FBC Carthage E-News for May 2, 2011

FBC Carthage E-News


May 2, 2011



Good morning,



These are exciting days for many families in our church as graduations draw close. Jill and Sara Frank are both graduating this year so it is fast paced at our house. We had a great meal and recognition of the graduates yesterday. A special thank-you goes to those who helped with the delicious meal. Here are our 2011 Graduates:

High School

Zach Sanders

Leah Bane

Sara Frank

Shawn Pinson

Kirk Conger

Hunter Hackett

Lauren Nesbitt



College

Jill Frank

Monica Wilmore

Allie Hackett

Sam Smith

Brad Tackett

Zeke Tomaselli

Davin Apple

Kendra Apple

Take a few minutes and pray for them as they finish their school year.





The Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions is near the goal of $7000. As of yesterday, we had $6,665. If you have not had a chance to be a part of this great offering you can bring or send your offering to the church office.



Speaking of North American Missions, we have a great opportunity to reach out during this time of disaster through NAMB and the Tennessee Baptist Convention Disaster Relief. Check out the work being done and how you can help at www.namb.net



This coming Sunday, May 8 is Mother’s Day and we will have a special gift for all ladies. Remember your mom this week is a special way. If she is living, take time to spend some time with her. My mom has been with Jesus for seventeen years now. I continue to thank the Lord for the Godly heritage she gave me.



Have a blessed week,

Bro. Tim





Here’s the News for the week:

1. This Thursday, May 5 will be the National Day of Prayer Rally at 6:00 PM on the steps of the Smith County Courthouse. Let’s join together and pray for our nation. Bro. Zeke will be leading the worship and several pastors will lead in prayer. I ask you to set aside an hour to come to the courthouse and pray.



2. Here are two mission/ministry opportunities for this summer:



FBC Carthage will be leading the Defeated Creek Campground Services on the following dates:

Sunday, May 22

Sunday, June 19

Sunday, July 3

Sunday, September 4

Sunday, October 9

We need classes or individuals to lead these services at 8:30 AM. Contact Bro. Tim to be a part of this great ministry.





FBC Carthage will lead and provide a meal for the Backyard Bible Club at Project Circle on the following dates:

Tuesday, June 7

Tuesday, June 14

Tuesday, June 28

Tuesday, July 25

We need classes and individuals to volunteer to prepare the food and lead in the Bible lessons for about twenty children. The Bible Club meets from 4:30-5:30 PM. Contact Bro. Tim to help in this ministry.

3. Speaking of missions, here is a list of the upcoming mission events. Place them on your calendar and begin praying now for a Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered Summer:

Mission Projects:

• Kids Camp May 23-26

• Refuel May 30-June 2

• Africa Mission Trip June 1-15

• Teen Music Camp June 16-18

• VBS June 20-24

• Youth Summer Camp June 27-July 1

• Montana Mission Trip July 4-13

• Rogersville Mission Trip July 11-16

• Hawaii Mission Trip July 11-18

• New York Mission Trip October 7-14





4. To help focus our prayers for missions this Summer, we will begin having special times of prayer each Sunday and Wednesday evening in the sanctuary before the services. These times of prayer will be Wednesdays at 6:00 PM beginning May 18 and Sundays at 5:30 PM beginning May 22.



5. Here’s another idea to help call us to pray for the mission efforts this Summer; set your cell phone to ring each day at 4:15 PM. 4:15 PM corresponds to our focus verse for this Summer, Mark 16:15 (4:15 PM in military time would be 16:15). Mark 16:15 says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Let this ring be a reminder to pray for the teams that are serving that week and those preparing to go.



6. The monthly business meeting will be held this Wednesday, May 4 at 6:30 PM. We will share the ministries of the church and hear several recommendations from the deacons.



7. We will join together in sponsoring an Islam Awareness Conference May 8-10 at the Ag Center. These sessions will begin at 6:30 PM each evening. Here is some basic information on the conference:

Islam Awareness Conference Information

Pastor El Masih is coming to our county to hold a three day Islam Awareness conference at the AG Center; May 8th-10th Sunday - Tuesday. Scott Nesbitt, pastor of Christ Community Church writes, “I know brother Masih personally and can testify that he is an outstanding preacher and teacher and brother in the Lord. I am bringing him here because I know first hand of the watered down version of Islam that is being taught in our country. While in a discussion with a Muslim last year, He told me that his Imam (teacher of the mosque that he went to) teaches him that we are all trying to serve the same God and he believed in being very peaceful...etc. The truth is, this is part of the plan of Jihad for our country....brothers I am not a conspiracy theory type of person...but I know that there is a specific plan for Jihad on demographic states and the American version of Islam is not true Islam....that is why I think as many people as can need to know the truth.”

Here is some information about Brother Masih:

• Dr. Mujahid has studied Islam and the Qur'an for many years in Pakistan.

• Jesus Christ found Pastor Masih at the age of 25 and used him to start churches in Pakistan. Now there are over fifty churches, a Bible school, the Jesus Heals Medical Clinic, and a child-support program in Pakistan.

• He has traveled to 42 states here in the USA, and has spoken in over 500 churches of all sizes.

• Pastor Masih has also spoken at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs; Pastor John Piper's church (Bethlehem Baptist) in Minneapolis, Minnesota; the national conference for The Voice of the Martyrs, and many regional conferences.

• Pastor Masih has spoken on Christian television programs, Moody Radio, American Family, and other radio programs.

• Pastor Masih has given many conferences and seminars on Islam throughout the country.

• Pastor Masih has also spoken in public and Christian schools, community colleges, Christian colleges and universities like Christian University in Colorado, Biola, Masters College, NCU, and many others.



Key topics Pastor el Masih teaches include:

• A True Understanding of Islam

• Reaching Muslims for Jesus Christ

• The Voice of the Martyrs

• What is Islam?

• What is the Qur'an?

• The Life of Mohammed

• Allah-Is He God?

• Why Do Muslims Hate Christians and Jews?

• Why Do Muslims Want To Eliminate Jews From the Land of Israel?

• What is Jihad?

• Islam's Plan To Take Over America In 2020

• Islam and Human Rights

• What does the Qur'an say about Jews, Christians, the Bible, and Jesus Christ?

• The Treatment of Women in Islam



If you would like more information on Pastor Masih please visit http://fortheloveofmuslims.org



8. The church council met yesterday and shared the following dates and plans:

May 5 National Day of Prayer@ 6:00 PM

8 Mother’s Day – Twelve Extraordinary Women

8-10 Islam Awareness Conference

13-14 High School Graduations

15 Mission Montana Team Meeting @ 3:00 PM

Children’s Choir

22 Defeated Campground Service

Church Council

Lighthouse Camp Emphasis

23-26 Children’s Camp

29 Lord’s Supper AM

Memorial Day Picnic @ 5:30 PM Defeated Picnic Pavilion

30-June 2 ReFuel: Local Community Student Missions

31-June 4 Pregnancy Help Center Volunteer Training



9. Here is a letter I received this week from Randy Davis, Executive Director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. It shares the part we are playing in the ministry to the storm damaged areas:

Just a quick update on the compassionate response of our TBC churches to the devastating storms and tornados impacting our state, as well as much of the southeastern part of our country this week. As you step into your pulpits this Sunday to proclaim the ageless message of the love of Christ for humanity, we hope we can all join in a concert of prayer across our state for those whose lives have been radically changed by these storms. Our prayer is that ultimately in this sea of grief and hurt many people will come to know the God of all hope through a personal relationship with Christ. As we respond with mercy and grace may they see Christ in our actions and may we be plain in our gospel presentation. Hopefully the following information will assist you in keeping your congregation informed concerning our united response to this opportunity.



Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief (TBDR) teams have been active all week since the first storms came through West Tennessee on Tuesday. For the most part, our associational and church DR teams have responded in their local areas to the immediate needs of the local community. As search and rescue operations have transitioned into recovery efforts, these local teams have begun clearing downed trees and assisting victims as they can. Many of our local teams along with their churches have established small feeding ministries as needed. The Sullivan Baptist Association feeding unit is set up at FBC of Greeneville and began serving meals on Friday night. We do not anticipate much further in the way of feeding operations at this time.



On Thursday of this week, the Disaster Operations Center (DOC) was activated at the Baptist Center in Brentwood. TBDR volunteers contacted every associational DOM or DR director in TN for an updated assessment of needs. In almost every instance, the local DR teams felt capable of handling the damage in their areas. Where assistance was needed neighboring DR teams have been activated. We do anticipate that as assessments continue and additional needs are discovered that additional teams may need to be activated to the hardest hit areas. Both our state and local TBDR leadership are very sensitive to not overwhelming an area with volunteers.



On the regional level, Alabama was the most devastated state. The Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief Ministry is working throughout the state and beginning to identify locations that need help and that can support (shelter and feed) volunteer recovery teams. The Florida Baptist Convention is responding first, as they had no damage recently. We do anticipate as fresh water and access is restored to many areas of northern Alabama, that Tennessee teams will be needed. Our TBDR leadership is in regular contact with the Alabama leadership and will activate teams to Alabama as soon as they are requested. Long-term recovery efforts in northern Alabama are expected to rely heavily on Tennessee teams.



Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief funds have been released and will be hand delivered to our hardest hit areas on Monday and Tuesday of next week. In addition, a special fund has been established to assist in the immediate and long-term disaster relief efforts through the Tennessee Baptist Convention. Churches and individuals may give on-line with a credit or debit card at www.TNBaptist.org or by sending a check to TN Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 728, Brentwood, TN 30724, with the designation, "DR - Spring 2011 Tornadoes and Storms."



For the latest information on Tennessee Baptists response to the storms, check regularly the www.TNBaptist.org website.



10. Last night during the evening service, we preached through the Song of Solomon from the perspective of The Book of Romance. I refered to the royal wedding and here is an article from Focus on the Family that may be of encouragement to you in your marriage. It is entitled “Love and Respect: A Royal Marriage.” Focus on the Family has hundreds of articles and resources to help strengthen your marriage. Check it out:

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/communication_and_conflict/the_love_and_respect_principle/love-and-respect-a-royal-marriage.aspx