Pastor Charles’ Reflections

An up-date on Southern Baptist Disaster Relief(SBDR) Efforts in Haiti. SBDR is a Southern Baptist Convention entity supported by the COOPERATIVE PROGRAM and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Donate via Text: Text the word nambdr to 40579. A $10 donation will be charged to your cell phone account and sent to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. 100% of all gifts are used to meet the needs of hurting people.

Buckets of Hope. $40.00 sends a five-gallon bucket filled with food items that will feed a Haitian family for a week. A bucket and the specified contents will cost about $30.00 and a $10.00 donation will help ship the bucket to Haiti. Bring your bucket filled to Newkirk by March 8-9 and we deliver them to the associational office on the 10th. When leaders from Baptist Global Response, Florida Baptist Convention, International Mission Board, and North American Mission Board developed the “Buckets Of Hope” project, they had no idea how far it would go. Churches all over the US are gathering supplies and packing buckets through Bible Study groups, children’s classes, families, and mission groups. Soon the buckets will begin their journey to Haiti. In some places, entire communities are involved. Local news stations are picking up on what is happening and reporting on the “Buckets of Hope.” What a witness to the world as thousands, even tens of thousands, of buckets arrive in Haiti with a bright blue and yellow label and the simple message, “This Bucket of Hope” is a gift of love from Southern Baptists to the people of Haiti.

We will begin receiving specific ways to pray for the Haitian pastors and churches as well as the continuing Southern Baptist work by volunteer teams.

Haitian and American believers continue to work in partnership to see people pulled from the rubble of sin to new life in Christ. Medical clinics and home inspection visits give Haitian pastors the opportunity to share the truth of the gospel, and God is giving the increase. There is transformation taking place in Haiti that will continue for years to come. Every Southern Baptist, whether or not you ever set foot on Haitian soil, can make a tremendous difference. Tom Westerfield reported Friday, “A South Carolina chaplain described six professions of faith today, ranging from a 65-year-old lady to a young teenager. Two of the six were led to the Lord by the Haitian pastor while another was introduced to Jesus through conversation with the pastor’s wife.” This is just one example of how our partnership is working. We are truly one body, hands, feet, eyes, ears and voice working together for the cause of Christ.

Let me encourage you and a team to fill a “Bucket of Hope,” and bring it to the church by March 9th.

We hope that the change in the weather is not a sign that it is time to play, play, play during the Sunday school and worship. Why not give God His time and then use the afternoon to play, play and play. Far too many Christians are playing on God’s time. Don’t be one of them. See you Sunday, if Jesus tarries and I hope He does, for there are a lot of lost people who need to hear the story of salvation as you heard and became a follower of Jesus. The journey is not over for you until the minister is called to conduct your funeral. Neither is the job of telling the Good News of Jesus Christ and the Hope He offers.

Opportunities for Service in the name of our Lord Jesus:
Saturday, March 6th—Church Wide Clean Up Day at 9:00 A.M.
Sunday, March 7th— Election of Deacons. One for one year and two for three year term.
Friday, March 26th—B.B.Q Pork Day for our Youth’s Mission Trip.
Saturday, April 17th—Fund Raiser Tournament for our Youth Mission Trip-Tee time 1:00 at Pinetuck.

Basketball Games, Saturday, February 27th
Girls at Oakdale at 9:00
Boys at Shield of Faith at 10:00

New Facility Committee Meeting this Sunday evening with Bob Salley at 6:15.P.M. Mr. Salley is with the Baptist Men of South Carolina and may be able to get some volunteer help to assist us in renovating our current place of worship.

Church Wide -Youth Fund Raiser BBQ on Friday 26th. How are you doing in selling tickets for this event?

Our final Deacon Nominees are Michelle Goodman, Bill Gordon, Travis Jackson, Bucky King and Denny Saverance. We will elect three deacons on March 7th, one for one year and two for a three year term. Be much in prayer as you vote on your candidates. I believe it is an honor to be nominated as a possible member of our Deacon Council.

Inclement Weather Policy: Pastor Charles will lead our worship service on Sunday during inclement weather beginning at 11:00. For some reason, his sermons are shorter on those days. We will not have Sunday School. If you feel you can come to church without falling or having an accident, please do so and if not, please stay at home. We do not wish for anyone to get hurt by falling or having an accident. If you stay home, spend some time praying for the service and those who attend.

Staff Evaluation Schedule—February 28:
4:00 Ann Roof
4:30 Bryan Bogue
5:00 Don Stafford
5:30 Eleanor Self
6:00 Pastor Charles

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering For Home Missions— March 7-28. Our goal is $1,200.00 and we will have a Mission March every Sunday in March.

The cost of the Easter Lilies to Adorn our place of worship will be $12.00. Please order one or more in honor or memory of a loved one.

Church Wide Clean Up Day March 6th beginning at 9:00. Folks, our building really needs some cleaning from the kitchen to the storage building and in between. Please make an effort to be here on Saturday, March 6th to help. In the event, you cannot come on the 6th, please set aside a day and come and clean your Sunday school class room or start cleaning anywhere there is a need.

Youth Council will meet on Sunday, March 7th at 4:15. This committee consists of Denny Saverance, Jackie and Gaylen Massey, and Junior McWaters.

Men Of Missions Work day on March 20th beginning at 9:00. We need to finish the windows at Mrs Eleanor Self’s home.

2010 Season of North American Missions, March 7-14—Theme: “Live with Urgency: Share God’s Transforming Power” God’s Word says in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also the Greek.” As we approach this week of prayer we are encouraging you to pray for North American Missions and our 5,600 missionaries who are serving in the United States, Canada and their territories. We fondly refer to this mission emphasis and offering as the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. The national goal is $70,000 million and our goal is $1,200.00. Luke 12:48 says: “...From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” Philippians 4:19 reads: “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Lord, all that I have comes from You. Thank you for the blessings You pour out on me. As I learn to manage what You give me, I pray that I do it responsibly and in a way that honors and glorifies You. I also pray that I grow into the one You can trust to give when You call me to do so. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Give as God has blessed you and that is all we can ask of you.

An Easter Egg Hunt is planned for March 27 from 11:00 to 1:00. More information will come later.

A Family is made up of love and tears, laughter and years. It grows stronger with the passing of time, more precious with the making of memories. Sometimes a family is made of ones you don’t like for a while...But you love for a lifetime. It’s a gift whose value is found not in numbers but in its capacity to love. It’s the place you find someone to encourage you, believe in you, celebrate with you and comfort you. A family is where your heart feels most at home because you’re always wanted, always welcomed, always needed always loved. - Kimberly Rinehart

Packing your “Bucket of Hope for Haiti”
Our YWOM group will be packing buckets on Saturday, March 6, 2009 during our church-wide clean up day. Come join us to pack your bucket. If you have difficulty shopping or gathering the requested items, YWOM members will be happy to purchase and pack them for you. Please provide the requested $40 which covers the items and shipping cost to a YWOM member. Let’s try to gather enough to pack 50 buckets to send to families suffering in Haiti.

We have battled many seemingly impossible battles in our life, many of which we still have no understanding of the outcome and many of which are ongoing long term battles that the Lord calls us to 'not lose heart' but to press on in prayer and faith in His leadership. Through times of deep betrayal, confusion and deep grief, we cry out to God for explanation. "Why?" Often, the answer will not be evident this side of heaven. Our job is to use the full armour of God and press on until the Lord calls me back from the battleground—and to pray without ceasing. Let me live by faith
Dear God, let me live by faith:
Not faith in myself, but in You;
Not faith in my own abilities,
But faith in Your Power and Wisdom.

Help me to faithfully
Walk past any playing field flooded with the glare of
my own self-centeredness,
And walk toward the unknown pathways which You
have charted for me —
some less visible than candle glow.

In the midst of the unknown
I shall find Your gifts to me;
In the midst of darkness,
I shall find the Light
Of Your Love.

And in the midst of Faith’s victory,
I shall find Your abiding Grace.

Dear God, let me live by faith!
—Peggy Ferrell

OTHER MINISTERS FOR SUNDAY, February 28, 2010
Children's Church: Gaylen & Kristen Massey
Infants’ Nursery— Denny & Terry Saverance
Usher/Greeter Teams– Ray Goodman, Josh Goodman, Trent Cromer, Bucky King
TELLER: March 1—Judy Redman

CHURCH CALENDAR
Feb. 28—9:45-S.S., 10:45-Worship, 4:30-6:00-Staff Evaluation, 5:00-Youth
March 1– 7:00-Deacon Council
March 2—7:00-GROW “G”
March 3—6:45-RAs, GAs, Acteens, Mission Friends, Adult Bible Study, 7:30-Choir Practice
March 6—9:00—Church-Wide Clean-Up Day