F a it h P re sb yt e r ian Ch urc h ( EPC) Faith Speaks V o l um e 20 15 , Is s ue 3 A pr i l C h ur c h S t aff Pastor Rev. Matt Allison The Pastor’s Message Dear Friends, April is one of my favorite months of the year. The weather is turning warmer. The Masters golf tournament will be played in just a few days (go Phil!). The dogwoods, redbuds, and azaleas are in bloom. And the NFL draft is coming up at the end of the month (go Raiders!). But the thing I enjoy most about April is Easter and the celebration of our Savior’s resurrection from the dead. Sometimes I’m afraid we sleepwalk through Easter and fail to appreciate the fullness of what Jesus’ resurrection means. So let me take just a moment to highlight three wonderful truths that we can rest our faith in now that Christ is risen. First, because the grave could not contain Jesus, it cannot contain those who are in him by faith. Just as we died with Christ in his death, so we have been raised with Christ in his resurrection. That means then that death is not the final word. Death does not get the last say. For those who trust in Jesus, he has transformed death into the passage through which his people enter the joy of everlasting life. Financial Secretary Wylene Eason You and I need not fear that day when we must pass through the valley of the shadow of death, because our Savior has already walked the path for us. He knows the way and promises to see us through to the other side and into his kingdom. Second, these bodies that are subject to corruption and decay will be made new on the day of resurrection. All those who die in Christ go immediately to be with him in heaven (2 Cor. 5:8). Their soul goes to Christ as their body rests in the grave. But that will change on the day of resurrection when Jesus returns. Souls and bodies will be reunited (1 Thess. 4:17-18), and instantaneously we will be given resurrected, transformed, glorious bodies like Jesus’. They will be perfect in every way, never again to be corrupted, succumb to disease, or weaken over time. Our bodies will be raised imperishable and immortal (1 Cor. 15:53 ). And with our new bod- Treasurer Jim Allsobrooks Pianist Ellen Brown ies, we will live forever with God on a new heaven and earth (Rev. 21:14). Third, the deck is now stacked. We usually use that term in the negative to describe a situation that cannot change for the better. But because of the resurrection, God has stacked the deck in our favor. When God raised Jesus from the dead, He gave Jesus the victory over sin, Satan, and death. Christ now reigns victorious. He is the triumphant King over heaven and earth. He cannot be defeated and his kingdom cannot be stopped. Does that mean then that we won’t face the trials of living in a fallen world? No, we still live in a world of tribulation, but we do so with cheer because Christ has overcome this world. Sin, Satan, and death are living on borrowed time. Their days are numbered. Evil has been conquered, (Continued on pg. 5) I nsi d e thi s i ssu e: Building News 5 Choir News 8 Fellowship News 3 Financial News 4 General News 6 Prayer and Praise 2 Missionary News 7 Session News 4 2 01 5 Ses s i o n Me mbe rs Moderator Rev. Matt Allison (Christian Education) Steve Norton (Clerk of Session) Mark McClelland (Outreach) Frank Baggett (Administration) Bob Smith (Worship) Jim Timpson (Congregational Nurture) Pa ge 2 V ol u me 201 5 , I ssu e 3 Prayer Needs and Praise News Lydia Ham Allen Bob Bahn James Bell Presley Taylor Brenda Blackwell Mary Jo Timpson Todd Brannan Christina Toska Gwen Brannan & family Jimmy Wages Catherine Bruce Mike Wallace Andy Burch Janet Williams Betty Burch Nikki Williams Jerry Colby Joyce Woods Girlfriends in Faith - Shirley Connell Mike Woods Jimmy Cook Nat Woommavovah June Cook Body of Faith EPC Beverly Echols Stan Evans Missionaries Pastor Matt Allison Our Monrovia project has been picked up! Peter Paye, our contact person, came Sunday, March 22nd to pickup the box. Thank you to all who participated to fill the box to the top! Our ladies saw a need, and we helped to fulfill it with God’s help. Rema Evans Unemployed Jett Freeman Military families Greg Fowler Peggy Fowler Ray Gentry Maralyne Harvey Robert Hicks Pat Hightower Jamie Holloway Pete Johnson Mary Keagle Brian Lowe Angela Thomas Dan Timpson * As a part of our Armor Bearers A link to the website for Peter’s organization is: ministry, please continue to pray daily for Pastor Matt and our Elders on Session: Frank Baggett, Steve Norton, Mark McClelland, Bob Smith, and Jim Timpson. http://www.ahealthynation.org/ * Please keep the following missionaries in your prayers: - Keith and Rachel Keller (Eli, Zeke & Luke); Mark & Amy McClelland - Phil and Diane Thrash; Jimmy Mercer - Bill and Margaret Frisbee; Al & Claudia Middlebrooks Herman Miller - Mr. and Mrs. Smith in the Middle East; Sammy Miller - Gary and Jackie Burnett Scottie Moore David Patterson, Sr. Guy Regan Brad Rowland Becky Russell Pat Ryle Teresa Smith Above is a picture of Peter with Janice Baggett on the day he came to pick up our gift. Everyone is invited Wednesday nights for our weekly prayer meeting at 6:10 at Faith Presbyterian Church. Come one and all!! Everyone is invited to our adult Sunday School class as we continue our study of Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. We meet in the sanctuary at 9:30 am. Please don’t forget those that are in need of a little cheer with a phone call or a card. We are blessed with such a loving congregation that is always willing to send out some cheer to those who need a smile. If you don’t have a directory and need someone’s address or telephone number please contact Teresa Harvey. Pa ge 3 F ai th Sp eaks Book News Mindscape: What to Think About Instead of Worrying by Timothy Z. Witmer We are profoundly aware that worry harms our bodies, our minds, and our relationships, but most of us struggle to stop our obsessive thoughts. Mindscape builds a biblical, practical action plan for changing your mind based on Paul's rich exhortation in Philippians 4:8. Simple, clear, and pastoral, Mindscape offers worriers real-life guidance for replacing worry with a new way of thinking. Chapter-by-chapter application questions make Mindscape perfect for personal reflection or small group use. ***** Seeking a Better Country: 300 Years of American Presbyterianism by D.G. Hart and John R. Muether Seeking a Better Country is a readable and lively survey of American Presbyterianism since its founding in 1706. Its aim is not to celebrate but to understand how Presbyterians formed one of the largest and most influential denominations in the United States, and those historical developments that led to their decline. It is a trenchant assessment of the Presbyterian legacy in the United States by two leading conservative scholars and should be on the bookshelves of pastors and students alike. Fellowship News “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 The Smith Community fellowship group will meet on Monday, April 13th at 6:30 p.m. at Teresa Harvey’s home. **** All men are invited to our Men’s Group which meets each Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. On April 19 we will begin a new study of the Old Testament book of Judges based on Tim Keller’s book, “Judges for You”. Books are $12 each. Come join us. There’s an open seat and a cup of coffee waiting for you. ***** Girlfriends in Faith “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” Luke 6:35 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 Girlfriends in Faith met at Faith Presbyterian Church on Saturday morning, March 28th. We enjoyed a brunch gathering with wonderful food and fellowship! Thank you, Ellen Brown, for an inspiring devotional. Our next gathering will be Monday, April 27th, at 6:30, at the home of Teresa Harvey. We will be enjoying cool salads for our supper. If you have never attended before, consider this your special invitation to join us. If it’s been awhile since you’ve come, let us welcome you back with open arms. If you are a regular, we are so thankful for you. We look forward to seeing every girlfriend there! BOOK NOOK We have lots of excellent books for sale on display in the sanctuary. If you would like to purchase one, simply put the money in the bowl on the display. Prices start at $1.00 and go up. Pa ge 4 V ol u me 201 5 , I ssu e 3 Session News Highlights Stated Session Meeting Faith Presbyterian EPC March 19, 2015 Present: Frank Baggett, Mark McClelland, Jim Timpson, Steve Norton Moderator: Matt Allison Under Old Business: Staff updates (Music Director, Pianist): Position offered. Waiting for applicants decision on what the Lord wants them to do. Worship– Bob Smith - Monthly Moment for Missions to be implemented. Calendar The Session reviewed the upcoming calendar and prayer concerns. April 2– Maundy Thursday service at 7:00 pm. April 5– Easter service at 11:00 am. April 16– Session meeting at 7:00 pm. Respectfully submitted, Steve Norton, Clerk of Session Building Committee and Finance Committee updates: Session recommended a ceiling dollar amount to building team taking into consideration the Funding Team’s loan suggestion. Ministry Planning Day follow up: Final Financial News-March, 2015 Donations: $29,621 items of team goals submitted to Matt Allison. Expenses: $14,422 Under New Business: Building Fund to date: Insuring new piano - Piano is fully insured. Presbytery meeting at Signal Mt. EPC on May 1-2. Matt Allison needs to know who is going to attend by next session meeting. Guest minister on April 26th. Matt Allison will be out of town. $41,615 Our churches can’t be Spirit-led unless they’re Word-fed. A church that’s dependent on the Spirit’s power in its worship will be committed to the study, proclamation, and application of God’s Word in its personal and congregational worship. The Word and the Spirit were never meant to be separated. In fact God’s Spirit is the one who inspired God’s Word… God’s Spirit and His Word go together. By: Bob Kauflin Reference: Worship Matters, Crossway Books, 2008, p. 89-90. Ministry Committee Reports Administration– Frank Baggett - finalized 2015 budget. Christian Education– Matt Allison minutes sent to session members. Congregational Nurture– Jim Timpson - no report given. Outreach - Mark McClelland– committee met 3/17/15. Minutes of meeting presented to session. Committee recommends we begin support of Christian Women’s Center in Griffin at $100/ month. Session approved. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11: 25-26 Pa ge 5 F ai th Sp eaks Building News Faith EPC's building program is beginning to pick up steam. The funding team has been hard at work and met with the Session discussing various factors involved with financing our building project. They are continuing to work on a credit package that will be submitted to prospective lenders at a later time. Andy Martin and the design team are in the beginning stages of determining the basic needs of the church as to square footage, floor plan, etc. in this initial building phase. As our excitement increases, hopefully so will our prayers. It is very important in this start up phase that we proceed in "one accord" asking God to be our leader and guide. Being in the primary stages of planning, everyone please remember that there will be discussions and changes as we go along. We will endeavor to provide information and updates on as timely a basis as possible. Please remember to check the bulletin board. Cleaning Crews for April 4/3: Bob & Bev Smith, Debbie Stephenson 4/10: Terry & Laura Clotfelter 4/17: Becky Fowler, Dorothy Miller, Vicki Dobbs 4/24: Jim & Mary Allsobrooks, Albert & Peggy Campbell Cleaning Crews for May 5/1: Alan & Janet Dennis 5/8: Wylene Eason, Suzy Skelton, Linda West, Effie Wanzer 5/15: David & Vicky Rodgers 5/22: Matt & Colleen Allison 5/29: Janice Baggett, Pat Beard, Pat Yager Pastor’s Message (continued from p. 1) and one day when Christ returns, it will be no more. Isn’t that glorious news? In sports lingo, the resurrection of Jesus is a game-changer. Now that the tomb is empty and Christ is risen, there can be no question (as if there ever was) as to the triumph of God’s glory. So let us joyfully proclaim the gospel of our Lord’s resurrection: “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!” Blessings, Matt Maundy-Thursday Worship Service April 2 at 7 p.m. ***** Easter Sunday Worship Service April 5 at 11 a.m. (no men’s group or Sunday School) NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS On Sunday, April 19, you’re invited to a new Sunday School class which will meet at 9:30 a.m. in the room to the left of the sanctuary. David and Vicky Rodgers will be our leaders. The class will begin with an excellent DVD series by James MacDonald titled Developing the Disciplines of a Sincere Faith. MacDonald introduces believers to spiritual disciplines that will help them develop a closer walk with God. What does it mean to live as an authentic follower of Jesus? Learn to follow his example by practicing the spiritual disciplines he used to maintain a close relationship with his Father. Discover how much you can grow in Christlikeness as you pursue the practices of Bible study, prayer, fasting, fellowship, service, and worship. Wedding and Shower Announcements Michael Smith, son of Bob and Beverly Smith, and Mallory James will be married on April 25, 2015, in Corolla, North Carolina. The bride and groom both reside out of state and will not be visiting McDonough prior to their wedding. We would like to “shower” them with gift cards. Michael and Mallory are registered at Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond. If you would like to participate in the gift card shower, please have your gift card (or cash) to Pat Beard or Laurie Brannan by April 12th. The gift cards will be placed in a box, gift wrapped and presented to Bob and Beverly. Feel free to include your own card with your gift card or be sure to sign the card that Pat and Laurie will have to go into the box. Haley Arnold and Cameron Dennis, son of Alan and Janet Dennis, will be married on June 7, 2015, at Nash Farm. A Miscellaneous Bridal Shower will be given on Sunday, May 3rd, at 2:00 pm at the church. Haley and Cameron are registered at Bed, Bath, & Beyond, Target, and Belk’s. The shower will be hosted by Brooke Echols, Paula Patterson, Betty Cox, and Peggy Thomas. Thank you! A HUGE thank you to the person responsible for the gift of the Yamaha baby grand piano to Faith EPC. It is a beautiful instrument that will be used in our worship each Sunday. TO GOD BE THE GLORY! Pa ge 6 V ol u me 201 5 , I ssu e 3 General News Listen to R.C. Sproul’s daily 30 minute broadcast at www.ligonier.org. It’s a great source of teaching and food for the soul. While you’re there, check out a wealth of online resources that will deepen your faith and walk with Christ. Outreach News Youth News - continued April Events 4/4 - Easter egg hunt at the home of Skeet and Jere Echols **** YOUTH NEWS On Wednesday nights the youth are beginning a study on Reformed Theology with an introduction to historical events and the people God used to bring about the Protestant Reformation. They will be watching a video series called “Amazing Grace: The History & Theology of Calvinism” followed by the movie “Luther”. After that, the students will be reading and discussing Brian Cosby’s book, “Rebels Rescued: A Student’s Guide to Reformed Theology”. As always, fellowship and snacks begin at 6:00 pm with the study starting at 7:00 pm. Our Mission of the Month for April: Melba’s Manor Maternity Home (www.melbasmanor.com/aboutus.php) We’ll be collecting baby care products, diapers, and personal hygiene products. Items can place in the chest beneath the book display. **** A group will be going to Jesus’ Place on Sunday, April 5, 2015. Feel free to join in this inspirational visit. **** Thank you to everyone who took a packet for the Spiritual Gifts inventory. We’ve had a great response. If you’ve completed your inventory, please contact Andy Martin [email protected] or Vicky Rodgers [email protected] and set up a time to go over it with them. **** Volunteers Needed: The date for the next Frisbee Ministry dinner is April 16. If you would like information about volunteering for a couple hours or would be able to provide a dish for the dinner, please contact Vicki Dobbs at : [email protected]. We are in need of volunteers to provide refreshments (simple cookies/juice nothing fancy) for our fellowship time between Sunday School and worship. Please speak to or email Laurie Brannan if you have any questions. The sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board by the hall doorway. [email protected] (work) [email protected] (home) **** In case you haven’t met her, please be sure to stop by the nursery and welcome our new nursery attendant, Miranda Barnett. ***** The purpose of Jesus' death was to glorify the Father. To be willing as the Son of God to suffer the loss of so much glory Himself in order to repair the injury done to God's glory by our sin showed how infinitely valuable the glory of God is. To be sure, the death of Christ also shows God's love for us. But we are not at the center. Author: John Piper Reference: Desiring God, Bethlehem Baptist Church, 1996, p. 264, used by permission . “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,” Deuteronomy 7:9 Pa ge 7 F ai th Sp eaks The Burnetts: Dear family and partners in prayer, May this letter find you fully assured in all the will of God, and “Bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Col. 1:10b).The Lord has answered our prayers most abundantly. Since we arrived in Medellin in January, we have been greatly blessed: On Feb 6-8, the first From Embers to a Flame conference was held with the Colombian Presbyterian Church. Pastors, elders and leaders from fifteen churches came from different churches. God willing, we will begin working with them by teaching the workshops for Christian education from May 16 to 24. Pastor Roberto Argel is also inviting many pastors, teachers and leaders from different denominations to attend the workshops. We are also working with Bobby Wilson to try and coordinate a second “From embers to a Flame” conferences with the churches in their region by October. We will meet with the director of the Northwest Region of Antioquia on March 12: Please remember us in prayer for this time as we are going to have the opportunity to learn more about the churches in a region where the violence in Colombia has left so much desolation. Pastor Dionisio is the director there and he is planning to travel to meet with us in Monteria where we are going to train the teachers of the Community of Christian Schools. PRAISING GOD: for all of you, Gracias! Thanks for partnering with us with your prayers! Your love, support, and letters fill our heart with joy and strength. After one month of searching, we have found an apartment in Rionegro. It is a good central location near the airport which services Medellin. Special Prayer Request: parts of Colombia representing the central region. It was a three day retreat with time spent seeking the Lord and meditating in His Word. On the last day the director of the Central Presbytery, Pastor Dimas Cañon, encouraged the entire assembly to renew their vision and commitment to the Lord. He later invited us to go to the main cities within the central presbytery: Daveiba, Bogota Medellin and Bucaramanga to train teachers in Christian Education (especially for children). Pastor Efren Martinez from Bucaramanga came to us after the conference to talk about the revitalization ministry in his church and shared his desire to keep growing in a biblical model. Pastor Efren asked us to plan to have a retreat with his church from June 19 to 22. This will begin a follow up process for “fanning the flame”, where we will be joining Bobby Wilson and the Embers ministry from Briarwood to serve as coaches to participating churches here in Colombia. Church Planting movement in the Caribbean: We met with the director of the Caribbean region on Feb 10-11. Pastor Roberto Argel flew from Barranquilla to meet with us and Bobby. Thanks be to God for this godly servant who after 50 years as a pastor is still serving the Lord. He is leading his church in the planting of 7 new churches and we were encouraged to see this work is already underway. They also have a Bible Institute where they want to implement the Third Millennium curriculum. The first day after returning home, Pastor Roberto sent us an email where he said he had already called all the elders and pastors of his region asking them to pray for God to open doors for church revitalization and growth in their 1. Please pray for guidance as we look at developing a church revitalization coaching ministry here in Colombia. This is a vital follow up to the From Embers to a Flame ministry as we have been told, only 10% of churches make any significant changes without it. 2. Our work and adapting to the local church here in Rionegro. Blessings~ Gary & Jackie Burnett ******** The “Smiths”: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. “ Philippians 1:21 Considering all the incidents of unrest that have been happening all across the Middle East, I have been thinking about this verse a lot. I wrote it out and posted it on the window in front of my kitchen sink last year. It reeled me back into the reality of why I am here, especially when I was distracted by all the work involved in raising a family, specifically the roughly 15 hours per week that I spent washing dishes. The verse reminded me of how much joy I have in Christ. Also, what honor it is to have the opportunity to share the freedom from bondage through Him to local women. It helped me consider it all joy: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 Lately the verse has taken a new and deeper meaning for me. It has helped me as my heart grieved in meditation over the cost of the call. I cried before the Lord, begging Him to give us true and meaningful opportunities to share His name. I thought and prayed, if the price is so high that some have lost their life for sharing the Gospel, then I want our time here to count!! I am noticing that since I’ve been praying that, He has increased my opportunities to share. Please pray for me to have deep conversations with those whom The Lord arranges for me to meet. Last week we traveled to attend a local wedding in a city about a day’s drive away. While in the city, we met with some old friends of ours, other Kingdom workers. They had previously shared with us that the Lord had guided them to six different believers in their city, who had come to the Lord in miraculous ways, and without the intervention or help of any Kingdom workers. The new believers all had different stories, but had similar needs for discipleship. Our friends gave them an Arabic worship CD that was produced by my home church and features one of my younger sisters. They told me the new believers are going around town listening to Arabic worship music in their cars! This December, my youngest sister released a new worship CD. I plan on sending copies to the new believers so they may have 2 Arabic worship CD’s instead of just one. Knowing Gulf believers will be listening to music made by two different sisters of mine got me thinking about God’s larger picture. The Lord is Amazing in His work. His hand is mighty to reach to the ends of the earth. In the 1970’s the Lord called my mother to be a nurse at a missionary hospital here in the Arabian Gulf. She was only 16 years old. Because she was only 16, she wanted some guidance from one of the elders in her church, so she went and visited her uncle. Continued on pg. 8 “For our sake he made him Happy April to be sin who knew no sin, Birthdays!! Keith Lovern 4/4 Shirley Connell 4/5 so that in him we might Debbie Stephenson 4/5 become the righteousness Haskell Thomas of God. “ Sam Coffey 4/18 2 Corinthians 5:21 4/9 Jonathan Hunt 4/22 The “Smiths” continued: To the glory of God, Faith Presbyterian Church has been called together to faithfully proclaim the Gospel, to make and equip disciples for Christ, and to advance God’s Kingdom in our families, Choir News Please join us for a beautiful time of praise and worship through music. The Choir rehearses Wednesday evenings, 7:15-8:30 pm. community, and world. www.faithpresbyterianepc.org Pastor Allison may be reached at: Cell: 678-544-8544 E-mail: [email protected] “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 After she shared with her uncle what she felt the Lord had told her, he instructed her not to breath a word of it to her father, who was ill and favored her most of all his children. He said it would be too much for him to handle. He also told her to abandon this idea entirely. The role and calling of a young Christian Arab girl is to get married to a Christian man and raise a household of believing children to the Lord, he said. She obeyed and never spoke of it again, but the Lord persisted. My mom did get married and had 5 girls. Of those five girls, I am here, serving the Lord in the Gulf with my husband and my four daughters. One of my sisters made significant personal sacrifice to support us getting here and continues to pray for us regularly. Another sister and her family have communicated often that they pray for us daily, and almost always host us when we return to the US to visit family. My other two sisters have each released Arabic worship music albums, which have been given to Gulf Arabs who are now following Christ. Our God is a God of faithfulness through the generations. His call can take many forms and can be a blessing in lives of those he still wants to be in relationship with. He is faithful. ~ “Mrs. Smith“ Church Membership Faith Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (www.epc.org) and the Presbytery of the Southeast (www.epcsoutheast.org). If you are interested in joining Faith Presbyterian Church (EPC), you may do so by a profession of your faith in Jesus Christ, by a re-affirmation of your faith, or by a transfer of your membership from another church. Please speak with the Pastor or an Elder concerning your desire.
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