March 2015 Reach – Nurture – Serve - Pray 5043 Mt. Olive Church Rd. Pittsboro, NC 27312 Office (336) 376-3788 Staff Email: David Crowther, Pastor Mark Etheridge, Youth Pastor Tina Vaughn, Secretary [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] From the Pastor: March is going to be a busy month as we plan and prepare for several major events. First, we will be having our Outdoor Banquet on Saturday, March 28th from 11:00am–2pm. The Banquet will begin with the meal, followed by a turkey calling seminar by Marshall Collette of Quaker Boy Calls and Mossy Oak. After Marshall Collette’s calling seminar, I will take the opportunity to share briefly about Mt. Olive as well as give a Gospel presentation. Finally, there will be a free shotgun giveaway. During the meal there will be several tables set up with additional outdoor information (NC Wildlife, etc.) and afterward Eddie Vaughn will be doing a bow NIGHT demonstration. I hope everyone in the church will support this day by bringing food, inviting friends and neighbors, and praying for that the Holy Spirit will be at work! Also, during the month of March I ask that you all be praying and preparing for our ‘Back to Church’ Sunday on Easter, April 5th. I want to challenge you to invite your unchurched friends and neighbors to church on that Sunday. I would suggest mentioning it to them well before Easter and then following up with your friend as the time gets nearer. On Sunday, March 1st commitment cards will be distributed; we’re asking you to consider writing the names of one to three people you will invite to church and pray for between now and April 5th. Of course, do not take this commitment lightly and only fill out the card if you will follow through on your commitment to the Lord. Remember, we have an attendance goal of 200. I believe that if we are fervent in our prayer and witness that God will use the Day of our Lord’s Resurrection to bring new spiritual life into our church as well. Let’s continue seeking to make Jesus’ name famous in our community and around the world! In Christ, David Wednesday, March 4 at 6:45 pm This month, dinner is provided by WMU Group #1. Bring the whole family and enjoy a meal together. This month, the adults will stay together after the meal to learn more about North American missions. The children and youth will still break out into their missions groups, and a nursery is provided for the little ones. Student Ministry Awake and Alive Lock-In Friday-Saturday, March 6-7: 8 pm-8 am Students are asked to bring a side item or 2 liter drink Winter Jam Tour Spectacular Friday, March 13: 3-11:30 pm PNC Arena, Raleigh NC It’s time to think about summer camp! Student Life Camp; Ridgecrest, NC $50 deposit (Due Sunday, March 1st) Student Gatherings…. Wednesday Nights 7:00-8:00 pm…..Sunday Nights 6:30-8:00 pm Sunday Morning Nursery Schedule: Mar 1: Brian and Tina Vaughn Mar 8: Will and Ashley Thomas Mar 15: Ruth Ann Jones and Evangeline Andrews Mar 22: Keith and Tracey Marshall Mar 29: Diane Foushee and Casey Allred March Nursery Mother: Suzanne Jones Wednesday Evening Nursery Schedule: Mar 4: Mar 18: Ashley Thomas We need a volunteer! Find sign-up sheet in east entrance. Children’s Church Schedule: Mar 1: Mar 8: Mar 15: Mar 22: Mar 29: Christy Morris, Teresa Garner; Alternate: Robbie Morris Tina Vaughn, Diane Foushee, Alternate: Christy Morris Denise Doss, Dorian James, Alternate: Dawn Lloyd Ashley Thomas, Rhonda Thomas; Alternate: Amy Foushee Kristina Zachary, Amber Vaughn, Alternate: Suzanne Jones MARCH REACH MINISTRY The visitation schedule for the Reach Ministry is posted on the bulletin board beside the Pastor’s Study. Mar 1: Member B: Preparation: Mar 8: Guest C Preparation: Mar 15: Nursing Home C Mar 22: Shut- in C Mar 29: David Crowther, Bryan Foushee, Marie Andrews Christy Morris Joe & Renee Godfrey Dawn Glosson Wells Joan Snyder, Toni Brazington Evangeline Andrews, Maria Wilske 5th Sunday Testimony Service Notes from My “Prayer Closet” Giving, Fasting, and Praying Jesus Christ devoted significant time to instruction of His disciples during His three-year earthly ministry. Matthew 6 chronicles the essential ideals Christ taught on the principle of the Kingdom of God. They included: giving, fasting, and praying; these are timeless principles and apply to all believers, in all situations, for all times. Christ taught His disciples that the life of a believer was to be lived differently from the unsaved in the world. Followers of Christ are sanctified. Paul wrote, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thess. 5:23). The holy lives believer must live often conflict with worldly values. Jesus explained there are two ways to conduct charitable giving. With the first way, the giver makes certain people are aware of the contribution. The giver looks to man for approval. Conversely, the second way seeks only to fulfill the needs of the poor. No accolades are expected. Matthew wrote, “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (6:1; 3-4). I cannot think of a greater role model than Jesus Christ. He prayed some of the most powerful prayers for disciples. And He took the time to provide an exemplary prayer. Christ knew the importance prayer would play in the life of the believer once He went home to be with the Father. Christ emphasized prayer being a personal communication between the believer and God. God does not want superfluous words, but words spoken sincerely from the heart. He already knows the desires of your heart. Jesus said, “when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place;… and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words… For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matt 6:6-8; 14). Finally, Jesus instructed the disciples on the importance of fasting. Now the disciples did not fast until after Christ was ascended to heaven. However, Christ knew the disciples would need the spiritual power that only coming through fasting and prayer. Last week we discussed the father whose son was demon-possessed. The disciples were unable to cast out the demon, but Jesus was able. The problem was the lack of faith of the disciples. In addition, Jesus pointed out the need to fast and pray to cast out some demons. “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (6:16-18). Jentezen Franklin asserted, “[W]hen giving, praying, and fasting are practiced together in the life of a believer, it creates a type a threefold cord that is not easily broken.” The reference Franklin made to a ‘threefold cord’ relates to Solomon and his writings on wisdom; “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Eccl. 4:12). I hope you have found this useful. I would ask everyone who expressed interest in partnering in the Ministry of Prayer to recommit by signing one of the sheets that will be available in the church entrances. I need all the information filled out. The Lord has laid several things on my heart that He wants to see come to fortuitous at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. I can begin with you making an important decision right now. We are in the season of Lent. Will you consider strengthening your threefold cords? Increase your giving (financial or time); fast for repentance, to break a stronghold, and most importantly to deepen your relationship with our God; and finally praying. It is my prayer that the Lord God will richly bless each and every one of your sacrifices and obedience. Your Sister in Christ Jesus, Debbie Henry (443) 415-7421 mobile (336) 376-0563 home [email protected] Easter Hope Boxes Help send the love of Jesus to Kentucky school children by packing a plastic shoebox with toiletries and school supplies. Deadline is March 22. Email [email protected] for details. Visit www.hopeforappalachia.com for more info about the project. March 1: March 4: March 28: March 29: Church Conference @ 6:30 pm Family Night (Meal @ 6:45pm; North American Mission Study @ 7:30 pm) Outdoor Banquet @ 11:00 am Palm Sunday – Children singing during Morning Worship April 3: April 4: April 5: April 12: April 19: April 24-25: Good Friday Service @ 7:00 pm Easter Egg Hunt @ 2:00 pm Easter Sunday- “Back to Church Sunday” Cake and Pie Auction for Relay for Life VBS PreviewMeeting Student Ministry Spring Retreat
© Copyright 2024