Fee Fee Baptist Church

Author: Tara Smith

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 61, No. 8

    First of all, I want to start by simply saying “thank you!” We have something pretty exciting to celebrate:

    We not only reached our Annie Armstrong offering goal, we exceeded it by over 10%!!!!!!

     At the time of the writing of this Forerunner article, we have brought in $14,513 for this special offering. I thought our goal of $13,000 was pretty audacious, and I am so thankful for our church, which sacrificially gave to this important cause. 100% of this offering goes to support church planters and missionaries here in North America.

    It is so important for us to continue to spread the hope of Jesus to those who desperately need it. There was a fascinating article written by a nonbeliever in England that highlights this need. John Harris, in a column for the Guardian, wrote that, as an irreligious person, this pandemic has been very difficult for him to understand. He said, “For many of us, life without God has turned out to be life without fellowship and shared meaning – and in the midst of the most disorienting, debilitating crisis most of us have ever known, that social tragedy now cries out for action.”

    Harris pointed out that across 95 different countries, Googling the word “prayer” increased by 50%. He uses this as evidence that people need something more. Harris, and so many secularists like him, are realizing that they need answers to life’s most difficult questions.

    However, what is heartbreaking is that Harris’ answer to this issue is to create a community modeled after the church. He argues that “religion, after all, often comes down to people doing things together, whatever the transcendental meaning attributed to it: they sing, they pray, they eat together.”

    Do you see how he is missing out on the true reason that we gather together as a church? Christianity is so much more than just a social club where we do things together. It is all about a relationship with the one true God! It is about celebrating new life through the Gospel!

    People are longing for more; Harris makes that clear. However, he incorrectly posits what it is that makes our church a community. His article is a compelling piece of evidence that we need to clearly articulate the truth of the Gospel. We need to continue to have a life-giving community that gathers together and strengthens one another in the midst of a crisis. However, we also need to clearly and explicitly explain why we are gathering together: because of Jesus!

    Please join me in praying for the many lost people around who are desperately searching for something more. And please join me in praying for opportunities to share the truth of the Gospel with them!

    Thank you for giving sacrificially to Annie Armstrong. Now, let’s pray about opportunities to give the truth of the Gospel to those around us that are looking for hope!

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

     

  • Prime Time – Vol. 61, No. 8

    I am so enjoying the spring weather and the sunshine! It’s nice to sit outside and absorb that heavenly sunlight. It’s also nice to be able to be active again. Our next activity is a trip to the Science Center to view the mummy exhibit. Alternatively, you can visit the OmniMax theater to watch Back From The Brink about animals species saved from extinction. The Mummies of the World exhibit is the largest collection of real mummies and related artifacts. It is senior day, but prices are not currently listed on the website. Lunch will be at Zia’s! As always, the bus will leave at 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted.

    I know many of you have been following along in the Grounded reading plan, which we will complete on May 7. Several of you have even participated in Marco Polo groups. Congrats to all who have accepted and met this challenge. Several of you have expressed the desire to continue, and while our plans are not quite finalized, I can share basic info with you. After our completion of the New Testament, for two weeks we will go back and revisit ten significant scriptures that we would like to spend a little more time studying. Next, Pastor Zach will be preaching from the book of Isaiah during the summer, so we will read the book of Isaiah, one chapter a day, starting May 24. In September, we will begin the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament, which we will complete by reading two chapters a day Monday-Friday until the end of the year. There will not be a formal sign-up, but I am hoping that many of you will continue the habit of reading scripture daily. Getting the Word into us is exactly what God commands us to do to equip us to face the world with love each day.

    Finally, mark your calendars for Saturday, May 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. We are going to kick off Legacy Weekend with a party! We will eat a yummy catered dinner, hear a short devotional from Dr. Ross, and be entertained by a group performing music from the 40s, 50s and 60s. Don’t miss out on the fun!

  • Devotional Corner – Vol. 61, No. 8

    Taken from L.B. Cowman’s “Streams in the Desert,” Zondervan Updated Edition

    He will do this, (Psalm 37:5).

    I once believed that after I prayed, it was my responsibility to do everything in my power to bring about the answer. Yet God taught me a better way and showed me that self-effort always hinders His work. He also revealed that when I prayed and had confident trust in Him for something, He simply wanted me to wait in an attitude of praise and do only what he told me. Sitting still, doing nothing except trusting in the Lord, causes a feeling of uncertainty, and there is often a tremendous temptation to take the battle into our own hands.

    We all know how difficult it is to rescue a drowning person he tries to help their rescuer, and it is equally difficult for the Lord to fight our battles for us when we insist upon trying to fight ourselves. It is not that God will not but that He cannot, for our interference hinders His work.

    Spiritual forces cannot work while we are trusting earthly forces.

    Often we fail to give God an opportunity to work, not realizing that it takes time for Him to answer prayer. It takes time for God to color a rose or to grow a great oak tree. And it takes time for Him to make bread from wheat fields. He takes the soil, then grinds and softens it. He enriches it and wets it with rain showers and with dew. Then He brings the warmth of life to the small blade of grass, later grows the stalk and the amber grain, and finally provides bread for the hungry.

    All this takes time. Therefore we sow the seed, till the ground, and then wait and trust until God’s purpose has been fulfilled. We understand this principle when it comes to planting a field, and we need to learn the same lesson regarding our prayer life. It takes time for God to answer prayer.

  • Music Musings – Vol. 61, No. 8

    Summer Concerts Beginning Soon – Summer Concerts have been scheduled, and again as last year, they are not scheduled back to back as in previous years. Here’s a look at each one:

    May 16 – Ken Davidson – Ken is a music missionary and co-founder of Heart Sounds. This organization exists to encourage the development of worship music through training native musicians, especially in countries where Christ followers are restricted or persecuted.

    June 6 – Kingdom Players – Kingdom Players is a drama group from Lee University. They present skits based on the Bible. The skits are humorous and/or dramatic.

    June 27 – Timothy and Hosanna Noble – Timothy Noble is a piano virtuoso who has been a part of our concert series for about 7 years. His new wife, Hosanna, brings her vocal talent and playing violin.

    July 11 – Charles Graham – Charles is a Gospel singer who has visited Fee Fee dating back to his college days. Charles has attracted many friends worldwide. His singing is powerful, as is his testimony.

    August 1 – The Lesters – The Lesters are a mainstay for the annual Fee Fee concerts. The family has shared the Good News of the Gospel through song for over 90 years. The present ensemble is a trio comprising of Brian, Jonathan, and Bailee Lester. This trio represents the third and fourth generations of the Lester family.

    Make plans now to attend these concerts and get the word out to friends and neighbors. As always there is no charge for these concerts, but a love offering will be taken for each concert artist. Reserve your seats online at https://feefeebc.org/summerconcert/.

  • Family Front – Vol. 61, No. 8

    AWANA Club Awards night is May 19 at 6pm. Plan to come and see what our kids have accomplished!

    Church-wide movie night in the courtyard is Friday, May 21. Bring a blanket and/or lawn chairs and your own drinks. We will provide popcorn.

    July 26-30 is VBS Wilderness Escape from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We will need tribe leaders to lead the children and preschoolers. We will also need Israelite Tent Hosts where kids will learn desert life in the Israelite camp through various crafts and skills like: sandal stitcher, butter churner, weaver, and musician. Celebration, Moses Tent, and Recreation leaders will also be needed. Doesn’t it sound like fun? It will be and you won’t want to miss being a part of it!  Contact Kathy (kathy@feefeebc.org) for the part you want to play to introduce kids to this unique way to see how God guides and provides. Next month we will have available supplies that will be needed for this event, so stay tuned!

    Sports Crusader Basketball Camp is also July 26-30 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. We need your help for this camp to be successful. We will need housing for this college team that includes bed and breakfast. We will also need some gift cards or cash for meals during the week. If you or your Bible Study groups can help with these needs, please contact Kathy (kathy@feefeebc.org) or 314-739-1525. Thank you for your generosity! Please be in prayer for the workers, the children who will attend, and the Sports Crusaders who will lead the basketball camp.

    Registration for VBS and Sports Camp will be available on our website this month. There will be a limit to registration for both events, so register early.

    Fee Fee Baptist Church, you are always so generous with your gifts of supplies and monies when children’s ministry has a need. THANK YOU for providing those gifts. You are a generous people. We are blessed!

  • Community Connection – Vol. 61, No. 8

    Blood Drive, May 14 – Our next Blood Drive with the American Red Cross is on Friday, May 14 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. It’s recommended that all donations be scheduled ahead of time. You can go to the Red Cross website (www.redcrossblood.org) and use the Sponsor Code “FeeFeeBaptistBridgeton” to find our drive and schedule your donation. You can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The drive will be held in the Family Life Center. Everyone donating can drive around to the back of the church and park in the lot by the gym and enter through the gym doors. On the blood drive page on the church website, you can find some helpful info about donating, including who can donate and how to donate. If you have any questions about this, please contact Andrew (andrew@feefeebc.org).

    Upcoming Mobile Markets – Free groceries are still being given out every other Monday! Could you use some free groceries? Or do you know someone that does? Then have them come through our parking lot on Monday, May 3 from 10:00 a.m. until noon (or until the food runs out). We ask that you have space in your vehicle for the food items and that you not leave your vehicle during the distribution. We are also signed up for Mobile Markets with St. Louis Area Foodbank on May 17 and June 14 (but NOT on Memorial Day, May 31). You can contact Andrew if you have any questions or would be interested in volunteering.

  • Bible Study Corner – Vol. 61, No. 8

    It’s an exciting time at Fee Fee as Bible Studies on Sunday morning begin to return in-person.

    Other classes are in the decision making process and I will let you know as soon as info becomes available.

    Additionally, both Men’s and Women’s groups continue on Wednesday night from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The women will begin a new study on April 21, in person and on Zoom. You are welcome and encouraged to join at any time!

     

  • Announcements – Vol. 61, No. 8

    GOAL EXCEEDED! $14,513

    (OUR GOAL $13,000)

     

     

     

  • Chi Alpha News – Vol. 61, No. 8

    Summer Blast

    Signups for Summer Blast are officially posted and up in The Rafters! Make sure you sign up soon because space is limited for this event. Summer Blast will take place June 4 & 5 and will cost $15/person. Make sure you invite your friends because they will not want to miss out on this amazing weekend! Here is a quick look at the schedule for that weekend:

     

    Friday Night (6:00 p.m. to10:00 p.m.) – Live Concert, yard games, outdoor movie, bonfires, hot dogs, & S’mores.

    Saturday Night (9 AM – 9 PM) – Adrenaline Zone, Aloha Mini Golf & Shaved Ice, video games, dodgeball, AND MORE!!!

    Summer Dates

    Chi Alpha Summers – Every Wednesday – June 2-August 11

    June 4-5 Summer Blast
    June 6 Graduation Sunday
    June 15 Movie Night at FFBC
    June 26-July 2 Minneapolis Mission Trip
    July 9 Church Mini Golf Night
    July 23-25 DNOW
    July 26-30 Serve for VBS
    August 7 Paintball
    August 22 Youth & Family BBQ

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 61, No. 7

    What a joy it was for us to celebrate our Resurrected Savior this past weekend! I am so thankful for the hope that we have in Jesus! It is remarkable to think that the same power that conquered the grave lives in each of us! I am praying that our church will continue to proclaim that truth to a world that desperately needs hope.

    Gallup released a study a few months ago that I found very telling concerning our need for hope. As you know, 2020 was an incredibly taxing year for all of us mentally. In fact, this poll by Gallup found that nearly every demographic group saw a decrease in their mental health from 2019 to 2020. It did not matter if you were male or female or married or single. It didn’t matter your race or your socio-economic status. It didn’t matter what political party you were affiliated with. It didn’t matter your age. Every single demographic saw a decrease in mental health except for one category.

    What was that category? Weekly religious service attendance. The only demographic that saw their mental health increase from 2019 to 2020 were those people who attended weekly religious services. Isn’t that remarkable?

    I think it says something profound about the need that we all have for Biblical community. We are not meant to live our lives alone. We truly need each other! We need each other for encouragement and we need each other for our own mental health!

    In the tenth chapter of Hebrews, there are a series of “let us” imperatives that the writer challenges us to do as a church:

    19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus— 20 he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)— 21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

    Because of what Jesus has done for us, we want to draw near to God with one another. We want to hold on to our confession of hope. And we want to consider how to stir one another to love and good deeds. We do this by not neglecting to gather with one another!

    I know this past year has been crazy. We know this world needs hope. I want to encourage you to continue to gather with us weekly, whether in person or online, as we encourage each other. We are truly better together, church family! And not only are we better together, but according to this Gallup poll, we are healthier mentally as well!

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach