THE
INFORMER
A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SHELBY, NC SEPTEMBER 2021 | VOLUME 42, NO. 9
I was recently at the Gardner-Webb Church Fair for incoming students and one question kept coming up in the conversations I was having with students: What is your church about? In other words, the students were mainly concerned with the unique vision and calling of our church. What is our church about? What is different about our church than the church across the street, the church across town, the church in Boiling Springs or Casar? Our Fall Series, Tentposts, is designed with this question in mind. Who are we as a church in 2021? What are we as a congregation about in ministry? What are our distinctives, our unique calling, and our vision? Rather than answer these questions out right, I want to begin to explore these questions in the worship gatherings and in other smaller gatherings beginning in September. And, by God's grace, I hope we begin to come to some answers that will help us to be ready to provide an answer to anyone who asks of us...and to be ready for the Fall 2022 GWU Church Fair. -Pastor Doug
September Calender Wednesday, Sept 1 6 p.m. Youth Fellowship in Youth Center 7 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Sunday, Sept 5 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary 10:45 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages as Scheduled 11 a.m. Spectrum Cable Channel 9 Broadcast (previous week’s service) Monday, Sept 6 - Labor Day Holiday - Church Offices closed Wednesday, Sept 8 6 p.m. Youth Fellowship in Youth Center 7 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Sunday, Sept 12 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary 10:45 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages as Scheduled 11 a.m. Spectrum Cable Channel 9 Broadcast (previous week’s service) Wednesday, Sept 15 6 p.m. Youth Fellowship in Youth Center 6:30 p.m. Budget and Finance Meeting 7 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Sunday, Sept 19 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary 10:45 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages as Scheduled 11 a.m. Spectrum Cable Channel 9 Broadcast (previous week’s service) 7 p.m. Deacons Meeting in Youth Center Wednesday, Sept 22 6 p.m. Youth Fellowship in Youth Center 7 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Sunday, Sept 26 9:30 a.m. Morning Worship in the Sanctuary 10:45 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages as Scheduled 11 a.m. Spectrum Cable Channel 9 Broadcast (previous week’s service) Wednesday, Sept 29 6 p.m. Youth Fellowship in Youth Center 7 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal
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Study the Bible Together in Sunday School! The new Sunday School Year begins with the opening quarter (for adult Lifeway classes, children and youth) and opening trimester (for adult Smyth & Helwys classes) on September 5. This is our target for getting all our classes meeting together, including children, barring complications from rising coronavirus cases in our county. If you are not part of a Sunday School class, please plan now to join together with your FBC neighbors as we open the Bible together each week during the Sunday School hour from 10:45-11:45 a.m!
Adult Classes Welcome Members Back to In-Person Classes:
FBC Youth began to meet again on July 8
led by Teaching Team of Adult Sunday School Department Department Secretaries: David White, David Causby Chuck Burch Jenny Dellinger Singles 35+ Reggie Ledford Dawn Price Coed Multi-Age JA West Charlotte Teague (Parlor) Martha Bivens Eduardo Steibel Kids Sunday School Coed Friendship Paul McManus Department is targeted to begin meeting again Eduardo Steibel on September 5. Jim McSwain Our team of teachers are looking forward to teaching your JA West children. Coed Combo Janet Tench Sara Greene, Department Director Eli and Lauren Wortman Rick Shelton, Secretary Coed 40+ Mike Harden Libby Blanton, Check in Coed Deaf Martha Hamrick Preschool Ladies – Joy Sophia Steibel Preschool (During Worship and Sunday School) Ladies – Edith Babies and Toddlers Week #1: Mary Lu Spake & Sara Tidwell Hoffman Jennifer Helton Babies and Toddlers Week #2: Beverly Weaver & Jane Blake Myra Hoyle Babies and Toddlers Week #3: Pam Harris & __________________ Ladies – Love Tony Burnette Babies and Toddlers Week #4:_______________& __________________ Ladies – Grace Phyllis Wortman Four and Five Year Olds: Marie Hendrick & Betty Crow Kennedy Men – Woody Kennedy Woody Kennedy Children Richard Tedder K-1st Grade: Susan Evans and Jean Horne (with Susan Beam, Men – Geo Byrd John Crosland substitute) Frank Bonner 2nd-3rd Grade: Millie Holbrook, Mary Farrow, Mitzi Price, Men – Crusaders Doug Sharp/Guy Suttle Micki Padgett 4th-5th Grade: Jennifer Parker & __________________
Financial Snapshot
31 July 2021 (58.33% of the Year) FBC Budget YTD $771,071.42 (58.33%) FBC Receipts YTD $568,484.06 (43%) Behind the Budget $-202,587.36 FBC Receipts YTD FBC Expenses YTD Deficit for July YTD
$568,484.06 (43%) $646,984.86 (49%) $ -78,500.80
July ’21 YTD O’Plate July ’20 YTD O’Plate Behind Last Year
$547,319.18 $581,706.40 $ -34,397.22
Weekday Ministries
31 July 21 – 58.33% of the year
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WDM Budget YTD WDM Income YTD WDM Expenses YTD Surplus for July YTD
$428,329.40 (58.33%) $426,193.91 (58%) $383,987.00 (48%) $ 42,206.91
Future Story Capital Campaign Report As we began our remodeling work in 2015 to position us for ministry in the years ahead, the total project cost was projected to be $2.6 million. With very careful project management on the part of Bob Watson, we finished the project under budget! In order to begin the work in advance of our members' pledges coming in over the next five years, we took out a loan of $1.5 million. We were to make a $300,000 payment by the end of each year. In August of this year, because of the investment of a portion of our pledges, we were able to make a $400,000 payment for this year. This leaves us a balance still owed of $105,000. We already have $62,000 in the campaign checking account. Which means as our members complete their extended pledges in 2021 and 2022, we will retire this note on time! Thank you for your faithfulness to God's direction in your giving to make this project possible. We are a thankful people!
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.
Neat News from Our FBC Child Care Ministry
Thank you all for everything you do for these kids. From making them healthy meals, teaching them how to get along with others, teaching them everything they know about school, AND most importantly teaching them about Jesus. I feel so blessed that both of my boys get to go to FBC Child Care Center. Cohen has learned so much and is so prepared for kindergarten and the transition will not be a difficult one for our family. Thank you again for staying open during the COVID year. Your commitment to remain open, to make sure your facility was sanitized for the next day, to keeping a calm demeanor and a smile on your face when you were probably losing it on the inside. Thank you all for EVERYTHING you do and loving on all those children. Ange Family's Exit Interview August 2021
Staff Anniversary Holly Hicks ASL Sign Language Interpreter September 22, 2000
Recently, we received in the church's mail this letter with our "120 N. Lafayette Street, Shelby, NC" address on it; and, the letter was addressed to "Jesus Christ." Well, that made us feel good to know that someone believed they could contact Jesus by sending a letter to our church! That's the way it ought to be, for sure! The Good News is that Jesus does come to make his home with us -- in our house! He says in the Revelation, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me" (3:20). Jesus wants to come to make his home in our lives -- his grace to forgive us and to redeem us is free to all and he is glad when we open the door to invite him in. There is also a challenge that comes with this Good News. Jesus once said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them" (John 14:23). Opening the door to Jesus includes the intentional motion of "loving him" and then "obeying his teaching." We said last month that it is to us to Always Lead With Scripture. That is the way we know Jesus' teaching and thus are prepared to obey Jesus' teaching; and, when we obey Jesus' teaching, that is the way people know that Jesus lives here at 120 N. Lafayette Street in Shelby, NC!
Blood Drive -- October 5
2- 6 p.m. FBC Gym Sponsored by the FBC Faith and Health Ministry Team Call 1-800-REDCROSS for an appointment to give the gift of "life."
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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 Eric Johnson, Interim Director of Music................................................................eric@fbcshelby.org Tony Tench, Executive Connections Pastor..........................................................tony@fbcshelby.org Jene’ Baxter, Operations Coordinator.........................................................operations@fbcshelby.org Donna Dryden, Financial Coordinator.............................................................finance@fbcshelby.org Penny Corn, Weekday Ministry Director........................................................childcare@fbcshelby.org Bruce Boyles, Chairman of Deacons..............................................................deacons@fbcshelby.org
CHURCH INFORMATION Office Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m. -5 p.m. 120 N Lafayette St, Shelby, NC 28150 (p) 704.482.3467 (f) 704.482.1137
Check out our website and blog: www.fbcshelby.org Wi-fi Password: FBCS-120NLaf 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.