FirstNews
Volume 4 Issue 4
On Sunday, April 13, we’re launching a special survey asking for input on your spiritual life and our church’s role in it. We will email a survey link to everyone for whom we have an email address. For those who don’t have a computer we’ll have some available in the church media center. Our goal is to better understand what the church can do to support your spiritual growth. We’d like to hear from everyone who calls our church their church home. The more input we have, the better our efforts to support your spiritual growth will be. So please…take the survey! The survey is comprehensive and thought provoking. Please set aside 35 - 40 minutes to take it. Think of this time as an investment in your own spiritual life as well as the future of your church. Questions can be directed to Bruce Welch or another staff member.
Pastor Mark Bryant
Ministerial Staff Senior Pastor
Mark Bryant [markbryant@ssfbc.org]
Associate Pastor
Fred Lewis [fredlewis@ssfbc.org]
Worship Pastor
Neal Terwilliger [nealterwilliger@ssfbc.org)
Associate Worship Pastor
Darren Gray [darrengray@ssfbc.org]
Minister of Education
Bruce Welch [brucewelch@ssfbc.org]
Minister of Recreation & Outreach
Mike Armstrong [mikearmstrong@ssfbc.org]
Youth Pastor Heath Anderson [heathanderson@ssfbc.org]
Minister to Children
As I made the drive from Sulphur Springs to Tyler, it seemed, that the landscape had literally come to life from the time I left until the time I arrived back home. Trees that had been budding seemed to burst into bloom. Landscapes that had seemed bare on the trip over, all of a sudden seemed to come alive. If you are wondering what made the difference, it was the heat of the sun. The process of growth and replenishing had been underway since the nights began to warm up several weeks ago but the near 80 degree temperature brought about a change that was obvious, even over a period of just a few hours. Growth is a natural outcome of exposure to the sun. When a plant is rooted, watered and maintained, the outcome when exposed to the sun will inevitably be growth, which in turn will produce fruit. When we are grounded and rooted in the love of Christ (Ephesians 3:14-19) the result of that connection will be authentic spiritual growth. In his letter to the body of Christ in Ephesus, Paul prayed for the believers. He prayed that God would grant them, “according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all fullness”. To say it another way, when we are deeply rooted in Jesus, the evidence of that will be authentic spiritual fruit. When Paul is writing about the hope he has for spiritual growth, he asks God to strengthen us with the power of the Holy Spirit, to root and ground us in the love of Christ, so that we can comprehend the love of Christ according to the riches of God’s glory. When we are rightly related, and deeply rooted in Jesus, there is no limit to the spiritual growth that can take place in our lives. Since the glory of God is limitless, the growth potential is limitless as well. I want to encourage you to exert a great deal of time and energy seeking after the One who will literally transform our lives from the ordinary to the extraordinary. No matter how you may view your limitations, God does not see them. Little becomes much when we place it in the Masters hand because He takes the common and makes it holy; He takes the mundane and makes it majestic. These words, holy and majestic, describe the life that is being transformed by constant exposure to the Son. Jesus can produce the kinds of spiritual fruit that you never even imagined. If you do not believe me, just read verses 20-21. “To Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen! He is talking about people just like you! Blooming for His glory, Pastor Mark
Brit Fisher [britfisher@ssfbc.org]
Director of Preschool & Kindergarten Tracey Cody [traceycody@ssfbc.org]
First Family Camping May 2-5,2013
Business Administrator
Tommy Johnston [tommyjohnston@ssfbc.org]
Director of Technology Scott Singleton [scottsingleton@ssfbc.org] La Primera iglesia Mission Pastor Amadeo Miranda
4 nights of camping available Twin Oaks, Lake Cypress Springs Cost: 50.00 per campsite Sign up online or in the church office
Milwaukee Preview Trip Report April 28 at 7:00 pm Room 107
FirstNews is a monthy publication of
First Baptist Church 116 Oak Avenue Sulphur Springs,Texas 75482 (903) 885-0646 www.ssfbc.org
ROC LOAN BALANCE Total paid - $495,077.54 Total Principal - $410,201.04 Total Interest - $84,876.50 Loan Balance - $1,839,798.96
NICARAGUA NEEDSSewing material & sewing supplies
Save the Date!
Hopkins County Youth Alliance Spring Awakening Wednesday, May 8th 6:30-8:00 PM at Lake Highlands Baptist Church “Let’s Go Pray” Retreat at Lakeview Grades 4 & 5
Support our Hig h School youth choir as they go to Orlando, Florida this summer!
VBS 2013 June 24-28
April 19-20, 2013 Cost: $ 40.00 Sign up and pay online or in the church office
Rise Choir Fundraiser Sunday, April 28 11:00 am- 2:00 pm
3RD ANNUAL LAKEVIEW BAPTIST FISHING TOURNAMENT Lone Star Lake—Lakeview Baptist Assembly May 3-4, 2013 Participants must attend Friday night program
As a parent, if you find yourself threatening, bribing, counting & repeating your instructions, you may want to consider attending. For parents of grade school level and under.
SATURDAY, APRIL 27 8:00 A.M. FELLOWSHIP HALL
Guest Speaker—Robert Burkhart Contact Gary Hancock 439-7033 or Tommy Sanders 485-6801 for details Make room and meal reservations by calling Lakeview 903-656-3871
ADULTS 55+ UPCOMING EVENTS... -Pearly Gates in Mt. Vernon - Saturday, April 20 Cost: $5.00 for gas, bus leaves at 4:00 p.m. Call the church office and sign up. -Diamond Set - Tuesday, April 23 -“Ride the Train” from Dallas to Denton - Thursday, April 25th, 8:00 - 5:30 pm Sign up in the church office $5.00 per person. Luch on your own. -Lakeview Retreat - May 9th, 8:00-3:30 p.m. Sign up in the church office.
SAVE THE DATES! FBC Masters Tournament - May 11th High School “Senior Sunday” - June 2nd
CHICAGO MISSION TRIP May 18-24 Cost: $180
Space available for College aged adults Register and pay deposit in the church office by April 15th
NICARAGUA Fundraiser Meal
Wednesday, April 10th 5:00 pm in Fellowship Hall
Dallas Baptist University musical group “Legacy” will present a concert during our evening worship service on April 28th at 6:00 pm.
If you have completed 4th or 5th grade, then Student Life Camp is the place you want to be this summer! At camp, you will wake up to Morning Celebration, a high energy worship service; get wet with water and adventure games; and most importantly, learn about God and His Word. Student Life Camp is all about establishing a biblical foundation in the lives of kids. Everyday at camp provides tons of ways for the kids to have a blast and take hold of lifechanging biblical truths. Join us as we explore the theme, “Hide & Seek.”
4th & 5th Grade Student Life Camp July 9-12, 2013 Cost: $235.00 ($75 deposit holds your spot) Register and pay online or in the church office
at L a k e v i e w
Middle School and High School Camp June 9-15 Student Life Camp at Estes Park, CO “The Kingdom of God” is a primary focus in the Bible and Jesus' teaching. This summer we will explore the glorious truths and the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Cost: $325.00 $75.00 non-refundable deposit required to register. Register and pay online or in the church office
Grades 1 & 2 August 5 & 6 Cost: $35 Grade 3 August 5, 6 &7 Cost: $60 Sign up & pay online or in the church office.
Address service requested
116 Oak Avenue Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
Non-Profit Organization U.S Postage Paid Permit No. 174 Sulphur Springs, Texas