FBC Carthage E-News March 2, 2009

FBC Carthage E-News
March 2, 2009

Good morning,

The Lord has given us a beautiful day to begin this first week in March. The days and weeks are moving by very quickly. Don’t take for granted the precious gift of each and every day. Spend it wisely for the glory of God. Take some time this week to be a blessing in someone’s life. Write a note, send a card, make a call, stop for a visit. This is a great week to love the Lord Jesus Christ and serve Him.

We received news yesterday that Jim and Karen Wilburn’s baby was in a hospital in New York. Karen and Colin slipped on the stairs and fell. He has a small fracture in his skull and some bleeding. The latest news I have heard is that he seems to be doing well but he stayed in Intensive Care overnight for observation. Jim and Karen’s moms, as well as Abby, Karen’s sister have flown to New York to be with them. Everyone is asked to pray for Jim, Karen and Colin this week. If you would like to send them a note their address is:
Jim, Karen and Colin Wilburn
25 W. Main St
King’s Park, NY 11754

Jim’s e-mail address is: wilburn.jim@gmail.com

The youth had a great time on their annual ski trip to Perfect North in Indiana. Fran and I had the pleasure of driving up and skiing with them on Saturday. We have a great group of youth and workers. Be praying for them during these next several months as we pray and seek the Lord’s direction for a Minister of Youth.

With so many out yesterday for the youth ski trip I have already downloaded the morning message onto our web site on the Media page. This is the conclusion of last week’s message and is titled Perfection in Jesus Christ, Part 2. I encourage you to listen if you happened to miss the service. You can also go directly to the sermon player at:
http://sermon.net/sermons-First_Baptist_Church-14421.html

This Sunday, March 8 will be a special time of appreciation and recognition for Trey Sanders and his work with our youth during the past ten years. We will receive a special love offering for Trey in the service and we will enjoy a church-wide potluck luncheon in his honor after the morning service. Everyone is asked to bring a dish and plan to stay for lunch. The Fellowship Hall will be open before the service for you to bring your food on down.

Have a blessed week as you share Christ’s love with the people around you.

Bro. Tim


Here’s this week’s news:
1. This week is the Week of Prayer for North American Missions. On the North American Mission Board web page there are special daily videos focusing on specific missionaries around the nation. Check it out by clicking on http://www.namb.net/. We will be receiving our special Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions during this month. Plan to give generously for the work of more than 5,500 missionaries in the United States and Canada.

2. Welcome Glen and Greta Kirby as our newest members of First Baptist Church. They joined Sunday morning on Statement of Faith. The Kirbys have been attending the Sunday School class led by Jim Broyles.

3. Wednesday night, March 4 we will have Pastor Vance Thomas and his wife Kathy as our special guests. Pastor Vance is the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Poplar, Montana. Several from our church have served in Montana and we have been asked to bring a team back this Summer, July 15-22. Pastor Vance will share at 6:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. The regular monthly business meeting will be moved to the next Wednesday, March 11.

4. Everyone is reminded that Day-light Savings Time begins this Sunday, March 8. I encourage you to set your clocks ahead (Spring Forward) on Saturday afternoon so you get use to the new time before Sunday morning.

5. Beginning Wednesday, March 11, Stephen Russell will be leading the Youth Bible Study at 6:30 PM in the Youth Room. All youth are encouraged to attend and invite a friend to come with you.

6. A new Sunday School class for Young Adults will begin on Sunday, March 15 at 9:30 AM. Steve and Ellen Deaver will be leading this new class.

7. Vacation Bible School enlistment begins this week as we prepare for the Associational Training Clinic on Saturday, March 28 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at Gordonsville First Baptist Church. Our VBS will be held June 15-19. See Rhonda Etheridge or Lisa Reece for more information.

8. Begin praying for our Spring Revival, April 5-8 with Evangelist Jimmy Napier. This Sunday we will distribute prayer cards for you to identify five lost people you will be praying for during the weeks leading up to the revival services. We will also be having Home Prayer Meetings during the weeks of March 23 and 30 in preparation for the special services. If you would be interested in hosting a Home Prayer Meeting contact Bro. Tim.

9. We are planning on having a Relay for Life team this year for the Smith County Relay on June 5-6. Jackie Manning will be our Relay Team Leader. If you would like to be a part of this effort to raise money to help fight cancer contact the church office or see Jackie.

10. The Pictorial Directory dates we had scheduled for April have been moved to October 23-24 and 26-27 to give the church time to call a new staff member in Youth and Music.

11. Last week I received Jim Wilburn’s E-News from North Shores Baptist Church in Long Island, New York. I have copied that E-News below:

Hello everyone. I hope you've had a good start to the week: I know mine has been great! Imagine if the first thing you had to do... on the first day of the week.... was to talk to a little boy about Jesus- and then watch as he prays and is gloriously saved! Our love and support is with Nate Biondi as he embarks on a brand new life with Jesus as the Captain of his soul.

Let us make no mistake- the best thing that ever happens is when a soul is saved from a sorrowful life and eternal death in hell. And no doubt, the only biblical way to grow the church is one soul at a time. It is my prayer that through the ministry of North Shore Baptist Church, many will trust Jesus Christ as Nate has, and will be able to sing that old song, "There's a new name written down in glory, and it's mine, yes it's mine!"

I wanted to let you guys know that Karen and I are getting ever closer to being fully settled-in. We are in hopes that we will be able to have an open house after church (within a few weeks) to celebrate the great work you've done.

Also, thanks to all who told us that you were praying for Karen as she took the New York pharmacy law exam on Friday. She has high expectations for her results, though she has yet to recieve them.

Announcements/Prayer requests:

Thank you to the members who attended the business meeting on Sunday. Implementation of our plans are underway.

There will be a scheduling meeting on Wednesday night to discuss special events throughout the remainder of the year. I hope that you all will be ready to share some creative ways that we can exalt the Name of Christ in the community.

Bro. Bill Ross is home and is recouperating nicely. We hope to see you back at church soon, Bro. Bill!

Karen is happy because her best friend is having a great experience while serving in Kuwait. She (Lydia Blalock) says she feels like she is closer to God than she has ever been.

Say a special prayer for a young lady I spoke to today who is looking for a new church home.

Please continue to remember Keith Pape in prayer, as he is still having erratic readings with his blood sugar.

Remember those who are sick or traveling.

I look forward to seeing you all Wednesday night and Sunday. Sunday morning's message will be "Waiting for God's Timing" in Mark chapter 5. We will answer the questions "Why doesn't God answer my prayer? What should I do when I haven't received an answer from God? and What can I do when it seems all hope is gone?" Don't forget your bible and your pen!

Pastor Jim

Col 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

12. I close this E-News with a beautiful poem sent to me by a friend in Cookeville. As the gospel song says, “The God of the mountains is still God in the valleys, the God of the day is still God in the night.” If you know someone who is having a struggle this may be of help to them:
http://llerrahmusic.com/viewcard.php?code=102467