Inside: God @ Work First on Mission
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
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Connect with Paul
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God @ Work (Serve Your Neighbor)
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Connect with... Missions/Recreation Senior Adults/Administration
MINISTER OF DISCIPLESHIP Wesley Dunn wdunn@fbcowb.org MINISTER TO CHILDREN Suzie Horner shorner@fbcowb.org
Worship Discipleship 8
Mission Fields by N. Scott
MINISTER TO STUDENTS Will Smith wsmith@fbcowb.org
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MINISTER OF RECREATION/MISSIONS N. Scott nscott@fbcowb.org
Connect with... Preschool/Women’s Ministry Children Students
MINISTER OF MUSIC Derry Billingsley dbillingsley@fbcowb.org
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FOM (The Gray Family)
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Give Thanks...by church staff
PRESCHOOL/WOMEN’S MINISTRY COORDINATOR Cheryl Goss cgoss@fbcowb.org
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Connect (Encouraging Letters)
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Calendar of Events
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Connect with One Another
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
God @ Work
Mission Fields
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Page 8
November is here with December just ahead, and now much of our focus is on giving and thanksgiving. It has been said many times that for the follower of Christ our focus should be on that every day. It is always a good practice to count our blessings. So much of the news we hear is not good news, but when we stop and reflect on the goodness of God, we see a much different picture. I can say from personal experience, the blessings of God far outweigh the difficulties in life. What are you most thankful for today? The apostle Paul reminds the church at Thessalonica to “give thanks.” He tells them to give thanks “in all circumstances” for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Here lies the struggle for most of us. One of the most desired goals for believers is to know God’s will. Well, here in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians he tells us plainly that God’s will is that we give thanks in all circumstances! My heart’s desire, and I’m sure it is yours as well, is to be able do just that. Everyone I know experiences hard times. Some have hard months and even years, but there is something about “giving thanks” in all circumstances that make us more like Jesus. Spend some time over the next few weeks in a true spirit of thanksgiving and let’s make it the norm instead of the exception. Connect: For Future Generations I pray the Capital Stewardship Campaign is not new to you and that you are actively praying for God to be glorified through it. Let me challenge all of us to continue praying this prayer: “Lord what do you want to do through me, to carry out Your will for FBC?” The Scott Family! We are grateful for the time we’ve had N. Scott and his family on our staff and in our church family. Their family will be in transition over the next months as they are appointed November 8 as missionaries with the International Mission
Board. We are sad they are leaving, but rejoice with them as they follow God’s will. He has done an incredible job for the Lord and will leave behind a wonderful foundation to build on for future ministry. I know you are praying and will continue to pray for this sweet family as they make the transition. We are planning a reception for them and you will have an opportunity to love on them before they leave. We don’t have the date yet, but will announce that soon! Brother Jerry Tooley Brother Jerry is the Director of Missions for our DaviessMclean Baptist Association, a personal friend, and also a church member here at First Baptist. Jerry has served as our DOM for the last 16 years and has done a wonderful job. He often fills in to preach for me when I am away and is well received by our church family. He is a candidate this year for President of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, which will be held in Elizabethtown on November 10. I believe, if elected, he will represent Kentucky Baptists well. Pray for Jerry and our KBC as we seek to honor the Lord! Evangelism & Missions These are two of the pillars of the Christian faith and the church. FBC Owensboro has a long and storied history of being a “Mission loving, giving, and sending Church.” I am grateful to be associated with a church that understands we have been given a mandate to “go and make disciples!” I applaud the work of missions here at First Baptist Church. As your pastor I want to challenge you to make evangelism a priority as we close out one year and will soon begin a new one. You will be hearing more from me as the New Year approaches. I am convinced and convicted we can reach more with the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Let’s make it count for the Lord!
God @ Work
In October, FBC had a special emphasis for missions in
I recently saw a post on Facebook that is a quote I try to
our community. So often we send people on mission trips
live by. It said, "We will never change the world by just
to other parts of our country and to the nations, partner-
GOING to church. We will only change the world by BE-
ing with missionaries and church planters to serve their
ING the church to others." To me, that embodies the spirit
neighborhoods as a way to "display" the gospel in hopes
of Serve Your Neighbor.
of an opportunity to "declare" the gospel. At a recent mission reporting, this question was posed by one of the team members, "I did basic acts of service for those in that community, but I don't even do those in my own neighborhood. Why can’t I?" This question prompted a promotion of FBC's first "SERVE Your Neighbor" day. Sure,
“I am always blessed by the fellowship among our class when we gather to minister to others.”
we SERVE Owensboro in different outlets here at our facility, but this date was set aside for members of the con-
Through N. Scott, our class learned of a widow who had
gregation to take the day and serve their neighbors in
received help on her home from World Changers earlier
order to "display" the gospel in hopes of having the op-
this summer and was in need of yard maintenance. On
portunity to "declare" the gospel. Below are a few testi-
Saturday, October 10, our class showed up in full force to
monies from the service that happened that day. We
"crash" Ms. Dorothy's yard. She was more than apprecia-
asked these folks three basic questions: What did you
tive. Her porch was cleaned, glider painted, new porch
do? What impact did it have on those you served? What
lights installed, and yard landscaped. The follow-
impact did your involvement have on you?
ing Sunday, one of our members, Linda Knight, offered to bring Ms. Dorothy with her to church and Sunday
Susan Warren:
School. It is our hope that Ms. Dorothy will find a church
The Serve Your Neighbor project came to my mind when
home with us.
I was personally blessed to see Ms. Dorothy at church on
plished that task and a window awning needed a sec-
Sunday. It is only through service to others, such as our
ond coat of paint, so I began applying the coat of paint.
class project, that others will see the love of Christ
Susan Warren had planned the process very well and it
through us. To me, a service project is a way for me to
didn't take anyone much time.
take my "church" to my world. I am always blessed by the fellowship among our class when we gather to minis-
Ms. Dorothy was very pleased with her new porch light,
ter to others. I can speak for all who participated in say-
new shrubs, cleaned porch and freshly painted trim and
ing that we often receive a blessing greater than those
glider swing. She must have gotten invitations to FBC
we minister to. We are on this earth to plant His seeds!
from all of us.
Barbara Reynolds:
Personally, I had a great time. I really enjoy doing that
What a wonderful idea, "SERVE YOUR NEIGHBOR!" I was
sort of thing.
excited about this plan from the beginning and the opportunity it provided to share God’s love through the
Cortney Inklebarger: For Serve Your Neighbor day with FBC, I served alongside
“I couldn’t very easily mow lawns or clean gutters, but I can and do bake chocolate chip cookies…”
others in the Young Adult 3 Sunday School class.
We
made various baked goods, and delivered them to the local fire stations serving our own neighborhoods. It was wonderful seeing how appreciative the firemen were of the gesture, and they stated many times how
city’s first church. It was a blessing to be a small part of
nice it was to hear Thank You. Most of all, I think the fire-
an effort with other FBC members across the city to show
men were thankful for our prayers.
Owensboro that we take seriously Jesus’ command to
asked the firemen for specific ways we could be praying
literally be a neighbor.
for them and took time to pray before we left.
I couldn’t very easily mow lawns or clean gutters, but I
For me, the intentional effort made that day, opened my
can and do bake chocolate chip cookies and “nothing
eyes to the impact small gestures can have on our com-
says loving like something from the oven”, so I donned
munity.
my apron and my SERVE OWENSBORO t-shirt, baked over
more and do even small things for our neighbors. I feel
100 cookies, and “served” seven of my neighbors freshly
we sometimes think service has to be elaborate and per-
baked cookies. I added a note that said, “With love from
fectly planned – it doesn’t! Serving can simply be saying
First Baptist Church and Barbara Reynolds, kitchen man-
thank you - God is glorified in even the most mundane
ager.”
tasks!
They responded very warmly and I was blessed all over! This would be a great ministry to be involved in on a regular basis, say the first Saturday of each month? Wendell Smith: The Explorers Class did a yard crash for Ms. Dorothy. I was scheduled to help plant her new shrubs in pots. I accom-
At each stop, we
I left that day convicted to say “thank you”
High School Boys Basketball Schedule
High School Boys Basketball Schedule All games played at Owensboro Christian Church
See Schedule → Men’s Church League Basketball Team Games played once a week from January - March Contact nscott@fbcowb.org if you are interested in playing.
Congratulations Fall Softball Teams Men’s Team: Tournament Champions Co-ed Team: League Champions & Tournament Runner-Ups
November 5 6:30 pm 7:30 pm
FBC White FBC Blue
JANUARY 16 Beaver Dam fbcowb.org/dr
November 7 10:00 am FBC Blue vs. FBC White November 12 6:30 pm FBC White 7:30 pm FBC Blue November 14 10:00 am FBC Blue 11:00 am FBC White November 21 10:00 am FBC Blue 11:00 am FBC White
First on Missions Offering
Week of Prayer November 29-December 6
On Sunday, October 18, we launched our Capital Cam-
seeking His will. We should not underestimate what God
paign for Phase II. Many of you were in attendance as
can do through our midst.
we updated exactly what the project would entail, the vision and purpose for the project, and how we, as a
Our church has faced many challenges in the past and
community of faith, will pay for the project. What an
has sought the will of God to help us through those chal-
exciting time for our church as we begin this phase of
lenges. We have been able to pay off our debt in the
the project. Our primary goal is to begin asking you to
past two capital campaigns within 4-5 years after incur-
pray for this project and how God can use each one of
ring debt. We also have tremendously gifted and spiritu-
“us” to fulfill His will and purpose.
ally led lay people serving on the Finance Committee, PERA Committee, and Capital Campaign team who
The PERA Committee has been working on this project
believe we can meet the challenges that are before us.
for over 18 months and they continue to pray and seek
So…now the responsibility is back to us; a community of
God’s will and His directive.
The committee is 100%
faith seeking the will of God and being faithful to Him. If
committed to continuing this project and feel the time is
we are faithful to our calling…God will be faithful to us.
right for us to begin Phase II. In May, we had the oppor-
We are counting on you to seek His will and to be faithful
tunity to share with you the scope of the project and to
to Him through this very important time in our church.
allow you some time to process the information you received by providing input sessions.
The input sessions
were both informative and supportive with great suggestions as we proceeded with our work with the architects. The input sessions provided some changes in the schematic plans which were very helpful.
There has been a question asked by some of why we need to do this entire project now. The PERA Committee believes we would save more money in the end by completing the project all at once. Yes, it is a God-sized challenge for us, but God is in control and we believe
LA-55 News General Jackson Christmas Cruise November 30, 2015 Cost $70.00 Game Day January 2016 in the CLC Mystery Lunches will return in 2016
God will bless us if we collaboratively work together,
More information regarding the Capital Campaign on the back of this issue of Connect magazine.
The purpose of Advent is to prepare your heart for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Think of how you prepare your home for guests. It’s happening again! Christmas was supposed to go differently this year. As demands mount each year, time gets away from you, and the spiritual side of the season suffers. So you plan ahead, telling yourself this year will not be the same as last year. You commit to a regular time for Bible study, and look for ways to find and cultivate God’s perspective on the meaning of Christmas. Yet, here you are, right back in the same place. You began your Bible study, but it waned after a few days. How do you keep the holiday pressures and distractions from detracting from the season? Perhaps it is time to clean house. You very likely know that Advent means “coming” and begins four weeks before Christmas. The purpose of Advent is to prepare your heart for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Think of how you prepare your home for guests. It takes a bit of effort for you to get everything ready for company, and it takes some time. Sure, you can wait until the last second to think about getting ready, but you would have a tougher time getting it all done. Thinking on how you get ready to host someone in your home gives insight to how you go about inviting Christ to dwell within your heart during Advent (and in doing so, you will be ready for His second coming). In preparing for house guests, you look at your house, see what needs to be cleaned, and then clean it. Since Jesus wants to live in your heart, Advent is the time to clean it. If your heart is filled with the inability to forgive, it has no room for Christ. Begin Advent by asking God to reveal any part of your heart where you are unable to forgive someone. Remember, as God has forgiven you, you must forgive others. Scour your heart thoroughly, paying particular attention to corners you’ve overlooked and scrub away excuses. Clean your heart by confessing your sin to God, and ask Him for forgiveness. What then? The next step is to reconcile with those you’ve hurt. Also, clear all the cobwebs of all the things God asked you to do, but you have neglected. Confession isn’t easy, but the process makes your heart sparkling clean for God’s presence. Advent is not fast. It is slow. It is a time of waiting. Happy memories and making people happy are not the goal of Advent, or Christmas for that matter. They are the byproducts of when we focus on the object of the celebration: “…with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.” (Joseph Mohr, “Silent Night, Holy Night” (stanza 3))
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ~Matthew 4:4 (Words of Jesus Christ)
Well-known author and professor Donald S. Whitney says this in his famous book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life: No Spiritual Discipline is more important than the intake of God’s Word. Nothing can substitute for it. There simply is no healthy Christian life apart from a diet of the milk and meat of Scripture. The reasons for this are obvious. In the Bible God tells us about Himself, and especially about Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God…We find in Scripture how to live in a way that is pleasing to God as well as best and most fulfilling for ourselves. None of this eternally essential information can be found anywhere else except the Bible. Therefore if we would know God and be Godly, we must know the Word of God– intimately…Regardless of how busy we become with all things Christian, we must remember that the most transforming practice available to us is the disciplined intake of Scripture. Observing the words of Matthew 4 and the encouragement of Dr. Whitney, it is evident that followers of Jesus should be reading…scratch that…NEED to be reading the Bible. We don’t need to read the Bible to earn our salvation, but the grace and mercy of God has freed us to be able to read the Bible and understand it with the help of the Holy Spirit! Even knowing all of this, LifeWay research recently found in a study that less than 20% of churchgoers read their Bible every day. In addition to that, 18% percent said that they rarely/never read their Bible. Wow! That is a pretty staggering statistic in light of what has been said above. This is not a guilt trip on reading your Bible, but an encouragement. It is not that we “have” to read our Bible…it is instead that we “get” to read our Bibles! For all of these reasons, FBC wants to encourage you in Bible reading by providing a plan, starting in January of 2016. Sure, this is when everyone begins to set their resolutions, but what better way to kick off a calendar year than with a resolution to dive into the Word of God! In knowing that most resolutions die off after a few weeks or months, the plan is going to look a little different in that it won’t be a year plan, it will be a quarterly plan. We will start with a plan for the first quarter and seek to accomplish that. Then we will reset our sights on a new plan and goal at the beginning of the second quarter. We will take this approach in hopes of developing the habit as we see a short-term goal that can be accomplished while establishing long-term (eternal) impact! Tune into next month’s Connect Magazine for more details as we approach 2016! Oh, and here is my last encouragement…don’t wait until the new year…start reading now!!!
Material on these two pages are being removed because of sensitive IMB material.
Home of Wanda Anderson First on Mission (FOM) is the Global Mission Offering of First Baptist Owensboro consisting of five major offerings. We encourage our church family to give to FOM any time throughout the year. When you give to FOM, you are supporting mission work from Kentucky to the ends of the world. Our Mission Tea first started out as the Lottie Moon Christmas Tea. This Tea is a
First on Missions Offering 2015 Allocations... 75%
Lottie Moon International Missions
10%
Annie Armstrong North America Missions
time where the ladies of the church gather and collect our offering for foreign missions. As our mode of collecting and sharing our mission money has changed, so did the name of the tea. Our church has been blessed with a very strong First On Missions offering, and we are collecting more money than ever before. Each agency included in the First On Mission offering has received more and the Lottie Moon (Foreign Missions) offering gets 75% of all money collected. The tea is a special time to gather before Christmas and have a time of fellowship to share our offering.
6%
Eliza Broadus Kentucky Missions
5%
Sunrise Children Services
4%
Oneida Baptist Institute
Lottie Moon receives 75% of the Mission Tea Offering because it is the largest area of ministry with the most people in darkness, the world!
FOM Offering 2015 Goal of $215,000 Total as of 10/19 $95,864
Children’s Day Sunday, November 22 11:00 am | CLC On Sunday, November 22 our kindergarten through 5th graders will meet at 11:00 am in the Christian Life Center to Create Memories. We will be making ornaments of the church to remind us of the importance of the building project for future generations. Each child will then put a memory inside the ornament...like a time capsule so-to-speak. Parents, please note Sunday’s schedule:
Commitment Sunday, November 22 9:00 am Breakfast for everyone in the Christian Life Center 9:45 am Sunday School 11:00 am One morning worship service. Children k-5th grade will be in the CLC. If you should have any questions, feel free to contact me at shorner@fbcowb.org. Please make every effort to attend this very important time in our church history.
By: Doug Fields
Youth Guys & their Dads CAMPING TRIP November 13 & 14 On November 13-14 our youth guys and their dads will be
Most of us are sentimental when it comes to Thanksgiving — and its cherished traditions — at least during the weeks leading up to the holiday. The truth is that for many, Thanksgiving boils down to a lot of work! From making travel arrangements, and getting the family packed and ready to go, to planning the dinner menu and shopping, and coordinating who is responsible for what… it’s easy for families to get cranky and frustrated in the run-up to Thanksgiving. Too often, it seems a celebration of giving thanks is the last thing on our minds as T-Day arrives. Don’t forget that if it’s Thanksgiving season, then “Murphy’s Law” is in effect. You can count on something not going as planned. As I’ve heard it said, “Stuffing happens.” It’s no wonder we can so easily ignore the “giving thanks” part of this holiday. So, allow me to simply remind you that there is always at least one good reason to give thanks, whatever your circumstances this Thanksgiving season, and it is this: God is good.
camping and hiking in the Mammoth Cave National Park. This trip is in conjunction with our Sunday Night Bible Study. In this
Here are three of my favorite ways that God displays His goodness: 1) God is good because He gives us free and amazing gifts! Do we deserve God’s kindness, mercy, and forgiveness? No. But God loves us and gives us these three free gifts! This is a reason to be thankful!
study we have been discussing Biblical Manhood and what the Bible has to say about being a man. We also learned particular skills (i.e. knot tying, fire starting, map reading, etc.). During our campout we will have opportunities to put these skills into practice. Cost is $5 per person to help cover the cost of some food. Sign up on the student activities page on our website. I look forward to an awesome weekend!
2) God is good because He loves us unconditionally! His love comes with no strings attached. He loves us not for what we’ve done, but for who we are. This is a core truth about God, and a reason to be thankful! 3) God is good because He offers us life forever. He offers us life to the full–here and now (see John 10:10) and someday, life in heaven. This too is a great reason to be thankful! As parents, we set the pace for our families as to whether or not Thanksgiving Day will only be a day of family, friends, food, football, and fun or whether the bar will be raised to a holiday where giving thanks is at the focus of the celebration, and not only an afterthought. God is always good, so what are you waiting for? Thanksgiving Day? There’s no need to wait. Make November a season for your family to give thanks! Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His faithful love endures forever. –Psalm 106:1 (NLT)
It’s quite overwhelming how the Spirit of God is moving in the hearts of people here and all over the world! Ministry at school as well as ministry outside of the school is going very well. As you might know, Jeff announced his “retirement” from the school last month. Jeff will change roles and provide support and counsel to the school, but not be involved in the day to day operations. Currently, the school is operating on two campuses and building a new campus that will open in January. Busy is the best way to describe the school work. The school has grown to 180 students and we expect to open in January with 220+ students. That’s an amazing testimony of how God is working on the island. In January, Jeff will be more engaged in ministry in the community. Jeff is very excited about this as there are so many good things happening on the island. We are discipling multitudes of people, partnering with churches, baptisms are taking place on a regular basis, churches are forming and lost people are being engaged like never before. Jeff is doing training five nights a week and two mornings a week outside of school. He is also working at the school three days a week. Pray for stamina and equipping! Jeff and Denise are doing a marriage study with three couples on Friday evenings. Pray for the protection and strength of Christian families. Denise is discipling a new believer and co-teaching a T4T ladies group. Pray for this new believer as she struggles with absolute Truth. Pray for more opportunities to share with women and vision casting among believers. One participant is already leading others to faith in Jesus. We started a Sunday night group in our home. We are modeling “Healthy Church.” We have had an average of 20 people in attendance. Pray for God’s processing, guidance, accurate teaching, and modeling of the New Testament church we see in Acts.
Amanda and Chase are pregnant! They are due on April 6, 2016. Pray for Baby Russell and for Amanda and Chase as they begin this new journey as a family. Haley was able to come home for four days for mid-term break. We needed to be together as a family and God provided. Pray for her heart to experience Christ in a rich way. Pray for her discipline as she juggles academics, relationships, and overall health. Vivian is super excited about Sunday night gatherings in our home and also the door-to-door evangelism. We have realized the importance of doing ministry together as a family, pushing our kids outside their comfort zones and allowing them a real-life personal encounter with God. Pray for her heart to always pursue Him. Thank you for praying for our family! We covet your prayers! Please pray about how the Lord would have you give to the First on Mission Offering this year. As we are sure you have heard, our sending organization is asking for voluntary retirements for 600-800 of our co-workers. It’s a tough period for each of us as we consider what God would have us do. We realize that this job of reaching the world with the Gospel should not be dependent on human efforts, but God’s power. We are blessed that He allows us a part in His work! Let us all examine our hearts before Him and obey so that when we meet Him face to face, He will be pleased with our stewardship of time, resources, love, service, attitude, and integrity. As a family, we are excited about coming to the USA for Christmas! We haven’t been home for Christmas in six years! I think it will be great to be cold….at least for a short time. Coffee tastes a lot better when sweat isn’t running down your face while you try to drink it. In His Love, The Gray Family
The Gray’s will be sharing and visiting with us on Sunday, December 13, at both morning services.
I praise God and am thankful for a congregation at FBC that cares for my family as much as, or, honestly, more than they do me. Time and time again, I witness love, compassion, encouragement, support, friendship, and much more extended from people of this church to my wife and children. I see this so vividly in the dear friendships that they have...from the toddlers in the preschool all the way to the senior adults. The Lord blesses me and brings me joy as He uses His people to love on my family! Wesley Dunn, Minister of Discipleship I am thankful for this church. You are a loving church, one in which I am proud to say I belong to. You prove your love on a daily basis in how you treat one another, love for missions, love for the staff, and your love of my family. We are truly blessed to be one of you and to be I praise God and am thankful for our administrative as-
loved by you. For that we are truly thankful.
sistants here at FBC. I am not sure if everyone realizes
Will Smith, Minister to Students
what they do from day to day and how they assist the staff and members of our church. I personally would not
I am thankful for being able to experience the Holy Spir-
be able to do my job here at FBC if it weren’t for each
it working in the lives of children and adults. I get to see
one of them. They keep me on schedule, on task, and
God’s saving grace transpire before my very eyes. How
always do it with a grateful heart! My prayer for them is
awesome is that? I am truly blessed!
that they know their work does not go unnoticed and
Suzie Horner, Minister to Children
they are appreciated and loved by all! Cheryl Goss, Preschool/Women’s Ministry Coordinator
I am thankful for my church family. Kathryn and I have been blessed to have ministered in your midst for the
I praise God and am thankful for the FBC family. You
past 31 years. Our lives have intersected in so many
have given me an opportunity to express my calling not
ways through family outings, weddings, trips, funerals,
once, but twice in my lifetime. You accepted me as a
bible studies, and crisis events.
23-year-old seminarian, fresh out of college, and pro-
Church of Owensboro is our home church and we are
vided love, support, and an opportunity to serve God
honored to serve with you through these years.
and you through music ministry.
love for each one of you is deep and we thank God
Twenty years later,
We feel First Baptist Our
Hayden, Harrison, Jana and I continue to experience
upon every remembrance of you!
God’s love through you. Thank you for being genuine,
Bob Farmer, Administration and Minister to Senior Adults
patient, and for accepting the Billingsley's as we are. It is a joy to serve the First Baptist family, and to serve the
I am thankful for the individuals and families that make
Living God with you!
up FBC. I am thankful God allows people from all walks
Derry Billingsley, Minister of Music
of life, all socio-economic status, and different ideas of how to do ministry to work together for the Kingdom of
I praise God and I am thankful to be a part of a fellow-
God. I am thankful for the staff I have the privilege of
ship that faithfully serves others in our community with
serving alongside. I am thankful to God for the grace
compassion. I challenge you all to continue to fall in
and mercy that is new each morning. I thank God for
love with Jesus by studying His word, so you can love
the security of knowing Him and the challenge of mak-
others even more.
ing Him known to others.
N. Scott, Minister of Recreation/Missions
Paul Strahan, Pastor
LETTERS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
FIRST THINGS FIRST...Since the stage was set on Sunday, October 18, for our CONNECT Campaign, we have been
A word from fellow members regarding the Connect Stewardship Campaign.
made aware of this vision and a call for action. If this campaign is to be in God’s will, then you and I must begin “first things first.” The
Almost thirty years ago, I was
first thing is to pray for God’s
encumbered with a personal
wisdom, His blessings on the campaign, and the church
financial
I
member’s response to it. Then each member should
thought was almost impossi-
discern how he or she is being called to be a part of
ble to accept; young, in debt,
this project.
two small children, living in a
“Lord, what do You want to do through me to fulfill Your
challenge
that
Our “first things first” prayer should be,
doublewide trailer, and hon-
will for First Baptist Church?” The Prayer Team sought
estly failing to give a true
ways to involve every church member in this key as-
tithe. I was part of the build-
pect of the campaign: providing and raising prayer
ing committee for the CLC,
support for our campaign. Some of the ways the pray-
and it was time for me to “step up to the plate”. A
er team has selected to actively involve and encour-
capital fund drive gave me the opportunity and the
age our members to pray include: first, the Forget
challenge to see what I could sacrifice and what God
“Knot” to Pray Reminders of ribbons and strings for
could bless through embracing the program and com-
each member to tie a “knot” each time he prays for
pleting the task at hand.
the campaign, Cell Phone/Computer Stickers, Stoplight Sticky Notes to apply to the dashboard of vehicle to
As a church, we are at the threshold of repeating the
remind members to pray while sitting at a “red” stop-
time-honored tradition of raising funds for renovation
light, our Connect Logo as a “wallpaper” for smart
over and above our regular budget. FBC’s budget is as
phones or computer screens, Prayer Walk through our
close to perfection as we are going to get and it should
old facility, M & M Candy Reminders for middle school/
not suffer as we move on. Now I am retired, on fixed
high school, and last, pray through the pictorial direc-
income, kids are grown, medical bills loom, yet I am ALL
tory. Prayer is absolutely the most important compo-
IN for a capital funds program over and above my
nent of the CONNECT Campaign. What’s stopping you
tithe.
from praying many times a day for our endeavor?
Dr. Donnie Bryant
Dot Kanipe, Campaign Prayer Co-Coordinator
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-3:00 pm CLC CLOSED on November 26 & 27
Sunday Schedule 8:30 am
Classic Service
9:45 am
Sunday School
11:00 am
Elevate Service
6:00 pm
Evening Service November 1
6:00 pm
Wednesday Schedule 12:00 pm
OFFICE HOURS Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-4:30 pm Friday 8:00 am-1:00 pm OFFICE CLOSED on November 26 & 27
Fellowship Hall 4:45 pm
Family Supper
6:00 pm
Orchestra
November 9
Youth, and Adult Bible Studies 7:00 pm
Choir Rehearsal
schedule is the same weekly
Morning Service Broadcast on WKWC (90.3 FM) at 10:00 am and on Channel 72 Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday at 9:00 a.m.
calendar of events.
November 10 12:00 pm 9:30 am November 11 6:00 pm November 13-14 November 15 6:00 pm 7:00 pm
unless otherwise noted in the November 18 November 19 November 22
6:00 pm 9:00 am 9:45 am 11:00 am
Guardian Angel Project (GAP) Trainings November 11 & November 15 6:00 pm in Room 203 Come learn how you can “Serve Your Neighbors”
5:00 pm November 25 November 26 November 26-27 November 29
November 30
Contact nscott@fbcowb.org for more details!
Missions
6:00 pm
W4L, Awana,
BROADCAST INFO
See website, recent news, for a minister on call list.
November 8
Prayer Meeting
The Sunday and Wednesday
Minister on Call 270.683.3505 Press 9
November 4 November 6-7
Youth
Women
See Sunday Schedule End of Daylight Savings BUDGET VOTE (both am) Connect Prayer Walk See Wednesday Schedule Connecting Women Conference See Sunday Schedule Children’s Stewardship Exhibit Early Commitment Banquet Leaving a Legacy Luncheon Jo Nelson Bible Study See Wednesday Schedule Veterans Day GAP Training Youth (Guys Camp-Out) pg. 12 See Sunday Schedule GAP Training Deacons Meeting See Wednesday Schedule Seekers Prayer Group Commitment Day Breakfast for everyone in the CLC Sunday School One morning Worship Service Thanksgiving Dinner in the Fellowship Hall No Wednesday Activities Thanksgiving Office & CLC Closed First Sunday of Advent Week of Prayer begins for (IMB) International Mission Board NO EVENING SERVICE General Jackson Cruise
If more information is available about an event, you will see a page number following the title.
Sr. Adult
Children
Connect
Church wide
Sympathy Christian love and sympathy to: •
If one member suffers, all suffer together; If one member if one suffers, all suffermember together; if one is ishonored, member honored, all rejoice together .
all rejoice 1 Corinthians 12:26 together.
June Graham in the death of her brother, Charles Held on September 20.
•
Nelda and Roger Williams in the death of her nephew, Jason Daniel on September 21.
•
Myron and Kay Harris in the death of his father, William Harris on September 24.
•
Jack Fort in the death of his wife, Lula Fort on September 25.
•
Peggy Wade in the death of her nephew, Robert David Wade on September 25.
•
Jill Dantic in the death of her mother-in-law, Georgia Dantic on October 7.
•
Krysti Estes and family in the death of her mother, Linda Estes on October 9.
•
Suzie and Greg Strahan in the death of her father, Bill Lyons on October 11.
•
Alice and Gene Wermling in the death of her nephew, Joseph David Sumner Jr. on October 11.
•
1 Corinthians 12:26
Bruce and Debbie Hudson and family in the death of his mother, Beverly Hudson on October 13.
•
Larry and Linetta Hester in the death of his mother, Mary Hester on October 20.
Congratulations •
Melody and Roger Brooks in the birth of their granddaughter, Violet Brooks Goad on October 14.
Reports on this page are September 20-October 20
Children’s Stewardship Exhibit Sunday, November 8
Commitment Sunday November 22 We will observe the following schedule: 9:00am Breakfast for everyone in the CLC 9:45am Regularly-scheduled Sunday School 11:00am Combined worship service in the Sanctuary Children kindergarten-5th grade in the Christian Life Center
Early Commitment Dates Monday, November 9 at 6pm Early Commitment Banquet Tuesday, November 10 at 12pm Leaving a Legacy Luncheon Commitment Sunday Sunday, November 22 Celebration Sunday First Fruits Offering Sunday, December 6
November 22 5:00 pm Fellowship Hall
No Reservation Required | Cost is the same as Wednesday Meal