A Word from Jimmy. The Oasis Bronwen Zilmer. Spring/Summer support system for the participants.

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1 Spring/Summer 2015 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded of you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. -Matthew 28:18-20 As I reflect on all God is doing throughout our church, I just sit back, smile, and say, Thank You, God. The hands and feet of FBCL are touching so many in our community and across the world. I see more people serving and so many new faces. Lives are being changed both those being A Word from Jimmy served and those serving. Where is God leading you to serve? Here is my 3 step charge to you: 1. Find a place to serve and commit to it. 2. Share YOUR STORIES of what God is doing in and through you. The Oasis Bronwen Zilmer 3. Ask others to join you ask them to serve with you. Church, if we can do this, countless lives will be impacted, touched and forever changed. Read the STORIES in this newsletter, celebrate and determine where you will serve. Jimmy Bryan Minister of Missions jbryan@fbclewisville.org Kayla Beall Missions Ministry Assistant kbeall@fbclewisville.org The Oasis is off to an amazing start! Each Thursday in the Fellowship Center 12 men and women who are in the early stages of Alzheimer's/dementia gather along with 10 volunteers to participate in 4 hours of interactive activities. It is amazing what God is doing with this group. The Oasis has become a support system for the participants. They are able to share their joys, frustrations, and struggles dealing with dementia. Each week we create activities around a different theme. From popcorn tastings on Oscar week to a St. Patrick's Day photo booth, we pack as much fun into each week as possible. Time spent at The Oasis has quickly become one of the best parts of the week for both the participants and volunteers. We all leave with our "cups full" knowing we have provided a refuge for these participants while allowing a few hours of free time for their caregivers. Are you interested in volunteering for The Oasis? Do you know someone who would like to participate? Please contact Bronwen Zilmer at or bronwen_zilmer@yahoo.com for details.

2 P a ge 2 T HE MI SSI O N S pring/summer 2015 Summer brings special challenges to children of families who are struggling financially. Community Christian Action provides over 930 lunches each summer weekday for under-privileged children during the summer months when school lunch programs are not available. That is over 55,000 lunches during the summer. The food, which includes a sandwich, chips, Kids Eat Free Pat Davis drink, snacks and fruit, is donated to and then provided by CCA. First Baptist Church, Lewisville has assisted in this program for several years. We distribute the lunch program to approximately 125 children living in the Village North Mobile Home Park. Our responsibility is to pick-up food at the CCA warehouse and distribute to the chil- dren living in the mobile home park each day during the summer. It takes about an hour and a half to provide lunch to hungry children who would not get a meal without our assistance. Please contact Jimmy Bryan, jbryan@fbclewisville.org, or Pat Davis davispl@verizon.net if you or your Bible Study class would like to assist. Sign ups in church will begin in May. It is a very rewarding project. On March 14, a group of about 35 served at the CCA distribution center located in Flower Mound. While there, one of the groups sorted and separated boxes full of video games, DVD and movies while another group sorted large crates of shoes. These As a part of March Mission Madness 2015, 33 adults and 10 children participated in a flyer distribution to the community around our church, including our pastor and his wife. This energetic group, working in small teams, passed out over 3,000 Easter/ Spring Chicken Fest flyers, some walking as many as three miles. Volunteers prayed over the homes as they distributed flyers. Many personal conversations took place with neighbors in our community. For many, it was an Mission Madness: CCA Distribution Center Julie Cooper shoes were sorted into groups that could either be sold at the CCA store or sent to needy countries. After participating in this event, it has been on my heart that our church family Mission Madness: FBCL Flyer Distribution Brad Williamson eye opening experience. Participant, Jim Wilkinson, who teaches in our College Ministry, voiced that I think anyone could do it. We enjoyed walking down the streets putting FBC cards on people s doors. I feel blessed for helping. needs to serve more unconditionally. Let's get our hands dirty, germs and all. We have plenty of soap. Remember that the people we serve don't live in fancy houses. Some don't even have a single pair of shoes to wear. Thanks to the following for participating: Curtis Ford, Dave Zenker, Jon & Brooke Miller, Bobby & Cindy Taylor, Kris Rogers, Ken & Shannon Koonsman, Chris & Mikel Porter and family, Jessica Packard, Kayla Beall, Sarah Bloss, Craig & Cindy Zoller, Jim Wilkinson, Tammy & Austin Kinley, Susan McClelland & Avery, Will & Haley Irwin and family, Richard & Kat Stern, Clint & Julie Hammer and family, Braxton & Katie Bragg, Amy Rosier, Jo Lynn Black, Brad & Ruby Williamson, Brooks Williamson, Stephen & Marcie Hatfield

3 T HE MI SSI O N S pring/summer 2015 P a ge 3 Mission Madness: Spirit Horse Lisa Bobzien First, I would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to the astounding 125 volunteers that came out on Saturday, March 28 to Spirit Horse! You all gave both your time and energy to assist this amazing ministry with some projects that needed to get done. Some of the projects were spreading out sand in three arenas (which provides safety for those on horses), installing a new hot water heater so they have the ability to bathe the horses with warm water, replacing and repairing leaking gutters, patching a leaking roof, fixing broken fences, and trimming low hanging limbs to protect both the horses and their riders. There were also some cosmetic fixes that were accomplished: painting interior doors, cleaning windows, planting flowers, weeding, restraining gar- den benches, and raking up leaves. We had ladies bake cookies all day for the Spirit Horse children and our own Jimmy Bryan slaved over the grill to provide lunch for all of the volunteers, staff, Spirit Horse patients and their families. There was a very special dedication to our own Jamie Kibel, a FBC member who passed away the Friday before she was to begin working for Spirit Horse, that occurred. I enjoyed meeting many new FBC folks and serving alongside you. A special thanks to Jimmy Bryan, Kayla Beall, Scott Williamson, and all of the Project Leads for helping make this day be as productive and organized as possible. Earlier this month FBC recognized Charles Fletcher, Founder and CEO of Spirit Horse, for receiving the Purpose Prize and $100,000 which he donated all to Spirit Horse allowing riders to come off the waiting list. If you have not yet had the pleasure of going to Spirit Horse, I invite you to volunteer! If you have a Bible study class that would like to do a group volunteer day please contact me at or lisabobz@hotmail.com and I would be happy to help coordinate. Blessings, Lisa Bobzien Serve the Lord with gladness Psalm 100:2

4 T HE MI SSI O N S pring/summer 2015 Operation Christmas Child Susan McClelland P a ge 4 Our Preschool and Children Ministries have adopted Operation Christmas Child as our missional emphasis. Each month we are collecting different items to fill shoebox gifts. In the fall we will host a shoebox packing party. Our shoebox gifts will be shipped to one of over 80 countries around the world. Each shoebox opens the door for the gospel to be shared with a child and his/her family. OCC partners with local churches to offer a 12 week discipleship program for children who receive a shoebox. Lives are changed, families are changed, communities are changed all because of a simple shoebox! What We Are Collecting: April: Bar Soap & Washcloths May: Stuffed Animals June: Small Balls and Dolls July: Brushes, Combs, and Hair Accessories Drop-off Bins are in the Preschool and Children s Hallways Children s Ministry Mission Opportunities Julie Hammer VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL JOURNEY OFF THE MAP, JUNE 22-26, 9am 12am It s not too late to volunteer to teach kids in VBS! Don t miss this opportunity to share God s love with kids! Questions? Contact Julie Hammer at August 1. their For more neighborhood. information, contact Packets jhammer@fbclewisville.org. are available me at at the Info jtaylor@fbclewisville.org. VBS WALK YOUR Centers beginning Sunday, BLOCK June 7. The week of June Children s Ministry is challenging FBCL members to prayer walk and place door hangers on the houses in VBS YARD SIGNS Want to help with VBS in a simple way? Place a yard sign in your yard beginning Sunday, May 3! Yard signs Guatemala - Student Trip Jeremy Taylor This will be a week that is all about 6-12 graders and those wanting to work with students to serve in Guatemala. We will partner with existing ministries in both construction and relational opportunities. We cannot wait to see what happens in the lives of both those we meet and those who are faithful to the call to go! This trip will be July 25 through

5 T HE MI SSI O N S pring/summer 2015 P a ge 5 Missions in Music Kelvin Reed & Missy Iley The Music Ministry of FBCL is making final preparations for our Student Music Mission Trips. This summer we have 174 students and leaders who will be traveling during the week of June Priority Middle School choir will take a group of 70 students and adult sponsors to Corpus Christi, Texas, leading several backyard Bible schools and ministering to senior adults. There will also be work crews doing yard work, helping local churches with maintenance needs, feeding and ministering to people in and around the Corpus Christi area. Two of the songs in this year s concert will be sung completely in Spanish. Our Voice of Praise High School choir is taking 94 students and leaders to Jacksonville, Florida to minister in that part of the country. In addition to singing several concerts in the area, we are teaming up with Words to Works Ministries to serve in the area food pantry, homeless shelter, doing several work projects and providing 2 sports camps for lower income areas. We will also be hosting a block party and singing at 2 nursing homes. I recently came across an article recounting the death of Karen Watson, a missionary who was killed in Iraq in When she died, a friend found a letter Karen had written only to be read in the event of her death. In the letter she said, I was not called to comfort or to success but to obedience There is no joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving him. A Word from Kayla In this day and age it is so easy for me to focus on ways to be happy. People make me happy. Painting makes me happy. Tacos make me happy. But joy, true joy, is not an external thing. Joy comes from praising the One who made the people, paint, and tacos. Joy comes from spending time in His Word. Joy comes from volunteering at CCA. Joy comes from going on a mission trip. God has called us to follow Him. He has told us to go and make disciples. Throw the excuses of being too busy, not having enough money, or being inadequate out the window and obey what He has called us to do.

6 Places/Opportunities to Serve May Every Sunday Every Monday Every Tuesday Every Thursday May 4 & 18 May 28 June Every Sunday Every Monday Every Tuesday Every Weekday starting June 8 June 1 & 25 June 1 June June June18 June July Every Sunday Every Monday Every Tuesday Every Weekday July 6 & 20 July July 25 - August 1 July 23 Franklin Park & Evergreen Apartments CCA Senior Adult Ministry CCA Food Pantry Early Stage Alzheimer s/dementia Support Group - The Oasis Caring Hands Sewing Ministry Meeting MAGIC Game Day Franklin Park & Evergreen Apartments CCA Senior Adult Ministry CCA Food Pantry Kids Eat Free Caring Hands Sewing Ministry Meeting MAGIC Gospel Luncheon Voice of Praise Mission Trip Priority Mission Trip MAGIC Game Day Vacation Bible School Franklin Park & Evergreen Apartments CCA Senior Adult Ministry CCA Food Pantry Kids Eat Free Caring Hands Sewing Ministry Meeting Church Wide Guatemala Trip Student Guatemala Trip MAGIC Game Day Continuous Open Service Opportunities: Spirit Horse: Contact Lisa Bobzien- lisabobz@hotmail.com Chin Ministry: Jo Lynn Black- jblackville@gmail.com CCA: Jimmy Bryan- jbryan@fbclewisville.org HOW CAN I SERVE IN THESE AREAS AND/OR OTHER FBCL OPPORTUNITIES? Contact Jimmy Bryan at jbryan@fbclewisville.org OR Kayla Beall at kbeall@fbclewisville.org.