S H A R I N G S H A R O N F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 BE THE CHURCH Matthew 5: 13a - 14 Where Can I Bless My Savior? As born-again believers, we all long to see the Lord s return; to see Jesus standing on the edge of heaven, calling us all home to forever be with the Lord. And as we walk through this dark and cold wilderness, that promise of the Lord s appearing warms our hearts and brings peace to our souls. Yet this promise, when held against the backdrop of Christ s sufferings and sacrifice, is quick to remind us of the multitudes that will perish and be forever lost when that great day is come. His suffering reminds us of what His Church is to be about; and that is to seek and to save the lost, For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10), especially as we anticipate the Lord s imminent return. (Heb 10:25). The Burden that our Savior has for souls has been imparted to every believer, and that burden will naturally find its way into some area of service or work of the same. Jesus is happy to afford His people the opportunity and the occasion to serve Him, and none of us are denied of that blessing. To share with the world what Jesus has shared with you and I is fundamental to our faith. And so, we ask, Jesus, you gave all, now what can I do? Well. have you considered the Bus Ministry? The Bus Ministry at Sharon Baptist Church is one of those opportunities. It is a blessing that God has graciously granted us. It brings with it all that the Lord would have us to do in fulfilling His Commission to the Church; to seek and to find, to go ye therefore, to compel them to come in, that my house may be full. When considering all that a Bus Ministry has to offer, you re hard pressed to find a more effective way of getting the lost to Christ. So often the Bus Ministry is branded as a laborious and arduous work, yet how that work blesses the Lord and how He in turn blesses His Church, far out-shines any difficulties it may endure. The fruit that is born from this Ministry is tremendous and could never be rightly measured on this side of heaven. continued next page
Those that are reached through our buses are generally the young and unchurched, and this is where the seeds of the Gospel are more readily received. Consequently, as we plant the good news of Jesus Christ in our coming generations, the principles of sowing and reaping are sure to abound. Thank the Lord that He has purposely provided us a way to reach those that are least likely to be shown the love of God, or get to Church, or to hear a clear presentation of the Gospel. As an example, some boys on our buses got saved not long ago, and as I was getting their information, one of them, a 5 th grader, could not give me his last name He literally didn t know it. Beloved, this is the world that we live in today. Now ask yourself, how else would they have heard, or where, or when if at all? The Blessings of God usually go hand in hand with hard work, and the Bus Ministry is no stranger to its many forms. Buses are expensive; in fuel, tires, insurance, and in time. It takes a dedicated team of people to move it forward; from the Pastor, to the Director, to the Captain, to the Driver; to helpers and mechanics. There are those that faithfully pray, and generously give, and cook breakfast PTL! Yes, it takes a lot to make it go but it s worth it. The charge of the Bus Ministry demands an incorporation of the Body of Christ like nothing else, and what could be a more satisfying testimony to that Body than to know it is being used of God? My friend there isn t one! In Matt 25:21, Jesus encourages us with these words, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. I m convinced, by witnessing first hand the saving power and life changing influence of the Holy Spirit in this ministry, that our Savior will repeat that verse again and again to the faithful hands that have labored, and do labor, to bring them in. If you are in search of a place of service, if you desire the blessings of God and want to be a blessing to Him, then I submit to you the Bus Ministry. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalms 126:6 Spencer Close, Bus Director Matthew 5:13a 14 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 2
CHILI COOK OFF 2019 The annual Chili Cook Off will be on March 9, 2019, 12:00 PM. Get those chili recipes ready! If you haven t signed up to enter your chili yet, the sign-up sheet is on the back table in the Sanctuary. Note: Participants entering chili need to have their chili in the kitchen by 11:45am on March 9 th. Late arrivals will not be judged. If you don t want to make chili, please bring the chili toppers shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped onion, crackers, etc, as well as desserts. Mary Samuels Sunday Sunday School 9:45 am Morning Service 11:00 am Choir Practice 5:15 pm Evening Service 6:30 pm Wednesday Patch The Pirate Club 7:00 pm Adult & Teen Services 7:00 pm Thursday Visitation 6:30 pm Friday Faithful 9:15 am Saturday Bus Worker Visitation 9:30 am Family Out Reach 10:00 am Remember to check google calendar for current info. A Recipe for Hostess Ministry Thank You! Diana Gates Gently combine one generous cup each of caring and commitment. Slowly stir in a heaping cup of joy. Turn mixture out onto a surface lightly floured with faith and knead thoroughly, using lots of elbow grease. Sprinkle with laughter. Turn into pan and bake. Share with others! Mary Samuels 3
It will be a tremendous time that I know in my heart you will not want to miss. God has been working in our hearts and preparing us that we would be a blessing to you. By The Fireplace, is a theme filled with joy, strength and victory thru our Lord Jesus. Pray, plan and be here to receive all that God has for you. I strongly encourage you to invite everyone you can. 4 Our Theme for the Ladies Retreat this year, By The Fire Place. September 20 th and 21 st Friday night From 5:45 pm till 6:45 pm there will be registration, a light supper and vendors will be open, and we will start at 7:00 till 8:30. Saturday registration and vendors will start at 9:00 am till 9:45 am. We will start at 10:00 am and should be done between 2:30 3:00 pm. There will be a wonderful lunch served all included in the cost. There will be many prizes and fun to be had as well. This event is open to teenagers 14 years old and up and we will have some sessions just for them. As always the Ladies Event is geared for YOU. Cost for Friday and Saturday will be $35 and for just Saturday it s $30. (Sr. Pastor s wives are free. We do have special things we set up for our Sr. Pastor s wives so we do ask you to register and if you can t come please let us know.) All that are registered and paid by August 26 th will be entered into the Grand Prize drawings. All registrations have to be in by September 15 th. After that the cost will be $45.
We are planning to go see this on May 1 st 2020. It will be a Friday and the show time is 3:00 pm. We do have to go ahead and pay for the tickets to be able to get the seats we want. We need you to sign up now or very soon if you are seriously interested and then pay for your ticket by March 1 st 2020. More info is on the flyer that is out and the sign up sheet is on the back table in the Sanctuary. March 10 th Lift up others and you will be lifted up too! HELP WANTED Looking for a place to serve? We are looking for two or three more ladies to help us on the Hostess Committee. We have good times of fellowship while setting up for the big dinners. We work hard but have fun doing it. If interested in joining the Hostess Committee or just finding out more information, please contact Mary Samuels. March s Mission Your mission this month to be an encouragement to someone and send out cards to someone in the church you don t know. If you have any questions, please call Tim Bailey @ 757-570-5068. March Activity Thursday March 21 st at 6:00pm meet at Sandi Griffin s house. 203 Greenwell Dr. Hampton 5
YOUR MISSIONARIES As most of you know, here at Sharon Baptist Church, we help support over 60 different missionaries around the world. Did you know that once every two months or once a quarter, they will send us a prayer letter including prayer requests and praises of what is going on in their ministry? These letters are posted on the mission s board each week in correspondence with the highlighted missionaries in the weekly prayer bulletin. Some of these are single female missionaries that are helping alongside a pastor and his wife. The following are two of these ladies we support and pray for. There is a small clip from each of their latest prayer letters. If you want to read more or receive their prayer letters in your personal email account please see Shannon Grandinetti. It is exciting to read what goes on in the lives of our missionaries. Submitted by Shannon Grandinetti Jennifer Andrews Missionary to the Country of Lichthenstein The last couple of months have found me in scenarios where I had to wait on God s timing because I just didn t see how I could work things out myself. My sense of timing, of course, made perfect sense to me. It always does. But rarely does God s plan work out for me that way. I have sat in Bible studies recently, staring at the person sitting across from me and thinking to myself, I have no idea how to help you. Those are the times when I desperately want the right answer to come out of my mouth, but most recently, I have had none. However, what was needed at the time was not an answer. They needed a person just like them that didn t have answers either a person who would take the problem to heart, pray over it, and wait for an answer. What they needed was an answer from the Lord, not an answer from me. Deana Hewston Missionary to the country of Scotland Just last night, after kids club, one of my 8 year old girls had some questions on what it meant for Jesus to be your Saviour. This girl has been coming since Holiday Bible Club and has obviously been listening. I was able to share with her how she could be saved and she called on Jesus to save her. She was very sure and knew that was what she wanted. Continue to pray for Melek as she now will be growing in her relationship with Christ. Her mum was very supportive and we are praying she will be able to be baptized in April at our next baptism service. 6
3 Jacqueline Walker 5 Susie Close 6 Gail Klaiss 10 Ed Caldwell 14 Barbara Graham 18 Madison Klaiss 20 Taylor Kimbrough 26 Sandra Hooper Happy Anniversary Jim & Claudia Lynskey 54 years! Good Soup! ¼ cup chopped onions 1 tablespoon oil 2 cans of petite diced tomatoes in tomato sauce ½ head of cabbage chopped Half of a Beef Kielbasa Sausage cut into thin circles 1 carton chicken broth (or two cans) 1-2 small potatoes cut into bite size pieces About a can s worth of water Put oil into stock pot and sauté onions add meat then add everything else. Bring to a boil and then turn down to simmer for about 40 mins. Add salt and pepper to taste. Will feed 4-5 people. Just double the recipe to feed more and it will be good for several days in the refrigerator. I have at times added a half can of corn which was very good in it also. Submitted by Gail 7
March 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 10 th 1 2 9:30 am Bus Prayer 10 am Outreach 3 Deacon s Mtg 5:00 pm 10 Singspiration 6:30 pm Ministry Mtg 7:30 pm 4 5 6 Prayer & Bible Services, Teen Service & Patch The Pirate Club 7:00 pm 8:00pm 11 12 13 Prayer & Bible Services, Teen Service & Patch The Pirate Club 7:00 pm 8:00pm 7 8 14 15 9 10 am Outreach 12:00 pm Chili Cook-Off All entries must be in the kitchen nlt 11:45 16 10 am Outreach 17 Baptism News Articles Due 18 19 20 Prayer & Bible Services, Teen Service & Patch The Pirate Club 7:00 pm 8:00pm 21 22 23 Work Day 8:00 am 24 25 26 27 Prayer & Bible Services, Teen Service & Patch The Pirate Club 7:00 pm 8:00pm 28 29 30 31 REVIVAL with Dan Knickerbocker Regular service times on Sunday and at 7:00 pm Mon- Fri Choir Practice - Sundays 5:15 Patch The Pirate Club - Wednesdays 7:00-8:00 Adult & Teen Services - Wednesdays 7:00-8:00 Visitation - Thursdays 6:30 pm Faithful - Fridays 9:15 am Outreach - Saturdays 10:00 am 11 8