theforecaster Joe Martin Inside This Edition: Wednesday, January 6, Volume 69, Number 1

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1 theforecaster Wednesday, January 6, Volume 69, Number 1 Joe Martin By: Fred McGhee Joe Martin is now in his 9th decade as an involved member at Fairmount Christian Church. He was born on January 13th, 1930, and named Joseph Sire Martin, Jr., the son of Joseph Sire Martin, Sr. and Nellie Blair Melton. (You may wonder where the middle name "Sire" came from. Read on to get the answer to that trivia question.) Joe says that he is blessed to have had parents that required him to attend services on Fairmount Avenue on Sunday mornings and evenings. He credits his parents and others at Fairmount for providing a strong foundation for both his belief in Christ and his desire to serve his Lord and fellow man. You cannot talk to Joe for very long without him mentioning the love of his life, Mildred. He says that the choir director at the time, Ethel Atkins, got them together at a cantata. He married Mildred in 1950 and says that he benefitted greatly from their union. We here at Fairmount have benefitted greatly from that union and their legacy is proof of that. As a young couple, they had a desire to start a youth group at The original Fairmount Quartet - WW Wilson, Joe Martin, Charles Allen, and Gene Worrell Fairmount. They received permission from the elders and their idea continues to be a blessing to us today. They wanted to get the youth involved with the Church and would have gatherings and parties specifically for them. Even though they had to deal with rambunctious youngsters such as Doug Martin and David Armistead, they believed it was important to teach them about living for Christ at a young age. We can agree that those two, and many others, turned out to be strong advocates for spreading the Good News. Joe would also recommend that a young man named Bill Bosher be youth director. That (Continued on page 2) Easter, Joe & Mildred Inside This Edition: The Legacy Series: Joe Martin... Pages 2-3 New Members... Page 4 Our Church... Page 4 Kids & Teens... Insert

2 page two Wednesday, January 6, 2016 (Continued from page 1) recommendation worked out pretty well also. Joe credits his bride with coming up with the idea to start the first youth choir at Fairmount, The Good News Singers. This group of youngsters performed at conventions and churches throughout the state with Joe driving the bus to wherever they had a concert. For their first show, they needed a spotlight and they got Earl Tucker to approve $250 for it. What seems normal today would sometimes be met with opposition way back in the middle of the 20th century and the Good News Singers were known to use such scandalous and controversial instruments as the guitar and drums in some of their Joe in the Cadet Corp Good News Singers performances. They felt that if using these instruments would spread the Gospel message in a positive manner, it was worth trying. That idea seems to have also worked out pretty well at Fairmount. Being a positive influence on others has always been important to Joe and his family. You can do that by having the discipline to do your best and by serving others. When he was a First Lieutenant in the cadet corps at John Marshall High School, he was taught "how to act, how to dress, how to be a person. If you didn't follow the rules, you were out." This training helped him when he served his country in the United States Coast Guard from 1952 to He was washing dishes on board one day when a superior commented that he had never seen the dishes cleaned that well before. Joe told him that if washing the dishes was his job, he would clean them the best that he could. He was promptly promoted to storekeeper and given his first rank. Many of us who did not grow up at Fairmount still knew who Joe Martin was. George Hobson got Joe involved in playing for the Martin-Dabney softball team, but many knew Joe from the Mechanicsville Little League. Joe was the man in charge. He was a benevolent dictator who started with the Little League in 1966 and has been involved ever since serving as president, board member, treasurer, coach, umpire, fundraiser, and virtually every other position, in order to be a positive influence for the children who played there. He was adamant about following the rules and making Little League a great experience for the youth Mechanicsville Little League Joe with Linda and Joey If overzealous parents got in the way of that experience, they were politely told that they could feel free to leave. Those of us who played at MLL will always be grateful to Joe for the passion he had for us. Joe believes that influence overflows and is evident in his children. Linda, Joey, and Jody are strong believers in Christ and love to serve Him. Linda directed children's choirs beginning in the early 90s which evolved into directing Blessed Assurance, Fairmount s award-winning teen show choir from the early 2000 s. Joey was a Youth Minister in Ohio, and an elder and Bible School teacher in Indiana, where he and his family currently reside. Jody can be seen at most of our church events working the sound and technical support areas that make our services so powerful. All of them continue to serve the Lord with their talents in large part because of the influence of their mother and father. Three saved children all involved in growing God's Kingdom is a wonderful legacy to have as a parent. Joe Martin has done, and continues to do, so much to serve Fairmount. He has served as an elder, a deacon, and a teacher. He has cut grass, painted rooms, counted money, raised money, and done many other things at Fairmount, all with a desire to reach more people with the lifesaving message of Jesus Christ. He has seen Fairmount grow and was amazed when our annual budget went over $100,000! It is over 20 times that amount today. He has moved with the church from Fairmount Avenue, to Watts Lane, to Creighton Road, and watched it grow with each move. More people have been able to hear the Gospel because of men like Joe Martin. Praise God for blessing Fairmount Christian Church with a servant for Christ like Joe Martin. (Earlier trivia: The popular belief is that Joe's grandfather wanted to give Joe's father a biblical name. They would call him "Joe Sire" in order to sound like King "Josiah") Joe, Mildred and family celebrating their 40 years of marriage page three Wednesday, January 6, 2016

3 page four Wednesday, January 6, 2016 NONPROFIT AUTO U.S. POSTAGE PAID RICHMOND, VA PERMIT #1479 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED P.O. Box 788 Mechanicsville, VA Phone: (804) Fax: (804) The mission of Fairmount Christian Church: To develop followers of Jesus who: Love God, Love People and Introduce the world to Christ Our Church: January 3, 2016 Welcome to our Newest Members... Michael & Christy Kemper and Alex Olenic transferred their memberships and Mark & Diana Shebelski were baptized on January 3rd. Baby Recognition Sunday January 17, 2016 for all children born in 2015 Baby Pictures Needed! Please submit a current photo of your 2015 baby by January 10, 2016 to cbranch@fairmountchristian.org along with baby s full name, birthdate, service you will attend, and names of any grandparents or great-grandparents to be recognized. Photos can also be brought to the church office to be scanned (and returned). Please provide a photo and information even if you know you will not be able to attend on January 17th so that your child can be included in the keepsake publication. Thank you! Attendance & Giving 8:15 Worship Service: 124 Children s Worship: 4 9:30 Worship Service: 475 Children s Worship: 59 11:00 Traditional Worship: 155 Contemporary Worship: 217 Children s Worship: 76 Total: 1,110 Bible School: 652 Budget Requirements: $38,605 Budget Receipts: December 28-31, 2015: $2,901 January 3, 2016: $38,832 The Forecaster fairmountchristian.org best viewed online 2016 Sermon Theme Your Church Staff: Rick Raines - Senior Minister Chris Santasiere - Associate Minister Mike Langley - Associate Minister Tracy Thomas - Worship/Music Minister Mike Campbell - Youth Minister Ashley Sears - Children s Director Rose Williams - Early Childhood Director Bob Massey - Business Administrator Veronica Brewster - Office Manager Jef Powell - Facilities & Grounds Manager Barry Will - Technology Director Debra Houston - Ministerial Administrative Assistant Chris Branch - Administrative Assistant Carolyn Holmes - Administrative Assistant Lauren McCormick - Administrative Assistant Morgan McMullin - Administrative Assistant Crystal Griffin - Children s Administrative Assistant Amber Grubbs - Children s Administrative Assistant Krista Barnes - Youth Min. Administrative Assistant

4 Ashley Sears, Children s Director Rose Williams, Early Childhood Director Sunday, Jan. 10th Children s Choir Kickoffs & Parent Meeting If you love to sing praise to God and perform for Him, you ll want to get involved in a Children s Choir and be part of an exciting musical! A parent meeting and sign-ups will be held on January 10th at 5:30pm in Rm Children s Choirs meet from 6-7pm. Branches (3 year-olds & young 4 s) - R.111, $5 Jacob s Ladder (K s & older 4 s) - R.151, $5 Musical Performance Date: March 13th Joyful Sound (1-6th Graders) - R.150, $10 Musical Performance Dates: April 23rd-24th *Maximum of $25 per family For K-5th Gr. ~ 6-7pm in Rm. 174: A fun, hands-on Bible class for kids looking for an alternative to choir. Preteen Lock-In 5th & 6th Gr. January 29-30th 8pm-8am ~ $5.00 Eat dinner before you come. We ll have snacks, games, worship, a double-feature movie, and breakfast! Bring your sleeping bag, pillow and any overnight things you need. Sign up and grab a release form from the Kids or Teen Bulletin Board. April 8-9th ~ 4th-6th Grade VA Preteen Convention Chesapeake Conference Center Sign up on the Kids Bulletin Board, make checks payable to FCC, and place in the box at Check-In. Ashley will register everyone as a group. For kids & chaperones, the cost is $65/person if paid by 3/1, or $75/person after 3/1, which includes convention registration, dinner on Friday night, breakfast & lunch on Saturday, one night hotel accommodation, and transportation by church bus. Chaperones are needed; must be 18 or older. Contact Ashley if interested (asears@fairmountchristian.org). Baby Recognition Sunday January 17, 2016 for all children born in 2015 Baby Pictures Needed! By January 10th, please submit baby s current photo to cbranch@fairmountchristian.org along with baby s full name, birthdate, service you will attend, and names of any grandparents or great-grandparents to be recognized. Photos can also be brought to the church office to be scanned (and returned). Please provide a photo and information even if you know you will not be able to attend on Jan. 17 so that your child can be included in the keepsake publication. Thank You! Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30pm, Rm. 251 January 27th, February 3rd, & February 10th Designed for older elementary children, this 3-week class teaches the basics of deciding to become a part of God s family. Topics covered include what it means to be a Christian and what you need to do to join God s family. Sign up on the Kids Bulletin Board. Space is limited. 4th grade - high school. Thursdays from 6-7:15pm in Rm. 150 beginning January 14th. Day by Day Bible Reading Challenge It s not too late to join in - sign up on the Kids Bulletin Board and start reading today! Copies of the Day by Day Bible are available at Check-In for $15. Box Car Drive-In Friday, Feb. 26th - 6-9pm $5 per person, max. of $20 per family Fuel up with pizza and then get right to work building the car of your dreams! Bring your own supplies to decorate, boxes will be provided. (No glitter, paint, or sticky stuff, please.) Afterwards, we ll relax, enjoy some popcorn, and watch Two by Two, God s Little Creatures in front of the big screen - just like at the drive-in! Signups for Crew Chiefs and participants will be on the Kids Bulletin Board soon. Treasures in Heaven I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11 Keep memorizing those verses and visiting the Memory Station! Next Shares Store Date - January 10th Children s Insert Wednesday, January 6, 2016

5 Mike Campbell, Youth Minister 7-12th Grade community WHEN: Sundays from 9:30-10:45am (doors open at 9:15am) WHERE: FCC Activity Center 7-12th Grade Bible School Classes January Theme: Book of James w/special devotion leaders January 10th... Dick Kelly, Display Your Faith January 17th... Josh Smith, Watch Your Words January 24th... Derek Nicksich, Stay On Track January 31st... Mike Campbell, Selfishness 6th Grade Bible School WHEN: 9:30-10:45am WHERE: Rm th Grade community WHEN: January 10th after 11am worship ends WHERE: Activity Center COST: $7 After services end, come to the Activity Center. We ll get on the church vans and head to Stevi B s for lunch with your friends! We ll return to the Activity Center by 2pm where your parents can pick you up. Invite your friends! MS CONNECTion WHO: 6-8th Grade WHEN: Will resume meeting on January 10th Sundays from 5:30-7:00pm WHERE: Check in at a kiosk, then meet in the Gym WHAT: Special service projects & open gym throughout the month of January HS CONNECTion WHO: 9-12th Grade WHEN: Resumes January 10th, 5:30-7:30pm, meet at church WHERE: Jan Donnie & Kim Goodman s Home 5181 Keitts Corner Rd. (Mechanicsville, 23111) Sundays from 5:30-7:30pm Meet at the Goodman s home for a time of Bible study and fellowship or take the bus, which leaves from church at 5:30pm. CARITAS - January 31st: prepare and serve dinner, and clean up afterward, for our CARITAS guests; more details coming soon January 20th - March 9th from 6:30-7:30pm Middle School: Bible Character Study High School: Kingdom Worker Workshop Alternate Option: P.R.A.Y. COURSES: Introductory meeting on the first night of class (January 20th). These courses cost $20 which covers the cost of the workbooks and applicable awards. Contact Rose Hendricks for more information or to preregister for these courses (roseh_pack360@yahoo.com or ). Middle School: Take a faith journey where you ll meet Jesus, worship God, and learn to witness and minister for Christ. You ll create either a video or photo album to share what you ve learned and will earn the God & Church Award. Led by Rose Hendricks. High School: This final program in the P.R.A.Y. series will help you understand your call to a life of discipleship. Focusing on the life of the Apostle Paul as recorded in Acts 9:1-31, you ll learn five key elements in living your life for Christ. Participants will earn the God & Life Award. Led by Matthew Bryson. January 29-30th - 5th & 6th Grade Lock-In: Sign up on the bulletin board (see other side for more details). Wednesday Night Suppers & CORE January 20th - March 9th January 31st - Middle & High Schoolers will prepare and serve dinner, and clean up afterward, for our CARITAS guests: Watch for more details. Christmas Card Post Office Final Report A big thank you to all teens and adults who helped out with the Christmas Card Post Office last year. You processed over 9,632 cards and saved your church family more than $4, on postage! Teen Insert Wednesday, January 6, 2016