Winterjam 2011, Columbia SC

FBC Youth recently attended WinterJam '11 which has become an annual event for us.  As usual, they saw some old friends including Jimmy Steen and the Frasers -- Jordan, Anslee and Brenna.

The following is a report from Shannon Williams Christofferson, a brave and honorable chaperone.

We loaded the bus and I was taking pictures of everyone so we knew what they had on (just in case).  Needless to say, they all thought I was crazy.  When I told Gabby to look at me, she threw up the crazy face.  She was so excited.  This was to be her very first concert.

We stopped at Zaxby’s to fill up before the concert.  Poor Libby and her friend got stuck sitting with Dad!

 Still at Zaxby’s filling up.  This picture took three attempts.  Hunter kept looking every direction except towards the camera.  So Grayson wrapped his arm around him and forced him to focus!

Two chaperones at the very beginning of the concert.  We were happy to get everyone to our seats and accounted for:

The coliseum was packed.  Kids were screaming and cheering before, during and after every song.  It was an awesome experience to watch.  At one point, we all collectively bowed our heads and prayed for Jesus to forgive us our sins.  Then they asked the people who had never prayed for it before to stand up and cheer.  There were so many that cheered!  It was an amazing feeling to hear all of those kids accepting Christ in the middle of a concert.

Cody was so happy and having so much fun.  All of the kids were really getting into the music and the movements. 

April is an amazing child of God!  Every time I went to take her picture she would stop moving.  Through the entire event, she danced and sang.  April has no inhibitions about worshipping God the way she wants.  We could all take a lesson from her.

It was a Ho-Down good time!  One of the bands played a song that was reminiscent of an Old Southern Ho-Down.  Blake had to dance appropriately!

On the way home!  No one lost!  Everyone tired!  All still going strong!  Fun was had by all! 

Click here to read about WinterJam '09.

Valentine's Day 2011

The youth did a fabulous job again with their annual Valentine's Banquet. (video below)  The banquet is a fundraiser where the youth serve as waitstaff and treat us to an elegant, delicious dinner. 

For the traditional Newlywed Game, we convinced our new pastor and his wife to play along.  It was a great opportunity to get to know them better.  Way better.  As in T.M.I. better.

A big thanks goes out to all the youth and the adults who worked so hard to make this a success.  Especially (not pictured) the lady who made the Red Velvet Cake.

Brielle and Erika did a great job hosting the Newlywed Game and pulling quiet, reserved people out of their shell.  

Enjoy the following video from the Newlywed Game.

Click here to see last year's video.

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.

Another Redneck Snowday

Former Youth Spotlight: Jamal Quattlebaum

I caught up with Jamal over the Christmas holiday.
Oh, I retained my composure acting all cool, but I really wanted to slobber all over him and tell him how proud I am of him and how I wish he'd come home to Mama Val's just a little bit more often. But he's a busy man. Busy, busy man...
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Jamal is currently living in Loganville, GA and working with high school youth at Graystone Church. Jamal credits former FBC Youth Pastor Jimmy Steen for where he is today. "He (Steen) reached out to me and introduced me to Look Up Lodge where I later worked on staff for three years. During those three years, I built relationships with the people who attend Graystone. Graystone brought their youth to Look Up all three of my summers."

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FBC has taken our youth to Look Up Lodge now for ten years or more. Having been on several of those trips, having my own kids attend for many years and having seen several of our youth go there to serve, I have to credit Look Up Lodge for grounding our teen agers and instilling in them the need to know what you believe and then act upon it.

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Jamal continued, "I learned so much being on staff at Look Up Lodge. The lesson that stands out in my memory is during one summer, I got extremely exhausted and I felt like I could not do one more day of camp and so I began to pray that God would replenish me and give me the drive to keep going and He did just that. So the lesson I learned is when I am weak and worn out, God is faithful enough to keep me going."

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I asked Jamal where he would like his life to be in 5 years. His reply? Full-time ministry.

"One thing that God is teaching me now is to deal in the moment and not look too far ahead. I'm sure we've all experienced a change from our plan to God's plan, and that can be extremely disappointing, so I am trying not to plan so far in advance and to enjoy what God is doing today."

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In his free time, Jamal likes to sleep, shop and hang out with friends. He has trouble turning his brain off his youth, though, when he is not actively working with them. His favorite food, anyone remember? Japanese! As he says, "I love, love, love, love, love it!" There's that bubbly exuberance we all know and love: true 100% Jamal.

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"The thing I miss most about Wagener is the community of people," Jamal explained. "There is no other place that can hold such people in one area. I still laugh when I look back on the times we all shared. (So do we, brother, so do we, just check Marj, Brielle or Erika's photos of your days here!) He continued, "Like many students after graduation, we had to separate and grow to become our own person."

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"When I die, I would like to be remembered as a guy who searched after God's very heart, just like King David. I want to love the way Jesus loves me and live the way Jesus lived."

-Despite my all cool composure, Jamal brought me to tears. We love, love, love, love, love you Jamal! You're in our prayers. Come back and visit soon.

Keep up with Jamal on his Facebook page: Brunson Jamal Quattlebaum.
And on his blog here. 

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?

Church was canceled the day after Christmas, 2010. It was a cold, cold, wet day, it was too wet to play. What were we supposed to do? Sit in the house? To sit there with Patti, to sit there, we two, and say "how I wish we had something to do?"
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I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny, but we can have lots of good fun that is funny! I know some good games we could play.... I know some good tricks, I will show them to you, your mother will not mind at all if I do ..."
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