FBC Carthage E-News for January 1, 2012

FBC Carthage E-News

January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!

There is an excitement in the air as we begin a new year. The excitement is from the opportunities that await us in the New Year; opportunities to minister and care, opportunities to share the gospel, opportunities to grow closer in our walk with Jesus Christ.
 2012 is designated as the year of compassion as we emphasize the third phrase in our mission statement: “Exalt Christ, Establish Connections, Express Compassion.” In each area of our ministry, let’s seek ways to express the compassion of Jesus Christ in word and deed. As you reach out to others, be sure and allow your acts of compassion to become opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus. There is nothing more compassionate than sharing the hope of Jesus with a person who is lost. In fact, I encourage each Christian to ask the Lord to allow them to see at least one person come to salvation this year through their witness. That will make 2012 a year to remember.


I remind the Sunday School classes of the challenge of having at least one ministry project each quarter. Teachers, you and the class members are to prayerfully select the project, coordinate the details, and see it through.


Everyone is asked to mark Saturday, February 11 on their calendar for our “We Love Smith County Day.” Last year was a great day of ministry and local missions through the work of the classes.


Before we go to the news, a special “thanks” goes to everyone who participated in the mission trip to the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home. The two day project saw a lot of work done to one cottage, a wash building, and the Children’s Home grounds.


Have a blessed New Year as you serve others in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Bro. Tim


Here’s the news for this week:
1. With the New Year comes a renewed emphasis on reading the Bible through. If you are still in the process from last year, keep going. A unique reading plan was handed out Sunday which divides the readings through the week by major sections of the Bible. Copies of the Reading Plan are available at the Connection Point, in the Church Office, and online at: http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html


2. This past Sunday also began our Baby Bottle Campaign, collecting change for the Pregnancy Help Center of Smith County. The Center is located at 108 College Avenue West and is opened Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00AM – 4:00 PM. Collect your change for his important ministry in our community. We will collect the baby bottles on Sunday, January 22 which is the Sanctity of Life Sunday. For more information on the Pregnancy Help Center, log onto http://www.phcsmithcounty.org/.

3. The Spring semester of AWANA begins Sunday, January 8 at 5:30 PM in the Christian Life Center. AWANA is a Bible-centered ministry for children, ages 3 through high school. I encourage all parents to bring your children to this exciting discipleship program. Invite your neighborhood children to join in the fun of AWANA.


4. Speaking of Sunday nights, our evening worship services for adults will focus on our basic beliefs as Baptists. It is important to know what we believe and where in the Bible we base those beliefs. Evening worship begins at 6:00 PM in the sanctuary.


5. Senior Adults, we will have a ministry planning luncheon on Tuesday, January 10 at 11:30 AM in the Christian Life Center. Bring a covered dish and ministry/program ideas as we plan the year of Senior Adult ministry.


6. The January church business meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 11 at 6:30 PM in the Sanctuary.


7. Be praying for the 2012 Youth Ski Retreat, January 14-16. There are over 70 persons going on this year’s retreat to Perfect North, Indiana. Shawn Peoples, a church-planter to Hawaii, will be the guest speaker.


8. The Carthage United Methodist Church has invited us to a special event: The CUMC Witness Committee is hosting an afternoon with Dr. Rev. Raouf Ghattas on January 15 at 3:00 pm in our CLC. He will be talking about Christians in the Middle East, life under Islamic Law & reaching out to Muslims for Christ. This event is open to everyone & we are hopeful to get a large turnout to hear him talk, a Q&A session will follow - our course refreshments will be served!


Rev. Ghattas was born in Cairo, Egypt & immigrated to the US in 1975. Although he was originally a structural engineer in the nuclear field, he found his true calling in the church. He earned a M.Div & Doctor of Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Rev. Ghattas has been a Church Planter/Evangelist for the International Mission Board, SBC since 1991 & served in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt. He has travelled to over 30 countries as a trainer/teacher in Muslim evangelism. He lives in Murfreesboro with his wife, Carol, and two teenage sons.


9. The deacons will meet Sunday, January 8 at 5:00 PM.


10. Listed below is a link to the Southern Baptist Call to Prayer for our nation and our world. Take a look at the emphasis videos and the challenge to pray for the lost to be saved: http://www.namb.net/sbccalltoprayer/

11. Here is an interesting news article e-mailed to me and tagged “Stand Up for Jesus”. It shares the stand Tim Tebow is taking for his outward expressions of faith as a player for the NFL:
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/12/12/why-are-anti-christian-bigots-so-eager-to-prey-on-tim-tebow/