Volunteer Appreciation Night Sunday September 12th 6 pm
Callling All volunteers!
Don’t miss this opportunity to worship with us this Sunday night, September 12th at 6 pm.
We will be recognizing all of our volunteers this year.
See you then! Beth
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
August Volunteers of the Month…the Elevate, Jr and the Elevate Team!
What do you get when you combine high energy, awesome worship, compelling drama and God’s word together? Elevate Jr. (for our 4’s and 5’s) and Elevate (for our 1-5 graders).
Each Sunday two dynamic, dedicated teams of adults work together to make help our preschoolers and children celebrate and worship God in creative and compelling ways through
Elevate. In our preschool area, Andy Cruthirds, Ashley Mayes,Laura Wilson, Alex Kelly and Mollie Speights make up the team. The grade school team is composed of the following: Tim and Jeanine Gray, Allison Blakeney, Valerie Sanders,Penny Watson, Haley and Hannah Gray and Caroline Slay. Added to both of these teams are outstanding parents and others who help out on a rotational basis.
Thanks to these volunteers, our preschoolers and children are learning the exciting truth of God’s love in life-changing ways that speak directly to their hearts! You are loved and appreciated!
Linda Taylor is our Volunteer of the Month for July!
Volunteer in Women’s/WMU ministry and Mission volunteer (India)
How long have you been a member at FBC? December 1999
How long have you served in your present ministry? Women’s Ministry 2000, becoming leader in fall of 2008, and President of WMU Fall of 2006. (I think)
What other ministries are you a part of?
Active in R&R, have taught in Preschool Sunday School, volunteer in VBS. Outside of FBC, I volunteer with MS Benevolence.
Tell a little about the primary ministry you are involved in.
Women’s WMU Ministry – “WINGS” – women in God’s service. Our mission is “to be the hands and heart of Jesus to the women in our church, community, and the world by offering programs that will enable a woman to KNOW Jesus Christ, GROW in Jesus Christ and to GO in Jesus Christ and to Share Jesus Christ. We offer bible studies throughout the year, special events for women during the year, visit our women when they are in the hospital, and visit women new church members.
Why do you give your time and energy in this particular area?
God has given me a heart for “widows, orphans, distressed and oppressed” the “WODO” people group. I believe that the woman is the heart of the home and the teachers of children. A woman can lead that home to God or away from God, no matter if the husband is a believer or not, whether in the USA or in India. I want all women to know they are valuable to God and in His service. We can follow the example of Abigail, Mary, Elizabeth, Anna and many other Godly women in the Bible and lead our families to God or we can be like Jezebel or Delilah and lead our families away from God.
What are the needs for future volunteers? How would someone go about
volunteering in this area-who to contact, how much time would be involved
and what background, spiritual gifts or motivation would they need to have?
If anyone wants to volunteer in the Women’s Ministry they can contact me. We are always looking for ladies to lead Bible studies, visit our women when they are in the hospital, visit with new women church members, help with special events and to pray for the women in our church. Only real requirement is that you love Jesus and want to share His love with other women.
Nathan and Amanda Wells…our May Volunteers of the Month!
The college & young professionals ministry is so fulfilling in that FBC Brandon has been blessed with such an amazing group of young adults. Our lives have been made so much better by getting to know some of the most spiritually mature college students and recent graduates we have ever known. They are always ready for an intense discussion of scripture and have challenged us in our own walks.
We felt that college ministry is where God wanted us at this point in our lives, plain and simple. We also felt that if there were ever a time in our lives that we needed that support system, it was definitely college. Often, that age is where people feel they don’t have a place in churches, since they are between the youth group and young families.
We are hoping to expand the ministry to reach out to students at area colleges in addition to the students who are already church members. We can always use helping hands – whether to help plan activities or help teach bible study. They can contact us – Nathan (601-720-6337, ) or Amanda (601-927-2212, ). Be prepared to be enlightened, as we have. As a whole, this group is a group after God’s own heart, and it’s evident in their lives, needs, comments, and willingness to serve others. To top it all off, they are a whole lot of fun too, so be prepared to have a blast!
Kristy Hill is Volunteer of the Month for May
Kristy Meador Hill
Volunteer in Preschool ministry.
How long have you been a member at FBC?14 years
How long have you served in your present ministry?
I have had the privilege of working with preschoolers for 13 years.
What other ministries are you a part of? I also help with Children’s Choir, VBS, and serve on the preschool committee.
Tell a little about the primary ministry you are involved in:
As a Sunday School Director, I have the awesome privilege of being able to love on our
precious preschoolers and their families each week. I also get to work with the most
amazing group of preschool teachers who dedicate their time each week to teach our
preschoolers that God loves them and that church is a fun and safe place to be. In addition
to loving on our preschoolers, a big part of our job is loving on the parents and assuring
them that we are going to take good care of their little ones while they are gone, so they feel
comfortable enough to attend Sunday School and worship without worrying about their
babies.
Why do you give your time and energy in this particular area?
In Matthew 19:14 , Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” I believe that if it was important
enough for Jesus to stop his busy schedule to love on and to teach children, that it is
definitely important enough for us as a church to do the same. I have vivid memories of
time spent at church when I was 4 and 5, and I know that God used special teachers to
instill a love of God’s word in me back then. I hope that I can make the precious
preschoolers that run down our halls each week to think of church as being a super fun
place to be where they are taught that God loves them no matter what! In addition, when
teaching K5 Sunday School a few years ago, it was thrilling to see several of our students
ask Jesus to be Savior of their life—there is no reason better than that!
What are the needs for future volunteers? How would someone go about volunteering in this area-\
who to contact, how much time would be involved and what background, spiritual gifts or motivation would they need to have?
We constantly need volunteers to work in our preschool department. We are currently
recruiting teachers for the next Sunday School year. The great thing about teaching
preschoolers is they don’t care what you look like, what you sound like, whether you can
sing, or how old you are—they only care that you can give big hugs, that you greet them
each week with a big smile, and tell them that God loves them. However, It also helps if
you can occasionally blow bubbles, play with playdoh, and distribute goldfish fairly while
telling the Bible story! The great thing is God says in Deuteronomy 6:7 that we are to teach
our children God’s Word while we sit, while we walk, and while we lay down, so it is easy
to talk about God’s love while we play and sing with our preschoolers each week. If
anyone is interested in helping, they can contact me or Joy Holmes-our Staff Preschool Director at 601-825-8003
for information about areas we still need help.
Church At Work…An Awesome Adventure!
Thanks to everyone who participated on Easter Sunday in Church at Work!
What a wonderful time we had on Easter afternoon. Around 210 adults, youth, children and families participated in our nine mission projects all around Brandon. It was so much fun!
We received three thank-you notes from the jail project. They were overwhelmed by the brownies! Here’s a quote from a letter, “I am at Rankin County Jail and all those beautiful sweet ladies came barreling through the doors. At that moment I felt weak, and thankful. It was kinda like a bunch of angels not afraid and praying with all of us.” And another letter stated, “Thank you for all the delicious brownies and cookies. That means so much to me, knowing someone cares. Even you don’t know me it felt so good to know there’s people that love a sinner like me.”
The other projects-visiting the nursing homes, group homes, shut-ins, military families, police/fire stations, hospital Emergency staff, apartment Easter Egg Hunt, conducting the car wash and letter-writing were just as awesome and a blessing to many! Let’s go serve again SOON!!!
Susan Lott is our volunteer of the Month!
Susan Lott is a role model for many in our church-She is a faithful wife to Mark, terrific Mom to Eric and daughter in law, Chelsea, awesome librarian for Brandon High School and a key volunteer at First Baptist Church. Susan and Mark have been members at FBC for 13 years and during that time, she has left quite an impression on many. Susan serves-in our adult choir, in handbells and every year, she teaches in our Vacation Bible School. But, for the past twelve years, Susan has distinguished herself in our state convention and especially in our church as a Children’s Bible Drills leader. Each year she works with children in grades 4-6 helping them to memorized 25 Bible verses, the proper order of the books of the Bible and how to locate them. They also are taught how to find 10 major key passages in the Bible...and they learn to do each of these in under 10 seconds! Susan says she likes to work with children’s bible Drills because of the excitement and pride she sees in the drillers in knowing God’s word. And, she knows the ultimate truth...that God’s word will bless them throughout their entire lives.
Susan, who knows how much your investment has affected and will continue to influence the next generation! Thank-you!
Deacon Hospital Visitation Team=Our February Volunteers of the Month!
Compassionate, kind, dedicated and focused-just a few words to describe the team of the month-the Deacon Hospital Visitation Team. This thirteen member team of deacons and church members find themselves each week comforting those who are facing surgery, medical tests and the unknown. This team has been going for five years. Modeling the compassion of Jesus, this group of volunteers bring prayer, joy, and hope to many each week. Thanks so much to the following men who make up this amazing ministry team: Ed Bailey, Andy Gressett, David Pauley, Jackie Gaughf, Kerry Stevens, Ray Loftin, Sam Latham, Sonny Quinn, Tom Risher, Van Covington, William Risher, JL Slay, Larry Bounds and Ernest Wells.
This group is looking for other volunteers who would like to join them in this pivotal ministry to the hurting. If you would like to be a part of this group, (you don’t have to be a deacon) or need more information, contact one Ed Bailey or Roy Lively. When you see of of these important team members, be sure to thank them for their vital service to our church family.
TV Ministry is our Volunteers of the Month for January
What a blessing to us to have the kind of TV Ministry volunteers we do!.
Each week, these faithful men and women (and youth) operate cameras, input graphics,
edit video and countless other technical things that are mind boggling-have you seen all of those knobs they are in charge of?
This particular ministry has to arrive way before services even begin and they end up staying after services are done. Who knows the countless hours, time and energy have been put in so that the Good News of Jesus is shared with those outside of the walls of our church!
Listed below are the names of the team members who volunteer in this awesome, important ministry. If you see one of these team members, be sure to tell them thanks for all they do. And a reminder to this special team-there’s only one volunteer of the month parking space...so earliest (and fastest) driver gets to park by the door! You are loved and appreciated!
Harry Medders, Pat Guest, Jimmy Gilmer, Will Houston ,JD Houston, Jason Davis, Jerry Holmes
Shawn Lacey,David Smith, Ronnie Martin, Morris Coleman, Corey Clendinning, David & Linda Bozone, Randy Boe
Alton, Vincent, and Shannon Webb, Walt Grayson, Ben Coleman, Bryan Edmondson, Corley Ingram, Jill Smith
Paul Baggett,Brandy Medders, Grant Shaffer, David Blackledge, Mark Thomas, Christian Usry and Logan Holcomb
,
Volunteers of the Month-Laurie and Lawrence Moore
Our Volunteers of the Month, Lawrence and Laurie Moore combine a Dad and daughter team who are blessing our church through the church email prayer chain.
This email prayer chain was started around six years ago and has given our church family the chance to connect with prayer requests and praises from our church and community. It takes at least four hours each week from their home computer to update and send out the prayer requests. They have seen God work in wonderful ways through the prayer chain.
Not only do they lead the prayer chain ministry, but Laurie and Lawrence Moore also serve in our welcome ministry at the front door each week at 8:30 am service.
When asked why they serve so faithfully, Lawrence replied, “Because He lives! And we love the Lord and His church.”
Interested in helping with or being a recipient of the prayer chain? Contact the Moores at
Volunteers of the Month-Margaret Baggett and Rebecca Hayman
First Baptist is especially blessed to have two awesome women who are leading our welcome ministry. Margaret Baggett, who has served as director of this ministry since 2006 and Rebecca Hayman, serving since 2008 bring a focus and an energy to our church campus.
Each Sunday, these two ladies coordinate over 100 volunteers who serve in a variety of ways. They lead offering ushers, inside greeters, pedestrian greeters, shuttle drivers (golf carts) and ambassadors serving all over our building.
Many times when someone in our church goes to the home of a prospective family who has visited our church the comment they hear is, “Your church is the most friendly church I have ever been in!” That kind of welcoming spirit does not happen without dynamic volunteers in intentional and strategic places. And of course it doesn’t happen without awesome coordinators like Margaret and Rebecca. Be sure to take a minute to say thank you to these two who serve so faithfully in showing the welcoming, faithful heart of our Savior each week through their ministry in our church.
What an awesome Volunteer Appreciation Night!
Thanks to an incredible behind the scenes team and a super supportive service maintenance staff (thanks Allen and crew) and special thanks to John Clendinning....we had a great time at Volunteer Appreciation.
Volunteers came and were served by the worlds greatest youth group, our children’s s choir sang, we heard a “Know, Grow, Go” rap and even a special song by the staff!
Brad McMullen from WAPT hit a home run with his encouragement and challenge for us spiritually.
Remember, whatever you do at church to use your gifts,time and energy...makes a difference eternally for others.
You are loved and appreciated!
Beth
Volunteer Appreciation Night Saturday, September 26 5-7 pm
To all of our FBC volunteers:
You are invited to a great time of food, fellowship and fun featuring:
Brad McMullan
Anchor: WAPT Morning/5 pm and Suprise Guests!
Saturday, September 26th
5-7 pm
FBC Gym
Bring the whole family! We will be feeding the kids and they will have fun activities,
our middle school and high schoolers will be serving
(and getting community service hours!)
Sign up below by putting your name, spouses’ name and ages of children by Friday, September 18th!
Look forward to seeing you there!
Susan Hinton is our Volunteer of the Month for August!
What do you do when you have a myriad of details and data that need to be meticulous recorded and preserved? You call on a volunteer named Susan Hinton.
Susan has volunteered for nine years in one of the most important roles in communication. She keeps the membership rolls for our 3,183 membered congregation. Each week her volunteer assignment involves coming to the church office to obtain information, helping to communicate to other churches when a church letter is requested, and recording the deaths of any church members to make our records accurate and up to date.
Susan and her husband Ivy joined our church ten years ago and it didn’t take her long to find her place. When asked why Susan volunteers to give her time and energy in this area, she replied, “It is a challenge and also gives me an insight into the lives of new members.” She added, “Future volunteers in this ministry need to be detailed oriented and flexible. This ministry requires a lot of time and some knowledge of membership requirements.” And, it requires a servant heart and a gift for details-someone just like Susan! Thanks, Susan, for your behind-the-scenes ministry to our church family!
Boley Kent is our Volunteer of the Month!
Boley Kent..what a guy! We are so blessed to have Boley Kent around First Baptist Church. He and Sandra have been members here for six years and he volunteered to serve right after he arrived.
Boley helps with outreach on Wednesday nights, greets on Sunday mornings, cleans coffee pots each week, goes on mission trips, visits the sick, serves at local school events, spends three days cleaning tables at our annual kids kamp and makes everyone happier because he is around.
Boley’s servant heart is only outmatched by his encouraging words. We are thanking God that he sent Boley our way. By his life we are comforted, loved and most of all challenged to live every day
serving our Savior! Thanks Boley for your outstanding service to the Lord.
Potenial Volunteers Discovered!
Recenttly we held our first SPOT class. This class is aimed at discovering your spiritual gifts, passion, opportunities and time to allow you to serve at FBC Brandon. We also had some awesome staff members come and explain their particular ministries. On Sunday, June 14th, many of the SPOT participants observed different ministries at our church to see if God was leading them in some way toward serving.
Thanks to our first ever SPOT participants!
William and Lori Fulton, Laurie Estridge, Laura Wilson, David and Nicole McGowan, Jeremy and Ashley Bowen, Amy Nash,
Chris and Allison Palmer, Virginia Davis, Debra Hollis
SPOT Training this Sunday, June 7th
We will meet this Sunday at Rouse Elementary at 9:45 am-noon. We will be covering Spiritual Gifts, Priorities, Opportunities and Time to discover where God will have you serve!
Sign up by registering below or if you have questions, call 601-825-9003.
Church At Work Pictures
These pictures are only a fraction of the people of First Baptist Brandon at work on April 12, 2009.
Church At Work Assignments
Assignments (Updated 04/12/09 2:00p.m.)
Widows - Home Bound Involvement
1. John Blakeney
2. Allsion Blakeney
3. Amelia Blakeney
4. Abby Blakeney
5. Roy Lively
6. Penny Lively
7. Buster Leach
8. Michelle Leach
9. Anse Barber
10. Linda Barber
11. Gray Massey
12. Lauren Massey
13. Reid Massey
14. Kevin Hill
15. Kristy Hill
16. Bethany Hill
17. Emily Hill
18. Pam Strickland
19. Rob Strickland
20. Gary Shedd
21. Hazel Shedd
22. Kevin Cooper
23. Pam Cooper
24. Shelby Cooper
25. Breckyn Cooper
26. Dacia Thomas
27. Tyler Thomas
28. Amelia Thomas
29. Lauren Thomas
30. Mike May
31. Karen May
32. Melissa May
33. Scott Thomas
Traffic Signal Giveaways
1. Jill Smith
2. Roe Grubbs
3. Sharon Grubbs
Military Family Visits
1. Larry Poole
2. June Poole
3. Bailey Poole
4. Rusty Buys
5. Vickie Buys
6. Walt Loving
7. Glennette Loving
8. Larry Bounds
9. Gwynn Bounds
10. Lynn Melear
11. Scott Melear
12. James Melear
13. Jason Melear
14. Larry Dale
15. Mary Anne Dale
16. Anita Fortenberry
17. Jerry Fortenberry
18. Jane Easley
19. Maegan Easley
20. Molly Easley
Hospital Visits
1. Gee Ogletree
2. Holly Ogletree
3. Howell Garner
4. Candy Garner
5. Amanda Squyres
6. Steve Jones
7. Diane Jones
8. Lester Herrington
9. Bette Herrington
Apartment Visits - Kids Clubs
1. Beth Bowman
2. Carson Allen
3. Graham Allen
4. Jennifer Hatten
5. Shirley Johnson
6. Sonya Skelton
7. Nicole Skelton
8. Jacob Skelton
9. Trisha Massengill
10. Ashley Massingill
11. Pam Hunt
12. James Hunt
13. Lauren Hunt
14. Kailyn Hunt
15. Madison Hunt
16. Rita Latham
17. Sam Latham
18. Beth Patterson
19. Emily Patterson
20. Lauren Patterson
21. Kate Patterson
22. Paul Rogers
23. Melisa Rogers
24. Mary Barton Rogers
25. Macie Rogers
26. Raymond Kennedy
27. Gina Kennedy
28. Chatham Kennedy
29. Maclain Kennedy
30. Sara Michael Kennedy
Group Home Visits
1. Mark Bowman
2. Creslyn White
3. Kenneth Spencer
4. Bonnie Spencer
5. Adam Spencer
6. Drew Chapman
7. Mary Allison Chapman
8. Les Herrington
9. Michelle Herrington
10. Trey Herrington
11. Anna Katherine Herrington
12. Dana Garcia
13. Ashley Garcia
14. Lindsey Garcia
15. Kami Bullock
16. Robert Bullock
17. Jason Smith
18. Paige Smith
19. Kas Smith
Developing and maintaining internet sign-up project
1. Russell Ferguson
2. Andy Gressett
Photographing Church at Work Projects
1. Gloria Gressett
2. Andy Gressett
Work at church writing notes to the sick and shut-ins
1. Linda Taylor
2. Jean Ferguson
3. Steve Mahaffey
4. Pat Clendinning
Service Station (Car Wash / Fluid Check / etc.)
1. Jerry Holmes
2. Phillip May
3. Paulette May
4. Greg Robertson
5. Cindy Robertson
6. Brad Bates
7. Andy White
8. Amy Nash
9. David Oakes
10. Rachel Oakes
11. Lynn Oakes
12. Sarah Oakes
13. Matt Wilson
14. Yvonne Wilson
15. Chris Wilson
16. Megan Anne Wilson
17. Emily White
Nursing Home Visits
1. Bobby Ashley
2. Angela Thomas
3. Hayley Thomas
4. Whitney Thomas
5. Courtney Thomas
6. Chip Thomas
7. Liz Toomey
8. Bill Adams
9. Judy Adams
10. Aidan Adams
11. Justen Rouse
12. Jennifer Rouse
13. Jacob Rouse
14. Jacie Rouse
15. Rebecca Houston
16. J.D Houston
17. Will Houston
18. Courtney Houston
19. Cristin Elarton
Police / Fire Station Visits
1. Brenda Schall
2. James Tramel
3. Leigh Anne Tramel
4. Chase Tramel
5. Reagan Tramel
6. Kylie Tramel
7. Nahna Stovall
8. Toby Stovall
9. Danna Stovall
10. Hannah Stovall
11. David Hayman
12. Rebecca Hayman
13. Shaun O’Bryan
14. Tanya O’Bryan
15. Maddie O’Bryan
16. Parker O’Bryan
17. Christy McIlwain
18. Mac McIlwain
19. McKenzie McIlwain
20. Madelyn McIlwain
21. Sonny Pryor
22. Sharon Prory
23. Avery Pryor
24. Ashley Pryor
25. Sharon Wood
26. Neely Wood
27. Jessi Wood
City / County Jail Visits
1. John Ashley
2. Barney Tanner
3. Evelyn Tanner
4. Ricky Strickland
5. Scott Houston
6. Virginia Davis
7. David Pauley
8. Josh Braddy
9. Katie Braddy
10. Paul Baggett
11. Margeret Baggett
VolunteerS of the Month
Thanks to our ministry teams/committees we are able to accomplish so much for the Lord. We appreicate these faithful women and men who serve from our baptism team to
stewardship and so much more. They provide energy, wisdom and encouragment to our staff as we do what God has called us to do.
Guess what? There’s only one volunteer parking space...so first team member from any team to get to church gets it!
Remember that you are loved and appreciated.....FBC Staff
Feburary Volunteer of the Month-Linda Barber, Church Librarian
Below are the notes from our Volunteer of the Month - Linda Barber, Church Librarian.
Mrs. Linda, when God sent you and Mr. Anse our way, He blessed us beyond what we could imagine. We love and appreciate you.
First Baptist Church, Brandon
Name: Linda Barber
Date: February 2, 2009
Volunteer in the Church Library ministry.
How long have you been a member at FBC? 6 years
How long have you served in your present ministry? 20+ years
What other ministries are you a part of? Adult SS class
Tell a little about the primary ministry you are involved in:
With the budget allotted to us each year, we purchase and prepare books for loaning to our church members and guests. It’s been said that each book takes about 2 hours’ work from time of purchase until it’s ready to be checked out. With the help of volunteers, we enter each piece of media into our library computer program, barcode it, put check-out cards in each item and cover them a protective covering so they will last longer. Then we have fun displaying them and sharing them with those we think will enjoy and appreciate them.
Why do you give your time and energy in this particular area?
“We’ve adopted Philippians 4:8 as our library verse – “…whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.” In a world saturated with unlovely things, we love to provide good and wholesome media to our church family. Also to be able to connect a book to a person’s need and have them say how much it helped them is very rewarding. We try to keep our library collection current so that when someone asks “Do you have …? , it’s just fun to say “Yes!”
What are the needs for future volunteers? How would someone go about
volunteering in this area-who to contact, how much time would be involved
and what background, spiritual gifts or motivation would they need to have?
Anyone who loves to read and share a good book with another person is a good candidate for our volunteer staff. No experience is needed, but we do ask that they be willing to be trained – “on the job” and at state-wide training conferences that are available twice a year. Our areas of service would be: technical, processing (assigning Dewey decimal category), hands-on processing of each piece of media, circulation and promotion. We work all day each Wednesday at the College Street campus and anyone could come in and see what we do or give me a call at 601-824-3040 (home) or 601-668-9100 (cell).
Marie McAlpin is our volunteer of the month for January!
What do you call a person who is continually thinking of others, constantly doing someting for someone else and whose energy and joy never abates?
Two words....Marie McAlpin!
Our outstanding volunteer of the month is lifeGROUP leader Marie McAlpin. Marie has led lifeGROUP (Sunday School) classes for 18 years. Her love for God’s word and enthusiasm for spiritual growth makes her a compelling teacher and an investor in people. She has the uncanny ability to bring a peaceful presence to any situation and her class has grown in love for the Lord and love for each other during difficult times.
In addition, Marie is the helping hands behind the coffee at the West Campus since 2001. Many people have been blessed by the Sunday am caffeine jolt! She also has blessed our church staff for nineteen years by serving as our volunteer receptionist at the front desk each Wednesday. And yes, the homemade goodies are always a part of her service.
Marie says, “God has blessed me in untold measure. We cannot outgive God. Through all of my trials, God’s been there to carry me, pick me up, dust me off and set me on my feet again. I love my Lord and my ladies (lifeGROUP class) and serving Him in this capacity is one small way I can give back.”
Well, Marie, it has not been a small way that you have given...your service has blessed our hearts and lives for eternity. We thank you and love you!
Discover your spiritual gifts and find your best place to serve! MIN Class 301 Begins January 11th!
We are offering the Ministry 301 Class-Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts beginning Sunday, January 11th at 4:45 pm. This five week information class will give you a great understanding of your SHAPE-spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality and experiences. All of these work together to prepare you for the best place for you to serve! See you in room 212 at the Boyce Thompson Campus. Be sure to bring your bible.
Need more information? Contact Beth or Shirley at 601-825-9003 or email us or .
Paul Bird-Volunteer of the Month for December 2008!
What words describe out volunteer of the month?
Faithful, consistent and compassionate!
We are excited to announce Paul Bird as our volunteer of the month. Paul has been leading a free karate ministry in our church gym each Tuesday night for five years. This ministry, which involves adults, youth and children, practices self-discipline, goal setting, expanding horizons and leadership. And, unlike most karate programs, it does not involve the usual Eastern philosophy. It incorporates Paul’s faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord.
Paul, thank-you for your vision and desire to invest in the lives of others for the kingdom. Your weekly wisdom imparted to the karate participants is reaping eternal results.
Paul’s dream is to have a big enough group of Godly instructors to make the classes more of a community-based outreach. Currently, based on the number of volunteers, the class can only meet on Tuesdays. If there were enough volunteers, the karate classes could go mobile and meet at apartment communities and neighborhoods across Brandon.
Interested in this particular life-changing ministry? Contact Paul at 601-591-1524
Volunteer of the Month-JANE WERNE
Jane has been at FBC for 13 years and has been involved with Outreach ministry for all of that time. Currently she directs Casting Call, our Wednesday evening outreach to first time guests. Together with her team, she gathers information about our church, special emphasis details and homemade bread to include in each welcome bag for church members to deliver to homes of our first time guests from the previous Sunday.
Boley Kent and Terry Guests are two invaluable members of the team that helps our first time guests get a warm welcome after their initial visit. Jane is also thankful for her staff minister-Mike May and ministry assistant, Shirley Waltman-who help get the background information necessary to make the outreach visits possible.
When asked about why she serves in this important area, Jane responded, “ I love people and want them to feel welcome in our church.”
Thanks to you, Jane and many others who serve each week in Casting Call, they do!
Interested in serving in this important area? Go by the Casting Call table located in the foyer of our banquet hall, East Campus any Wednesday between 5-6 pm. Volunteers are needed to visit homes in our community and share the love of Jesus with a smile and a direct expression of care through the welcome bags.
Welcome Ministry-Need your help during LifeAction
Would you like to be a part of the team that greets and welcomes during our lifeaction summit?
We need volunteers who will arrive early with a smile on their face!
Contact Margaret Baggett at 601-825-3688 or Beth Bowman 601-825-9003 to help.
Time Change for Community Leaders at Brandon High School Oct 14
If you are one of the team of 80 community leaders who will be speaking to BHS Students on Tuesday, October 14, please note that we will be meeting at BHS at 8:20 am on Tuesday and will be speaking to the classes at 8:40 am.
Thanks for your service!
High School Speakers Update for October 14th
Thanks for the Brandon High School Speaker Volunteers!
We appreciate each of you for volunteering to speak at Brandon High School Professionals Day on Tuesday, October 14th at 9:00 am-9:20 am. Just a reminder that the mandatory training is Sunday, October 12th immediately following the evening worship service in the Garage (youth room). At the training you will receive your outline and assignments. We will provide childcare for this meeting in the preschool area. If you have questions, please contact Beth Bowman at or ask any of the volunteers at the Volunteer Central desk in the main lobby.
Fireproof tickets on sale!
Get your tickets ($10) each at the Volunteer Desk on Sunday. You can sign up for childcare then also. Purchase an extra set of tickets and bring a couple from your neighborhood or work with you! These make a great gift!
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