Graham, North Carolina March 2019 E-NEWS It s March and the first day of Spring is just around the corner! At least on the calendar it is. As to what the weather brings our way, we ll have to wait and see. I for one will be glad when the coats and sweaters can be put away for good and I am awakened to the sounds of happy little birds singing outside my window. March also brings us our annual emphasis on North American or Home Missions. I know that it is hard to get excited about missions here at home. I get it. We have churches on every corner, the air waves are filled with radio and TV broadcasts of religious programing and Bibles are available from a plethora of outlets including Ollies. However, the truth is we are a pagan nation. Okay, I know that may offend some of you, but sometimes the truth hurts. America was founded on Christian principles. The Bible was the primary textbook in the early schools and people began their day with a reverence for God, but not anymore. We have removed the Bible and God from our schools, prayer is no longer appropriate in public gatherings unless it is a watered-down version that has no substance. Many, if not most of the churches on every corner are poorly attended and many rooms used for storage once were filled with people studying God s Word. No, America is no longer a Christian nation. We are fast become a humanistic society focused on self-advancement and pleasure. If we ever needed to reach America, it is now. There are 325.7 million people living in the United States. In 2013, Pew Research discovered that 37% of Americans attend church on a weekly basis. That is approximately 120.5 million people who even attend church, any church on a weekly basis. Considering all the liberal churches and those who preach false doctrine. The number of evangelicals is amazingly low. Are you beginning to see a need? There is a HUGE need for ministry here in the United States, not to mention the need that is just as great in Canada. Your $50 gift will go a long way in helping reach our nation with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of you can give more than $50, others may only be able to give half of that. While writing this article, I learned that our kids collected $33 for Annie Armstrong in just one night. If your kids can do that, how much more should we be able to do? Our goal is $5000, the same as it was last year. Each light on the map represents $50 given to missions. There is no way that it should take us an entire month to reach this goal. I wish I could do it all by myself, but I can t, and you probably can t either, but together we can do great things for God. Let s rise to the challenge and light all the lights on the display map by the second week in March. Let s not forget that in addition to the beginning of Spring and our mission s emphasis, March is also the month we turn our clocks forward one hour for Daylight Saving Time. This monumental event happens at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 10. Be sure to set your clocks before you go to bed Saturday night, so you will not be late for Sunday School and church. Until next month keep your eyes focused on Jesus and your hands to the work He has called you. Pastor Bob
As you are reading this, I am beginning my Sabbatical. Some of you may be thinking it must be great to have a month off. Unfortunately, that is not the case. I am using this time to finish up my classes so that I may finish my Doctor of Ministry degree. This has been a very difficult journey, but also a very rewarding one as I have grown deeper in studying God s Word. I hope to be able to finish these last two classes and papers during this time. I want to say a big thank you to you as a church for allowing me this opportunity. You may not believe it, but I brag about you all the time to the other pastors. I am very blessed to have such a supportive and loving church behind me and praying for me and my family. I know that Pastor Bob and Phiet feel the same. We want to be thinking about our Vacation Bible School which will be here before you know it. Remember VBS is worth it. It is the biggest outreach that we as a church have all year. It has the greatest chance to impact our church and community for generations to come. Carroll Wood and Gail Sharpe our VBS directors are busy planning and getting things in order. Our VBS will be June 23-27 this year so mark your calendars and join us for amazing encounters with Jesus. For VBS to be a success we need you. Please begin to be in prayer for our students and for our workers that will be involved in this VBS. Also, be praying for where you will serve and be a part of this great outreach time for our church. Vacation Bible School is the single biggest outreach event that we as a church have all year. It is for the kids, but it is also to help us reach the families for the Lord. Don t miss out on the blessing that this week can be for yourself, our church, and our community. Keep your eyes pen for more information about training and opportunities. While I am not here in bodily form know that I am praying for you and want to make sure you are aware of some important information. You may be hearing more about this from our pastor, but I want to share with you my two cents for what it is worth. JD Greer the SBC President has asked the churches to focus this year on evangelism. He has asked each member and attender of every Southern Baptist Church to decide who your one is. The idea is that each person has one person that over this year they are going to pour into with the purpose of bringing that person to Christ. Each of us have at least one person, a friend, family member, coworker that does not have a personal relationship with Christ. If you do not have one person, go make a friend then. I heard recently that an atheist said it hurts his feelings when Christian friends do not witness to him. He said they must not like me for them to want me to go to Hell and not share what they hold to be true. Will our friends and neighbors one day say that we did not care about them, when they stand before the Lord in judgment? Do we want to stand before the Lord and Him ask us why we were silent? Please pray and commit to your one this year. Lastly, I hope in the next few weeks to share with you some amazing stories and opportunities for individuals and us as a church body to become involved. I want to challenge each of you to try and make a box a month. I know what you are thinking those boxes and the shipping is expensive. I know it is especially in one lump sum, but if you spread it out over the next couple of months it is a little more manageable. As you are out shopping and see a deal grab a few extra for your own boxes as well as some to donate to our Kids collections each month. It does work. We have a couple who are trying this and our attempting to pack two shoeboxes each month. Just know that whatever you can give will go to help tell boys and girls that Jesus loves them and has a plan for their lives. This month the kids are asking you to bring in soap, travel soap dishes, and washcloths. Last month we collected small toys (balls, cars, jump ropes, dolls, etc.). Please no camouflage or war related toys. The collection box is located behind the stairwell outside the Sanctuary. Near the time of the collection week in November our kids will take all the donated items and pack shoeboxes for kids all over the world. Be a part of this great outreach mission. Pastor Mark
BIBLE READING FOR THE MONTH March 1 Joshua 1-3 March 12 Judges 9-12 March 22 I Samuel 21-24 March 2 Joshua 4-5 March 13 Judges 13 16 March 23 I Samuel 25-26 March 4 Joshua 6 8 March 14 Judges 17-21 March 25 I Samuel 27 31 March 5 Joshua 9 12 March 15 Ruth March 26 II Samuel 1-4 March 6 Joshua 13 17 March 16 I Samuel 1-3 March 27 II Samuel 5-8 March 7 Joshua 18-21 March 18 I Samuel 4-9 March 28 II Samuel 13-14 March 8 Joshua 22-24 March 19 I Samuel 10 13 March 29 II Samuel 15-18 March 9 Judges 1-5 March 20 I Samuel 14-16 March 30 II Samuel 19 20 March 11 Judges 6-8 March 21 I Samuel 17-20 The Nail The nail is used for many things, A useful securing tool; A hammer is taken by the hand And drives it, that's the rule. A nail is needed when you build, It's a necessary thing. It was also used over two thousand years ago To hang upon a tree, the King. He took the pain and suffering For all mankind, you see. Yet He took the torture just for you, And He took it just for me. You cannot keep a good man down, Through the years many have said. He went down a man, and rose a King To deliver the spiritually dead. He is on the throne At God's right hand. The First, the Last, The Great I Am. No nail, no hammer can touch Him now-- The mighty King on high. What He built is forevermore, Salvation for you and I. So when you see a simple nail with its' sharpened end, And need to build or repair, Lift up your eyes, your heart and mind And thank Him with a prayer. Written by Laurene H. Bell
22 nd Arthur & Dona Gipple 2 nd Bobby Willets 17 th Don Moose Sandra Andrews Johnna Snead 4 th Ronald Davis 21 st Carolyn Beaman 5 th Autumn Pickard 22 nd Steve Craver Peggy Hines 6 th Penny Holderfield 23 rd Randy Paulette 7 th Curtis Isley 25 th Ken Carden 9 th Marie Parham 26 th Jenny Ayers 10 th James Pruitt 28 th Patsy Davis 12 th Junior Ray 30 th Linda Lee 15 th Judy Lineberry Frankie Thompson 16 th Andrew Harrison 31 st Will Kime Rebecca Davis Abby Thomasson Ibrahim Vandi
3 rd 4 th 10:00 AM Valda Cates Circle Genesis Circle @ O Charley s 5 th 7:00 PM Riverside Brotherhood 6 th Graded Activities 7 th 10 th Daylight Savings Time jump ahead 1 hour 4:30 PM Deacon s Meeting 12 th Josie Brewer Circle 13 th Graded Activities 14 th 6:45 PM Lydia Circle 16 th 9:00 AM Young @ Heart Pancake Breakfast 9:00 AM Women s Clothesline Conference Hillsborough 17 th St. Patrick Days 20 th 11:30 AM Widows & Friends Luncheon Graded Activities First Day of Spring 21 st 24 th 26 th Prison Ministry Birthday Party 27 th Graded Activities 28 th 31 st Singspiration
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 10:00 AM Valda Cates Circle 6 7 8 9 10 17 4:30 PM Deacon s Meeting Genesis Circle O Charley s 11 12 7:00 PM Riverside Brotherhood Josie Brewer Circle 13 18 19 20 21 11:30 AM Widows & Friends Luncheon 14 6:45 PM Lydia Circle 15 16 22 23 9:00 AM Young @ Heart Pancake Breakfast 9:00 AM Women s Clothesline Conference Hillsbourgh 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Singspiration Dept. of Corrections Birthday Party