The 1533 HWY 52W, Crossett, AR 71635 PH 870.364.4057 FAX 870.304.2979 ehodge@theolivechurch.org Volume 24, Number 7 MT. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH www.theolivechurch.org dtohlen@theolivechurch.org rhodge@csd.k12.ar.us JULY 2014 ssasser@theolivechurch.org mobc@theolivechurch.org
The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1) It s a beautiful morning as I m jogging along the shore and oceanfront in Pascagoula, MS. The water doesn t look bad I guess being that it s the Mississippi gulf. I mean, there s not much ocean that will look as good as Florida waters. There s not a cloud in the sky, the sun is shining, and it s awfully muggy, though there s a decent breeze. And the pier that I m jogging towards sure looks beautiful off in the distance. Other folks exercising around me sure are friendly. Adding to the blessing of my early morning outing are some of the largest, most beautiful homes I ve ever seen just across the road from me. I mean huge homes. Just humongous! With glorious views of the gulf. And honestly, I can t help wonder how much those homes cost. But guess that s really none of my business. Here s one for sale, I see. I m thinking that just maybe I ll call and inquire about the cost of the home. Just kidding. You all know better. I really believe with all my heart that I could live on the coast. Beauty, sun, and surf. The ocean, boats, fishing and on it goes. So many blessings and so many benefits. You could really call this area PARADISE! Except for one little negative. HURRICANES!! As I jog along the ocean front, I pass quite a few lots where multi-million dollar homes used to sit. But the beauty and glory of those homes are no more. There s nothing but concrete slabs now. You know why? Hurricanes! Hurricane Katrina to be exact. Hurricane Katrina blew through this paradise in 2005 and caused fear, grief, doubt, and enormous damage. Again, right in the center of a very beautiful place. So I got to thinking. In Psalm 27:5, the King David said, For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. See that? Even when we have the Sanctuary, we have the troubles. When we have the troubles, we have the sanctuary. On the other side of the blessing is trouble, grief, doubt, and destruction. Before the rainbow came to us there were very dark clouds and skies. And I guess that is what life is actually like. With the beauty of the coastal life & living comes the possibility of a hurricane. But what I know most of all is this: God is active & involved in the calm sunny day and in the hurricane. And that s the promise we have. God is always with us. So as we walk or jog into the blessings that God has put in front of us we will also trust Him when it comes to the storms and challenges of life. And that s really the only option we have. Thank Him and trust Him in all circumstances. God bless each of you. And despite whatever struggle may be in front of us, I look forward to worshipping again in a few days with you in God s sanctuary. In HIM, From the Pastor The SUMMER SERIES JOIN US ON SUNDAY MORNINGS please check the church kitchen for dishes you may have left behind or forgotten. Thanks! Sunday, July 13, 9:20 A.M.
Here are some tournaments at MOBC; -Nintendo & Wii Nite will be July 9th -Frisbee tag will be July 16th -4 Person Volleyball Tourney July 23rd -8 Ball Tourney July 30th A note of thanks goes to Donna & Scott Sasser for leading & teaching our youth VBS! We were blessed by God with the way they presented the material, FAST TRACKS. Our Bible Study for July is RESILIENT FAITH. The sessions are Focused Faith, Active Faith, Enduring Faith, Ready Faith, Joyful Faith, and a Victorious Faith. Our Discipleship Training is FIRST HAND FAITH and our Wednesday night Studies are Summer VACATION. This month we will be asking, What time is it? It is time to let Christ be more and you and I LESS!. Overtime will be July 13th & July 27th, starting at 7pm. The theme is living our faith! Our trip to LR s, Wild River Country is July 11th. Cost is $26, we must have 15 going to get this group rate! The Mt. Olive Softball team is having FUN playing at the Crossett Ball park. If you want to play, see Richard Stich! To our SENIOR ADULTS Let me say, thanks VBS teachers for a job well done! They were Jessie Farmer, Larry Land, Allene Moore and Jason Sasser. Our Monthly Meeting will be July 14 th at 11:30am. We will have a pot-luck fellowship. The church will provide Spaghetti, Chicken & dumplings, Tea & Rolls and you all take care of the desserts! Mike White will be ministering to us through his singing! You really will miss a blessing if you miss this day. Our date to Share a meal with our shutins is Tuesday July 29 th. Let s meet at 10:30am, fix the meals and try getting the plates to their homes by 11:15am. In Christian love, July 9- Nintendo & Wii Nite July 11- to Wild River Country July 13- Overtime July 23-4 Person Volleyball Tourney July 27- Overtime July 30-8 Ball Tourney Sundays 10:40 AM- Bible Study Sundays 5 PM- DT Wednesdays 6 PM- WNL
F.R.O.G.s Swimming & Bike Ride is Sunday, July 6 at 12-2 PM. (For Righteous Girls Only) We will ride our bikes to the Shaffer s home to swim! CentriKid Share Time is Sunday, July 6 in the Evening Worship beginning at 6 PM. Afterwards the campers and their families are invited to the City Park for a cook out! Another Wild Wonderful Wednesday is on July 9! We ll load up and go to Chemin-A-Haut to swim! 11 AM to 3 PM. Bring $5 and a sack lunch. Invite friends! B.U.G.s Lunch & Fishing at Lucas Pond is Sunday, July 13, 12-2 PM. (Boys Under God s Supervision!) Bring your buddies! Kid s Luau is Wednesday, July 30 at 6 PM! Mark your calendar in August for Camp Can Do scheduled for August 11, 12, and 13! Children s Church for K-3 rd grade is the last Sunday each month. Children leave the Morning Worship Service during the fellowship time and meet in the Fellowship Hall with Craig & Joan Chain. For His Kids- to our JULY Stars! Jacob Chain - 7/1 Megan Wilcox - 7/14 Wesley Blankenship - 7/27 Trinity Brown - 7/29 Kid s Luau! Wednesday July 30 6 PM Please remember the following CentriKid campers and leaders in your prayers as they experience deep Bible study, dynamic Worship, unique track time, exciting recreation, and growing closer to the Lord. Madison Barnett, Mykayla Bell, Jacob Chain, Andrew Grissom, Hannah Johns, Tori Porter, K.W. Rial, Colin Stagg, & Leah Weaver. Leaders are Regina Hodge, Craig Chain, Thomas Hodge, and Ben Wilcox. CentriKid Share Time is Sunday, July 6 in the Evening Worship. Afterwards the campers and their families are invited to the City Park for a cook out! Kid s Swimming at Chemin-A-Haut Wednesday, July 9 11 AM - 3 PM bring $5 & a sack lunch
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 7 PM Meeting 11:00 AM Young at Heart Officers and Meeting 4th of 6 12-2 PM FROGs Swimming & Bike Ride 6 PM CentriKid Share Time 7 8 9 9 AM 6 PM MOBC Young at Heart Music at 11 AM - 3 PM Homebound Stonegate Villa Children to Ministry Chemin-A- Haut Nintendo & Wii Nite for 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 12-2 PM BUGs 11:30 AM Lunch & Fishing Young at Frisbee Heart Monthly Tag for 2 PM Nursing Home Meeting 2 PM Mercer Baby Shower ACBA CHILDREN S CAMP @ BEECH SPRINGS 20 2 PM Stich Wedding Shower 4 PM Deacons CENTRIKID AT TIMERCREEK CAMP IN PULASKI MS 21 22 23 2 PM Young at Heart Choir 4 Person Practice & Volleyball Desserts Tourney for to Wild River Country 24 25 26 27 AM Children s Church w/chains 28 29 30 3:30 PM 4th 10:30 AM Monday Share a Meal 6 PM Kid s Worship at Stonegate Villa With Shut-ins LUAU 8 Ball Tourney for 31 Baby Boy Shower Sunday, July 13 2 pm at the Association Office honoring Shannon & Lance Mercer Everyone Is Invited God Has Blessed Their Lives Come Celebrate Everyone Is Invited to a Bridal Shower honoring Bailey Stich Bride Elect of Kevin Stewart Sunday, July 20 2:00 PM at the Association Office
Mt. Olive Baptist Church 1533 Hwy 52 W Crossett, AR 71635 THE MESSENGER - PRINTED MONTHLY Return Service Requested SYMPATHY The staff and church family of Mt. Olive Baptist Church expresses sincere & heart felt sympathy to the following: Pat Bowers Family - Cindy Hamilton s father Waylon Caine Family - Nina Adair s brother-in-law Billy Courson Family - Destiny Courson s grandfather, Shawn Barnett s step-father Carrie Dodd Family - D. C. Dodd s mother Jeanne Griffin Family - Leah Hendrix s aunt Glenn Hollis Family - Hollie Smith s grandfather, Rickey White s uncle James Lochala Family - Lois Farmer s brother Imogene Young Family THANK YOU Thank you notes have been received from the following and are on the bulletin board: Ethel Blackwell Carlene Bryant Donny & Summer Crow Betty Johnson Christian Johnston CHURCH STAFF ERIC S. HODGE, Pastor DAVID TOHLEN, Assoc Pastor, Students SCOTT SASSER, Min. Music / Worship REGINA HODGE, Min. Children / Preschool LEAH HENDRIX, Church Secretary VICKI SHIRLEY, Financial /Asst. Secretary MELISSA JONES, Building Supervisor July Deacon Visitation Mike Shirely, David Bell VITAL SIGNS/JUNE SUNDAY SCHOOL General Officers Preschoolers Children Adults New Members Visitors 1 3 13 14 13 67 5 4 14 12 15 68 8 15 22 29 6 4 10 9 15 58 10 2 11 11 15 60 3 3 12 14 9 67 9 TOTAL WORSHIP TOTAL DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING 115 136 42 119 140 32 106 134 n/a 102 128 41 STEWARDSHIP Receipts on 6/1 Receipts on 6/8 Receipts on 6/15 Receipts on 6/22 Receipts on 6/29 114 n/a n/a 9,995.75 4,604.18 5,153.25 5,755.90 7,149.00