Fee Fee Baptist Church

Author: Tara Smith

  • Family Front – Vol. 60, No. 18

    AWANA Club

    September 9 will be our first AWANA Club for the 2020-2021 season. We have missed our kids so much! We will start this new year with AWANA Awards celebrating the work the kids and leaders did last year before COVID moved us to dismiss early. Join us in the gym from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. for this celebration. After that we will have a scaled down AWANA Club every Wednesday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. We could use some additional helpers as you feel led to return to the church building.

    KidsZone

    We have also restarted KidsZone on Sunday mornings during the 11:00 a.m. service and will be in the gym. Parents can drop off and pick up kids there. I am thankful for Kyle and Scarlet Kalkbrenner, our interns, who are leading this for our kids. We will do our best to adhere to social distancing guidelines as we meet during all of these kids’ events. Preschool care will also be available during the 11:00 a.m. service.

    Just a reminder, there are weekly Bible lessons for kids on our church website under the KidsZone section that you can use at home that comes with some downloadable activities.

    Be Strong and Courageous

    “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go… Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go,” Joshua 1:7, 9.

    Joshua was leading a great multitude of people getting ready to go into the Promised Land and take possession through battle. Whatever you are preparing to take possession of (family concerns, school for kids, work, etc.), God promises to be with you through the battle. Take courage! There is a Promised Land on the other side of this pandemic! Wait and see how God will hold you in the midst of it!

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 18

    By the time you read this addition of the Forerunner, we will know whether or not my experiment of getting you together for fellowship and a movie at the church has been a great success or a total flop. Judging by the number of you who have contacted me to let me know you are coming; I’m going with the latter.

    During one of our recent prayer times, I talked to you about having real joy in all circumstances based on James 1:2-4. I would like to continue helping us think through how to accomplish this joy by quoting John North’s devotional which is based on one of our favorite verses, Romans 8:28. He writes:

    “God is using every circumstance in our lives to shape us and use us for His purpose! It can be hard to accept the idea of God using ‘all things’ in this way. We know that God uses His word to renew our minds and transform us. We can accept that God uses our fellowship with other believers in this way. His blessings in our lives assure us of His loving care for us. However, there are still those times, when we say to ourselves, ‘but, does God really mean we can find joy in all things’?

    Yes! … He does!

    Now, this doesn’t mean that God is pleased with all things. God does grieve when we bear the brunt of someone else’s sin. He is angry when a drunk driver slams into the car of someone we love. Our God knows, from His own experience on the cross, what the physical and emotional pain we experience feels like. God loves us through all of our experiences. He grieves and groans along with us.

    We know that God is on His throne. He reigns over all things and overrules evil. He has a purpose and He is able to use the fallen, the evil, and even the senseless things to accomplish His good purpose in the world and in our lives.  This means that we can embrace any circumstance we find ourselves in, whether good or bad, as God’s opportunity for us to grow and minister in His name to others!”

  • Bible Study Corner – Vol. 60, No. 18

    Let me know if you would like to attend a Bible Study but are unsure of the schedule. We currently have three socially distanced Bible Study classes meeting in person on Sunday mornings at 9:45 a.m. Simply make your one-time reservation at feefeebc.org/socially-distanced-bible-study/

    Virtual classes are also still being offered.

    In addition, all Wednesday night activities will resume on September 9. There are classes for kids, youth, men, and women from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. It is not too late to join! Contact Gloria for exact times and locations at gloria@feefeebc.org or text 314-604-6071.

  • Devotional Corner – Vol. 60, No. 18

    Taken from Mrs. Charles E. Cowman’s “Streams in the Desert,” Vol. Two

    “I have surely seen the affliction of my people… come now, therefore, I will send thee,” (Exodus 3:7,10).

    Does that seem a weak ending to a powerful beginning? The Lord God looks upon terrible affliction and He sends a weak man to deal with it. Could He not have sent fire from heaven? Could He not have rent the heavens and sent His ministers of calamity and disasters? Why choose a man when the archangel Gabriel stands ready at obedience?

    This is the way of the Lord. He uses human means to divine ends. He works through man to the emancipation of men. He pours His strength into a worm, and it becomes ‘an instrument with teeth.’ He stiffens a frail reed and it becomes as an iron pillar.

    And this mighty God will use thee and me. On every side there are Egypts where affliction abounds, there are homes where ignorance breeds, there are workshops where tyranny reigns, there are lands where oppression is rampant. “Come now, therefore, I will send thee.” Thus saith the Lord, and He who gives the command will also give the equipment.

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 60, No. 18

    In Psalm 77:11, Asaph writes, “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.”

    Even during this time of turmoil and uncertainty in our country, we must remember that our God is sovereign and faithful. Just like Asaph, we must believe in God’s promises and remember His great and mighty works in tumultuous times.  In the song “Waymaker,” the bridge has a line that says “even when I don’t feel it, you’re working/you never stop, you never stop working!”

    The truth of the matter is that God is still on the move, even during this pandemic. We are walking through difficult circumstances, but our God is at work. We are going to have a special Sunday on September 13 to bring honor and praise to our Lord. To remember and celebrate what God is doing at our church. We are calling it “God Still Works” Sunday. It is easy in the midst of this pandemic to only focus on the negatives. However, our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And our God is still working!

    In 1 Samuel 7, after God delivered the Israelites from the Philistines and gave them a great victory, Samuel did something interesting. He grabbed a bunch of stones and piled them on top of each other to build a monument to the Lord. What did he name it? An Ebenezer. That word, Ebenezer, means “up to here the Lord has helped me.” Those stones would serve as a reminder to the Israelites of God’s faithfulness to them.

    In a similar vein, on September 13 we are going to acknowledge how God has been moving in our church during this pandemic. While we are still in the midst of difficult circumstances, it is still important for us to fix our eyes on Jesus and give Him the glory and honor that He and He alone deserves. We are going to do this not only in our Sunday morning services, but we are also going to have a special testimony service that evening at 6:00 p.m. I want to encourage you to be a part of these services as we give God the glory.

    Subsequently, by remembering God’s faithfulness we should be compelled to exalt Him in not only our words but also our deeds. John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

    As we worship God on September 13, and in the days and weeks ahead, let’s express our overwhelming gratitude to our Savior not only by remembering the great things He has done, but also by vowing to live a life that glorifies our God!

    Will you join me in praying that God will still move and work in and through our church in the days ahead?

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • Community Connection – Vol. 60, No. 18

    Thank You

    We received a thank you letter from the community that I wanted to share with you all:

    “FFBC Volunteers: Thank you for the food from Mobile Market. Thank you for meal supplies to help with our daily meals for our home table. Thank you to all the volunteers/helpers for the kindness, courtesy, and assistance to provide a smooth drive-thru. Your smiles and cheer help us all through a recession period.

    Much gratitude,

    Anonymous Family”

    Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

    Thank you, church, for continuing to support this ministry and for caring about our community. You are making an impact to the families around us!

    Mobile Market on September 21

    Our next Mobile Market is on Monday, September 21. We will distribute food from 10:00 a.m. until noon (or whenever we run out of food). Anyone is welcome to come and receive the free groceries in a contactless, drive-thru format. If you are interested in serving at a Mobile Market and you have never done so before please contact Andrew (andrew@feefeebc.org) to get on the schedule.

    Church Workday, October 3

    Saturday, October 3 will be our annual “All Church Workday.” Put the date on your calendar so we can beautify our campus. We will see you at 8:00 a.m. with donuts and coffee, and should wrap up before noon.

  • Chi Alpha News – Vol. 60, No. 17

    Zoom Zoom!

    We are Zooming away on Sunday mornings for Bible Study every week at 10:00 a.m., and you’re invited! The link and passcode have been sent out to all parents and leaders, but if you are missing it, shoot me an email, (kyle@feefeebc.org) and I will gladly send it your way!

    After School Study Program

    Starting Tuesday, September 8, we will be offering an opportunity for all of our Chi Alpha students to come up to the church and get some serious studying done. With school being moved to an online format for the majority of our students, it is so important to keep some social interactions available for them. We will have a few leaders and volunteers at the church to offer students some extra help with schoolwork and give encouragement to those who may need it. We will be meeting every Tuesday from 5:00-8:00 p.m. in the gym and students can come and go as they please. Make sure they take advantage of this awesome opportunity and crucial resource to study in a different environment, but also continue to build great community together!

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 17

    Well, here we go! It’s time to try a socially distanced Prime Time event! On Wednesday, September 9 at 11:30 a.m., we will be having a Chick-Fil-A box lunch and watch the newly released movie, Doctor Doolittle in the Dining Room. Lunch will be $8 and the movie is free. You must let me know you are coming by noon on Tuesday, September 8 so that I can order the correct number of lunches. You can contact me by email at gloria@feefeebc.org or text (314) 604-6071. If neither of these methods don’t work for you, call the church office!

    I’m hoping you all are participating in our Who’s Your One initiative! Make sure you remember to pray daily for your person (or persons) you have identified and build a relationship so that when the opportunity comes, you can share the love of Jesus with them. Our job is to sow the seed as we follow the Great Commission – not the great suggestion!

     

  • Devotional Corner – Vol. 60, No. 17

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

    “I have received full payment and even more,” Philippians 4:18.

    In one of my garden books there is a chapter with a very interesting title: “Flowers That Grow in the Shade.” It deals with those areas of a garden that never catch direct sunlight, and it lists the kinds of flowers that not only grow in the dark corners but actually seem to like them and to flourish in them.

    There are similarities here to the spiritual world. There are Christians who seem to blossom when their material circumstances become the most harsh and severe. They grow in the darkness and shade. If this were not true, how could we otherwise explain some of the experiences of the apostle Paul?

    When he wrote the above verse, he was a prisoner in Rome. The primary mission of his life appeared to have been broken. But it was in this persistent darkness that flowers began to show their faces in bright and fascinating glory. Paul may have seen them before, growing along the open road, but certainly never in the incomparable strength and beauty in which they now appeared. And words of promise opened their treasures to him in ways he had never before experienced. Among those treasures were such wonderful things as Christ’s grace, love, joy, and peace, and it seemed as though they had needed the circumstance of darkness to draw out their secret and inner glory. The dark and dingy prison had become the home of the revealed truth of God, and Paul began to realize as never before the width and the wealth of his spiritual inheritance.

    Haven’t we all known men and women who begin to wear strength and hopefulness like a regal robe as soon as they must endure a season of darkness and solitude? People like that may be put in prison by the world, but their treasure will be locked away with them, for true treasure cannot be locked out of their lives. Their material condition may look like a desert, but “the desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom,” Isaiah 35:1. –John Henry Jowett

  • Family Front – Vol. 60, No. 17

    I miss you all immensely! I pray for you often that the Father will give you all the patience and love you need to carry on leading your children to know Christ better. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you lead your families.

    KidsZone

    Just a reminder, there are weekly Bible lessons for kids on our church website under the KidsZone section that you can use at home that comes with some downloadable activities. On September 6 we will again offer in-person KidsZone at 11:00 a.m. during worship. We will do our best to adhere to social distancing guidelines as we meet. Please have your child wear a mask.

    Wednesday Night Activities

    In addition, we are planning Wednesday night activities to begin on September 9. We are currently working on what that will look like. The first night we would like to finish up our 2019-20 AWANA year with AWANA Awards. If you cannot attend we will be sure to get the awards to your children. We will look forward to seeing you again in the near future as you feel comfortable getting out.

    How Can We Help?

    It is understandable that these days are challenging for families. Now, with responsibilities of home-schooling on your plate, we want to be a support to you as you lead your children. If you have suggestions or questions on how we can help you, please share. We are anxious to serve!

    “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go… Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go,” Joshua 1:7, 9.

    Joshua was leading a great multitude of people getting ready to go into the Promised Land and take possession through battle. Whatever you are preparing to take possession of (family concerns, school for kids, work, etc.), God promises to be with you through the battle. Take courage! There is a Promised Land on the other side of this pandemic! Wait and see how God will hold you in the midst of it!