Volume 67 Week of January 26, 2014 Number 04 Office: Prayer Line:

Transcription

1 First Baptist Church Montgomery Beacon bring them in...build them up...send them out Volume 67 Week of January 26, 2014 Number 04 Office: Prayer Line:

2 CONNEC IONS from your Pastor s Heart Helping Friends Break the Cruel Chains of Addiction Eddie Olszewski was chained to a destructive addiction linked to alcohol and drugs. He courageously shared his story with his supportive Church family because the body of Christ is not a hiding place, but a helping place. Eddie chronicled how the chains formed when he took his first beer on a summer night at the age of 16. The barb gently slid into his spirit. He was soon hooked to a cruel chain that would try to pull him down and destroy him. Eddie sat on the front row of his mother s alcohol addiction, which led to her suicide. Instead of learning from his mom s tragic demise, he accelerated his addiction through binge drinking. He used his access to prescription drugs as a pharmacist to escape his pain through pharmaceuticals. Eddie hit rock-bottom when he was arrested for forging hundreds of prescriptions. His professional and personal life crashed. He faced the possibility of seven years in prison. In the middle of his mess, God arrived. He was sentenced to rehabilitation instead of prison. Some compassionate friends helped Eddie connect to the liberating message of Christ s love, and he exchanged ineffective religion for a transforming relationship with Jesus. I asked Eddie to provide the steps he took to release the chains of his addiction. Let s learn his pathway to freedom: 1. He completely surrendered to the lordship of Jesus Christ. 2. He began to reprogram his flawed thinking with God s Word. He read addiction recovery material and implemented those instructions. 3. He sought support from helpful people. Eddie linked himself to the body of Christ. He attended many support groups, including Celebrate Recovery and AA meetings. He eliminated friendships that would pull him back into addiction and focused on the people who were not playing games but who truly wanted to walk with God and take a new path of sobriety. 4. Eddie made a daily decision that he would NOT DRINK. For the first nine months, he thought about drinking all day. Yet, he resolved to refuse this toxic poison that was killing him. After nine months, he realized that he had gone an entire day without thinking about alcohol. He knew that he had crossed over into a new territory. He was now winning the daily battle, which would enable him to win the war. continued on page 5 FBC Faithfulness Sunday, January 19, 2014 ATTENDANCE Bible Fellowship Enrollment 4777 Bible Fellowship Attendance 1682 Weekly Attendance 2144 Discipleship Attendance 1477 OFFERING Required Weekly $121, Received Sunday $80, Required To Date $364, Received To Date $254, Building Fund Sunday $1, Building Fund to Date $3, Gateway to Restoration (Nehemiah Project) $319, Lottie Moon Christmas Offering $302, Under Budget $109,466.79

3 Do you know your ABCs? Can you share them with others? Join Jay as he teaches the ABC s of Evangelism Sundays, January 12 March 16 4:30 pm 413 (Senior Adult Center) A Practical Guide to Sharing Your Faith Ministry Announcements Preschool Ministry Join us for Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) on Tuesday, January 28 from 9:30 to 11:30 am. For more information, contact Erin Hutchinson or Laura Foreman at montgomerymops@gmail.com. Children s Ministry Young Worshiper s Club (YWC) is coming! During the month of February, every first through sixth grade student will have the opportunity to complete a booklet that will help them learn how to worship. The YWC booklets will be handed out on January 26 during Sunday school. They will be responsible for bringing it to church each week and keeping up with it. At the end of February, each child that has turned in a completed booklet will receive a surprise. For more information, contact Glen Leathers at or gleathers@montgomeryfbc.org. Teachers, join us on Sunday, January 26 at 11:15 am in room 413 for some Teacher Training. We will talk about how you can show kids love that will last a lifetime. Lunch will be served, so please RSVP to Glen Leathers at gleathers@ montgomeryfbc.org. Don t miss the GIC Children s Event on Saturday, February 8 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the youth center. Join us as we explore what it s like to be a missionary. Enjoy food, games, crafts and hands-on mission experiences. Don t miss this adventure as we learn to be a force for good in Jesus name. Tickets ($5) will be available in the fellowship hall on Wednesdays and the main sanctuary foyer on Sundays. You can also order tickets online at Show some LOVE on Sunday, February 9 by bringing Peanut Butter for the Caring Center. For more information, contact Glen Leathers at or gleathers@montgomeryfbc.org. 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 now for One Voice ($150). Visit Both choirs First Family Dinner Wednesday, January 29 No reservations required! (This applies to all Wednesday night meals until further notice.) Adult & Children s Meal: Lasagna, Salad, Bread, Dessert Adult Family Meal $5; Child s Meal (12 & under) $3 Maximum Family Amount $20 (immediate family only)

4 rehearse on Sundays at 5:00 pm. Don t miss this opportunity! Missions Ministry Event Tickets are available through Sunday, February 2 for our 2014 Global Impact Celebration on Wednesday, February 5 through Sunday, February 9. Tickets for Senior Adult Banquet, Wild West Dinner, children/youth/preschool events are available in the foyer or visit for more information. First Baptist Foundation The First Baptist Foundation Scholarship Applications will be available beginning Monday, January 20. All completed applications must be returned by Monday, March 31. For an application, visit www. montgomeryfbc.org or Alissa Irvin at airvin@montgomeryfbc.org. Churchwide News & Events Celebrate Recovery is a Christcentered, group program to help hurting people overcome addictions such as alcoholism, sexual New Members By Baptism Mac Stewart Thomas Stewart 8842 Marsh Ridge Drive Montgomery, AL Our Church Family If you would like to add someone to the prayer list, contact Carolyn Bryan at Sympathy Extended to Mrs. Bennie Hollon (Betty) in the death of her husband; Ms. Jill Hollon in the death of her father; Ms. Inez Jackson in the death of her brother Mr. & Mrs. Burt Martin (Carolyn) in the death of his niece, Beverly Trawick Mr. & Mrs. Frank Parsons (Jennifer) in the death of his mother, Nona Parsons; Walker, Katherine & Mary Parsons in the death of their grandmother Mr. & Mrs. Jank Buck (Jennie Mae) in the death of his sister, Flora Johnson Mr. & Mrs. Richard Beck (Margaret) in the death of her mother, Mary Lovett Peddy; Mary Margaret & Elizabeth Beck in the death of their grandmother HealthSouth Joe Horn John Knox Rehab Thomas Hancock Crowne Healthcare Berry Grant Children s Hospital Camp Hughes Congratulations Extended to Mr. & Mrs. Corey Johnson (Callie) in the birth of a daughter abuse, and drug addiction. This program is fellowship based and is a time for celebrating Christ in the process of recovery. We need group leaders, musicians, cooks, and worship leaders. If you would like to participate in the development of a Celebrate Recovery Program, contact Jane Ferguson at First Baptist Montgomery is building a Member-to-Member Online Business Directory, to create a friendly, community-building tool, linking FBC members looking for goods and services with other members providing those goods and services. If you would like to be listed in this directory, please visit www. montgomeryfbc.org/business-directory and register your business. Please visit the Christ-Like Institute Website at to help you grow in Christian discipleship and maturity. There are open dates in 2014 for Sanctuary flowers. Two arrangements are available each Sunday at a cost of $82.50 each. You may choose to furnish one or both. If you would like to reserve a date in honor or in memory of someone, call Mary Virginia Crum at

5 Winter 2014 FBC Discipleship Classes For a complete list visit Ladies Bible Study: Sacred Secrets (Beth Moore) Sundays, January 26 March 9 5:00 pm B408 This Bible study is open to all ladies regardless of age or marital status! Jesus wants to spend secret time with you an interior relationship that s unique to just you two. Secrets can be good or harmful. Some need forgiveness, and some should be kept between you and God. Join Beth to find out what happens when we let God teach us wisdom in the secret heart (Psalm 51:6, ESV). Facilitated by Kathy Cooper. Nearly/Newlywed Class Sundays, February 2 March 16 9:45 am A401 Join us for this seminar to build a foundation for a Christ-centered marriage. Class is designed for couples who will soon be married or couples who have recently been married. The topics are chosen to confront issues married couples face early in their marriage and provide practical and biblical solutions. Facilitated by Jeff & Donna Haney and our Marriage Team GIC: CALLED to Serve The Next Step? Sunday, February 9 5:00 pm 443 This informational meeting open to anyone who feels that God may be calling them to serve in an area of missions from short term to life-long. Information will be given about the application and process with the International and North American Mission Boards and how to begin. Facilitated by Brian Gay and GIC Missionaries. Love and Respect (Marriage 2 Marriage Seminar) Sundays, February 9 March 16 5:00 pm B409 Do you want to feel closer as a couple? Do you want to experience marriage as God intended no matter how long or short a period of time you have been married? Join us for this DVD series based on the best selling book, Love and Respect featuring author Emerson Eggerichs. Class includes an individual workbook and minimal homework. Facilitated by Mike & Pam Newman. Connections from Your Pastor s Heart (continued from page 2) Addiction has grown into an ugly elephant which dominates our national living room. The media bombards us with the deception that you must use alcohol to conform to our social standards. In contrast, God provides a warning that alcohol is like a poisonous snake. Who has woe and sorrow; who has wounds without cause and redness of eyes those who linger long over wine. It goes down smooth, but in the end it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper! Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perverse things. You will cry, They beat me, but I did not know it! When I awake I will seek another drink. (Proverbs 23:29-35) Follow God s protective advice and avoid the chains of addiction by not playing with a poisonous snake. Alcohol is a subtle enemy. We all know that it s not a sin to take a drink; but, it is a sin to let the drink take you. Wisdom calls us to avoid the chain-forming venom of the viper by not taking the drink. As the body of Christ, we compassionately liberate captives. We plan to start a Celebrate Recovery program. In the meantime, extract yourself from self-defeating addictions by following Eddie s prescription. Then choose to serve as a compassionate friend who helps set the captives free!

6 This week at FBC Montgomery For the complete calendar, visit Sunday, January 26 8:30 Worship Service 9:45 Bible Fellowship Classes 11:00 Worship Service International Worship Service Children s Ministry Teacher Training 4:00 Reflections & Serenity Ensembles 4:30 ABCs of Evangelism 5:00 Children s Missions Discipleship Classes One Heart/One Voice Choirs 6:00 Children s Bible Drill 6:15 Worship Service Monday, January 27 9:00 English as a Second Language 10:00 January Bible Study 5:00 Sanctuary Handbells 5:30 Deacon s Meeting 6:00 Men s Bible Study Tuesday, January 28 9:00 English as a Second Language 9:30 MOPs 10:00 January Bible Study 6:00 Narcotics Anonymous GROW College Bible Study Wednesday, January 29 9:00 English as a Second Language 10:00 January Bible Study 1:00 MOMs Program 2:15 Baldwin Bible Study 4:45 First Family Dinner 5:30 Tutoring Sanctuary Orchestra Rehearsal 5:45 Graded Children s Choirs Marriage: Balanced and Blessed 6:00 First Family Prayer Time 6:30 DivorceCare Student Ministry: Powerhouse 6:35 Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Ejamat Prayer Time Thursday, January 30 9:00 Conversational English 10:00 Caregivers Support Group 6:00 English as a Second Language Friday, January 31 6:45 Friday Morning Men s Group Saturday, February 1 6:00 Narcotics Anonymous In Home Ministry Member :: Edwina Walker 3801 Oak Grove Drive, Apt 19 Montgomery, Alabama Morning Worship (8:30 & 11:00 am) He Leadeth Me Sanctuary Orchestra Who Can Satisfy My Soul Sanctuary Choir & Orchestra God of Wonders Rachel Love Message Jay Wolf Evening Worship (6:15 pm) Watching Over Me One Voice Choir Our God Keely Stroh & Robert Williams Message Jay Wolf 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