I've been spending quite a bit of time reading about disciple making lately. I enjoy it and desire to learn how we can do a better job at becoming and developing disciples. One of the keys to making disciples is groups – Sunday school classes, small groups, accountability groups, etc. One of the reasons groups are essential is because they serve as a point of connections. Our groups really serve as connection groups to our church. In fact, when I think about our groups/classes, I think about them in

terms of the connections they provide: they connect people with God and His word, they connect people to one another, and they connect people with our church. Really, groups/classes are like Legos® – together they connect to build something great! Groups are essential to our growth as disciples of Jesus and our growth as a church. So, two things… First, if you are not a part of one our Sunday school small groups or connection groups, let me encourage you to connect to one. Need help? Ask Clay or me and we will help you find a starting place. Second, as we seek to develop disciples of Jesus, invite people you know to be a part of your small group. It is an easy way to provide essential connections for life and community.

Our FBC-U sessions this summer have been fantastic! It is exciting to hear from our local ministry partners and the work they are doing for the sake of God's Kingdom. If you've have not been able to make it thus far, let me encourage you to make a point to join us for our remaining sessions. Here's the schedule: July 2 is Discovery, an outreach to international women, July 9 is the Hope Pregnancy Center who serve women in crisis pregnancy, July 16 is Twin City Mission who helps the underserved, July 23 is a report from the South Texas Mission Team, and July 30 is Save Our Streets Ministries. Hope to see you there!

One final thought. When someone calls you, you answer the call. You look to see who it is, and then you answer. What do we do when God calls us? Do we answer? As we finish up the 'Called' series in the next few weeks, I want you to consider not only what God is calling you to do, but to consider doing it. What would our church look like if we answered God's call to use our gifts, talents, and abilities in His service?

Blessings,

A Note from Pastor Troy Vol. 27, No. 13 July 2-15, 2017 Ph. 979-696-7000 Fax 979-693-4778

6//25/2017 Week Month Year

Needs $33,102 $132,408 $850,702

Receipts $33,235 $126,074 $772,418

Over/Under $133 $(6,334) $(78,284)

Please PRAY for our members and relatives. Names in bold

are new additions.

Zanna Bickham, Joey Blackmon, Laura Bond, Marilyn Brown, Elizabeth

Booker, Frank Bumba, Iris Burkett, Cassie Campbell, Betty Clark, Emaline

Clark, BJ Conrad, Nancy Coppock, Marilyn Davis, Mary Lou Franklin, Lou Ann Gaulding, Maurice Gibbs, Linda

Grant, Elizabeth Groves, Connie Harrison, Kathleen Heaton, Austin Hodge, Linda Hoffman, Matthew

Jackson, Charlotte Jones, Edsel Jones, Rosemarie & Richie Kotara, Gary

Kovar, Eddie Lockett, Melissa Rowland McCarroll, LaNelle McCulley, Guy

McShan, Kay Meek, Jim & Sue Melton, Dianne Miles, John Pavalasek, Vic & Cookie Pears, Elena Petty, Marilyn

Radke, Norma Rowland, Peggy Shafer, Jennifer Sibold, Karen Steele, Jace Steubing, Todd Stickney, Bernice

Thompson, Beverly Watson, Kerry Whitaker, John Williams, Helen &

Arthur Whittington, Denise Woods, Hung Chi & Jeanne Yu, Ministers &

their Families, Office/Building Staff & their Families, Church Ministries, Missions, & Activities, Worship

Leaders, Law Enforcement & Military Personnel & their Families, Our

Country & Leaders

If you need to add someone to the prayer list or remove someone, please call the church office at 696-7000 or

email daralyn.fbc@gmail.com.

Clay Hopkins, Associate Pastor clay@fbccollegestation.com

Last newsletter, we considered the importance of unity within the local church as a key trait of an outwardly focused church. In other words, for us to be a body that desires to fulfill the Great Commission, we must make sure we are all on the same page about our purpose. A second key component, which Thom Rainer discusses in his book “I Will,” is that we need to be a prayerful church. Paul writes in Colossians, “For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.” (Col. 1:9-10). Does this describe you? Let’s work together that we might be a people who depend on prayer for our church and one another.

Don’t forget our Bible class for ESL adults. They will meet in Room 1010 through July during the regular Bible Study hour until we find them a permanent home. Please pray for this group, and if you know adults who would benefit from this learning environment, please invite them to join us!

Joshua Price, Minister to Youth josh@fbccollegestation.com

Here is what we have coming up:

Kids Club * Tuesdays from 9:00am-11:00am Escape Lunch * Thursdays from 12:00pm-1:30pm. Locations to be determined

the Sunday before the event. Launch * August 18-19 * Our back-to-school kickoff! Check out our website

and future newsletters for more information as we get closer to this event.

Thank you Church Family for praying for our youth who went to camp/MissionLab in New Orleans June 23-30. We had a great time. Be watching for a video presentation coming soon during worship service!

I usually tell folks that summer is a good time to join the Sanctuary Choir… and it usually is. But this summer, the month of July is probably not the best time to come to choir rehearsal, because we’re not having any choir rehearsals in July.

With folks being out for Children’s Camp, Mission Trip, and family vacations, we’ve decided to have a “No-Rehearsal July.” We have prepared several anthems ahead of time and will be singing throughout the month, but we will not meet at our normal 6:30 time on Wednesdays.

If you are interested in being part of our choir, we will resume our regular schedule on Wednesday, August 2. We would love to have you join us!

Bill Killion, Minister of Music billk@fbccollegestation.com

SOUTH TEXAS MISSION TRIP INFO

If you would like more information on the South Texas Mission Trip, plan to attend the

informational meeting on Sunday, July 9 at 7:15pm

n the Fellowship Hall.

Phyllis Adams Transfer of Letter

June 25, 2017

Jacqueline Swann Transfer of Letter

June 25, 2017

Michael & Stephanie Lair, Noah, Natalie, Emily, Alyssa Grace, Elanor, & Asher James welcomed Isaac Andrew to their family on June 13. He weighed 10 lbs 3 oz and was 21-1/2 inches long. He and mom are doing great.

Jim & Connie Harrison welcomed a new granddaughter, Charlotte Rowyn Stahl, on June 14. Charlotte weighed 7 lbs 15 oz, and was 20 inches long. Proud parents are Stefan & Rebecca Stahl and proud sister is Ryanne.

Former members Alex & Jennifer Garza, Brayden, Savannah, Abbey, Hank, & Levi welcomed Evelyn Ruth to their family on June 15. Evelyn weighed 6 lbs 14 oz and was 19-3/4 inches long.

Bronwyn Stanley, Minister to Children bronwyn@fbccollegestation.com

As you read this we are just days away from First Kids Camp 2017. We are busy sorting and packing camp supplies and goodies and finalizing plans so that our campers will have the best camp experience possible. This year we are studying about what it means to be a believer, focusing on the 12th chapter of Romans. Please add our camp staff and campers to your prayers, that all will have a safe, fun, and spiritually full week. We are so thankful for the adults willing to take the time to pour into the lives of our First Kids!

It’s not too late to sign up for summer fun days. In July, our junior fun day group will tour Bahama Bucks and go to U-Paint-It. The preteen fun day group will go to Stone Moves indoor rock climbing and out for dinner. In August, there are two more fun days: we’ll be viewing a movie and going ice skating, and taking a trip to Incredible Pizza Company in Conroe. You may sign up online for most trips, or just stop by the children’s ministry office and we’ll be glad to help you.

Summer Small Group * Join our Summer small group because faith forms best with friends. We meet each Thursday night at 7:00pm at Don and Tami Poe's home. We are studying a Francis Chan series that focuses on the basic aspects of our faith. Hope to see you there!

Jordan Whittington, College Minister jordan@fbccollegestation.com

FBC-U 2017

LOCAL MINISTRY PARTNERS

Fellowship Hall

Sunday Nights @ 6:00pm

July 2 * Discovery

July 9 * Hope Pregnancy Center

July 16 * Twin City Mission

July 23 * South Texas Mission Trip

July 30 * Save Our Streets

August 18-19

Youth end-of-summer/ back-2-school event

Cost: $25. Includes a t-shirt and 2 meals. See Josh for more

information or to sign up!

DO YOU NEED TO UPDATE YOUR ADDRESS? PHONE NUMBER? EMAIL? Please contact lisa@fbccollegestation.com

2300 Welsh Avenue College Station, TX 77845

POSTMASTER: Please forward address changes.

Our Weekly Summer Events Schedule

Sundays Early Worship ................................................... 8:30am Youth Praise Band Rehearsal ............................... 9:15 Sunday School for all Ages ................................... 9:45 Brown Memorial Library Open ................. 9:45 & 10:40 Late Worship ....................................................... 11:00 Brown Memorial Library Open ......................... 5:00pm Adventures in Bible Study for Kids ........................ 6:00 FBC-U (June 11-July 30) ...................................... 6:00 Mondays Deacon-led Prayer Time (open to all) .............. 6:30am Men’s Prayer Meeting ...................................... 8:00pm

Tuesdays Food Pantry (volunteers @ 9am) ................... 10:00am Quilt-n-Peace ....................................................... 10:00 Ladies Exercise Class ...................................... 5:45pm Praise Team Rehearsal ......................................... 6:00 Evening Quilters (1st & 3rd Tues) ......................... 6:30 Ladies Evening Prayer group ................................ 7:00 Wednesdays Brown Memorial Library Opens ........................ 5:00pm Youth Praise Band Rehearsal ............................... 5:00 Homebound Ministry Team ................................... 5:30 Adult Teachers Meeting ........................................ 5:45 Youth Refuge ......................................................... 6:30 ZIP! For Kids .......................................................... 6:30 Sanctuary Choir (adults) (not in July) .................... 6:30 Adult Bible Study ................................................... 6:30

Thursdays Youth Escape Lunch ........................................... Noon Tender Warriors Day (men’s Bible study) ........... Noon Ladies Exercise Class ...................................... 5:45pm Tender Warriors Evening (Blue Baker on Univ.) ... 7:30

UPCOMING FIRST LIGHT DEADLINES:

MONDAY, JULY 10, 5:00PM (covers July 16th - July 29th)

Please bring information to the office or email daralyn.fbc@gmail.com.

COMING TO FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FOR JULY 2 - 15, 2017

JULY 2 * FIRST KIDS CAMP 2017 * PARENT/CAMPER MEETING * Sunday, July 2 @ 7:00pm in the

sanctuary. Mandatory meeting for all campers & their parents.

JULY 3 * SO. TEXAS MISSION TEAM MEETING * 5:30pm in room 1000.

JULY 4 * OFFICE CLOSED * Holiday - Independence Day

JULY 9 * DEACONS’ MEETING * 4:00pm in room 1030.

JULY 9 * SOUTH TEXAS MISSION TRIP INFORMATIONAL MEETING * Sunday, July 9, 7:15pm in the

Fellowship Hall.

JULY 10-14 * FIRST KIDS CAMP 2017 * “#Believer” at Trinity Pines.

JULY 11 * PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MEETING * 6:30 pm in room 1010.

JULY 11 * PROPERTY COMMITTEE MEETING * 6:30 pm in room 1000.

JULY 12 * HOMEBOUND MINISTRY TEAM MEETING * 5:45pm in room 1060B.

**No Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal in July**

COMING SOON South Texas Mission Trip ................ July 16-21 First Kids Junior Fun Day...................... July 25 First Kids Preteen Fun Day ................... July 27 Women’s Ministry Girls’ Night Out ........ July 28 Property Committee Meeting .................. Aug 1 FirstKids Fun Day ................................... Aug 1 Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Resumes..... Aug 2 Sixth Grade Send-off .............................. Aug 3 First Kids Fun Day .................................. Aug 8 Youth Launch ................................... Aug 18/19