Celebrate Easter! Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 19 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Easter Lilies. On Mission: Haiti. First Edition April 2014

Transcription

1 First Edition April 2014 Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, April 19 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Bring your Easter baskets and come see how many eggs you can find. There will be two hunts - one for toddlers- K5 and one for Grades 1-5. Questions? Chat with Charli at 770/ or charli@fbcfairburn.com. Church family, donations of candy or plastic eggs are welcome! Celebrate Easter! Sunday, April 20 Sunrise Service 7:00 a.m. Courtyard Potluck Breakfast 7:45 a.m. Fellowship Hall Bring your favorite breakfast foods to share! Easter Lilies Easter lilies will decorate the Sanctuary on Easter Sunday. If you would like to purchase one in honor or memory of a loved one, complete an order form or contact the church at 770/ The cost is $11 each, and checks should be made payable to FBC Fairburn. After the morning service, honorees or donors are welcome to collect their lilies. On Mission: Haiti Please be in prayer for our Haiti Mission Team who will be serving in Leogane, Haiti, April Our team members are Randy Cunningham, Rendel Cunningham, Danny Findley, Ben Perkins, Daniela Ramos, Jeanneth Ramos, Justin Terrell, and Kara Vineyard.

2 The Pastor s Desk Dr. Justin Terrell, Pastor justin@fbcfairburn.com Experiencing Resurrection With Easter approaching later this month, our hearts and minds should be focused on Christ's death and resurrection, which accomplished our salvation for eternity. After Jesus died on the cross for our sins, God miraculously raised Him from the dead. The resurrection that Jesus experienced not only brought Him back to life, but also displayed God's approval of His sacrifice and guaranteed eternal life for those who trust in Him. While the story of Jesus' death and resurrection is the most important story in the Bible, we often overlook another resurrection story that indirectly involves us as believers. Almost a week before Jesus was resurrected, He miraculously raised a man named Lazarus from the dead. The Gospel of John tells us that Lazarus, who was one of Jesus' close friends, suddenly became ill and died. After being in the tomb for four days, everyone had given up hope that he would return. Then Jesus came on the scene and called Lazarus out of his tomb, raising him from the dead. Lazarus walked out a new man. He was no longer sick. He was no longer dead. He was a new man. The resurrection of Lazarus was Jesus' greatest miracle. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He was doing more than showing us how He could restore someone's life. He was showing us that He is the only One who can give life. In other words, Jesus is the only One who can call us from the tombs of our sin and spiritual death and give us new life for eternity. This is why Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26). When a person believes upon Jesus and is born again, they are essentially raised out of their sinful tomb and made to walk again in new life with Christ. The only question is, "Do you believe this?" Have you trusted Christ with your life? Have you experienced resurrection today? Music & Missions Rev. Lewis Ecker, Pastor of Music & Missions lewis@fbcfairburn.com Easter 2014 It goes without saying that the most important Sunday of the church year is Easter. Let s face it, without the resurrection there would be no church and certainly no reason for the church to celebrate. As a child one of my favorite hymns began with the line, I serve a risen Savior I can t tell you why that song meant so much to me but I just remember any time I had the opportunity to request a song in Sunday School or a worship service I always chose He Lives! I have a suspicion I will be requesting that song again on the third Sunday of April when we gather to celebrate the risen Savior!! The last line of the chorus is a keeper too: You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart! Does He live within your heart? Meanwhile, back in the choir room Rehearsals for Easter Sunday have been underway since January and you can expect Sunday, April 20, to be very worshipfocused. In other words it will feature the congregation prompted by our worship-leading choir for an audience of One. Literally it will be a sequence of the songs we ve been singing all year; songs like Jesus, Messiah and In Christ Alone. (You ll also want to come early for our annual sunrise service at 7:00 followed by breakfast and Sunday School.) If that sounds like something that you want to be a part of; i.e., a worship-leading choir, I encourage you to pray about it and join us in rehearsals (Wednesdays, 6:30-7:45 p.m. in the choir room). Finally brethren David Platt, pastor of the Church at Brook Hills (Birmingham, AL), says, We were created to impact all nations, including our own, for the glory of Christ. Our goal is to be a faith family of world-impacting disciples who are partnering with our brothers and sisters [at home] and around the world to produce ever-multiplying churches all around our city, this country, and to the ends of the earth. This partnership, Platt explains, has three facets: praying, going, and giving. I m challenging each reader to seriously examine their role in this partnership while considering our own missions opportunities such as food pantry expansion, English as a Second Language, Appalachia, Haiti, and London (this is only a partial list). Please contact me to explore your options and opportunities.

3 Children s Ministry Grades 1-5 Charli Eason, Children s Associate charli@fbcfairburn.com Is it really April already? I have so been looking forward to this month and the sweet celebration that will occur! How awesome that we can celebrate not only that God sent His son to die for our sins, but also that he conquered death so we never have to face that kind of punishment. There are few things I enjoy more than sharing the story of our salvation with our children, how Jesus was always God's plan for us! One way we are teaching and sharing this is in Sunday School with the Gospel Project and in Children's Worship during the Sunday morning service using the Jesus Storybook Bible. Both of these curriculums take us through different parts of the Bible from start to finish, and focus on Jesus' role throughout. I'm excited to see how our students continue to learn and grow over the next few months! God is good, and I continue to feel blessed that He allows me to work with His children. Love you all! Reminders: April 19 Easter Egg Hunt - 10:00 a.m. Children s Weekly Schedule: Sundays: Children s Sunday School - 9:45 a.m. Children s Church - During Most Morning Services Wednesdays: Children s Choir - 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. (Teachers will transition the children.) Kids For Christ - 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Fairburn Students Grades 6-12 Rev. Ben Perkins, Pastor to Students ben@fbcfairburn.com The Bible is full of intergenerational encouragement. The older are to teach the young and bring them up in godliness (Deut. 6:4-6). The younger are to respect and honor those that are older (1 Tim. 5:1). The community of God is unified and homogenous not segregated. Therefore we must work as well greased wheels, intertwining our spiritual gifts of all age groups for the glory of God and the unity of the body. When the older generations share their godly wisdom with the younger God blesses them. Proverbs 17:6 explains the blessing in these words: Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of the children is their fathers. How we bring up the younger generations matter and it will reflect upon us. Let us bring them up in godliness. Practically these truths work out in breaking down the walls of separation between the two. The Student Ministry is learning from our elders with our homebound ministry. They in turn bless us with wisdom and joy. God blesses those that serve and learn in unity; an opportunity to serve together at the food bank, local mission opportunities or mission trips all build unity. A way for you to help our students grow in unity is having them help you around the house. This will teach them and help them raise money for summer camp and other mission opportunities. Please consider helping our students and impacting their lives in a mighty way. Upcoming Events: April 5-13 Haiti Trip: Pastor Ben & Daniela Ramos will be going. Please support them with prayer and a gift to help with the cost. April 18 Skating Event April 26 Local Mission Event April 27 Homebound Visit Weekly: Sundays: Wednesdays: Bible Study/ Small Group Time - 9:45 a.m. - Fruits of the Spirit Worship - 11:00 a.m. Evening - 6:00 p.m. Fairburn Students - 6:00 p.m. Ministry Opportunity Deuteronomy 6:5-7 tells us to love the Lord with all our heart and with all your soul and with all your might you shall teach them diligently to your children. In our love for God, we seek to work hard and teach this to the younger generations. Please join the Student Ministry as we seek to teach our students how to love the Lord through work. If you have needs around the house, in the yard, or know of people who need assistance, please consider a student. All funds will go directly to our summer camp at Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters. This is a great opportunity, to teach, grow and honor the Lord! Ben Perkins ben@fbcfairburn.com

4 Information For Members Only May 4 - Sunday School Teachers & Workers Meeting - 8:30 a.m. - Fellowship Hall May 4 - Church Council & Finance Committee Meetings - 3:30 p.m. - Conference Room May 4 - Quarterly Church Conference - 6:00 p.m. - Sanctuary May 6 - Mae Cook WOM - 7:00 p.m. - Fellowship Hall May 8 - Jolly Elders Covered Dish Luncheon - 11:30 a.m. - Fellowship Hall May 11 - Mother s Day - No Evening Activities May 12 - Men s Ministry Dinner & Fellowship - 6:30 p.m. May 15 - Mary Amoss WOM - 11:00 a.m. - Fellowship Hall May 25 - No Evening Activities (Memorial Day Weekend)

5 April 2014 First Baptist Church of Fairburn 770/ First Baptist Church of Fairburn exists to worship Christ, grow in His word, serve His church, and reach our community! SUNDAY SCHEDULE 8:45 a.m. Prayer in the Sanctuary 9:00 a.m. Coffee & Donuts, Orchestra Practice 9:00 a.m. Library Open Until 9:30 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship & Hispanic Service 4:00 p.m. Awakening 5:00 p.m. Handbell Rehearsal 6:00 p.m. Evening Worship, Youth Bible Study WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE 5:45 p.m. Preschool Choir Children s Choir 6:00 p.m. Worship Care-baby-2 Youth Bible Study Life Groups 6:30 p.m. Mission Friends Kids For Christ Celebration Choir OTHER WEEKLY EVENTS TUESDAYS 7:00 p.m. ESL THURSDAYS 1:15 p.m. The Silver Chord 7:00 p.m. Prayer Shawl (Croom) FRIDAYS 7:00 a.m. Prayer Breakfast Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :00p Mae Cook WOM :30a SS Teachers Mtg 11:30a Jolly Elders Covered Dish Lunch 12:00p Ladies Luncheon Mission Trip to Haiti (April 5-12) :00a Clebe McClary Speaking 6:30p Men s Ministry 11:00a Mary Amoss WOM Good Friday Church Office Closed 10:00a Easter Egg Hunt Happy Easter! 7:00a Sunrise Service 7:45a Potluck Breakfast No Evening Activities Jolly Elders Trip to Toccoa WMU Spring Event at Callaway

6 Georgia Baptist Women s Spring Event Our WMU/WOM will be participating in the annual Georgia Baptist Women s Spring Event, April at Callaway Gardens! We will gather with women from across Georgia for a weekend of inspiration, mission emphases, worship and rich spiritual blessing. Theme: Filled to Overflowing The theme for the weekend is Whoever believes in me [Jesus], as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water (John 7:38, ESV). Special Guests will include Jennifer Kennedy Dean, Babbie Mason, Mary Jo Sharp, and Cynthia Thompson. The conferences will cover a wide variety of topics relevant to women of all ages eager to grow and serve. Conference topics include missions, prayer, Bible study, engaging your community, sharing Christ and more. Conference topics include Motivation for Missions, Interactive Prayer Experience, Confident Christianity: What is Worldview, and Why Does It Matter, Shouldn t the Reality of God Change Our Lives, and Conversational Apologetics, Love LOUD in Your Community, Rethinking Girls Ministry: How I Would Do a Few Things Differently, Created for A Purpose, Fresh Take on Small Groups for Women, Are You a Radiant Pastor s Wife, How Can We Get Younger Women Involved, and The Next Greatest Generation. There are many other conference sessions from which to choose. We look forward to this weekend of inspiration and challenge! Jennifer Kennedy Dean is Executive director of The Praying Life Foundation and a respected author and speaker. She is the author of numerous books, studies, and magazine articles specializing in prayer and spiritual formation. Widely recognized as an unusually gifted communicator of the deep truths of God s Word, Jennifer speaks all over the country calling God s people to discover the difference between a prayer life and a praying life. Jennifer is the author of such books as Live a Praying Life, Heart s Cry, Fueled by Faith, The Life Changing Power in the Name of Jesus, and Secrets Jesus Shared. She writes for magazines such as Pray! and Spirit Led Woman. She is in demand as a speaker and has spoken in such venues as The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove and Focus on the Family. She is a member for Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, a member of America s National Prayer Committee, a board member and national prayer director for Women in Christian Media, and a broadcaster on Salem Network s internet radio and TV sites. Jennifer was widowed in 2005 after 26 years of marriage to Wayne Dean, her partner both in life and ministry. They are the parents of three grown sons. Jennifer makes her home in Marion, KY. The name Babbie Mason is synonymous with creative excellence in the Christian community. An awardwinning singer-songwriter of Christian music, her ministry and career have blessed countless thousands for almost three decades. Gracing the stage in numerous Billy Graham Crusades worldwide, Women of Faith Conferences, The Grammy Awards and Carnegie Hall, her gifts and talents have allowed her to share the platform with such notable people as Presidents Carter, Ford and Bush, Former First Lady Barbara Bush, Lady Margaret Thatcher, Bill Cosby, NBA legend, Michael Jordan, General Colin Powell, Steve Forbes and Jeff Foxworthy. A favorite guest at Women of Faith Conferences, Kay Arthur s National Women s Conference, Beth Moore Conferences and Ann Graham Lotz s Just Give Me Jesus Conferences, Babbie encourages hearts of all ages with her warmth, wit and wisdom. She is the host of her own television show, Babbie s House, seen all over North America, Africa, the British Isles and the Caribbean Islands. She is the recipient of two Dove Awards for her singing and songwriting abilities and a host of other awards and recognitions line her walls; eleven Dove Award nominations, nominations for the Grammy and the Stellar Awards, including nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. In 2010, Babbie Mason was recognized for her contributions in Gospel music by being inducted into The Christian Music Hall Of Fame. The parents of two adult sons, Babbie and Charles Mason live on a farm in West Georgia. Mary Jo Sharp is a former atheist from the Pacific Northwest who thought religion was for the weak-minded. She now holds a Masters in Christian Apologetics from Biola University and is the first woman to become a Certified Apologetics Instructor through the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Mary Jo is an Assistant Professor at Houston Baptist University, on faculty with Summit Ministries, an author with Kregel Publications and B&H Publications, and has recently produced a new DVD Bible Study with LifeWay Resources. A clear communicator with a heart for people, she finds great joy in sharing the deep truths of her Lord and Savior. She administrates the website, Confident Christianity, and has engaged in two formal, public debates with Muslims. Cynthia Thompson grew up near a college campus where TCKs on furlough became her childhood friends and attending GA camp was a highlight of her summers. From this wealth of mission exposure early in life, Cynthia has continued to be involved in supporting our workers, especially in the area of prayer. Cynthia currently serves on the Advisory Team of the Jerusalem Prayer Center and as the Team Prayer Advocate for the Palestinian Team. Frequent trips to the Middle East to assist with prayer journeys, communicating daily with workers on the field and writing informative prayer requests to assist our churches in praying for Palestinians are the opportunities that fill her days. Praying for the nations is a great blessing to Cynthia, while sharing life with her husband, Larry, who is a pastor, two daughters, two sons-in-love and two grandsons.

7 Sunday School Teachers & Workers Meeting Sunday, April 6 8:30 a.m. Towering buildings only stand because of solid foundations. The same is true of the structure of the Sunday Bible Study class. All teachers are invited to hear three (3) prime examples of how structure is important. Learn how these similar, yet different approaches, are effective. Foundations that are in place allow for the structure to flourish. All current and interested teachers and workers should attend. You ll be glad you did! Breakfast will be served. LifeGroup Classes Wednesdays, April 16 - May 28 6:00 p.m. Angels & Demons Facilitated By Danny Findley Book costs $7.00. Angels and demons are portrayed and discussed everywhere - from statues and paintings to poems and songs to the Internet. But are they understood correctly? With all the attention these beings receive, Christians are bound to get confused between what is often assumed to be common knowledge and how the Word of God actually portrays them. In this series, Dr. R.C. Sproul seeks to challenge many of the modern myths regarding these other-worldly beings by offering a Biblical view of the spiritual realm. Men s Ministry Monday Monday, April 14 6:30 p.m. Males of all ages are invited for supper and fellowship! Growing Through Life s Challenges Based on the Book By James & Martha Reapsome Facilitated By Arthur Edgar Book costs $8.00. The people we read about in Scripture faced the same challenges we do today. From rejection to depression, overwhelming responsibilities to doubt, these heroes of the faith shared the pains, disappointments, and hopes That are common to modern-day believers. Observing how biblical characters like Moses, Joshua, Daniel, Peter, and Paul brought their fears and frustrations to God, we can learn to do the same. This study will remind you that God s character and presence can give you strength to face any difficulty. Mae Cook WOM Tuesday, April 1 7:00 p.m. Fellowship Hall Mary Amoss WOM Thursday, April 17 11:00 a.m. Fellowship Hall Save The Date For VBS! July 13-17, Sunday-Thursday 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Nightly For more information or to volunteer, please contact Charli Eason at 770/ or charli@fbcfairburn.com. I Am A Church Member Book By Thom Rainer Facilitated By Justin Terrell Book costs $5.00. I Am a Church Member discusses the attitudes and responsibilities of church members. Rainer addresses in detail what congregations should really be focusing on - praying for church leaders, being a functioning member, treasuring church membership, and more. Worship Care During this seven-week session, would you be willing to minister to the little ones of the church? A minimum of four individuals are needed to hold babies and play with toddlers. Worship Care is for infants through age two. Contact the church office at 770/ or jenni@fbcfairburn.com to volunteer.

8 Ladies Spring Luncheon Saturday, April 12 12:00 p.m. Mrs. Deanna McClary will be speaking. Deanna is the author of Commitment to Love, a Dove Award nominee and former beauty queen. Reservations for the luncheon are $15. To sign up to attend or to host a table, see Lenna Moore. GUEST SPEAKER, LT. CLEBE MCCLARY Sunday, April 13 11:00 a.m. Service Clebe McClary s message of courage, determination and dedication will compel you to soar beyond the limit. On March 3, 1968, during his 19th reconnaissance mission in Vietnam, Clebe was critically wounded by an enemy attack. As a result of his bravery under fire and the concern he demonstrated for his men, he was presented the Silver Star and the Bronze Star by the President of the United States. Although Clebe suffered the loss of an eye, an arm and was told he would never walk again, he never lost the determination, dedication and courage to overcome his circumstances. Clebe McClary is living proof that with the right attitude all things are possible. First Baptist Church of Fairburn, Georgia 23 Malone Street SE Fairburn, Georgia / Dr. Justin Terrell Pastor Rev. Lewis Ecker Pastor of Music & Missions Rev. Ben Perkins Pastor to Students Rev. Paul Vasquez Spanish Pastor Judy Crumley Music Associate & Pianist Charli Eason Children s Associate Joy Baker Ministry Assistant Jenni Cunningham Receptionist Mildred Cook Organist Return Address Service Requested