AN ENDURING VISION: FAITH IN ACTION
FROM THE PASTOR
A PERSPECTIVE ON THE ACTIVITIES BUILDING
By Stephanie Baker
It has been exciting to watch the Activities Building construction, see the new plans for that space and think about the future events and activities that will take place in the renovated area.
Many FBC Troy members have fond memories of the Activities Building serving not only as a gathering place for our church, but for our community as well.
For generations, those paneled walls were the backdrop of bereavement meals before funerals of loved ones and at other times, beautifully decorated for wedding receptions. From a polling place to civic group pancake suppers and family reunions, the building has
served us well in its multipurpose role.
Originally, the building was built with an emphasis on recreation and entertainment.
Geoffrey Spann remembers a time when friends would travel to Troy to play basketball and volleyball. Day Barnes taught aerobics classes to women of all ages. Jim Thomas recalls ping pong and pool tables while Keith Roling thinks about the popcorn and soda machines. The Activities Building was the place to be seen and was a revolving door of fun and fellowship for all ages for many years.
I can remember participating in children’s musicals and local schools busing in loads of their students to watch our performances on the big stage. As a teenager, the
Varsity was the cool spot to gather for pizza parties and Bible studies. One particular Wednesday night I was sitting in a booth when we I heard we were going to war and we stopped to pray for those we knew that may be deployed to Desert Storm.
In recent years, I think of the time we strung bulb lights and packed in for a party with festive foods and costumes celebrating missions. I can hear my children’s feet scurrying across the creaky wood floors signaling it was time to go across the street for Wednesday night mission groups.
The plans for a renovated Activities Building are not only beautiful, but they are thoughtful. It’s obvious the new design allows for large
meetings and small groups. As we expand this building, I believe we are expanding opportunities for generations of people to gather in a functional and appealing space to serve, to learn, to share and to fellowship.
We all have our own stories of special times in the Activities Building. I am thankful for fond memories but more thankful for what is ahead. I am thankful for leaders with vision, courage and desire to creatively and strategically think about the needs of our growing church and future generations.
I am excited about the memories ahead for our members and the role FBC Troy has in gathering our community together for fun, fellowship and for His glory.
So we are about to land the plane, so to speak, on our An Enduring Vision: Faith in Action Campaign emphasis, culminating in the Victory Luncheon on Sunday, September 22, following the morning service. We hope you’re able to attend and join us for a great time of fellowship and celebration of what God is doing in and through this church. As you can see from the information provided in this newsletter, we are not only praying for the needed funds to complete the current projects, but also for the “more than enough”
(Exodus 36:6-7) needed to finish out additional needed projects.
A huge “thank you” to Suzanne Taylor, our Campaign Team, those who provided testimonies during the campaign and to everyone who has pledged and even contributed already toward these efforts.
God blesses us to give (2 Corinthians 9:8), he blesses those who DO GIVE (Acts 20:35), and he blesses others through our giving (2 Cor. 9:11-12). To God be the glory!
Douglas Hawkins challenged each generation in the congregation to consider it their time to participate in the Vision Campaign during the Sunday morning service on Sunday, September 8.
SEPTEMBER 15
Commitment Cards Due
Please return all commitment cards to the church financial secretary or place in the offering plate by this date. The commitments will help determine the progress of the campaign.
DR. ROSS LANKFORD
The library space being prepared for construction. Construction in the choir room.
By Suzanne Taylor
The book of Nehemiah has always been a favorite book on leadership! It tells a story of how God led Nehemiah to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem with the help of God’s people. When Nehemiah first arrived in Jerusalem he carefully considered the situation then He Prayed for God’s guidance and to know His plan. In Nehemiah 2:20 Nehemiah acknowledged “The God of heaven is the one who will give us success.” Thereafter, he recruited the families of Israel to help with the rebuilding. He led each member to feel responsible for his/ her own area of the wall. Throughout the project the people prayed, prayed, prayed. The people set their hearts and minds on accomplishing the purpose God gave them. When God’s people join together for a special task, they can accomplish great things with God’s help!
This story can remind us of the one our church has underway right now with An Enduring Vision: Faith in Action campaign. God led Nehemiah to use HIS people to accomplish the special task He had planned. Our church members have truly joined together to accomplish the special task God has given First Baptist Church!
THANK YOU TO THE TEAM
The renovations are well underway and running ahead of schedule, we are close to raising the amount of capital we need to pay for those renovations and keep the church debt free. We hope the commitments will continue to arrive for additional funds needed to complete known repairs needed in the Education Building and Sanctuary. Thank you to each of you who have made a sacrificial commitment to accomplish the special task God has given us!
Many have provided their time and talents for the campaign! The Prayer Team visitors, the Commitment Team visitors, the Communication Team, the Social Committee Team, the Event Setup Team, the Childcare Team, the Children’s Ministry Director, those willing to write or speak their testimony from the pulpit, and Sunday School teachers….it has taken each of you to accomplish this special task! A BIG THANK YOU to each person on the teams mentioned in this list!
Finally, a HUGE Shout Out to the members of the Steering Committee!!! They have dedicated countless hours to plan and carry out the campaign. When you see these individuals please thank them for their commitment.
• Morgan Drinkard for providing her communication/creativity leadership to brand the campaign, prepare the mailer content and get those out weekly, prepare the thermometer, prepare the luncheon invitation, as well as the commitment cards and brochures used by the prayer team!
• Carol Booker for her leadership with the Spiritual Emphasis/ Prayer team. Carol organized the church roster into geographic neighborhoods (a monumental task!) and recruited a host of members to call each church member to pray for An Enduring Vision: Faith in Action campaign.
• Blake Diamond for recruiting and leading a group of men to call each member to make certain the member had all their questions about making a commitment answered as well as whether or not the member needed a commitment card.
• Geoffrey Spann for keeping the Steering Committee on track with complete meeting minutes as the plans developed and progressed toward our goals. He also developed the Sunday School curriculum for our Common Sunday School lesson.
• Greg Anderson for his daily dedication to the renovation project, his insight on future generation needs at our church, his mindfulness of cost savings on the renovations, and his regular participation with the Property Committee and Enduring Vision: Faith in Action campaign.
• Greg Anderson, Ross Lankford and Gilbert Sellers for serving as ExOfficio members of the Steering Committee and providing wisdom and guidance as we made tough decisions about the campaign.
As we approach our Victory celebration let each of us honor God and allow Him to fill us with joy knowing He helped us accomplish the special task He planned. He is Faithful!
The current building projects include the renovation of the Activities Building and the Chancey Building. Those renovations are much needed; however, they are not the extent of what needs to be done to fully update the campus for growth and modern amenities. Once these projects are completed, it will be important to begin work on the other areas of the campus that need updating in order to best serve the needs of the congregation.
These plans are not part of the budget expenditure that was approved in May during the business meeting and would require additional financial commitment. This reinforces the need for the An Enduring Vision: Faith in Action campaign to garner pledges and financial support to help
CONTINUING THE VISION
replenish the building funds to prepare for these proposed updates. Suggested plans for the Education Building include the following:
1. New Heating and Cooling Systems
The existing heating cooling system is approximately 40 years old and is very inefficient. A new system would better regulate the building and be more efficient.
2. Playground Canopy
A new covered canopy on the playground side could be constructed and will be heated and cooled. The heating and cooling equipment will be installed on the roof of the new canopy to prevent any damage from the kids and to protect the children from getting on equipment and getting injured.
3. New Electric and Fire Alarm System
This will make the Education Building safer and it will operate more efficiently. This will include new lighting and ceilings.
4. New floor covering and fresh paint
The intent is for the Education Building to match the updated Chancey Building and have both buildings to operate as one. It will be the First Baptist Church Educational Center.
The operating cost of the buildings should be significantly lower and the buildings start paying off dividends once these updates have been made
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 YOU’RE INVITED TO JOIN US FOR A
Join us for a luncheon prov ded by the church to celebrate the end of the commitment per od for the An Enduring Vision: Fa th in Action campaign IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING CHURCH SERVICE IN THE FAMILY LIFE CENTER Please RSVP in Realm or call the church office by September 16.
The old chiller that needs replacing in the next phase of updates.