MESSENGER THE

Volume 9 Edition 1 Page 1

J a n u a r y 2 0 2 0

M o nt h ly p u b li c at i o n o f F i r s t B ap t i s t C h u rc h S t . M ar ys

Special Dates

WMU Meeting, Jan 4, 10 am

Lord’s Supper, Jan 5, 10:30 am

Called Church Conference, Jan 5, 5:30 pn

Winter Jam 2020, Friday, Jan 10, depart 3:30 pm

Who’s Your One?, Jan 12, 10:30 am

Share Jesus Without Fear, Jan 12, 5:30 pm

Sanctity of Life Sunday, Jan 19

Martin Luther King Day, Jan 20

Share Jesus Without Fear begins with the jaw-dropping

story of William Fay, once a money-driven businessman

with Mafia ties who ran a house of prostitution until it was

raided by police. Facing the threat of jail time, Fay turned

to Jesus Christ for redemption and ever since has been

turning others to Him as well. Share Jesus without Fear

relays Fay’s passionate, effective instructions on how to

share the love of Christ with anyone - without feeling

intimidated on either side of the conversation.

Love always protects.

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“And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth)

I t’s a classic commercial. It opens with two boys staring at a bowl of cereal.

Boy#1 says, “What’s this stuff?”

Boy #2: “Some cereal. Supposed to be good for you.”

Boy #1: “Did you try it?”

Boy #2: “I’m not going to try it. YOU try it.” He slides the bowl of cereal over to Boy #1.

Boy #1: “I’m not going to try it,” and slides the bowl back to Boy #2.

Boy #2: “Let’s get Mikey!”

Boy #1: “Yeah!”

Boy #2 slides the bowl of cereal over to Mikey, an obvious little brother sitting at the far end of the table. Mikey looks blankly at the cereal.

Boy #2: “He won’t eat it. He hates everything.” But to their surprise, Mikey starts eating it.

Boy #2: “He LIKES it! Hey, Mikey!”

As we see the three boys happily eating their Life™ cereal, the announcer says, “When you bring Life™ home, don’t tell the kids it’s one of those nutritional cereals you’ve been trying to get them to eat. You’re the only one who has to know.”

If you are like one of the first two boys, it may be that God has been trying to lead you in a certain direction for some time – it may even be “good for you” – but you’re hesitant about making the required change. We just really don’t like change. “I’m not going to try it. YOU try it.”

In the New Testament, the early church was doing well, growing in numbers, offerings were up, and people were even signing up to help in the nursery. But they were not doing what God had told them to do. He had told them, “… You will be My witnesses, first here in Jerusalem, then beyond to Judea and Samaria, and finally to the farthest places on earth” (Acts 1:8).

Then Saul showed up, a Pharisee who persecuted new believers, and they ran for their lives. “All the believers except the apostles were scattered through the r e g i o n s o f J u d e a a n d Samaria” (Acts 8:1). But they spread the Word wherever they were. It wasn’t how they intended to “do” ministry, but it was the way God caused it to happen.

Our challenge in 2020 comes from Paul’s letter to the church at Rome. Essentially, they had gotten comfortable eating the same cereal each day. Paul wrote: “But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:14)

2020 is a bowl of new cereal. Are you willing to try it? Take a bite. You might like it. Hey, Mikey!

Bro. Mike Z.

Sunday, January 5 - 10:30AM, Lord’s Supper Service

Monday, January 6 - 10AM Senior Adult Choir resumes. Will you join us this year? We need you.

Thursday, January 23rd - 6PM - Our regular Senior Adult Dinner.

Bring a smile to share and a dish to pass. Did you get something for Christmas you have no use for? Wrong size or color or something you won’t ever use? Bring it to our annual Post-Christmas Re-gifting. Put it on the table. All items are up for

grabs. Do Not buy something to bring! Any leftovers will be used for Bingo Prizes or the Youth Rummage Sale. Special Music: Starlette and Fredrick Meyers. They have sung for us before and we look forward to hearing them again.

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Take your kids to church. Make the effort. Wake them up early. Fool with the belts and the buckles and the fancy hair bows. Endure the sleepy, grumpy faces and the misplaced shoes. Run around like a mad woman gathering everybody’s everything and trying to get out the door on time. Hop to the car with a shoe in each hand. Give those babies a pop-tart and some milk and let ‘em eat it in the car. If its raining, get wet. If its cold, get a jacket. If you’re tired, go tired. But take those babies to church. You know why? Because Jesus is there. He’s there. And He’ll meet them there. And you too, Mama. He’ll be there in the sweet smile of their Sunday School teacher as she greets them into their room. He’ll be there in the goldfish and the apple juice and the filling of their little bellies and hearts. He’ll be there in the hug from a sweet friend and the encouraging smile that assures you that they “just barely made it” too. He’ll be there in the sacred words read from the Bible speaking truth to their little impressiona-ble hearts. He’ll be there in the worship and the raised hands and the watery eyes and whispers of praise. So take them. Carry all of their Bibles and drawings and toilet paper tube creations. Sit by them in worship. Open your Bible and open theirs. Show them how to find the scripture the pastor is preaching from. Show them how to worship. Explain to them why He’s worthy of worship. Let them see you laugh and cry and praise and study. Forgive their wiggles and paper rustles and know that they’re listen-ing even when it seems like they aren’t. Ask them questions and answer the ones they ask you. Introduce them to Je-sus. Tell them of His greatness - his power - his faithful-ness. Tell them with your words and show them with your

life. Tell them what he’s done for you and how you’ve been changed by His grace and forgiveness and goodness and love. Tell them how they can be too. Point them to Jesus. Over and over and over again. Take your kids to church. They’ll love it there. It’s the only place where they can go and just be themselves. They don’t have to “be” good enough or smart enough or athletic enough. They don’t have to perform for approval or achievement. They just get to go and hear how much God loves them. Just because they’re them. Just because He created them, they’re valued. Wanted. Their worth isn’t based on the grades they make or their ability to throw a curveball. Its not dependent on their performance or skill level. And they need a little more of that, don’t you think? A little more grace and a little less pressure. A little more love and a few less demands. Take them to church. Before you take them to the ballfield or the gym. Before you take them on vacation or to grandma’s or to the backyard to play. Take them to church. Let them know its a priority. Show them it has eternal value. Let them see you set aside schedules and extra curricular activities and work and busy-ness to be present with the Lord in His house. I promise you won’t regret it. I promise you it won’t return back void. Take them to church. --Author: Megan Breeland Woodham, One Step Ministries RA’s & GA’s resume on Wednesday, January 8 at 6:30 pm. Kids In the Word resumes Sunday, January 12 at 5:30 pm.

BRING YOUR KIDS TO CHURCH!

Sunday School Attendance

Dec 1: 133 Dec 15: 138 Dec 8: 130 Dec 22: 101

Dec 29: 114

Marie Ulmer, Children’s Ministry Coordinator 912-882-4250 marie@fbcstmarys.om

Sunday School 9:15-10:15

2 years thru grade 5

A PEOPLE RESTORED

Unit Theme: People in Exile

Jan 5 Obadiah the Prophet

Jan 12 The Captives Came Home

Jan 19 The Temple Was Rebuilt

Jan 29 Zechariah the Prophet

Kidz Church 10:30-11:45

Ages 2 - grade 5

The Gospel Project

Group Worship grades 1-5

An extension of the week’s

Sunday School lesson with

in-depth discussion.

Kids join their parents in wor-ship and will be dismissed to

KIDZ Church during the service. Pick up your kids from the

Children’s Ministry Building.

Lil’ K 2-5 yr. olds

Show & Tell

Kids learn that God

is a marvelous

maker. He made

our big world and

everything in it.

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Calling all ladies of our church! Our next two WMU

meetings will be on Saturday, January 4th and Saturday, February 8th at 10:00 am on both days.

Following our regular WMU meeting on January 4th, we will watch a DVD by Chonda Pierce, a Christian

comedian. Veronique Wheeler is composing an invitation to ladies from other churches in our area to

come join us. Refreshments will be served. Child care will be provided.

Sunday School Teachers’ Meeting Sunday, January 5th

4:00 pm Please plan on attending, many topics

will be discussed.

Who’s Your One? Sunday, January 12th

PRAYER is at the center of every great evangelis-tic movement, and every movement is made up of EVERYDAY people. Imagine the impact if every Christian had ONE person they prayed for and

shared the gospel with. Who are you committing to pray for?

Special Called Conference Sunday, January 5th, 5:30 pm

To vote on the Proposed 2020 Church Budget. Please plan on attending!

You were Jesus’ ONE!

OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS

Bible Study Sundays at 9:15 AM

5:30 PM Contemporary Worship Lundin Chapel

Tuesday 5:00-6:30 pm

Ultimate Frisbee

Wednesday Game Time at 6 PM

Student P.S.A. at 6:30 PM

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, January 10th Depart from the Rec Center at 3:30 pm

MONTHLY MEETING Thursday, January 30th 6:00 pm Lundin Chapel

This is our monthly Parent Meeting where we discuss what's happening in our Student Ministry. It is also a

time for you to share your struggles or victories at home and seek advice from others in our church. Let Pastor Cameron know if you need childcare!

FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY Friday, January 31st

7-10 pm Location to be Determined… Boys bring a 2 Liter and Girls

bring a snack or dessert to share. If you would like to host this or future events, please let

Pastor Cameron know.

Vernon Dillingham, Transitional Pastor Mike Zimmerli, Dir. Music & Senior Adults

Cameron Reed, Student Pastor Roland Norris, Baptist 4 Haiti Missionary Jon & Jen Quast, Missionaries to Paraguay

First Baptist Church

102 W. Weed Street

St. Marys, GA 31558

(912) 882-4250

www.fbcstmarys.com

Page 5 Volume 9 Edition 1

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE To worship Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, share His Word with the world, train disciples to minister to others, while maintaining fellowship within the body of Christ.

We’re on the Web!

www.fbcstmarys.com

SATURDAY - January 4 10:00 am WMU Meeting SUNDAY - January 5 8:30 am Men’s Prayer Group 8:45 am Body Building 9:15 am Sunday School 10:30 am Worship Service/Lord’s Supper/KIDZ church 4:00 pm SS Teachers’ Meeting 5:30 pm Student Worship & Evening Worship Called Church Conference for vote on 2020 budget 6:30 pm Worship Choir MONDAY - January 6 10:00 am Silver Saints Choir 6:00 pm Visitation 6:30 pm Handbells TUESDAY - January 7 5:00 pm Ultimate Frisbee WEDNESDAY - January 8 6:00 pm Student Games 6:30 pm Student PSA/ RA’s & GA’s 6:30 pm Men’s & Ladies’ Bible Study THURSDAY - January 9 7:30 pm Student Prayer Group FRIDAY - January 10 3:30 pm Depart/Winter Jam 2020 SUNDAY - January 12 Regular Sunday Schedule 10:30 am Who’s Your One? 11:45 pm Finance Committee Meeting 5:30 pm Share Jesus Without Fear 5:30 pm KIDZ ZONE resumes MONDAY - January 13 Regular Monday Schedule 10:30 am Silver Saints at Magnolia Manor TUESDAY - January 14 5:00 pm Ultimate Frisbee WEDNESDAY - January 15 Regular Wednesday Schedule THURSDAY - January 16 6:00 pm Sr. Adult Covered Dish Dinner 7:30 pm Student Prayer Group SUNDAY - January 19 Regular Sunday Schedule 4:00 pm Deacons’ Meeting MONDAY - January 20 Regular Monday Schedule TUESDAY - January 21 5:00 pm Ultimate Frisbee WEDNESDAY - January 22 Regular Wednesday Schedule THURSDAY - January 23 6:00 pm Sr. Adult Covered Dish Dinner 7:30 pm Student Prayer Group SUNDAY - January 26 Regular Sunday Schedule MONDAY - January 27 Regular Monday Schedule

BUDGET Year to Date

Requirements $30,000.00 $360,000.00

Budget Offering $29,123.00 $338,556.63 (- $21,443.37)

Kingdom Building $ 3,432.00 $ 25,001.57

Lottie Moon $ 4,552.00 $ 5,017.00

Vital Signs

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

BY STATEMENT Timothy Jowers, Sr.

BY BAPTISM

Timothy Jowers, Jr. Chelsey Jowers Justin Jowers

R E M I N D E R Called Church Conference for vote on 2020 Budget

Sunday, January 5 Evening Worship

Finance Committee

Sunday, January 12th at 11:45 am Deacons’ Meeting

Sunday, January 19th at 4:00 pm

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