first word march

FIRST BAPTIST SEVIERVILLE | MARCH 2012

Volume 62, No. 6

IN THIS ISSUE

From the Pastor’s HeartBro. Dan reminds us to not be content in our Christian walk.

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In All Kinds of WeatherA reminder that God is with us no matter what we are facing or going through.

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Planting the SeedDominic Kendall shares about his mission experience in China.

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First Baptist Church of Sevierville’s Monthly Newsletter

In All Kinds of Weather Our Daily Bread

When Jesus sent His disciples out, He gave them this promise: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). Literally, the word always means “all the days,” according to Greek scholars Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown.

Jesus didn’t simply say “always” but “all the days.” That takes into account all our various activities, the good and bad circumstances surrounding us, the varied responsibilities we have through the course of our days, the storm clouds and the sunshine.

Our Lord is present with us no matter what each day brings. It may be a day of joy or of sadness, of sickness or of health, of success or of failure. No matter what happens to us today, our Lord is walking beside us, strengthening us, loving us, filling us with faith, hope, and love. As He envelops us with quiet serenity and security, our foes, fears, afflictions, and doubts begin to recede. We can bear up in any setting and circumstance because we know the Lord is at hand, just as He told Paul in Acts 18:10, “I am with you.”

Practice God’s presence, stopping in the midst of your busy day to say to yourself, “The Lord is here.” And pray that you will see Him who is invisible—and see Him everywhere.

“God’s unseen presence comforts me, I know He’s always near; and when life’s storms besiege my soul, He says, ‘My child, I’m here.’“ ~D. De Haan

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” ~Isaiah 55:6

When I was a college student in Hannibal, Missouri, I drove down to St. Louis to tour the famous Arch, the symbolic “Gateway to the West.” In the museum beneath the Arch, we saw a film about its meaning. The film paid tribute to the brave men and women who left the comfort and security of their homes in the East to blaze a new trail out West.

I admire these pioneers who risked their lives to take new territory, make new discoveries, and seek out adventure. The pioneers literally marched off the map to follow their dreams. They went where others would not go and did what others would not do in order to open up new opportunities for a better life.

Some of these pioneers eventually settled down and formed communities, towns, and cities. They put down roots, built houses, and stopped moving westward. They were settlers.

I appreciate the settlers, but I must say that I most admire the pioneers. If we are going to reach new people for Christ and take new territory for God’s kingdom, we must have the attitude of a pioneer.

Too many Christians and too many churches have become like the settlers: content with where they are, satisfied with past victories, and resistant to things like risk and change.

| First Baptist Church of Sevierville

From the Pastor’s Heart...In the last two months many people have asked me, “Are you getting settled in?” I know what they mean, and I am enjoying making Sevierville my home. But I don’t want to be a Christian settler. I want to be a pioneer for Jesus! I want to advance, to stretch, to grow, to move forward as the Spirit leads. I want to gain new ground for the glory of God. I want to escape the grip of comfort. I want God to use me and First Baptist Church to accomplish God-sized tasks and to win great victories.

We can do that, but it will take uncommon faith and uncommon unity. Let’s do it...let’s be Gospel Pioneers! Are you with me?

I love being your pastor,

Dan Spencer

UP 6th Grade WeekendApril 30th and May 1st

Sign up in Sunday Schoolor call the church office

James 5:11

VBS 2012 Kick Off with Kathy Trundle, TBC VBS SpecialistSunday, March 4th @ 3:00pm FLCAll VBS Directors, Teachers and Workers should be in attendance. If you wish to volunteer to help with VBS and haven’t signed up, please attend this training.

Sonrise SeniorsTuesday, March 6th; 9:00am/Parlor

Children’s ChurchSunday, March 11thK-3rd grade will meet in the Chapel, 8:15 &10:45 services4th-6th grade will meet in the Fellowship Hall,10:45 service only

Triple L LuncheonTuesday, March 13th; Noon/FLCBring a covered dish.

Celebration CraftersThursday, March 15th; 10:00am/Room E-218Sign up at the Welcome Center

PEP MomsMarch 23rd; 9:15am/ParlorGuest Speakers: Panel of Moms - Jennifer Finchum, Sarah Maddox and Sue Cobb

Father/Daughter BanquetSaturday, March 24th; 5:30pm/FLCDinner, fun and time with Dad. $30 for both Dad and one daughter, $10 for each additional daughter.

Men’s Eagle Ministry Spring RetreatJoin us for our annual men’s retreat to Fall Creek Falls State Park, April 13th-14th. There will be golfing, hiking and fishing available. Hollie Miller, Pastor of Sevier Heights Baptist Church will be our guest speaker. Registration fee of $50 includes lodging, snacks and drinks during the conference. All meals will be the responsibility of the individual as well as golf fees if playing golf. Registration deadline is March 1st. Sign up at the Welcome Center or register online at www.fbcsev.org

Upcoming Events

Special AnnouncementsOpportunities to Serve-PEP Mom’s are in need of nursery workers for their meetings. -Teachers/Nursery Workers NeededIn need of two full time preschool teachers & two nursery workers. In need of teachers/helpers for GA’s. -Mother’s Day OutNow hiring part time substitute teachers. (Please contact Tammy in the office if you are interested in serving in any of the above.)

FBC ON MISSIONPlease be much in prayer for these mission teams as they prepare and are serving.Ukraine; May 27 – June 6Manhattan, Montana; June 2 - 9Youth Mission Trip to Gallup, NM; June 9-15

Congratulations To..Trey & Tina Atchley on the birth of their son, Charles Harold Atchley IV on January 4th.

2012 Offering EnvelopesThe 2012 pre-numbered offering envelope boxes are now available. Please call the church office at 453-9001 if you would like to have a box mailed to you.

Online GivingContributions may be made online by visiting the church website at www.fbcsev.org. One-time or recurring contributions may be made. Giving is simple, easy and secure.

March2012

Robert Thurman OwnbyKenneth Keener Mae Ownby KeenerBUILDING FUNDKenneth Keener Rex & Louise DelozierJoann BroomeJimmy Hardin Chuck Sexton’s SS ClassJason Hicks & Dr.

Wayne Hicks Leah BrackinsThelma Nichols Dale & Ruth MurrellMary Kay PattonClay Gurley Adult IV/Wallace

SS ClassPARK ROAD PROJECTMike RawlingsKenneth KeenerWilma MaplesLarry LindseySharon “Sudie” IngleAl SmithJewel McCuistonJohn Reagan Jo BlalockClay GurleyMary Kay PattonSharon “Sudie” InglePorter LambertBill OwnbyW.C. ShularJohnny TarwaterMike RawlingsJewel McCuistonBetty Cole BaileyJackie RandlesKenneth Keener Lyle & Judy Pat OverbayGeorge Headrick Barbara HeadrickCHRISTMAS STOREJackie Randles Linda Rolen

HELPING HANDSRay Sugg’s Birthday

January 7th Imogene SuggsSharon “Sudie” IngleJoe RimelAl Smith Gibb Ingle Richard & Carol AtchleyLOTTIE MOONBetty BaileyMike Rawlings Pat LoeppSONRISE SENIORSFlora Baker Donald & Marjorie

LeatherwoodCHILDREN’S DEPTMike Rawlings Rylie Jo’s 3rd

Grade SS ClassKenneth Keener Children’s Dept SS ClassCHILDREN’S CHOIRPaul & Ruth Galyon Robbie & Sandy FoxMUSIC MINISTRYJackie Randles Shirley Delozier David & Margaret Goode Joe & Libby WilliamsJane Temple’s Birthday Lyle & Judy Pat OverbayJR & Jackie Randles Jerry & Sharon LovedayPaul & Ruth GalyonRobert & Sandra FoxLIBRARYGennis HardwickEleanor RuckmanEnrico TubalMary Kay PattonJana PatrickElsie WilliamsMoody ElliottLouise LinginfelterJohn FoxMarcella ThorntonCarol Privett First BaptistPRESCHOOL DEPT Sue Yoakum’s Birthday Rebecca Cusick

TRIBUTEDGIVING

Attendance Report 1/1/2012 1/8/2012 1/15/2012 1/22/2012 8:15am Worship 528 625 637 625 9:30am SS 1066 1366 1321 1405 10:45am Worship 1127 1378 1400 1287 6:30pm Worship 321 431 406 463

Biblical Stewardship 1/1/2012 1/8/2012 1/15/2012 1/22/2012 Total Weekly Needs $ 92,063.62 $ 92,063.62 $ 92,063.62 $ 92,063.62 Tithes & Offerings 53,974.67 88,699.78 78,052.41 82,726.93 Building Fund 606.00 1,155.00 1,030.00 781.00 Designated Fund 5,190.12 4,416.00 9,699.87 6,361.31

New MembersAyannah ArnoldMelba KellyDarryl & Lisa PayneJack & Shirley BrownBill & Kristy UnderwoodRev. Dan, Tresa, Jeremiah & Jacob SpencerJohn & Shelley Arnett

Recently HospitalizedCollin ElderLarry OgleDwight BrockKatie HedlerMel LawsonHelen LeeBrooke OwnbyTempe KellyCandace MoonDiane ReedIllo ClarkMartha DooleyBob McFarlandBenjamin WhaleyJim BarkerMickie Ratliff

• The following families wish to express their deep appreciation to the church for kindness shown during their recent loss:

Family of Mike Rawlings Darlene CorradoFamily of Kenneth Kenner Doug & Nina PattonFamily of James C. Hardin Peggy Witt

• The following families wish to express their appreciation for support from the church:

• Sara Beth Hardin in the passing of her brother

• Bill Williams in the passing of his mother, Elsie

• Peggy Witt in the passing of her mother, Thelma Nichols

• Debbie Stair in the passing of her father, Moody Elliott

• Darlene Corrado in the passing of her sister, Jana Patrick

• Claudia Humphries in the passing of her sister

• Tony Linginfelter in the passing of his mother, Louise

• Lonnie Privett in the passing of his mother, Carol

• Terry Sailor in the passing of his mother Marcella Thornton

Thank You Notes

Sympathy to

TV MINISTRYMike Rawlings JB & Shirley MatthewsWilbur Reed Linda RolenYOUTH MINISTRY &

PRAYER GROUPSJR & Jackie Randles Bill & Wanda Randles

IN HONORBUDGETHailey Turner’s

99th Birthday Jack & Elizabeth

Denton HELPING HANDSPhillip Austin Robert & Thelma AustinCHRISTMAS STOREOur Daughter, Ginger

Ramsey’s Birthday Terry & Gail GossettMy Grandmother, Hailey

Turner’s 99th Birthday Cindy & Mickey KoontzPARK ROAD PROJECTDr. Nelson & Trudy PriceJack & Elizabeth

Denton’s BirthdaysPhil & Joan McMahan and

Joe & Novie Thomas’ 50th Anniversary

Lyle & Judy Pat OverbaySONRISE SENIORS

BREAKFASTJohnny & Elizabeth Ownby Don & Marjorie

LeatherwoodPRESCHOOL DEPT.Gabrielle Givens Betty & Lewis Grooms

IN MEMORYBUDGETHoney Gregg & Tracy PriceMary Kay PattonClay Gurley Lowell & Carolyn GlennJackie Randles Bobbie Pickens Herman & Jean HuffCarl & Lois Ownby Bob & Becky BarnesMike Rawlings Kenneth KeenerJackie Randles Jimmie & Marie TempleKenneth KeenerBetty Cole Bailey Will & Janet JohnsonLoving Memory of Lon Beulah SuttonHusband and Son, Benton

& Randy Latham Evelyn LathamHerman King Curtis & Shirley KingBilly Joe Ownby Harold & Sue OwnbyJoe Rimel George Pickel & Sue

Pickel Ownby of Pickel Properties

Planting the Seed... Dominic Kendall Student Ministry Intern

Wuhan, China has a population of over 11 million people, over 90% of which are non-believers. For six months, my job was to go on to college campuses and share the Gospel with Chinese students.

It began with 32 of us meeting in Taipei, Taiwan learning and getting a feel for evangelizing cross-culturally. We then broke into pairs and headed off to our individual cities all over China. My partner and I were not teachers or students in a university so we were supposed to just walk around and find people who spoke enough English and tell them about Jesus. It was a lot harder than it sounds. About a month in, my partner left to come back to America, which meant I would be alone in China for the next five months.

There came a point when going out and sharing the Gospel only to have it rejected by everyone I spoke to became very discourag-ing. I remember a distinct time where I was about to pack my bags and head home.

Send questions or comments to [email protected]

river I was amazed to see that it was nothing like my mind imagined. There was lush vegetation everywhere! It is like going down the Little Pigeon River. There are trees and plants everywhere.

You might at this point be asking why I am talking about the vegetation around the Jordan River. Well, here it is. In our spiritual lives we need to allow God to work through us to produce His fruit. In John 15:1-8, Jesus is speaking about how God is the vine and we are the branches. Those that are not producing fruit will be pruned off. It goes on to say that we cannot produce the fruit of God on our own; we must abide in God in order to produce the fruit He has created us for. It all comes down to this. Think of the Jordan River as God. He is flowing through our lives as believers. But are we latching on

Luckily, I realized through prayerfully reading the Word that my job was to share the Gospel and not save anyone, because I am not able to do that. I am to plant the seed and God is responsible for making it grow. After understanding this fact, I was able to go about sharing with a more encouraged heart.

Then five months passed and not one person was interested in what I had to say. I continued to press on and didn’t expect to see any results until I entered into eternity one day. I was able to share with 300 students during that time, 299 rejected the Gospel. Thankfully, the last day before leaving to come home I was able to stand before 30 Chinese students and tell them about God’s love. After everything was over a friend of mine came up with a girl and in his excitement all I could gather was, “She is a Christian and she wasn’t before tonight and now she is!” After five months and countless hours in prayer, I was able to see fruit.

That moment gave me so much hope that God is going to do big things as long as

believers are still going and doing their jobs, which is to bring the Gospel to the far reaches of the earth.

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ “ ~Romans 10:14-15

to the life that is in that river so that our lives are full of lush vegetation and healthy growth that comes from God? Or is that river running through a barren desert like I imagined in my head before seeing it with my own eyes?

I challenge you to open the flood gates and latch on to the life in the river. Drink of the water that Jesus offers so that you will never thirst again. When we produce the fruit that God purposed us for, He receives the glory. We will know what this is when we are in step with God, and our desires are what He desires. It can be summed up in the last two verses of the Scripture I referenced earlier: “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselver to be my disciples.” ~John 15:7-8

Lush Vegetation or Barren DesertNick Campbell Assistant Student Minister: Middle School

When I was a sophmore in high school my family had the unique opportunity to travel to Israel. Different from what I had pictured the area to be like in my mind when reading the Bible I found a few things interesting. While many parts of this region do have that desert feel, one place that is misrepresented is the Jordan River area around Jerusalem. I thought that it was a river running through a barren limited-life land. Even in the movies when Jesus is baptized, it seems to be in the middle of the desert with a few palm trees around. While in Israel, our group went to the Jordan River and was given the to our group to be baptized in the river. Looking around the

Published monthly by First Baptist Church of Sevierville.Periodical postage paid at Sevierville, TN | 317 Parkway, TN 37862RETURN POSTAGE REQUESTEDPostmaster send form 3579 to “First Word,” 317 Parkway, Sevierville, TN 37862(865) 453-9001 | FAX (865) 428-3920 | fbcsev.org

(USPS 661-090)

Rev. Dan Spencer Senior Pastor

Roland MaddoxExec. Associate Pastor

Scott AndrewsAssoc. Pastor of Worship

Jerry HyderAssoc. Pastor of Adults

Address317 Parkway Sevierville, TN 37862

Office HoursMonday- Friday8:00am - 5:00pm

Office Phone(865) 453-9001(865) 428-3920 (fax)

Scott CarterAssoc. Pastor of Youth

Craig MintzAssoc. Pastor of Young Adults and Discipleship

Royce BaileyAssoc. Pastor of Children

Clark ByramBusiness Administrator Contact UsSenior Staff

fbcsev.org

[email protected]

facebook.com/fbcsev

twitter.com/fbcsev

Pastor on Call(865) 453-9257

Prayer Line(865) 429-PRAY

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