Summer break for our children and youth is more than half over. Already both groups have had at least one experience of camp. It was evident from both the testimonies of our children two Sunday nights ago and of our youth last Sunday night that they have had experiences of growing and stretching and challenging their faith. Large groups went to the children’s camp in Georgia and to the youth MissionFuge in Nashville. Hats off to Stacy Covey and her team of volunteers who traveled to Toccoa Falls, Georgia (complete with the bus breakdown.) Our G. A. girls are in camp this very week in Clinton at Camp Garaywa.
Hats off, too, for Shannon Shivers and his team of volunteers who traveled to Nashville. Three years ago our youth shifted from Centrifuge to MissionFuge. They still have Bible study, worship and games, but with the added dimension of serving others (missions). Shannon has found, as have many other youth ministers, that youth grow far more when they have hands-on activities in service to our Lord.
Thanks also to you - that’s right - to you, dear Christians. It is your faithfulness in giving your tithes and offerings that allows our youth and children to make these life-changing trips. Yes, the children and youth and their parents contribute a considerable amount to help defray the expenses. The costs of running a children’s program and a youth program are far more than parents alone can bear, however. Your faithful gifts through the Lord’s church help provide Sunday school literature, lights, ministers’ salaries, building maintenance, heating and cooling, vans, gasoline, and a host of other costs that go along with ministry. One day when you get to heaven you will reap the rewards of knowing how very much your contribution of prayers, tithes and offerings helped to shape the lives of others for the Lord Jesus.
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Last Sunday we had the joy of having a person who grew up in FBC, Richland, Rev. Marcus Peagler, to lead the musical portion of our worship. It is always thrilling to see someone who grew up in the church and who is doing so well in ministry.
On August 10, we will have the opportunity to ordain another person who has been an intricate part of the work of the Lord at FBC. Brian Bridges will meet with the Ordaining Council at 4:45, in the chapel and will be ordained at the 6 PM worship service.
Brian and Karen have been chosen to start back a church which folded after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. They hope to give a new start to FBC, Waveland, Mississippi.
All for Him,
Bill Patterson
Posted on
Thursday, July 24, 2008
by Erica Sutphin