Old Greenbrier Baptist ChurchPO Box 456Alderson, WV 24910STAFFPastor: Rev. Dr. Bill Bryan(304) 646-8631Ministers of Music:Dell & Nancy WoodDiana HalsteadCarolyn Holliday Treasurer:Charlotte MeltonCongregational Visitor:Peggy BollenbachOfficial Board, ChairChad McCallisterStreet Address:301 North Monroe St.Church Phone: (304) 445-7854

Old GreenbriER

Baptist News2012

Listen to “Message of Hope” Monday through Friday on 95.3 FM radio or on the web at www.hearthealthyradio.com

following the morning news at 8:00am and again following the 95 min. Power Hour at 6:35pm.

Non-ProfitPostage PermitNo. 32

Volume XIV No. I

Church website: http://oldgreenbrierbaptistchurch.typepad.com/

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEARTThe Missional Church Learning Experience (MCLE) has included over 200 churches from sixteen ABC, USA regions working in learning communities over the past several years. In 2012 I want us to explore together how we can become a missional church in Alderson.

To become a missional church, we need to do the following in 2012.

1) Establish a Mission Team – This team will include me and four lay members, one of whom must be under 29. The Mission Team will

learn about being a missional church. They will share what they have learned and lead us to become a missional church.

2) Train Our Mission Team – Over an eight month period our Mission Team will attend three MCLE training sessions plus two technology contacts between each session for encouragement and further instruction. I have identified our church as an MCLE meeting place for the WVBC in 2012.

3) Complete the Missional Church Process – Our Mission Team will design and lead us in implementing a missional church experience to reach out to Alderson.

4) Implement Our Community Involvement – Using appropriate church resources of people, time, money, energy, and community partnerships, we will reach out to our community through our missional church experience.

5) Share What We Learn – We will share with other churches what we learn from our missional church experience in order to encourage and inspire them to become missional churches.

Please pray that God will identify and draw out this team by His Spirit. Pray about whether He is calling you to be a part of this team. This is not only a matter of life and death for our church, it is a matter of whether we will be obedient to the command of Christ to reach out with God’s love to our world beginning in Alderson. Will we fulfill our mission?

The mission of Old Greenbrier Baptist Church is to sow the seed of Jesus Christ in the world so that people become His fully devoted followers.

Without Fail

New Year’s Eve

The next Men’s Community Prayer Breakfast will be Saturday, February 4th at 8am at River of Life Church of God.

I was once young and now I am old, but not once have I been witness to God’s failure to supply my need when first I had given for the furtherance of his work. He has never failed in his promise, so I cannot fail in my service to him.

–William Carey

New Year’s Eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another 12 months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights.

–Hamilton Wright Mabie

Our Finance Team meets on a regular basis to monitor our church budget and spending. Thank you for your

5 – Heather Craft Dwayne Rider 7 – Joseph Alderson Peggy Bollenbach Theresa Massey 10 – Michelle Huffman 11 – Greg Dotson 12 – Kelly Parker

1S School ~ 9:45aWorship ~ 11a

2House & Grounds ~ 7p

3 4The OT Lives ~ 6:30pChoir ~ 7:30p

5Ruth Thurmond Circle ~ 1p

6 7Men’sBreakfastJMUMC ~ 8a

8S School ~ 9:45aWorship ~ 11a

Official Bd. ~ noon

9 10 11The OT Lives ~ 6:30pChoir ~ 7:30p

12 13 14

15S School ~ 9:45aWorship ~ 11a

16 17 18The OT Lives ~ 6:30pChoir ~ 7:30p

19Pack Food Pantry ~ 9a

20Food Pantry~9a

21

22S School ~ 9:45aWorship ~ 11a

23 24 25The OT Lives ~ 6:30pChoir ~ 7:30p

26 27 28

29S School ~ 9:45aWorship ~ 11aCalled BusinessMeeting ~ noon

30 31

regular tithes and special offerings. Each month, we want to present an overview of where we are financially.

General Fund for the Month Ended November 30, 2011:Beginning Balance $ 9,978.79 + Total Income $ 9,688.64

− Total Expenses $ 18,462.56Ending Balance $ 1,204.87

Missions Giving – Your support for missions has been outstanding again this year. We have exceeded our goals for both the America for Christ offering ($2,012) and One Great Hour of Sharing ($3,501.48). Our goal for this year’s World Missions Offering (WMO) was a challenging $3,500. As of November 30th we have received $2,163.81 for WMO.

Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering (RMMO) – Our total RMMO giving as of December 18th was $727 toward our goal of $1,000. We need $273 more to reach our goal.

Thanksgivers’ Offering – This year we gave $1,542 on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. This offering was designated by church vote for repairs to our church roof.

Building Fund – By church vote $2,500 from our Building Fund is being used for church roof repairs. These repairs total $5,000 which will be paid as follows: Building Fund = $2,500; Thanksgivers’ Offering = $1,542; and 2011 Church Maintenance budget line item = $958.

INCLEMENT WEATHER CANCELLATION POLICY

5 – Heather Craft Dwayne Rider 7 – Joseph Alderson Peggy Bollenbach Theresa Massey 10 – Michelle Huffman 11 – Greg Dotson 12 – Kelly Parker

Annual Report Meeting

Old Greenbrier Baptist Church will meet in a special called business meeting at noon, immediately following worship, on Sunday, January 29th to receive our annual church report from our boards and committees and from our treasurer.

Committee chairpersons should provide Sheila Harris, our 2010-11 Official Board chairperson, with inputs for the 2011 report by January 18, 2012. We need a report from every committee documenting all our efforts in the past year. We want to have as complete a picture as possible of the good work God is doing in and through us.

Please make plans to be present for this important meeting as we receive these reports and rejoice together in the good work of our God.

What if we took our lengthy lists of changes we want to

make in the new year and narrowed them down—way down? Rather than making a half dozen or more commitments that we’re unlikely to keep, how about zeroing in on a single word that captures the essence of what we want to achieve or become?

North Carolina pastor Mike Ashcraft encouraged church members to each find one word that described a characteristic or vision they wanted to achieve in the year ahead. The experiment turned into a movement, with ideas and testimonials available at myoneword.org.

What is your one-word resolution? How about “missional”?

??? Bible Quiz ???In the book of Judges, a cycle is repeated

many times: The Israelites do “what is evil in the sight of the Lord,” God hands them over ot an enemy nation, they cry out to the Lord and he appoints a judge, or political/military leader, for them. Under the judge’s leadership, the Israelites conquer their adversary and prosper—until they start doing “what is evil in the sight of the Lord” all over again.

Who was not one of these judges?

Less Is More

This month and next usually bring the worst winter weather for us.

The decision to cancel services and activities will be made by the pastor in consultation with the Official Board. Deacons and deaconesses will be notified by phone of the decision to cancel. They in turn will contact the members of their care clusters by phone.

If you have questions about the cancellation of services, please contact your deacon or deaconess. If they are unavailable, please feel free to contact the pastor or Chad McCallister, chair of our Official Board.

As always we want you to be safe in your travel to and from the church for services and activities. Please use your good judgment during times of inclement weather concerning your participation.

A. DeborahB. Ehud

C. EsauD. Shamgar

Answer: C (See Judges 3-5.)

Prayer Needs as of December 21st

Church Family or Immediate FamilyWho Are Ill or In Need of PrayerNatasha Antonio & baby HazelyCody Chapman (Alice Clark’s grandson)Johnny Craft (Dorothy Taylor’s brother)Joan Fleshman (sister of Bill & Bob Holliday)Charles Garten (Lisa Parker’s father)Jimmy Gill Dana Godby (Bro-in-law M. Godby)Doris Godby (Sis-in-law M. Godby)Frank GodbyJohn HedrickBetty HighlanderPatty HiserCharles HollidayBetty HollidayShelly Hunter (Jewell Smith’s granddaughter)Bobby Kennedy (Anne Parker’s nephew)Bob LarueDonna Lipps (Margaret Lipps’ daughter)Shorty MasseyJimmy MasseyStephanie MasseyVirgil McCutcheonDebbie McInelly (Donna Simm’s sister)Roger Melton (Ron Melton’s brother)Sharon Mullens (Carolyn Holliday’s sister)Anne Parker, grandson Rocco, niecesDarla Patriacca (M-i-L to Laurie Patriacca)Steve Reed (son of Evelyn Reed)Kevin Richard (Donna Simms’ nephew)Iona Ryan (sister of Hugh Harris)Brittany ShaferMargaret SheltonChristine SmithJewell SmithEvelyn Sonnamaker (mother of Elisa Bryan)Valerie Taylor (Jack and Dianna’s daughter)Vicky Thompson (niece of Anne Parker)Tracy Trahant (family of Donna Simms)Lyndall Wiley (cousin of Leonard Carter)Carl Williams (Donna Simms’ nephew)Stephanie Williams (niece of Donna Simms)

ALL TROOPS In Our Armed ForcesBrian Belcher (Libya)

Mark Dunbar (Gayle LaRue’s son, home)Randy Fleshman (Germany)Brent Taylor (Greg & Barb Taylor’s son, Grandson of Dorothy Taylor)

Friends of Our ChurchFamily Who Are IllLuke Begovich’s mother (Friend of Chad McCallister)Rosita & Norman BlevinsLamon Brown (former Missionary Thailand)Christine (Friend of Stephanie Massey)Jimmy Dillon (Friend of Libby Goins)Regina Edens (Friend of Joyce Lehmann)Leann Goodwin (friend of Karla Willis)Fred GreenleafJean Himes (friend of Diana Taylor)Ora Honaker (friend of Bob & Gayle LaRue)Lane Houchins (5 yr old with Lukemia)Rebecca Jackson (friend of Becky Godby)Johnny LobbanJohn & Pearl McCurdyH.R. McVeyBob and Lynda NeffFred O’BrianGary O’DellJuli Simmons ShaferJoyce UtterbackPam Vines (Friend of Chad McCallister)Gideon Yoder (Friend of Rodney Knapp)

Church Family Shut-inRuth Altare Ernestine LightMary Lou Bowden Juanita ReedFrances Canterbury Louise UtterbackMamie Copeland

Government Officials Heads of State

Students and teachers: Amanda Bowden, Joseph & Hannah Bryan, Bethany Burdette, Holli Harris, Cynthia Huffman, Jamie & Stephanie Massey, Rhys Rogers, Kelsey & Kari Still, Stephanie Willis, Brennan Wood

Note: Please notify church office 304 445-7854 to delete or add to prayer list.

What Is A Missional Church?

According to Rev. Glynis LaBarre, our ABC, USA Transformation Strategist, “A missional church has its primary ministry focus outward, on mission with God bringing Christ’s love alive in [its] community and beyond” So how do we at Old Greenbrier Baptist become a missional church? The following strategy comes from material provided by Rev. LaBarre.

1. Recognize God is already on a mission to restore the world. We must join God on the mission He is already undertaking. We undertake this mission directed and empowered by God Himself. (See Jn 3:17 and Phil 1:8.)

2. Join God joyfully in His mission. Jesus outlines how to carry out our mission (See Mt 5:16.). Jesus identifies the results of successful completion of the mission (See Mt 25:31.). Jesus says that being on mission with Him in this world is what we are meant to do (See Eph 2:10.). We are not begrudgingly obligated to join God on mission. It is our joy-filled privilege to do so. Joining God on mission is not just a general resolution or commitment we make as a church and then forget about. Joining God on mission is a commitment we each make individually and then join together in fulfilling as members of the body of Christ.

3. Serve in God’s mission as Jesus demonstrated. Jesus Himself gave us the model for missional ministry in the world. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). As we have just celebrated in the Christmas season, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

a. Jesus came to us . He did not wait for us to come to Him. We must go out to our world.

b. Jesus came in human form . He came in a form we could comprehend. We must go out to people in our world in a human form that is familiar

and comfortable to them.

c. Jesus shared a message. Jesus shared the Word of God about His kingdom and values. We must share the same message in our world.

d. Jesus was genuine/real. He felt human emotions, weaknesses, temptations. He met people where they were and brought God’s love to them through healing, feeding, and touching. We must do the same.

e. Jesus delivered God’s love in personal relationship. Jesus “dwelt among us.” We must develop personal relationships and connections with those around us.