Fee Fee Baptist Church

Category: Forerunner

This category contains everything pertaining to the Forerunner.

  • Family Front – Vol. 60, No. 01

    We have some exciting family events planned over the next couple of months that your family won’t want to miss!

    Loaves & Fishes Ministry

    The Children’s Ministry will be taking a meal to be served at Loaves & Fishes on Tuesday, January 21. An email will be arriving soon with a link to sign up to bring items for the meal.

    Family Nerf Games

    On Friday, January 31, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. we will have a family showdown in our gym! Bring your own Nerf gun and Nerf darts. We will also have extra darts for non-stop fun throughout the evening.  Fun for all ages! When we are finished for the night, you will be able to take home the same amount of generic Nerf darts that you brought.

    Mid-Winter Bible Study

    There will be three sessions taking place on Sunday, February 9: during both Sunday worship services and one session in afternoon. There will be sign-up sheets for lunch that day, as well as childcare, so make sure to get your name on the list! Childcare will be provided for kids through 3rd grade.  Livewires will be able to sit in on the afternoon Bible Study session with their parents.

    Parent’s Night Out

    Make your reservations for Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 14, from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.  Use this time for some much need parents’ time or self-care, and all the while your kiddos will be having a blast! Sign-up sheets will be up end of the month, so keep your eyes open. See Kathy Scott if you want to volunteer that night. Students, this is a great way to volunteer to earn mission trip money!

    Parents’ Boot Camp: Keeping Kids Safe Online

    On February 16, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., Loran Maloney will be leading a class to teach parents how to take the lead in guiding their children and teens in what are appropriate practices when using electronic devices. Lunch and childcare (up through 5th grade) will be provided with a reservation. Sign up by the Media Center for this important class.

  • Community Connection – Vol. 60, No. 01

    Have you set resolutions for 2020? In the midst of making resolutions to lose weight or cancel debt or travel the world, can I encourage you to make a different kind of resolution: Get more involved in missions! There are thousands in our neighborhood, and billions around the world, that have not experienced the salvation of the Gospel message of Jesus. What can you do in 2020 to help them hear?  You could give money to several different places – the Annie Armstrong offering, the Lottie Moon offering, the Tom and Lela Warner fund at Fee Fee, or many other organizations that declare the Gospel near and far. You could go on a mission trip to Windermere with Fee Fee, to Mexico with Wheels for the World, or on your own. You can also find a local ministry here at Fee Fee or in our community that “pursues the good of our community for the glory of God,” like Meals on Wheels or Loaves and Fishes. One thing all of you could do is commit to pray every day for missions: local organizations, the work at Fee Fee, missionaries around the world, other countries like the Dominican Republic and Ukraine, and the lost in the world.  How are you going to be more involved in missions in 2020?

  • Music Musings – Vol. 60, No. 01

    The Fine Art of Whistling

    Professional Whistling: It’s really a thing. Molly Lewis, considered to be the world’s best whistler, was asked what she did to prepare for competition. Her reply was, “Always stay hydrated and NEVER forget your Chapstick.”

    The salary for professional whistlers: average annual salary $77,292; if you are a virtuoso – $155,628. You may have watched the New York Philharmonic on New Year’s Eve and noticed a professional whistler on one of the Sondheim pieces. I wonder what her salary was.

    Whistling as a Language: Did you know there is a Turkish village where whistling is a means for communication? They communicate numbers and words using a language referred to as “bird language” with the other villagers delivering the news of the day.

    In some worship settings (not Fee Fee), people have been heard whistling during worship. I recently read an article which cited scripture reference to the Holy Spirit whistling.

    Zechariah 10:8 – 9 says, “I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will redeem them: And they shall increase as they once increased. I will sow them among the peoples, and they shall remember Me in far countries; they shall live, together with their children, and they shall return.”

    And in Isaiah 5:26 it shows us this phenomenon in all its glory, “He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar, and will whistle to them from the end of the earth; surely they will come with speed, swiftly.” Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to whistle and call for the harvest through us!

     

    One Day

    This is an old hymn written by Dr. John Wilbur Chapman, a noted evangelist in the late 19th century.

    In the hymn, One Day, Dr. Chapman chose 4 key events in the life of Christ to highlight.

    • Verse 1 – Jesus’ birth
    • Verses 2 and 3 – Christ on the cross and His burial
    • Verse 4 – The resurrection
    • Verse 5 – The triumphant return of Christ

    The group Casting Crowns rebirthed this song in 2009 and called it Glorious Day. The hymn, One Day, had been a favorite of Mark Hall from this group. He loved it as a child and chose to write his version to share the entire Gospel message just as the original hymn. Glorious Day ranked at the top Billboard spot of Hot Christian Songs for a total of nine weeks in 2011.

    We sang the original hymn, One Day, in 8:30 a.m. worship on January 12. What do you think? How do the two versions compare in their style and continued message?

  • Bible Study Corner – Vol. 60, No. 01

    Pastor Zach has challenged us all to be involved in Bible Study this year so we can be disciples who make disciples. There are many opportunities to do this.

    Join us in Bible Study every Sunday at 9:45 a.m. All classes are currently unpacking and discovering markers for accomplishing our 2020 vision.  Stop by the Welcome Center if you are unsure where to go.

    Each Wednesday night at 6:15 p.m., there are Bible Studies for everyone:  AWANA for kids in the gym; small groups for the youth in the Rafters; Pastor’s prayer meeting in the Dining Room; The Patriarchs by Beth Moore for the women in room C112; and Ephesians for the men in room B1.

    On Sundays at 5:00 p.m., Precepts is ongoing in room C112 studying the Gospel of John.

    Finally, see Gloria Fox if you are interested in a small group or a Transformation group.

  • Announcements – Vol. 60, No. 01

    (Announcements including births, baptisms/new members, thank yous, or sympathies.)

    Welcome, New Member

    On Sunday, December 29 — Presenting himself as a candidate for church membership by transfer of letter:

    • Rick Huber

     

    Sympathy

    Our love through Christian sympathy is extended to

    …Bernice Stewart and Carol (Wayne) Gollaher on the passing of their nephew and cousin, respectively, Kevin Hoffert, on December 20.

    …Geri Stevenson in the passing of her father, Lee Glasgow, on December 26.

    …Ronna (John) Paden in the passing of her cousin, Karen Collier, on January 5.

    …Mary Jane Garrison in the passing of her cousin, Betsy Congemi, on January 5.

     

    Thank You

    The church has received a Thank You card from Phyllis Hackney.

     

  • Prime Time – Vol. 60, No. 01

    Welcome to a new decade! It’s going to be a great year. The Senior Adult Council has planned many great activities for the year and I hope you can attend and bring some friends. This is a great opportunity to introduce someone to the church!

    Mark your calendar with the events for the next few months:

    • Tuesday, January 28 – Science Center for da Vinci Exhibit and lunch at Bloom Café.
    • Thursday, February 13 – Aquarium and lunch at Zia’s.
    • Tuesday, February 25 – History museum and lunch at Joey B’s.
    • Thursday, March 12 – Chili, brownies, and games.
    • Thursday, March 26 – Churchill Museum in Fulton, MO

    Coming soon – An overnight trip to Casey, Illinois to see BIG THINGS.

    Don’t forget to sign up by the Media Center for all of these activities so we can plan accordingly!

     

  • A Word From Pastor Zach – Vol. 60, No. 01

    It is official, 2020 is here! As we start a new decade, I can’t wait to see how God moves and works in the life of our church. As you know, we are currently walking through our new vision and mission for Fee Fee Baptist. Our new mission statement is:

    Fee Fee Baptist Church exists to make disciples who build their lives on Jesus and pursue the good of our community for the glory of God.

    When it comes to building our lives on Jesus, we see that occur through two main avenues: Biblical Worship and Biblical Community. When it comes to pursuing the good of our community, we see that occur through the avenue of Biblical Mission.

    Biblical Worship is seen through connection with God, both individually and corporately. In order to ensure we are living out this idea, we have developed some markers of Biblical Worship that we believe should be on display in a growing disciple’s life. These markers include engaging in Gospel-centered preaching and teaching; growing knowledge of God and His Word; actively seeking God’s face in prayer; participating in worship through music; and giving sacrificially to the church.

    Biblical Community is seen through connection with other believers here at Fee Fee. To properly live out this idea, we have developed markers of Biblical community as well. These markers include active engagement in discipleship opportunities; understanding and utilizing your spiritual gifts; and Gospel-centered fellowship and accountability.

    Biblical Mission is seen through connecting to the world around us. The markers that help us live out this concept include awareness of and engaging with everyday opportunities to share the Gospel; taking part in local, national, and international missions opportunities; serving the under-resourced in our community; and aligning with God’s heart in justice issues.

    During our Bible Study time on Sunday mornings for both January and February, all of our classes will be walking through some of these markers of our vision. It is going to be exciting to have our entire church have a common conversation around the vision and mission of our church. I’m praying you will be blessed by this study and we will increase in unity as a church as we live on mission for the cause of Christ.

    Please join me in praying for our church – that we will make disciples who build their lives on Jesus and pursue the good of our community for the glory of God!

    In Him,

    Pastor Zach

     

  • Chi Alpha News – Vol. 59, No. 26

    2019 has been an amazing year for our youth department!

    We kicked off our year with our DNOW weekend and our theme of “Everlasting.” Through this we explored our theme verse of John 3:16, and how we can view that verse as a promise of hope, instead of just seeing it as the first verse you might memorize in church. Barrett Moore brought a powerful message throughout the week and our band, Guy Shaw, Maddi and Jon Yarbrough, Steve O’Neal, and Stuart Harrier, led us in phenomenal worship!

    In June we took a team of 31 students and adults to Houston, Texas to serve with World Changers for a week. This was a beneficial week to all who were involved to have the opportunity to help with Hurricane Harvey repairs serving alongside other churches. Trading in comfort for hard labor is never an easy transition for students but they all served faithfully and were great leaders in work ethic, leading bible studies, and Gospel presentations.

    It has been a blessing to serve the students here at Fee Fee over the last year. As a student at Missouri Baptist, it has been an amazing opportunity to learn first-hand what I am studying on campus. Many of my peers do not have the opportunities I have been given, so I am incredibly thankful to be a part of a church body that has come alongside me and poured their love into me while I continue on this journey. I am looking forward to continuing my education at school and my training towards licensure and ordination here at Fee Fee with Pastor Zach. Most importantly, I am really looking forward to building deeper relationships with our students and leaders as we continue to reach out to our local community. See you in 2020!

  • Family Front – Vol. 59, No. 26

    Looking at the past year, I am filled with thankfulness. It is a blessing to work with our families and walk alongside parents, as they are the best spiritual leaders of their kids.

    • Our 2019 VBS was a spectacular event! Our adults and students stepped up to take leadership roles that make the event fun and Gospel-centered. The sports camp we hosted that same week through the leadership of Sport Crusaders helped 3 children come to know Christ. That makes all the effort worthwhile!
    • We offered our children’s workers and teachers a Child Sexual Abuse workshop. We are thankful that we had a great turn-out for this valuable resource to make us even more aware of the task we have to keep our children safe.
    • We had a couple of administrative changes in our ministry: We moved the 6th graders back into the Youth Ministry. Although I miss those kiddos in our children’s area, I was excited for them to be led by our most capable youth leadership. Secondly, we launched a new child check-in system. I believe it couldn’t be done without our tech guy (Vance) and our volunteers who troubleshoot for us to make it better. Thank you: Sonya, Laura, Teresa, and Beth for your perseverance.
    • Our kids have led in worship a few times this year as they sang in worship services. Thank you, Mrs. Eva, for your prep with the children and helping them to lead. Our children have also served in the Singing Tree as they presented the nativity story, served at Loaves and Fishes, and at Feed My Starving Children event.
    • Again, we had a record crowd at our Trunk or Treat; so much so that we had to seek out parking at Weekends Only! We couldn’t do this outreach event without our people serving in all areas that night.
    • Through the generous time given by our volunteer, Linda Gisler, we were able to set up a sensory room for our families of children with disabilities. Jill Crook also painted and decorated our preschool and children’s areas to make them a bit more updated and brighter. Thank you both!
    • I am truly thankful being able to use my gifts at Fee Fee Baptist Church. But I couldn’t do what I do if it weren’t for the MANY teachers and workers we have in Bible Study, KidsZone, AWANA, and Children’s Committee. It literally does take a village (the whole church) to make this a ministry, which exalts our living Lord. Thank you, Church! I pray that many more children will come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and grow as His disciples through our endeavors.

  • Community Connection – Vol. 59, No. 26

    I am always impressed with Fee Fee’s willingness to support the Gospel being spread near and far! 2019 has been no exception to that. We continued in some great, loving, established partnerships and also explored some new exciting opportunities. Let me go over some quick stats for you of how you supported missions:

    • You raised over $3,000 to provide clean drinking water for our partner church in the Dominican Republic. In 2019, we made progress with the project: the initial hole was dug, the pipe was installed, the water was tested, and the first round of pump equipment was bought. Please continue to pray towards the completion of this project in 2020.
    • We sent 60 people on mission trips to Dominican Republic, Houston, Ukraine, Missouri, Mexico, and Windermere.
    • We sent over $12,000 to the North American Missions through Annie Armstrong giving and over $16,000 to International Missions through Lottie Moon giving.
    • Once a month we provided dinner to Loaves and Fishes Homeless Shelter and built relationships with the clients there.
    • We did our first Impact Week where we gave 455 volunteer hours to our surrounding community.

    This is not an exhaustive list but gives you a picture of some of the ways God used us in this past year for His glory. Thank you for lovingly caring that the Gospel message is shown and told to those in our neighborhoods and around the world. I can’t wait to see how God uses us to continue to share the Good News in 2020!