WBC NEWSLETTER JULY 2017

Transcription

1 WBC NEWSLETTER JULY 2017 WOODLAWN BAPTIST CHURCH EXISTS TO GLORIFY GOD BY LEADING PEOPLE INTO A GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST

2 A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR Don't miss your chance. In the book of Esther there is one place where Mordecai, who is Queen Esther's uncle and father figure, tells his niece, Esther, that she is in danger of missing her purpose in life. Esther has become Queen and has the opportunity to use her position to save hundreds of thousands of Jews. She has a Jesus like opportunity to save her people from the brink of death. Mordecai tells Esther, God has put you in your current position "for such a time as this" (Esth. 4:14). We could find a myriad of ways to apply this same truth to our lives. Yet, at this moment I think that we need to take Esther very literally. We have been placed in our current position to reflect Jesus by leading them to salvation and away from the brink of death. You may hear the phrase "brink of death," and think that it sounds over the top or dramatic. If so, then listen to the words of Jonathon Edwards: "Unconverted men walk over the pit of hell on a rotten covering." Edwards did well to capture the perilous position of all of humanity apart from Jesus Christ. The catch is, we do not lead people off of this rotting covering by inviting them to church. What they need is an invitation to Jesus. In Acts 2 when the first church was formed, Peter preached the gospel (Acts 2:14-40), people believed in Jesus (Acts 2:41), and then from this group the church was formed (Acts 2:42-47). The people around you are on the brink of death and they need a savior. They need to hear the gospel and to profess faith in Jesus. Are you in their lives "for such a time as this?" Is this your moment to step out in a courageous way and lead those we know, care about, and love away from death toward salvation? For me that very question is a challenging reminder: God has deliberately placed people in my path so that I might share the saving news of Jesus Christ I don't want to miss my chance. Pastor Mitch

3 WBC PRAYER FOCUS WBC PRAYER MINISTRY Prayer Matters I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3 NIV The above verse is one we look to with excitement, especially concerning WBC s Pray4EveryHome prayer initiative. Thank you for your involvement! The official 40 days of prayer has ended according to our calendars. Whether you are one who has completed your list twice or are still in the process, continue to watch expectantly for what God is doing through your seeking His blessings in your neighbors lives. You may be one God leads back to several of the names you have prayed for during this emphasis. That s exciting! Pray and listen, then obey. Maybe God will give you an idea to offer friendship or Christ-like concern for them that opens a door to share about why Jesus is real to you. As you pray this month, please remember the parents and children who were part of the VBS program. If possible, ask one of the leaders if there is a name or two you could pray specifically for during this month. In this newsletter is the July Bible reading schedule. May the Spirit of God speak to our hearts fresh encouragement of God s love, truths, and hope through these readings NewTestament Psalms/Isaiah/Proverbs Plan July 1 Saturday Isaiah July 2 Sunday Psalms July 3 Monday Luke 4 July 4 Tuesday Luke 5 July 5 Wednesday Luke 6 July 6 Thursday Luke 7 July 7 Friday Luke 8 July 8 Saturday Isaiah 65 July 9 Sunday Psalms July 10 Monday Luke 9 July 11 Tuesday Luke 10 July 12 Wednesday Luke 11 July 13 Thursday Luke 12 July 14 Friday Luke 13 July 15 Saturday Isaiah 66 July 16 Sunday Psalms July 17 Monday Luke 14 July 18 Tuesday Luke 15 July 19 Wednesday Luke 16 July 20 Thursday Luke 17 July 21 Friday Luke 18 July 22 Saturday Proverbs 1 July 23 Sunday Psalms July 24 Monday Luke 19 July 25 Tuesday Luke 20 July 26 Wednesday Luke 21 July 27 Thursday Luke 22 July 28 Friday Luke 23 July 29 Saturday Proverbs 2-3 July 30 Sunday Psalms July 31 Monday Luke 24 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare, you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29:7 ESV

4 PRAYERS FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE Countywide Prayer Spotlight Greater Gaston Baptist Association established prayer as an associational priority for In keeping with this objective, leadership is asking area churches to join in prayer for one another. GGBA will send a new list monthly to all the churches. Please consider calling these names in both your small group prayer times as well as your individual prayer times. May WBC be blessed as we join others seeking God to build up HIS kingdom through this prayer emphasis. PRAYERS FOR SALVATION: Angela, Joshua, Robert, Wayne PRAYERS FOR HOMEBOUND OR THOSE IN ASSISTED LIVING: Kattie Stowe, Joyce Roberts, Sara Usery, Hortense Cowan SALEM, GASTONIA JUNIOR MORRIS, PASTOR SANDY PLAINS, GASTONIA DAVID KREUSS, PASTOR SECOND BAPTIST, CHERRYVILLE JERRY LAIL, PASTOR SECOND BAPTIST, MT. HOLLY BRUCE BRADLEY, PASTOR SHADY GROVE, CHERRYVILLE DALE HENDRICKS, PASTOR "Restore us again, O God our Savior Will You not revive us again..." Psalm 85:4-6 PRAYERS FOR HEALTH AND HEALING: Jonathan Bickett, Cleo Boughman, Robert Crotts, Charlene Guffey, Lowell Crisis Ministry and the families this ministry touches, Those who are caregivers for sick or elderly family members, Veterans and Active Military, Missionaries, our Government Officials, WBC Unity and God s will for the church Community Prayer Gathering First Saturday of Each Month WBC Sanctuary Saturday, July 1 9:30am 10:30am Please join your brothers and sisters in Christ from area churches to pray and believe that God s Word in 2 Chronicles 7:14 is true for today To initiate a prayer, call one of the following: Joyce Wynn Pauline Watts Jane Saunders

5 Children s Ministry News The wonderful Summer Month of July is here and we celebrate our blessed United States of America, as well as those July babies that have been born throughout the ages! Since I was born on July 31 st,i happily sneaked into this amazing month! I have always loved summer and this year is no exception! I have found many boys and girls who also love summer, and a few who are winter lovers. Air conditioning has ruined summer for some of us who can no longer tolerate the higher temperatures, but a little shade and a glass of lemonade always refreshes me. Just as the Word of God brings us comfort and refreshes our spirit, it is my prayer that we will use these lazy days of summer to enhance our relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! As we encourage the boys and girls in Sunday School to use this time to do more reading in their Bibles, perhaps each of us could do the same and increase our Bible study during these months. God has richly blessed us and these summer days would be a great time to begin a Journal of Gratitude, which will show that the blessings of God far outnumber our trials. I hope that we will stay faithful to our God, our church, and our spiritual disciplines during these months of summer because fall will arrive far too soon and another season of holidays and busyness will begin! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes. Psalm 119:11-12 VBS 2017 was an amazing time at Woodlawn Baptist Church! Lots of Pre- Schoolers, Boys and Girls, Teen Students, and a few Adults absolutely had a blast! I, along with Crystal Watkins and Diana Ramsey, want to thank all the many workers who made VBS such a success as God was depended upon to make it all come together! He never fails as He brought the young and not-so-young onto our church campus and we now have a new list of folks who are searching for a church home. In the days ahead, we will be contacting those families and it will be important for us to be welcoming to those new faces that we believe will show up in our congregation! To God be the glory for what He has done and will do in the future at Woodlawn! Be on the alert for information about a couple of fun events being planned during the summer for Grades K-5 th! REMEMBER! Children s Sunday School: 9:45 AM on Sundays KidsROC: Wednesdays at 7:00 PM 2 nd Floor of Education Building Promotion Sunday: August 20, 2017 Serving Jesus in Love, Carolyn Patton Children s Ministry Coordinator , carolynp43@gmail.com

6 YOUTH ADULTS Exciting things are happening in Youth Sunday 9:45am Sunday School Sunday 6pm Who is? A Study of God, Man and other topics through the Bible Wednesday 7pm - Bible Study through the Gospel of Matthew, Worship Through Song, Games in the Youth Room LIT Summer Missions Week: We are planning a week-long missions activity! From July 17 through July 21, we will meet at the church at 10am and pick up will be at the church at 3pm. We are planning on a variety of both in-reach (to our church) and out-reach (to our community) activities. You will see how small things can have a big impact on the people right around you! On Friday July 21, our missions week will conclude with a day long trip to Carowinds! We will meet Friday at 9am and return to the church at 9pm. The total cost for the week is $25, and will include lunch every day and admission to Carowinds on Friday. If there is any concern about not being able to participate due to money, please see John Bolinsky (or call ). We do not want anyone to miss out for this reason. If you are in Middle School, High School or College we would In love addition, to have we you are planning join us for a weekend these exciting get-away events. scheduled for early August. The details for this event are currently being planned and information will be forthcoming. This sneak peek is intended to showcase our awesome event that we have coming up! Stay tuned for details. If you are in Middle School, High School or College we would love to have you join us for these exciting events. WE WANT YOU TO JOIN US AND BRING A FRIEND!!! We meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:30pm This month, we will meet on Thursday, July 20 in the Multi-purpose room All Women of the Church Are invited to our July Women s Ministry Meeting We will be making a goodie box for the ICU waiting room Bring crackers, cookies, small snack items such as small chip bags, candies, etc. YOUNG AT HEART We will not be meeting in July because it falls on July 4 which is a holiday.

7 WHAT S GOING ON AT WOODLAWN? FOR THE MONTH OF JUly WE WILL BE COLLECTING Cereal, Grits, Oatmeal, Pancake Mix, Syrup If a man is righteous and does what is just and right gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God. Ezekiel 18: 5-9 Sunday Evenings at 6pm We will continue a study on the book of Ester Make plans to join us each Sunday night at 6pm for this exciting study. Wednesday Evening Adult Bible Study FACT OR FAKE 7pm in the Multi-purpose room

8 WBC FAMILY SPECIAL OCCASTIONS JULY Matthew Benner 9 Greg Hardesty 10 Mark Hall 12 Hensley Evans 16 Sandra Simonds 17 Keylee Calvert 17 Robin Vanderlip 19 Lindsie Moates 22 Shirley Falls 27 Kim Collins 28 Ann Jenkins 29 Betty Walker 30 Reagan Evans 31 Carolyn Patton July 1 Eddie and Debbie Calvert July 19 Mike and Sandy Bolinsky Starting July 9 New Young Adult Sunday School Class Taught by Jonathan Calvert If you are a young married couple, young parent, college graduate, or young single we want to invite you to attend our new Sunday School Class.

9 so you know WOODLAWN BAPTIST CHURCH STAFF Pastor: Mitch Evans Worship Minister: Jonathan Calvert Ministry Assistant: Crystal Watkins The WBC Newsletter is a monthly publication for Woodlawn Baptist Church 1101 N. Main St. Lowell, NC Phone: Sunday School is at 9:45am Worship service is at 11:00am Sunday evening service and activities are at 6:00pm Wednesday small groups, youth and children s activities are at 7:00pm FINANCIAL DIGEST AS OF may 2017 INCOME YEAR TO DATE $ 226, OFFERING may 2017 $ 22, AVERAGE ATTENDANCE SUNDAY SCHOOL may may WORSHIP may may Woodlawn Baptist Church is happy to allow members to use our facilities. We just ask that you complete a Facilities Use Form and give it to the Church Secretary so she can be sure there are no scheduling conflicts and can add your event to the church calendar. The Facilities Use Forms are available in the wall basket right outside the Secretary s office door.

10 Deacon Family Assignment Tony Watkins A Bol Russ Sprinkles Bom Car Buddy Barnhill Cas Gil Gary Ford Gim Law Ray Gilbert Lax M Tom McAferty N SPR Mark Hall SPS - Z Your deacons on duty for july are: Tony Watkins and Gary Ford Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of god, which he obtained with his own blood Acts 20:28