FBC Carthage E-News for March 21, 2011

FBC Carthage E-News
March 21, 2011

A beautiful spring morning to you,

Yesterday marked what is recognized as the first day of spring and it feels like it this morning. This is a beautiful time of year with the nice weather and flowers blooming. Take some time this week to be outside and enjoy the season. Be sure and thank the Lord for His goodness and your blessings.

I appreciate the good message Zeke brought last night in the evening service. He is a blessing to our church and community. Let him know you appreciate him.

We rejoice with Chealsey Apple in her baptism in the 10:45 AM service yesterday.

It was a joy to have Jacob Testa, the newborn baby of Joseph and Amanda Testa, in church for the first time yesterday. Jacob was born March 10.

This coming Sunday, March 27, will be special as we welcome Pastor Elijah Wanje as our special guest. Pastor Wanje is the pastor of Ridgeways Baptist Church in Nairobi, Kenya. He will be preaching in the morning services. Our mission team to Africa will work with a team from his church in starting a new church in Kenya. You will receive a great blessing this Sunday from Pastor Wanje.

I encourage you to take a minute and visit a great website from Ridgeways Baptist Church in Kenya. The site will give a greater awareness of the people of Ridgeways and introduce you to Pastor Wanje.
http://ridgewaysbaptistchurch.blogspot.com/

Here are a couple of videos from the children’s choir at Ridgeways Baptist Church in Nairobi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaOZDeZSggE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDO6oE1SkIg


This Sunday will also begin our Week of Prayer for North American Missions. During the next five weeks we will be emphasizing the work of the more than 5000 missionaries serving throughout North America through the North American Mission Board. The web site for NAMB is http://www.namb.net/.

I hope you are receiving and enjoying the daily devotionals of the 40 Days of Easter 2011. It has been a blessing to read the thoughts and reflections from our members on these scriptures which prepare our hearts for the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. If you miss one of the devotionals or would like to share them with friends, we are posting them each day at www.ontheword.blogspot.com.

Have a wonderful week as you live in the victory of Jesus.

Bro. Tim


Here’s the news for this week:
1. GPS: God’s Plan for Sharing is a Tennessee Baptist emphasis of sharing the gospel with every person in Tennessee. We will be accepting the challenge to do our part and share with everyone in Carthage and South Carthage. This year’s emphasis is to prayer walk each street in our area and distribute an invitation to every home to join us for our celebration service on Easter Sunday, April 24. Everyone is asked to mark your calendars for two special city-wide outreach events leading up to Easter:
· Saturday, April 9 Prayer-Walk
· Saturday, April 16 Invitation distribution to the Easter service

2. All Vacation Bible School workers are urged to attend the VBS training conference on Tuesday, March 29 at FBC Carthage at 6:30 PM. If you have not yet signed up to help in VBS you can do that by contacting Rhonda Etheridge or Becky Mitchell. There will also be a sign-up form this Sunday in the bulletin.

3. The Mission Montana Team met Sunday and continued the plans for a mission trip to Poplar, Montana, July 4-13. The team will focus on projects on the church building and in member’s homes. There will also be community-wide events such as a movie night and a possible pool party. New this year are plans for a ladies conference and an appreciation dinner for the people of the church.

4. Speaking of a women’s conference, First Baptist Church Carthage is hosting a women’s conference simulcast with Priscilla Shirer on April 1-2. This special conference will begin on Friday night, April 1 at 7:00 PM and resume on Saturday, April 2 at 9:00 AM. Invite your friends to attend with you. Check out her web site and hear a special message for you in preparation for the April 1&2 meetings: http://www.goingbeyond.com/

5. Vacation Bible School preparation is under-way as we enlist workers and begin planning for the best VBS yet. Our first planning event will be a training clinic for all workers on Tuesday, March 29 at 6:30 PM. We will begin in the sanctuary and then have time for training in the various age-groups. If you have not signed up, you can contact the church office or see Rhonda Etheridge or Becky Mitchell.

6. The Sunday messages are online and can be accessed through the Media page on the church web site www.fbccarthage.com. You can also access the sermon player at www.ontheword.blogspot.com. This is a great resource if you miss a message or if you want to refer a message to a friend.

Here is a cute e-mail I received last week. I hope it brings a smile to your face:
How to stay safe in the World today! Where IS the Safest Place?
1. Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents.2. Do not stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.
3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents occur to pedestrians. 4. Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation.

5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in Hospitals. So, above all else, avoid hospitals. But. . .You will be pleased to learn that only ..001% of all deaths occur in worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous physicaldisorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is in Church! And . . . Bible study is safe too! The percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less.So, attend church, and read your Bible. IT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE!