Fee Fee Baptist Church

Category: Forerunner

This category contains everything pertaining to the Forerunner.

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 10

    By the time you read this, we will be in Phase 1 of reopening St. Louis County. Some of you will be cautiously peeping out your door and others will be bursting forth as if you have just been released from prison. However, you choose to approach this new season, remember to love and respect those who might have a different approach from yours. We will once again be walking through uncharted territory and will need to act in agape love to others, the kind of love that puts the needs and well-being of others before ours.

    One thing is certain, through all this, God has been faithful to His church. He has allowed us to minister to many in our community and to those within the church. Your generosity in sharing from your resources has made it possible to meet the needs of others.

    Today is my day at the office (Tuesday). Vance showed me how to access the door camera at the end of March. By April 1, I could neither use nor find that camera. If the doorbell rings, and I am the only one here, my non-technological response is to walk down the hall and see who is at the door.

    When it rang about an hour ago, there was a man about 50 years old on a bicycle. I went to the door to see what he needed. His name was George and he was from Texas. He and his wife’s van broke down and they are living at the Motel 6 on Dorsett. His son has mailed them their stimulus check, but it hasn’t arrived here yet. He has been trying to find odd jobs to pay for their motel until they get their checks and can get back to Texas. He needed $7 to be able to pay for his room tonight and asked if we had any chili for their dinner.  I gave him some microwavable food, breakfast bars, $7 and prayed with him. He thanked Jesus for providing.

    There are more “Georges” all around you. While I have been typing this article, I had a phone call from a woman asking for info about our Mobile Market on May 18. God is using His church to help those in need. Keep your eyes open. Look for opportunities to help. Some needs are physical, some emotional, and some spiritual. Let Jesus use you!

    Hope to see you in person soon!

  • Music Musings – Vol. 60, No. 10

    Did You Know…

    Many of our popular hymns have interesting backstories.

    The song I Know Whom I Have Believed was written by a Union soldier during the Civil War, who was held as a prisoner of war and became a believer while praying for another dying soldier.

    Hymn writer Fanny Crosby was blind from infancy yet was able to memorize the first five books of the Bible, the four Gospels, the Proverbs, and most of the Psalms.

    But one song in particular, of which many of us have grown to adore, has an inspiring origin.

    Carl Boberg, a newspaper editor, and member of the Swedish Parliament, being inspired by the sound of church bells ringing during a wild thunderstorm, penned the poem, O Great God. When O Great God was published, the poem did not catch on and it seemed destined to be forgotten. However, three years later someone liked it enough to match the words with a Swedish melody. Boberg published the poem again in 1891 – this time in the form of a song.

    A few decades later in the 1930s, English missionary Stuart Hine heard the song while in Poland. He was deeply moved, translated the song to English and took it home with him to England. In English, the song was now called How Great Thou Art. 

    Moving on to the 1940s, an evangelist heard this song being sung by native tribal people in India, of all places! The evangelist, Dr. Edwin Orr, was deeply inspired and brought the song to the United States. In 1954 the song found its way into the hands of George Beverly Shea, who sang it over 100 times in Billy Graham’s 1957 New York crusade. In 1959 it became the theme song for Billy Graham’s weekly radio broadcast.

    The song later became recognized by ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) as “The All-Time Outstanding Gospel Song” in America. How Great Thou Art has consistently been listed as one of the greatest hymns ever written, usually falling in second place right behind Amazing Grace, and has been recorded over 1,800 times in the last 50 years. Many of you have no doubt heard the recordings by Elvis Presley and it was also recorded in 2017 by popular country artist Alan Jackson.

    How astonishing that this song started as a poem in a small Swedish town and somehow wound its way around the globe to become a great hymn of the faith.

  • Music Musings – Vol. 60, No. 09

    Shigionoth – A Musical Term

    Forms of this word appear two times in the Bible.  The singular form of the word is shiggaiom appearing in Psalm 7.  The plural form of the word, shiginoth, is found in Habakkuk 3:1.

    In each case the words are associated with songs and seem to indicate the passionate and strong emotional manner in which the song is to be sung. Both songs paint a picture of dire trouble. Habakkuk 3 speaks of earthquakes, crumbling mountains, pestilence, floods, arrows, spears, and calamity. The song in Psalm 7 describes vicious lions, trampled lives, rage, swords, flaming arrows, and violence. Both songs end with exuberant praise to the Lord for His deliverance from the troubles.

    It is unlikely that I will ever encounter shiginoth or shiggaiom as a directive in a musical composition, however my guess is the Italian directives conpassione or appasionato will get the same point across.

  • Family Front – Vol. 60, No. 09

    So how is everyone out there is quarantine-land? I miss getting together with the kids and seeing families at church! If you need anything, (and that includes prayer), do not hesitate to let us know. Parents, you have a lot on your plate: homeschooling, your own work, keeping family happy and healthy. Know that I am praying for you.

    KidsZone

    You will find a weekly KidsZone for preschoolers and children on our website each week. There are also handouts and activities to go along with it. If you do not have a printer at home, please let me know; I would be happy to mail them to you. I hope you choose to worship with your children. There is a worship bulletin that kids can use to follow along with Sunday morning worship services as they sit with you. A video has been posted on the Children’s Ministry Facebook page for parents about “Helping Kids Navigate the Pandemic.”  There are many activities you can enjoy together – some of which you will be hearing about this week!

    FREE Family Resources

    If you need additional resources, you can find many of them through Right Now Media. Just give us permission to put your email into our account and you can access Right Now Media for FREE! It is a great resource for kids’ videos, Bible Study resources for all topics and ages. “What’s in the Bible” by Phil Vischer is a particular favorite of mine. What an opportunity you have right now to lead your kids to know Jesus and to better understand the Bible!

    Daily Prayer

    Don’t miss our Daily Prayer on Facebook Live every weeknight at 7:00 p.m. Get your kids involved by having them share prayer requests, too. What a precious time this has been and will continue to be!

    AWANA

    We will likely have our AWANA Awards Night the first Wednesday night we return to AWANA in the fall. Further information will be posted as details become available.

    Summer Fun Week

    It is with a big sad face that the announcement that Summer Fun Week has been postponed.  We are planning to have Vacation Bible School but are just not sure when that will be. As of right now, we are cancelling Basketball Camp. Watch for more details throughout the summer.

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 09

    It is a beautiful day again today – sunshine and breezy. The flowers and trees are blooming and we see evidence of a faithful God everywhere we look. In staff meeting this week, we were challenged to make a one sentence video to post to encourage you guys to answer the statement, “God is…” My response today is: God is faithful, in control, and good, even in the midst of a pandemic. How would you describe God today?

    I am sure most of you are weary of being isolated. Our life has changed a great deal in a month. I heard good news today that we had the lowest number of new cases since late March. I hope you have let God help you examine your walk with Him and your values during this time.

    At one of our last staff meetings, before we had to start meeting on Zoom, Andrew lead a devotional on difficult prayers. He indicated that one of the most difficult was, “LORD, break me.” Those are hard words to say. What will that look like? Will I be okay? Will my family be okay? What will I have to do? Nevertheless, that day I prayed that prayer because I know that God is good and I knew I wanted to be all in, holding nothing back!

    Now, I in no way think that this pandemic is my fault, (I learned Rick Warren’s first sentence in The Purpose Driven Life – it’s not about you!), but I certainly have had an opportunity to let God point out areas of my life that I had not fully committed to him and He has led me to confession, repentance and increased my faith. What is God showing you? Are you willing to pray that difficult prayer?

    Has He increased your faith and asked you to trust Him more? Has He helped you to value His truth? Has He been all that you have needed? Are you full of hope and joy and thankfulness? I pray that you would let Him refine and grow you and make you more and more like Jesus so we can show others the love and grace that you have received.

    I am hopeful that I will be seeing you all soon. As Paul reminds us in Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

  • Chi Alpha News – Vol. 60, No. 09

    Youth Online Bible Study

    During this time that we are apart from each other, let’s be sure to be diligent to connect the best that we can. Each Sunday and Wednesday, we will still be having Bible Study together. I will be recording a lesson from a RightNow Media series and posting it to our Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages. You can find us on all those platforms at Fee Fee Youth. Additionally, I will be posting Daily Devotionals on Facebook and Instagram to give you some encouragement throughout the week. Please reach out to me if you need anything, kyle@feefeebc.org. I am praying for each of you!

  • Announcements – Vol. 60, No. 09

    Sympathy

    Our love through Christian sympathy is extended to

    …Dionne (Todd) Curtis-Minner and family on the passing of her uncle, Dennis Curtis, on April 14; and her aunt, Janie Hornsby, on April 23.

    …The family and friends of Alice Hall, on her passing on April 21.

    …Carol Stephens and family on the passing of her husband,  Danny Stephens, on April 24.

    …Jim (Deanna) Gurlen on the passing of his brother, Jerry Gurlen, on April 27.

    …Vicki (Scott) Knepper on the passing of her mother, Karen Clifford, on April 29.

  • Bible Study Corner – Vol. 60, No. 09

    Yes, we are still doing Bible studies! If you are interested in a class on Sunday mornings or a men’s or women’s class on Wednesday nights at 6:15 p.m., contact Gloria at gloria@feefeebc.org and she will get you connected.

     “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped in every good work,” (2 Timothy 3: 17-17, NIV).

  • Community Connection – Vol. 60, No. 09

    Blood Drive on May 13

    Donating blood makes a big difference in the lives of others! On Wednesday, May 13, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. we will be hosting a blood drive through the American Red Cross. In order to comply with social distancing restrictions, all donations MUST be scheduled ahead of time. Simply go to the Red Cross website (http://www.redcrossblood.org), and use the Sponsor Code FeeFeeBaptistBridgeton (no spaces), to find our drive. You can also search by zip code and date to find it. Then schedule your donation for a specific time that day. You may also call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to schedule your donation. The drive will be held in the Family Life Center. Everyone donating can drive around to the back of the church and park in the lot by the gym and enter through the gym doors. On the blood drive page on the church website there are some helpful tips about donating including who can donate and how to donate.  If you have any questions about any of this please contact Andrew at andrew@feefeebc.org.

    St. Louis Area Food Bank Mobile Market

    We have started a new partnership with the St. Louis Area Food Bank to become a mobile market! One of the struggles people are facing right now is being able to get adequate food for their families. Our partnership will help to alleviate that. Every other Monday from 10:00 a.m. until noon we will distribute food to people in a “drive thru” format in our parking lot to keep social distancing in place. The next scheduled Mobile Market at our location is May 18. If you are interested in helping organize and distribute the food, contact Andrew at andrew@feefeebc.org. Please help us get the word out to those in need in our community about this opportunity!

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 60, No. 09

    I love food. In particular, I love my wife’s enchiladas. They are unbelievably delicious. Whenever I find out that she is cooking my favorite meal, my mouth waters with anticipation. I purposefully eat a lighter lunch to make sure that I will truly enjoy the meal. Then, when I finally sit down for dinner, I savor every bite. Her enchiladas are amazing!

    As we read through the book of Acts together as a church, there is a brief mention in chapter 17 of an incredible group of people. This group of people treats the Word of God the way I treat my wife’s enchiladas. Look at Acts 17:10-11:

    “As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

    Do you see what it says about the Bereans? They received God’s Word with eagerness! What exactly does that mean? Just like I look forward all day to eating those enchiladas, so the Bereans looked forward to hearing God’s Word. Just like I savored and devoured every bite, they eagerly received the Word!

    What is your attitude towards Scripture? Are you savoring God’s Word during this time of quarantine? The Bereans didn’t just receive it eagerly, they then went and examined the Scriptures for themselves. They wanted to verify everything that Paul and Silas taught.

    In a very real sense, the Bereans didn’t just sit and hear a sermon on Sunday morning, they also studied God’s Word throughout the week. I pray that you are joining with us in reading Acts together. That we, as Fee Fee Baptist Church, will be known as a church that receives God’s Word with eagerness and studies it daily!

    Why is it so important to study God’s Word? Because it gives life! Look at the beginning of verse 12:

    “Consequently, many of them believed…”

    The Scriptures are living and active, and they point us toward Christ! When we truly study God’s Word, we see that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It leads us to him!

    These are uncertain times. I know that I am tired of being cooped up. I am missing each one of you greatly. I am frustrated that things can’t be “normal.” However, in the midst of this uncertainty, I am praying that every one of us will set aside time to spend in God’s Word. As the Psalmist says, “God’s Word is sweeter than honey.” Or, we might just say it is tastier than enchiladas!

    I miss gathering with you physically, church. But I’m thankful we can stay connected through prayer and the reading of God’s Word!

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach