FBC Carthage E-News for January 9, 2012

FBC Carthage E-News

January 9, 2012

Good morning,

Thank you for your prayers for me last week as I took Jill, our older daughter, to Texas A&M. It was a great trip, with the exception that I had to leave her in Texas. On Friday, I helped Sara, our younger daughter, move back into her dorm at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The house is too quite again.

Speaking of students, this is a big week for many of them as classes begin and they start their Spring semester. We are blessed with many students at FBC Carthage. Let’s remember to pray for them in their studies and their Christian walk while at school. This would be a great week to take a moment and write a note to a student. These notes from home are an encouragement to the students.


This is also a big week for the youth as they prepare for their Winter Ski Retreat this weekend. They will leave on Saturday for Perfect North and return on Monday. In addition to the times of skiing and tubing, they will be led in worship by a guest worship band and guest speaker, Pastor Shawn Peoples who is planting a new church in Hawaii. Pray for God to stir in the hearts of our youth on this special trip.


I want to celebrate again the great offering given this year from the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. Our goal this year was $11,500 and we have received over $13,800! As this offering goes into the mission fields of the world, may the peoples of the nations hear and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.


Have a blessed week,
Bro. Tim


Here is the news for the week:
1. All adults 55 and over are invited for a covered dish luncheon this Tuesday, January 10 at 11:30 AM in the Christian Life Center. We will enjoy a great meal, good fellowship, and discuss plans for a year of programs, trips, and missions for the senior adults. Invite someone to come along with you.


2. The January business meeting will be held this Wednesday, January 11 at 6:30 PM in the sanctuary.


3. Continue to collect your coins and bills for the Baby Bottles for the Pregnancy Help Center. Two filled bottles have already been returned for the Center. Plan to bring your filled bottles to church by Sunday, January 22 which will be Sanctity of Life Sunday.


4. I remind you of the special invitation we have from the Carthage United Methodist Church to join them for an afternoon with Southern Baptist pastor and missionary, Dr. Rev. Raouf Ghattas on January 15 at 3:00 pm in their Fellowship Hall/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. A time of question and answers will follow the presentation and 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.


5. Speaking of missionaries, Donny Coulter, missionary in Canada with the First Nations Peoples, will be with us in both morning services on Sunday, January 29. Donny is our contact in praying for and one day working with Inuit people. He will bring the morning messages and share opportunities we have to serve with the Canadian First Peoples (Native Americans) this Summer. He has four weeks of camps for the First Nations’ children during July and has invited us to bring a team to prepare meals and serve as counselors for one of the weeks. He will also share the opportunity for older High School and College students to serve as counselors for the Summer.


6. The January after-church fellowship has been rescheduled to Sunday night, January 22. We will have finger foods and a time to spend in fellowship together.


7. The 2012 We Love Smith County Day for local ministry and mission projects will be Saturday, February 11. All Sunday School classes are asked to select a project to do on that day. Projects could be helping an individual, a community project, or other ministry in Smith County. Please select a project by January 22. Teachers, please coordinate your projects with Bro. Tim. Classes can work together on the same projects.


8. A Couple’s Valentine Dinner will be held on Saturday, February 11 in the Fellowship Hall at 6:00 PM. Sign-up and cost information will be at the Connection Point this Sunday.


9. With 2012 being the Year of Compassion, here is a great story of compassion of two Nashville brothers: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=K67LPGNX&utm_source=GodTube%20Must-See%20Video&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=01/09/2012