January 2024 Newsletter

CONNECTING

MINISTRY AND MEMBERSHIP

TALK OF THE TOWN MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

ISSUE NO. 201

JANUARY 2024

FELLOWSHIP IN THIS ISSUE DINNER

MLK OUTREACH

TRUST ISSUES BIBLE STUDY SERIES

TALK OF THE TOWN

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER CALENDAR OF EVENTS 4 5 7 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 21 22-25 24

25 26 27 28

31

Praise Team & Band Rehearsal Friday Fellowship with Pastor Stewart First Sunday - The Lord’s Supper Pre-Noonday Prayer Noonday Bible Study Evening Bible Study Praise Team & Band Rehearsal Friday Fellowship with Pastor Stewart ASU Football MLK Event PMBSCAZ Quarterly Board Meeting Second Sunday - MLK Sunday MLK Celebration & Outreach at Hance Park Campus Closed - MLK Observance Pre-Noonday Prayer Noonday Bible Study Evening Bible Study Praise Team & Band Rehearsal Friday Fellowship with Pastor Stewart Third Sunday - Sanctity of Life Sunday NBC Joint Mid-Winter Board Meetings Pre-Noonday Prayer Noonday Bible Study Evening Bible Study Praise Team & Band Rehearsal Friday Fellowship with Pastor Stewart Disciple U New Member Class Fourth Sunday Fellowship Dinner & Annual Business Meeting Pre-Noonday Prayer Noonday Bible Study Evening Bible Study - Trust Issues Series

Keep up with all things FIBC via our monthly Talk of the Town Newsletter!

Want to send the newsletter to someone?

Email us at info@fibcaz.org.

PRAYER & BIBLE STUDY Intercessory Prayer Sundays and Wednesdays In-Person and Online We invite you to unite with us in prayer on Sundays before worship services and Wednesdays before Bible Study.

Noon Bible Study & Prayer Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. Online Each Wednesday you're invited to grab your lunch and Bible and join us for prayer and Bible Study in the middle of the day.

Congregational prayer begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by Bible Study at noon. We’re jumping into a new book this January, so stay tuned for the next series. This class is held via Zoom, so you can join from anywhere. If you miss the class, jump on our YouTube channel and rewatch the class.

Zoom ID: 602 258 1998 Passcode: 1141

Breaking Bread

taking a Winter Break Our Wednesday evening Bible Study, Breaking Bread with the Pastors is on winter break, but don’t worry, your favorite Wednesday Night Bible Study returns in the new year with new topics and engaging conversations on real life issues that have Biblical implications.

TALK OF THE TOWN

Happy New Year, FIBC Members and Friends, GOD IS FAITHFUL! We are here in the New Year by the grace of God, and that’s a reason for rejoicing! A few times in 2023, it appeared that we as a pastor and people landed on the wrong side of the Lord’s “But”, nevertheless, in due season in His own kairos time, He righted us by moving us back to the right side of His Contravening Conjunction. Therefore, we thank God for inspiring US TO SHIFT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LORD’S “BUT” throughout the last 12 months.

On behalf of FIBC and myself, we praise God for the respective ministries of Pastor April Hawkins who served as our very first Pastor of Family Life for nearly two years; Dr. Maurice Terrell, who led us as our very first Creative Director of Worship and Arts for a year; and Deacon Paul Ellis who served as lay leader in our Discipleship Ministry, on the Governance Council, as a Deacon, including being the Vice Chair, and in other ministries of FIBC over the last decade-plus. Each of them ended their servant leadership with FIBC as December 2023 came to a close.

With that being said, allow me to introduce our 2024 FIBC Theme—THANK YOU, LORD, FOR OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER—YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER! The Scriptural Foundation is I Corinthians 1:9; Genesis 12:14a; II Thessalonians 3:3-5; Hebrews 13:7-8 (NRSV). These passages of Scripture deal with God’s faithfulness to us through His “foreverness” in His Son and our Savior Jesus Christ. The Lord has been exponentially good to FIBC since we were organized in 1905. I sho’ nuff can be a witness to how the Lord has blessed our relationship since July 1, 1977, when I arrived as a neophyte Senior Pastor at age 25, never pastored and just married from Coffeyville, Kansas via New York City. Now, in our 47th year in partnership, who could have ever imagined what FIBC and Pastor Stewart have become to the glory of God? And He ain’t through with us yet!

Thusly, your Senior Pastor is declaring that this entire year will be a season of THANKING GOD FOR YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER FOR OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER! There is no doubt in my mind that the Apostle Paul, Moses and Abraham, and the writer of Hebrews will Scripturally guide us all year long. Please join me in praising and praying to the Lord that He will continue to meet us at every juncture in our journey together.

Please know that Pastor Karen and I will keep loving you more each day and praying for this holy “sweet spot” where the Lord still has us partnering in marriage and ministry together with you.

Keep the faith and be encouraged!

Pastor Stewart

Hitting the Highlights THIS MONTH'S ACTIVITIES Fellowship Dinner & Annual Business Meeting We invite you to join us on Sunday, Jan. 28 for our annual Fellowship Dinner and Church Business Meeting immediately following 11 a.m. service. This is your opportunity to connect with other members and enjoy a meal together. You’re also going to hear the annual reports from the Senior Pastor, church leaders, Governance Council and more. We need a headcount for the meal, so please RSVP at fibcaz.org or call the church office.

MLK Celebration & Outreach at Hance Park Our annual tradition is back, in-person and we want to see you at the MLK Celebration at Hance Park on Monday, Jan. 15. You are welcome to join us as part of the march from Eastlake Park to Hance Park, and participate in our outreach event at the FIBC table. For more information and to sign-up contact Pastor Donta.

Trust Issues: a Bible Study Experience Trust, it’s a loaded word that comes with a whole lot and you may be dealing with trust issues. Truth is, we all are on some level. Join us as we unpack this complex word and its meaning as part of a new Bible Study experience with Pastor Talley beginning Wednesday, Jan. 31. We want you to grow a genuine and heartfelt trust in the Lord, and that starts with understanding what the Bible says about trust. Get ready for this interactive and engaging study.

Hitting the Highlights THIS MONTH'S ACTIVITIES Sanctity of Life Sunday Initiated by President Reagan in 1984, Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is an opportunity for churches and organizations across the nation to unite behind protecting all human life and fighting the abortion industry. Here at FIBC, Pastor Stewart has expanded our emphasis to include all human life, from birth to death, no matter the race, color or socioeconomic status on Sunday, Jan. 21.

Disciple U New Member Class If you recently joined FIBC or want to know more about who we are, what we believe and why we believe it, join us for the first Disciple U New Member class of the new year on Saturday, Jan. 27. This oneday class will be held online, so you can join from anywhere. To sign-up call the church office and ask for Pastor Sharmal.

ASU Football MLK Event As part of a new partnership with Sun Devil Football, FIBC, the AACCC and several other community organizations will present “The Dream Continues: the Dr. King Fight for Justice in the 21st Century and Beyond” on Friday, Jan. 12 at ASU. This event is open to African American football players at ASU and seeks to create partnership between them and the larger community, as part of ASU’s L.I.F.T. Initiative.

Campus Closure We want to remind you that our campus will be closed in observance of New Year’s Day on Tuesday, Jan. 2. Normal operations will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 3. Please update your calendar and call the church office if you need to reschedule a meeting and/or function.

R ecapping December THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS

December is the most wonderful time of the year. Not just because of the time we get to spend with family, friends and loved ones (and the gifts), but primarily because of the miracle of Christmas, which is the birth of our loving savior, Christ the Lord. December is a time for everyone to “see the savior” and celebrate all that we have accomplished in the year and prepare for what’s to come in the new year. It really is, the miracle of Christmas.

Recapping Decembe r THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTAS

Community Events

UPCOMING MINISTRY & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES

Academic Medical Consortium of Arizona (AMCA) is excited to bring Black Men in White Coats to the Valley. The mission is to increase the number of Black men in medicine by providing inspiration, exposure, and mentoring.

Students and parents in grades 6th-12th are invited to attend this free event. Get more information and RSVP by clicking here.

Support the R.N. Nesby Scholarship Ministry Become a special benefactor with the R.N. Nesby Scholarship Ministry and build educational brilliance. These scholarships provide additional monies to students to help with financial need and are usually given each year during the annual Robert N. Nesby Awards Convocation. You can learn more by contacting the church office.

Special Benefactor Scholarships Archie Moore Harrison Memorial Scholarship Deacon Louis A. Smith, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Deacons Robert L. and Faye Williams Langston University Scholarship Doeg M. Nelson Memorial Scholarship Dr. Carnella Hardin Maricopa Community College District Scholarship Dr. LaVern Tarkington Educational Scholarship Dr. Yolanda Y. Smith/ AACTS Scholarship Eileen Dorbin Memorial Scholarship FIBC Historians William C. and Valdia M. Smith Memorial Scholarship Franklin A. Words Scholarship Hart Family Memorial Scholarship

Jessie Elizabeth Washington Jenkins Memorial Scholarship John and Jane Shipp Science Scholarship Lorenzo A. Alexander Memorial Scholarship Lottie W. Thornton Memorial Scholarship Michael C. Wilson Memorial Scholarship Mildred Foote/Mary Bridges/Carolyn O’Neil Memorial Scholarship Ralph D. and Betty J. Thompson Scholarship Sandra L. and Leonard Caldwell Memorial Scholarship Steele Family Memorial Scholarship Syrinthia Hasker Memorial Scholarship Urquhart Family Scholarship Velma Patton Jackson Memorial Scholarship Wilma E. Rhaney-Rose Library Ministry Scholarship

2024 Church Calendars Available this January Looking for a 2024 church calendar? Be sure to RSVP to attend the Fellowship Dinner & Annual Business Meeting on Sunday, Jan. 21 because that’s when calendar distribution will take place.

The digital version of the calendar will be available for download on Jan. 1 by visiting fibcaz.org.

Stay in t he Know VOLUNTEER | SERVE | GIVE | SHARE Ways to Give Whether worshiping in person or online, you have the opportunity to give generously through tithes and offering. Your generous support of FIBC goes a long way in helping us fulfill our mission, vision and purpose.

Ways to Give: U.S. Mail or In-Person (1141 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85034) CashAPP using the tag $FIBCAZ Online at fibcaz.org and click on "Give" Text to Give using the number 480-568-3880

Legacy Giving As part of your giving, consider making a contribution to the FIBC Legacy Endowment. Established to cultivate life-long support of our mission and ministries, this is a key component of our stewardship ministry and vital in ensuring the perpetuity of FIBC. There are several ways you can contribute to the endowment. For more information visit our website or call the church office.

Member Contact Information Update It’s time for you to update and verify your contact information.

As part of our annual membership experience, we need you to verify and/or update your contact information.

Visit fibcaz.org for information on how you can affirm your membership or call the church office.

Stay in t he Know VOLUNTEER | SERVE | GIVE | SHARE Volunteers Needed Our ministries are continuing to make the transition back to life on the FIBC campus and that means we need more volunteer support. We want you to find your place in ministry and serve, and trust and believe, there is plenty of room for you to use your gifts and talents.

We're in need of volunteers for ministries like the Ushers, Security (Ministry of Protection), Multi-Media and Student Ministries. But there are other places you can serve. Please take the next step by calling the church office or emailing to let us know you're ready to serve in ministry.

Open Staff Positions As our ministries return to campus, we're also hiring some much needed staff positions. We recently reorganized our staff positions and we are accepting applications for the following positions: Various Family Life (Student Ministries) positions Visit our website for information on how to apply.

#didyouknow FIBC has a YouTube Channel? Did you know you can watch our services and Bible Studies live from your smart device, including a tv, on YouTube?

Don't forget, we’ve moved all our streaming to YouTube. You can enjoy worship services, bible studies and other special events and programs, streamed direct to a television or any smart device.

CONNECTING

MINISTRY AND MEMBERSHIP

TALK OF THE TOWN MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

First Institutional Baptist Church, 1141 East Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85034 Telephone 602-258-1998 — Fax: 602-256-2957 Website: www.fibcaz.org — Email: info@fibcaz.org ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday-Friday — 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

FIBCO FAMILY SERVICES, INC. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday-Friday — 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

WORSHIP AND BIBLE STUDY TIMES: Sunday Worship: 7:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Children & Youth Worship: 9:00 a.m.

Sunday Bible Studies: 9:30 a.m.

African Worship Service: 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday Pre-Noonday Prayer and Bible Study: 11:30 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. (noon) Wednesday Evening Bible Study: 7:00 p.m.

Senior Pastor - Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr. Executive Director of Ministries - The Rev. John Talley, III Ext. 2211 | jtalley@fibcaz.org Executive Director of Operations - Bro. Deangelo D. Hall Ext. 2205 | dhall@fibcaz.org Pastor of Congregational Care - The Rev. Sharmal Cannon Ext. 2228 | scannon@fibcaz.org Pastor of Outreach and Justice - Dr. Donta’ McGilvery Ext. 2207 | dmcgilvery@fibcaz.org Creative Director of Virtual and Multi-Media - Bro. Maarcus Hall Ext. 2208 | mhall@fibcaz.org Minister of Pastoral Counseling - Dr. Carolyn Watson Ext. 2227 | cwatson@fibcaz.org FIBCO Family Services, Inc. Executive Director - Akilah Stewart akilah.stewart@fibco.org