INSIDE:
Building Campaign First on Mission
READ THE WOR D
App: First Baptist Owensboro Facebook: FBC Owensboro Instagram: fbcowb Twitter: @fbcowb 270.683.3505 | fbcowb.org PASTOR, Paul Strahan pstrahan@fbcowb.org ADMINISTRATION and MINISTER TO SENIOR ADULTS Bob Farmer bfarmer@fbcowb.org MINISTER OF DISCIPLESHIP Wesley Dunn wdunn@fbcowb.org MINISTER TO CHILDREN Suzie Horner shorner@fbcowb.org MINISTER TO STUDENTS Will Smith wsmith@fbcowb.org MINISTER OF RECREATION/MISSIONS INTERIM TBA
MINISTER OF MUSIC Derry Billingsley dbillingsley@fbcowb.org PRESCHOOL/WOMEN’S MINISTRY COORDINATOR Cheryl Goss cgoss@fbcowb.org OFFICE MANAGER Judi West jwest@fbcowb.org ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Michele Burton mburton@fbcowb.org Susan Dant sdant@fbcowb.org Maeghan Adams madams@fbcowb.org FINANCIAL SUPERVISOR Barbara Wright bwright@fbcowb.org
January March 2 016 Passage Matthew 1-2 Matthew 3-4 Matthew 5-6 Matthew 7 Matthew 8-9 Matthew 10 Matthew 11-12 Matthew 13 Matthew 14 Matthew 15 Matthew 16-17 Matthew 18 Matthew 19-20 Matthew 21 Matthew 22 Matthew 23-24 Matthew 25 Matthew 26 Matthew 27 Matthew 28 Mark 1 Mark 2-3 Mark 4 Mark 5 Mark 6-7 Mark 8 Mark 9 Mark 10 Mark 11 Mark 12-13 Mark 14 Mark 15 Mark 16 Luke 1 Luke 2 Luke 3 Luke 4-5 Luke 6 Luke 7 Luke 8 Luke 9 Luke 10 Luke 11 Luke 12 Luke 13 Luke 14
Date 1-Jan 2-Jan 3-Jan 4-Jan 5-Jan 6-Jan 7-Jan 8-Jan 9-Jan 10-Jan 11-Jan 12-Jan 13-Jan 14-Jan 15-Jan 16-Jan 17-Jan 18-Jan 19-Jan 20-Jan 21-Jan 22-Jan 23-Jan 24-Jan 25-Jan 26-Jan 27-Jan 28-Jan 29-Jan 30-Jan 31-Jan 1-Feb 2-Feb 3-Feb 4-Feb 5-Feb 6-Feb 7-Feb 8-Feb 9-Feb 10-Feb 11-Feb 12-Feb 13-Feb 14-Feb 15-Feb
Passage Luke 15 Luke 16-17 Luke 18 Luke 19 Luke 20-21 Luke 22 Luke 23 Luke 24 John 1 John 2-3 John 4 John 5 John 6 John 7 John 8 John 9 John 10-11 John 12 John 13 John 14-15 John 16-17 John 18 John 19 John 20-21 Acts 1 Acts 2-3 Acts 4 Acts 5-6 Acts 7 Acts 8 Acts 9 Acts 10 Acts 11-12 Acts 13 Acts 14-15 Acts 16 Acts 17 Acts 18 Acts 19-20 Acts 21 Acts 22 Acts 23-24 Acts 25 Acts 26-27 Acts 28
Date 16-Feb 17-Feb 18-Feb 19-Feb 20-Feb 21-Feb 22-Feb 23-Feb 24-Feb 25-Feb 26-Feb 27-Feb 28-Feb 29-Feb 1-Mar 2-Mar 3-Mar 4-Mar 5-Mar 6-Mar 7-Mar 8-Mar 9-Mar 10-Mar 11-Mar 12-Mar 13-Mar 14-Mar 15-Mar 16-Mar 17-Mar 18-Mar 19-Mar 20-Mar 21-Mar 22-Mar 23-Mar 24-Mar 25-Mar 26-Mar 27-Mar 28-Mar 29-Mar 30-Mar 31-Mar
Please note that this plan is also accessible at fbcowb.org/bibleplan.
2016 promises to be an exciting, albeit, very busy year. Pending congregational approval, there is still much work to be done before we officially begin construction. As exciting as it will be, I realize it will be a challenging time of transition as many of us will be displaced for Sunday School. I am praying God will use the transition to continue growing us in Him. This can be a unifying and rallying time for the church as we grow together. I want to take an opportunity to say thanks to everyone who has been involved in any way in our “Connect for Future Generations” campaign. A whole lot of time and energy went into making it a success and it did not go unnoticed. Many
CONNECT
thanks also to all of you who have made pledges and given gifts toward the pro-
For Future Generations
ject. I know it has been a sacrifice for you and your family.
Pledge to Date: $3.617 million
I believe 2016 will be a banner year for First Baptist Church Owensboro. I am praying for God to do things we have not experienced before, especially in the areas of evangelism, Bible study, worship, and outreach. The Great Commission remains
PERA Committee
our marching orders. If we are to be obedient and fulfill the Lord’s commands,
Report
then we must GO into all the world with the gospel. There are many people in
The PERA Committee has
and around Owensboro who need Jesus Christ and, believe it or not, there are
been meeting with RBS ar-
some who have never heard the gospel. God has positioned FBC to be a light to
chitects to complete the De-
our community. Jesus said, “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light.” (Luke 8:16)
sign Phase plans for Phase II. The Design Phase plans are almost complete with just a few minor details to work out before the PERA Committee
What about the position vacated by Nathan? What are we going to do? We are
approves the plans and then
employing an Interim Director to take care of the CLC. The missions side of Na-
approves RBS moving for-
than’s responsibilities will be shared among our staff and lay leaders. I have asked
ward with the documents to
Will Smith to be the point person on staff who will work with the Mission Appeals
go out for bid. The church
Committee to coordinate our mission efforts. Each staff member will be assigned
has approved the architect
one of our mission partners and we will communicate with them on a monthly ba-
to
sis. We will continue missions as a major theme of First Baptist Church. Does this
Phase and the bid docu-
mean we will not replace Nathan? No, it means we are in a transition period and
ments in a previous Church
we need to see where the transition takes us as a church. As you know, staff struc-
Business Meeting.
complete
the
Design
tures change and I want to take some time to pray and explore our options. My desire more than anything is for FBC to “keep the main thing the main thing.” 2016 is a blank page with great opportunities ahead. “Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)
We anticipate bids going out by the end of February and having all of them in by the end of March. Once we have received them, we will ask for a Called Business Meeting to accept the bid for construction. We ask that you pray for this very important phase of the project.
The First Baptist Follow Up Team consists of three couples: Virgil & Sandy Barker, Bob & Peggy Hill, and Lindy & Becky Whitehead. Our goal is to keep you informed of the progress as the renovation project moves forward. We plan to provide timely updates on the construction, as well as the total amount of contributions received. The PERA Committee is working with RBS Design Group to finalize the plans and solicit bids. The bids will be reviewed by the PERA Committee, submitted to the Deacons for further review, and then to the Church for approval. Please pray for wisdom and discernment during each step of the process. I came across a quote that spoke to me as I was considering the magnitude of the FBC Renovation Project. A. W. Tozer said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." What comes into your mind about God when you try to visualize the task before us? We probably all agree that God is able to provide the resources needed to Connect Future Generations. How often do our actions reflect that belief? We go about our daily routines trying to accomplish our goals and live life to the fullest. We sometimes fail to consider how God could use our abilities, gifts, and resources to bless those following in our footsteps. 2 Kings, chapter 4, contains a story that I believe illustrates what God can do when we trust Him. A widow was facing a situation that appeared hopeless. Her husband, a prophet, had died leaving her with two sons, no income, and a very large debt. She went to the prophet Elisha seeking help with the problem. She explained, "My husband who served with you is dead. A creditor plans to take my two sons and sell them into slavery." Elisha asked her a simple question...I like simple questions, don't you? He asked, "What do you have in your house?" The woman replied, "All I have is a little flask of olive oil." It wasn't much, but it was enough. God used it to abundantly meet her needs. You probably know the rest of the story...Elisha sent her out to borrow as many empty jars as she could. He then instructed her to go into the house with her sons, close the door, and pour olive oil from the flask into the empty jars. Her sons kept bringing jars and she kept pouring. What strikes me about this story is that little phrase… “and she kept pouring.” After several of the jars were filled, she could have decided that she could get by on that and stopped, but she didn't. Elisha had told her to ask her neighbors for a lot of jars… in faith she did and in faith she kept pouring. God filled every single jar. I'm still learning the balance required between relying on God and doing my part. I need to show up with tools in hand, but also realize that God will do the heavy lifting. God provides, but there is always something for us to do as well. God allows us to participate in His miracles. Today I ask the same simple question that Elisha asked the widow. What do you have? Will you allow God to use it as He works a miracle to Connect Future Generations through First Baptist Owensboro? Virgil Barker Coordinator, FBC Follow Up Team
First On Mission Ross, Natalie, Riley Grace, and Vivian
East Asia Let me start by saying thank you so much for your sacrificial giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering last month. It is because of you that we are able to bring the gospel to over 1.3 million people who have been untouched by the gospel to this point. As many of you know, within the last year we have moved to a new location in East Asia and are now focusing on reaching an unreached people group where far less than 1% have ever even heard the gospel. The task is great and so much more than we could ever do alone, but praise the Father we don’t have to do it alone! We have the backing of churches like yours and so many other Southern Baptists around the globe. We wanted to take this opportunity to update you, our partners in the gospel, on the work that is going on here. Our family is currently living in a small city surrounded by the mountains in which our people live. Our girls love the new city, and our oldest daughter, Riley Grace, has started kindergarten this semester. She loves making new friends and is working on making lots of new friends, as she also learns the local language here. Just today, she came home to show us the new local dance and song she learned at school. I’m sure it won’t be long until both girls’ language has surpassed ours and they can serve as our translators! We, along with another family, are tasked with reaching the more than 1.3 million people in our new people group. We are seeking to do this through starting a walnut export business where we work with the local village farmers to cultivate and export walnuts. This business is giving us the access and longevity we need to be able to impact the community with the gospel and then engage
those who believe in the process of discipleship. We have started working among one particular village (that we call “Cloud Village”), and hope that as a church grows there, that church will then multiply until we see churches in every village throughout our entire people group. We know a work this massive, in a place that has been shrouded in the darkness of idols and ancestor worship for so long, will take much time and resources. FBC has already provided one part of the necessary resources in the way of your Lottie Moon and Cooperative Program giving. Even this year, you will provide another precious resource in a group of your own members coming to East Asia to work with us and our people to develop a vision as to how FBC might be involved on the ground in the future. The final resource I would ask of you, and the resource I would consider the most important resource you could provide, is your constant prayers for us and our people. Prayer has been called “a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world.” This is so true! So, as you think of us please pray: 1) For our family. Pray that the Father would protect us from the enemy’s schemes. Pray for a strong marriage and family that would provide a shining example to a broken world. 2) For person(s) of peace that would give us access to villages and people that desperately need to hear the gospel. 3) That the Father would replace hearts of stone with hearts of flesh and that many would place their faith in Christ. Blessings! Ross, Natalie, Riley Grace, and Vivian
CLC Hours Monday & Tuesday 6:30 am-9:00 pm Wednesday 6:30 am-4:30 pm Thursday 6:30 am-9:00 pm Friday 6:30 am-1:00 pm Saturday 9:00 am-3:00 pm CLC CLOSED on January 1
OFFICE HOURS Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-4:30 pm Friday 8:00 am-1:00 pm OFFICE CLOSED on January 1
Sunday Schedule 8:30 am
Classic Service
9:45 am
Sunday School
11:00 am
Elevate Service
5:30 pm
Parent beginning Sunday, January 10 6:00 pm
Evening Service
12:00 pm
January 12 January 13 January 16 January 17
Prayer Meeting Fellowship Hall
4:45 pm
Family Supper
6:00 pm
Orchestra
January 1 January 3 January 6 January 7 January 10
Wednesday Schedule
6:00 pm 4:30 pm 9:30 am
7:00 pm January 20 January 21 January 24
W4L, Awana, Youth, and Adult
January 26 January 27 January 31
Bible Studies 7:00 pm
BROADCAST INFO
Power of Praying
Choir Rehearsal
The Sunday and Wednesday schedule is the same weekly unless otherwise noted in the calendar of events.
Morning Service Broadcast on WKWC (90.3 FM) at 10:00 am and on Channel 72 Tuesday at 7:00 pm and Wednesday at 9:00 am.
6:00 pm 6:00 pm 6:00 pm
Office & CLC Closed See Sunday Schedule No Evening Service See Wednesday Schedule Seekers See Sunday Schedule Children’s Camp Mtg. Jo Nelson Bible Study See Wednesday Schedule Disaster Relief Training See Sunday Schedule Deacon Meeting See Wednesday Schedule Seekers See Sunday Schedule Business Meeting Legacy Night See Wednesday Schedule See Sunday Schedule
If more information is available about an event, you will see a page number following the title.
INFORMATIONAL PARENT MEETING SUNDAY, JANUARY 10 4:30 pm in Room 300 We are excited about taking grades 2-6 to Jonathan Creek July 10-13. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this very informative meeting on Sunday, January 10.
Minister on Call 270.683.3505 Press 9 See website, recent news, for a minister on call list.
COST: $253 Payment Due Dates: Feb. 1st $100 April 1st $100 June 2nd $53
Missions/Rec
Youth
Women
Preschool
Children
Music
Church wide
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 1 Corinthians 12:26
New Church Members
Teresa Montgomery Transfer of Letter November 29
Joshua & Sarah Fuqua pictured with Parker & Leland
Transfer of Letter December 6
Sympathy Christian love and sympathy to: •
David and Elaine Lilly and family in the death of his aunt, Doris Loge on November 30.
•
Kevin and Judi West and family in the death of his aunt, Betty VanWinkle Miller on December 12.
•
Edwina Lee in the death of her husband, John Lee on December 14.
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Congratulations •
Robert and Susan (Newberry) Morris on their wedding, November 28.
•
Gavin and Alison Christ on the birth of their son, Grayson Cooper on November 30.
•
Bart and Kari Beth (Reynolds) Adams on the birth of their daughter, Sailor Belle on December 13. Grandparents are Danny and Mary Martha Reynolds. Great grandparent Martin Wilson.
1 Corinthians 12:26 Reports on this page are November 23-December 15
NEW MEMBERS CLASS
Sunday, February 21 3-7 pm in Room 202
For new church members or those wanting to learn more about FBC!
Meal & Child-care provided
Register by Wednesday, February 17 www.fbcowb.org * 270.683.3505 * mburton@fbcowb.org
The Power of a Praying Parent Sundays at 5:30 pm Room 217 Seven Week Study Beginning on January 10 Hosted by: Suzie Horner
Learn how to turn to the Lord and place every detail of your child’s life in His hands by praying for things such as your child or grandchild’s safety, character development, peer pressure, friends, family relationships, and much more. Discover the joy of being a part of God’s work in a child’s life. You don’t have to be a perfect parent or grandparent, you just need to be a praying one. Sunday, January 10 at 5:30 we will begin a new study using the book, “The Power of a Praying Parent.” This study is designed for both parents to attend or a couple planning on starting a family someday. It is never too early to begin praying. If you do not have children, then why not become the praying adult for a child? Got teenagers? They need lots of prayer and so do you, so this class is for you.