April Newsletter 2019

CHURCH INFORMATION CHURCH STAFF Ross Shelton, Pastor

rshelton@fbc-brenham.org

Annette Guenther, Comptroller aguenther@fbc-brenham.org

Troy Sikes, Associate Pastor

tsikes@fbc-brenham.org

Donella Peevler, Church Receptionist

dpeevler@fbc-brenham.org

Charles Covin, Music Minister

ccovin@fbc-brenham.org

Jodi Beckendorf, Graphic Designer jbeckendorf@fbc-brenham.org

Chad Marrs, Minister to Students

cmarrs@fbc-brenham.org

Stephanie Sheffield, Custodian Manager

ssheffield@fbc-brenham.org

Alex Morrison, Minister to Children

amorrison@fbc-brenham.org

Nancy Jahns, School Administrator

njahns@fbcsbrenham.org

Stacey Strickland, Preschool Ministry

sstrickland@fbc-brenham.org

Kristie Mendoza, Mother’s Day Out Dir.

mdo@fbc-brenham.org

Teresa McGlasson, Office Manager

tmcglasson@fbc-brenham.org

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Thurs: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Fri: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Brenham’s First Baptist Church Contact Info: Ph: (979) 836-2807 Fax: (979) 830-0122 info@fbc-brenham.org Mailing address: PO Box 600, Brenham, TX 77834

LINKS TO CHECK OUT ONLINE CHURCH WEBSITE: www.fbc-brenham.org CHURCH FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/BrenhamsFirstBaptistChurch SCHOOL FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/Brenhamfbcs 2

I N THI S I SSUE:

Special Announcements...................................................page Church-wide Calendar .....................................................page From Pastor Ross ...............................................................page Music Ministry & Piece Makers . ......................................page Thank Yous, Sympathies...................................................page Bible Studies and more ....................................................page Encore Ministry...................................................................page A Letter From Reba & Mother’s Day Out. ......................page Student Ministry ................................................................page Children’s Ministry ............................................................page Preschool Ministry ............................................................page FBC School & EEC ..............................................................page From Troy’s Heart ..............................................................page

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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CHURCH-WIDE CALENDAR

APRIL -

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Piece Makers 9:00am Student Ctr FBCS - UIL (School & EEC Closed) Church Work Day at 33 acres Lord’s Supper - Both Services Encore Luncheon 11:00am Sealand Seafood Restaurant Good Friday Holiday - Church Office/FBCS/EEC Closed Easter Sunday - 9am & 11 am Services (No Sunday School; Childcare Available) 24-26 Camp Tejas Fundraiser Meal at Bush’s Chicken

For more information on any of the above events please visit the church website: www.fbc-brenham.org www.facebook.com/BrenhamsFirstBaptistChurch

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FROM PASTOR ROSS Weather permitting, we will have a church work day on our 33 acre relocation property on Saturday, April 6th. The plan is to do the following: (1) remove the fencing and mow along Market St; (2) remove the chain-link fencing that was around where the house used to be; (3) mow and edge certain areas; and (4) put up a cross on top of the hill that will be visible to people driving past our property. The plan is to start at 8:00 a.m.

The reason I want us to do these projects is that we continue to make progress in getting closer to our groundbreaking. I know, for many, it has felt like a long time. Let me assure you that the Relocation Committee is working hard to get us to a place where we can begin construction. As you might imagine, there are many decisions that need to be made around budget, project scope, time lines, etc. Since we are getting closer, I think it is time to signal that change is coming to the property.

Concerning the cross on top of the hill, my prayer is that this will symbolize the purpose of the future buildings: to be a place where people are pointed to Jesus. I am in touch with some members about building the cross. I plan on buying some solar lights so that the cross will be illuminated in the evening. I think it will be a wonderful reminder for us and will be a sign of hope for everyone who sees it.

As we continue to embark on this journey of relocating our facilities, please continue to pray. As we depend upon the Lord and seek His glory, He will provide. To those who have given and to those who are giving financially to our Faith Building Capital Campaign, THANK YOU! I continue to pray that this relocation journey will bolster our faith and help everyone see that God is faithful.

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MUSIC MINISTRY We’re gearing up for an exciting Palm Sunday & Easter celebration where we will remember the sacrifice, grace, and triumph of our Lord, Jesus! What an awesome opportunity we have to invite our neighbors, co-workers, classmates, friends, family, and anyone else God puts in our path! Be in prayer that we will be able to share the gospel powerfully through music and Word in a way that the Holy Spirit can use to bring about His saving work in the hearts of those He draws here!

I would also like to extend an invitation for anyone who might be interested in singing with us for our God and Country Sunday this summer to plan on coming to Wednesday evening rehearsals starting after Easter. That Sunday is always a special time for us as well, as we thank God for the blessings He has bestowed on us in this great nation!

Looking for a place to get plugged in? Let’s chat!

Charles

PIECE MAKERS

Piece Makers hemmed 24 fleece blankets for Adam’s Angels Ministry in February. Attending the March meeting presentation from Adam’s Angels Ministry were Donna Culliver, Founder-Secretary, Alesia Whaley, Board Member-Fundraising Chair, A’vahlynn Cuellar - 5 year old from Brenham with Wilm’s Tumor, her mother, Tosha Cuellar and pastor Troy Sikes. A’vahlynn will be taking blankets to her appointments to comfort other children as they receive chemo treatments.

Piece Makers is committed to meeting the needs of our church and community through sewing. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month from 9 am to 2 pm in the FBC Student Center. All are welcome!

THANK YOUS & SYMPATHIES Dear First Baptist Church Family, Thank you so much for the lovely plant that arrived for my mom’s funeral.

I was touched by your thoughtfulness and caring spirit.

You brightened my day during a difficult time.

Thanks again, Susan Jenkins

Dear Church Family, I really appreciate your prayers, cards, calls and text to Glenna as she read them to me.

The dermatologist said no radiation as it would be too hard. I am using a cream and seems to be working. The Lord works our problems in different ways if we only trust and listen.

Sincerely in Christian Love, TK Condron

SYMPATHIES: The Sommers family in the loss of Bette Sommers.

Bethany Faske Ken and Linda English Dan and Glenna Pasho 7

BIBLE STUDIES & MORE

Men’s Prayer Breakfast Studying “Deuteronomy” Wednesdays, 6:00am Sycamore House Pastor’s Bible Study: The Signs of Jesus in the Gospel of John Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 112 Life at the Mountaintop: Sermon on the Mount Wednesdays, 6:30pm - Room 111

Sweet Hour of Prayer Thursdays, 10:00am Sycamore House Garage “Who Needs God”

by Andy Stanley Women’s Bible Study Wednesdays, 6:30pm, Sycamore Downstairs, Begins April 3 Bible 101: How the Old Testament Points to Christ Sundays, 9:45am, Room 111

HOME TEAM GROUPS ·Scott and Tricia Schroeder – 620 Country Place W., Meets 1st & 3rd Sunday at 5pm. ·Roger and Juanita Atkins – 9250 Lake Dr. Chappell Hill, Meeting one Sunday a month. Please call 281-389-2859 to confirm meeting time. ·Rick and Diane Houston – 808 Spinn, Every other Sunday at 7:00pm, ·Ronnie and Debbie Fathauer – 1607 Longhofer, Meets 2nd & 4th Wednesday at 6:00pm. ·Widows & Single Ladies – Pahl House, 1st & 3rd Monday at 6:00pm.

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ENCORE MINISTRY NEWS

CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAYS! Gordon Dutile Hank Suenkel Greg Cooper Karen Temple Ronnie Peddy Fred Tanner Bill Arnold Bill Whitaker Mike Cowan Bruce Drummond Jane Moorhead Kelley Sikes Geneva Walker Rod Viebig Joyce Ruley Dan Bishop Wilma Walker Helen Yeakley

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Debbie Fathauer Shirley Herring Ray Campbell Jane Barnett Beverly Whitman Marilyn Brown Jennifer Eckermann Marilyn Beardslee Rita Schneider Charlie Matejowsky Teresa Peddy Lori McCracken Louise Tanner Daphne Baker Bill Betts, Jr Waverly Craft

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A LETTER FROM REBA Dear Friends, I hope this finds you well and Praise is to the enjoying our beautiful spring God and Father of our Lord wildflowers that are popping up all Jesus Christ! He has given us around us as I write this. The hills new birth into a living hope through should be in full bloom by the time the resurrection of Jesus Christ from you read this. Have you ever compared the dead, and into an inheritance that our lives as a Christ follower to the can never perish, spoil or fade- kept in blooming wildflowers? We can put on heaven for you, who through faith are a show for a short period of time like shielded by God’s power until the the wildflowers, but God knows what coming of salvation that is ready to is in our hearts. Think of your heart as be revealed in the last time. the root of the flower and what do you 1 Peter 1:15 see? Do you see hate or do you see love, kindness, and joy? Like a plant we need to keep our hearts fertilized with the word of God to continue to grow in His goodness and grace. Let’s go out into our community and share our garden of God’s goodness and love.

A reminder to pray for our teams as they go out on mission trips also.

I hope you are all enjoying time with your families during the Easter season.

Our Senior Adult VBS will be May 28-30th from 8:00am-12:30pm. Plan to come!

One of the crafts we will be doing will be stuffing teddy bears that our Piecemakers have made, and they will go to Colombia when the mission team goes later this year.

Blessings, Reba Pair

MOTHER’S DAY OUT

It’s hard to believe that April is upon us. We will be learning about growing. How our bodies grow as well as plants, animals and bugs!

We will also celebrate Easter and how Jesus died for us.

Even though our school year is coming to an end, we are excited to start planning for the upcoming school year. Enrollment for 2019-20 will begin April 1. You can go online to the church website to find our enrollment packet or feel free to stop by our school Tuesday or Thursday from 8:30-2:30 to pick a packet up. The Enrollment fee is $100 and it holds your spot. This year we have been blessed to have all four of our classes FULL! We even have a waiting list.

So, we pray that this upcoming school year will be as amazing as this one has been. Our teachers are fantastic and have such a love for God and it shows in the children.

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STUDENT MINISTRY Happy Spring Church Family!

I just got back from my 13th mission trip to Honduras. I know I say this every year, but it was one of the best trips ever. We were blessed with another amazing team this year. It’s always fascinating to me to see how each trip is unique because of the people God placed on the team. Everyone brings a different personality, various skill sets and strengths. But the one thing we have in common is our desire to be used by God in the mission field.

The mission team included 9 students, 7 women, and 6 men. I was SO proud of our students and the way they allowed the Lord to work through them. They shared their testimonies, visited families, blew bubbles and colored pictures, played volleyball and soccer and poured themselves out to minister to the Honduran families, especially the kids. Church family, I know you would be thrilled to see them in action. Our wonderful and compassionate ladies also did an amazing job ministering to the Honduran ladies. Despite a language barrier, all the ladies bonded so quickly. They spent lots of time laughing, singing, serving and praying for one another. God used the men as well and they were nothing short of fantastic. What a great picture of THE Body of Christ. We painted a village school, and provided a bathroom for a beautiful family expecting their third child, and we strengthened our relationships with the people in Naranjal, and of course, we took beans and rice with the Good News of Jesus Christ to nearby villages.

One thing that was really exciting this year was visiting new villages. This was possible because we went during Spring Break instead of the summer. These villages are normally unreachable due to the rainy season. Some of the people said they had heard Americans visited villages, but they had not seen any. My heart leapt for joy knowing we were sharing the Gospel with a fresh new harvest. We saw 7 people start their walk with Jesus and many more seeds planted. Would you continue to pray for those we shared Jesus with? We got to plant seeds, but others must come along to water and harvest. Please pray for Keila and Mario, our Honduras friends who have chosen to minister to their people.

Guess what? I’m already planning next year’s trip. We will be going again during Spring Break and we will start signing up in October. This trip continues to make an impact not only in Honduras, but on our church family as well. This trip will fill up fast! So start praying, mark your calendars, and go ahead and get that passport.

Church family, I could never THANK YOU enough for supporting this trip in so many ways. So many of you helped to raise funds for our mission project, you helped students with scholarships, and most importantly, you prayed for us and the people we came in contact with. We felt your prayers and the Lord heard and added to HIS Kingdom.

In Him, Bro Chad

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

“She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said.” Luke 10:39 (HCSB) Good Morning, Growing up as a young boy, I can remember my dad always working on a project. Most of the time it was a car – either his or a friend’s.

Sometimes it was to do some other type of manual labor for a friend. Other times it was as simple as running to town for a part. I can remember there was a time that I didn’t care where he was going or what work we were going to do, I wanted to go with my dad. I just wanted to be around him while he worked. I wanted time with him (away from my sisters). I wanted to talk with him and sometimes just sit and watch him work.

Last week I went to Honduras and caught myself praying for the same thing with my Heavenly Father. I told Him I wanted to be with Him. I didn’t care where we would go or what work we would do, I just wanted to be with my Father. I just wanted to be around Him while He worked. I wanted time with Him (without distractions from others). I wanted to talk with Him and maybe just sit and watch Him work.

That day, I learned more about my work as a father. 1. My kids are watching – even when I am only working. I must be careful in how I model. 2. My kids are learning from me how to relate to the Father in heaven. I must be careful to love them and attend to them as my dad and God attend to me. And you? Parents, are you conscious of how/what you are modeling for your kids? Are you showing them how loving our heavenly Father is by the way you attend to them? If you are not a parent yet, are you seeking to sit at the Father’s feet just to be in His presence?

The work we do for God is not nearly as important as the relationship we build with Him. His Servant & Yours, Bro. Alex Volunteers who want to work in

VBS can sign up online today. fbc-brenham.org

Upcoming Events: Camp Fundraiser Meal Date April 24-26, 2019 Family Picnic at the 33 May 22, 2019 VBS June 3-6, 2019 Camp Tejas July 9-13, 2019

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PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES As we prepare to talk with our children about what Easter truly means to us.

Here are some Family starting points for you and you children.

Babies and Toddlers:

-God is always with us.

-People put Jesus on a cross, and He died.

-God made Jesus alive again.

-God sent Jesus to rescue us.

Preschool:

-How can we glorify God? We can glorify God by loving Him and obeying Him. -Jesus died on the cross and is alive.

Kids:

-How can we glorify God? We can glorify God by loving Him and obeying Him. -Jesus died on the cross to pay for sin and rose again to defeat death.

CALEB HOLSTER

4/12/16

BENJAMIN REYNOLDS 4/19/13

ANDERSON NELSON

4/16/15

OLIVIA GOR

4/20/16

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FBC SCHOOL & EEC We are beginning our last six weeks for the 2018-2019 school year! The year sure has gone by quickly. We are deep in the planning stages for next school year. Please pray for us as we plan. Pray specifically that God will be what guides us. His plans are perfect; and more than anything, it is our goal to serve Him first.

our texas celebration fundraiser brought in over $91,000! Thank you to all of the donors, workers and parents who made this event possible.

We are still enrolling children for next school year, but some classes are full. If you know of someone who might be interested in the education FBCS provides, please tell them to give us a call for availability. We would love to meet them and show them around the campus. Interested families may also go to https://www.fbcsbrenham.org/ for info and to enroll.

Serving Him, Nancy Jahns

SCHOLARSHIPS NEEDED

APRIL

Please consider a gift to this fund. It helps families to send their child to FBCS. The scholarships are for need-based students, and they are selected through a committee.

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PTO @5:30 4th grade field trip End of 5th grading term UIL – school & EEC closed Achievement Tests Report cards sent home Kindergarten PE Showcase Night School Spring Music performance 2:00 in sanctuary Good Friday – FBCS & EEC closed 1st grade field trip 4th grade field trip School Committee meeting Core Essentials for elementary UIL Incentive Day

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FROM TROY’S HEART Thank you for your prayers, as well as, your emotional and financial support for the Honduras Mission Trip(March 9-16).

As a team of 22, we felt each of those prayers! What a wonderful trip!

As a part of the trip we… ·Traveled to three villages distributing beans and rice and telling people the story of Jesus’ love and forgiveness. As a result of those house to house visits, seven people asked Jesus to be their Savior!! Please be in prayer for Nancy, Carlos, Maria, Rosalba, Diana, Rosa Blanca and Margarite. In addition, several others recommitted their hearts to Jesus. ·We painted the school in Naranjal. Side by side with the villagers in Naranjal, we worked, sweated and laughed! ·Our ladies did three days of ministry with the ladies of the church and village. There were many meaningful moments with those ladies as we encouraged, pampered and served them. The time culminated with a tearful foot-washing ceremony. ·With the funds provided by our church, we were also able to build a bathroom for a family. This family was expecting a child any day.

Therefore, this bathroom was a gift from heaven for them! ·We also did children and student ministry for the church in the village by making “salvation bracelets” for the children and sharing the plan of salvation with students after a soccer match. Yes, we adults played the students and they killed us, BUT Alex Morrison did score a goal!!

As a part of the team, I was blessed beyond measure… ·to pray with people to receive Jesus. ·to watch my wife minister in very powerful ways to ladies and lead people to Jesus. ·to watch our students lead people to Jesus by confidently and loving tell His story. ·to represent this church in its mission to grow God’s Kingdom.

I Love you, Troy 15

Brenham’s First Baptist Church P. O. Box 600 Brenham, TX 77834-0600

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