Fee Fee Baptist Church

Category: Forerunner

This category contains everything pertaining to the Forerunner.

  • A Word from Interim Pastor, Matt Easter Vol. 63, No. 10

    My daughter Evelyn’s favorite song as a young toddler was “One Day” by the Hasidic Jewish reggae/hip-hop beatboxing artist Matisyahu (honestly). I take credit for this. (Oh, the joys of having exclusive control of the iPod in those days…) In this song Matisyahu offers a vision of “one day” when people will abandon violence for peace:

    All my life I been waitin’ for / I been prayin’ for, for the people to say / That we don’t want to fight no more /There’ll be no more wars and our children will play / One day…

    Matisyahu’s vision recalls the Old Testament prophets’ hope: “God shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Micah 4:3; Isaiah 2:4).

    Like the prophets in the Old Testament, Matisyahu is unhappy with the present state of the world. In his song “King without a Crown,” Matisyahu longs for a Messiah:

    What’s this feeling? / My love will rip a hole through the ceiling / I give myself to you from the essence of my being / And I sing to my God all these songs of love and healing / I want Moshiach (Messiah) now

    Of course, those of us who confess Jesus as Messiah believe the Messiah has already come. By the death and resurrection of Jesus, God the Father through the Holy Spirit frees us from slavery to sin and death. We should give thanks to God for this deliverance. However, at the same time, I think we also need to embrace Matisyahu’s angst. He’s right: the world isn’t as it should be.

    In this series on 1-2 Thessalonians, we’ve seen how central the second coming of Jesus is to Paul’s theology. Nearly every chapter in 1-2 Thessalonians mentions the second coming. Jesus is coming back, and this gives us hope! Still, though, even as we anxiously hope for the second coming of our Messiah, I sometimes feel the same angst as Matisyahu and the prophets. The world is unjust. Life isn’t fair. Our society is founded by and sustained by violence and injustice. Sin has corrupted everything. Things aren’t the way they should be. Stuff ain’t right. This makes me “want Moshiach now.” But, thanks be to God, I know that “One Day” is coming when God will make all things right.

     

     

  • Announcements Vol. 63, No.10

    You will get the opportunity to hear this month about our 2023

     Mission Trips that happened in greater detail at our

    “One Church One Mission One Service”,

    on October 22nd at 11:00 a.m. to hear reports from

    our different missions teams and their members who spent time serving the Lord this summer.

    IMPACT WEEK

    As of Saturday 9/23, our church has given 431.5 hours of service to our community. We sugared up the police and first

    responders, saturated 63044 with the good news of Jesus, served at Loaves and Fishes, cleaned parks, sang at area nursing

    facilities, did yard work and home repairs and filled our Food Pantry. Thank for all your hard work.

    Mobile Market

    Our partnership with the St. Louis Area Foodbank has a few more months left of  this  year. Upcoming dates are:

    • Nov 13
    • Dec 11

    Anyone is welcome to come get groceries on the second Monday of each month, at 10:00 a.m. (until the food runs out). If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, talk to Kathy Webber and she will make sure you have a spot to serve!

    The International Pantry

    The things we are collecting for all of  October is chucky soup. Stew, and chili.

    Sympathy

    Our love through Christian sympathy is extended to:

    … Dorothy Cox and family  on the passing of Ken Cox on August 14th

    … Betsy Brisch and Becky Edwards and family on the passing of their mother , Peggy Totterer on August 23rd

    … Karen Kupka and family on the passing of Karen’s mom, Nancy Aehle on August 28th

    … The family and friend’s on the passing of Oline Albright on Sept 11th

     

    If you would like an updated directory please call the office.

     

  • Prime Time Vol. 63, No.10

    As I am writing this, it is technically not fall yet but I love it so much, I start early.  I love everything pumpkin spice food created and the beauty of the changing leaves.  Are you ready to have some fun in the last quarter of this year?  The senior council has come up with some excellent events.

    October 6, we will travel to Foristell to Rush Acres.  This is a small family farm with 23 acres of cozy woods, pasture, a beautiful lake, a rustic farmhouse, a unique family store and a whole bunch of critters! We will eat lunch that day at the Wentzville Family Diner.  The bus will leave at 10:00 am.

    I need 8 of my prime timers to help pack meals for Feed My Starving Children from 3- 5 pm on Thursday, October 12. The bus will leave at 2:15 p.m.  Please sign up.

    On Monday, October 23, we will visit the First State Capital in St. Charles and then walk across the street for lunch at Lewis and Clark.  The cost for the Capital museum tour is $5.  There might be a little time for shopping!  The bus will leave at 10:00 am.

    Other events to look forward to and mark your calendars include:

    Wednesday, November 8, the Sight and Sound stage production of David with lunch at 11:00 a.m.

    Wednesday – Friday, November 29-December 1, trip to Branson including Thursday night at Silver Dollar City to see the lights.  Cost TBD 

     

     

  • Family Front Vol. 63, No. 10

    Fall is in the air!  That brings multiple opportunities for families to be involved!

    October 1st, I will be starting my 4-week class for kids that have recently received Christ as Savior. This will be during the bible study hour at 9:45 on Sundays. Please let me know ahead of time if you and your child will be attending so I can have appropriate materials.

    On Saturday, October 14, is our annual packing of food for Feed My Starving Children. It is from 12:45 p.m. – 2 p.m. at Gateway Christian Church.  There is only 17 slots open for this time frame so we will need you to sign up. If you haven’t done this before, here is where you can find out more information at https://www.fmsc.org. This is a great family mission project. Watch out for sign-ups in the Connection Center and more information to come.

    There will be no Trunk-or-Treat this year at the church but I would like to encourage you to lead an event in your neighborhood. Each year, on Halloween night, we have set out a fire pit with stuff to make S’Mores and invited neighbors to join. I have candy ready for the few trick-or-treaters that come and we have gotten better acquainted with our neighbors. This has been fun and an easy way to get to know our neighbors. Maybe you can think of other ideas for your neighborhood. You may get to be a ‘light’ on your street.

    The kids will be doing a Christmas story video for the Christmas presentation again this year. We will take children that are 4 years old and up to play the different roles of the Christmas account. There is a signup list in the Connection Center. We will record Saturday and Sunday afternoon, October 28-29. Sign up soon so we can begin assigning parts. Thanks!

     

     

  • Chi Alpha Vol. 63, No. 10

    School is back in session and we are resuming our normal Wednesday Night activities for Chi Alpha that started back up on September 13th. Paul Baugher will be leading those Bible Study sessions with a focus on how to study the Bible, importance of daily prayer and devotion time as well as how to share Christ with others.

    Paul and I are working on the Youth Calendar and planning upcoming events. One being an “After Football Game” party coming in October. This will be a focused effort on attracting students from Pattonville so we can introduce them to the Rafters on the 3rd floor with the hope that they would be interested in future Youth events and lead to them joining Chi Alpha. Stay tuned for more details.

    Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God! …” This verse would lead some to believe that we need to remain still which means not to move forward. However, if we as followers of Christ do not move then how can we follow? In the case of the servant who was given only one talent and buried it, the returning master was furious and called the servant wicked and lazy. To follow Christ is to MOVE forward in the activities Jesus is calling us to join Him. This is how we demonstrate that we trust Him.  What activity is Jesus asking you to move forward to?

     

  • A Word from Interim Pastor, Derald Harris Vol. 63, No. 9

    The Old Testament book of Haggai tells part of the story of rebuilding the

    Temple after the people returned to Jerusalem from exile. In Haggai’s day, the

    people were discouraged because things were not going as well as they

    expected. They saw the Temple that was currently being built and believed that

    it could never be as great and glorious as the Temple Solomon built.

    So, God spoke to His people through Haggai to bring them the courage they

    needed to complete God’s work. He opened their eyes to the reality of His glory

    which was to come.

    Haggai 2: 6-9 “For this is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little

    while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans, and the dry

    land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be

    brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the LORD of Heaven’s

    Armies. … The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory…

    And in this place I will bring peace. I, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have

    spoken!”

    What was God telling His people? THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

    God promises that the glory of this second Temple will eclipse the glory of

    Solomon’s Temple. How could that be? Very simple. This Temple would be

    visited some 500 years later by Jesus Himself. This would be the place God

    Himself would visit in the person of Jesus Christ. Solomon’s temple, for all its

    grandeur and glory, couldn’t make that claim.

    So, even though this small beginning of a temple didn’t look like much to the

    people, God has big plans for it in the future. God sees what Israel can’t see, so

    He gives them a glimpse of what’s to come.

    This glimpse was just enough to encourage them, just enough to fuel their faith

    to persevere.

    Too often, we compare Fee Fee Baptist Church today with the Fee Fee Baptist

    Church of yesterday (and this church has a LOT of yesterdays!). The enemy

    tempts us to think that the best days of this church are behind us. But as I look at

    FFBC through the perspective of what God is doing and can do here, I see

    children and young people coming to know Christ and being baptized. I see our

    people ministering to the community around us in ways we would never have

    imagined just a few years ago. I see our people going around the world to share

    the Gospel. I see a growing ethnic diversity in our congregation. I see sparks of

    what God wants to do through us.

    God is telling us, “The best days for this church are ahead of us!” The Best Is Yet

    to Come!

     

     

  • Family Front Vol. 63, No. 9

    Well, summer is coming to an end…SIGH…but we are getting ready to jump into FALL! That means some very exciting things will be happening.

    AWANA starts back up for our 3 years ago to 5th graders, Wednesday, September 13  at 6:00pm. We start off the first Wednesday night with BEACH THEME NIGHT with water games so wear your swim attire and bring a towel. On Wednesday, September 20th, we will be powering up for our Food Pantry by bringing non-perishable items to help. This is our group’s participation the week of Impact Week.

    GEM: Girls Experiencing Missions is a new state-wide event for girls, 1st through 6th grades. This overnight event will be at Laclede Association Camp in Richland, MO, October 20-21. The theme is Shine Like Diamonds: Where is Your Mission Field. The girls will experience hands-on mission projects. Girls may enter 3-color designs that are theme-related, the deadline is by August 31. Winners of this contest will have their art displayed on the t-shirt, program cover, bookmark and banner. If your daughter is interested in going, the cost is $20 plus $10 for the t-shirt and T-shirt orders are due to me by Sunday, September 10. Registration includes 2 meals and all activities and the deadline is Sunday, October 1. They will also need money for a meal on the way there and on the way back as well as money to spend in the store. See me for more details.

    Our Trunk or Treat event is Sunday, October 29, 3:30-5pm on the parking lot. Be thinking how you want to be involved and how to decorate your ‘trunk’ as a bible story.

    If you are waiting for a sign from God that you are to be serving in Children’s Ministry, here is your sign:  Become a Children’s Ministry volunteer!

     

  • Chi Alpha Vol. 63, No. 9

     First off, I want to thank Joey Stewart for stepping up as our Summer Intern after the Youth Director departed. Joey filled the leadership void with maturity and fearlessness. Next, I’d like to do a shout out for Matt Easter as he has been leading the Sunday morning Bible Study by sharing in-depth knowledge of the 7 churches in Revelation.

    Paul Baugher has volunteered to lead the Wednesday night Chi Alpha activities with a focus on discipleship and how youth can develop their daily walk with Christ. This will include how to study the Bible, importance of daily prayer and devotion time as well as how to share Christ with others.

    As the Interim to the Interim Youth Leader, I will be leading the Sunday morning Bible Study time now that Matt has concluded his series in Revelation. My plan is to lead Chi Alpha with studying different books/characters of the Bible and play off what Paul Baugher is teaching on Wednesday nights. I plan to be in this role until we find our new Interim Youth Leader.

    Update on Interim Youth Leader search, as a member of the Personnel Committee I can tell you that this is our committee’s number 1 priority. We have contacted a few area church leaders who are now on the lookout for helping us find our new Interim Youth Leader. We also will be leveraging Matt Easter’s connections to the MoBap student body as we continue to search. However, that help will come once sometime after college  classes begins.

     

  • Heart of Worship Vol. 63, No. 9

    What are we looking at? Today, we’re going to talk about what we choose to focus on. Let’s look at Matthew 14:22-33.

    Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. After dismissing the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Well into the night, He was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning.

     When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear. Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped Him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

    Peter was ready to walk out on the water, and did what Jesus said to do. However, the Bible says, “when he (Peter) saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and began to sink…” How often do we believe in faith that the Lord will do something in our lives, only to look at our circumstances and then shrink back? The Bible continues and says, “Then those in the boat worshiped Him and said, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”

    Our worship breaks through unbelief. When we take our eyes off of who we are and focus on who God is, THAT’S when our faith breaks through!

     

  • Announcements Vol. 63, No. 9

    Redemption Ranch Celebration

    Our church has had so much fun with our yearly trip to Redemption Ranch in Winfield, MO that we are heading back! On Sunday, September 24th we will celebrate with

    worship, lunch, and fun activities the whole family will enjoy!

    Worship will start at 11 AM on the amphitheater stage, so don’t be late! There will be no Sunday morning activities in the Fee Fee building that day.  We will have 28 spots on the church shuttles if a ride is needed, and sign-ups are in the connection center.  Seats are available on a first come first served basis.

    The church will provide the meat for lunch, but we are asking every family to bring a side dish (last name beginning with A-L), or dessert (last name beginning M-Z).  Please sign up in the connection center so we can accurately plan for those who will be attending.   There are no chairs in the amphitheater area, so bring a lawn chair or

    blanket to sit on for the worship service. Be prepared for the weather that day and bring hats or umbrellas if needed. Lunch will be under a pavilion with table and chairs

    available. After lunch there will be swimming, games, and lots of fun fellowship time to enjoy this beautiful place!  More information can be found at feefeebc.org/theranch

    or on our Fee Fee App.  We hope you’ll join us!

    Saturate USA

    During Impact week, we are participating in a God-sized nationwide vision to put evangelistic materials into the hands of every household in the U.S.

    Every person can help in some way. We need to stuff bags with information about our church, a Jesus DVD, and all kinds of evangelistic materials. We will also need people to go door to door to hang them on the doors of every house in Bridgeton. Hope you will plan on helping in some way from September 17th through 23rd.

    WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

    Starts back up Sept. 13th

    6:00 p.m.

    AWANA

    Youth Small Group

    Women’s Bible Study

    Adult Bible Study & Prayer Meeting

    Mobile Market

    Our partnership with the St. Louis Area Foodbank has a few more months left of  this  year. Upcoming dates are:

    • Sept 11
    • Oct 9
    • Nov 13

    Anyone is welcome to come get groceries on the second Monday of each month, at 10:00 a.m. (until the food runs out). If you would like to volunteer for this ministry, talk to Kathy Webber and she will make sure you have a spot to serve!

         The International Pantry

    The things we are collecting for all of September is after-school healthy snacks and dinner side dishes like rice mixes, hamburger or tuna helper and canned vegetables.

    The Remnants Revived

    If you like to work with fabric, please join us in Room 217 beginning September 14. We will be meet every month on the 2nd Thursday from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Also, the 4th Thursday each month from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

    Fee Fee Mailboxes

    Don’t forget to stop by the Connection Center the next time you are at church and check your mail box!

    If you would like an updated directory please call the office.