Fee Fee Baptist Church

Category: Forerunner

This category contains everything pertaining to the Forerunner.

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 25

    Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! As we quickly approach the new year, I want to encourage you to join me in a challenge. Beginning January 4, the entire church family will begin reading the entire New Testament by reading about three chapters a day using the Grounded reading plan. You can find this plan online but if you do not have a computer or a smart phone, we will have copies available in the Welcome Center.

    Our emphasis for 2021 is on discipleship and there is no better way to become more grounded than engaging with Scripture five times per week.

    I am personally challenging each one of you to sign up for our Marco Polo groups, which is a virtual mini discussion group, that will talk about what you read in Scripture Monday through Friday. All you need to do a Marco Polo group is a smart phone. I know that many of you have already stopped reading because you think this is too hard. Please take a minute to talk to a staff member or a deacon, like Bob Foster or Bob Nowlin, about their experience with Marco Polo.  I think they can convince you otherwise. All you have to do is download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play and we will give you instructions of what to do next.

    Consider stretching yourself this year and become a faithful disciple of Jesus!

  • Chi Alpha News – Vol. 60, No. 25

    A year in review? Huh…that honestly seems kind of strange to write about this year, given the circumstances. 2020 has been quite the whirlwind, and not always in the most positive way. This year just seems to be so clouded by the negatives in the world. We are still in the middle of a pandemic. Our church has been struck by this, infecting our members, staff, and we mourn those who we lost along the way. We have seen the unjust deaths of black men and women this year come to center stage as racial division in our country is more prevalent then ever before. Our country recently held one of the most important elections in date, and we see that our country is more divided than it ever has been. Many people today are exuberant about the results and many people are worried and scared about what the future holds. We had to cancel holidays, birthdays, graduations, weddings, and may other events; things that we look forward to in anticipation.

    So, what hope do we have going forward? What happened this year that we can cling to in positivity? Well let’s rewind to January. We held our annual Big Chill event, and it was one of our biggest in recent years. Not only did we get to play awesome games like Demolition Ball, Laser Tag, and Underground Church, but we put on a massive concert led by myself and some college students from Missouri Baptist, and 60+ students got to bring in the New Year by worshipping our Savior. In March we held our biggest DNOW weekend to date by partnering with Chesterfield Community Church and Hazelwood Baptist Church. Leon Douglas brought us the word through the story of the Prodigal Son, and the Spirit moved and won the battle, because two students that weekend dedicated their lives to Christ! Finally, while we were shut down, we had to do ministry a little different. Through our Mission Mondays, students got to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus in our community. And they got to heavily involved with our Rafters renovation project.

    What hope do we have going forward? There is a new life in the Rafters. Not just because of the fresh paint on the walls, or the new logo, or fancy lights…there is a new direction. Our new mission statement of “Real Community, Real Purpose, Real God” will be the forefront of all that we do in ministry moving forward. I can’t wait to dive deeper into what that looks like in 2021 and see how God will provide for us going forward.

    We live in a broken world, and it is easy to get lost in the distractions of what that looks like. However, we serve a real and living God. He has not left us, and He will walk through the storms with us. I leave you with this, 1 Corinthians 10:13 (GNT) says, “Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps His promise, and He will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, He will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.”

  • Music Musings – Vol. 60, No. 25

    Thanks to all!

    By the time you are reading this we will have celebrated with our 2020 Christmas program. There are so many to thank.  From the participants in our virtual Christmas choir to our live singers and instrumentalists, our technicians, our children’s Nativity producers, ushers and greeters. There are far too many to list in one short article!  However, I must give a special thank you to Andrea Jennings who patiently and cheerfully recorded many of our virtual choir singers. Our children’s Nativity “mini-movie” was a product of creative persons like Vance Stewart and Justin Flack, assisted by Dann Webber. It really blows me away to think about the technical talent it takes to do a virtual production!

    It takes many and varied talents to do anything of significance, including even a scaled back Christmas performance. Thanks to each and every one!

    The Joy of Music

    “David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals,” (1 Chronicles 15:18).

    Throughout all the seasons of our lives – childhood, teens and on – music is a part of our existence. Certain songs bring back memories. We remember times when music helped us and blessed us through hard times and good times. To try and explain music is nearly impossible. Music is not meant to be explained, but rather experienced.

    There are times that music can express what we feel when words fail us. Music is poetry put to rhythm. It is rhyme put to a steady beat. It is a power that moves and stirs the soul. It is a gift from God.

    Has music ever been therapeutic for you? Has it ever lifted your spirits? Indeed, it can lift us when we are down and bring healing to a wounded spirit. Music can enable us to lift our voices to God in praise and worship. Music is one of God’s greatest gifts. Lift your soul with music. Let it carry your thanks and praise to God in times of joy and sorrow.

  • Devotional Corner – Vol. 60, No. 25

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

    “Forgetting the things which are behind,” (Phil. 3:13).

    “Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee,” (Deut. 8:2).

    Forgetting ills behind me, the sorrows past and gone,

    Forgetting all my wanderings, too sad to dwell upon,

    Remembering God’s great goodness, in times of stress and strain,

    Remembering His restorings, I praise my God again.

    We stand together at the gateway of another year. It may be a year of many blessed experiences. Follow Him who goes before—the One who went before His people of old—a guiding light, a constant protection, an unfailing Friend and Counselor, and almighty Saviour.

    When shadows deepen, and fear rides on the moaning wind; when sorrow comes, and we wander in this misty vale of grief; when joy beckons, and our way is sunlit—”remember” His past leading and know that all is well. When spectres rise hauntingly from the past, when old heartaches and sorrows seem to weigh us down and blot out the sunshine forget “those things which are behind,” and reach forward to the joys before us. Paul says, “I press toward the mark” — here there is urgency, and nothing must be allowed to hamper the runner’s progress.

    We make our own hindrances many times—our Master has done all He can do to free us from every weight, giving us forgiveness for the past, help in the present, and assurance for the future. So as we face the coming days of a new year, knowing that each one brings our Master’s return nearer, let us “lay aside every weight…and press toward the mark,” with singleness of heart “looking unto Jesus.”

     Forgetting all my doubtings, which dimmed faith’s vision bright,

    Forgetting all the earth-clouds, the darkness, gloom and night,

    Remembering God’s bright sunshine, and radiance of His face,

    Remembering His long patience, I praise my God for grace.

     

    Forgetting all unkindness which friends and foes have shown,

    Forgetting and forgiving the wrongs that I have known,

    Remembering God provided, unsought, each faithful friend,

    Remembering love’s devotion, I’ll praise Him to the end.

     

    Forgetting my repinings when disappointments came,

    Forgetting all the murmurings, which filled my soul with shame,

    Remembering God was ever true to His Holy Word,

    Remembering He was faithful, I praise my sovereign Lord.  —A.G.

  • Bible Study Corner – Vol. 60, No. 25

    All virtual Bible Studies will resume in January. Please contact Gloria gloria@feefeebc.org, if you want to get connected. We also plan to also resume some in person studies. Stay tuned!

  • Community Connection – Vol. 60, No. 25

    New Year’s Resolutions

    I love getting to set New Year’s Resolutions. They give me some joy in the possibilities of good things to come in the next year. Will I achieve all of my resolutions? No. But will some good things happen because of my attempts towards these resolutions? Absolutely! For example, this past year I set a goal to read two books a month. As of writing this I’m only at 22 books. Just because I didn’t reach my goal of 24 doesn’t mean those 22 books were a waste. I count that as a win!

    So what resolutions are you setting for yourself this year? I have a suggestion: set a resolution that helps you “seek the good of our community for the glory of God.” That’s the last half of our mission statement. What is a resolution you could set for 2021 that involves you doing good for your community that brings glory to God? We have a lot of opportunities that you could volunteer here at church: providing food for Loaves and Fishes once a month, serving as a part of our Mobile Market team, giving more financially towards benevolence, or serving at our International Community Food Pantry. And it doesn’t have to be something organized through the church. Find a ministry or organization that you are passionate about and volunteer for them. We want Fee Fee to be known as a place that cares about our community and that happens when we will get out in our community and love people for God’s glory. So, what is a resolution you can set for 2021 that will “seek the good of our community for the glory of God?”

  • Announcements – Vol. 60, No. 25

    Sympathy

    Our love through Christian sympathy is extended to

    …Family and friends of Alan Enloe on his recent passing on December 12.

    …Sharon Maessen on the passing of her sister-in-law, Mabel Case, on December 26.

     

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 60, No. 25

    2021 is right around the corner. After what we have endured this year, I know many of us our ready to put 2020 in our rearview mirrors! With the new year coming, it is always a great time to set some goals for the new year. While we often talk about losing weight or exercising more, I’d love for you to consider what spiritual goals you would like to set for the next year.

    How would you like to have 228% higher odds of sharing your faith in 2021? How about having 231% better odds in discipling others? Or how about 407% better odds in memorizing Scripture this year?

    What if I told you that academic research has been done and has shown that those percentages to be true, based on one particular factor: reading Scripture at least four days a week!

    The Center for Bible Engagement (CBE) calls it the “power of 4.” The study they conducted found that reading your Bible at least four days a week increased your chances of sharing your faith and discipling others and memorizing Scripture by those incredible percentages!

    Also, when it comes to changing negative behaviors, reading Scripture at least four days a week made a huge difference as well. It lowered the odds of getting drunk (by 57%), sex outside of marriage (by 68%), pornography (by 61%), and gambling (by 74%).

    However, and this is key, they found there was NO statistical difference in behaviors between Christians who read or listen to the Bible two to three days a week and those who do not engage Scripture at all or only once a week. In other words, there is astronomical change at 4 days a week, but not much change at all if you read the Bible any less than that.

    This study is a reminder to all of us about the importance of reading God’s Word! It is going to be a major emphasis for our church in 2021. We are having a special initiative to kick off 2021. We are calling it Grounded: A Study through the New Testament. We have developed a reading plan where we will read through the New Testament together over 18 weeks. There will be daily readings every weekday (Monday-Friday), and the weekends will be a grace period where you can catch up on your reading. What better goal is there to set for 2021 than to read through the New Testament with your church?!

    We are committed to providing resources and accountability to help as we take this challenge together. We have a free digital devotion that goes along with the daily reading that we can send to you. We are starting virtual transformation groups where you can have accountability and share what God is teaching you. We are providing weekly family devotions so discipleship can happen easier in the home. I will be preaching through the New Testament as we read through it together as well.

    The key is engaging with Scripture at least 4 days a week. The studies show how that can revolutionize your spiritual life. Would you commit to joining with your church in doing that this year?

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • Family Front – Vol. 60, No. 25

    I hope you enjoyed using your Advent Boxes to lead your family in celebrating the true meaning of Christmas this year! Continue to enjoy and celebrate together the coming of our Lord, even into the new year!

    Make it a New Year’s resolution to have Family devotions.

    Why? It’s God’s Command (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Ephesians 6:4, and Proverbs 22:6). Beginning January 1, 2021, we will provide you with Grounded Family Devotions to help you with daily devotional time and to lead your family closer to Jesus. Grounded is a reading plan the whole church will be going through to read the New Testament in 90 days.

    But why wait? We all want to help our children to come to love and believe in the one True God. Setting time aside each day will show our children that God is the center and priority of our lives. If you need some devotional materials in the meantime, your child receives a devotion booklet each month. Preschoolers receive a page each week. Those are a good place to begin!

    Upcoming Kids’ Activities:

    Wednesdays: AWANA plans to start up again mid-January, with the hope that the virus does not escalate after Christmas. We will keep you updated.

    Sundays: Preschool care is provided for birth through Pre-K during 11:00 a.m. worship. Through at least January 3, elementary children will worship with their parents, as there will be no KidsZone; however, PraizPaks will be provided for both worship services. We hope to start preschool and children’s Bible study in January, as well as KidsZone.

    Wishing you a very blessed new year and praying we will ALL be able to join together again in person very soon for Bible Study and worship!

    “(Mary) is going to have a son. You must give Him the name Jesus. That is because He will save his people from their sins.  All of this took place to bring about what the Lord said would happen,” (Matthew 1:22).

    Isn’t it wonderful that we can trust and depend on what God says! What a great way to start the New Year!

  • Chi Alpha News – Vol. 60, No. 24

    Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all plan to have a wonderful time celebrating the holidays this year, but please remember to stay safe and be wise this season! I want you all to return back to us happy and healthy. Just a reminder, we are still having Sunday and Wednesday Bible Studies on Zoom over the holiday season. There are a couple days that we have off, so parents please check your schedules that were emailed to you after Thanksgiving. Stay tuned, because we will be announcing our return to in-person activities soon and we want you to be there for all of them! So until then, stay safe, finish your semesters strong, and have a very Merry Christmas!