I Love Being a Part of This Church

New Song Community Church released a song, “I Heart My Church.”  They are starting a wave of people who are speaking out about their love for the place they call home.  Let me add a few thoughts from the past few weeks to the growing people who say,  “I love my church.” I love your sacrificial giving. During our Christmas season the extravagance of your giving was remarkable.  From our Christmas offering we took a check for over $4,000 to Camp Attitude.  The delivery team was a young lady (Holly) who served at Camp Attitude, a young lady (Annie) who attended Camp Attitude and their respective parents.  The directors of the camp thought we were coming to talk about serving at the camp.  When they discovered we were there to give them a gift, they were quite taken back.  Admittedly they thought we were going to give them a check for a few hundred dollars.  When they opened the card and saw the amount—tears were next.  They had a need that the staff had been praying for over the past few months.  The amount of the check answered their prayer and now they can purchase their new check-in system.  How great is our God.  I love your concern for life and compassion for people. Last week we delivered our check to Father Taaffe House.  This home serves four young, single mothers and their children.  The house parents, Zach and Gemma, are incredible.  They act as parents to these young moms.  In the context of a loving home the young mothers are nurtured, taught life skills, encouraged spiritually, and guided with gracious wisdom.  Each of the moms is in an education program.  What a blessing to see such a significant investment of love into these young moms and their children.  Their futures look brighter because of the ministry and love from the Father Taaffe House.  I love your responsiveness. Last weekend I was chatting with some young kids in our church and they told me they were going home with someone other than their parents.  Mom had a baby and other church families were coming along-side to support this family.  I know this kind of thing happens weekly in our church.  I visited a brother in the hospital and so did you.  He was loved and cared for as he faced a significant medical issue.  Church members ought to treat one another like family members, but SFB goes beyond that.  In the past few weeks I have heard of people receiving help with moving, finances being provided, budget help given and a woman going with her friend to a counseling session for support.  I love being a part of this church. Pastor Mark _____________ SOUND THE TRUMPET:  ASSEMBLING THE TROOPS FOR PRAYER The Bible says that we are stronger together.  That is nowhere more true than when it comes to prayer.  When we unite together in prayer God uniquely responds because He loves unity (Ps. 133:1-2).  So for the next seven weeks we are inviting you to unite in prayer.  On our website will be our own Prayer Wall.  We will be collecting your prayers and celebrations of God’s answers.  You can visit the prayer wall daily as a family or at the office and join our entire family as we Sound the Trumpet and assemble the troops for prayer. How do you get your prayer or praise to us?  prayer@fbcsalem.org or text to 62953 (put sfb in the message and then your request).                               First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org go to SFB prayer wall     For past Focus stories go to.. http://fbcsalem.blogspot.com/