Volume 67 Week of March 30, 2014 Number 13 Office: Prayer Line:

Transcription

1 First Baptist Church Montgomery Beacon bring them in...build them up...send them out Volume 67 Week of March 30, 2014 Number 13 Office: Prayer Line:

2 CONNEC IONS from your Pastor s Heart Stubborn Persistence One of God s most important factors in the success equation is stubborn persistence. If you plan to succeed educationally, stubborn persistence is required. If you want an excellent marriage and family, stubborn persistence is an indispensable ingredient. If your career reaches its maximum potential, then stubborn persistence will be a part of your daily diet. If your spiritual life is soaring instead of snoring, you ll need stubborn persistence. Consider the story of the old mule that fell into a dry well. The fall didn t kill the mule, but he was making a terrible racket. The old farmer looked down on the mule and thought it would be too much trouble to haul him out of the hole, so he concluded that he would bury the prisoner in the well. He enlisted a neighbor s help, and they started dumping dirt onto the old critter. As the dirt was falling all over him, the mule had to make an important decision. Was he going to give up and be buried? Or was he going to utilize his natural tendency of being stubbornly persistent? The old mule made a wise choice. Every time a shovel of dirt was thrown on him, the mule shook it off, stepped on it, and rose above it. The next shovel of dirt came tumbling down; and he shook it off, stepped on it, and rose above it. Almost every day somebody or something will dump dirt on YOU. What will you do? Pray that God will give you the ability to shift into the stubbornly persistent gear: Shake it off; Step on top of it; and Rise above it. You guessed it. As the well filled up with dirt and the old mule stubbornly persisted by shaking it off, stepping on top of it, and rising above it he finally walked right out of the well. The mule s stubborn persistence transformed his burial dirt into his liberating ladder! Next time you are tempted to give up, look up the Lord and remember that stubbornly persistent old mule. Running the race with ENDURANCE with eyes fixed on Jesus, FBC Faithfulness Sunday, March 23, 2014 ATTENDANCE Bible Fellowship Enrollment 4784 Bible Fellowship Attendance 1353 Weekly Attendance 1895 Discipleship Attendance 761 OFFERING Required Weekly $121, Received Sunday $68, Required To Date $1,456, Received To Date $1,277, Building Fund Sunday $ Building Fund to Date $12, Annie Armstrong Easter Offering $65, Under Budget $178,281.74

3 Ministry Announcements Preschool Ministry There will be a Parent/Child Dedication on Sunday, April 27 in the 8:30 & 11:00 am worship services. To register your baby for this special dedication, please call Tiffany Alewine at or visit dedications. If you would like your baby s photo to be included in the Order of Worship that day, please a high resolution photo of your baby to asmith@ montgomeryfbc.org by Sunday, April 6. Student Ministry Graduate Recognition is Sunday, May 4. The deadline for submitting photos is Friday, April 11. Register online at If you have any questions, contact Russell McCrory at Adult Ministry There will be an Explore the Bible Preview on Tuesday, April 15 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Lifeway s Alan Raughton will discuss the Explore the Bible enhancements for adults and preview the new young adults, students, children and preschool resources! This event is for all Bible Fellowship Class Leaders and Teachers. Don t miss this great opportunity to preview a great curriculum! Music Ministry The FBC Youth Choirs are busy preparing for exciting mission opportunities this summer. One Heart Choir (grades 7-8) will travel to Mobile, Alabama on June 9-13 and One Voice Choir (grades 9-12) will travel to New York City on June 6-15 for a week of music and missions. Trip deposits are due for One Heart ($50) and One Voice ($150). Visit Both choirs rehearse on Sundays at 5:00 pm. Don t miss this opportunity! First Baptist Foundation The First Baptist Foundation Scholarship Applications are available. All completed applications must be returned by Monday, March 31. For an application, visit or Alissa Irvin at airvin@montgomeryfbc.org. Missions Ministry There will be a Talladega Mission Project Interest Meeting on Sunday, March 30 at 7:15 pm in room 347. Anyone interested in participating in this mission opportunity is invited to attend. For more information contact Bob Howard at or scannnar8@gmail.com. All GIC Committee members and GIC Bible Fellowship Class Coordinators are

4 invited to the GIC appreciation and evaluation meeting on Sunday, April 6 at 4:00 pm in room 443. For more information contact Brian Gay at or briang@ montgomeryfbc.org. There will be a Malawi Mission Project Interest Meeting on Sunday, April 6 at 5:00 pm in the fellowship hall. Anyone interested in participating or praying for this project is asked to attend. For more information contact Brian Gay or briang@ montgomeryfbc.org. There will be a France Mission Project Interest Meeting on Sunday, April 6 at 7:15 pm in the fellowship hall. Anyone interested in participating in this mission opportunity on September 6-14 is invited to attend. For more information contact Brian Gay at or briang@ montgomeryfbc.org. There will be a Brazil Mission Project Interest Meeting on Sunday, April 6 at 7:30 pm in room 443. For information, contact Bill Lambert at or billglambert@yahoo.com. Community Ministries New Members By Baptism Mr. Cody Dowling N US Highway 29 Banks, AL Mr. Melvin Thomas 3052 Cross Creek Drive Montgomery, AL Our Church Family If you would like to add someone to the prayer list, contact Carolyn Bryan at Sympathy Extended to Mr. & Mrs. Charles Harwell (Carolyn) in the death of his father, Ben; Mr. Will Harwell in the death of his grandfather Mrs. Tom Ratcliffe (Carol) in the death of her husband Family and Friends of Juanita Brown Baptist East Reba Stabler Crowne Healthcare Berry Grant UAB Medical Center Rick Heinzman Children s Hospital Camp Hughes Congratulations Extended to Rev. & Mrs. Reggie Quimby (Karen) in the birth of a granddaughter Join us for the 2014 FBC Community Ministries Golf Tournament on Thursday, April 10 at the Lagoon Park Golf Course. Lunch will be from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Tournament begins at 1:00 pm (Shotgun Start). Register online ($100 per golfer) at For more information, call Charles Close ( ) or Ken Brothers ( ). Celebrate Recovery begins on May 2! If you feel powerless over your life and are ready to make a change, Celebrate Recovery is for you. God needs three to four male believers who have been in recovery for several years to co-facilitate small groups. This is your opportunity to give back out of gratitude to God for what he has done in your life by pointing others to freedom. For more information, contact Jane Ferguson at or jferguson@montgomeryfbc.org. Volunteer Opportunity: Ushers Are you interested in serving at FBC? The Ushers Ministry needs YOU! Come join the team! Call Jeff Mayton at for more information. Tuesday, April 29 6:30 to 8:00 pm Fellowship Hall The guest speaker will be Ruthie Carlson. Tickets will be on sale beginning April 6. For more information, contact Sharon Windham at

5 Join us for a GriefShare Support Group beginning Friday, April 4 at 9:00 am in the Huff Community Ministries Building. The group leader is Marie Parma. If you have a friend or loved one who has lost someone dear to them, please encourage them to come. For more information, call Jane Ferguson at The Caring Center needs seasonal clothing for men, women and children. For more information, contact Judy Nuss at Churchwide News & Events Join us on Sunday, April 13 for our annual Bible Fellowship Class High Attendance Day. This year s theme is Spring Into Action and our goal is to have 2,014 in Bible Fellowship Class attendance. Begin now to pray for a great harvest and good weather. Invite prospects, friends and neighbors to come with you. For more information, contact Chuck Ashley at or cashley@ montgomeryfbc.org or your Bible Fellowship directors and teachers. Men, join us for the annual Glenn Gordy Golf Retreat on Thursday, April 24 through Saturday, April 26 in Niceville, Florida. The cost is $325. Checks should be made payable to First Baptist Church. Deadline for reservations is Sunday, April 6. Get your tee time guarantee check in the mail today. Sign up by calling Steve DuBose at or Chuck Ashley at Save the date for the Missions Auction and Cookout to benefit the Single Adult Missions Scholarship Fund on Friday, May 16 at 6:00 pm in the fellowship hall. More details coming soon! If you would like to donate to the auction, please contact Kathy Cooper at kcooper@montgomeryfbc.com. Our In-Home Ministry continues to grow, and there are lots of opportunities to serve and minister to those who are no longer able to attend church on a regular basis. Prayerfully consider serving with this ministry in the following ways: Flower Ministry: co-team Leader(s); volunteers to help arrange and deliver; and, we need flower vases (small and medium); Chemo Ministry and Tea Ministry: Team Leaders and volunteers. For more information, contact Connie Hulsey at or ecphulsey@gmail.com. Spring 2014 FBC Discipleship Classes For a complete list visit In Awe of God s Word : Foundational Bible Doctrine Series I Sundays, April 6 May 4 5:00 pm B415 Join us as we examine the Preexistence, Deity and Humanity of Christ; the Gospel; and the Security of the Believer. Hopefully this will be the beginning of several mini-series on Bible doctrine with the goal to help ground new believers and/or give mature believers a refresh in the biblical truths we hold, defend, and pass on to others. Facilitated by Steve Langer. Ladies Bible Study: Discerning the Voice of God Tuesdays, April 1 June 10 9:30 am Jr. High Youth Center Become acquainted with the Voice that has spoken from a fire, and a cloud; with visible signs and an invisible spirit...the Voice that speaks through a burning bush and burning hearts. This study provides practical help in knowing what you hear is from God. You will become more familiar with God s Holy Spirit, His character, and tone of voice. Facilitated by Nancy Burt.

6 This week at FBC Montgomery For the complete calendar, visit Sunday, March 30 8:30 Worship Service 9:45 Bible Fellowship Classes 11:00 Worship Service International Worship Service 4:00 Serenity Ensemble 5:00 Children s Missions Discipleship Classes One Heart/One Voice Choirs Visitation 6:00 Children s Bible Drill 6:15 Worship Service 7:15 Talladega Interest Meeting Monday, March 31 9:00 English as a Second Language 5:00 Sanctuary Handbells 6:00 Men s Bible Study Tuesday, April 1 9:00 English as a Second Language 9:30 Ladies Bible Study 11:30 Children s Hope Prayer Time 2:00 Bell Oaks Bible Study 6:00 Narcotics Anonymous GROW College Bible Study Wednesday, April 2 9:00 English as a Second Language 1:00 MOMs Program 2:15 Baldwin Bible Study 4:45 First Family Dinner 5:30 Tutoring Orchestra Rehearsal 5:45 Taking Faith Home Children s Choirs 6:00 First Family Prayer Time 6:30 DivorceCare Student Ministry: Powerhouse 6:35 Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal 6:45 Ejamat Prayer Time Thursday, April 3 9:00 Conversational English 10:00 Caregivers Support Group 6:00 English as a Second Language Friday, April 4 6:45 Friday Morning Men s Group Saturday, April 5 6:00 Narcotics Anonymous In Home Ministry Member :: Myra Fisher Hillview Terrace, 100 Perry Hill Road, Room 102 Montgomery, Alabama Morning Worship (8:30 & 11:00 am) Wonderful Grace Sanctuary Choir My Savior s Love Delyana Lazarova & Anna Williams Give Me Jesus Mike & Judy Nuss Message Jay Wolf Evening Worship (6:15 pm) Our Great God Serenity Ensemble Offertory Solo Darlene Berry Message Dale Huff 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