AN ENDURING VISION: FAITH IN ACTION FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH TROY
A man had a dream that the master told him to go to the outskirts of town and he will find a man with a stone that he will give to him and it will make him wealthy. So the man went to the outskirts of town and found the man. He asked him for the stone. He gave him a diamond as big as his head. He took the diamond home and he couldn’t sleep. He got up and took the diamond back to the man and said, “You gave me the stone that will make me wealthy. Now, please give me the wealth that allowed you to give it away.”
The Gospel of Jesus
Christ teaches us that there are many things far more valuable than money. In fact, he said that we cannot serve both God and money. We will either be devoted to the one and despise the other, or we will love the one and hate the other (Matthew 6:24). He also said “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) As we continue on this journey of the Enduring Vision: Faith in Action Campaign, let it be our prayer to grow in the things of God, in cultivating generous hearts, in the treasures of heaven that make us truly happy and wealthy in the Lord.
COMMITMENT TEAM PREPARES FOR VISITS
The Commitment Team for the “An Enduring Vision: Faith in Action” campaign will be contacting the members of our church family who have not turned in a commitment pledge card. These contacts will be made September 4 – 13. During the contact, the team will ensure they have received the mail outs and a pledge card. They will answer any questions our members may have about the campaign. If needed, the team will deliver a commitment pledge card and privacy envelope to their home or have the card mailed to their home address. Pledges can also be completed by going to the Enduring Vision, Building fund area online in REALM. For assistance with REALM please contact the church office. Everyone is encouraged to return their pledge cards to the church office as soon as possible. At the latest, please return the pledge cards by, Sunday, September 15.
FROM THE PASTOR
DR. ROSS LANKFORD
BLAKE DIAMOND
TESTIMONIES OF FAITHFULNESS IN GIVING
DAVID NELSON
Candace and I have been blessed abundantly throughout our lives, and we thank God daily for these blessings. “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer” 1 Timothy 4:4-5.
Candace and I believe that God has blessed us with intent, not so that we may live in more comfort, but rather that we may bless others. God has taught us that the things of this world will not bring us joy. He and He alone is our source of comfort and peace. As Psalm 23 says “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” While we are still a work in progress, we wake each morning and trust that He will be our rod and staff, and He will comfort us.
We are excited about the vision campaign at church, as it is another way for us to bless others. Our hope is that FBC Troy will be a beacon of Christ to the community of Troy for generations to come.
DOUGLAS HAWKINS
When is the time right to give in your life? It is easy to say, “this is not a good time for us” or “this is not our turn to give to a campaign like this.” We have worldly financial constraints like a house payment, childcare, student loans, and our current tithe to the church. Is it not easier for the older generations to fund this campaign? Aren’t they in better position to give? This is the attitude when thinking of oneself.
We must eliminate these selfish thoughts and focus on God’s plan for us and our church. Not only focus on God’s plan but to trust in it. Live by it! Our family believes this renovation is a part of His plan. We believe this plan is First Baptist’s chance to provide opportunities to lead people to Christ.
This is a unique chance to be a part of something great and lasting. God has blessed our family and this church with more than we could ever deserve. We are committing to Him to be a part of this project. We trust that God will provide what is necessary for our church. We, as a family, are excited and honored to be a part of the growth of His church.
NICKLAUS CHRYSSON
Growing up at First Baptist, the congregation has truly become an extension of my own family. Any big life event that happens to me, I get to share that with my church family and my church family gets to share theirs with me as well.
Being Chair of the History and Archives Committee, and looking back at our past, I know that the growth of the church does not just extend to the physical, but the spiritual as well. I have seen First Baptist grow spiritually, to heights I could have never imagined just in my lifetime, and I am so excited to get the privilege to witness what God is doing in our church today. To be able to be a part of something bigger than myself and one day handover the “keys” that are in better shape for future generations, something I firmly believe we are all working towards.
Thanks to all the hard working men and women that are diligently serving to make this happen, the “Enduring Vision” campaign will no doubt be something we can soon look back at and fondly recollect at what our contributions went towards.
Personally, I know God has been faithful in my life over and over again, so I am delighted to return my faithfulness towards this campaign, to do my part in giving back to my local church in hopes of one day being better equipped to reach others with the gospel.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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.
SEPTEMBER 22
Victory Luncheon
The Victory Luncheon will be held in the Family Life Center immediately following morning church service to celebrate and announce the commitments made for this campaign. The church will provide the meal and RSVPs will be requested to help with meal preparations.
CHILDREN FOCUS ON GRATITUDE
On Sunday, August 25, Anela Culpepper led the first of several Children’s Church lessons that reinforce the same message as the adult Sunday School lessons on sacrificial giving. She began the series by helping the children acknowledge our own sin problem – our hearts. They discussed the importance of ensuring our own heart is right with God, and remembering what He gave us through His death on the cross. She encouraged the children to recite John 3:16 as a reminder of His gift. With an emphasis on seeking first the kingdom of God, she ended with the ten commandments song and a reminder to not covet what others have, but to thank God for what He gave us. She will continue in this series of helping the children understand both what we have been given and the need for our gratitude. She encourages parents to talk with their children about these lessons and to help reiterate these same gospel truths throughout the week.
CAMPAIGN GOALS
HALLELUJAH
$3,500,000
$2,500,000
$1,500,00
Gilbert Sellers, chairman of the finance committee, shared a personal testimony of God’s faithfulness during Sunday morning worship on August 25. He recounted a previous time in the 1990s when the church was led to raise money for building projects and conveyed how faithful God was in that effort to raise more than triple the operating budget at the time. He reminded the church that “God is able” and we should seek His will in all that we do.
