February Newsletter 2012  Pastor Steve's Heart I like what I see. We’ve added light at the church house. We’ve got a nice pole lamb in our children’s playground and one in front of the sanctuary. In addition we’ve gone from one security light on the Franklin Street side to two security lamps. Wow what a difference! It sure makes things better for us and it is appealing to those outside our church. I believe it is already worth our investment. “A friend of mine”, Luci Swindoll writes ["Heart to Heart," Today's Christian Woman], “was caught in an elevator during a power failure. At first, there was momentary panic as all seven strangers talked at once. Then my friend remembered the tiny flashlight he had in his pocket. When he turned it on, the fear dissipated. During the 45 minutes they were stuck together they told jokes, laughed, and even sang. Ephesians 5:8 says we are that flashlight. Just as the flashlight draws power from its batteries, we draw power from Jesus. As light, we dissipate fear, bring relief, and lift spirits. We don't even have to be big to be effective. We just have to be ‘on’.” Jesus, the Light of the World, is counting on us to be His flashlights in this dark world. Do you think you could shed a little light on someone’s life? Do you think you could dispel someone’s fear? Do you think you could radiate hope into someone’s depression? Do you think you could help clear up someone’s understanding of the plan of salvation? Do you think you could warm someone’s day with love? Do you think you could reflect God’s grace to an undeserving person? I believe it would be worth your effort and investment to do so. Stop a minute – start brain storming - how can you turn the light on in your home – how can you reflect Jesus’ light with your friends – how can you radiate His light at work or school – how can you reflect the Light of the World to your neighborhood – how can you bring warmth & hope to those down and out – how does God want you to be a flashlight to others? Now understand, we can never generate the light someone else needs. You will be ineffective and become frustrated should you try. But remember we are to be solar lights – soaking up the light of the Son and passing it on. We are to be reflectors – like the moon only reflects the sun’s light – we are to only reflect the Son’s light. He generates it through us. He sets us ablaze and then others see the light and feel its warmth. In Exodus 34:29 we read the following words, When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. Did you catch where the light comes from? When Moses spent time with Jesus, people knew it. That same thing happened in the early church. Acts 4:13 records the response of the religious leaders to Peter and John, When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. When we intentionally spend private and quality time with Jesus each day it will be reflected to others. Light IN and light OUT! We have nothing to offer folks of real substance apart from Jesus. SO – back to your own personal world – how’s your flashlight ministry coming? Are you charged up? Are you turned on? Is the light getting out? Before you bed down tonight I bet you can brighten the corner where you are. It might keep someone from stubbing their toe or taking a wrong turn. God has placed you in the worlds in which you live to be His reflected light. Let Him set you ablaze! I like what I see as I enjoy the new lighting at church. God will like what He sees as He is able to shine through you. And you just might find others liking what they see as Jesus is reflected in you.                                      Can You See Him Now?   Pastor Steve   Happy Birthday!!! Jonathan Phillips 1 Derek McDonald 4 Cheryl Hartley 4 Baxter Gardner 5 Janette Seagroves 5 Reed Simmons 10 Micah Honeycutt 11 Stacey Trexler 11 Jeremy Patterson 12 Deane Jones 13 Bobby Seagroves 14 Robert Kountz 15 Terry Barringer 17 Kate Carter 17 Nathaniel Kimball 18 Donna Hampton 19 Yvonne Patterson 20 Jonathan Eagle 21 Linda Michael 21 Peggy Stilwell 22 Graham Honeycutt 24 February Extended Session   8:30 AM 10:55 AM February 5 Hannah Gagnier Nathan Eagle Sunday Night Laura Miller Robert Miller JoAnn Collins Jennifer Carter February 12 Jamie Karriker Phillip Karriker Sunday Night Nancy Bell Carolyn O'Kelley Wendy Wilson Jason Wilson February 19 Amanda Lewis John Kimball Sunday Night Elizabeth Simmons Renee Simmons Becky Sides Jeannie Patterson February 26 Donna Phillips Linda Scarborough Sunday Night Melissa Zickafoose Lou Kimball Deb Gagnier JoAnn Collins Indicates Contemporary Service.  Be in nursery by 8:15 AM OASIS  will meet on Feb 7th @ 11:30 am in the FLC.  We will enjoy a lunch of soup and salad bar with dessert. Myrtle Lentz will present our program with show and tell on the Chrismons [Christian Symbols] Everyone is invited to join in this fellowship. WOM will meet at 1:00pm on Tuesday, Feb. 14th.  Linda Deaver will lead the study from the Mosaic Magazine. Roberta Watson wrote the study from the Book of Acts titled Living Well and Dying Well - Surrendering my life to His plan. All ladies are invited to come and be a part of the fellowship and Bible Study. Main Street Missions items are paper towels and tissues. Lottie Moon Update WOW, God is sooooo good!!  We went over our goal of $4,500 - Rec'd $4.784.51.  May our Lord receive all the glory to Him and His Kingdom!!!  Thank you, thank you everyone who gave and prayed for this wonderful way of spreading God's love and taking care of our missionaries overseas.        WOMEN’S RETREAT ~ WONDER FULL WORLD Join us as we fly around the world during the Women’s Retreat scheduled for Friday, March 23 – Saturday, March 24, 2012. We will check-in at the gate at 5:00pm on Friday, March 23rd. Supper will be served on the flight around 6:00pm, followed by worship, 2 sessions (each session visits a different continent) and games, ending the night around 10:00pm. Then on Saturday, March 24th, the Round the World tour continues with breakfast at 8:00am followed by worship time, sessions to visit the other 5 continents which will include a special mission project and ending around 2:00pm. Deadline for Registration is February 28, 2012 and we have an early bird special through January 31st. Gift certificates are available just in time for Christmas shopping. To make your reservation or purchase a gift certificate please click here. WINTERJAM CONCERT  will be Saturday, Feb. 4th in Greensboro. The youth will meet at the church at 1:30pm. Skillet is the headline group. WomenCare Group  Ladies, come on out to our CareNight, the evening of the 12th of February.  We will come together to work for our Lord and those around our community.  After we have our food and fellowship, we'll come ove to the church building to start working on a project for this summer's Farmer's Day.  Cant' wait to see all of you and spend some time together - praying for our missionaries, praying for each other and doing some hands on projects. Baptist Women's Day, Feb. 12  What a special day for us! Kimberly Overton will be our guest speaker for our Baptist Women's Day. Kimberly comes to us from Raleigh, where she has her hands full: employed as an Assistant District Attorney in Halifax County working in both District and Superior Court, handling all types of cases from speeding to homicide.  Kimberly graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and Regent University School of Law. She serves on numerous committees including the National District Attorneys Executive Board and is currently the chair of NC MADD's advisory board. Come and join us in hearing more about Kimberly, but more importantly, to hear what our Lord has placed on her heart. UPCOMING ANNIE ARMSTRONG OFFERING   Coming up on March 4th [Sunday night] we will have our North American Mission Study. Our goal is $3,500, which is why I'm starting early to encourage you to start putting aside towards our goal now. Who knows how our Lord will use each of us to go over and beyond this goal as well. It is such a blessing to be a part of God's family here at First Baptist China Grove - could not imagine being anywhere else. Love you all and I look forward in serving with you another year!!!           Prayer Request If you would like to send us a prayer request and are unable to get to our website, please send us an email at pray@chinagrovefbc.com or give our prayer line a call or text us at 704.856.WP4Y (9749). In Loving Memory James Brown Given by: Jimmy & Marsha Carter In Honor of John Kimball Family Given by: Joseph Gettys   Please click here for the church calendar.