Fee Fee Baptist Church

Category: Forerunner

This category contains everything pertaining to the Forerunner.

  • Announcements – Vol. 60, No. 17

    Sympathy

    Our love through Christian sympathy is extended to

    …Jeannette Chaffin and family on the passing of her husband, Ed (Bud) Chaffin, on May 26.

    Fee Fee Cemetery Now Hiring

    Fee Fee Cemetery is hiring a Cemetery Manager position. The Cemetery Manager is the primary point of contact, performing coordination and administrative tasks, along with some light/moderate physical work. This is a permanent, part-time position with the ability to work remotely some of the time. Work schedule will vary based on need and circumstances. If interested, contact (314) 739-2415.

     

  • Bible Study Corner – Vol. 60, No. 17

    Thanks to each and every one of our teachers who have found a way to continue Bible Study. We have had several requests for meeting in person so we will roll out this option on Sunday, September 6 at 9:45–10:45 a.m. While this is not meant to replace your existing Sunday School class, it is an option for those who would like to attend a Bible Study in person at this time.

    The Options are as follows:

    • Dave and Donna Potts will be leading a study in the Dining Room using the dated Lifeway Curriculum – “Through the Bible.”
    • Doug Monasmith will be leading a study on the book of Genesis in the Chapel.
    • Gloria Fox will be taking “A Fresh Look at Jesus,” by seeing His life from a Jewish perspective in the Fellowship Hall.

    Again, these are in-person studies for a limited time at the church and are not meant to replace your current Bible Study class that is on Zoom or some other method. Due to limited capacities, reserve your spot by signing up for classes on our website.

    In addition, in-person Men’s and Women’s Bible studies will begin on Wednesday, September 9 from 6:00–7:00 p.m.

    Women’s Bible study will be resuming the Beth Moore study of the Patriarchs beginning with Jacob. Men’s Fraternity will be continuing with their study.

    Children will also be meeting on Wednesday from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Kathy will provide more details to our families on what the children’s hour will encompass.

    Looking forward to seeing you in Bible Study, even if it is in an abbreviated way.

  • Bible Study Corner – Vol. 60, No. 16

    We still are mostly meeting virtually for Bible Study. If you would like to join a virtual group, please contact gloria@feefeebc.org.

    We are in the process of trying to work out ways to meet again on Sunday mornings without violating the St. Louis County mandates. Updates to come soon. In the meantime, hide His word in your heart! You will be blessed.

  • Announcements – Vol. 60, No. 16

    150th Anniversary of Fee Fee Baptist Chapel

    The Sesquicentennial of the Fee Fee Baptist Church Memorial Chapel will be celebrated on Saturday, August 15 at 2:00 p.m. There will be a short presentation highlighting the history that made this momentous event possible, followed by a discussion.

    The building was a rustic country church for many years, but as time went by, the area transitioned from rural to suburban, and the building acquired electric lights and indoor plumbing. Additional improvements were made over the years, becoming what it is today.

    Come join us as we review the history of the building and the community.

    Mobile Food Market

    We love our partnership with the St. Louis Area Food Bank to get free groceries into the hands of families in our community. The next Mobile Market Mondays will be on August 24, at 10:00 a.m. until noon in the church parking lot. If you know of families or individuals in need of groceries, please tell them about the Mobile Market! To volunteer, contact Andrew,  andrew@feefeebc.org.

    Fee Fee Cemetery Now Hiring

    Fee Fee Cemetery is hiring a Cemetery Manager position. The Cemetery Manager is the primary point of contact, performing coordination and administrative tasks, along with some light/moderate physical work. This is a permanent, part-time position with the ability to work remotely some of the time. Work schedule will vary based on need and circumstances. If interested, contact (314) 739-2415.

    Back to School!

    Dates that a few of our local schools will begin classes for the 2020-2021 school year:

    Pattonville — August 31

    Ritenour — August 24

    Francis Howell — August 24

    Refer to your school’s website for more info regarding back to school details.

     

  • Featured Article – Vol. 60, No. 16

    by Nina Palumbo, Clinical Social Worker certified in Spiritual Christian Counseling

    God is Our Hope

    Four months ago, social distancing, wearing face masks, and Zoom meetings were not part of our everyday lives. An invisible virus has increased our anxiety and fear that we may become sick or lose a loved one. Worry creeps in as our time of isolation and physical separateness extends far longer than we wish for or desire. Our mostly predictable lives with established routines have been completely upended. We are dealing with a new set of rules, limitations, and change. We crave security and want to feel safe and to feel that we have a sense of control over our lives. How much uncertainty we can tolerate varies from person to person. Some people seem to enjoy taking risks and living unpredictable lives while others find the randomness of life deeply distressing. But all of us have a limit. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the emotional toll of the pandemic right now, you are not alone. Many of us are in the same boat.

    In Mark 4:35-41, we read about the disciples becoming fearful of the storm while Jesus slept peacefully in the boat. They awake Him and with the spoken word Jesus calms the storm and His disciples’ fear. When we are afraid, worried, or panicked, and feel are choices are restricted or limited, there are three important choices we can make.

    We Can Choose Faith Over Fear

    Although it may feel like everything is changing at a rapid pace, know that God is not. He is the same faithful God as before the pandemic and will continue to be once it passes. Our faith can be steady because our God is faithfully unchanging. This truth alone can strengthen us to not give into fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Fear can rob us of these three gifts that we need during times of uncertainty. Power enables us to live a life of faith when it is not easy. Love enables us to share and sacrifice when it is not convenient. A sound mind allows us to experience peace even when things seem to be going wrong.

    Choose Wisdom Over Worry

    Be careful to not become paralyzed by worry. Use wisdom to listen to sound advice and to ensure that the source of information you are watching and reading are credible. If there is an action you can take to protect yourself or others, then please do so.

    Choose Prayer Over Panic

    Jesus called His church a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13) and now is our time. It’s time to pray for God’s intervention to stop the spread of the disease. It is time to ask for healing. It is time to ask for peace and comfort for those who are grieving. It is time for us to ask for direction and discernment for our leaders. Prayer is powerful and effective. If we spend our time panicking instead of praying, we forfeit our greatest strength.

    This would be a great time to begin reading the Bible every day, conforming your thoughts to God’s will (Romans, 12:2). This would be a great time to pray every day for 5-20 minutes, “casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you,” (1 Peter 5:7). This would be a great time to choose to forgive someone in your life, so that you might experience a better relationship with God (Mark 11:25). God is our hope for the end of this pandemic. God is our hope for our spiritual, emotional, financial, and physical needs during this time. Do not despair. During isolation from friends and family, we can still experience joy when we turn to God. “For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence,” Psalm 21:6.

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 60, No. 16

    Who’s your one?

    It’s an interesting question, isn’t it? What are we talking about when we ask that question? The Great Commission. Evangelism. Sharing your faith. Imagine if every member of our church could answer that question, “Who’s your one?” with the name of a person—a person for whom they’re praying and with whom they’re sharing the Gospel. How would it change our church? How would it change the world?

    Matthew 28:19-20 is very clear on what our responsibility is as believers. We are supposed to make disciples! Our mission is to be witnesses. To be ambassadors. To share the hope of the Gospel with a lost and dying world.

    I’m convinced that God’s people don’t merely need another method for evangelism. What we need is a white-hot passion to see people who are far from God experience the new life He offers through Jesus Christ. Everything else we do pales in comparison to evangelism. If we’re not intent on doing everything so that lost men, women, and children will experience the transforming work of God, we are missing the point of the Great Commission. Without a focus on evangelism, we fail.

    That’s why we’re launching this “Who’s Your One?” initiative. This effort is designed to mobilize every member of Fee Fee Baptist Church to identify one person in his or her relational network to pray for and share the Gospel with in 2020.

    Sometimes, in church, we have the tendency to talk about how we need to share our faith more than we actually go and do it. That is why we are asking every person to participate in this initiative. Grab a “Who’s Your One?” bookmark and write in the name of one person for which you are going to share the Gospel. In addition, we have prayer journals available online to download or in our Welcome Center that will give you ways to pray for your “one” every day.

    It’s not an elaborate or complicated idea, but this simple idea could lead to revival! What would happen if each of us had one person that we were intentional about sharing the Gospel with over the next five weeks? As we launch this “Who’s Your One?” campaign, we are praying for God to use each of us to reach those who are lost in our relational networks.

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

  • Community Connection – Vol. 60, No. 16

    Thank you for making an Impact!

    Thank you to everyone that participated in making an impact in our community during Impact Week! You were definitely a blessing.  We were able to provide needed improvements to a neighbor’s house. We packaged food at St. Louis Area Foodbank that will bless hundreds of people in the area. We wrote cards to encourage people. We did yard work at a local homeless shelter. We provided groceries for a neighbor. We prepared dinner for a homeless shelter. Thank you for being willing to sacrifice to share the message of God’s love with those around us!

    Swim Night Rescheduled – Friday, August 21

    Our Swim Night has been tentatively rescheduled for Friday, August 21. We will continue to monitor the progress of restrictions by the county and make appropriate changes if necessary. Ready to get out of the house? Want a fun night of swimming for you and your family? Then join us Friday night, August 21 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Bridgeton Pool (4201 Fee Fee Rd.) for our annual Swim Night. Swimming is FREE for everyone! So bring your family and friends to this fun night. You can read about the steps that the Bridgeton Pool is taking to stay safe during COVID concerns on their website.

  • Music Musings – Vol. 60, No. 16

    Hymn Caroling Project

    What a joy for our Friendship Choir to pay visits this past Sunday to some of our folks who have been staying in during these months of isolation during the pandemic. We did some “hymn caroling” safely distancing as we shared favorite hymns. It was great to see members we dearly love and have been missing! On Sunday we spread hymns of cheer in the St. Peters/St. Charles area and we look forward to “caroling” this week for folks in Bridgeton, Maryland Heights, St. Ann, and St. Louis. Feeling BLESSED!!!

    Music’s Effective Ministry

    God had His hand on this young man whose music not only would fill the heart of a depressed king, but also would someday fill His written word.

    “Provide a man,” Saul says. “I don’t care who it is. Bring him to me.”

    David was the man. With his primitive stringed instrument, he walked bravely into that dark place where Saul was living. Somehow his music unleashed the caged feelings inside this tormented man and soothed the savage beast within. Saul was relieved. The evil presence departed. God used the gift of music to put David into the very presence of the king. The king not only found relief from his depression, but he found love in his heart for the young shepherd boy whose music touched his soul.

    Be a singing saint. Never mind how beautiful or less beautiful you may sound. Sing loud enough to drown out those defeating thoughts that normally clamor for attention. Release yourself from that cage of reluctance. Sing out! You’re not auditioning for the Metropolitan Opera. You’re making melody with your heart to the Lord your God.

    Soft music for a hard heart is what David provided for Saul. That’s the music that Christ our Savior provides for us.  He is our Shepherd and we are His sheep. We need the music of His voice. His power can give us life free from depression and despair.

  • Devotional Corner – Vol. 60, No. 16

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

    “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior,” Habakkuk 3:17-18.

    Observe what a disastrous situation is being described in this passage and to notice how courageous is the faith that is expressed. It is as if the writer were actually saying, “Even if I am forced to undergo the extreme condition of not knowing where to find my next meal, and although my house is empty and my fields yield no crops and I see the evidence of divine pestilence where I once saw the fruit of God’s plentiful provision, ‘yet I will rejoice in the LORD.’”

    These words are worthy of being written forever in stone with a diamond tool. Oh, by God’s grace, may they be deeply etched on the tablets of each of our hearts! Although concise, this verse implies or expresses the following thoughts of the writer: that in his time of distress he would flee to God; that he would maintain his spiritual composure under the darkest of circumstances; and that in the midst of everything, he would delight himself with a sacred joy in God and have cheerful expectations of Him.—Phillip Doddridge

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 16

    Adult VBS

    I’m so glad some of you came to join me for Adult VBS. What a rich new perspective we now have of Jesus. We had a great study and some awesome fellowship. We even went out to lunch together a few days.

    Upcoming Activities

    Speaking of going out to lunch, I am going to start offering some activities. Transportation will not be provided but we can drive ourselves and/or carpool. I know that many of you will not feel safe yet in joining in activities but for those of you who are, stay tuned for some opportunities. We might start with an in-house movie or games in the Dining Room and venture out from there.

    Impact Week

    As I am writing this, we are in the middle of Impact Week. Many of you have volunteered to serve at the St. Louis Area Foodbank or will having a table at the Free Market. Many of you have given money for the purchase of school supplies. Whatever you have been willing to do, it is much appreciated. Jesus expects us to feed the hungry, clothe the needy, visit the sick and isolated. We bring glory to His name when we are obedient to what we know He expects us to do.

    In Matthew 25:35-36, when Jesus tells the sheep that we fed and clothed and visited Him and the people respond, when did we do these things, His response is in vs 40: “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me.’”

    Thanks for doing what you can! It is appreciated and seen by the One who has called you to this life.