FBC Carthage E-News
June 4, 2018
Good Morning,
Thank you for a wonderful
day yesterday celebrating my 10th Anniversary as your Pastor. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve
with you at First Baptist Church Carthage.
These ten years have passed so quickly, yet looking back over them I
realize the many things we have done together.
We have been on mission trips to Montana, Africa, Nunavut, Guatemala, Atlanta,
New York, Cincinnati, Hawaii, Knoxville, and especially Smith County. We have had over 1500 services together and I
have preached over 1250 sermons. The
weddings, baby births, and funerals have joined us together in a closeness that
comes through special life events. We
have seen right at 120 people saved and baptized over these past 10 years and
many more join the church by letter and statement. These have been 10 great years and I am
looking forward to the years ahead. May
we be willing instruments for the Lord to use for His glory and the salvation
of people’s souls. Thanks for a
wonderful 10 years together.
Yesterday was extra
special with our guests, Phil and Teresa Glisson and Scotty. They lead us in a powerful way through the
spoken word. I appreciate them sharing
in the afternoon about Gospel Conversations and providing some simple strategies
for sharing our faith. Here a a few of
the points they shared:
·
Have something
available in your pocket or purse to share with others. That may be a tract, a brochure or a
witnessing tool on your phone such as the Three Circles. You can download it at: http://lifeonmissionbook.com/conversation-guide
·
Always be
listening to what the person is saying and be ready to bring into the
conversation the hope you have in Jesus.
·
As you share be
aware that many people are profoundly ignorant of the gospel message. They may have heard of Jesus or been to
church in the past, but they do not understand the gospel. Keep your conversation simple and centered on
Jesus.
·
Depend on the
Holy Spirit to help you remember and know what to share. Also, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you when
to speak more and when to allow the person to think about what you have already
shared.
·
If they bring up
controversial subjects or bad past experiences at church, try to divert the
conversation back to the gospel without becoming lost in the side issue.
·
Have a heart for
Jesus and a burden for people who are lost.
·
Realize that God
is working in your life and in those around you, so no one comes into your life
by accident. Look for the divine
appointments that God has orchestrated.
·
Cultivate the
relations around you. Meet and get to
know your neighbors. Be aware of casual
conversations as you come and go. Ask
waiters and waitresses how you can pray for them. Be sure and leave a generous tip.
·
Pray. Pray for boldness to share. Pray for discernment to realize opportunities. Pray for a burden for people.
·
Use opportunities
to minister to people in need as a bridge to build relationships. Keep in mind this quote, “They don’t care how
much you know until they know how much you care.” Have compassion for people.
We will begin a new sermon
series for the Summer on June 10 in the 10:45 AM services entitled, “All Hail,
King Jesus!” This series will be a study
through the book of Revelation. This
book of the Bible points to the ultimate consummation and victory of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ as He conquers, rules and reigns as the King of Kings and
Lord of Lords. This will be an exciting
summer series.
Have a blessed week,
Bro. Tim
Here is the news for the
week:
·
The Women on
Missions group will meet tonight, June 4 at 6:30 pm at Melody Tackett and
Mildred Westbrook’s home, 812 E Jefferson Avenue. All ladies are invited.
·
Vacation Bible
School is next week, June 11-15 from 6:00-8:30 pm! This is the week to invite every child and
teenager you know to VBS. There will be
classes for children ages 4 through high school. May
this be our greatest Summer ever as we serve and share Jesus. It’s “Game On!” There are still opportunities for you to
serve in VBS 2018.
·
All VBS workers
need one of the “Game On” Summer 2018 T-Shirts in the Connection Point. If you haven’t picked up a shirt, get it this
Sunday and wear it during VBS, mission trips, and other activities. It can be a conversation starter for a Gospel
Conversation.
·
Membership 101,
our introduction to church membership class will be held this Sunday, June 10
at 9:30 am in the Sanctuary. Everyone
interested in becoming members of FBC Carthage are encouraged to attend. In addition to basic information, about the
church, there will be opportunity for you to ask questions you may have.
·
The next
Community Food Distribution will be next Wednesday, June 13 at 9:00 am. Volunteers are needed to meet at the Smith
County Ag Center and help process the food boxes. You can fix a box for yourself or deliver to
a needy family. The distribution is
usually completed by 12 noon.
·
We have four
members of FBC Carthage making preparations for the New Salem Association’s
mission trip to Guatemala on July 6-13. The
team members from FBC Carthage are Marty and Sheila Dodge, Tim Frank, and Carol
Wilmore. Part of their work will be
hosting a free medical clinic in one of the towns. We are collecting specific items for the team
to carry with them:
Adult Multi-vitamins
Infant Vitamin Drops
Children’s Cough Suppressant
Ibuprofen
Children’s Allergy Meds
Please
check expiration dates on each item as you bring them. Collection boxes are located in the
Connection Point. For more information see Marty or Sheila Dodge.
·
We are
making our plans and forming our team for the mission trip to Atlanta, Georgia on
Saturday, June 16. We will leave from
FBC Carthage at 5:30 AM, travel to Atlanta, serve with Kewon Foster and his
church, then return by 8:00 PM the same day.
There will be no cost to this mission trip. In addition to an ice cream party we will
also have a community block party in four different housing areas. If you are
planning to be on the team, please email me at tfrank@fbccarthage.com.
·
We will have a church-wide camping trip to Defeated Creek Campgroud on
August 3-5. The church has reserved 7
spaces to use that weekend. In addition,
we will have a lake day on that Saturday for everyone, regardless if you camp
or not. To claim a camping spot, contact
the church office at (615) 735-1929 or see Bro. Tim. Mark Dillon will be leading the campground
service on August 5 at 8:30 am for all campers.
·
One last call for
homes and yards for Backyard Bible Clubs.
This year we are asking for people to host a Backyard Bible Club for
your neighborhood children. These clubs
may be 4-8 weeks long and we will have Bible stories, craft ideas, and other
information for you. If you are willing
to reach out in your neighborhood contact Bro. Tim or Bro. Matt. The materials are in for you to use and
include Bible stories, craft ideas, games. Etc.
·
Here is the Bible
Reading Plan for this week, June 4-10:
June 4 2 Chronicles 21-22 John 14
June 5 2
Chronicles 23-24 John 15
June 6 2
Chronicles 25-27 John 16
June 7 2
Chronicles 28-29 John 17
June 8 2
Chronicles 30-31 John 18:1-18
June 9 2
Chronicles 32-33 John 18:19-40
June 10 2
Chronicles 34-36 John 19:1-22
·
Don’t forget to
put the following church dates on your calendar:
June 4 Women on Missions @ Tackett/Westbrooks home,
6:30 pm
June 11-15 Vacation Bible School, 6:00-8:30 pm
June 12 Young at
Heart Luncheon @ CLC, 11:30 am
June 13 Community
Food Distribution @ Ag Center, 8:30 am
June16
One Day Mission Trip to Atlanta, 5:30 am
June
17 Father’s Day (No evening service)
July18-22
Youth Summer Camp
July
1 Defeated Creek Campground Service, 8:30 am John Etheridge, Leader
July 1 Patriotic Picnic @ Defeated
Creek, 5:00 pm
July
2-7 Smith County Fair, 5:00-8:30 pm
July
3 Young at Heart Trip, 11:00 am
July
6-13 Association Guatemala Mission Trip
July 15
Community Drug Awareness Service @ CLC, 5:00-7:00 pm
July 16 Association Quarterly WOM Meeting @ FBC
Gordonsville, 6:30 pm
July 16-21
Mission Montana Trip
July 22 Mission Report
Service, 6:00 pm
July 29 Association Rally for
Revival @ TBA, 6:30 pm
August 3-5
Church-wide Camping Trip @ Defeated Creek Campground
August
5 Defeated Creek Campground Service, 8:30 am Mark
Dillon, Leader
August 5
Fireworks Spectacular & Picnic, 6:30 PM @ Etheridge’s home
August
12 AWANA Starts, 5:30 pm
September 16-19
Tent Revival – More details coming.
