Paul explains the theology of the gospel that the students were working through in Sunday School as they studied the life of Jesus. We've talked about what it means to be missional and the incredible opportunities students have in school to engage in gospel conversations with their friends. We implemented a new small group time on Wednesday nights to break out from the large group worship time and discuss any questions. During this time our volunteers have had the opportunity to get to know their small groups and I’ve seen discussions deepen as they disciple their groups.
On Sunday nights, we had Girl’s and Guy’s Bible studies in the Fall and Spring semesters. I'm so thankful for the adult volunteers who opened their homes every week and provided snacks and studied with these students. We have seen some great relationships built and strengthened through this Bible Study time. Our leaders have prayed for these students and opened their lives because of their love for our students and their desire to make disciples. We've had several fun activities from snow skiing, bowling and laser tag, to literally jumping off the walls at Sky High in Nashville. There have also been service opportunities like our mission trip to Columbus and simply serving food at the Daniel Patino Shelter. These have allowed our students to fellowship and minister together and allow our adult volunteers a chance to interact with our students in a fun atmosphere. I'm proud of our students' willingness to serve. We also couldn't do these activities or service projects without volunteers willing to help drive and chaperone. Thank you! Sometimes we are able to partner with other ministries in our church. I would like to say thank you to Women's Ministry for partnering with us and providing breakfast to our graduating seniors and their families during our fellowship brunch on Senior Recognition day! All that being said, I just want to simply say “Thanks” to those of you who have partnered with me this past year. We have such a diverse group of students and God has gathered a diverse group of volunteers to help our students grow in their faith. For that, I couldn’t be more grateful! Thanks again! It has been a blessing to serve with you! In Christ, Will
sion section of our website Growth: God has continued to grow RHC deeper and wider simultaneously. It’s a thrill to watch our people bring friends and share the gospel. We had a record attendance of 242 EastPartners of Redemption Hill er Sunday. Pray for the many Church: It’s hard to believe we we’ve connected with and eslaunched our weekly services a pecially those wrestling with the little more than three years ago. truth of Christ crucified. Pray We are humbled by the good that God would spark revival work God has done in such a short through his people being contime. We are grateful for the ways sumed with his presence. Pray he is growing our church and for our Sunday worship services stretching our faith. We are eager as we work through James this to continue on the journey he has summer. placed before us. Rejoice with us Local Mission: Our Easter Egg over these highlights, and join us in Hunt outreaches were a great praying for upcoming needs in the success. Hundreds of kids and Tanner & Marsha Turley following areas: parents participated, and we Parker, Kesed & Jordyn Salvation! God is answering have seen a couple of families Our family is doing great. We welprayer in the most significant join us on Sundays! We are posicomed Jordyn Hope into the ways by giving new life to new tioned well for a great summer world on May 10th. She is a joy disciples of Jesus. We have seen of engaging our community and gift of sheer grace from God. three young professional men through displaying and declarParker just graduated from precome to faith in the past few ing the gospel. Soccer Nights school, and Kesed turned three on months. Praise God! We also and Serve Medford promise to May 25th. Please pray for us as we baptized six believers at the end be great weeks of mission. We transition to a family of 5 and as of March. Many more are have another great team from Jordyn battles reflux in these early counting the cost of discipleOpen Door Baptist Church comweeks of her life. You can also ship, so please continue to pray. ing for Soccer Nights and about pray that our family would use the Global Mission: Tanner Turley 140 people from ten teams summer months missionally as eve(Lead Pastor) and Scott Griffin coming for Serve Medford! Pray ryone is out and about in New (Student Ministry Leader) went with us that the Spirit will emEngland. Specifically, pray for Cynon a vision trip to India at the power our witness! thia, Carine, Bobby, Ben, and Stebeginning of March in order to Leadership: Our staff team has ven as we continue to share the further establish our global partcontinued to serve faithfully and gospel with them. nership. Their trip and our recent sacrificially. We’ve been so “Sent” sermon series has been a blessed by our volunteer staff We are excited about the team great catalyst for our church. and those who have raised part coming to serve with us in July! We Many are giving more sacrifi-time or full-time support to are praying for you as you prepare cially (we just collected serve RHC. Equally exciting is to serve with us! $4,820.98 for our Great Commisthe boost our third elder, John sion Offering for the IMB & Reddy, has added to our pastoWe want to send our gratitude for NAMB). Others are praying ral and staff teams. all of the support, prayer, and enabout serving on a short-term couraging notes we have retrip or long-term on the field. Thank you for rejoicceived since we arrived here in Huge! This doesn’t include our ing with us and for Boston!! investments in Toronto with Trini- your constant ty Life Church and Charlestown support of RHC! Also . . .Here is information we sent with Grace Harbor Church. RHC Leadership Team to our supporters that might be Check out the new Serve interesting to you. redemtionhillchurch.com mis-
Liz Curtis Higgs
Angie Smith
November 6 & 7, 2015 | Featuring Liz Curtis Higgs & Angie Smith Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1
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everal years ago God laid Hebrews 12:1 on my heart. He also gave me a dream of gathering women together from our church, Owensboro, and throughout our region to pour Biblical truths into them. I prayed about this dream and finally surrendered to what He had put in front of me. First Baptist Women’s Ministry will host our first women’s conference based on Hebrews 12:1 in November 2015! Our goal is to bring women of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds together to empower them to live out God’s Word in their home, work, church, and community. As women, we deal with many different issues pulling at us from every direction: family, work, addictions, etc. My prayer for this conference is to open the eyes of women by sharing God’s truth and His unfailing love for each of us. We all fall. We all have stories, and we all have one God who loves us regardless of any of this.
professional author and speaker known by her audiences as an encourager. She and her husband Bill Higgs, Ph.D. live in Louisville and are proud parents of two college grads. Angie Smith (Mended, I Will Carry You) is also a professional author and speaker. She and her husband Todd Smith (lead singer of Selah) live in Nashville and have five daughters: Ellie, Abby, Kate, Charlotte, and their sweet Audrey who waits for them in glory.
It is amazing to see God at work as we prepare for this event! He already knows the women that will attend, and I am excited that First Baptist will have the opportunity to see how He moves in them and throughout Owensboro! Although we have many needs for this event, our biggest need right now is prayer. We need all of First Baptist to be on their knees in prayer for our speakers, the women organizing the event, and the women that will attend. Please also be in prayer about your role in the event. Contact me (Cheryl) if you are interested in helping or visit We have asked two great speakers to share at ConnectingConference.com for this event: Liz Curtis Higgs and Angie Smith. Liz more information. Curtis Higgs (Bad Girls of the Bible series), is a
Bo and Summer Alexander
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reetings from the Alexander family in Lafayette, LA. We are enjoying ourselves down here in Cajun country, soaking up the time with Summer’s family. We felt extremely blessed during our first four months of stateside assignment in Owensboro, due in large part to the kindness shown to us by First Baptist. Thank you so much for the time, effort and resources you put into preparing the Mission House for our arrival. It was a perfect temporary dwelling place for our roaming, nomadic family. Thanks for being our church; for the love and support you showed our family over those four months. Many of you had us in your homes and Sunday School classes, allowing us the privilege to share about our life and adventures in Nepal. Thanks for asking us questions and listening to our stories. Thanks for loving on our kids through Awanas, Sunday School and witnessing Sophia’s baptism. Your love meant so much. As we wrap up our time in LA and prepare for what God has in store for us next, we want to leave you with a parting encouragement. Continue to be a church that loves to GO to the nations. Missionaries are so encouraged when teams of laborers are sent out to the front lines to endeavor alongside us in the mission that God has called us to. We were so encouraged by the team that came to Nepal to overhaul The Lazy Gringo and minister to the Kyerung people. Many churches are content to relegate the task to full time workers but you have not taken this passive stance. You have actively participated, shoulder to shoulder, with us, the Wellmans, the Grays, the Witts, the Fullers and the Turleys, making an impact in East Asia, Africa, the Pacific Northwest, New England and Columbus. Your willingness to identify with us, as well as demonstrate Christ’s compassion to our communities, is exemplary.
Sophia, Isabella and Lincoln Continue to be a church that loves to PRAY for the nations. I’m so thankful for many of you who communicated to us about your commitment to pray for us. It is so encouraging to know that we are being lifted up by the prayers of so many faithful saints. It is also encouraging to hear reports from Nathan Scott concerning the progress made on your efforts to adopt an unreached people group. The team Nathan has assembled is exploring the people group adoption process through the IMB’s EMBRACE strategy. Be in prayer for this team as they strive to see the vision of a UPG adoption accomplished. We, as workers sent-out to labor among minority Tibetan Buddhist people groups, see the value of this strategy. For more info on how to pray specifically, go to: www.imb.org/pray. Continue to be a church that loves to GIVE for the nations. First on Mission is a critical offering that impacts not only local and statewide ministry endeavors but reaches to the furthest corners of the globe. Through your giving to First On Mission, the Tibetan refugees of Nepal and the peoples of the Himalayas are hearing about the Good News of Jesus Christ (many of them for the very 1st time). Through your giving, Nepali and Tibetan national Christians are being discipled, equipped and mobilized to go and begin to engage other near-culture people groups. Because you give to First On Mission, Dhundup and Kelsang (Tibetan refugee Pastors) are being trained and developed as church leaders for a young generation of Tibetan Christians. Because you give to First On Mission, ethnic Tibetan women are ministered to and given the opportunity to earn an income for their families through Blessed Hope Bracelet Ministry. The First On Mission offering, 75% of which goes to support overseas missionaries, is transforming lives and communities for God’s glory. Your giving matters! Your giving is producing fruit in the harvest fields of Nepal and the nations.
We are looking forward to seeing you all again soon and updating you on our future plans. Until then…Press On!
Christian love and sympathy to:
the family of Rudy Martin. Jim Stevens and family in the death of his sister, Jane Leek. Maeghan Adams and family in the death of her aunt, Annette Dixon. Dave Roberts and family in the death of his father, William R. Roberts. John London and family in the death of his mother, Margie June Blessinger. Chris and Elizabeth McCool in the death of their son in-law, Jeff Flynn. Lanny Harris in the death of his grandson, Zhauntez Thornton. Anna Miller and family in the death of her husband, Dan Miller Sr. the family of Theo Knootz.
M. Shelley Bartley Transfer of Letter March 23, 2014
Josh and Lindsey (Young) Orem in the birth of a son, Samuel Connor. Grandparents are Michele Burton and Mike Young. Matt and Kristin Curry in the birth of a daughter, Harper Benaugh. Grandparents are Rick and Ginny Curry. Great Grandparents are Mary Maude Atkinson, and Grover and Martha Waller. Zack and Julie Brooks in the birth of a daughter, Kate Cameron. Grandparents are Roger and Melody Brooks. Matt and Natalie Hinton in the birth of a daughter, Addison Denise. Chad and Jessica Hall in the birth of a daughter, Lillie Ann. Eric and Joni Beth Waldroup in the birth of a daughter, Rosalie Grace. Grandparents are Lee and Denny Waldroup. Great Grandparents: Margaret Parks and Myrtle Waldroup. Michael and Mary-Katherine (Weber) Maddox in the birth of a son, Maddox Warhol. Grandparents are Sharon and Jerry Weber. Jennifer & Marty Harris in the birth of a son, Liam Ford. Grandparents are Kay and Myron Harris.
Profession of Faith/Baptism April 27, 2014
Elizabeth Naylor
Beverly Smith and family in the death of her mother, Marcia Powell. Deanna Miller and family in the death of Hal Miller. Mark Emery and family in the death of his mother, Janet Emery. Water McPherson, Avery Wedding and families in the death of Walter McPherson Sr., father and uncle respectively. Steve Marshall and family in the death of his mother, Mary K. Parkhill. Maxine Barker and family in the death of her mother, Ruby Patton. Stephanie Carden and her fiance, William Mitchell in the death of his father, Rick Wayne Mitchell.
Rick & Gayla Hoffman Transfer of Letter April 12, 2014
Letter Transfer | March 23
Ashley Filbeck
Bradley Naylor
Profession of Faith/Baptism April 27, 2014
Karen & Tristen Collier Transfer of Letter May 18, 2014
Abigail Smith
Frances Steed
Profession of Faith/Baptism April 27, 2014
Transfer of Letter May 4, 2014
Sophia Alexander
Olivia Booher
Profession of Faith/Baptism May 25, 2014
Profession of Faith/Baptism June 1, 2014
CLC Hours Monday & Tuesday 6:30 am-9:00 pm Wednesday 6:30 am-4:30 pm Thursday 6:30 am-9:00 pm Friday 6:30 am-1:00 pm Saturday 9:00 am-1:00 pm
8:30 am
Classic Service
9:45 am
Sunday School
11:00 am
Elevate Service
6:00 pm
Evening Service
NO EVENING SERVICE ON SUNDAY, JULY 6
OFFICE HOURS Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-4:30 pm Friday 8:00 am-1:00 pm
Office & CLC
12:00 pm
Prayer Meeting Fellowship Hall No Meals Served in July. For the lunch prayer meeting, please bring a sack lunch or eat before you come. 6:00 pm
Choir Rehearsal
June 29-July 4
Jonathan Creek
4
Office & CLC Closed
8
12:00 pm
8-10
Beach Daze IPlay Soccer Camp
11
9:30 am
Friday Fun Day
15
8:30 am
Camp Cheerios
12:00 pm
Scavenger Hunt
17
9:00 am
Holiday World
18 -26
Seattle Mission Trip
20-22
Camp Entourage
20
7:00 pm
22
12:00 pm
26-August 2 29
Deacons Meeting T.A.G Serve Medford
8:00 am
Camp Cheerios
BRING A SACK LUNCH No Meals Served in July For the Wednesday lunch prayer meeting, please bring a sack lunch or eat before you come.
Missions
Women’s Ministry
Discipleship
Children
Preschool
Youth
5:00 pm Children’s Committee Mtg.
7:00 pm Deacons Mtg.
5:00 pm Parent Mtg. for Entourage Camp
Camp Entourage 12:00 pm T.A.G.
9:30 am Camp Cheerios 12:00 pm Scavenger
Seattle Mission Trip (July 19-26)
9:00 am Holiday World
Serve Medford (July 26-August 2)
12:00 pm Beach Daze
iPlay Soccer Camp
Summer Camp, Jonathan Creek
7:00 am Finance Mtg. 9:30 am Friday Fun Day
AWANA BEGINS Wednesday, August 20
6:00 pm
Sunday School Promotion
2 year olds-5th Grade
August 17
Sunday, August 24 * 4:00-8:00 pm Ben Hawes Park DINNER WILL BE SERVED AT 5:30 P.M. The meat, drinks, and eating utensils will be provided by the church
Family Activities include: ultimate frisbee, corn-hole, horse shoes and volleyball The PAR 3 golf tournament begins at 3:30. Register with Susan in the CLC (683-3505) office by Wednesday, August 20th. $10 per person
If your last name begins with A-I please bring a dessert J-R please bring a vegetable (9 x 13 dish) S-Z please bring a salad
Mission Trip Columbus, Ohio October 9-12 Contact Wesley Dunn for more Information at wdunn@fbcowb.org.