Mission Bite

Bite 77: That's the heart of Jesus

Food ministry has been part of what we do from the beginning. Mike tells this story of how his bread ministry came to help create Beloved Community at Grace & Main:

"After starting a relationship with Josh, I was working at Walmart and a lady from Grace & Main came up to me and said she needed some bread because she had 3 homeless people living with her. That really got to me. Each week I started delivering bread to her house. One day, they invited me to come in and help fix lunches and I have been with the community ever since. To sit down and have a meal with somebody, to help the marginalized and less fortunate, that's the heart of Jesus, with the forgotten people of the world."

- Jessica Hearne, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel, Danville, Virginia

Mission Bite

Bite 76: A true mosaic ministry

"Last summer we held a week of sports camps in different parts of the Paris, France region for people ages 15-30. We had 300 participants from 25 different churches -- a true mosaic of cultures, languages, and different styles of worship. From this diverse group we created sports teams that were composed of young people from different churches. It was a beautiful thing to see them reaching across language and cultural boundaries to work together, pray together and learn that we are stronger when we are united. The future of the church is multicultural and our young people are leading the way. Pray that connections made between the youth at the sports camps continue to bear fruit."

- David and Julie Brown, CBF field personnel in Paris, France

Mission Moment

Mission Bite 69: Our daily bread

"Food ministry has been part of what we do from the beginning. Mike tells this story of how his bread ministry came to help create Beloved Community at Grace & Main: 'After starting a relationship with Josh, I was at Walmart working and a lady from Grace & Main came up to me and said she needed some bread because she had 3 homeless people living with her. That really got to me. Each week I started delivering bread to her house. One day they invited me to come in and help fix lunches and I have been with them ever since. To sit down and have a meal with somebody, to help the marginalized and less fortunate, that's the heart of Jesus, with the forgotten people of the world.'"

- Jessica Hearne, CBF field personnel in Danville, Va. 

Charlie's Challenge

Book Drive for Appalachia Mission

Dear Fellow Members of First Baptist,

The gift of reading can be a powerful tool for any child.

However, for those who live in poverty, their resources are slim, as are the schools and parents that support them.

We are starting a book drive to support Scarlette Jasper and Paula Settle, The Baptist Missionaries in Kentucky, who are supported by WMU.

Our thought is that most of us will be visiting extended family and friends this month for the CHRISTmas Season.  Many of these people may have children’s books (Ages 3-17) that are simply sitting on the shelf and no longer being used.

We are thinking it would be wonderful if they would donate these books to this Mission.

Also, Dollar Tree has some terrific books for the youngest readers.

Our goal is that no one needs to spend a lot of money, or any money, to participate!

This is the start of our Children’s Books for Appalachia Mission.  We are looking to collect books for children ages 3 to 17.   There is a bin in The Loving Kindness Room located by the elevator where you can leave your book donations. 

We feel confident that we can reach our goal of 1,000 books by the end of January 2018, with your help and God’s Blessing.

Gratefully, Diane and Charlie White
 

UPDATE: We now have 612 books! Please continue to help us reach our goal of 1,000! 

Mission Trip Donations

We now have an account open year-round that is designated specifically for mission trips! If you would like to make a contribution to our Summer 2018 Mission Trip, please write "Mission Trip Fund" in the memo line. Thank you all for your support in helping us to do God's work!

Operation Christmas Child Packing Party

Photos from our Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Packing Party!

#shoeboxes2017
#285boxes!
#thankyouFBC

Christmas Offering

If you're looking for a Christmas gift for a loved one, choose to give a gift in honor or in memory of someone special through our Christmas Offering! Income we receive from this offering will be divided equally between our local mission partners, namely: Jackson County Neighbors in Need, AWAKE, Circles of Hope, and Blue Ridge Health Jackson. When you make a contribution to this Christmas Offering, the church will send an informative–and handsome!–Christmas card to the person you are choosing to honor. Christmas Offering envelopes are available in the pew racks in both our sanctuary and in our church office.

Appalachian Shoe Boxes

To quote a favorite hymn, “Because I have been given much, I too must give.”  You have been very generous in providing for children in Africa through Operation Christmas Child.  This is the first year our church will also participate in the Appalachian Shoe Box ministry.  These boxes will go to McCreary County, KY, the poorest county in the U.S.!  Many children there receive no other Christmas gifts.  If your heart is willing and your pocket book able, please consider giving to this cause using the list below.

Appropriate for all boxes:  toiletries and grooming supplies (any bottles of liquids should be put inside a zip lock bag), travel size products, fine warm hats, gloves and scarves, school supplies such as pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, etc.

For K-6 possibilities:  markers, crayons, balls, toys, hair bows, hair clips, card games, Legos, books, $5-$10 gift cards from Dollar Tree or Dollar General

For high school: gift cards from Dollar Tree or Dollar General, deodorant, body lotion, perfume, balls, wallet, socks, nail polish, lip gloss, flashlight.

Please label the box according to  the intended age.

Any candy should be in a separate bag for distribution.

There’s an area in the Loving Kindness Room for gathering the boxes by this Sunday, November 19.  Church member, Teresa Manring, has kindly offered  to deliver the boxes during a business trip to Kentucky in early December.

Cuba Connection

Join us to explore ways to increase our Cuba Connection on Sunday, Nov. 12th immediately after the worship service in the upstairs conference room . All are welcome to join for this brief 30 minute meeting.