First Baptist Church Montgomery. Volume 68 Week of December 6, 2015 Number 49

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1 First Baptist Church Montgomery Beacon bring them in...build them up...send them out Volume 68 Week of December 6, 2015 Number 49 FBC Goal: $220,000 On Sunday, December 6, we will hear from Duane Ostrem, Affinity Group Strategy Leader for Southeast Asian Peoples for the International Mission Board. Duane holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Limestone College and served in the corporate world as a VP and later as founder and CEO of his own company. Duane and his wife Jeanne have served in mission service in South East Asia since They are the parents of three children and have seven grandchildren. Duane & Jeanne Ostrem Office: Prayer Line:

2 CONNEC IONS from your Pastor s Heart The Living Christmas Tree and Lottie! The calendar pages have peeled away and only December remains. Synonymous with December is FBC s Living Christmas Tree and our emphasis on International Mission Support. Over the years the Living Tree has grown into one of the most noted features of Christmas in our region. Yet to me the most exciting dimension of the Living Tree is our priceless privilege to share the good news of Jesus Christ with untold thousands of people in person and through the television broadcasts. If we had a revival with a famous evangelist we would not have more people come to FBC to hear the gospel proclaimed. We will have several thousand visitors discover how to come to and connect with God s church. The bottom line is simple: The Living Tree is our top outreach and evangelism event! Consider the following suggestions which will help us maximize our Living Christmas Tree Revival opportunity: Invite and Bring unchurched friends to the LCT Pray for the choir and the rest of the LCT team to be ready and healthy as they run the marathon of sharing Christ via the Tree Intercede for our singular Chip Colee as he provides skillful and Christ-exalting leadership to this extensive and complex endeavor Secure the times of the broadcasts and encourage people to connect through the television version of the LCT The Lottie Moon Christmas prayer emphasis and offering opportunity will be propelled by Duane Ostrem this Sunday. Duane is one of the 8 primary mission leaders for the IMB. He supervises the work of hundreds of missionaries in Southeast Asia. Duane is a powerful proclaimer of the gospel and he will motivate your engagement in God s mission endeavors. Anticipating an Extraordinary Christmas of Missions and Revival, FBC Faithfulness Sunday, November 29, 2015 ATTENDANCE Bible Fellowship Enrollment 5048 Bible Fellowship Attendance 1626 Weekly Attendance 2182 Discipleship Attendance 1753 OFFERING Required Weekly $123, Received Sunday $64, Required To Date $5,930, Received To Date $5,530, Building Fund Sunday $ Building Fund to Date $46, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering $46, Under Budget $400,274.16

3 Sign up for the 2015 Advent edevotional Hope Peace Love Joy Sign up today for the 2015 advent edevotional. Send your address to Amanda Smith at or visit Ministry Announcements Preschool Ministry All preschool children are asked to Help Decorate the Christmas Tree at the preschool registration desk. We want to fill it with socks, so please bring a new pair (or bag) of socks to cover our tree. The socks will be donated to the Caring Center to help children keep their feet warm this winter. Please bring your present to your SS Class on or before Sunday, December 13. Student Ministry Angel Tree 2015 Please bring your Angel Tree gifts unwrapped, in a bag with the child s name securely on each gift, to the reception area at the Scott Street entrance on or before Sunday, December 6. Thank you for providing a happier Christmas for a prisoner s child. Year-End Giving The Church Business Office is here to serve you as we approach the end of the year. All gifts must be postmarked by Thursday, December 31 in order to go toward your 2015 giving record. If you are gifting appreciated assets, please make the business office aware of those gifts and the designation of the gifts. Please contact Patti Shoemaker at or Gwen Keene at for more information. Students, join us for the Youth Christmas Parties on Sunday, December 6 from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Junior High students will meet at the Richards Home (3849 Colline Drive) and Senior High students will meet at the Amster s Home (3216 Colline Close). All girls need to bring a dessert. The 7th, 9th & 11th grade guys need to bring a 2-liter drink and the 8th, 10th & 12th grade guys need to bring chips and dip. All students need to bring a $10 wrapped Dirty Santa gift. For more information, contact Russell McCrory at or Spencer Jones at FBC Offering Envelopes are now sent quarterly. The first quarter of 2016 will be mailed in December. Please contact Jill Johnson at or Patti Shoemaker at if you requested envelopes and do not receive them. First Family Dinner Wednesday, December 9 No reservations required! Adult & Children s Meal: Soup, Hot Dogs, Salad, Bread and Dessert Adult Family Meal $5; Child s Meal (12 & under) $3 Maximum Family Amount $20 (immediate family only)

4 The Nehemiah Christmas Party will be Thursday, December 17 from 3:30 to 4:45 pm at 213 Broadway Street. For more information, contact Russell McCrory at or Spencer Jones at A few spots remain for the Strength to Stand Conference on Monday, December 28 through Wednesday, December 30. The cost is $175. Sign up today at org/event-registration. For more information, contact Russell McCrory at or rmccrory@ montgomeryfbc.org. Sign up now for Disciple Now 2016 on Friday, January 15 through Sunday, January 17. Cost is $40. Register online at www. montgomeryfbc.org/event-registration. Adult Ministry Join Jay as he continues a new round of his Pastor s Class on Sunday, December 6 at 10:00 am in the main sanctuary. The 13-week class, open to everyone, will be an overview of the Bible. Missions Ministry Pre-order your copy of the FBC Missions book, Our First Priority, online at ourfirstpriority. Cost is $15. The books will be released in February The 2016 Missions Menu is now available! You can pick up your copy in the main sanctuary foyer or visit Mark your calendars, Sundays, January 3, for your chance to learn more about FBC mission opportunities for next year at Missions Expo 2016 to be held between the morning worship services and before the evening services. FBC Foundation New Members By Letter Mrs. Ashley Smith 1225 Pama Court Montgomery, AL Our Church Family If you would like to add someone to the prayer list, contact Carolyn Bryan at Sympathy Extended to Col. & Mrs. Steve Jantz (Becky) in the death of her mother, Sylvia Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Conte (Donna) in the death of his father, Daniel; Nate, Jacob and Joseph Conte in the death of their grandfather Mrs. Frank Green (Frances) in the death of her husband Mr. & Mrs. Troy Amster (Ann) in the death of her uncle Mr. & Mrs. Doyle Powell (Lisa) in the death of their grandson Baptist South Sue Smitherman Lily Levy Baptist East Frank McCollough Reba Stabler Jackson Ruth Collier Crowne Healthcare & Rehab Johnnie Powell HealthSouth Fred Waldo Millie Anderson Hillview Terrace Connie Moore Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare Chad Lynn Children s Hospital Winston Phillips Congratulations Extended to Dr. & Mrs. Jay Wolf (Mary Ruth) in the birth of a grandson Mr. & Mrs. Blake West (Abbey) in the birth of a son; Mr. & Mrs. Tommy West (Susan) in the birth of a grandson; Ms. Mary Frances Parker in the birth of a great grandson Dr. & Mrs. Harper Shannon (Elsie) in the birth of a great-grandson The First Baptist Foundation was pleased to recently help sponsor FBC s Parent s Night Out. This was a free event for preschoolers and children. There were about 75 children in attendance. The children were fed dinner, completed a craft, played games and also enjoyred a Puppet Show. The Foundation was THANK YOU to all who supported Operation Christmas Child this year! Our church drop-off site collected 1400 shoeboxes! Your gifts and prayers fulfill Romans 15:13 by giving hope to needy boys and girls. To see what happens next, go to:

5 Senior Adult Christmas Banquet Tuesday, December 15 5:00 pm Fellowship Hall $8 Our special guest is Michele Lott Tickets, on sale through Sunday, December 6, are available in your Bible Fellowship Class or call Mary Virginia Crum at Living Christmas Tree :: December Order your LCT Tickets online at Tickets may be picked up on Sunday, December 6 in the main sanctuary foyer from 9:15 am to 12:30 pm and from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. The LCT Ticket Office will be open from Monday, December 7 through Friday, December 11 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in the Stakely Music Suite at the Scott Street entrance. For more information, visit or call the LCT ticket office at thrilled to help sponsor this fun night for children that allowed parents to have a night out! Community Ministries If your family or your Sunday School Class would like to adopt a family for Christmas, please contact Jane Ferguson at Churchwide News & Events Earn your diploma in Biblical Studies from Samford University s Ministry Training Institute. The Introduction to the New Testament class, taught by Mike Chitwood, will begin on Sunday, January 10 at 4:30 pm. The Biblical Interpretation class, taught by Ken May, will begin on Tuesday, January 19 at 6:00 pm in room 413. Courses are $50 each. Register online at Prison Fellowship has asked our church to sponsor 94 children in Calhoun County for Angel Tree. Please bring a $25 Wal-Mart gift card to the reception desk at Scott Street by Monday, December 14. It will be sent along with a letter from our youth, an ABC tract and a metal cross. For more information, call Ken Brothers at Thank you for letting these children know they are not forgotten this Christmas.

6 FBC Stewardship Goal: $6,525,000 Pledged to Date :: $5,909, (90.57%) Remember, it s never too late to make your commitment! This week at FBC Montgomery For the complete calendar, visit Sunday, December 6 8:30 Worship Service 9:45 Bible Fellowship Classes 11:00 Worship Service 4:00 Reflections 5:00 Ordination Service for Jared McCrory Visitation One Heart/One Voice Choirs 6:35 Children s Choirs Christmas Program 7:45 Student Ministry Christmas Parties Monday, December 7 7:30 R.O.M.E.O. 8:30 English as a Second Language 5:30 Men s Bible Study Deacon s Meeting Recovery Support Group Tuesday, December 8 8:30 English as a Second Language 9:30 Ladies Bible Study MOPS 3:45 Children s Ministry: Good News Club 5:30 Women s Support Group 6:00 Narcotics Anonymous Samford Ministry Training Institute Wednesday, December 9 8:30 English as a Second Language 4:45 Wednesday Night Supper 5:30 Tutoring Orchestra Rehearsal 6:00 First Family Prayer Time 6:30 Student Ministry: Powerhouse 6:35 LCT Choir/Orchestra Rehearsal 6;40 Finance Committee 6:45 Ejamat Prayer Time Thursday, December 10 9:00 Conversational English 10:00 Caregivers Support Group 6:00 English as a Second Language Friday, December 11 6:45 Friday Morning Men s Group 5:00 Nehemiah Basketball 7:00 Living Christmas Tree Presentation Saturday, December 12 Santa s Workshop 4:00 Living Christmas Tree Presentation 6:00 Narcotics Anonymous 7:00 Living Christmas Tree Presentation In Home Ministry Member :: Dorothy Boychuck 2750 Fernway Drive Montgomery, Alabama Morning Worship (8:30 & 11:00 am) Glorious Impossible The Brad Willis Family Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Message Duane Ostrem, IMB Evening Worship (6:15 pm) Graded Children s Choirs Christmas Worship CrossRoads Broadcast Schedule 305 South Perry Street Montgomery, AL Watch the sermon at the time below or online at Frazer Channel 13 (Montgomery & Prattville) Brighthouse Channel 122 (Elmore County) Sunday, 1:30 pm (full hour) & 6:00 pm Tuesday, 7:30 pm Thursday, 9:30 am & 6:00 pm WSFA-TV Channel 12 Sunday, 10:30 am The Beacon (USPS # ) is published and printed weekly by First Baptist Church, 305 South Perry Street, Montgomery, Alabama Periodical postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Beacon, 305 South Perry Street, Montgomery, Alabama FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH montgomery