The MT. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH www.theolivechurch.org 15 HWY 52W, Crossett, AR 7165 PH 870.6.057 FAX 870.0.2979 ehodge@theolivechurch.org Volume 21, Number 10 dtohlen@theolivechurch.org rhodge@theolivechurch.org OCTOBER 2011 ssasser@theolivechurch.org mobc@theolivechurch.org
From the Pastor "I will set out and go back to my father..." (Luke 15:18) I often call myself a "positive realist." I admit that I sometimes wonder if both of those things can happen at the same time. Being realistic and being positive? At the same time? Well, in Christ Jesus I think that they can. Jesus dealt head on with the truth and reality right in front of Him. He also truly loved the folks right in front of Him regardless of who they were. I would say that's being realistic and positive at the same time. You will remember the story of the "Prodigal Son." The story tells us that nothing changed for the Prodigal Son until he said, "I will set out and go back to my father, and I will say to him...i have sinned." This young man's story ends well. Yours can also - but you must... 1. Decide to take control of your life before circumstances or other people do. Every solution in my life and your life begins with you & me. Well, actually it begins with God and me. A new friend, a new job, or a new house or an unexpected influx of money won't cure what's wrong in your life if the cause lies in your own attitudes and actions. Give God control right now...and don't hesitate. We often have 101 excuses & reasons for the way things are right now in our lives. But what are you willing to do to change them? In the scripture, no one came looking to haul the kid home. Not even his father. The son had to do the leg work. He had to do the hard part...which was to CHANGE! 2. Face reality as it is, not as you think it should be. Do I sometimes wish things were just a little bit different? Sure I do! But that's not living in reality. The prodigal had to realize that the rules he rebelled against at home were essential to his peace and happiness, that all the fun he thought was waiting for him out there wasn't...and that he had to acknowledge his mistakes and correct them before he could get his life back on track. Isaiah 55:7 says, "Let the wicked forsake his way...and return to the Lord." God wants to intervene in our lives, but we've still got to do our part. It's often called the "H.O.W." principle Honesty, Openness, Willingness.. Act now...while you still can. The law of evolution says things evolve and improve on their own. Maybe that's true, maybe it's not. But what we know is this...certain things left unattended and uncorrected get worse, not better. That's absolutely true whether it's your health, your marriage, your finances, your children, and even your walk with God.. The journey is long...but it will end. Especially as we make the right decisions and choices. Always choose God's Will and Way. You can't go wrong that way. God is always right...and He is never wrong. Think about all the struggles in so many lives of so many people simply because they refuse to heed the Word of God and the Holy Spirit's work in and around their lives. 5. Even when you live right...there will be those that don't agree with you. Some of the unhappiest people on the planet are those that are trying to govern their lives around what other people think; always trying to make other people happy. That didn't' work in the past and it won't work today. Govern your life around what God thinks and says in His Word. If I'm making God happy...then that's really all that matters. The prodigal's older brother didn't like his brother's life and actions. But the young man was making things right. That's what matters. Remember that God always knows our heart and sees our motivations. Let's always face the reality in front of us and take action while we can. God bless each of you. I'll see you in the halls at church. God bless. In HIM, The Lord s Supper Sunday Morning, October 2
Hey youth! How s your focus with your daily BIBLE STUDY? There are ECCENTIAL CONNECTIONS to help keep morning time with God a reality! It goes with our Bible study every Sunday. Pick your magazine up this week and let this devotional keep YOU on the cutting edge with your time with GOD! Soul Surfer will be taught this month during Discipleship Training. We have Regina Hodge and Brandon Jones leading our group through this week study. Join us October 9 th in the youth room. The 0 HOUR FAMINE challenge will be this month. We get an opportunity to see what it is like to be hungry as we go without food for 0 hours. We will use this event to get sponsors from the church and community to give donations toward helping to stop world hunger in Africa. We will do this October 22-2 rd. To our YOUNG@HEART group, the month is filled with wonderful FALL opportunities of ministry toward our senior adults. Join us October rd for HOMEBOUND visitation at 9am. We also need everyone to join us at LOS TAPATIOS Mexican restaurant for our monthly meeting, October 10 th @ 11:0am. Our Young @ Heart Choir practice is 2pm, Tuesday, October 25 th. The FALL FOLIAGE TRIP is in the last of October, but we still do not know when the leaves will change, so it is TBA later this month! Let s talk to people about what the LORD has been doing with us! Give a witness for CHRIST!! In Christian love, on the Hamburg Square Sunday, Oct. 2, 5 PM FREE Hotdogs Hamburgers Chips Popcorn Snocones Soft Drinks Gospel Singing from our ACBA churches Inflatable Games for the children Bring Lawn Chairs enjoy the fellowship MOBC Evening Services & Activities Dismissed. Join us for worship at the Festival. sponsored by the Ashley County Baptist Association
Wednesday Nights: New Study- October 5, 12, 19, 26 and November 2, 6:00-7:00 PM. Beloved Disciple is a study of what the Apostle John learned about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit during his lifetime based on the study by Beth Moore. Sunday Nights in Discipleship Training: Grades 1-6. Bible Skills, Drills, & Thrills! Led by Gina Dodd. Hopefully we will have children participate in the local & state level of Arkansas State Convention Bible Drills in the Spring of 2012. October 21-22 (Friday-Saturday): J.A.M. (Jesus and Me) Camping at Chemin-A-Haut. Meet at MOBC at 5:15 PM, Friday, Oct. 21. This is for 1st-6th grade kids and also preschool with parents. Cost is $10. Sunday, October 2: B.U.G.S.- Boys Under God s Supervision -Wheel Ride. 12:00-5:00 PM at the home of Dan & Jennifer Wooten. For boys 1st-6th grade. Saturday, October 29: Face 2 Face In Your Face Fall Festival! 6:0-8:0 PM, free admission! Highly entertaining, with fun games! Monday, October 1: The Great Pumpkin Chase! 6:00-7:0 PM, trunkor-treat, hayride, S'mores, wiener roast, free admission! Coming Up in November: Time for new STARS & Mentors. Mentors be praying for which MOBC Star you would like to adopt for a year and STARS watch your mailbox or register your STAR card information online. STAR cards need to be completed and returned by November 6. Adoption takes place in November. Ministry Spotlight: Thanks to all our volunteers who serve in Kid s Worship on Sunday mornings. This ministry allows parents to participate in Sunday morning Worship and have the peace that their child is safe, loved, and taught the love of God during this time. Our Stewardship Committee will have the 2012 Ministry Budget Recommendation available for review on Sunday, October 9. The recommendations will be located in the office and the foyers of the Sanctuary. Business Meeting Sunday, October 16, 6 PM The Regular Business Meeting for October is rescheduled to this date. Presentation and discussion of our 2012 Ministry Budget will take place at this meeting. Special Business Meeting Sunday, October 2 following AM Worship The purpose of this Special Business Meeting is to vote on, with no discussion, the adoption of our 2012 Ministry Budget. to our OCTOBER Stars! Easton Cooper - 10/8 Andrew Grissom - 10/9 Britney White - 10/1 Matthew Goodwin - 10/1 For His Kids-
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Lord s Supper AM 5 PM Fall Festival Hamburg Square (ACBA) 9 AM Young at Heart Homebound Ministry Financial Peace Univ. 5 6 7 8 9 World Hunger Day PM Deacons 2012 Budget Available Melissa Jones Birthday 10 11:0 PM Young at Heart Los Tapatios 11 Financial Peace Univ. 12 1 1 15 16 PM Business Meeting 2012 Budget Presentation & Discussion 17 18 :15 Pm Ashley Assoc. Annual Meeting @ Meridian 6:00 Meal 6:5 PM 2nd Session Financial Peace Univ. 19 20 21 5:15 PM JAM (Jesus & Me) Camping at Chemin-a- Haut For Kids 22 2 Special Business Meeting AM- 2012 Budget Vote 12-5 PM Boys 1st- 6th Grade Wheeler Ride 2 PM MOBC Service at Stonegate Villa 25 2 PM Young @ Heart Choir Practice & Desserts Financial Peace Univ. 26 27 28 29-8:0 PM In Your Face Fall Festival 0 5 PM - 5th Sunday Singing & Potluck 1 6:00 PM -7:0 PM Great Pumpkin Chase Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 1:17 Since 199, Samaritan s Purse has collected more than 86 million gift filled shoe boxes to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to hurting children around the world. Over the past 18 years, there has been enormous growth in this ministry- a dozen sending countries and territories, more that 10 receiving countries, over 500,000 volunteers, and a discipleship program that is now offered in 60 countries. Mt. Olive has had the privilege of being a part of this ministry for many years. Because of your generosity, we have enough items to fill 100 shoe boxes. Come join us on Friday, November, 9 AM in the fellowship hall to pack the boxes and pray for those children who will receive them. October 0-November 1, we will be purchasing mission trip tickets, $7 per box, so that our shoe boxes can be shipped to over 10 different countries. You will have the opportunity to be a part of a mission trip without ever leaving Crossett. Our goal is to raise $700 by November 1, which is Shoe Box Dedication Sunday. See Betty Willis, Ruth White, or Vicki in the church office to purchase one or more mission trip tickets. We have been challenged by our regional OCC coordinator to increase our boxes by 8% this year. Later in October, we will place 10 OCC shoe boxes in the front lobby with an enclosed brochure containing all the details for packing and shipping the boxes. We would like to encourage individuals or classes to pick up a box, fill it, enclose the $7, and return it to the sanctuary by November 1. The filled boxes will be taken to the local drop off after Sunday, November 1.
NEW MEMBERS By Baptism Jessica Murphy SYMPATHY The staff and church family of Mt. Olive Baptist Church expresses sincere and heart felt sympathy to the following: Alton Johnson Family Dale Johnston Family - John Frank Johnston s brother Paul Peterson Family - Gayle Tohlen s uncle Diane Vail Family - Allene Moore s cousin Harold White Family - Donna Sasser s sister s father-in-law THANK YOU Thank you notes have been received from the following and are on the bulletin board: Alton Johnson Family John Frank & Margaret Johnston Amanda Martin Merle Pierce 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 VITAL SIGNS/ SEPT SUNDAY SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS General Officers Preschoolers Children Youth Adults New Members Visitors Sunday, October 2 Jacci Brockwell Jessie Farmer Becky Maxwell Margie Gardner PM Services Dismissed Melissa Bell, Melissa McCone Sunday, October 9 Joann Lockwood Jackie Morgan Darryl Lockwood Helen Johns PM Anita Wilcox, Don Wilcox Melissa McCone, Tammy Parrott Sunday, October 16 Melinda Ferguson Anita Wilcox Rhonda Parker Don Wilcox PM Anita Wilcox, Marjorie Harville Tammy Parrott, Carolyn Jeffers Sunday, October 2 Anita Wilcox Tina Maxwell Staci Stich Tonya Cooper PM Anita Wilcox, Joan Chain Carolyn Jeffers, Heather Rial Sunday, October 0 Trudy Barnett Donna Woods Casey Wilson Bonnie Mathews PM Services Anita Wilcox, Tina Boykin Heather Rial, Tonya Cooper 17 1 1 81 17 11 18 25 ENR 19 19 22 86 10 18 16 22 8 5 16 15 18 86 1 2 28 5 51 29 TOTAL WORSHIP TOTAL DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING 15 186 n/a 160 21 59 18 190 57 11 17 57 STEWARDSHIP Receipts on 9/ Receipts on 9/11 Receipts on 9/18 Receipts on 9/25 20 1,79.97 7,161.77 5,961.95 7,800.0