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Volume 23, Issue 3
Food & Wine Fest
11
Pastor Rummage
Prayer Breakfast
March 2019
FishHawk Fellowship Church’s Expansion Builds A Bridge Between Church And Community With more than 3,000 in attendance, FishHawk Fellowship Church (FFC) unveiled its brand-new multi-purpose building to the community with a ribbon cutting ceremony during its Saturday night and Sunday services on February 9 and 10. Since its inception in 1998, FFC has sought to be part of the fabric of FishHawk by engaging the family-oriented and sports-driven community with events like its Eggstravaganza and summer basketball camps. But even with adding additional services, FFC’s weekly attendance of more than 2,000 left little room for visitors and new members. “Since our Senior Pastor David Whitten shared his vision to reach the community seven days a week, our church comes together in a big way to raise $5.5 million to build this space completely debt-free,” said Pastor Daniel Butson. “It’s amazing what happens when people come together.” The newly constructed space will extend FFC’s reach into the community with larger church gatherings, multiple sports ministries, concerts, guest speaker events and more. The building seats 1,300 people and features a full-size gymnasium, a café, brand new area for babies and toddlers and a state of the art worship space for Saturday and Sunday services. The new space also affords the youth ministry and children's Awana ministry to
By Amanda Boston
bers to purchase chairs for each of their family members and one for a neighbor at $100 per chair. FFC raised the $130,000, which will pay for all the chairs in the new worship building. Pastor Butson explained, “It’s more than just the chair. We believe every chair represents someone who needs hope, love, and meaning in meet simultaneously on our commuWednesday nights. Awana nity,” He conwill continue to meet in the tinued, “We other facilities with the believe when youth ministry now taking people sit in up residence in the new these chairs building. that’s exactly Senior Pastor David what they’ll Whitten said, “Once we find. For so FFC had three grand opening celebrations made the decision to build during its worship services on Saturday night many years, this building debt-free, we we’ve seen and Sunday morning. witnessed God work in the marriages restored, people find forgivehearts of our people, where people have ness, hope, and life in Jesus.” given sacrificially to make it happen.” One of the first major events schedHe continued, “While some were uled to take place in the new building is a skeptical that this could really be done, so marriage conference on Friday, May 3 and many have seen their faith and trust in Saturday, May 4. Also this summer, FFC God really grow to see this vision become will kick off its sports ministry, which will a reality. This place was never really about include summer camps, kid’s basketball us. It was always about how we can reach leagues and group fitness classes this community.” throughout the week. To help with the cost, FFC also ran For more information, visit www.fishthe BYOC campaign ‘Buy Your Own hawkfc.org. The church is located at Chair,' which encouraged church mem15326 FishHawk Blvd. in Lithia.
Feed The Bay Meets Needs With One Day Food Collection Event
Impact’s Got Talent
Columns: GraceNotes:
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Your Monthly Catch: Page 8 Faith & Footprints:
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Hooked On Books:
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Since its inception in 2006, Feed the Bay has collected nearly two million pounds of food for pantries of local food banks and community agencies. The multi-church effort provides a practical way for area churches to demonstrate God's love by serving as the Hands and Feet of Jesus. Feed the Bay will be held on Sunday, March 31 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. You can help fill the gap by replenishing pantries as a volunteer or shopper. Feed the Bay partners with Publix Super Markets who offer shoppers a convenient grocery list with the requested food items. After the shopper purchases the food, volunteers are onsite to collect the food and load it onto trailers. For the past nine years, Michelle (Flip) Filipowicz has looked forward to volunteering with Feed the Bay. She serves as a store coordinator at one of the Publix locations where she checks in the volunteers and acts as a liaison between church volunteers and store managers. “We start the day in prayer and with an empty truck, but as one body of
By Amanda Boston
droves, and we had a full truck. Even through the storms—the wind and the rain, God’s people showed up and gave from their hearts.“ Volunteers are not only needed to load trucks at the Publix Super Markets but are necessary to drive the trailers as well as Christians, not several area churches,” explained Flip. “At the end of the day, we thank the Lord for the food and the hands that helped to fill the truck.” Last year, Feed the Bay garnered 124,254 pounds of food from 15 Publix locations. The one-day community-wide effort included 31 church campuses and 12 community agencies, totaling 704 volunteers. Every year, Janine Skipper also volunteers as a store coordinator and truck driver at one of the Publix collection locations. She reminisced about last year’s turnout despite the stormy weather. "This past year we had a tornado touch down out in the Bay at the height of Feed the Bay,” said Skipper. “Even with the impending weather, the volunteers and parishioners came out in
unload and sort the food at the local agencies. For those who wish to volunteer, you must be at least 14 years old, but children are welcome to participate alongside a parent. To volunteer or see a list of participating Publix Super Markets, churches and agencies; visit www.feedthebay.org. If you are unable to participate during the event but still want to contribute, gift cards from any supermarket may be dropped off at the Bay Life Church office. For questions, contact Melanie Langston from Bay Life Church at mlangston@baylife.org.