Firs Focus A Weekly Newsletter for the Family and Friends of Pickens First Baptist

All Church Members………………………..….……………………….………Ministers

Fred Stone (859-5853)…………………....…..….…..………….……….Senior Pastor

Bryan Hester (704-4802)…………….……….………….Worship & Associate Pastor

Jeff Rafferty (607-8306)……………..………………..Discipleship & Missions Pastor

Mike Sterlachini (395-5880)……………………………..…..Student & Family Pastor

Jennifer Hendrix (449-5381)…………..……………..…………….Preschool Director

Katie Freeman………………………………………………………Financial Secretary

Tricia McJunkin……………………..…………….………..………....Church Secretary

Church Phone: 864-878-6564 Website: www.fbcpickens.org

Office Hours: 8:30 AM – 5 PM, Monday – Thursday

8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Friday

Worship Services Will Resume on May 24

I am excited to announce that we will resume live, in-person worship services

on Sunday morning, May 24. To maintain social distancing, we are adding a third

service. The services �mes will be 8:00 am, 9:30 am, and 11:00 am.

Like all businesses and organiza�ons that have been closed during the pandem-

ic, we will resume our regular church schedule in phases. Phase I will be the three

Sunday morning worship services only. There will be no childcare for any service.

All Sunday School classes and other groups that have been mee�ng by Zoom are

encouraged to con�nue un�l we resume mee�ng on our church campus.

Phase II will begin when schools start. Our goal is to resume everything at that

�me: Sunday School, Youth and Children’s ministries, Sunday night and Wednes-

day night services, and all other small group gatherings.

Even though some of the Coronavirus-related restric�ons are being li4ed, all

health care and government recommenda�ons strongly encourage everyone to

con�nue prac�cing social distancing. We will send a le5er to all church members

next week with details about how we plan to maintain social distancing when we

come back together for worship on May 24. Our goal is to provide a safe environ-

ment for our church family.

Our return to worship on May 24 will be a different experience for everyone,

but the excitement of being back together will make it all worthwhile. I am look-

ing forward to seeing everyone and not having to preach to an empty room! But I

am thankful we have been able to provide online worship services throughout the

quaran�ne.

Please con�nue to pray that the number of people sick and dying with the

Coronavirus will decrease drama�cally in the coming days. Let’s also ask God to

keep us safe and healthy as we start returning to a more ac�ve and public life-

style.

May 10, 2020 Vol. 56, No. 19

The Pastor’s Pen The Pastor’s Pen The Pastor’s Pen The Pastor’s Pen

Senior Adult News…

Two Events for You to Consider for this Fall and Christmas

Celebrators 2020

Pigeon Forge, TN

October 19- 22, 2020 (Monday- Thursday)

* 1 per room = $466 per person

* 2 per room = $296.00 per person

* 3 per room = $240.00 per person

* 4 per room = $211.00 per person

• The deadline to sign up and pay a $25 deposit for the Celebrators trip has been ex-tended.

And…

Christmas at Myrtle Beach

December 3-5 (Thursday- Saturday) Cost: Includes Charter Bus, 2 Christmas shows, lodging, two suppers, and two breakfasts. Does not include lunch on the way down and back or lunch on Friday.

* Single in a room = $330 per person

* Two in a room = $255 per person

Christmas Show: The Carolina Opry and The Alabama Theater Dinner: Original Benjamins and The Chesapeake House

Please note our deadline to pay a $50 deposit per person has been extended for the Myrtle Beach Christmas Trip.

**You can sign up for either of these trips outside the Adult IV Sunday School area just down the hallway from the choir room, sign up and pay online, or you can call me or email me to sign up.

For more information on either of these trips, please call or email me at

bryan@fbcpickens.org or 878-6564.

Bryan’s NotesBryan’s NotesBryan’s NotesBryan’s Notes

WMU Prayer Focus

The WMU wants to focus prayer on this year’s NAMB Week of Prayer missionaries. This week, will you please pray for:

Kirk & Karen Kirkland, Cincinnati, Ohio

Kirk and Karen started a church plant when they first arrived in Cincinnati and did it alone which was very hard. When they realized God wanted them to start a second church, they became a part of the Southern Baptist Convention and as Kirk puts it, “it’s the best move we ever made.” As SBC church planters, Kirk and Karen receive support to successfully support their church plant and expand their community outreach ministries. They ask that we pray for the church leaders to develop disciples and multiply small groups and that we pray for a third church plant they are planning.

Rob & Annabeth Wilton, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Rob and Annabeth served ten years in New Orleans before feeling called to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has over 2 million people and very few churches; most people have not been reached with the gospel there even though Southern Baptists have started 20-40 churches in the last few years. Rob is a church planting coordinator for NAMB and has started a new church plant in southwest Pittsburgh. His hope is for local existing church plants will re-cruit, train and send new planters. Pray for unity among the planting leaders and for more church planters.

Pickens First Baptist Church Goal: $10,000.00

Given: $4,350.00

Homebound Ministry Birthdays For May

Helen Finley - May 11th

Leona Crowther - May 24th

Please notify the church office if you or a family member would like to be added to our homebound or in-care facility lists.

Online Youth Bible Studies

Mike and Karen are leading youth Bible studies on Sunday mornings at 11:00am and Wednesday nights at 6:30pm using the Zoom app. This app works on Mac, PC, Android, and all iPhones, iPads, and iPods. Access to these Bible studies are only through links emailed and texted weekly, so be sure you are receiving them. If you are not receiving the emails and/or text messages, please contact Mike at

mike@fbcpickens.org or 395-5880.

Graduate Recognition

Our Graduate Recognition Service is scheduled for Sunday, May 31 at 11:00 a.m. This is a special time where we recognize all of our high school and college graduates. At this time, we are still moving forward with the service, but not the luncheon. If you or your child are graduating, please fill out the online form found on the church website homepage or recent church-wide email. This

form must be submitted by Wednesday, May 20. This online form will allow you to enter all the information needed for the service and upload five photos of the graduate.

Student Ministry News from MikeStudent Ministry News from MikeStudent Ministry News from MikeStudent Ministry News from Mike

Deacon Selection – June 7

We will select 5 new deacons on Sunday morning, June 7. That will be the third Sunday we are back on campus for worship. As set forth in our church bylaws, deacons are chosen from among the men of our church who are at least 21 years of age and have been a member of the church for at least one year. For the convenience of our church family, a list of men who meet these age and membership requirements will be available in the vestibule. Keep in mind that our church has higher qualifications than just age and membership requirements. We require deacons to meet the biblical qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:8-13 and Acts 6:1-

7. Generally, these qualifications require a man to demonstrate Godly character, doctrinal soundness, and the spiritual qualities necessary to provide effective leadership in his home and the church. He should also be faithful to the church in attendance, service, and giving. The men whose names are listed below are currently serving as deacons. Those rotat-ing off this year are ineligible for re-election for one year.

Rotate Off in 2020 Rotate Off in 2021 Rotate Off in 2022

Boyce Couch Milledge Cassell Joe Dunn

Len Newman Brett Garrison Lynn Fisher Gil Stewart Michael Hendrix Larry Martin

Victor Whitworth Davey Hiott Roger Smith

Andy Williams William Reece Mendel Stewart

FACTS & FIGURES FACTS & FIGURES FACTS & FIGURES FACTS & FIGURES

May 3, 2020 Building Fund: $271,325.54

Offering - $33,571.63

Offering To Date - $409,415.30 Goal to Date - $401,694.84

To Give Online:

1. Go to www.fbcpickens.org

2. Click on the “MyPFBC” Icon

3. Click on “Give” 4. Choose “Create an Account” or “Give Without A Login” and follow the directions

If you have any questions, you may call Katie in the church office at 878-6564.

Welcome to Pickens First Baptist Church

Worship Services Will Resume on May 24

8:00 am, 9:30 am, and 11:00 am

All other on campus ministries, classes, and ac!vi!es remain cancelled or

will meet online.

Online Worship Service Available Every Sunday,

Beginning @ 8:00 AM

* On YouTube: On your smart TV, smartphone, iPad, or computer

using a YouTube app, go to:

www.youtube.com/channel/UCtmZ6DojUpfI9TbvWQxyZ7Q

* On Pickens FBC Website: On your smartphone, iPad, or computer,

go to: www.Ecpickens.org

Online Sunday School for Youth, led by Mike Sterlachini

Please Contact Mike to Par!cipate: mike@/cpickens.org

Online Sunday School for Adults, led by Jeff Rafferty

Please Contact Jeff to Par!cipate: jeff@/cpickens.org