Fellowship of Believers

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2 Fellowship of Believers Our Motto Building People to Change the World Our Purpose The purpose of Fellowship of Believers Church is to advance the Kingdom of God, transforming the culture of our community and world. Our Mission Statement The mission of Fellowship of Believers Church is to reconcile people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds to Jesus Christ, and to produce Spirit-filled disciples who will continue to fulfill the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:18-20) Our Core Values 1. Equip (Ephesians 4:11-16) We commit to equip people through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, systematic discipleship, and small groups; maturing them to become effective, Spirit-filled ministers of the Gospel. 2. Exalt (John 4:23-24, Romans 12:1) We commit to exalt the Lord through dynamic, Holy Spirit-inspired worship and praise as we offer our time, talents, and gifts to the Lord for His purposes. 3. Encourage (Acts 2:46-47) We commit to help people develop a sense of belonging, fulfillment, and wholeness through pastoral ministry, prayer, small groups, and healthy personal relationships. 4. Extend (Acts 1:8) We commit to work with our members to extend the Kingdom of God to our city, nation, and world; through prayer, missions, evangelism, and church outreach activities. 5. Excellence (1 Corinthians 10:31) We commit to do everything with a spirit of excellence and integrity of heart, upholding a standard of righteousness for the Glory of God.

3 Connection Groups Always a Place for You! Great things can happen as we connect with God! He created the stars in the sky and has a purpose and destiny for each of us. He gave us the proper gifts and talents to help us fulfill that purpose and desires us to connect with others in His love. We have many groups at FOB called Connection Groups, which are designed to help us connect with God and other people. We are dedicated to help you find where you can grow in the Lord and use all the gifts and talents that God has given you. As you do this, you will experience great fulfillment, and many lives can be touched as well. Please call the church office if you need more info on any of our groups. Thanks for getting involved! Pastor Tom Tom Wilhoit Pastor What s Inside? Church Ministry Groups... Page 2 Discipleship Groups... Page 7 Special Teams... Page 9 Care Groups... Page 11 Contact Info.... Page 13 1

4 CHURCH MINISTRY GROUPS Church Ministry Groups are designed to minister to a specific people group. They are led by Ministry Leaders and a team of volunteers who help equip people for life and ministry. CHILDREN S MINISTRY: We have many warm and friendly Children s Ministry team members who truly love working with kids. We believe in making it fun, exciting, and bringing the truth of God s Word to children while they experience the presence of God in their lives. We also have great Vacation Bible Schools and other family events to reach the community. Our Children s Ministry is directed by September Adkins. Sunday Mornings (ages 3 and up are released after worship): Nursery: We have a wonderful Nursery staff and helpers who are trained to work with the little ones. They meet in two large rooms decorated with wonderful wall murals to keep it fun and exciting. Beginners Church (3-year-olds): Our beginner s class is tailored to our precious 3-year-olds who are introduced to Jesus in a loving atmosphere with hands-on Bible instruction. This class has Bible stories, praise & worship, play, and lots of hands-on crafts. Jr. Kids Church (4 & 5-year-olds): Our Jr. Kid s Church is held in their own Noah s Ark classroom where the Bible comes alive. Hands-on Bible curriculum is taught along with praise & worship DVDs, fun crafts, & snacks! This class rotates from station to station keeping all the learners engaged as they experience Jesus first hand! 2

5 Kids Church (6-10-year-olds): The heart of Kids Church is to reach out to kids from every culture and background. We tell the great story of the Bible using puppets, media, and Nickelodeon-style games. Kids learn their Bible while having fun, and experience the presence of God during our praise & worship. Memory verses are rewarded in the Kids Bible Book Store. Wednesday Evenings (7-8:30 PM): Lil K (3-5-year-olds): We provide a fun and simple way to reach preschoolers with the transformational truth of God s Word. Through creatively taught Bible stories on DVD and active learning, preschoolers can begin to realize that church is fun and God s love for them is real. Kids Ministry (6 years old 5 th Grade): Wednesdays from 7-8:30 PM. This ministry focuses more on transformation than information. It s not just about biblical stories, but a biblical worldview. This ministry strives to teach God s truth in ways that impact a child s choices and actions. Kids must be needed, valued, and connected. By teaching them to develop a biblical worldview, we can ignite an awakening that will impact generations to come. Wednesday nights are about engaging with Jesus and having high energy fun! *We are currently in the midst of developing a new program with a new name to be released around Thanksgiving time so keep watching for updates! Word Infusion (Students 6 th 8 th Grade): Wednesdays from 7-8:30 PM. The class and teachers join the adults for worship in the main Sanctuary, and then head out to the Fortress Cafe to dive in! The Word of God is the foundation for all we do, and yet many teens (and adults!) have only a basic understanding of the Bible. In Word Infusion we dive deep into the word of God, using character studies as examples for our own lives. This in-depth, discussion generating class is geared specifically for your teens and pre-teens grades 6th through 8th, and will help them build their individual foundations based on the truth of God s Word. Teens: Don t worry; this class won t be one long lecture! There ll be plenty of structured games to blow of some energy, and apply the principles learned each week! Come ready to learn some deep stuff, and plan to have fun while you re at it! 3

6 YOUTH MINISTRY: Fortress Student Ministries exists to bring youth to genuine, real encounters with God, to deepen relationships with Him, and to reflect Him to the world. Students in Jr. & Sr. High, come enjoy the café, have fun in the youth game room, live worship band, teaching & small groups. We also have fun monthly activities, outreaches, special services and mission trips. Join one of our youth teams that meet weekly and/or monthly including the Student Council, Encouragement, Teaching, Drama, Prayer, and the Youth Worship Team. Fortress is led by Chris and Alissa Welty and meets in the Main Sanctuary on Fridays, 6:45 PM-9 PM. Students 6 th through 8 th grade also meet on Wednesday nights for Word Infusion, see previous page for details. YOUNG ADULTS: Single young adults, ages 18-34, meet the Second & Fourth Sundays of each month at 6 PM at F.O.B in the Café located outback on the north side of the property. They also have monthly gettogethers like Camping Trips, Worship Nights, Retreats, Fellowships, Local Concerts, Downtown Coffee Nights, and much more. Young Adults are also very involved in youth ministry and other church ministries on a weekly basis. Led by Jacob and Bethany Hostetler. For more info on our next event, connect with Jacob and Bethany on Facebook or YoungAdults@fobfamily.com. SINGLES: Single Adults, ages 35 and over, meet the 2 nd Friday and 4 th Saturday of each month at 7 PM in the Youth Sanctuary. Join us for movie nights, teaching, praise and worship and much more. Singles also meet often with Sarasota s Singles Reaching Singles Ministry, and are a part of many of FOB s Connection Groups. Led by Tom and Pat Swartz. YOUNG MARRIED COUPLES: This is a very transparent group that discusses real life issues affecting couples today. Come and share your experiences while learning how to apply godly principles in these situations. Ministry leaders are Josh & Tiffany Chin-Yee. Join us Wednesdays at 7 PM in the Hospitality Room. Family Dinner at 6 PM, Kids groups at 7 PM. SENIORS: Seniors, ages 50+, are encouraged to join our J.O.Y. Group (Just Older Youth) for regular activities and field trips all over our state. Of course, seniors are also very involved in our Connection Groups. Game Nights every 3 rd Monday of the month at 7 PM in Rooms A-C, downstairs. 4

7 WOMEN S MINISTRY GROUPS: Mom s Group: Tuesday Mornings 10a - 12p - Starting January 8, Mom s Group will be studying Let It Go by Karen Ehman (part of the Proverbs 31 Ministries Speaker Group) Learning how to Stop Running the Show & Start Walking in Faith. Led by Cynthia Wiley & Jody Good, meeting in Hospitality. Morning Edition: Tuesday Mornings 10a - 12p - Starting January 8, Mom s Group Women s Morning Edition will be studying Power of a Woman's Word's" - by Sharon Jaynes. Words, one of the most powerful forces, can be used for good or evil. Your words can change the course of a day, the course of a life. Led by Jerri-Lynn Halferty, meets in Rooms A&B. Evening Edition: Tuesday Evenings 7 to 9 PM. Growing in Wisdom and Faith (A Woman after God s Heart) by Elisabeth George Where can women get the wisdom that will help them make the right choices in the many decisions of life. This is an encouraging resource for women who yearn to experience real spiritual growth! Led by Brenda McNeal, meeting in Rooms A & B. Bible Study: One of the core messages of the gospel is that of total forgiveness not only that we can be totally forgiven by God, but also that we must, in turn, totally forgive others. Monday Evenings from 7 to 9 PM - Starting January 7 Total Forgiveness by R.T. Kendall. Led by Donna McCombie and meeting in Room D. Sarasota Stitchers: All who have an interest in quilting, crocheting, knitting, cross stitching, or other handwork, join us! This is a nice group for fellowship and friendship. Led by Susan Yoder on Thursdays, 9:30 AM. MEN S MINISTRY GROUPS: Prayer & Expository Bible Study: Join us as we fellowship, study the Word and Pray. Led by Pastor Don on Tuesdays, 6 AM, Hospitality Room. The Men and Women s Ministries also meet for special events such as Women s Brunches, Men s Breakfasts, Retreats, Conferences, Special Seminars, and Outreaches. 5

8 PRAYER GROUPS: Prayer for Missionaries & Nations: In conjunction with Intercessors for America, women meet to pray for our missionaries, our nation and our community. All you need is a heart to pray, your Bible, and a desire to see God s Kingdom advance. Led by Bev Dennen on the first Fridays monthly, 10:00 AM Noon in the Conference Room. ASK Prayer Network: Do you have a heart to stand in the gap for others, or do you desire to be mentored in your prayer life? Praying the Scripture is at the heart of this international prayer network. Led by Bev Dennen every 2nd Friday, 10 AM at FOB. Silent No More: Support group for those who ve had abortions or have taken part in abortions. Meets quarterly, 2 nd Fridays of Jan., Apr., July & Oct. from 6:30 to 9:00 PM in the Hospitality Room. Check out this website: or call Nadja at Prayer for the U.S.A: Do have a heart for America, to see it come back to the Lord? Join us every 2nd Sunday of the month in the Hospitality Room at 9 AM. Pre-Service Prayer: Everyone is welcome to join us in the Prayer Room on Sunday at 9 AM for Pre-Service Prayer. Visit the Prayer Room whenever the church building is open. Schedule and times are posted near the prayer room doors. Parents of Prodigals: POPS is led by a team of intercessors with a burden for prodigal sons and daughters. If you are the parent of a prodigal or know a prodigal, we would love to have you join us in lifting them up to the Father. Youth & Young Adults are invited to pray for their generation and everyone with a burden for the lost. Meet every last Tuesday of the month at 7 PM in the Prayer Room. Men s Prayer: Tuesdays, 6 AM, Hospitality Room. Led by Pastor Don. All men are encouraged to come for prayer & Bible study. 6

9 DISCIPLESHIP GROUPS Discipleship Groups are groups that meet to do a comprehensive study of the Bible and are open to both men and women. We encourage you to attend our Sarasota Bible College where you have an opportunity to earn Associates through Master s Degrees, Certificates of Ministry, and Licensing and Ordination. SBC is currently in Semester 4 in the study of Fulfilling the Great Commission, and/or Perspectives. (See descriptions below). SBC - Semester 4: Fulfilling the Great Commission: The first 6 weeks will be taught by Dan McKenrick from the book Treasure Hunters in Training, a guidebook that teaches you how to live a naturally supernatural lifestyle, expressing and demonstrating the Kingdom of God wherever you go, to whomever you meet. It is an easy, fun, strategy to help you launch out in your supernatural destiny as a world changer and revivalist. The last 8 weeks will be taught by Kevin Bowman from The Way of the Master video series. Learn to overcome your fears by using a simple, powerfully effective way to share the gospel. Thursdays at 6:30 PM, starting January 17 through April 18 (14 weeks). Those who complete this course are eligible for an Associate s Degree through Sarasota Bible College, with the completion of all 5 Semesters. Perspectives Course: One-semester, evening course on God s plan to redeem people from all nations. It integrates multiple courses- Biblical basis, history culture and strategy-into one powerful course. Mondays at 6 PM, starting January 14 through May 13 (18 weeks). Those who complete this course are eligible for an Associate s Degree through Sarasota Bible College, with the completion of all 5 Semesters. 7

10 Online Discipleship Studies: Visit to download our free Core Discipleship Materials. This will give you a solid foundation as well as train you in leadership studies. You can also download daily Bible reading guides, and follow links to many other resources. The Life and Teachings of Jesus: Join us Wednesday Nights at 7 PM in the Main Sanctuary, for a study on The Teachings of Jesus. A spiritual and saving knowledge of God is the greatest need of every man or woman. For it is as we see God that we ourselves will be changed to reflect Him. This is an exciting study to search the scriptures and see all that God has to say about Himself. The people that do KNOW THEIR GOD shall be strong and do exploits. (Daniel 11:32) Fellowship Dinner: Just before you jump into your Discipleship or Ministry Group, join us for dinner! Every Wednesday, 6 PM at the church. All ages are welcome. Suggested donation $3 per person. Shepherd s Hill Home School Co-Op: For members who home school their children, take advantage of our co-op which partners with parents to provide interactive learning, and high standards in Christian Education for children. End Time Preparations: Join Willis and Susie Derstine at their home for prayer, worship, and discuss what we need to do to get ready for the Lord's coming. Refreshments served. Meet at 3500 Prado Drive, Sarasota. Wednesday Evenings at 7 PM. Please call for more information. 8

11 SPECIAL TEAMS Special Teams are groups of people who are united around a common purpose. Together, they are able to achieve great things for the Kingdom of God, and touch the lives of many people. To be part of one of our teams, contact the office or a Ministry Leader. Prayer & Intercession Team: Many of our ministries have their own prayer group meetings. Please contact the ministry leaders or the church office for dates and times. Visit the Prayer Room whenever the church building is open. Schedule and times are posted near the prayer room doors. See page 6 for a list of various Prayer & Intercession Ministry Groups. Teaching Team: We have many teachers at FOB. They teach and mentor in Children s and Youth Ministries, Nursery, Small Groups, area Nursing Homes, our Bible College, Special Services and Events. Teachers focus on sharing God s truth and equipping people for life and ministry. Hospitality Team: Our warm and friendly Hospitality Team has two main areas. The first area is our Food Team. They provide meals for the Wednesday Fellowship Dinners, and Special Events. The other is the Greeting Teams who greet people prior to Sunday services and within some Church Ministry Groups. Music & Drama Teams: We are blessed to have many creative members who serve in the areas of music, song, dance, and drama. Our youth and adult bands and the youth drama team practice on a regular basis, while choral practices occur at various times throughout the year. 9

12 Tech Team: If you love pushing buttons, you may want to check out our various technology teams. Team members serve in the areas of Computer, Sound, and Video. Their ministry literally helps hundreds of people each week to experience the gospel. GO Team: Jesus said to Go, and make disciples. Our church offers many evangelistic opportunities such as working in the nursing home ministry, meals ministry, visitation, acts of kindness outreaches, youth and children outreaches, and partnering with local outreach ministries. We also offer many special outreach events and short-term mission trips. For a current schedule of available outreaches contact the office. icare Team: Do you love giving encouragement? Can you see yourself being a mentor, visiting people in hospitals, reaching people through phone calls, sending encouraging cards and s to church members and people outside the church? Then this is the team for you!! Call Pastor Tom at the church office to sign up. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 (NIV) 10

13 CARE GROUPS Care Groups meet monthly in homes and are led by the Elders and other Church leaders. This is a casual atmosphere involving prayer, Bible truths, and group interaction. Most groups share a meal when they meet. Ramon and Debbie Abalos (34203) Steve and Cindy Allen (34240) Michael and Vickie DiNardo (34238) Rob and Debbie Graham (34232) Sheila Henderson (34202) Dwain and Carol Lipker (34201) Bruce and Kathy Mast (34233) Nick and Nancy Serino (34235) Hans and Cindy Vandergouw (34243) Couples FOB (Josh & Tiffany Chin-Yee) * To join a Care Group contact the church office as some groups are limited in size 11

14 For more info on specific groups, feel free to contact that group leader. For general questions about any of our groups, call the church office. Fellowship of Believers Church th Street, Sarasota, FL (Office), (Fax) Our Elders Pablo and Angie Aguilera Willis and Susie Derstine (Elder Emeritus) Pastor Don and Diane Lafler (Presiding Elder) Bruce and Kathy Mast Nick and Nancy Serino (Elder Emeritus) Pastor Tom and Rhoda Wilhoit 12

15 Staff Contacts Children/Youth Secretary Christy Jackson Children s Nursery Dir. Ann Pekarek (Contact Home Phone) Children's Director September Adkins SAdkins@fobfamily.com Church Ministries General Information KMorgan@fobfamily.com Counseling Tom Swartz TSwartz@fobfamily.com Discipleship/Groups Tom Wilhoit TWilhoit@fobfamily.com Event Scheduling Eileen Douglas EDouglas@fobfamily.com General information Eileen Douglas Go@fobfamily.com Hospitality Ministry Janet Brown Hospitality@fobfamily.com Missions Diane Lafler GoMissions@fobfamily.com Music Secretary Vickie Swartz VSwartz@fobfamily.com Outreach Tom Wilhoit TWilhoit@fobfamily.com Pastor Don Lafler DLafler@fobfamily.com Pastor Tom Wilhoit TWilhoit@fobfamily.com Pastor Don s Secretary Eileen Douglas EDouglas@fobfamily.com Pastor Tom s Secretary Kailey Morgan KMorgan@fobfamily.com Receptionist/Front Desk Rachel Koch RKoch@fobfamily.com Sarasota Bible College General Information KMorgan@fobfamily.com Shepherd's Hill School Christy Jackson CJackson@fobfamily.com Singles Tom Swartz TSwartz@fobfamily.com Website Issues Kailey Morgan KMorgan@fobfamily.com Youth Director Chris Welty CWelty@fobfamily.com Young Adults Jacob/Bethany Hostetler YoungAdults@fobfamily.com 13