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 F E B R U A R Y HEADING INTO THE UNCHARTERED TERRITORY

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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 F E B R U A R Y N. Wayne St. Warren, IN office@warrenfirstbaptist.net SUNDAY SERVICE Sunday School - 9:00am Church Service - 10:00am YOUTH GROUP F.B.I. (3-7th grades) 4:00-5:30 pm Thrive (8-12th grades) 5:30-7:00 pm OFFICE HOURS Pastor Rusty Strickler Mon-Thurs 8am-12pm Secretary Dakotah Spears Mon-Fri 8am-12pm RUSTY STRICKLER CONTACTS Phone: pastorrusty128@msn.com HEADING INTO THE UNCHARTERED TERRITORY You let go, you learn as you go and keep going, no matter what. These words were penned by Tod Bolsinger in his book, Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory, to express the attitude and character Meriwether Lewis and William Clark exhibited as they discovered three hundred years of experts had all been completely and utterly wrong. Lewis, Clark and their Corps of Discovery team had been commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to find the cherished water route connecting the Pacific Ocean to the Mississippi River that everyone believed existed. After 15 months of going upstream, they looked forward to letting the current swiftly whisk them to the Pacific Ocean. Instead, what they found was not a gentle slope down to a navigable river but the Rocky Mountains stretching for miles and miles. When the Mandans had told Lewis and Clark that the mountains ahead needed to be crossed, they pictured the rounded tree-topped bluffs of the Appalachians. There was no Northwest Passage. No navigable river. No water route. Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery were about to go off the map into uncharted territory. What was before them was unlike anything behind them. Bolsinger applies principles from the Lewis and Clark expedition to the church moving forward into the future. Too often the church thinks and acts like the future will be like it was in the past. Only to find the geography, the culture and mindset, to be vastly different from what we have known. So how do we navigate when we are about to go off the map into unchartered territory? Here are two of the principles Bolsinger described as necessary for the church to cross unchartered territory of ministry in a new era: 1) Reframe their entire mission and 2) Reorient the church culture through creating an environment of healthy relationships FBC has been moving into new and unchartered territory. We have actually reframed our entire mission. Have you seen? Have you heard? Have you felt our new Mission? The Holy Spirit is pulling the FBC family together to rethink, regroup and pursue our God-given calling so we might have fruitful labor. Our Mission Statement is Loving God by loving others. The Apostle John put it this way: 1 John 4:19-21 (NASB) 19 We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. We are loving God when we are loving people! This helps us reframe our mission. The second principle Bolsinger noted was the reorientation. But how do we reorient the church culture? First, we share and unify the leadership. Many played a part in formulating the Mission Statement. Secondly, we need to build quality relationships based on how well we know and trust one another. Trust is established in a group, a community, a team or a family through constant, consistent actions of character

2 and values. The core principle for developing trusting relationships, according to Bolsinger, is for people to engage in meaningful work together. Then trust and knowledge of one another grows. When knowledge and trust grow, love is strengthened. The church was involved in establishing these four priorities: discipleship, missions, service and fellowship. If we work together on the goals and strategies we developed on January 8, 2017, we will develop knowledge of one another, trust and strengthen our love for one another. We need your help, your trust, and your knowledge. Because we have answered the call to follow our Lord Jesus Christ, who also calls us friends (John 15:15 (NASB) 15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.) and gives us to each other as brothers and sisters (John 19:26-27 (NASB) 26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He *said to His mother, Woman, behold, your son! 27 Then He *said to the disciple, Behold, your mother! From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.), these relationships are even more critical. For the mission Jesus entrusted to his followers (John 20:21 (NASB) 21 So Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you. ) is expressed to the world through the love that the disciples have for each other (John 13:34-35 (NASB) 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. ). Live Jesus! Pastor Rusty It is possible to prepare for the future without knowing what it will be. The primary way to prepare for the unknown is to attend to the quality of our relationships, how well we know and trust one another. Margaret Wheatley WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY I want to encourage you to join with me and others for our Wednesday Morning Bible Study. We worship, share, pray together, and study God s Word. We meet weekly at 10 am, for 1 hour on Wednesday Mornings. We are studying the book of Galatians. We will be using an Intervarsity Study Booklet. Here s their encouragement to study Galatians: We all want to be accepted by our family, by our friends and most of all by God. But so often people accept us only if we are attractive, smart, wealthy or powerful. So we work hard to project the right image and to conceal our faults. We often transfer this attitude to our relationship with God. We fell we must earn his acceptance. If we could only work harder, live better, pray longer, witness to more people then we might get on God s good side. In Galatians Paul challenges this kind of thinking. He says it s futile to try to earn God s acceptance when we are already accepted in Christ. His message frees us from living out of a sense of guilt. We find fresh assurance of God s love and renewed power to serve him. Join us as we study the message that frees us from living out of a sense of guilt. We will be living out of a sense of forgiveness and calling. If you have any questions or would like to get the study booklet, contact Pastor Rusty at pastorrsuty128@msn.com or (Ch.) or (Hm.) AMERICAN BAPTIST WOMENS MINISTRY WRITTEN BY LOIS SPEARS ABW news: Due to bad weather ABW did not meet in January, but we received great news from the State: The total monies received for 2016 ABW IN. State Project is $30, which means that each of the 3 Baptist camps will receive a little over $ 10,000 for necessary improvements! Our annual pie auction in October contributed in a large way to meeting that goal. Hats off to all of you!

3 TEN YEARS AGO THIS MONTH PRECIOUS MEMORIES WRITTEN BY VELMA SOUERS February 2007 Duties Deacon of the month - Joe Wiley Ushers - Jeff Richison & Scott Roberts Alcolytes - Brad & Sarah Bothast Sunday School Pianist - Peggy Bush Worship Organist - Velma Souers Worship Pianist - Joe Wiley February 4: Greeters: Sharpe Family Nursery: Mike & Kathy Trout Children's Church: Christy Neuenschwander February 11: Greeters: Mitch & Julie Trout Nursery: Anita & Mackinzie Sharpe Children's Church: Anita Sharpe February 18: Greeters: open Nursery: Vicki Eckman & Kim Park Children's Church: Brinda Johnson February 25: Greeter: Brian Conwell Nursery: Nancy Richison Children's Church: Anita Sharpe TWENTY YEARS AGO THIS MONTH On February 2, 1997, members of the CIA youth group served as baby-sitters for the Lamplighters/Genesis Sunday School class party. A Chili Supper and Family Sharing Night was sponsored by the CIA youth group, on February 9th with 65 guest attending. Special thanks went to Jim & Darlene Spangler for helping prepare and serve the meal. Tonya Buzzard, Cleo Parish, Shaun Lewis, Laurie Trout, Courtney Minniear and Mindy Spangler shared their talents. On Sunday, February 16th, Centennial Concert III was enjoyed by our congregation as the Homeland Quartet, from the counties of Adams, Blackford and Wells, led us in morning worship. The 7 member group consisted of 4 vocalists who were accompanied by keyboard, percussion and bass guitar. There were many smiles on faces as we enjoyed a full grange of southern gospel songs, harmonies and humor. We also heard the individual testimonies of the group's members. Our initial contact with these folks came from Emily Souers Bothast and we were grateful that she introduced us to members of her extended family and their musically gifted friends. The group included Jeff Shady, Karen Todd, Bob Bothast (father), Sue Bothast, Corbin Ray, Bob Bothast(son) and Steve Tumbleson. ABW met on Tuesday, February 18th at the church. Carol Fulk read a letter from Mary Trout and opened with devotions by reading Ephesians 4:31-32 and an article, "Be Kind to One Another." She also shared several quotes from church bulletin boards and a poem titled, "I Ain't Dead Yet." Lois Spears gave the lesson on Love gift, conducted the business meeting and gave prayers for our Special Interest Missionaries and Scholarship Student. Refreshments were served by Marilyn Landon to Lois Spears, Carol Fulk, Phoeba Wiley, Neoma Hill, Linda Morgan, Velma Lewis and Florence Parrish. February 22nd was the first date to order Centennial Shirts. T-shirts, sweatshirts and polo shirts could be ordered in blue with our Centennial logo embroidered on them. Ladies Night Out was held on Friday, February 28th. Eleven ladies enjoyed traveling to Fort Wayne to watch a movie and eat out. Those attending were: Claudia Minniear, Kim Park, Julie Thompson, Diane Woodward, Christy Neuenschwander, Dyveke Cox, Cathy Trout, Anna Richison, Julie Burnworth, Lisa Yarger and Nancy Richison. Pg 3

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7 FEBRUARY EVENTS Feb 1- Bible am Feb 2- Feb 4- Financial Peace University Registration Deadline Feb 7- Deacons Feb 8- Bible am Feb pm Feb 11-Men's am Kim's Katered Affair Feb 12- Communion Feb 12- Board of Christian Ed Meeting (After Service) Feb pm Calico Room, Heritage Pointe Feb 15- Bible am Feb 15- Ladies Night pm Mecates in Huntington Feb 16- Financial Peace Feb 22- Bible am Feb 23- Financial Peace Feb 26- WAY 5pm - KBC YOUTH GROUP Feb 5th- Regular Youth Group 5:00-7:00 pm SERVING IN FEBRUARY Deacon: Jim Spangler Greeting: 5- Sandlin Family 12- Park Family 19- Cindy Strickler 26- Janet Moriarity Nursery: 5- Anna Manry 12- Emily Bothast 19- Brooke Richison 26- Sarah Bothast Worship Leader: 5- Joe Wiley 12- Mindy Fairchild 19- Sophie Smekens 26- Open Ushers: Scott Roberts, Dave & Nick Neuenschwander Acolytes: Lucy Fairchild & Kendal Zavattaro Feb 12th-Regular Youth Group 5:00-7:00 pm Feb 19th- Regular Youth Group 5:00-7:00 pm Feb 26th- WAY Meeting 5:00 KBC LADIES NIGHT OUT Attention Ladies... you are invited to fellowship at Mecates Mexican Grill in Huntington on the third Wednesday of the month. The ladies meet at 6:00 p.m. and enjoy visiting with each other, taking a break from the busyness of the week. If you are interested in carpooling from the church, please contact the church office. Invite a friend.. The more the merrier! Everyone is welcomed. Feb 4- Dewey Jacks Lois Walling Feb 14- Debbie Wiley Feb 15- Jordan Bieber Feb 16- Emily Bothast Feb 21- Cassidy Sandlin Feb 22- Johnna Cummins Feb 24- Brooke Swaidner Feb 28- Darrell Stroud Darlene Spangler (29th) Pg 6