The

Tower

May 2015

LaBelle Haven

Baptist Church 4800 Hwy 305 N.

Olive Branch, MS 38654

(662) 893-2273

~~~~~~~~~~

E-Mail:

tbateman@labellehaven.org

Web:

www.labellehaven.org

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CHURCH STAFF:

Sr. Pastor

Dr. Jim Butler

Assistant Pastor/Minister of Ed

Rev. Phil Anderson

Minister of Music & Sr. Adults

Rev. Ken Washburn

Children’s Director

Mrs. Debbie Johnson

Minister of Youth

Mr. Jamie Mullen

“The name of the Lord

is a strong tower…”

Proverbs 18:10a NKJV

Mother’s Day

Celebration

May 10

In 1914 President Wilson

officially made the second

Sunday of May a national

holiday called Mother’s Day.

This is the day that all

Americans honor and give

thanks for our mothers. Mother’s Day at LaBelle is always special.

This year we will:

Honor all mothers during our morning worship.

All mothers present in Sunday School will receive a special

gift.

The mother with the youngest child present during worship

will receive a gift certificate to Cracker Barrel.

The mother with the oldest child present during worship will

also receive a certificate to Cracker Barrel.

Families are encouraged to sit together as a way of showing our

moms how much we love them.

Bring Your “Care Center” Baby Bottle

Don’t forget to bring your Care Center baby bottle(s) with you to

worship on Mother’s Day. The Care Center is

DeSoto County’s pregnancy counseling

center. In 2014 care center counselors held

over 2,300 counseling sessions with young

women encouraging them to choose life for

their unborn babies. Our church has been

collecting change and placing it in baby

bottles to give in support of this needed

ministry. Bring your baby bottles to worship

with you on Mother’s Day. We will place

them at the altar as part of our worship that

morning. If you know of a young woman in

need, the Care Center is located at 1277 Main

Street in Southaven (across from Dale’s.)

Their contact number is (662) 280-1202.

The Tower Page 2

A WORD FROM. . .

OUR PASTOR

Music Ministry By: Rev. Ken Washburn,

Minister of Music & Sr. Adults

Our Worship Choir is beginning preparations for our Patriotic musical which will be presented Sunday, July 5th. This would be a wonderful time to join our Worship Choir as we work to prepare for the celebration of the freedoms we

enjoy as a nation. We would love to have you each Wednesday at 7:30 as we rehearse. We invite you to come give us a try this Wednesday after Bible study. We think you’ll enjoy it! On Tuesday, May 5th our J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth) Choir will be singing at Tune Share, an annual event where Senior Adult Choirs from the Mid-South Baptist Association gather for a time of singing and fellowship. The event will be held at Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett. This year we are extending the invitation to any who would like to go hear the choirs sing even if you are not a member of the choir. We will take the big bus and we would love to fill it up. After we sing we will go out for lunch at Coletta’s Italian restaurant. If you would like to go please let me know by this Sunday. Then, on Thursday, May 14th at 10:00 am we will be singing for the residents of Oak Grove Terrace in Olive Branch. We hope all of our members can attend and as always welcome anyone who would like to go share with us as we sing.

We will eat lunch together after we sing.

On Thursday, May 21st we will have our monthly Primetimers Potluck Luncheon. The church will provide the

meat and we are asking our members to bring the salads, vegetables, and desserts to go with our meal. Our guest speaker for this month will be Mrs. Joanna Harwood who has a heartwarming testimony of God’s power to heal despite almost overwhelming circumstances. Make plans to join us and invite

others!

Evaluation In Reverse! This past week one of our members brought me a news article about a legal ruling by a Manhattan Supreme Court Justice. Judge Barbara Jaffe ruled that 2 chimpanzees should be granted the legal status of “persons.” It seems that these chimpanzees (named Hercules and Leo) were used for medical experiments at Stony Brook University in Long Island, NY. The judge’s ruling by granting Hercules and Leo “legal person” status means they cannot be kept in cages against their will. I am not sure who is the bigger “monkey” the chimps or the judge. In 1859 Charles Darwin came up with the concept of “evolution.” His followers have built a theory of evolution that traced man’s development from the apes and lower life forms. I guess Judge Jaffe got her wires crossed. . . .instead of man evolving from apes, she now has apes evolving into humans. Which is it?! You can’t have it both ways! The Bible clears up this issue very simply. God created apes to be apes, and men to be men. Satan is continually trying to blur the line and question God’s truth. Poor Hercules and Leo now are left to answer the question, “Am I my brother’s keeper, or my keeper’s brother?” Sin has us so confused. Once we abandon the truth of God’s Word, our world becomes confused about the basics of human existence like. . . .when does life begin, marriage, sexual orientation, the precious nature of life and even if a monkey is a man. Ungodly thinking has our world in a mess. Our only hope is Jesus. Children’s Ministry By: Debbie Johnson

Summer Adventures This summer we will be having “Summer Adventures,” a Moth-er’s Day Out ministry for the month of July. It will begin July 2nd and end July 28th. The times are 9-2 daily and will be for children

6 months thru 5th grade. The older children will have field trips and activities that will keep them busy. The price is $130 per child and includes everything except lunch. Please see Debbie for the registration forms. Space is limited!

V.B.S. 2015 It is now time to sign up to work in V.B.S. for this coming sum-mer. I have several openings and quickly need people to sign up to help. Last year we had 3 times the children we had in the past. People know we are here and I look to have close to 400 children this year. There is NO way I can do this alone. I need lead teachers and workers in the following areas: Nursery, Four Year Olds, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, Registration Desk, teachers snack room, decorations for worship center and help serve at Family Night. I also need helpers in all classes. I have all the materials and need people to volunteer. If you did not sign up on the insert in the Sunday bulletin, please call Debbie at the church. Thanks in advance for you willingness to serve. You may also e-mail her at djohnson@labellehaven.org.

Pre-K / MDO We still have a few spots in our Pre-K classes. Registration fee is $70 and the prices are: 5 day (M-F) 4 year old class is $225 per month, and 3 day (M, W, F) 3 year old class is $160 per month. The times are 8:30am–12pm. Mother’s Day Out is Tuesday and Thursday, 9am-2pm, ages are from 6 months–5 years. Registration fee is $50 and the price is $135 for babies-1 year and $130 for 1-5 year olds. Classes are filling up quickly, so if you are interested please see Debbie for a packet.

Don’t forget your “Baby Bottles” for The Care Center. They are due May 10th!

Faithful to the Finish! Amount Pledged: $752,147

Given through April 30: $690,067 Hebrews 12:1 says, “We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, so we should lay aside every weight and sin which ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us.” In this verse God is reminding us to not give up before the finish. In November 2012 our members were urged to make a 3 year commitment to giving to our Building Fund. This was to be giving “above and beyond” our tithes and offerings. There are 7 months remaining until this campaign comes to the finish line. As we have checked the financial information about this campaign, here is what we have discovered:

16% of our families have already met or exceeded their pledge.

30% are on track to meet their pledge by the end of November.

54% of our families do not appear to be meeting their pledge by the end of November.

If you have met, or will meet, your pledge by the end of November . . . .we want to thank you from the bottom of our heart. If you have forgotten about your pledge. . . .please remember that your church is counting on you. If you cannot meet your pledge. . . please do not be guilty and discouraged, just begin now giving as much as you can. Our church owes $3,700,000 (3.7 million) for the construction of our present building. We badly need to build Phase #2, more adult and youth Sunday School space. We can’t do it, unless we all join together in sacrificial giving. Be faithful to the finish!

The Tower Page 3

MEMORIALS & HONORARIUMS

A donation was given to The Building Fund:

In honor of: Janie Russell, Elton Allen, Jim Key

By: The LaBelle Haven Choir

In honor of: Janie Russell, Carol Pierce

By: Alpha & Omega (Bob Wage’s) Class

In memory of: Eugene Boone (Ronnie Turner’s step-father)

By: Perry & Donna Thornton

In memory of: David Bailey

By: Edith & Karen Taylor

In memory of: Marie Davis (Jean Barlow’s sister)

By: Dr. Joy Bailey, Mildred Walker,

Frank & Jean Tamboli, Becky’s Dominoes Group

A donation was given to The LaBelle Haven Orchestra:

In memory of: Pauline Talley (Rhonda McGarrh’s aunt)

By: Bill & Mary Lou Talley, Randal & Mary Bennett

Youth News! By Jamie & Jenny Mullen

Next month we will take over thirty students to youth camp at

Ridgecrest, NC. The students will experience God like no

other time this year. Camp almost forces the students and

adults to set aside all distractions for an opportunity to focus on

God’s Word. They will experience worship on a much larger

scale than they are used to. Recreation will help break down

walls and bring us closer as a group. All this would not be

possible without your support. The congregation has supported

our fundraising efforts in record amounts. Many of our families

have multiple kids going to camp and could not afford to send

them without your help. Over the next few weeks please keep

us in your prayers. Pray that God will protect us in traveling

and that He will move in the lives of our students. We are

expecting God to do great things during our week at

camp. Thank you so much for supporting us financially and in

prayers. PS. . . . Look for more info in the coming weeks about

our Family Movie Nights coming this summer.

Our Deepest Sympathy: Dr. Butler, and his wife Lawanda, would like to extend our

church’s sympathy to: Jean Barlow & family on the loss of her

sister Marie Davis, to Ronnie & Carol Turner & Tammy

Maxwell & family on the loss of Ronnie’s step-father, Eugene

Boone and to Rhonda & Luke McGarrh & family on the loss

of Rhonda’s aunt, Pauline Talley.

FROM REV. PHIL ANDERSON, ASST. PASTOR & MIN. OF EDUCATION

Next Church-Wide Outreach ~ May 18th

5:30-7:30pm Light Meal at 5:30pm, Visitation 6:00 - 7:30pm

Come join us as we go out to visit those who have visited us. We

will meet at 5:30pm to eat a light dinner, then we will go out at

6:00pm. We will meet back at the church at 7:30pm for a report/praise

time and dessert. We need everyone who can to participate in this

outreach event. Let’s share the excitement of LHBC!

ADDITIONS: Danny & Tammy Surwic

2770 Dove Meadow Southaven, MS 38672

(901) 486-5848 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Beulah Keenum 8890 Oakwood Ln.

Olive Branch, MS 38654 (901) 486-5017

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brandon Whitten 8085 Hunt Club Cv.

Olive Branch, MS 38654 (901) 268-6159

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Debra McCaughan 7626 Rigmoore Point South

Olive Branch, MS 38654 (901) 486-7312

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Judy Hopper 791 Palmer Dr.

Hernando, MS 38632 (662) 429-8746

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pamela Buckley 6083 Seminole

Olive Branch, MS 38654 (901) 301-3867

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bill Bain 6670 Ironwood Dr.

Olive Branch, MS 38654 (901) 326-9730

Doug & Kathy Stonebraker 435 Foxwood Circle W. Hernando, MS 38632

(662) 429-5300 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pat “P. J.” Brown P. O. Box 141

Olive Branch, MS 38654 (901) 574-3179

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

B. Wayne Hollie 3808 Peregrine #102 Memphis, TN 38125

(901) 603-6345 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Holly Hunter 9210 Austin Dr.

Olive Branch, MS 38654 (662) 890-1760

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carl & Janice Reich 3718 Bright Rd.

Hernando, MS 38632 (901) 871-3115

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Luke, Rhonda, Jake & Will McGarrh 10200 Box Corner Rd.

Byhalia, MS 38611 (662) 838-6979

CHURCH DIRECTORY. . . . If your information has changed or will change, please take a moment and call the

church office at (662) 893-2273 and let us know so we can update our records.

May 17th Is. . . . Graduate Recognition Day

If you are graduating from high school, college, grad school,

trade school, nursing school or any other school. . . . then you are

urged to participate in this year’s Graduate Recognition Day. The

completion of a degree or a field of study is a major

accomplishment in life. LaBelle wants to honor you.

On Sunday morning, May 17, we will be recognizing our

graduates in morning worship. Jamie will share about them

individually, and present those present with a Bible. If you wish to

be a part of this service, then we need a picture to put on the big

screens, and a brief bio telling about your degree and plans for the

future. Jamie must receive this no later than May 10 in order to

have your Bible ready. You may give it to him in person or e-mail

it to jmullen@labellehaven.org.

Families are encouraged to set up a “memory table” for their

graduate. A memory table is a card table decorated with pictures,

mementos and/or awards earned by your graduate. You may be as

creative as you like. Tables will be set up along the east wall of the

Atrium so our entire church family can view them. Jamie will

announce next week when you may come on Saturday (May 16) to

set up your table. You may also come on Friday (May 15) from

1-4pm to set up.

The Tower Newsletter LaBelle Haven Baptist Church

4800 Hwy. 305 N.

Olive Branch, MS 38654

LaBelle Haven Baptist Church Calendar of Events for . . .

1 5-8p Center Hill Middle

School Choir Concert

2 5p Mitch Wright Sunday

School Fellowship at

The Wright’s home

3 Sausage Biscuit Sunday

4 6:30-8:00a Breakfast for

Lewisburg Middle School

Teachers

5 10a JOY Choir Tune Share at

Faith Baptist Church

5-8:30p Center Hill High

School Concert

6 5:30p Supper

6:30p Tabernacle Study

Youth Bible Study

Children’s Choirs

7:30p Adult Choir

7 No JOY Choir

8

9 Cororio Choir Concert

10 Mother’s Day

(Baby bottles returned today)

11 6:30p Deacon’s Meeting

7-9p Lewisburg Middle

School Concert

12 6-8p MDO Graduation

Program

13

5:30p Supper

6:30p Tabernacle Study

Youth Bible Study

Children’s Choirs

7:30p Adult Choir

14 10a JOY Choir singing at

Oak Grove Terrace in

Olive Branch

Last day of MDO until July

15

Last day of Pre-K until

July

16

17

Graduate Recognition

1:30p Stewardship Meeting

No Union Mission

18 5:30p Outreach

19 10:30a Lunch for Lewisburg

High School

Teachers

20

5:30p Supper

6:30p Tabernacle Study

Youth Bible Study

Children’s Choirs

7:30p Adult Choir

21 11:30a Primetimer’s Lunch

In Atrium

22

23

24

31

25 Memorial Day Holiday

(Church Office is Closed)

26

27 5:30p Supper

6:30p Tabernacle Study

Youth Bible Study

Children’s Choirs

7:30p Adult Choir

28 10a JOY Choir

29

30

FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY