In the month of April, I began a very important process of selfevaluation.

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1 October 14, 2012

2 THIS WEEK S CALENDAR SERVICE SCHEDULE OCTOBER The Lord's Supper A.M. services 6:00 P.M. WOW Bible Study -Loving Life from the Inside Out D :00 A.M. WOW Bible Study - Doors Spoken of in the Bible D102 9:00-10:30 P.M. Men s Prayer Wedge 20 8:00-9:30 A.M. Men s Prayer Meeting Cafe LOOKING AHEAD 25 7:00 P.M. Merge United College Bible Study Summit Classrooms 28 6:00 P.M. Candidates' Night SUNDAY MORNING 8:30 & 10:30 A.M. Pastor Grace Refocusing Our Vision SUNDAY EVENING 6:00 P.M. Pastor Vinnie Tumia WEDNESDAY EVENING 7:00 P.M. Pastor Grace Deacon's Meeting Following the Service WHY ARE OUR CHILDREN WALKING AWAY FROM GOD, JESUS, CHURCH, AND THE BIBLE? By: Pastor Grace In the month of April, I began a very important process of selfevaluation. I first took a good look at myself to determine how I could do a better and more efficient job as the Senior Pastor of FBBC. This led me to begin to look at the church and attempt to determine what we do well and what we don t. These personal inquiries led to what we know as the S.W.O.T. process. Several meetings were held in which different leadership groups met to have some candid conversations about the past, present, and future of our church. Honest and open conversation was encouraged, and I chose to attend none of these meetings so that people could feel free to respectfully critique any and every aspect of church life. All meetings were facilitated by staff pastors who shared with me a desire to make body life better in the days to come. All of the lists of information, good and bad, were put together and listed in order of frequency, urgency and priority. From this extensive list several things of concern surfaced as the most important and critical issues to address. Along with these we noted the many strengths and resources that FBBC has amassed to face the future, among them the many talented and dedicated people. During this time we spent our Sunday mornings going BACK2CHURCH. I shared a series of messages that reminded us what a local New Testament Church was commissioned to do and how we were to do it. We started with Worship and ended at Vision. We noted four key pillars of the church in which we could sum up our mission, Connect, Grow, Serve, Go. This series of messages essentially took the whole summer. The series concluded with Vertical Church on 9/15 and This Generation Now, our Vision casting Sunday, on 9/16. Nationally, with 80% of Christian young people walking away from the church after high school graduation, we asked ourselves "why?" Then we determined to do everything we could to build This Generation Now. Before we can effectively help our young people, we need to be the Church, a genuine, vibrant, compassionate and loving church. Our Bible conference followed where we reiterated our vision and focused on being a church that will more than meet the needs of our young people. Success depends heavily upon the adult population of FBBC taking the challenge before us most seriously. In the last few weeks, several leadership and strategy groups have been formed to address specific components of our vision. Among them: small groups, worship, assimilation, stewardship and oversight teams. (Continued)

3 (Refocusing our Vision, cont.) Several meetings have been held to address every important component of our vision. All of this is absolutely necessary before we will see the obvious results of all of the work and discussions. However, you will see changes for the better popping up all around you. Today we must address the need for internal change, heart change for FBBC. The message will focus on the heart of our church. As humans we are naturally and inescapably attracted by what we see externals. We make value judgments based upon what our senses first experience. Frankly, it is almost impossible to avoid this. The rubber meets the road not by avoiding these judgments but by overcoming them. We must overcome our personal bias, prejudice, preferences and presumptions to be the Body of Christ. In His incarnation Jesus put no emphasis on status and the externals of life. He intentionally was born in an animal feeding trough. He came as a baby, a carpenter, born to common parents of no social standing. He lived, ate, worked, and clothed Himself as a common man. He made Himself of no reputation confirming that what one sees on the outside pales in importance to that which is inside. Before FBBC will begin to realize its vision, there must be significant internal adjustments. FBBC must be a church where everyone is graciously invited and welcomed. There is no room for prejudice in the body. True equality is found in the Body, the Church. As God's people we are to look past the outside, the externals, and focus on the eternal needs of individual souls bound for an eternity, somewhere. We must not allow self-righteous, elitist, prejudicial attitudes cloud our vision to reach every soul with the love of Christ. THANK YOU Grace Dean Thank you for your prayers, cards, help and lovely flowers at the passing of my dad, Art Muscolino. The family was very touched. I also want to thank you for your continued prayers for complete healing from my auto accident the same day. Mostly, we know Dad is where he wanted to be. Praise the Lord. RIDE NEEDED Mary Tekle has children at NCA. She needs a ride to church on Sunday. She lives at 400 Calm Lake Circle, Apt. C. If you can give her a ride, call her at LINK SMALL GROUPS Link Our ministry to the 20s and 30s We will be having Small Group sign ups in the Commons today. You can also sign up on line at Link2030.com. These groups will begin meeting this week and end early December. We have groups meeting in homes in many locations and on a variety of evenings. Stop by our table and we will answer your questions.

4 MISSIONARY MINUTE Here are some Highlights from this week s missionary groups. Read it. It will take you a minute. Dear Pastor Grace: We are pleased to report that Water for South Sudan, Inc. has had another extremely successful drilling season. Thanks to your generous support, and many other donors like you, Water for South Sudan drilled 33 new wells this season for a new total of 137 wells. We are deeply grateful for the strong support of our donors. Enjoy the photos of the well that your donation helped to drill. Your well is in the village of Mabior Duor. Tonj North County, Warrap State. The village chief is Kon Aguer Mawien. Salva and Ater were in Rochester in June for their annual meetings with the WFSS board. They are now back in South Sudan, preparing for next seasons' drilling. Thank you again for your enthusiastic support and generosity, which will make it possible for many suffering people to have the advantage of fresh clean drinking water. Very truly yours, Salva Dut, President Christopher Moore, Chair New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms and New Yorker's Family Research Foundation are celebrating thirty years of ministry! Come celebrate with us on Friday, October 26, 6:30-9:00 P.M. at the Brook House Restaurant, 920 Elmrigde Center, Rochester, NY. The cost of the evening is $25. Rev. Jason J. McGuire, NYFRF President, will discuss strategies, insight, analysis and an action plan to retake this state for traditional values. As we celebrate and thank God for what He has done through this ministry, banquet attendees will also be given an inside track on this year's national and state elections. Register online at www. Albanyupdate.com or call Linda at for reservations. Ways to connect with this ministry: Pray: PrayerNet: Stand with CompassCare in prayer for the women that leave CompassCare still undecided about the outcome of their pregnancy. Receive a regular that alerts you to a need for prayer Prayer Team: Intercede on behalf of moms and their babies on location during patient office hours - Tues, Wed, Thurs between 12:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. and Saturday between 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Volunteer: You can find an area where your skills and passion can be used to erase the need for abortion in the Advancement Department, Marketing Department, Finance Department, Medical Services Department, or the Information Technology Department. For more info please contact Ron/ Elaine or

5 What happens to a visitor in the first 7 minutes at our church? Actions always speak louder than words. Gifts from God are freely and strategically given. God expects us to handle them with strategic care. Visitors are extraordinary gifts. Fusion-Nelson Searcy BAKED FOOD SALE To benefit the Banjara Tribal Ministries Encounter Revival Ministries supports this mission in Africa. We would like to contribute by rasing money through a baked food sale held November 6 during voting hours in the Commons at FBBC. You may help by: praying, contributing baked goods, or serving at the sale. Any donations may be dropped off on Monday, November 5 or early on Tuesday, November 6 at the South Welcome Center. Michele Feathers ; DRESS A GIRL Around the World This event is for all ages, skilled sewers or not, who want to be a blessing to those less fortunate in third world countries. Any amount of time you can donate is welcome. If you can't participate, would you be willing to supply a dessert/snack or donate items found on the list below? The Event is: Saturday, October 27 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. in the Summit Wing Material needs: - Wide double bias tape and 5/8-1" grosgrain ribbon - 1/2" or 1/4" elastic - Gently used young girls t-shirts for sizes Can have design but no writing on it. Please no stained or tattered items. - Gently used small beanie baby sized stuffed animals to be used as substitutes for dolls that cannot be shipped to a certain geographical area ***Please bring items to Summit Junior High Room*** Sign up at the North Welcome Center and Summit Teen rooms TODAY! Renae DeFrance ; ; Facebook Renae De- France YOUR T-SHIRT IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.

6 PASTORAL DIRECTORY NORTHSTAR NEWS Kids n' Cans for Christ Can/bottle drive contest Friday, October 19, Northstar Lobby ONLY - 7:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. Label ALL bags of cans/bottles & redemption receipts with teacher and grade for credit. Nickelback accepts them as well and will credit the class of your choice. 100% proceeds benefit LRB Gospel Tracts. ( ; ) CHURCH OFFICE Main Office Information Office hours are Monday Friday 9:00 A.M.- 5:00 P.M. First Bible Baptist Church 990 Manitou Road Hilton, NY (585) PHONE (585) FAX Pasta Buffet To Benefit Bryce Johnson: Tuesday, October 23, :00 8:00 P.M. The Roc Cafe 1174 Brooks Ave. There is no charge for this dinner. Donations will be accepted. This event has been planned by the NCA PTSA to help relieve financial burdens caused by medical issues over the last five years. Bryce is planning on being there for this evening. His recovery from the removal of his pancreas and islet cell transplant has been complicated and slow. If you plan to attend, please RSVP; and let us know the number of people attending. If you are unable to attend but would like to donate, checks may be written to NCA PTSA and send them to Northstar Christian Academy, 332 spencerport Road, (Designate-Johnson Benefit). Pick up a flyer on the North Welcome Center. Thank you for your support and encouragement in prayer!

7 AWANA Ministry Harvest Party On Wednesday, October 31, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., we would like to extend an invitation for ALL children ages 3 years old through 6th grade. We will have games, refreshments, treats. We will also have a devotion, and Awana children will have opportunity to say their sections for additional treats. for more info. Youth Basketball SEASON Registration for G&T Youth Basketball is open. Season is set to begin November 3. Registration forms are available in the lobby and can be submitted on-line at info/online-registration. Please contact Tim Trostle ( / ) Youth Basketball has opportunities available for you to plug in and serve the Lord! We can use coaches, assistants, and referees. Help us minister to This Generation Now through the game of basketball. Season is scheduled to begin November 3 and finish on January 12. We have opportunities in our younger divisions as well as in our teen division. Please contact Tim Trostle ( ) for info. the Funnies

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