July Newsletter

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 Music Ministry ....................................................................page Missions ...............................................................................page Adult Ministries .................................................................page A Letter from Reba . ...........................................................page Encore Ministry ..................................................................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

JULY1 3 4 8 8 8 9-13 11 16 25 25 29 29

God & Country Service -1 Service 10:00am Piece Makers 9:00am Holiday - Church Office Closed/ EEC Closed Lord’s Supper - Both Services Final Camp Training for Volunteers 12:00pm Deacon’s Meeting 2:00pm Camp Tejas Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out 12:00pm Finance Committee Meeting 6:30pm Honduras Mission Trip Begins Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out 12:00pm World Hunger Offering - Both Services Churchwide Business Meeting 4:00pm

Student Center

Kidz Klubhouse Room 111 Pahl House Room 112 Pahl House Gym

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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MUSIC MINISTRY

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MISSIONS - TANZANIA Church family we have an awesome opportunity at the end of this summer to provide water to many who don’t have clean drinking water in Africa!

A small team of three with be flying out at the end of August and retuning in September to do just that. Providing a well costs $4,500-$5,000, depending on how far they have to drill to hit water, and we won’t know that until we start drilling. So we are hoping to raise $5,000 for a well and our students have us off to a great start! During D-Now we took up $609.25 to go to a well and our FBC School kids did two fundraisers - candy and snow cone sales to raise $968.96.

So $1,578.21 has been raised by our students already!

That being said, I have two Tanzania Paintings that we will be auctioning off online on July 19, 2018. We will promoting this on our Facebook page soon with a link to get to the auction.

Maybe you just want to help and don’t want a painting?? I would LOVE to hang a painting in the student building!

Thank You for supporting us and many around the world.

Bro. Chad

ADULT MINISTRIES PIECE MAKERS Many thanks to participants in Vacation Bible School for Seniors who snipped rag quilts and then prayed for those who will receive them. Piece Makers will use these quilts to minister to those in need of comfort.

Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month from 9 am to 2 pm in the Student Center. Come join us!

No sewing experience required!

SYMPATHIES: -Scott Schroeder, Sherrie Foerster and family in the loss of Walter Schroeder.

-Suzette Evans and family in loss of her brother.

THANK YOUS Dear Pastor Ross and Church Family, Thank you for the nice visits and prayers. Thank you church family for all the prayers, cards and visits. I think I am on my way to a good recovery. Just can’t do anything for six weeks.

Yours in Christ, Louise Newman Dear FBC, Scott and I want to thank you for the beautiful ivy you sent to honor our dad.

It was also gratifying to know our church family was there for us in our time of loss and sorrow.

Love, Scott& Tricia Schroeder Sherri & Keith Foerster and families.

Dear FBCB, Thank you very much for allowing Elena and Lifeline be a part of your congregation today.

We are so grateful for the opportunity to share with your church more about what the Lord is doing in Colombia and with Orphan Care in general. The Lord has blessed us richly in our time with you all, and we will be praying for you all as you seek to advance His Kingdom.

In Him, Meredith Crawford

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A LETTER FROM REBA As I write this morning we just finished our senior adult VBS. We had a great time and completed a lot of projects that will benefit our county this year.

The theme of this year’s VBS was Remembrance. On the last day, Bro. Ross asked us to go around the table “I PLANTED THE SEED, and share what was the Spiritual APOLLOS WATERED IT, Legacy we wanted to leave behind BUT GOD MADE IT GROW.” and be thought of after we are gone.

I shared that I wanted to be 1 CORINTHIANS 3:6 remembered as one who sowed seeds. As a preschool teacher for over forty years I have always thought of myself and my counterparts as sowers of the seeds of salvation to these little ones whose minds soak up so much in their formative years. We do not always see the harvest, but we know that we did our part in sowing seeds. They are so eager to learn about God at this age and we get to help plant those seeds.

Sometimes we do get to see the harvest. One of my favorite memories happened at the Aquatic Center one day when I was there to watch a swim meet, and one boy came to me dripping wet to hug me, and asked if I would be at church Sunday, and he said “I am being baptized and I hope you will be there.” I promised I would and I was there to see him proclaim to the world that he is a Christ follower and a child of God! It is great when we see the harvest, but we know we may not always see that as people move away, and sometimes it takes a long time for those seeds to sprout. I really would like you all to know that we are not babysitting in the preschool area, we are planting seeds in your children to know and love God!

SCRIPTURE OF THE MONTH:

I hope you will go to the scripture 1 Corinthians 3 and read that whole chapter.

I am proud to say my dad and mom planted those seeds and I am sure a few Sunday School teachers along the way also planted seeds in me. I am thankful for the Christian Father and Mother I had growing up, and I would like to end with wishing a Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers out there!

Blessings, Reba

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ENCORE MINISTRY NEWS

CELEBRATE OUR BIRTHDAYS! Margaret Cothern LuAn Yarnold Glen Le Doux Loretta Davis Sandra Winkelman Suzanne Butler Karol Behne LJ Grauke Wren Grauke Swepson Armour Nancy Fritz Steven Suders Mary Cook Flo Blevins Susan Appel Carolyn Robertson Laurece Maresh Rafaela Garcia Rola Doelitsch David Ruley Kathy Standley

1 1 2 5 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 10 11 11 12 18 18 18 19 19

Barbara Jones Bill Holmes Aleta Thistlethwaite Robbie Gail Charette Pam Young Paul Coufal Linda Upchurch James Hare Sandy Batt

20 21 22 23 25 25 26 27 28

Zachary Leuschner

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STUDENT MINISTRY

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STUDENT MINISTRY We had the best time last month at WiRED Camp in Lathem Springs just outside of Waco, TX. It was nice to get on a bus and be there within two and a half hours (Instead of an overnight….looooong ride). Buses are not meant to be slept on. Our worship was amazing and the Camp Pastor challenged our students on illusions the world throws at them and followed up with Truth. We are so blessed to have such gifted adult sponsors this year. I know that I can only reach so many students. Rae Lin Ladd, Tricia Schroeder, Mindy Holster, Sean Holster, and David Kuespert stepped in and did a fabulous job leading our students for the week.

Please be in prayer as I know students made decisions for Christ and others were challenged in many ways.

Of course, none of this would be possible without YOU church family.

Your prayers, your generosity, and the overwhelming support for our Men’s Cake Bake gives us the resources to do this every year. Thank you for all who made cakes and bought cakes this year and the years past. It is truly amazing to serve here at Brenham’s FBC . I can’t wait for next year.

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CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,” (1 Timothy 1:12)

Thank you for all our volunteers that made VBS, the DiscipleTrip and 2:4 The Mission successes.

Good Morning, “It chases me down, fights till I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine. I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give yourself away.” These are the lyrics from a recently popular worship song, Reckless Love by Cory Asbury. Cory and I have never met, but I think he may be reading my mail. Reckless Love is a song describing the overwhelming, indescribable and unconditional love of God. However, it is also a song depicting my personal experience with God. Before I was a man living for the Lord, I was a man living for myself and serving myself. I had no Christian influence. I was not going to church, not praying to God, had no churchy friends and not living a Christian life. In fact, some may say I was living a life opposite of Christianity. BUT, then, Jesus chased me down, fought till I was found and left the ninety-nine for me. I was overwhelmed because I didn’t earn it and definitely did not deserve it. I was definitely one of His children, but got caught up in life and wandered into a way of life God never intended for me. Then He came after me, and did not stop until I surrendered to His call. He was never forceful, but He did not let me rest until I surrendered to him. I realized the joy and rest God had in store for me should I surrender to Him, and, like the prodigal son, I came running back to the Father. Instantly, the confusion and unhappiness I was experiencing without Him was relieved. I am forever grateful that God chased me down, fought till I was found and left the ninety-nine for me. I was overwhelmed because I didn’t earn it and definitely did not deserve it. “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service,” (1 Timothy 1:12).

His Servant & Yours, Bro. Alex

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for the Morrisons as they prepare to go to Colombia to bring home their adopted daughter.

Upcoming Events:

Final Camp Training - July 8, 12:00pm-5:00pm, Kidz Klubhouse Tejas - July 9-13, Completed 3rd - 6th graders

PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES

Last month we taught our preschoolers that the Bible tells us which way to go. Kind of like a compass. Sometimes the way to go is We had such a great time sharing, and other times it is talking to God. We can always trust that the way the Bible with the preschoolers from tells us to go is the right way to go. This FBCS-EEC during VBS week last month we will be learning that God’s word month.

I hope you were able to is with us wherever we go. How AWESOME is that? We will begin week one with Psalm check out some of the pictures on 119:11 where the Bible teaches us about our Facebook page. Thank you hiding God’s word in our hearts. That is how to all that took the time to help we can take it with us wherever we go. We make this a GREAT week. just need to hide it in our hearts. Week two we want our preschoolers to hide in their hearts the truth found in Psalm 139, God made me. We want them to know that they are wonderfully made by God and He is with them wherever they go, like on the playground, into their elementary years, middle schools, high schools and throughout their adult life. Week three is another wonderful part of the Bible we want them to take with them wherever they may go. God loves me all the time. It’s found in Jeremiah 39, when we’re happy, sad, angry or scared, God loves me all the time. Week four we will introduce our little ones to Hebrews 10 and what it means to be a part of God’s family. We want them to know that wherever they go they have a family that loves them and will help them. Then we will end our Bikes and Trikes summer theme with the amazing truth found in John 3:16, Jesus wants to be my friend forever. We hope the truth that Jesus wants to be our friend forever goes with them wherever they go for the rest of their lives. Whether we’re young or old learning to hide God’s word in our hearts is so important, because it allows us to take life changing truths from the Bible with us literally wherever we go.

When we learn God’s word, we can take it with us wherever we go.

Blessings, Stacey

Sunday Mornings in July Basic Truth: God made me. God loves me. Jesus wants to be my friend forever.

Key Question: What is with you wherever you go?

Bottom Line: God’s Word is with me wherever I go.

Memory Verse: “I have hidden your word in my heart.” Psalm 119:11

HUDSON NANNEY JILL BEARDEN JILL WALLACE JOSHUA REYNOLDS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 7/02/11 7/21/** 7/25/** 7/26/16

SANDY WINKELMAN 7/05/** VERA COVIN 7/21/16 LINDA UPCHURCH 7/26/**

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FBC SCHOOL & EEC Summer has not slowed us down! EEC has had a great time loving on the Thank you kids and providing summer fun. We have 120 children in our care during to the Children’s and the summer months. Our staff is doing Preschool Ministry for a fantastic job planning activities and loving on these kiddos! The best part including our EEC children is the kids are having fun! in Vacation Bible School!

During July, we continue to make plans for the 2018-2019 school year.

What a blessing!

We are still accepting enrollment for next year. Space is limited in our preschool, and we have room to grow in our elementary classes. Please help spread the word about this opportunity to join the FBCS & EEC family. We are happy to give tours and visit with anyone interested in learning more about this ministry.

Pray for guidance and discernment as our team seeks to follow Him through the planning process!

We recently awarded scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year. A need usually arises after we give out tuition assistance.

Would you please consider making a donation to the scholarship fund? It would help us meet future needs.

Thank you!

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FROM TROY’S HEART As many of you know, I love baseball! I have followed baseball from the time I was a kid (just a few years ago). As the season progresses from the anticipation of opening day to its finality in the crispy air of the “Fall Classic” (World Series), the month of July is big in the baseball calendar. July is in the heart of the “dog days of summer”. Many fans feel that the season is either won or lost in July, the middle of the summer.

Why? Probably because in the middle of a long season, it is easy to get tired, lose focus and get defeated!

You know, life has some “dog day” moments! I have found that in the middle of most things, I can get tired, lose focus and be defeated. Just the other night I was in the middle of a long painting project and getting weary when in my mind I heard this voice, “You’re tired. You have done a lot of work. Stop and finish later.”

Of course, it was hard to deny the voice, but I powered through to finish.

I don’t know what you are facing in your life right now, but I would bet that there are voices you battle. I would say that if you don’t progress one step at a time, with the help of Jesus, you might find yourself dejected and defeated. Remember, Peter and Jesus out on the water? What happened in his “dog day” moment in the middle of the storm? He listened to the wrong voice, the voice of stormy fear! The result? Sinking.

Whatever season you are in, know that in the heat, weariness and sometimes insurmountable odds, keep focused on your vision, mission and Savior. Finish strong my friends!

I Love you, Troy

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

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