for god. for dothan. for the world. volume 56, no. 6 church will have either a revival or a funeral!...

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Ministry Staff Paul Thompson Senior Pastor Charles Uptain Executive Pastor Steve Chambers Worship Jeremy Allen Students Michael Brooks Children and Families Woody Farrington Pastoral Care Joyce Alexander Preschool Patty Farrington Senior Adults Ministry Assistants Caren Coleson Pastoral/Music Carol Morris Executive Assistant Rebekah McLure Music Anne Register Community/Recreation Amanda Trammell Students/Publications Brooke Davis Children Angie Tice Adults/Outreach Emily Shiver Senior Adults Support Staff Nolan Dykes Music Assistant Leslie Payne Childcare Coordinator Greg Pendergrass Director of ROC Mark Shiver Facilities Manager Weekday Ministry Michelle Beasley Associate Director Nickie Smith Receptionist Church Office 792.5159 Recreation Outreach Center 836.2949 Weekday Ministry 793.9898 Volume 56, No. 6 For God. For Dothan. For the World. Vacation Bible School This year’s theme is Journey Off the Map! We will be going into uncharted territory where we will begin to understand that obedience to God can lead us beyond the expected. Let’s toss the map, stick close to our guide, and prepare to listen for God’s direction in this journey that is unknown to us, but known by Him. So, mark your calendars! Calvary’s Senior Adult VBS will be June 1-5 from 8:30 am-11:30 am! VBS for 3-Year-Olds (who were born by September 1, 2011) to 5th Grade VBS will be June 8-12 from 8:30 am-12:00 noon! Calvary Family Night at Water World! We are having Family Night at Water World! It is June 14 from 6:00-8:00 pm. Cost is $2 per person! Invite all your family, friends, and neighbors! This is step two of the Jerusalem Project. God and Country Service Calvary will have a God and Country service on Sunday, June 28. That Sunday we will worship in the Fellowship Center and our guest speaker will be Bobby Welch. Bobby Welch is the former president of the South- ern Baptist Convention and now serves as Associate Executive Director in Church Growth at the Tennessee Baptist Conven- tion.

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Ministry StaffPaul Thompson Senior PastorCharles Uptain Executive PastorSteve Chambers WorshipJeremy Allen StudentsMichael Brooks Children and FamiliesWoody Farrington Pastoral CareJoyce Alexander PreschoolPatty Farrington Senior Adults

Ministry AssistantsCaren Coleson Pastoral/MusicCarol Morris Executive AssistantRebekah McLure MusicAnne Register Community/RecreationAmanda Trammell Students/PublicationsBrooke Davis ChildrenAngie Tice Adults/OutreachEmily Shiver Senior Adults

Support StaffNolan Dykes Music Assistant Leslie Payne Childcare Coordinator Greg Pendergrass Director of ROC Mark Shiver Facilities Manager

Weekday MinistryMichelle Beasley Associate DirectorNickie Smith Receptionist

Church Office 792.5159 Recreation Outreach Center 836.2949 Weekday Ministry 793.9898

Volume 56, No. 6For God. For Dothan. For the World.

Vacation Bible SchoolThis year’s theme is Journey Off the Map! We will be going into uncharted territory where we will begin to understand that obedience to God can lead us beyond the expected. Let’s toss the map, stick close to our guide, and prepare to listen for God’s direction in this journey that is unknown to us, but known by Him. So, mark your calendars! • Calvary’s Senior Adult VBS will be June 1-5 from

8:30 am-11:30 am! • VBS for 3-Year-Olds (who were born by September 1,

2011) to 5th Grade VBS will be June 8-12 from 8:30 am-12:00 noon!

Calvary Family Night at Water World!We are having Family Night at Water World! It is June 14 from 6:00-8:00 pm. Cost is $2 per person! Invite all your family, friends, and neighbors! This is step two of the Jerusalem Project.

God and Country ServiceCalvary will have a God and Country service on Sunday, June 28. That Sunday we will worship in the Fellowship Center and our guest speaker will be Bobby Welch. Bobby Welch is the former president of the South-ern Baptist Convention and now serves as Associate Executive Director in Church Growth at the Tennessee Baptist Conven-tion.

Sermon Schedule

Wednesday, June 36:00 pm

Midweek Bible StudyROC R300&302

Led by Paul Thompson

Sunday, June 710:00 am

Message by Paul Thompson

Wednesday, June 106:00 pm

No Midweek Bible StudyVBS Week

Sunday, June 1410:00 am

Message by Paul Thompson

Wednesday, June 176:00 pm

Midweek Bible StudyROC R300&302

Led by Paul Thompson

Sunday, June 2110:00 am

Message by Paul Thompson

Wednesday, June 246:00 pm

Midweek Bible StudyROC R300&302

Led by Paul Thompson

Sunday, June 2810:00 am

God and Country ServiceMessage by Bobby Welch

This church will have either a revival or a funeral!

So writes Leonard Ravenhill in his classic, Why Revival Tarries. As Ravenhill recounts a minister putting that sign on the outside of his church, he notes, “With such despair God is well pleased, though hell is despondent.”

I wonder often if I/we have this desperate desire to see our church revitalized and fired up for God and the Gospel, or if we are content with business as usual and the routine of passive ‘participa-tion’ without transformation. Is God pleased with us and hell despondent at us? I sure desire that!

According to the folks at Simple Church (simplechurchathome.com), here’s a snapshot of the American church:• 80% of churches are plateaued or declining.• For those that show “growth”, the vast majority comes from “switchers” (people who move

from one church to another).• 3500 people leave the church every day.• 7000 churches close their doors every year.

But here’s the truth: Churches don’t die overnight. It takes years of neglect before you receive a fatal diagnosis. Neglect of Biblical doctrine. Neglect of prayer. Neglect of unity. Neglect of the Gospel. Neglect of the people all around them that are hurting, lost, and hell-bound. These and many other neglects ensure the demise of any church.

Those churches that are experiencing revival, however are churches that have …• Unity … among leaders and throughout the congregation• An outward focus … more concern about the lost than our preferences• A clear discipleship pathway … a plan to help all people grow in Christlikeness• And raised expectations for all members … membership matters in healthy churches

In those churches, the Word is central. The Gospel is proclaimed. The Spirit empowers. The people are a body of believers, not a crowd of customers. The pastor and staff are trusted and hon-ored. And making disciples of all people – near and far – is the clear and focused mission.

Those that are facing a future funeral are churches that …• Are mostly concerned about their preferences and comforts and not growing God’s kingdom• Abandon the biblical responsibility of disciple-making to a few paid staff • Value the traditions of men more than the teachings of God • Complain, murmur, gossip, slander about their staff, each other, and the church

Gypsy Smith was a nineteenth-century revivalist who did something unusual when he came to a new town. He’d stop on the outskirts and draw a circle in the dirt. Then he would stand inside that circle and say, “O God, please send a revival to this town, and let it begin inside this circle.”

So, if we want to see revival at Calvary, we all might need to start drawing some circles. As we do, we might find God convicting us and changing our hearts. Some might have to sacrifice personal preference for the sake of the church’s overall effectiveness and mission (Phil. 2:4). Some might have to stop sowing seeds of discord and instead become eager for unity (Prov. 6:19, Eph. 4:3). Some might have to start praying daily for lives to be changed, people to be saved, and for God to give us all the courage to stand out and speak up for Jesus (Acts 26:18, Eph. 6:19). Some might have to start seeing their pastor as God’s chosen man in leadership of this church and begin to trust him and the pastoral staff, pray for them, and follow their leadership (1 Tim. 5:17, Heb. 13:17). Some might have to go to someone and seek forgiveness (Matt. 5:23-24). Others might have to repent of bitterness and give forgiveness for offenses they continue to harbor (Heb. 12:14-15, Eph. 4:31, Mark 11:25). Some might need to examine themselves and see if they are really in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5).

Truth is, every church (as my old high school principal used to say about people) is either green and growing or ripe and rotting. That is, every church is either growing in God-honoring, kingdom-useful purpose, or it is surely dying a slow but inevitable death.

So, which will it be? A funeral or a revival? I’m drawing a circle, stepping in it, and praying for and trusting God for revival!

For His glory alone,

Pastor Paul

For the RecordFor April 26-May 24

Average Attendance: 8:00 Worship 38310:45 Worship 322Life Groups 5511st Time Guests MidWeek Meal 2Mission Churches 287Nursing Homes 63Outreach Bible Study 10

Total Giving:General Fund $252,846.83Given Y-T-D $945,568.94Y-T-D Required $1,045,557.872

From the Senior Pastor

Find us online at www.calvarydothan.com & www.facebook.com/CalvaryDothan | Church Office Hours M-F 8-12 & 1-4:30

PRESCHOOL MINISTRY• Big Splash Party: Preschoolers ages 3 to Kindergarten join us for a Big Splash Party for on campus fun June 3 at 5:45 pm! Please

dress to get wet and bring a towel! Light snack provided during class.• No Wednesday Night Activities June 10: There will be no Preschool Wednesday Summer classes on June 10th. Get rested up

for a fun day of VBS on Thursday!• Little Artists Night: Join us for Little Artists night in Preschool on June 17 at 5:45 pm! Various arts and crafts will be experienced

in the ClubHouse for 3’s-Kindergarten. Please dress appropriately to play with messy stuff. A light snack will be provided during class.

• Preschool Day Camp: Fours through Kindergarten join us in the ClubHouse on Thursday, June 18 from 9 am-2 pm. This event is free. Please contact Joyce Alexander in the church office to pre-register!

• Mystery Playdate: Put the date in your calendar! Plan to join us for a Mystery Playdate on Monday, June 22 for all preschoolers and their families. More information to come at least one week prior to event!

• Science Night: Join us for exciting hands-on science and discovery activities in the ClubHouse with 3’s-Kindergarten at 5:45 pm on June 24!

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY• Vacation Bible School: Don’t miss out on all the fabulous fun at VBS this year! VBS is June 8-12 from 8:30am-12:00 noon.• Pool Party Night: June 17 we are going to the Azar’s house for a pool party! We are meeting at the church at 5:45 pm and riding

over there together. Bring your towel and a signed permission slip from your parents in order to come.

STUDENT MINISTRY• Beach Retreat, June 12-15: Students, don’t miss this awesome weekend at the beach of hanging out with your friends, games,

worship, and Bible study PLUS a fun day at Big Kahuna Water Park! The extended deadline to sign up is Wednesday, June 3! Cost is $200.

• Student Summer Wednesday Nights: We will be heading off campus on Wednesday Nights this summer from 6:00 pm-8:30 pm. Most nights we will be swimming, so remember to bring a suit and a towel (Girls, need to be in a one piece or wear a t-shirt over their suit). We will run a bus from the church to each location. If you are riding the bus, meet outside the student area at 5:30. We will return on the bus at 9:00 pm. We need a signed waiver for each time you are riding the bus. You are welcome to just meet us at the houses if you do not need to ride the bus.

Wednesday Nights for the month of June:

RECREATION OUTREACH CENTER• Volunteers Needed for Camp ROCK: We are in need of 2 women to mentor some girls in Camp Rock on Mondays from 3:30-

4:30 during the 2015-2016 school year. Call Greg or Anne in the Recreation Outreach Center for more info: 836-2949.

• Camp Calvary: Join us this summer in the Recreation Outreach Center for Camp Calvary. Camp Calvary consists of 3 different weeks of camp for children ages 7-11 (before September 1, 2015). There will be a flag football camp June 22-26, basketball camp July 13-17, and girls only camp July 20-24. Each camp can hold 40 children. Registration is first come first serve. You may sign up for as many of the camps as you wish. Each camp costs $30.00, and full payment is required at sign up. Sign up at Calvary Baptist Church in the Recreation Outreach Center today! Deadline to sign up for all camps is June 19.

SENIOR ADULTS• Senior Adult VBS is June 1-5 from 8:30-11:30 am in the Fellowship Center. Come join us for Bible study, food, fun, and mission

projects!

Ministry News

Find us online at www.calvarydothan.com & www.facebook.com/CalvaryDothan | Church Office Hours M-F 8-12 & 1-4:30 10:45 Sunday Morning Worship

Broadcast on Radio WIZB FM 94.3

June 3: Pool Party at the Downs’ 12 Foxchase DrJune 10: Pool Party at the Watson’s 115 Summerleaf Way

June 17: Pool Party at the Zhang’s 105 Spring Valley CtJune 24: No Activities Wired Camp Week

December 2014Brooke DavisBaptist College of FloridaBachelors in Ministry Studies

May 2015Mary Grace DownsAuburn UniversityMasters in Elementary Education

Steve C. Dubelt IITroy University of DothanBachelors in Applied Computer Science Minor in Chemistry

Jalisa GwynnAssociate in Science General Studies

Lauren Elizabeth HuntSamford UniversityDouble Major: Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication and Political Sciences in Public Administration

David JonesAuburn UniversityMasters in Computer Sci-ence

Rush JonesAuburn UniversityBachelors in Microbiology

Brian MillsUniversity of AlabamaBachelor of Science in Commerce and Business inFinance Specialization Investment Management

Amanda StefinUniversity of FloridaBachelors of Science in Chemistry

Andrew TarwaterAuburn UniversityBachelor of Science inHospitality Services and Business

Ruthie TarwarterAuburn UniversityBachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, Philanthropic and Non-profit Studies

Jacob TautonAuburn UniversityBachelor of Science in Biomedical Science with a focus in Pre Med

Keston TrammellAuburn UniversityMaster of Science in Nursing

August 2015Matthew NunnallyAuburn UniversityDouble Major: Accounting and Economics

Congratulations to our college graduates! We are proud of you!

CALVARY EXTENDS THEIR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO...The Family of Herman CulpepperThe Family of Nadine SimplerBeth Davis- Death of Aunt

DEACONS OF THE WEEKJune 7 Bill Sherrer, Stacey Harrison, Tom Woods, Phillip McCoyJune 14 Andy Franklin, Brian Reed, Joey Deavers, Bill SmithJune 21 Rodney Myers, Sam Robinson, Larry Latta, Hudson LazenbyJune 28 Roger Simpler, Morgan Harrell, Mark Smith, Lance Beasley

Non-Profit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 215

Dothan, AL36303

901 Montezuma AvenueDothan, AL 36303

Return Service Requested

STAFF ON CALL SCHEDULEJune6-7:

Saturday- Joyce Alexander, 334-798-4791

Sunday- Patty Farrington, 334-618-5845

June 13-14:Saturday- Charles Uptain,

334-797-7191

Sunday- Charles Uptain,334-797-7191

June 20-21:Saturday- Steve Chambers,

772-215-3606

Sunday- Ron Bruce, 334-701-1817

June 27-28:Saturday- Jeremy Allen,

334-648-6695

Sunday- Michael Brooks, 731-803-9111