Baptist Messenger F I R S T B A P T I S T C H U R C H W A R R E N, I N J U N E OUR SPECIAL PRIVILEGE

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1 Baptist Messenger F I R S T B A P T I S T C H U R C H W A R R E N, I N J U N E OUR SPECIAL PRIVILEGE 727 N. Wayne St. Warren, IN office@warrenfirstbaptist.net SUNDAY SERVICE Sunday School - 9:00am Church Service - 10:00am YOUTH GROUP 5-12 Grades 4:00-5:30 pm OFFICE HOURS Pastor Rusty Strickler Mon-Thurs 8am-12pm Secretary Dakotah Spears Mon-Fri 8am-12pm RUSTY STRICKLER CONTACTS Phone: pastorrusty128@msn.com Did you know Jesus has reserved a special privilege for you? Only people are permitted and commissioned to tell others the story of Jesus Christ and how He is the only way to find forgiveness and a relationship with God. Not even the angels or demons are permitted to share this great news (See Acts 10 and Acts 16:16-18). When we hear the words witnessing or evangelizing, we get an unsettling thought. We picture going door-to-door, knocking on some stranger s door, and starting a cold-turkey conversation about Jesus. While that has been done, God s Word presents a more natural and comfortable approach. This approach has been described by Tom Mercer in his book 8 to15 (The World Is Smaller than You Think). The focus is accentuated by the Greek word oikos. Mercer defines oikos as the extended household; the most natural and common environment for evangelism to occur; a group of eight to fifteen people with whom you share life most closely, your sphere of greatest influence; the people for whom God wants to prepare you to become an ideal instrument of His grace; a microcosm of the world at large, for whom God sent His Son that all who place their faith in Christ would be delivered from the bondage of sin and enjoy life to the fullest. We each have 8 to 15 people connected with us at any one time. These 8 to 15 make up our oikos. These 8 to 15 people in our lives become the opportunity God has given us to live out that special privilege of sharing Jesus someone with whom you already have a relationship. The Deacons and I would like to invite our FBC family to join us on a journey to prepare to reach our oikos. We are asking our adult Sunday School Classes and the High School Class to read through Tom Mercer s book 8 to15 (The World Is Smaller than You Think) and discuss it using the study guide provided. We plan to run this course the first three Sundays in June. We will start in the sanctuary to watch a DVD presentation and then reassemble in our respective classes for the discussion time. The books and study guides have been ordered so you will not need to order your own. As you accept our invitation and place the oikos principle into practice, you will be joining Jesus on His mission. Jesus said He came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). Paul calls us Ministers of Reconciliation, bringing those separated from God to a restored relationship with God through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Is this not the mission Jesus initiated for His disciples at His ascension (Matthew 28:19-20)? If you have any questions or comments, please contact Pastor Rusty or one of the Deacons: Bob Bothast, Jim Bush, Joyce Buzzard, Kim Park, Jeff Richison, Karen Sandlin, Jim Spangler, or Lois Spears. For such a time as this, God has granted you a special privilege! Live Jesus! Pastor Rusty

2 AMERICAN BAPTIST WOMENS MINISTRY WRITTEN BY LOIS SPEARS ABW met on Tuesday May 9th 7:00 pm at Heritage Point. Linda Tharp opened the meeting with devotions from an article written by Nelson Mandela. We are children of God-we were all made to make known God s glory that is within all of us. As we let our light shine, we are liberated from fear of inadequacy. When our light shines, unknowingly, we give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fears, perhaps our presence will automatically liberate others. Lois Spears gave a report on Jeff & Annie Dieselberg, IM missionaries to Thailand. Annie founded a haven, Night Light International in 2005 for women and young girls in Bangkok who have been rescued from the sex slavery trade there. Annie works in dangerous situations and has actually had her life threatened because the men controlling that trade do not want to give up their source of income. After being rescued, the women and girls then are trained for legitiment work to support themselves. Some of these girls are as young as 10 or 11 years old when forced into the sex trade sometimes by their families. Jeff Dieselberg serves as Senior pastor at Night Light s church plant Song Sawang which means Shine the Light. The church was founded in Lois then offered prayer for the Dieselberg s work and for our Special Interest missionaries. Secretary and Treasurer reports were read as approved. Treasurer reported that we were able to send $ to White Cross/ IM to designate it go to the area of Human Trafficking. This concludes our WC Request for Offerings were then taken and blessed by Mary Jane. Four cards were signed for SIM s having June birthdays. We send $5.00 for each SIM and each of their family members in their birthday month. Those present were Mary Jane Craig, Phoeba Wiley, Harriett Tobias, June Pursifull, Linda Tharp, Cindy Strickler and Lois Spears. Summer Worship Leader The Deacons have asked Blane Bray to lead worship for the Summer months. Blane is the Grandson of Joyce Buzzard (though that is not the reason he was invited) and lives in Portland. Blane will be approaching worship from more of a blended worship (traditional and contemporary). He will start the second Sunday in June. Make sure you welcome Blane and introduce yourself to him a couple of times so he can learn your name. The first Sunday of June, June 4th, we will have the privilege of having the Bothast Family leading us in worship. Blane will be leading on the second Sunday, June 11th. Father s Day, June 18th, will be Youth Sunday and our Youth will lead worship. Blane will pick up the remainder of the Sundays in June, July and August. WAMA Free-Will Offering On Sunday, June 25, FBC will be giving a special offering to go to Warren Area Ministerial Association (WAMA). As the Warren area churches cooperate together, we funnel those seeking assistance from the churches through WAMA. This allows us to make sure people in need are getting the assistance they need without duplicating assistance. Since we are part of WAMA and we send people needing assistance to WAMA, we want to give an offering to help support this Benevolence Ministry. We invite you to pray and ask the Holy Spirit what He would like you to give for this offering. 100% of this offering will be given to WAMA for the Benevolence Ministry.

3 PRECIOUS MEMORIES WRITTEN BY VELMA SOUERS TEN YEARS AGO THIS MONTH Nine ladies met at the church on Tuesday evening, June 12, 2007, for the monthly ABW meeting. Harriett Tobias shared devotions, reading from Dr. Stanley's daily devotions. The passage was about friendship and fellowship. He stressed that we need God first, but we need Christian friends surrounding us second. These friends will be there to pray with us and for us. Cards and well wishes were signed for June Pursiful and Betty Irwin. The business portion of the meeting included reports from the secretary and the treasurer, the giving of offerings and prayer time. Details for the planned July 14th Bake Sale at Heritage Pointe were discussed. Mary Jane Craig, Marilyn Landon and Lois Spears debriefed the group about the annual state summer conference they had attended. They had attended workshop sessions and gathered much information including the fact that it was the 75th anniversary of the Love Gift and that representatives from Edna Martin Christian Center had shared how the $25,000 in donations was spent to improve the facility. The Missionary speakers were Debbie and Jim Kelsey. They had been stationed in Belgian but would be relocated to Italy this month. The conference included a workshop session on the Holy Land. Photographs were shown by two ladies who had recently visited the Dead Sea, the Jordan River, Jesus' tomb, the mount site of the Beatitudes and more. It was also reported that the donations by each association to the "mountain of Styrofoam" created large piles of plates, cups and bowls that were given to each of the Baptist Church camps for their summer stock. The evening ended with hostess Kristina Smekens serving Turtle Brownies and ice cream. Others attending were Carol Tribolet, Lois Spears, Marilyn Landon, Mary Jane Craig, Phoeba Wiley, Harriett Tobias, Susan Bothast and Esther Summers. FORTY YEARS AGO In 1977, The American Baptist Convention changed its name to American Baptist Churches of Indiana. The salary of the janitor was raised from $ to $ Our church contributed $200 to the "One Hour of Sharing". New hymnals, "Hymns for the Family of God" were purchased for $ The South Liberty Christian Church near Liberty Center was damaged by fire and our church voted to give them $ plus our old hymnals

4 STEPPING INTO SPRING What a delightful time FBC ladies and guests enjoyed on April 30 at the Ladies Spring Banquet. We definitely-stepped into spring as Kayla Henderson shared the background of Matilda Jane and then MC d a style show with Matilda Jane clothing. Our models received a pleasant surprise when Kayla told them they were to keep the clothes they modeled. Thank you, Matilda Jane! Next on the program was a fun musical interlude performed by Joy Frecker and Sarah Fadil. They chose a selection of fun princess worthy songs to uplift us in hopes that we would feel special, girly, and princessy. Of course, it can t be a banquet without food. Kim s Katered Affair allowed us to enjoy a wonderful meal without having to cook a thing. Now that was a real treat! Our time together concluded with each lady receiving a Kleenex packet cover made from Matilda Jane material.

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7 JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN! Writing articles is not really my forte, but I have been blessed with writing two this month. As I was trying to think what to share about the nursery, Jesus brought this song to mind: Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world What a fitting song to go along with the nursery adaptation of our vision statement: Loving God by Loving Children. If you have stopped by the nursery recently, you will notice that things have changed a little bit. We have valances at the windows, fun pictures and wall hangings on the walls, a pack n play has replaced the crib, and a few newer toys. We also have a nursery policy and special security sign in procedure. Our nursery is ready for the little children. Now we need you to begin inviting friends who have little ones, so they can see our love in action. What an exciting time it will be to see our nursery once again full of little children. Can you picture the smile on Jesus face as he says, Thank you for loving my little children. Let the children come! Cindy Mark & Chelsey Wiley Andrew & Stephanie Wiley Jerry & Lois Walling David & Bridget Swaidner Austin Wiley Brayden Wiley Nick Neuenschwander Richard Hinton Mitch Trout Kyle Spangler Scott Roberts June Pursifull Jeff & Jessica Bieber Jeff Bieber Amy Cummins Carly Spangler Roger Trout Andrew Smekens London Ferguson Josh Bush

8 JUNE EVENTS June 1- Revelation Small June 4- Youth 4pm June 4- Cassandra Jarrett Graduation June 6- Deacons 6:30pm June 7- Bible 10 am June 8- Revelation Small June 9- pm June 9- Brooke Richison Graduation June 11- Brad Bothast Graduation June 11- Program 5:30pm June 11- Youth 4pm June 13- 7pm- Heritage Pointe Calico Room June 14- Bible 10am June 15- Revelation Small 7pm June 18- Father's Day June 18- Youth Sunday June 18- No Youth Group June 18- Newsletter information deadline June 21- Bible 10am June 21- Ladies Night 6 pm The Berg- Huntington June 22- Revelation Small 7pm June 23- June 24- Johnna Cummins Graduation June 25- Sophie Smekens Graduation June 25- July Newsletter Published June 25- Youth June 28- Bible 10am June 29- Revelation Small 7pm June 30- Youth Post Parade Pick-up SERVING IN JUNE Deacon: Joyce Buzzard Greeting: 4- Wiley Family 11- Smekens Family 18- Richison Family 25- Bothast Family Nursery: 4- Christy N. & Anna Manry 11- Emily & Sarah Bothast 18- Lois Spears & Calista Jarrett 25- Bridget & Brooke Swaidner Worship Leader: 4- Bothast Family 11- Blane Bray 18- Youth Sunday 25- Blane Bray Ushers: Scott Roberts, Dave & Nick Neuenschwander Acolytes: Marissa Trout & Emily Manry