December 2021 / January 2022 | Taylors Family

December 2021 / January 2022

Christmas at Taylors

Childcare is available for ages five and under for The Lamb|The Light, A Tree Lot Christmas, Lessons & Carols, and Christmas Eve.

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A Time of Remembrance Sunday, December 19, 2:00 pm

Join us for a time of scripture, songs, and words of comfort and hope as we remember and give thanks for those we have lost this year. This special service will be a focused time for ministry to these families, offering hope and encouragement for those among us who are grieving. If you would like to include a picture of your loved one for this special service, please email the photo to reneem@taylorsfbc.org by December 6.

Sunday, December 26 One Worship Service at 10:00 am

Nursery and Preschool Life Groups will Meet

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SUNDAYS

taylorsfbc.org/worship/services

WEDNESDAYS

Except December 15, 22, and 29 Family Dinner, 5:15 - 6:15 pm December 1

Ham or Chick-fil-A December 8

Chicken Casserole or Chick-fil-A January 5

Chicken Strips or Chick-fil-A

Traditional Worship: 9:00 am Taylors Worship: 10:30 am

January 12

Breakfast with Bacon/Sausage or Chick-fil-A January 19

Meatloaf or Chick-fil-A January 26

Pork Loin or Chick-fil-A

9:00 am Nursery | Preschool | Elementary Middle and High School | College Adult | Young Professionals

10:30 am Nursery | Preschool | Adult Kids Worship for Elementary (except 1st Sundays)

• Home-Cooked Meal: $7 for Adults / $5 for Children • Chick-fil-A Meals: Price varies • Children five and under eat free • Family Discount - Pay full price for the first 3 meals.

Receive $5 off each of the following meals.

• Sign up at taylorsfbc.org/events or in the Church Center App. Reservations are required by the Tuesday prior and are non-refundable. _____

Parish Nurse Office Open Health Counseling and Blood Pressure Monitoring, 5:30 - 6:30 pm _____

Prayer Rooms Open

STAY CONNECTED What’s Happening at Taylors Subscribe to Taylors FBC Emails Visit taylorsfbc.org and click “Subscribe” near the bottom of the homepage.

Download Our App See page 5.

Connect on Social Media @taylorsfbc | @taylorsstudents @taylorsclg | @taylorsrec @taylorswomen | @taylorschildren

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Prayer Soaking Room: 5:30 - 7:30 pm, Room C117 Come for Personal Prayer: 6:00 - 7:30 pm, Room C121 _____

Pastor's Bible Study December 1 | 6:30 - 7:30 pm | Fellowship Hall _____

WMU Banquet December 8 | 6:30 - 7:30 pm | Fellowship Hall _____

Taylors Children: Nursery and Konnect 6:30 - 7:30 pm | Doors Open at 6:15 pm _____

Taylors Students: Rise for Middle School 6:30 - 7:45 pm | Cafe Opens at 6:15 pm _____

Taylors College: The Gathering 7:30 - 9:00 pm

EVENTS AT TAYLORS

Sign up at taylorsfbc.org/events or in the Church Center App.

Parents' Day Out Saturday, December 11 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Signup Required!

Group Fitness Classes taylorsrec.com

The Christmas Journey XYZ Fellowship December 13 and January 10 | 11:15 am "Xtra Years of Zest" meets monthly for fellowship, entertainment and lunch. The December meeting features Cathy Schwartz, Solo Handbells, with Ham for lunch. Sign up by December 8!

Now through December 31

Pickleball Mondays and Wednesdays | 9:00 - 11:00 am

Taylors on Target December 6 and January 3 | 6:45 pm SharpShooters on Rutherford Road

Church Center App Signups Register for events

Give

Winter Camps Tumble: December 20 12:30 - 3:00 pm | Ages 4-9 | $25 Dance: December 30 1:30 - 4:00 pm | Ages 4-9 | $25

Give tithes and offerings

Calendar See what's happening

Watch & Listen View services and podcast

Resources See the latest News Download the App in the App Store or Google Play

Pickleball Tournament Monday, January 17

Precepts Bible Study January 18 - February 22 | 6:30 – 8:30 pm Find out more or sign up at taylorsrec.com!

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Christmas Party

Christmas Dinner

Wednesday, December 8, at 7:30 pm in the Loft

December 17 | 6:30 pm | Student Worship Room

The Gathering

Menu: Steak, Baked Potato, Salad, Rolls, Dessert Cost: $15. Sign up by December 12

Wednesdays at 7:30 pm in The Loft Except December 15 - January 5

Join us for an evening of fellowship, a delicious meal and special music!

Sunday Lunch January 9 | 11:45 am | Fellowship Hall

Bible Study Sundays at 5:30 pm in The Loft, resumes January 16

Menu: Meatloaf, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans, Rolls, Dessert Cost: $6 Signup Required!

Weekly Rhythms

Cornerstone Events

Remedy: Sundays 6:15 pm for High School

Spring Event — March 11-13

Except December 8 - January 2

Rise: Wednesdays at 6:30 pm for Middle School

Signups Open January 9!

FUGE 2022 — July 18-23 Union University in Jackson, TN Cost: $379 | $100 non-refundable deposit

Christmas Party for Middle and High School Wednesday, December 8 6:15 pm Come in your ugliest, fluffiest, itchiest Christmas sweater!

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Sign up on the Church Center App or at taylorsfbc.org/ events

At Taylors FBC our goal is to make disciples who make disciples. We define a disciple as someone who has been changed by Jesus, walks with Jesus, and is sent by Jesus.

One of the tools that we have recently introduced into our ministries for the purpose of making disciples, is E3. Developed by our Equip Team, E3 provides a simple method for engaging the truth of God’s Word personally or with a group. Our expectant hope has been that as people engage with the Word of God, they would be transformed into the image of Christ Jesus!

Here are a few testimonies of how God is working: Our Life Group has been using E3 for the past month. One of the first changes we have noticed in our class is the change from “teacher-led” Bible study to “teacher-facilitated” Bible study. Several in our class are coming prepared with notes or resources and are more consistently sharing in class. Many of the couples are sharing the discussions they have at home with each other. We have been communicating throughout the week amongst our members posing questions and encouragement relating to our passage of scripture through email and text.

Personally, I have found myself reading and studying more than before. By concentrating on a short passage and reading it multiple times throughout 2 to 3 weeks, I find myself thinking about it throughout my day, almost echoing in my head. This leads to questions as I hear the text which has led me to “dig” back in throughout my day rather than just at scheduled “Quiet Times.”

The best way I can describe E3 to this point is in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

— Life Group Leader Taylors College Ministry has been using the E3 method to study God’s Word together on Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings. If I could put it plain, our Bible study is no longer a “sit and get” style but now “gather and grow.” Seeing this transition in learning is encouraging and profitable to our student's faith.

— Alex Smith, Minister of College and Recreation Outreach

The E3 method of Bible study is designed to equip every church member, every believer, to dive deep into God’s Word and find it’s great treasures for our Life!

— Josh Powell, Lead Pastor We encourage you to join us in one of our groups using E3 and engage the Word of God in a whole new way! Here a few opportunities coming up: Life Groups, Taylors Women, Taylors College, and Taylors Students.

Learn more about E3 at taylorsfbc.org/e3 or contact Beth Caskey at bethc@taylorsfbc.org.

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Trip Signup Deadline: January 15 Sign up in the Church Center App or taylorsfbc.org/events

Mandatory Trip Orientation: January 23

TRIPS TO OUR NATION

TRIPS TO ALL NATIONS

North Carolina

Fortaleza, Brazil

Summer Minister to the Bhutanese/Nepali Peoples Team Size: 16 with Refuge Sports Cost: $700 $350 with REACH scholarship

May 8 – 17 Work with the Bayne Family / Sport Tournaments Team Size: 8 Cost: $2000 $1000 with REACH scholarship

Eagle River, Alaska

London & Wales

June 11-19 Park Ministry with Fireweed Ministry Team Size: 15 Cost: $1900 $950 with REACH scholarship

June Community Outreach with Local Church Planters Team Size: 10 Cost: $2200 $1100 with REACH scholarship

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Prague, Czechia

July 9-17 VBS Ministry Team Size: 10 Cost: $2100 $1050 with REACH scholarship

September 19-28 English Club Ministry Team Size: 10 Cost: $2300 $1150 with REACH scholarship

Boston, Massachusetts

Athens, Greece

September 22-26 Community Events with Encounter Church Team Size: 10 Cost: $1350 $675 with REACH scholarship

Dates TBD Community Center Outreach Team Size: 8 Cost: $3000 $1500 with REACH scholarship

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Regeneration Student Choir and Taylors Students June 18 - 25 Servant Evangelism Team Size: 100 Cost: $450 $225 with REACH scholarship Parent / Student BEACH REACH Interest Meeting January 9 | 5:00 – 6:00 pm | Fellowship Hall Join us to learn all about the 2022 Taylors Student Ministry and Regeneration Student Choir REACH trip to Myrtle Beach, SC! Choir and non-choir students are encouraged to attend.

Registration will be open January 9 - 23 with limited spots.

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REACH PARTNER: PRAGUE Adam, Amy, Eden (11), Bennett (9), and Owen (7) have been serving in Prague since 2015.

2021 has been a year where we have been re-learning ministry in the “post pandemic” rhythms of life. During the winter and spring, we held many ministry opportunities in hybrid format (planned for in person, but often moved online when the current laws required.) During the summer we held our typical evangelistic English camp, but we seriously considered canceling it up until the last minute. There were modifications for COVID laws and lower attendance (about 45 attendees). But, after it was over, we were grateful to have quality conversations and clear gospel conversations with about 20 unbelievers.

This fall we have launched all our activities in person! That means our every-other-month worship service and small groups have regained their consistency. We’ve also been holding our evangelistic English club as well as meetings where they can directly explore faith as a follow up. On the more discouraging side of things, it is clear that both believers and unbelievers have been reluctant to rejoin activities. Our attendance at almost all things seems to be down. However, on the more encouraging side of things, those that come seem to be more ready to discuss heart level topics.

This year, all of our local Christians grew closer and became a team. Throughout the winter and spring there were constant hurdles to meet in person, so we had to produce online content to replace many events. This forced us all to pitch in for the brainstorming and production phase of each item. Somehow this brought us together in unexpected ways. Then, in May, we added two young relational catalysts to our group.

Our biggest highlight of the year is that we have two new Czech interns working with the church plant. They are a newly married couple who are also students at the local Evangelical Theological Seminary. From May 2021 to May 2022 they are coming alongside us to learn what church planting is like. They are very teachable and have really changed our small church (13 regular attenders). Our group has never been closer and it is because of how we faced the pandemic together and that we added two people who love Jesus, are skilled in hospitality and are not afraid to lead whenever asked. Berenika leads our worship music and Ondra often preaches. These were huge needs in our group, but it has been such a joy to see how people respond to Czechs leading among us. Please pray for them and their future. God will use them wherever they end up, but we would love to see them continue with us here in Bohnice after graduating.

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EVERYONE IS INVITED! WMU BANQUET Wednesday, December 8 Dinner Served, 5:15 pm | Program, 6:30 pm

SUNDAY

February 6, 2022 Guest: Bryant Wright President of Send Relief

Learn how IMB personnel are sharing the gospel with not just Czechs in Prague but also internationals, refugees, homeless people, trafficking victims, and minority populations.

Taylors College ministry had an exciting end to the Fall semester! In November we hosted our Big Table event. Over 50 college students joined us throughout the semester and celebrated the ending of the fall semester with BBQ, pickleball, and great fellowship. Please be in prayer for students as some graduate, some prepare for the next semester, and some are even getting married!

We are blessed by the students and excited to see what the Lord is going to do in their lives.

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Have you ever thought back to a moment in time and realized that God was working on something even when you didn’t see it at the time? Personally, the Fall Retreat that our student ministry experienced this November was a full circle moment just like that for me.

Back in 2019 God clearly called me away from my role at the time and to my current assignment here serving our students at Taylors FBC. I will never forget sitting at dinner with the search team and Personnel Committee prior to God calling me to Taylors and fielding questions about my philosophy of ministry and what student ministry might look like at Taylors. I don’t remember every question asked of me or every question I asked the team, but I do remember one statement as clear as day, “Josh, I believe what our students need more than anything is unity.” I came to Taylors FBC knowing that this body of believers had experienced significant trauma over the last few years and that had not only affected the families, but it had impacted the students.

So, as I walked into this new assignment God had given me, my goal was to simply get to know our Taylors church family, specifically our students. To shepherd the sheep entrusted to me by God, it is critical to know them, see where they are, and identify what they need to grow into healthy followers of Jesus. What I found was a number of teenagers all gathered in one place that seemed to possess very little passion or bond with one another. I remember being asked quite often my first few months here, “how is it going with the students, or how are things going down there?” That was a hard question to answer out loud because it didn’t feel like it was going very well at all. Honestly, where I was led in Scripture and what I was identifying with was Ezekiel 37; being led by the Spirit into the midst of a great number of dry bones. In that passage, God says to Ezekiel, “can these bones live?” I believe God was asking me the very same thing. Josh, can spiritual life sweep through these students? Do you believe that these dry bones can come together and become healthy believers to make up a spiritually thriving body of students?

Over the last year I have been watching God move in individual students and seeing His hand at work amongst our student ministry to begin to bring our students together. God impressed upon me and our leadership team that the time for an intensive weekend on unity was upon us. The theme for Fall Retreat became ONE; which emphasized unity in Christ together based upon Ephesians 4:1-6.

I’m here to tell you that what I witnessed at Fall Retreat this year was a movement of the Holy Spirit. I watched as students connected with others they had never interacted with before. I saw students pray for one another, worship alongside each other with abandon, weep with one another, and commit to walking with the Lord Jesus together.

One of the greatest joys for me is that I have seen a drastic difference in our weekly rhythms since coming back from Fall Retreat. What God did in the life of our students and leaders at Fall Retreat wasn’t just a weekend event that stayed in the mountains, but it has come alive inside the walls of Taylors Student Ministry!

The words spoken over two and a half years ago to me about what our students needed have become reality.

I’m forever grateful for James Cartner, the member of the Personnel Committee that helped lead the search that brought me to Taylors FBC, and his word of discerning truth that night. I know James is worshipping at the throne of Jesus right now in glory, and I can’t help but picture that big smile full of joy on his face if he could see all God has done in the lives of our students. I’m confident that he would be celebrating right alongside of us in this moment.

What started as a bunch of teenagers that all just came to the same church has become a student ministry united by the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). It is by this unity that I believe God is going to do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine in this generation of teenagers! — Josh Duncan, Minister of Students Hear from our students and leaders who went on Fall Retreat over the next couple pages...

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Fall Retreat was a weekend that I think this whole youth group has been waiting on for a while because worshipping God together was unbelievable. When you raise your hands embracing God and thinking about him with every word of the song, and then you look around and see everyone else with their hands up worshiping the same God as you, the same God that made the earth and everything around us, it’s incredible. I’m so glad that our youth group got to experience unity this weekend. It really was a beautiful thing. — Parker Sullivan, 10th Grade

Saying my first Fall Retreat was life changing would not over-exaggerate my experience at all. I feel like I’ve grown so much closer to God this weekend.

— Carter Norman, 10th Grade

Our team went into Fall Retreat with expectancy and hearts eager to see what God was going to do. Having been in this position for almost five years, I was beginning to see a movement among our students that really started this past summer at FUGE so I knew with confidence that He was going to continue that work at Asbury Hills. Even with this in mind, the Lord blew me away with how He spoke, opened doors and broke down walls in the lives of all our students. Saturday night, I stood in awe of His mighty work as students were openly praying together, worshipping together, and allowing themselves to truly be unified with Christ and with each other. I get chills thinking about the weekend and I believe that it is the start of something even greater. I’m humbled that God is allowing me to be a small part of and to have a front row seat to what He’s doing in Taylors Student Ministry. ­­— Amanda McKenna, Taylors Students Assistant 12 | TAYLORSFBC.ORG

Seeing how much we have grown in our faith and as people individually; a unified group who truly loves the Lord and loves each other with vulnerability and encouragement, and trusting in God’s plan for our future, is a testimony of God’s goodness and for that I am thankful. ­— Sarah Catherine Sullivan, 12th Grade

Watching students raise their hands with no fear of what others would think, watching our students get wrecked by the Holy Spirit and God’s goodness, and watching our students give their all to the Lord was such a beautiful picture of what Heaven is going to be like. It could not have been any sweeter. I pray that what happened at Fall Retreat was true life transformation. God is so good, and I am excited for the future of Taylors Student Ministry. To God be the glory! — Cameron Burroughs, tsm Worship Leader

I experienced God in ways I had never seen Him work before at Fall Retreat. Through the message's impact, as well as the praise and prayer it didn't take long to recognize that God was working in the lives of everyone in the room. As Ethan spoke about how important it is to walk in a way that is "worthy of Jesus" by being humble before God, patient with both non-believers and believers, and forgiving others, what stuck out to me was when he said, “nothing is unforgivable.” He emphasized that Jesus paid the ultimate price for us by dying and rising from the dead, destroying sin, so that we could have eternal life. Our youth group was truly affected by the Fall Retreat. — Jackson Buck,10th Grade

tsm Fall Retreat 2021 was unlike any retreat I attended as a student. Leading a group provided more healing and encouragement to my walk with Christ than I could have imagined. It is truly a glimpse of Heaven when I look out and see over 100 students ages 11-18 worshiping Jesus in total surrender, with no fear of man, only reverence to their Lord and Savior. It does not get much better than that on this side of eternity and for that I am grateful to have had the opportunity of having a front row seat to the Holy Spirit’s radical revealing our Father to these students.

— Luke Hall, tsm 2020 Graduate and Fall Retreat Leader

Fall Retreat 2021 was amazing! It is always encouraging to see how God works in the students' hearts over the span of one weekend, and this year did not disappoint. This Fall Retreat, the theme was one (unity). We didn’t just talk about it, but I also saw the students putting it into action.

High schoolers were hanging out with middle schoolers, and boys were hanging out with girls (in groups of course, don’t worry parents). A couple of years ago, this would not have been the case; ninth grade girls would have only hung out with ninth grade girls and sixth grade boys would have only hung out with sixth grade boys. This year, there has been a huge shift, believers hanging out with other believers, no matter the gender or grade. It has been amazing to watch the students interacting with other students they wouldn’t normally have interacted with. This is obviously an answered prayer since Josh felt like this needed to be the theme for our weekend.

Jesus is powerful and he can do things that are out of the norm or things we wouldn’t think might be possible.

He wants believers to fellowship with other believers and be intentional with people who are not like us. We can all do better at this, but our students are setting a great example. — Kelley Williams, Small Group Leader TAYLORSFBC.ORG | 13

Love Taylors is what we do at Taylors FBC for our community – we serve our neighbors, build on-going relationships, and share the love of Jesus.

SERVING AT CHRISTMAS

Thank you to those who are sharing Christ’s love this year by serving those families in need in our community. You’ve given of your time and financial resources to provide Christmas gifts to children from Brook Glenn Elementary, to serve and give to the Community Mission Baptist Christmas Store so parents and grandparents can afford gifts for their children, and to ring the Salvation Army bell to provide food, clothing, and other kinds of help to those in need. We are so thankful for the generous giving or our Taylors family!

Love Taylors Ministry Partner

SALVATION ARMY

Taylors First Baptist Church is the only one in Greenville to ring the bell six days a week. We thank each of you for giving your time to serve a two hour shift, and many of you serve multiple shifts. You multiply the work of the Salvation Army in the Greenville area, as all money received is used to help those who need help at Christmas and at other times. You have reported conversations with those giving, who have been helped by the Salvation Army. We have 109 time shifts and over 70% are filled as of this date. We are excited that more young families are signing up, our 20th consecutive year. Thank you!

Bonnie Powell Serving as a Bell Ringer

Love Taylors Ministry Partner

GREER CHRISTIAN LEARNING CENTER

In cooperation with schools and in partnership with parents and churches, the Greer Christian Learning Center will provide students in public schools an opportunity to embrace the Gospel, to grow in Christian maturity, and to apply Biblical principles to their lives, families, and communities.

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Love Taylors Ministry Partner

PIEDMONT WOMEN’S CENTER

Piedmont Women’s Center exists to educate, equip, and empower the Upstate of South Carolina to choose life and to change lives “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they are all written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” Psalm 139: 13-16 Taylors First Baptist is a beacon for sharing the gospel with the upstate of South Carolina and for doing missions locally and around the world. One of these ministries is the Piedmont Women’s Center, right here in the Upstate. We have a location in Greer and one in Greenville, SC. PWC has celebrated 30 years of ministry in this year of 2021. Their vision is to “be the first and best choice for anyone impacted by an unexpected pregnancy or previous abortion, by providing a pathway of hope through Christ” and “our mission as a faith-based non-profit.”

I have been personally involved with Piedmont Women’s Center for about 10 years and love to share Christ with others. Eternity is a LONG time and we want people to get it right. PWC helps women to come to know Jesus personally and also to choose life and to cherish children. Life is a gift from God! You are alive right now and precious to the Lord. No one is just like you. I have always been pro-life as I love people, and children are awesome!

My 4 sons are such an answer to prayer and are gifts from God. Thirteen plus years ago our 3rd born son, Jordan Paul Robinson, died from cancer. He had been a NGU student and was on the basketball team. One of the reasons I began serving at the Piedmont Women’s Center is from something Jordan said to me during one of the most difficult afternoons of his journey with cancer. On the way home from a consult appointment, Jordan cried out from the backseat of our car in deep sorrow and grief, “Mom, PLEASE help me!” My mother’s heart was broken from trying so many avenues to help him beat cancer. As he cried and grieved, he then stopped and almost with joy in his voice said, “You know, maybe one of the reasons I got cancer is to see what’s most important in life and what does God want for my life-it’s not all about basketball and games but about what He wants.” As the cancer progressed, Jordan would say, “If I’m not going to be healed from cancer, I want to go home and live with Jesus.” About 6 weeks later our 20-year old took his flight home to live with Jesus. His testimony spurs me on to help others enjoy life and come to Jesus. While a volunteer at the PWC and now as a staff member for many years, Jordan’s story has helped several clients to choose life for their unborn baby because if she could hear her unborn child it may say, “Mom PLEASE help me!”

As we celebrate Sanctity of Life Sunday in January of 2022, we can remember that it will be 49 years since Roe vs Wade made abortion legalized in our nation where we have lost approximately 62 million babies as of 2020. The Piedmont Women’s Center would so appreciate your prayers and support as we try to offer hope and life as we share the gospel, give out Bibles and tracts, give ultrasounds, give child loss support from miscarriage or abortion, give parenting classes which help to educate, equip, and empower women and men to be great parents. We also share The Bridge Program which is an 8 week Bible study for new believers.

— Jennifer Robinson, Taylors FBC member and Piedmont Women’s Center volunteer

Find out about volunteer opportunities and more about Piedmont Women’s Center by visiting piedmontwomenscenter.org/volunteer.

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OUR CHURCH FAMILY

Celebrate baptisms, new members, anniversaries and more.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

BAPTISMS

We welcome to the Body of Christ, through believer's baptism: Will Howell

IN MEMORIAM

John and Donna Keverline Joined November 7

by Letter

Joe Hrenak November 2, 1943 - November 11, 2021

Faith Ensley

Joined November 14

by Letter

Frances Mauldin Smith May 27, 1928 - November 13, 2021 Joseph Hooker December 11, 1936 - November 22, 2021

Martha Glenn

Joined November 14

by Letter

Matt and Britney Moore Houston Moore Joined November 14

by Letter Also Pictured: Henry Moore

Joined November 14 Pending Baptism

Joined November 21 by Letter 16 | TAYLORSFBC.ORG

October Month to Date Budget Receipts $425,830 Actual Receipts $409,535 Actual Spent $419,762

Year to Date Budget Receipts $4,258,299 Actual Receipts $3,781,755 Actual Spent $4,065,731

Rob Dandridge

Joined November 21

by Statement

SUNDAY STATISTICS

PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE

Charlie & Patti Snodgrass Ellyssa

STEWARDSHIP

Bryson Keefe

Wes & Tania Henderson Micaiah and Silas Joined November 21 by Statement

11/7 11/14 11/21 11/28 Nursery...........................31........35.......... 33........... 36 Preschool.......................51........58.......... 49........... 43 Elementary.....................56........79.......... 58........... 63 Students.......................133......100.......... 89........... 89 College...........................48........30.......... 22........... 15 Adults...........................564......577........ 527......... 521 Life Group Total...........992......979........ 877......... 856 Morning Worship......1,147...1,173..... 1,144...... 1,123

PARISH NURSE MINISTRY

Thank you Rosemary Holt for serving 25 years as our Parish Nurse Team Coordinator!

In the spring of 1996, Rosemary Holt began praying for the Lord to show her a way to further use her nursing skills in ministry for Him. Not long after that, an article appeared in the Baptist Courier about a new congregational health ministry that had begun at a local church. Rosemary met with Pastor Ernest Carswell and together they took steps moving forward to prepare, train and begin the Taylors FBC Parish Nurse Ministry.

Rosemary has expressed, “Over the years it has been my joy and privilege to serve as Taylors Parish Nurse and to coordinate a team of wonderful, caring professional nurses in our church.” This ministry team has included health education, health counseling, referral and advocacy, community outreach, an on-site Emergency Medical Response Team and sometimes just a listening ear.

Rosemary, we are very thankful for your heart of caring for others in our church family, and we give glory to God for how He has used you over the years to minister in His name.

We are delighted to welcome Kim Hall, RN, MSN, as she steps into this important role beginning January 2022.

PACK A SHOEBOX!

THANK YOU FOR DONATING NEARLY 500 SHOEBOXES Subheadline text here

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samaritanspurse.org/occ VIEW SOLICITATION DISCLOSURE INFORMATION FOR SAMARITAN’S PURSE ONLINE AT SAMARITANSPURSE.ORG/DISCLOSURE.

STAFF ANNIVERSARIES

LOST AND FOUND

DECEMBER Hilda Fazio — Fourteen Years of Service Larry Atkins — Three Years of Service Joseph Eskridge — Three Years of Service Candace McGuinness — One Year of Service

Please check the Lost and Found in the Guest Services Hub. There are Bibles, keys, jackets, travel cups, bags, and more. Items remaining will be donated at the end of 2021.

JANUARY Delores Stansell — Twenty-one Years of Service Randall Eskew — Seventeen Years of Service Kathy Tankersley — Seventeen Years of Service Jerry Long — Three Years of Service Susan Eskew — Five Years of Service Haley Dean — Three Years of Service Margret Bowen — One Year of Service Josh Powell — One Year of Service

PART-TIME POSITION OPEN • • • •

Taylors FBC Maintenance Team 24-28 hours per week Maintenance history preferred Sunday afternoons required

Email Kevin Donahoo, Superintendent of Building and Grounds, at kevind@taylorsfbc.org to request application and submit resume.

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CONNECTING NEW MEMBERS AND MAKING DISCIPLES What an exciting year we’ve had in 2021 as we welcomed 365 first time guests and 153 new members into our body at Taylors FBC! It is our desire to see all who choose to join our body become fully engaged members whose lives are being transformed to reflect the glory of God. Here is what we suggest:

Attend Lunch with the Staff

Attend Starting Point

January 16 at 12:00 pm Sign up in the Church Center App or at taylorsfbc.org/events.

Our class for guests and new members is on Sundays at 9:00 am beginning January 23 through February 13. Sign up in the Church Center App or at taylorsfbc.org/events.

Join a Life Group Visit taylorsfbc.org/life-groups

Use Your Gifts to Serve Visit taylorsfbc.org/serve

New member, Rebekah Loftis describes her experience in becoming part of our church body: Mike and I visited several churches before coming to Taylors FBC (we moved here from Rock Hill SC the end of June).

When we first visited we were warmly welcomed by all. We loved how the choir and congregation were all engaged in worship, and then to hear the Pastor preach the word of God in truth, pointing us all to the gospel, the good news of Christ death, burial and resurrection study (he was just starting the awesome series of sermons on the full armor of God from Ephesians 6); we knew we found what we had been missing. After service we were invited to visit a Life Group in the evening, and we loved how all in the class were excited about studying the scriptures to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord. We were then invited to join the Staff for lunch. It was a great way to meet everyone and find out more about the ministries of Taylors FBC. After praying about it, and believing God led us here, we decided to attend the Starting Point class for new members or those interested in finding out more about Taylors FBC before joining. The class was more informative about the church and the mission of the church. Attending the classes provided more confirmation that this was the church family God was leading us to join. We appreciated the time spent getting to know other new people attending and where they were on their journey, also seeking more info on the church and what they believe.

To see the importance placed on discipleship and missions was a great encouragement as well. Ensuring that all new members find their place of service, as we looked at our Spiritual gifts, and then encouraging us to get involved to help equip the church was helpful too. We quickly joined the choir since we both love to sing, and we count it a privilege and honor to help lead our brothers and sisters in worship. May we always seek to worship our Lord in Spirit and Truth. To God be the glory great things He has done, is doing and will do.

It has been a wonderful encounter with the living God through His Word, worship, and welcome of his people. We are excited to be part of a church following Him into an unknown future. Our hope and future are in Christ alone.

Mike and Rebekah Loftis 18 | TAYLORSFBC.ORG

NOW IS THE TIME TO SET GOALS AND RESOLUTIONS TO LIVE HEALTHIER! Did you know there is a Rec Center right here in the church that can help you accomplish these goals?

Taylors Rec Center provides a quality, Christ-centered, recreational environment and activities for people of all ages. Check out some of our options shown below and visit taylorsrec.com to learn more about membership options and all we have to offer.

CARDIO WEIGHT ROOM

INDOOR WALKING TRACK

FITNESS CLASSES INCLUDING YOGA

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday: 6:00 am - 9:00 pm Wednesday: 6:00 am - 5:00 pm Friday: 6:00 am - 7:00 pm Saturday: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

GYMNASIUM WITH TWO COURTS

Taylors Rec upcoming events are listed on page 5!

TAYLORSFBC.ORG | 19

Women in the Word | Ephesians Coming this Winter – E3 continues as we dig into the book of Ephesians!

We invite you to grow deeper in understanding of how to study God’s Word.

WOMEN IN THE WORD: A STUDY OF EPHESIANS

On-Campus: Coming this Winter – E3 Continues as we dig into the book of Tuesday, January 4, 6:30 pm Ephesians! Join our women as we continue to grow deeper in Wednesday, January 5, 9:00 am our understanding of how to study God’s Word.

On-Campus: Tuesday, January 4, 6:30 pm Wednesday, January 5, 9:00 am

Online: Online: Tuesday, January 11, 7:00 pm

Tuesday, January 11, 7:00 pm Registration is now open on the Church Center App or at taylorsfbc.org/events

Childcare is available for on-campus classes.

Childcareand is available for on-campus classes.

Registration is required for classes childcare in the Registration is required for Church Center App or at taylorsfbc.org/events. classes and childcare.

GOING DEEPER INTO THE WORD THROUGH E3

This year at Taylors FBC has been a journey of excitement and joy. It has been a year where our fellowship has delved into God’s Word on a new level weekly in Sunday worship services, Life Group studies, Tuesday evenings & Wednesday mornings Women’s Bible Study and Wednesday evening Bible fellowship. We have been united as we have learned to study God’s truths together.

During these study times we have been introduced to various study tools, resources and a study method, to aid us in our personal studies into God’s Word. Our Women’s Bible Study has focused on Peter 1 and 2 using the method. Wow! What an adventure we have had resulting in a new in-depth understanding of our Sovereign Lord’s love for us and His encouragement to us as stated in 1 Peter 1:3-4 “…According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…” and in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

A rewarding benefit of the E3 method of studying God’s Word has been to understand that this Book, the Bible, is God’s story. It is about who He is - He is I AM. He is eternal. He is sovereign. He is all powerful. He is omnipotent.

He is our creator. He is love. He is mercy. He is faithful. He is truth. He is patient. He is just. He is forgiving. God’s character is endless because He is endless. From Genesis 3:15 to Revelation God’s desire to redeem His creation is seen through every generation with a repeated cycle. He reveals His love and mercy; we fail and turn from Him; we suffer consequences; He redeems us!

Another benefit of the E3 study method is, God’s story Book is our “how to manual” — how to know Him, how to spend eternity with Him, how to trust His sovereignty., how to be filled with His power, how to love Him and others, how to be merciful and forgiving, how to remain faithful and steadfast, and how to be patient. God’s Word is always applicable to our life circumstances and situations. Whether sitting under Pastor Josh’s teaching on Sunday mornings or his Genesis teaching on Wednesday evenings or being in Women’s Bible Study of Peter 1 & 2 or in a Life Group Bible study, the priority of our staff and leaders to teach God’s Word is both welcomed and rewarding to know their desire to come along side our fellowship and encourage us as we grow together in oneness on our spiritual journey to eternity with our Savior and Lord Jesus.

Our challenge from these teachings is accountability. How will we live It? How will we share It with others? How will we reach out to offer others the same Hope that has been offered to us.

— A Women in the Word Participant