First Baptist Church 100 S.W. 4th Avenue P.O. Box 427 Mineral Wells, TX 76068

PASTOR'S POINTS

Vol 19 No 9 March 5, 2019

Nathan Buchanan Pastor

Mel Kincaid Minister of Music Caleb Crouch Minister of Youth

Ann Fidler Director of Senior Adult Ministry

Heather Mahaffey Pastor/Financial Secretary

Liz O’Quin Receptionist/Records Secretary

Steve Richards Building Maintenance Supervisor Lisa Becton First Steps Preschool Director

Anita Baker Preschool Coordinator

Pat Harrington Pianist

Joyce Embry Organist

Upward Awards Celebration: Last Sunday night, our auditorium was filled with basketball players, coaches, and parents. The gospel was presented and lives changed. As I am writing this article, I do not have a count of decisions made on Sunday, but I do of several adults that prayed to receive Christ. Praise the Lord! Justin Coffey with Xtreme Obedience did a fantastic job presenting the gospel through the use of his trained and obedient dogs. If you did not make it to the event on Sunday night, ask an Upward player about what he/she learned from Justin’s presentation. Please be in prayer for the decisions made on Sunday night. We have quite a few children and several adults to follow-up on.

The Path to the Cross, Discipleship Class: Beginning Wednesday, March 20th, Shawn Gibson will be leading a class through Ray Vander Laan’s The Path to the Cross study. This five week

discipleship class will walk you right up to Jesus’ crucifixion. According to the publisher, in The Path to the Cross, God’s story continues with the intense devotion of his people. Discover how their passionate faith prepares the way for Jesus and His ultimate act of obedience and sacrifice at the cross. Then, be challenged in your life to live as they did – by every word that comes from the mouth of God. This class is a DVD driven class with the teaching of Ray Vander Laan on location in Israel. Please let the office know if you are interested in this class., or sign up and pay via our website: www.fbcmwtx.org. The book will cost $11.

Home Groups?: For some time, I have been working with Caleb and a few others concerning home groups. Several of you have also mentioned to me lately a desire to have some home groups. We have had some in the past with great success. I am open to starting some as the Lord leads. If you would be interested in opening your home and facilitating a home group, please let me or Caleb know. Thank you!

FBC MW Basketball League: We are going to start a basketball league on Monday nights starting in April. There will be more info and a registration page on-line this week. If interested in having some fun while playing basketball, grab some friends together and sign up today!

Serving Him Together, Pastor Nathan

Long Range Planning Committee Recommendation: The Long Range Planning Committee is appreciative for the one hundred or so responses given to the questionnaire concerning a possible move to one service. From these responses, sixty-two stated they would enjoy coming to one service for a better sense of unity and for the ability to see and meet all who attend our church. Twenty-two responses mentioned their concern for one another by stating that they are hesitant about going to one service because of the possibility of hurt feelings and losing members. The responses from the church body were very valuable for the LRPC, and the committee is grateful for the time and effort many gave to submit their responses.

With a desire to help us move toward a more unified congregation, to address the perception of a small congregation by our guests who attend the 2nd service, and in order to provide an adequate amount of time for ministry in Sunday School, the Long Range Planning Committee recommends for us as a church to move to one service.

The LRPC is recommending the time for the service to be as follows: Sunday School 9:00 am to 10:00 am Transition to Worship Service 10:00 am to 10:15 am Worship Service 10:15 am to between 11:15 - 11:30 am

The committee believes that these times will help us all as we come together and allow for people to both worship the Lord and study His word while at the same time using the remainder of the day for family time. The radio station will accommodate us.

A number of responses from the questionnaire were concerned about the style of music for this one service. The initial prevailing thought is that the service will lean contemporary. The LRPC wants to allow the Pastor, the Minister of Music, the rest of the Staff, and the Worship Ministry Team the freedom to creatively plan worship, and to follow where the Lord is leading them. This will include a variety of elements as directed in Ephesians 5:16 (psalms, hymns and spiritual songs). If the church votes to move to one service, the committee asks that you would give those planning and leading in the service some time and grace; it will be a work in progress. For this to work, the church needs each and every member to make the choice to help us make it work.

Time Line: Sunday Night, March 17th, 5:30 PM, Church Business Meeting: Recommendation and Discussion Sunday Morning, both services, March 24th, Church Vote on Recommendation If the Church decides to move to one service, the staff will work on a plan and communicate it with the church. Right now, the thought is no earlier than April 28th.

CENTER OF LIFE The Center of Life is now needing

pop-top canned meats (like Vienna Sausages) and fruit cups (any type of fruit)

My daughter (Sophie) came home after school and had an assignment that required her to write a paper talking about a place that is/was special to her. We typically have this system set up to where when they get home they start on homework and if there is an issue momma is there to save the day. Bless her heart, for whatever reason this system broke down, and my daughter got stuck with me to help. Halfway through her paper, she had a question about grammar or sentence structure, so I attempt to help out. As I sat down to help and read over what she had already written, I noticed that her special place was the church. The proud dad moment wasn’t that she chose the church, it was the reasons she chose the church. As she wrote, the church is special because she has Sunday School teachers, family and friends that she loves there. The church is special because she gets to worship and learn more about God. The proud pastor daddy was pleased that she realizes that the church isn’t a building but rather the people coming together to worship. Thank you, Sophie, for reminding your daddy who (not what) the church is. ~ Caleb Crouch

I’m sure a lot of you remember singing the kid’s song “The Wise Man Build His House Upon the Rock”. It had lots of fun hand motions and told the story from Luke 6 about building our house on the sure foundation of Jesus and His Word. I was reminded of this song and truth as we learned and sang the new song “Build My Life”, by Pat Barrett, this past Sunday. We all build our lives on something – and this song is an invitation to build our lives on Jesus Christ. “I will build my life upon Your love, It is a firm foundation. I will put my trust in You alone, And I will not be shaken.” Youth and Children Singers: you’re invited to sing on two songs with the Sanctuary Choir on Palm Sunday – April 14th. For those interested in auditioning for a solo in the song “At the Cross (Love Ran Red), auditions will be held on Wednesday, March 20, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the choir room. Packets with music and CDs will be available this Wednesday in AWANA and this Sunday in the Welcome Center. Hope to see some of you this Thursday night at First Baptist Church of Dennis for the Singing Men of Texas concert!

Blessings, Mel

I replanted a couple of small plants this morning as little Ollie looked on. Each step I explained what I was doing. When I talked about soil and moisture for the roots (ok, I was talking pretty

much to myself, he’s just three) I couldn’t help but think of Psalm 1:3: He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Plants need a continuing source of water to establish deep, strong roots to keep from withering and dying. If these needs are met, the plant will be healthy, flourish and will bear fruit. In the same way, if we are constantly being fed by the Spirit through prayer, Bible study and fellow Christians we will not only thrive but be fruitful and prosper. That is, we will have joy that may surprise us, we will find ourselves stepping out-side of our comfort zone to be obedient and have deep down contentment. This can and should be each of us. Spanem Bohem, Ann Friday, 3/8, 10 AM: PrimeTime Birthday Cele-bration. Come for food (pot luck), fun and fellowship !

First Baptist Church Mission

Statement

First Baptist Church of Mineral Wells reveals God’s grace to the world as we Love like Christ, Live for Christ, and

Lead to Christ one life at a time. AWANA needs help on Wednesday nights with the Sparks group (K-2nd grade). They need 1-2 leaders to help do bible

verses, preplanned lessons and supervise the children. If you are free Wednesdays from 6:-00-7:00pm and can help, please contact the church office or Marianna Wheeler.

Children’s Camp July 15-18, 2019 This year our children who have finished grades 3-6 will attend camp at BCBA in Lueders, TX. Registration forms are due ASAP so we can preregister our group. Forms can be picked up in the church office. The cost is $150. Please contact Marianna Wheeler if you have any questions.

Operation Andrew Operation Andrew is a community wide prayer and out-reach opportunity to help believers spread the word of

the love of Jesus to others. Please pick up an Operation Andrew card that have been placed around the church

for more information.

Marriage Night Conference

FBC is simulcasting the 2019 Right Now Media Marriage Night Conference

on Saturday, May 18, 2019 from 5:00-8:30pm. Dinner is included and childcare is available. The cost is $15

per person/$30 per couple.

More details will be released soon but mark your calendars now!

Don’t forget to set your clocks

forward before you go to bed Saturday

night!