Fee Fee Baptist Church

Category: Forerunner

This category contains everything pertaining to the Forerunner.

  • Music Musings – Vol. 62, No. 1

    Happy New Year!!!

    Here we are in 2022 – new beginnings, new expectations and here is a new PLAYLIST!

    I really thought I would put a list together of the BEST of 2021, but that really isn’t as easy as it sounds. So, I have for you as always, a highly varied list containing music of different genres. Mostly the music is representative of recent times, but there are also some selections that offer insights into emerging styles and some lesser-known artists. So here goes:

    Together – for KING & COUNTRY (feat. Kirk Franklin and Tori Kelly) – Contemporary. (It is interesting to note that this project was filmed when everyone was in quarantine and being filmed from their individual homes. This project won a Billboard Music Award).

    Farther Along – The Petersons (Live) – Bluegrass Gospel

    Shepherd of My Soul – Rivers and Robots – Indie Folk

    Brethren, We Have Met to Worship– David Phelps – Prelude from Hymnal Project. (Do I have to tell you this is my favorite!?).

    Yes, He Can – CAIN – Contemporary

    Believe for it – CeCe Williams (Live) – Gospel

    Messengers – Lecrae ft. for KING & COUNTRY – Christian Rap

    Old Church Basement – Elevation Worship and Maverick City

    Old Church Choir – Zach Williams

    Walk On – The Isaacs – Bluegrass Gospel

    There you have it. A little something for everyone! You can listen to the playlist here: https://bit.ly/3EXNcBN  – Enjoy!

  • Prime Time – Vol. 62, No. 1

    Happy New Year! Hope you haven’t broken too many of your resolutions yet. I would like to challenge all of you to read the book of Joshua with the entire church. We are only reading one chapter each day, and this will help you to develop the spiritual discipline of reading the Bible every day. It will change your day and your life If you want accountability, contact me about joining a T-group. You will be assigned a day each week to share what the LORD showed you while reading that day’s assigned chapter and then get to hear what your other group members gleaned from their assigned passages. Some of us have been doing this for over a year and love connecting with our group each day through the Marco Polo app on our phone.

    We have made plans for some fun activities for the first quarter of 2022. With the latest Covid surge, we might need to be flexible with these plans, but please add these to your calendar.

    Wednesday, January 12, 11:00 a.m. Sight and Sound Production of Ruth and sandwiches and dessert for lunch. Cost is $6.
    Thursday, January 27, 10:00 a.m. Field House Museum and Zia’s.  Cost is $10 for museum plus your lunch.
    Friday, February 11, 10:00 a.m. Tour of Meramec Caverns and Lunch.  Cost is $24 for tour plus lunch.
    Wednesday, February 23, 11:00 a.m. Chili/soup lunch and movie, American Underdog (if available). Cost is $6 for lunch.
    Friday, March 11, 9:00 a.m. Warm Springs Ranch – home of the Clydesdales – tour and lunch.  Cost TBD.
    Monday, March 28, 10:00 a.m. Scott Joplin House and lunch.  Cost $6 plus lunch.

    I look forward to seeing each of you in this new year.

  • Devotional Corner – Vol. 62, No. 1

    Taken from Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby’s “Experiencing God Day By Day”

    “Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power, that works in us,” (Ephesians 3:20)

    At times we feel as if we could impress God with all we are trying to do for Him and His church. Yet God has yet to be impressed with even the most grandiose human aspirations (Ps. 8:3-4). You will never set a goal so big or attempt a task so significant that God does not have something far greater that He could do in and through your life. Saul of Tarsus worked harder than anyone else to impress God with his efforts, only to discover that his greatest achievements were but rubbish compared to God’s will for his life (Phil. 3:7-8).

    Our problem is that we become too easily enamored with our own plans. If we are attempting to do noble or difficult things, we assume that we must be experiencing the maximum potential for our lives and that God must, therefore, be pleased with us. Until we have heard from God, we cannot even imagine all that our lives could become or all that God could accomplish through us.

    We need to remind ourselves that the Father sees the “big picture,” that His power far exceeds our limited imagination. We must set aside our own agenda, however lofty. We must never become satisfied with our own dreams, for they are finite at best. When we follow God’s direction, we will witness things happening in our lives that can only be explained by His powerful presence.

  • Bible Study Corner – Vol. 62, No. 1

    This is a great time to join a Transformation Group (T-Group).  When we read through scripture together as a church, a T-Group takes this one step further. Through the Marco Polo smartphone video app, you will be assigned one weekday to share what God has shown you in that day’s chapter. Each of the individuals in a group will only be responsible for one assigned day each week, and then will listen to what the other group members noticed on their assigned day. You can comment on their video post, but you do not have to. About 50-60 people did this all of last year. If you would like to ask someone about their experience, please let me know and I will connect you with someone in an ongoing T-group. Please contact gloria@feefeebc.org for more information.

    We have ongoing Bible Study groups gathering each Sunday morning at 9:45 a.m. Let me know if you would like to join one and we will find you a good fit!

    All Wednesday night Bible Studies will resume on January 12 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Please note that we have extended the time from 7:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We have men’s, women’s, youth, and AWANA, so there is definitely a place for you!

  • Chi Alpha News – Vol. 62, No. 1

    The “Big Game” Watch Party

    On Sunday, February 13, let’s get together and watch football’s two best teams (hopefully the Packers…GO PACK GO!!) duke it out in the final game of the season. The Big Game kicks off at 5:30 p.m., so meet in the Rafters that night at 5! No party is complete without food, so a massive sub sandwich will and drinks will be provided, but families should bring a side dish or a dessert to share! Sign up your family in the Rafters, or by messaging Kyle at kyle@feefeebc.org! Hope to see you all there!

    DNOW Update

    DNOW is officially scheduled for April 1-3, so make sure you mark your calendars! More details about this weekend will be revealed in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

  • Family Front – Vol. 61, No. 25

    Cute Christmas Activity

    Wow, this year has gone so fast! I’m excited to see what the new year brings! In the meantime, let’s see what your ELF name is:

    Use the first letter of your first name for your ELF first name:

    A – Perky H – Tootsie O – Elfie V – Happy
    B – Nipper I – Kringle P – Jingle W – Festive
    C – Glitzy J – Pudding Q – Kringle X– Evergreen
    D – Happy K – Cookie R – Speedy Y – Pinky
    E – Squeezy L – Tinker S – Candy Cane Z – Jolly
    F – Tiny M – Pixie T – Sugarplum
    G – Stampy N – Buddy U – Twinkle

     

    Use your birth month for your ELF last name:

    Jan – Angel-Eyes Jul – Festive-Fingers
    Feb – Floppy-Feet Aug – Sugar-Socks
    Mar – Tinsel-Shoes Sept – Pickle-Pants
    Apr – Pointy-Ears Oct – Sparkly-Nose
    May – Snow-Bum Nov – McJingles
    June – Glitter-Balls Dec – Twinkle-Toes

    What’s your Elf Name? _____________

    What’s new in 2022?

    Starting Wednesday, January 12, AWANA will meet from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.. We look forward to having the kids a bit longer and not rushing through our time together. On that night, please bring school supplies to help teachers at Drummond Elementary replenish their school supplies for the new year. Men’s and Women’s Bible Studies will also meet until 7:30 p.m.

    Family Nerf Games

    January 29, 2022 is our next Family NERF GAMES! Bring your own Nerf guns and darts and we will have a great time! Invite your family and friends!

    This Christmas Season

    As you celebrate this season, buying gifts for loved ones, what do you think would be the greatest gift you could give? The newest video game? A gift card for a high-end retail store? A trip to the Caribbean? The most needed gift today, since the beginning of time, is PEACE. Micah 5:4-5 says: “He shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.” Isn’t it comforting to know that our peace is right here, right now in the form of a little baby who was born in a lowly stable? So, today, say “GLORY TO GOD in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” I pray that you will experience that peace with God this Christmas.

  • Chi Alpha News – Vol. 61, No. 25

    BIG CHILL!

    Big Chill returns on January 14-15, 9:00p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Our annual all-nighter is packed full of fun, which will include a worship concert, trip to The Edge 618, dodgeball, video games, movies, 9-Square, open gym time, and all the junk food a teenager could want! Don’t let your student miss out on one of our biggest events of the year. Big Chill is $15/person plus students need to bring a snack and drink to share. See you all there and invite your friends!

    2021 Year in Review

    It always brings me joy to reflect on all that happened over the past year. 2021 started a lot like how 2020 ended: pretty bleak, not many answers with Covid, but people trying to stay optimistic. Encouragingly, our students pushed through and showed a resiliency that makes me so proud. Continuing with condensed, weekly Bible Studies (online and in person), slowly but surely, students started coming back. Because of Covid, we had to cancel many of our big events in late 2020 and early 2021, which was tough for our students. Once we were able, we decided to just do everything ALL AT ONE TIME! We threw together all our biggest events we normally do throughout the year and made this a summer to remember. From Summer Blast to our Minneapolis Mission Trip, DNOW, Mini Golf Night, and Chi Alpha Summers…we accomplished so much this summer. Our students were able to recapture a sense of normalcy many of us have been missing out on the last two years. Much of this would not have been possible without our amazing Summer Intern, Sarah Baker, who completed her final summer with us this year, since she will be graduating college this month. Her heart for the Lord and our students is amazing, and it has been a blessing to work alongside her these last three years.

    Looking forward to 2022, my prayer is we don’t forget what we have come from. These last two years have shaped many of us in ways we didn’t know was possible, and our students have learned tough lessons through it all, but I truly believe they have come out of this stronger. I can’t wait to see how God uses our Student Ministry in the coming year and what is in store for our students! We are planning some great things, and I know God will provide! Thank you for supporting our Student Ministry at Fee Fee!

  • Devotional Corner – Vol. 61, No. 25

    Taken from Wycliffe Bible Translators Devotional, “The Weary World Rejoices”

    “Upon seeing this miraculous sign, the shepherds recounted what had just happened. Everyone who heard the shepherds’ story was astonished by what they were told,” (Luke 2:17-18 TPT).

    Imagine being on a remote beach in the middle of the night. Walking along the soft, cool sand of the beach, your eyes might need time to adjust to the darkness around you. But then you look at the sky and stand in awe, mesmerized by the beauty and clarity of the numerous stars. Because there’s no artificial light to detract from them, these stars seem brighter and clearer than you’ve ever seen them. Sometimes it takes being in total darkness to see the light that’s been around us the whole time. What had been distant is now startlingly clear.

    Now imagine the shepherds standing in total darkness the night that the angel came to them. They were probably yawning, scanning the dark horizon for predators that could attack their flocks. Their eyes, too, had adjusted to pitch blackness with only the night sky as their source of light. Scripture says that when an angel appeared, “the glory of the Lord shone around [the shepherds]” (Lk. 2:9b). Instantly, the shepherds were terrified. Between the angels themselves and the brilliant light of God’s glory, it’s understandable.

    Typically, these “unclean” outcasts were kept away from society, but now they were suddenly in the spotlight. They were seen. They probably never expected the news of the Messiah’s birth to come to them. Or that God would use shepherds to declare the arrival of the Lamb of God. God spoke to unlikely people. To a lowly virgin girl. To her tradesman betrothed. To untouchable shepherds. These unlikely people were to become His messengers in the most unexpected ways. Years later, more unlikely people of that time—women—were chosen to deliver the news that Jesus had been resurrected. You might feel like an unlikely candidate, but God can use you to declare the Savior this Christmas season! He can use you to bring light that breaks through a weary, dark world.

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 61, No. 25

    Church Family,

    Do you ever read a headline that makes you do a double take? I’ll be honest, when I first saw the headline “Empty Pews are an American Health Crisis,” I thought it was clickbait. And yet, as I dug into the article, I was absolutely shocked with its contents. Two Harvard professors – one a professor of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health and the other the associate director of research of the Human Flourishing Program – have done extensive quantitative research that shows the incredible benefit to our physical health when we regularly attend church.

    The statistics are astonishing. When comparing regular attenders of religious services to non-attenders, there are:

    • 33% reduced risk of death
    • 84% reduced risk of suicide
    • 29% reduced risk of depression
    • 50% reduced risk of divorce
    • 68% reduced risk of “deaths of despair” for women
    • 33% reduced risk of “deaths of despair” for men
    • 33% reduced risk of adolescent illegal drug use
    • 12% reduced risk of adolescent depression1

    There is something incredibly powerful about gathering together as a local body of believers. There is a benefit not just for your spiritual health, but your physical and mental health as well! I want to encourage you to stay engaged, or reengage, with the church in 2022. God designed us to flourish when we are in community with one another!

    These researchers, Vanderweele and Case, argue that attending religious services help provide a network of social support, offer clear moral guidance, and create relationships of accountability to reinforce positive behaviors. These are all factors that help improve a person’s mental and physical well-being.

    This article was a powerful reminder to me that we need to be in community with one another. Many times, people set goals for the new year about how they want to be healthier. Consider this article and share with friends and family how one legitimate way to get healthier is to go to church!

    We have some great opportunities to invite people in the next few weeks. Our NOEL Christmas Performance or our Christmas Eve service are ideal opportunities. People are more likely to attend a religious service around Christmas than almost any other time. Invite someone to come with you!

    I can’t wait to celebrate Christmas with you, church family! Let’s pray God moves in a big way!

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

     

    1https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/november/church-empty-pews-are-american-public-health-crisis.html

  • Bible Study Corner – Vol. 61, No. 25

    Bible Study classes will not meet on Sunday, December 26 at 9:45 a.m. We will all be celebrating together in one service at 11:00 a.m. Men’s and Women’s Wednesday Night Bible Studies will resume on January 12 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.