THE
INFORMER
A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SHELBY, NC OCTOBER 2021 | VOLUME 42, NO. 10
Our Hearts are Bound to Your Heart by Christian Love!
October Calendar Sunday, Oct 3 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary 10:45 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages 11 a.m. Spectrum Cable Channel 9 Broadcast (previous week’s service) Tuesday, Oct 5 2 - 6 p.m. Blood Drive in the Gym Wednesday, Oct 6 6 p.m. Youth Fellowship Gathering in Youth Center 7 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Thursday, Oct 7 7 a.m. Men’s Discipleship Group Sunday, Oct 10 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary 10:45 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages 11 a.m. Spectrum Cable Channel 9 Broadcast (previous week’s service) Wednesday, Oct 13 6 p.m. Youth Fellowship Gathering in Youth Center 6:30 p.m. Budget and Finance Committee Meeting 7 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal
The hymn sings, "Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above." Yes, we are bound together in love even when we are not able to see each other face-to-face. Your church family loves you and misses you when we are not able to see one another. We pray that "God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19) even as we look forward to seeing you in worship and Bible Study every chance we can get!
Thursday, Oct 14 7 a.m. Men’s Discipleship Group Sunday, Oct 17 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary 10:45 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages 11 a.m. Spectrum Cable Channel 9 Broadcast (previous week’s service) 7 p.m. Deacons Meeting Wednesday, Oct 20 6 p.m. Youth Fellowship Gathering in Youth Center 7 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal 1
Thursday, Oct 21 7 a.m. Men’s Discipleship Group Sunday, Oct 24 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary 10:45 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages 11 a.m. Spectrum Cable Channel 9 Broadcast (previous week’s service) Wednesday, Oct 27 6 p.m. Youth Fellowship Gathering in Youth Center 7 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Thursday, Oct 28 7 a.m. Men’s Discipleship Group Sunday, Oct 31 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary 10:45 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages 11 a.m. Spectrum Cable Channel 9 Broadcast (previous week’s service) 1:30 p.m. Set up Greatest Treat Festival
Staff Anniversary Elizabeth Covington Publications Coordinator October 7, 2019
Toothbrushes Galore! This year the Greater Cleveland County Baptist Association has been asked to collect 1,250 individually wrapped toothbrushes for the WMU NC Red Boxes. These boxes are given to the women in the state prison in Raleigh for Christmas gifts. Toothbrushes MUST be individually wrapped and not in plastic containers. Bring them to the Church Office no later by October 10.
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Pastor’s Corner Doug Hankins
There are a group of men and women in ministry that I have the honor of coaching in a mentor capacity. Many of them worked on my staff at previous churches and all of them are incredible successful in their respective ministry posts. If there is one thing that we tend to drift towards in conversation it is the relentless return of Sunday. Often times, for ministers, Sunday’s activities can overwhelm much of the planning and preparation that ministers need to accomplish in all the other facets of church life -- things like Sunday school leader development, visitation, hospital care, and so on. But the relentless return of Sunday also has a tendency to distract ministers from the vision of the church as well. Ministers can get so caught up in sermon preparation that they forget to ask themselves, “Hey, are we making disciples and equipping and encouraging them to love God and love others the way Jesus commanded?” One of the functions of doctrine is that it requires us to slow down and to think, where we may not formerly do so in our week-to-week activities. Doctrine requires time, attention, focus, and consideration. It requires people in ministry to reflect on the true reality of nature and existence. In short, it asks each of us to answer honestly for ourselves the question, “What do I really believe about life and reality?” In my coaching calls and zoom conversations with other ministers, we tend to spend much of our time on this last question. And rather than it bogging us down in minutiae, it provides some clarity of purpose and calling. Reflecting on doctrine helps us to redefine what we are about and who we are in light of Jesus. And it provides the clarity we need to use our week-to-week ministries to actually love God and love others in a way that makes the world more beautiful. Throughout our Tentposts series, I hope you will come to see the value in defining who we are. Definition doesn’t drive people away. It draws us all into the clarity and beauty of Jesus as defined in the Gospel in Scripture.
Financial Snapshot 31 August 2021 (66.67% of the Year)
FBC Financial Snapshot – 31 August 21 – 66.67% of the year FBC Budget YTD FBC Receipts YTD Behind the Budget
$881,224.48 (66.67%) $663,109.86 (50%) $-218,114.62
FBC Receipts YTD FBC Expenses YTD Deficit for July YTD
$663,109.86 (50%) $723,156.54 (55%) $ -60,046.68
Aug ’21 YTD O’Plate Aug ’20 YTD O’Plate Behind Last Year
$618,483.98 $707,991.04 $ -89,507.06
Let's get together, build relationship, and spur one another on in our walk with Christ Jesus. Men's Discipleship group will meet on Thursday mornings 7 a.m.- 8 a.m. 9/23-11/18. We will meet at FBC Shelby on the 3rd floor in the youth area. Coffee, tea and a continental breakfast will be served. Come hungry spiritually and physically. Sign up for “Men’s Mornings” by clicking here or using the QR code:
Weekday Ministries – 31 August 21 WDM Budget YTD $489.519.32 (66.67%) WDM Income YTD $481,991.43 (66%) WDM Expenses YTD $440,427.71 (55%) Surplus for August YTD $ 41,563.72 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” -- Psalm 24:1
Something to Think/Pray About!! At Exodus 36:4-7, we read the following passage which follows Moses' call to the people of Israel to bring in their gold, silver, stones, fabrics, etc. in order to construct the Tabernacle which would be the focus of their worship as they traveled toward the Promised Land. Listen to what happens when the people of God honor the call of God to bring their offerings to complete a charge He has given them: "So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.” Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work." Well, there you go! When God's people are faithful to respond to His voice, they bring in "more than enough" to accomplish the work to which He has called them! It is to us, therefore, not to worry about the future but to be faithful to God's call to ministry. The result will be....more than enough.
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Bring the Candy. . . They Will Come Sunday, October 31, will be this year’s Greatest Treat Festival and we will need loads of candy for this event. This is another way for us to “LoveShelby” as we bless children and families with fun and games while sharing the Good News of Jesus and His love with our neighbors. Thanks for bringing individually wrapped candies to the church office to help with this ministry. The Greater Cleveland County Baptist Association has noted that every year the festival is held on Halloween we have the greatest number in attendance -- so we will need the candy!! And, remember, the “treats” you bring have a message to share with the kids, viz.: Do you ever feel like and AirHead-- you just don’t have a clue how to do things right? Or, maybe, some days we feel like a bunch of Nerds – all our great calculations for life simply come up short? In your relationships are you Butterfingers – often dropping the ball on being kind to others? Do you find yourself hearing nothing but Snickers – because you mess up too much? Do you ever wonder why these things happen? Well the Bible answers that question this way: In all the Milky Way there’s a Whopper of a Gap Twix M&M (the Master & Mankind). That Whopper of a Gap is called SIN. Because there is this sin gap, there will be a great Payday coming: ~ Life on our own terms means death is all we can expect at the end! ~Life turned to the Master – well, now that’s REAL Life! Jesus (the Master’s Son) came to earth to be our LifeSaver who brings us the Extra stuff we need for life: ~ like Forgiveness of Sin ~ so that there are always Good and Plenty reasons to live everyday. You see, the Master of the Universe, God himself, is like a 3 Musketeers: ~Father, our Creator ~Son, our Example for living on the earth ~Spirit, Guide through life and power to live well as God created. So, before go to bed tonight Take5 minutes and tell God you want to walk with Him. Let Him hear you say, “I’m sorry for my sin.” And commit yourself to him by saying, “I’m yours, Lord, and I will follow wherever Jesus leads me!” Yes, the Treats have something to say to us, viz. the Greatest Treat in life is to walk every day as the Father created us, following the way of the Son, in the power of the Spirit.
GREATEST TREAT FESTIVAL This year at the Greatest Treat Festival our church will partner with Greater Cleveland County Baptist Association in some familiar ways. We will provide candy to be given away as game prizes. We will serve at booths that host games for participants to enjoy. We will help set up and tear down the event. We will clean up and prep any games we bring over from FBC. But there is one new wrinkle in this years Greatest Treat Festival. A team from First Baptist Orlando's young adults ministry will be partnering with us to help host the event. Two churches helping other churches engage our community with the Love of Jesus.
Greatest Treat Festival Volunteers Needed!
We need you to help us play games with the children and families who will attend the Greatest Treat Festival where they will hear the Good News of Jesus AND be able to experience His Love through your interaction with them. Sign-up to help by clicking here or by using the QR code below: https://fbcshelby. shelbynextchms.com/external/form/d53f04ae6b83-4a20-9949-b2234f07a38d
October is Pastor Appreciation Month! We want to love and appreciate our Pastors well. Please take a moment to write a letter of appreciation, and if so inclined, to send a gift card or bring in a treat during the month of October! Thank- you, The Personnel Committee
Hey FBC Family! You are already a subscriber!
North Carolina State Mission Offering Thank you for your gifts to the NC State Mission Offering and thus your support for disaster relief across the country and church planting across the state of North Carolina.
A Reflection As I read Ephesians 2:10, God has created us and prepared for us good works to do to bring him glory. I know that God has a plan and purpose for our lives and, for those things, I usually think big. But God has a plan and has prepared us for even little things that He has us do... inviting someone over for dinner, working with kids at church, saying a kind word, praying for someone... it's never just about getting the task done with God. Our lives have a destiny and a purpose in even the “small” things! What small things has he prepared in advance for you to do today for His glory? Be actively looking for them. Let's evaluate our motives. Are we doing good works with a heart eager to bring him glory or are we doing it out of duty or because someone must do it? Our attitude impacts our good works and how much glory God receives. Let us be purposeful in looking for those good works and opportunities to bring God glory through our actions, words, and attitudes. Blessings, Jene’ Operations Coordinator
Our church subscribes to RightNow Media so that the resources offered there are at your disposal for use at home or in your Sunday School Class or a small group of friends who would like to study the Bible together using one of the available studies. RightNow Media offers: Biblically-based Videos on Topics Like Marriage, Parenting, Youth, Recovery & More. A streaming library of more than 20,000 Bible study videos for leaders to share as taught by Bible teachers from across the country. Here's all you have to do to access this wealth of Bible Study resources!: 1. To Register with our church account simply text SHELBYFBC to 49775 to sign up. 2. Or you can use the QR code below to sign up as well. 3. Either way, you will set up your profile and create a password and then you are ready to explore the site for study options you can use wherever you have access to the internet! Thanks for getting started today!
Blood Drive, October 5 2 -6:30 p.m. FBC's Dover Activities Building Gym Sponsored by our FBC Faith and Health Ministry Team. Call for an appointment to: 1-800-REDCROSS
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Welcome Ministry Interns to FBC!
Alex Hensley Intern in Pastoral Ministries and Chaplaincy, GWU School of Divinity from Asheville, NC
Aaron Darling Intern in Pastoral Ministries and Deaf Ministry, GWU Senior from Asheville, NC
Praying for Our Youth!
Thanks for using this prayer as you remember the kids of our youth ministry and our search for Youth Ministry leadership in the life of our church: Lord, today I pray that you would give __________ the strength to stand out. Don’t let them fall into the same pattern of sin as the rest of the world but instead help them fix their gaze on you. As they focus on you, Lord, help them to begin to see the world the way that you do. Help them to pursue your heart and will in every situation so that your good and perfect plans would be achieved. Amen. (ref: Paige Dean, Just Disciple)
Lauren Sudduth Choral Scholar Gardner-Webb University from Clemson, South Carolina
Youth Schedule
Sundays 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship followed by... 10:45 a.m. Sunday School! Wednesdays 6 p.m. Youth Fellowship in the Youth Center
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 Recent Sunday with our Youth Sunday School Teaching Team and some really great young people!
FBC Kids Preschool Worship Nursery and Sunday School Rotation for October October 3 - Mary Lu Spake and Becky Allen October 10 - Jane Blake and Sara Tidwell October 17 - Pam Harris and Jody Wilkins October 24 - Laci Frye and Beverly Weaver October 31 - Sara Tidwell and Mary Lu Spake NOTE: we still need some folks to help with the pre-worship nursery check-in. See Tony if you are willing to help (tony@fbcshelby.org).
Welcome to Sunday School - FBC KiDS!
Our team of Kids Sunday School servants is ready to receive all of children in Sunday School just following the morning worship service. Ms. Sara and Ms. Libby stand ready to check you in for a great hour of Bible learning! Check-in at the Welcome Table and receive your child's name tag as well as a name tag for parents that you will turn in at the end of the hour when you meet your child at their class.
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The INFORMER (USPS 581-520) Published Monthly First Baptist Church 120 North Lafayette Street Shelby, NC 28150-4456 Second Class Postage Paid At Shelby, NC 28150 Postmaster: Send address changes to The INFORMER 120 N. Lafayette Street, Shelby, NC 28150
120 North Lafayette St. Shelby, NC 28150
STAFF DIRECTORY Doug Hankins, Lead Pastor...............................................................................doug@fbcshelby.org Tony Tench, Executive Connections Pastor..........................................................tony@fbcshelby.org Penny Corn, Weekday Ministry Director........................................................childcare@fbcshelby.org Donna Dryden, Financial Coordinator.............................................................finance@fbcshelby.org Jene’ Baxter, Operations Coordinator.........................................................operations@fbcshelby.org Bruce Boyles, Chairman of Deacons..............................................................deacons@fbcshelby.org Eric Johnson, Interim Director of Music................................................................eric@fbcshelby.org
CHURCH INFORMATION Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Friday - 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Check out our website and blog: www.fbcshelby.org Wi-fi Password: FBCS-120NLaf
120 N Lafayette St, Shelby, NC 28150 (p) 704.482.3467 (f) 704.482.1137
Find us on Facebook and Twitter! @FBC_Shelby_NC
Remember, you can make your plans to give financially to the church online by going to the church website (www.fbcshelby. org) and clicking on this symbol at the bottom of the page or click on “Giving” at the top right corner of the homepage.