Volume 71 Week of February 25, 2018 Number 08 Office: Prayer Line:

Transcription

1 First Baptist Church Montgomery Beacon bring them in...build them up...send them out Volume 71 Week of February 25, 2018 Number 08 Office: Prayer Line:

2 CONNECTIONS from your Pastor s Heart Joining God s Work in India Praise the Lord and make His deeds known to all people. (Psalm 105:1) In 2004, I met Nazir Masih, an extraordinary Kingdom entrepreneur who led the First Baptist Church in Chandigarh, India. He invited me to explore God s work in one of the least evangelized sections of our world. In 2007, Douglas McElvy joined me on a mission expedition to northwest India. God connected our hearts with Nazir and we forged a partnership resulting in FBC Montgomery facilitating a church planting movement in a region that is 99.5% non-christian. The latest chapter of our partnership was written in the last two weeks. Doug McElvy, John Ashworth, Rhon Jones, Innes McIntyre and I traveled about 20,000 miles to dedicate 6 more churches funded by FBC Montgomery. The total number of churches now stands at an astonishing 29, with two more waiting to be constructed. It feels like we are writing new chapters in the book of Acts! When our team departed on February 6, we experienced some travel challenges. Over the years, the Lord has taught me that beyond the fence of adversity there awaits abundant Kingdom fruit. When we touched down at 5:00 am in Paris, there was a beautiful blanket of snow which became an ugly travel barrier. Our India flight was cancelled and a 3 day wait in Paris was projected. We called on Brian Gay, our amazing missions minister who brilliantly devised an alternative flight through Moscow to Delhi. Unfortunately, our luggage was lost. We finally arrived in India in high spirits but on low battery with no bags. We pressed on, rode for five hours to Ludhiana where a few months ago, an evangelical pastor was murdered for hosting a revival event. However, our partners are faithful and fearless. We met Pastor Harpaul at the new church building which was draped in lights and topped with a blazing cross. FBC Faithfulness Sunday, February 18, 2018 ATTENDANCE Bible Fellowship Enrollment 5206 Bible Fellowship Attendance 1549 Weekly Attendance 2109 Discipleship Attendance 1245 OFFERING Required Weekly $128, Received Sunday $82, Required To Date $898, Received To Date $837, Building Fund Sunday $1, Building Fund to Date $3, Under Budget $515, $61, continued on page 5

3 The 2018 Young Worshiper s Club (YWC) continues this Sunday, February 25! 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. For more information, contact Glen Leathers at or gleathers@montgomeryfbc.org. YWC young worshiper s club Ministry Announcements Preschool Ministry Our Spring Celebration and Egg Hunt will be Saturday, March 24 from 10:00 am to Noon in the Perry Street lot. We need lots of candy for the Egg Hunt! Please bring a bag of candy and place it in one of the bins in the main sanctuary foyers by Sunday, March 18. For more information, visit www. montgomeryfbc.org/egg-hunt or contact Nancie McQueen at or nmcqueen@montgomeryfbc.org. College Ministry College Students...Join us for ELEVATE on Tuesday, February 27 at 8:00 pm in the youth center with free dinner served from 7:15 to 7:45 pm. For more information, contact Justin Law at or jlaw@montgomeryfbc.org. Missions Ministry The upcoming Cuba Mission Project needs the following items by Sunday, March 4: travel-size toiletries; shaving cream and razors for men and women, deodorant and unused make-up samples. Items can be dropped off at the Scott Street entrance. For more information, contact Kathy Cooper at or kcooper@montgomeryfbc.org. There will be a Brazil Mission Trip Interest Meeting on Sunday, March 18 at 7:30 pm in room 347. The trip is scheduled for July 6 through July 20. Team members will have the option of going for the entire trip or just the first week. For more information, contact Brian Gay at or briang@montgomeryfbc.org. Music Ministry On Sunday, February 25, FBC will participate in a Global Hymn Sing in the morning worship services. Come join with hundreds of thousands of people in thousands of churches all over the world as we sing Jesus Shall Reign as an act of unity in God s Mission. 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 and One Voice Choir (grades 9-12) will travel to Cincinnati, Ohio on June 9-17 for a week of music and missions. Both choirs rehearse on Sundays at 5:00 pm. Don t miss this opportunity! First Family Dinner Wednesday, February 28 No reservations required! Adult & Children s Meal: BBQ Ribs, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Salad, Dessert Adult Family Meal $5; Child s Meal (12 & under) $3 Maximum Family Amount $20 (immediate family only)

4 First Baptist Foundation The First Baptist Foundation Scholarship Applications are now available. All completed applications must be returned by Friday, March 30. For an application, visit or Alissa Parrish at org. Children s Hope Team Members needed for a Haiti Mission Project on June 2 through 8! This team, led by Ken and Stephanie Peavy, will be based at Children s Hope s campus in Jacmel, but will travel to nearby mountain villages to visit the elderly and others to deliver care/food packages, pray, share the gospel, and will also engage and serve the community in other ways. It will be an incredible opportunity to partner with local pastors and churches to serve communities in the name of Jesus. For more information or to sign up, contact Jared McCrory at jared@childrens-hope.com or Community Ministries The Caring Center is in need of men s underwear (t-shirts, boxers, and socks). For more information, contact Judy Nuss at The Children s Learning Center is looking for an Assistant Director. If you have a desire to serve the Lord through this ministry and you have a degree or experience teaching children, submit your resume to Kim Herbert at kherbert@ fbc-cm.org or call Churchwide News & Events New Members By Baptism Jax Eiland 540 Glenmede Lane Montgomery, AL Mrs. Kyle Jordan (Dionne) Amyah Carter Ky Asia Carter 628 Glade Park Drive Montgomery, AL By Letter/Statement of Faith Mr. Kyle Jordan 628 Glade Park Drive Montgomery, AL Our Church Family If you would like to add someone to the prayer list, contact Carolyn Bryan at Baptist East Jameson Byrom Allison Cody Jackson David Hataway HealthSouth Mary Ann Johnson John Knox Rehab Emma Smith Children s Hospital Camp Hughes Congratulations Extended to Mr. & Mrs. Gene Cody (Allison) in the birth of a daughter Men, join us for the annual Glenn Gordy Golf Retreat on Thursday, April 26 through Saturday, April 28 at Callaway Gardens Resort in Georgia. Join us for a great time meeting new friends, playing golf, eating fantastic food, and

5 M.I.C. (Membership Information Class) Sunday, March 4 12:15 pm Fellowship Hall Thinking of joining First Baptist? The Membership Information Class explains what is involved in becoming effective members of FBC. The class is led by our pastor, Jay, and is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and make new friends. Be our guest for lunch and discover how to become a part of the First Family. For more information or to register, call Mark Bethea at most importantly, drawing closer to the Lord. The cost is $425, which includes lodging in Southern Pine two bedroom cottages, green fees, 18-hole cart per day, a Friday night seafood gumbo meal and prizes. Checks should be made payable to First Baptist Church. Deadline for reservations is Friday, March 23. Get your check in the mail today. Sign up by contacting Steve Dubose ( ) or Chuck Ashley ( or cashley@montgomeryfbc.org). Will you be away from FBC on Sunday? Then join us Sunday at 11:00 am as we broadcast our service live on the FBC app and website ( org/livestream) as well as our main Facebook page, First Baptist Church Montgomery (@montgomeryfirstbaptist). Connections from Your Pastor s Heart (continued from page 2) Hundreds of people welcomed our group like you would the Super Bowl winning team. Around 400 people attended the opening service of our new church. We completed the dedication ceremony by inviting seekers to receive humanity s singular Savior. Around 70 people made a commitment to Christ! Over the big fence, we found big fruit. Our 6 church dedications put us in front of over 1500 people and we saw 175 precious souls make commitments to follow King Jesus. God used our work to encourage believers, evangelize seekers, and edify the church planters. Our new Gospel lighthouses will shatter the darkness of lostness until Jesus returns. It is amazing and humbling to think a group of Christ-followers from Alabama have been entrusted with the holy privilege of assisting God s work in India. Here is a guiding principle to live by: Find where God is at work and join Him! God gave us the opportunity and wisdom to connect with Nazir Masih. The results of this partnership has produced a massive amount of Kingdom Fruit. From your neighborhood to the nations, ask God to anoint your eyes to see His work and then run to join it. Remember, everything in this life will pass, only what is done for Christ will last. Learn to climb the enemy s tall fences to find the Father s abundant fruit! Sharing Christ with Everyone TOGETHER,

6 This week at FBC For the complete calendar, visit Sunday, February 25 Mission Project: RAs to Huntsville 8:30 Worship Service Prayer Room in Media Center 9:45 Bible Fellowship Classes 11:00 Worship Service Prayer Room in Media Center International Worship Service 4:00 Reflections Ensemble VBS Preview Party 4:30 ABCs of Evangelism 5:00 Discipleship Classes Children s Missions One Heart/One Voice Choirs 6:00 Children s Ministry: Bible Drill 6:15 Worship Service Monday, February 26 9:00 English as a Second Language 10:00 JOY Singers 5:30 Deacon s Meeting Men s Bible Study 6:30 Freedom in Christ Support Group Tuesday, February 27 9:00 English as a Second Language 9:30 Ladies Bible Study MOPS 5:30 Women with Emotional Pain 6:00 Live Brilliantly WMU Dinner 7:00 Narcotics Anonymous 8:00 College Ministry: Elevate Wednesday, February 28 9:00 English as a Second Language 2:15 Student Ministry: Baldwin Bible Study 4:45 First Family Dinner 5:30 Tutoring Program Sanctuary Orchestra Rehearsal 5:45 Preschool & Children s Choirs Discipleship: Heart of Family 6:00 First Family Prayer Time 6:30 Student Ministry: Powerhouse 6:35 Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal 6:40 DivorceCare 6:45 Ejamat Prayer Time Thursday, March 1 9:00 Conversational English 10:00 Caregivers Support Group 1:30 In-Home Ministry Meeting Friday, March 2 7:00 Friday Morning Men s Group 305 South Perry Street Montgomery, AL FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH montgomery WSFA-TV Channel 12 Sunday, 10:30 am Saturday, March 3 7:00 Narcotics Anonymous The Beacon (USPS # ) is published and printed weekly by First Baptist Church, 305 South Perry Street, Montgomery, In Home Ministry Member Deborah Kay Campbell 928 Felder Avenue Montgomery, AL Morning Worship (8:30 & 11:00 am) Call to Worship Sanctuary Orchestra Parent/Child Dedication At the Name of Jesus Sanctuary Choir This Thorn Kerri Moore Message Jay Wolf Prayer Room Andrew Lindsey (Merry Hearts Class) Evening Worship (6:15 pm) Call to Worship One Heart Choir Mystery Lily Windham Message Justin Law CrossRoads Broadcast Schedule 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, 8:00 pm; Thursday, 1:30 pm & 6:00 pm Alabama Periodical postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Beacon, 305 South Perry Street, Montgomery, Alabama