200 S. Church St.
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
Church Office Hours: 8:30 am—5:00 pm Monday—Friday
Church Office (252) 446-9113
Fax (252) 446-5025
Website www.fbcrm.org
24-Hour Prayer Request Line (252) 446-5993
First Baptist Child Care Center (252) 446-7416
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E :
Pastor’s
Article
2
Church
Staff
2
Stewardship
Emphasis
3
Women’s
Bible Study
4
Church Pictorial
Directory
4
Membership
Classes
5
Calendar 6
First Baptist News J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 4 R O C K Y M O U N T , N C
Knowing God, Making God Known, and Becoming like His Son, Jesus Christ, through Worship, Bible Study, and Ministry
First
Baptist
Church
Small Group Ministry Sunday night small groups resume
January 5 @ 6 pm
Rubbing elbows with someone during a Sunday
morning worship service offers a sense of close-
ness—but not the kind that really allows and encour-
ages you to grow into the believer God intended you
to be. Small groups provide an opportunity to . . .
Regularly meet with ordinary men and women
in authentic, Biblical community. . .
Share what God is doing in your life. . .
Hear what God is doing in the lives of other
Christ followers. . .
Participate in a thought-provoking Bible study.
At First Baptist we offer both traditional small groups
which meet in homes and special studies (listed be-
low). A complete listing of all small groups may be
downloaded at fbcrm.org or you may pick up a bro-
chure on Sunday mornings.
Be challenged.
Be encouraged.
Be real.
But more than
anything . . .
BE
CHANGED!
Sunday Night Small Group Special Studies
Course descriptions & details are included in the Small Group Brochure available in the sanctuary or online at fbcrm.org
Apologetics (Room M 203A) Facilitator: Jonathan Darville
Basic Theology (Room M 201A) Facilitator: Dennis Darville
Biblical Worldview (Room M 103) Facilitator: Steve Eakin Experiencing God (Room M 202A) Facilitator: Speedy O’Berry
Discipleship Boot Camp (Room M 202B) Facilitator: George Humphreys
Marriage & Family (Room M204) Facilitators: Bob Wolf & Timmy Tucker
The Teacher I Want to Be (Room M 201B) Facilitators: Larry Curtis & Rose Webb
Regular Worship Schedule Resumes
JANUARY 5
Two Worship Services (8:15 am & 11:00 am) Sunday School (9:30 am)
P A G E 2 NEW BEGINNINGS . . .
I’ll begin with a confession. I readily
admit that the title, New Beginnings, is
neither clever nor original. In fact, it is
entirely cliché when used as an allusion
for the birth of a new year. However,
in my defense, it is still relevant to my
thinking about a “fresh start.” Oops,
another cliché. We could employ many
other metaphors for the beginning of
the new year, like “reboot,” or “jump
start” or “kick off,” or “turn the page,”
or “turn over a new leaf” or ….. The
list is ad infinitum. You get the idea. It
just strikes me as odd, if not ironic,
that we use “well-worn” metaphors
when referencing something that
should scream NEW, as in NEW
YEAR!
As you can tell, I have become a bit
jaded when it comes to the close of
one year and the beginning of a new
one; especially New Year
“celebrations.” I am a “doubting Thom-
as” when it concerns setting New
Year’s resolutions. In fact, I quit doing
it years ago; at least setting goals as I
once did. Psychoanalyze me all you
want!
I’ve been asking a simple question for
some time now – “How do we ap-
proach the turn of the calendar in ways
that are re-new-ing and re-energizing?”
Or, asked in a slightly negative tone –
“How do we avoid just repeating the
same tired clichés that reflect, in my
opinion, stale thinking about approach-
ing a new year?” I mean, is there a way
to bring one year to a close and begin
afresh with new visions for our per-
sonal, family, church, and community
lives that are realistic and Christ hon-
oring? I really struggle with this! Deep
down, when I am being entirely honest
with my own soul, I think to myself -
next year is going to be exactly like
last year. I am going to wish and hope
and “think-outside-the-box” (oops-
yep, a very tired metaphor). By the
way, if you are still using the language
of “thinking outside the box,” you are
so inside the box that it is - well, cli-
ché.
We all, well, if not all - at least most of
us, think about the things we accom-
plished in the pre-
vious year and
what we hope to
achieve in the
upcoming one.
No problem
there. More than
likely, we all think
about all the
things we failed to
accomplish in the
previous year and then hit
“reset” (oops, another cliché) for
2014. Evaluating our success and fail-
ures is a healthy adventure, or at least,
it can be.
To be brutally honest, I hate the New
Year Holiday. Ask LeeAnne! I am a
bore on 12/31. Every year! I am, when
it comes to New Year’s Eve, a
Scrooge. I go to bed at 8:00 pm on
New Year’s Eve; even if the fireworks
are blasting. I never sing Auld Lang
Syne. I mean, after all, what does that
mean? Don’t write me! I went and
looked it up. I am still not going to be
found singing it at 12:00 am on 12/31/
any year! continued on page 3
F I R S T B A P T I S T N E W S
Church Staff
Dennis Darville
Lead Pastor
Larry Curtis
Pastor of Education & Admin.
Jim Alley
Pastor of Music & Worship
Mike Avery
Pastor of Families with Students
Tim Griffin
Pastor of Families with Children
Stephen Weeks
Pastor of College Students
Bob Britt
Homebound Visitation
Mary Helen Batten
Receptionist/ Admin. Assistant
Nina Daughtridge
Music Assistant
Kayla Dozier
Admin. Assistant
Jewell Pullen
Financial Secretary
Faye Strickland
Facilities Director
Beth Thompson
Office Manager
“How do we
approach the turn
of the calendar in
ways that are re-
new-ing and re-
energizing?”
A slightly jaded perspective on New Year’s Eve
Rev. Dennis Darville
New Beginnings . . . . (continued)
I want to suggest a completely different approach. One way to get off the “treadmill” (oops-another cliché) of dream-
failure-dream-failure-dream-failure is to spend time in prayer and devotion before setting your goals for the upcoming year. Instead of beginning from within (i.e., what do I want to accomplish in my life), why don’t we begin with an
“empty slate” and ask Christ to write on it the dreams He has for us over the next twelve months. Rather than gorg-ing ourselves on yet another piece of pie, slice of cake, or a third helping of whatever, let’s consider praying (perhaps
fasting) and saying to Christ the King - “I yield all that I am, all I hope to be, and consecrate myself afresh to You for 2014!
Don’t misunderstand me. I am not against setting goals. Goal setting can be very important in our lives. However, if they are set apart from consultation with Christ, then it seems to me that we are snatching the reins of our lives
away from His loving care, wise guidance and Lordship.
I can remember, not that many years ago, thinking about all I would like to accomplish in the upcoming year. Things like losing weight, getting in shape, reading certain books, rediscovering a love for water skiing, spending more time in prayer, making the most of opportunities to tell others about Christ and, ….well…these were all noble and good
ideas, but I had never prayed about any of them. I know - shame on me! Silly isn’t it?
It finally dawned on me that every one of my personal and professional aspirations, while good, were never brought before Christ in prayer. If I am His, if I have been redeemed (i.e., bought out of slavery at the cost of His life), if I am
His slave, His bondservant, His to do with as He pleases, then it makes sense to simply present myself to Him and say – “I am all Yours for 2014.”
Soooooo, by all means, set goals and dream – dream big! But, before you do, pray, study, meditate, fast, and, by bibli-cal means, ask Christ what He wants to do with His property!!!
Oh, by the way, I have not been visited by the “…ghost of Christmas past,” but I because have been visited by the
Holy Ghost—I will have a better and more redemptive perspective on the New Year!
F I R S T B A P T I S T N E W S
P A G E 3
Living/Giving Principle “God wants me to learn to give out of that which I have” (2 Corinthians 8:12)
Campaign Dates: January 5—March 2
During our 2014 Stewardship Campaign we will celebrate, through meaningful sermons
and testimonies, the privilege of giving ourselves wholeheartedly to God’s Kingdom work.
Every member will be challenged to commit to stewardship in the following areas of life:
A daily time with God
A weekly gathering with the family of God
A consistent ministry with God and
A responsible financial commitment with God
P A G E 4
Women’s Bible Study
Tuesdays @ 9:30 am Begins January 14
Go to fbcrm.org for more details & to sign up
Photo sessions begin January 14
Sign up at fbcrm.org Monday—Friday Sign up at church on Sundays
P A G E 5
Membership Classes . . . . . . First Baptist Church of Rocky Mount requires certain courses for church membership or
church leadership—however, each of these classes would be meaningful for everyone and
you are encouraged to participate.
Class 101: Kingdom Citizenship: Meaningful Membership at FBC
Required for all new members. Begins January 12
The next 6-session class begins Sunday, January 12. The class is taught during the
Sunday School hour (beginning at 9:30 am) in the activity room above the Fellowship
Hall. This class is for anyone interested in joining our church as well as for those
who simply want more information about who we are and what we believe. Please
sign up by calling the church office by January 6. This class is offered four times
throughout the year.
Class 201: Experiencing God: Knowing & Doing the Will of God
Required for all church elected leadership. Begins January 5
This course, written by Henry Blackaby, is taught twice a year during our Sunday
night special studies. If this does not accommodate your schedule, it is also offered
online through LifeWay.com. The next class begins Sunday, January 5. Call the
church office to sign up. If you take the course online in order to meet your leader-
ship requirements, please notify the church office that you have done so.
Class 301: Discovering your S.H.A.P.E. for ministry
Required for all church elected leadership. January 23
Join us on January 23 at 6 pm in Room M103 and discover your S.H.A.P.E. for minis-
try! During this “one evening” class we will help you discover your giftings for minis-
try. Please call the church office to sign up by Monday, January 20. This class is of-
fered three times during the year.
Class 401: Discovering Missions
Required for all mission trip team leaders & recommended for mission trip participants.
This is a hybrid course consisting of home study followed by a 3-hour on site class
(March 9 @ 6 pm). This course is a comprehensive study of missions incorporating the
Theology of Missions, Missions Policies and Procedures Manual, and the IMB child protec-
tion policies and security training. Please call the church office to sign up and to pick up
your home study packet. If you are interested in going on a mission trip this year, it
is recommended that you begin your home study in January.
F I R S T B A P T I S T N E W S
GOLF CART
MINISTRY
Beginning mid-
January you will see
our new church golf
cart traversing the
parking lots on Sun-
day mornings. The
focus will be on Sen-
ior Adults and wom-
en with small chil-
dren who need assis-
tance .
Our driver team in-
cludes: Don Coggins,
Dale Pridgen, Lank
Dunton, Lee Gay,
David Glover and
Chuck Wheeler.
w w w . f b c r m . o r g
Sundays 8:00 am Televised Morning Worship
(WHIG Channel 17)
8:15 am Contemporary Worship Service
9:00 am Church Library open until 10:00 am
9:30 am Bible Study
11:00 am Worship Service
4:30 pm dgroup for high school (FMC—3rd floor)
6:00 pm Small Groups for adults —FMC & homes
Nursery for Birth—2 yrs. (M 105 & M101)
TeamKID for 3 yrs.—K (M102)
KOGS for 1st—5th (FMC—3rd floor)
Orchestra Rehearsal
Mondays 10:45 am Inspiration Singers (Choir suite)
Tuesdays 6:30 am Women’s Prayer Groups
8:46 am Staff meeting
9:30 am Women’s Bible Study
10:00 am Women’s Prayer Group
1:00 pm Stephen Ministry (1st & 3rd Wks M103)
SEBTS EQUIP (M203)
6:00 pm Handbell Rehearsal
6:30 pm Alpha at Fountain Correctional
Wednesdays 3:00 pm Church Library open until 6:00 pm
COOL Kids (FMC)
5:00 pm Fellowship Meal
6:00 pm Nursery for Birth—1 yrs. (M105 & M101)
Mission Friends for 2-3yrs. (M102)
Cherub Choir for 4 yrs.-K (E202)
Sonshine Choir for Grades 1&2 (E201a)
Music Makers for Grade 3 (E300)
Young Musicians for Grades 4-5 (E307)
X-Change for Grades 6-8 (M302)
Crossroads for Grades 9-12 (M301)
Prayer Meeting for adults (Fell. Hall)
7:10 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal
7:30 pm Community Basketball Outreach
Thursdays 6:30 am Men’s Prayer Group (Choir room)
12:30 pm Prison Ministry
3:00 pm COOL Kids (FMC)
5:30 pm Praise Team Rehearsal
7:30 pm The Bridge (Wesleyan College)
REGULAR WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 New Year’s Day
Church office closed No meal or PM activities
2 3 4
5 Ryan Hutchinson
Guest Speaker Small groups & special studied resume @ 6 pm
6 7 8
Deacon Ordination (6 pm—Sanctuary)
9 10 11
12 Sasha Tsutserov
Guest speaker Deacons’ Mtg. (4 pm—Room M201a)
13
14 Church Directory Photo Sessions
15
Church Directory Photo Sessions
16
Church Directory Photo Sessions
17
Church Directory Photo Sessions
18
Church Directory Photo Sessions
19 20 21
Church Directory Photo Sessions
22 Meals on Wheels
Church Directory Photo Sessions
23 Meals on Wheels
Church Directory Photo Sessions Class 301 (6 pm—M103)
24
Church Directory Photo Sessions
25
Church Directory Photo Sessions
26 27 28 29 30
Church Directory Photo Sessions
31
Church Directory Photo Sessions
1
Church Directory Photo Sessions
January 2014
Uganda Mission Trip
January 18-31