Youth Room Redesign

After Wedesday's Bible study, Nora took the youth upstairs to continue working on the room clean-up and redesign.  We're almost ready to pull up some carpet!  Come on out and get involved with us, physical labor is great for the soul!

Youth Begin Room Expansion and Redesign

The teenagers in our church have had some unremarkable classrooms. 

Yet they are such remarkable people....

With remarkably creative, unique personalities . . .

Who have proven that they can learn, worship and praise in remarkably odd places . . .

We think they deserve a remarkably creative room for all their endeavors -- praise, worship, Bible study, and entertainment ("fellowship").

The youth group is currently cleaning out the upstairs rooms above the church library to redesign into the FBC Youth Center.  Plans include replacing the carpet, painting the walls and furnishing with recliners and couches.  We'd like to put in a big screen tv with Wii games, a pool table, a ping pong table, a mid size refrigerator and a shelf of excellent reading materials and study guides they can use for individual use.

If you can donate financially or donate any of these materials, please contact the church office, Doug Busbee, or Nora Johnson.

Youth Join Adults on Mission Trip 2011

Mission Trip 2011 (not pictured: Mike Malphrus)  St. Clairsville, OH   July 17-23, 2011

Our mission team has departed to Ohio for a week of ministering with Emmanuel Baptist Church in St. Clairsville, OH.  During the week, they will be constructing a shower trailer, building steps for an elderly couple's home, assisting the church with their VBS and hosting a Back Yard Bible Club.
Specific Prayer Needs:

• Emmanuel Baptist's members will be ministered to and encouraged
• Emmanuel and our team will be able to reach out to the community
• Safe travel and protection for team members
• The Holy Spirit will have complete control and leadership
• Every stronghold against the gospel will be broken down
• Souls will be saved

Sunday night update:
The team experienced a flat tire.
So thankful for the young people of our church being able to be involved and helpful -- Ethan Busbee changed the tire ....


....while the others were very patient and kept their spirits up.

Don't they look very mission-trip-esque here?  It looks like they are in a poor village on some foreign land or something.

Pray for the team this week!

Baptisms at FBC - Wagener

Two ladies from our youth group were baptized Sunday, Lynsey and Katlyn Day.  One of our former youths, Erika Williams was instrumental in leading these ladies to the Lord and in discipling them, investing her life in them.  It is amazing to see our youth learn, grow and give, which is another reason I like having the Former Youth Spotlights featured on this blog. 

The baptism.  Baptism is one of those rare moments, like communion, that always takes my breath away.  I pause and think of all the years, all the people before us that partook in this same event, creating a sense of brotherhood, solidarity.  Reminding us to be faithful, to endure, to celebrate, hope & remember.  In the Old Testament, remembrance was significant.  Stories were imparted to generations, feasts and pilgrimages were created for reflection and remembrance.  I miss that.  I wish we had more of that.

I get a sense of that at times of baptism and communion and, maybe, this Easter with our Maundy service.  I think back to when our little rural church had baptisms out in Edisto Lake and another time when we had a few baptisms in my back yard swimming pool.  Times of coziness and fellowship, friendship, support.   And mostly I think back to the first baptisms.  When John started baptising people, they were all confused:

"The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah.  John answered them all, 'I baptize you with water.  But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.'" - Luke 3:15&16

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v 21 & 22   "When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized, too.  And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'"

Can you imagine!?

We have the privilege of hindsight, but can you imagine being there back then?  Trying to figure it all out?

Makes me want to go visit the Jordan River!

...and I want to take the Day sisters with me.

Be Intentional With 2011

Making your list and checking it twice.... are you going to be naughty or nice in 2011?

California Pastor, Justin Buzzard offers some good advice in his blog How to Prepare for 2011, basically instructing us to think hard about 2010, ask yourself some questions and then pray and plan (make a list!) for 2011. With practical observation, experiential learning and God's Spiritual guidance, you can be intentional about what you do with 2011. What is that? -- 525,600 minutes in 2011 that you are going to spend one way or another, why not think about it and spend them wisely rather than impulsively?
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Buzzard says he and his wife reviewed the previous year and prayed and planned for the next year, "We’re finding that this new tradition gives a great sense of cohesiveness, history, and focus to our life together. In the future I imagine it will be helpful to look back at these “what happened” lists and remind ourselves of how God was at work in our lives in the past." I love that because often we forget to look back and see God's hand in our lives.
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Especially for the youth -- teenagers and young adults -- if you can grasp this theory now, you can direct the rest of your life. Live with intention! Don't just float through life going wherever the waves toss you. Take the time to look for God's leading for your present and future, and His hand in your past. Buzzard credits this idea to David Allen, a master teacher of productivity.
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Here's a list of the questions Buzzard lists and he advises you to consider your answers in several areas: Physical, Emotional, Mental, Spiritual, Financial, Family, Community Service, Fun/Creativity/Recreation.
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Completing and Remembering 2010
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Review the list of all completed projects
What was your biggest triumph in '10? The smartest decision?
What one word best sums up and describes your '10 experience?
What was the greatest lesson you learned in '10?
What was the most loving service you performed?
What is your biggest piece of unfinished business?
What are you most happy about completing in '10?
Who were the three people who had the most influence on you?
What was the biggest risk you took? The biggest surprise?
What important relationship improved the most in '10?
What compliment would you liked to have received in '10? Given?
What else do you need to do or say to be complete with 2010?
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Creating the New Year
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What would you like to be your biggest triumph in 2011?
What advice would you like to give yourself?
What is the major effort you are planning to improve your financial results in 2011?
What would you be most happy about completing in 2011?
What would you most like to change about yourself in 2011?
What do you think your biggest risk will be in 2011?
What about your work are you most committed to changing and improving in 2011?
What is one undeveloped talent you are willing to explore in 2011?
What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that in 2011?
Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving in 2011?
What one word would you like to have as your theme in 2011?

VBS '20: Saddle Ridge Ranch

Psssst.....

Howdy, Wrangler, Just a note to remind you . .
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-VBS this week has turned First Baptist Church into Saddle Ridge Ranch.

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July 25 - 30, 6-9 pm, Supper included.
Little Cowpokes aged 4 - 11 can ride the range for some craft, music, recreation and Bible classes. Older Rangers aged 12 - 18 have a Round-Up of their own, too.
Everyone is invited.
Shoot, we even had one waddie show up who wasn't even out of diapers:
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Our first night at Saddle Ridge included a cattle drive. Victoria, an old Bronc Buster from way back, had the Day Heard Shift:
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That first night also featured Cowgirl Lindsay doin' some rope, whip and pistol tricks. Cowgirl Lindsay even gave each cowpoke a lasso to take home.
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And a'course we got the best grubb around, causing us a stampede when Coosie Steve rolls out the Chuck Wagon and rings the dinner bell.
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We'll be rustlin' up some games each night for the tenderfoots.

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Don't forget to encourage your older Ranch Hands to come out, too.
We got us a wild bunch this year.

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And a'course we got our share of Grub Line Riders, too.

Pass the word to all the Buckaroos you see...

Saddle Ridge Ranch

FBC

July 25 - 30

Big Family Night Performance on Friday night.

FBC Youth in Ministry

One great thing about our youth is that they usually are ready at the drop of a hat to help someone out. You have to ask them to help, mind you, they might not notice you requiring assistance, but when asked, they're there.

And a great thing about Billy and Doug leading our youth is that they are teaching our men to be men. To jump in and do the dirty jobs. To rescue a damsel in distress. To work.... hard.... even in the rain.

Even on a football-esque Sunday afternoon.

So when a single female in our church had been without water a few days, wasn't sure what was wrong, wasn't sure what to do.....


... our guys jumped right in. Replaced her pump in the rain at no labor cost to her.

That's what a church family is all about.

And, of course, the guys found a little time for a quick game of Ugg Ball

in which they used an old tire for a ball.

FBC Youth.... at your service.
In His service.