Thursday, December 31, 2015

Home


Home is surely where the heart is.  And the heart is where home is.  And home is made up of more than walls, furniture and rooms because heart and home are truly intangible.  Love and respect, honor and dignity, significance and value, laughter and empathy coalesce to become that place of refuge and comfort that is truly the heart and hearth of home.

We know full well that the church, as the Body of Christ, encompasses all of these values and becomes the true home of extended family.  And each of us has been adopted in, some decades or generations ago, some only recently as “newborns”. 

Though she sometimes attended services in a building, Victoria had never entered into the true family life “at home” in a church.  But friends are sometimes as near as family, and family never gives up on family.  So it was with a young man from her school who invited her to his youth group middle school Lock-In their sixth-grade year.  At the time it just didn’t jive for Victoria, so she didn’t return.

Yet love is ever-present and ever-active.  Just as the fragrance of Christ permeates an environment, love and respect speak powerfully to watching and listening hearts.  As Victoria observed those attributes in the family life of her ever-faithful friend over the following months, she was prompted to say yes to his second invite to the Lock-In during their seventh-grade year.  And Victoria’s heart responded to the call to come home.  She began to attend Fusion and church services regularly and was enveloped by the love of God and of His people.  She joyfully embraced a relationship with Jesus Christ and her brothers and sisters at Salem First Baptist.
Along with heaven, this home at SFBC is where Victoria’s heart is and where she has begun to serve with an excited passion, blessed by those intangible and intrinsic values of the church.  What a wonderful home and family, a place to truly belong, even as a young teen attending on her own!  We love you, Victoria, and rejoice in your love for Jesus and the church!

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Missionaries in Our Daily Lives


What a joy it has been to work with the Global Mission Team (GMT) at SFB.  This team has such a great heart for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They believe that the Living God is a missionary God. They have the great privilege of taking your hard earned dollars and allocating those funds toward fulfilling the great commission. Our desire is that all of our missionaries will bring people into a life changing relationship with God and each other.
Did you know that our church helps support 30 missionaries in our city and around the world?  Do you know any of these missionaries’ names?  How about their children’s names? Do you know where they serve and what they do? More importantly do you pray for them?  Would you like to know them better, contact them once in awhile and be a prayer partner with them? If so, please contact us.
Let me share a few things that I am learning from our missionaries that I believe we could incorporate in our daily lives:
·         They have a purpose and a longing in their hearts to be a friend to the Lord God, to become a co-worker with Him and live for a purpose larger than themselves.  The way we can live with significance is to devote ourselves to a purpose that is larger than our life. 
·         They have a passion in their hearts that is both seized and satisfied with the ambition for Jesus to be ardently worshiped.  Is our heart set free to pursue that which is truly worthy? 
·         Our missionaries pursue a God-given vision and plan. They no longer dream about what could happen. They become convinced that certain things must happen. Are we willing to give our utmost for God’s purposes?
·         Our missionaries have a strategy for winning people to Christ, not hesitating nor hurrying, but persistently continuing to do whatever it takes to finish the task God has given them.  What task has God given you?
·         They dutifully perform what is required and so they are sometimes overwhelmed in the face of sacrifice. Despite the high cost, our missionaries are faithful and dedicated to Jesus.  Are we faithful when God asks us to sacrifice?
Why do they do what they do? They believe the Word of God.  Jesus said GO and they are GOING daily to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ trusting Him to transform lives. Do you truly believe that what you believe is really true?  If so, are you an ambassador for Christ in your daily lives?
Serving together,
Leon and the GMT

Friday, December 4, 2015

ENCOURAGEMENT


 
In my devotions today I read Psalm 37, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to The Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.  Rest in the Lord, wait patiently for Him … do not fret.”
WOW … these words encourage no matter what is going on in your life … but, especially for the one who is hopeless.  Mel Conrad feels God’s call to share what He is teaching her when life feels hopeless.  She has learned through life experiences, personal growth and educational training that there can be life after loss … death, divorce, career, relationships …whatever it is that has been taken.
There are tremendous needs on many levels for those suffering loss … personal needs, healing from brokenness, discovery of unknowns … can God help? Even those who do not yet know God or embrace His Truth can experience moving from mourning to joy after loss.  Yes, God can help and Mel is part of a ministry here at First Baptist that joins with God to do just that.  One does not have to go far to discover families in pain – flawed – with fractured relationships, living in despair.   There are predictable stages that a person goes through during a loss before they arrive on the other side with hope -- hope comes from Jesus.   Grief Share and Divorce Care are ministries of need that touch, heal, restore and bring hope. 
No one signs up for loss;  no one wants it to go the way shattered dreams.  Most struggle to persevere and make relationships work, make them last … but, reality is it takes at least three – the couple and Jesus.  Meditation, prayer and counseling can bring clarity but even then it is painful.  God allows loss not to cripple us but as a conduit to carry grace and mercy to one another.  Mel says, “I was called to share hope, understanding and the grief process with any who have experienced loss.”  She continues to show up to facilitate our “help groups” because she knows there is no hope or forward movement when we look back.  Only when we look forward at The WORD can a person discover salvation, hope and a glorious future. 
No matter what the loss, Mel says she has learned a key piece to healing is in the opportunity to share with another going through a similar experience.  She has faced … death of a spouse, and loss through divorce…  both have been journeys that have propelled her to share with others.  We all want to belong to someone, to feel we are not alone, especially when experiencing a great loss.  Our “help groups” provide a safe place to process, to feel comfortable sharing, to find your voice, to come to a sense of balance, to explore doubts and fears and to express hope in moving forward.
Referencing Isaiah 61:1-3, in the synagogue  Jesus’ interprets His mission but also reveals the ministry He wants His people to perform … I think I can safely say that Mel feels this is her call to serve those grieving a loss.  “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, to and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness … “ 
In this season of giving, could God be calling you to minister to His children who are hurting?


Janice Adams

Friday, November 20, 2015

Why Is It Good To Give Thanks?


Psalm 92:1-4 

We teach it to our kids.  We notice it when they don’t say it.  In fact we often time ourselves to see how long it might take them to recognize something we have done and see if they will say thank you.  We intrinsically know that it is good to say thank you.  Maybe that is the reason God says…“It is good to give thanks to the LORD…” Ps.92:1-2

1.   Giving thanks helps us recognize our dependence upon God

When we give thanks we are recognizing God’s life, His power, His love and how it affects us.  We are mindful all we have is due Him.  It is a way to affirm and strengthen our faith.  We are standing at the foot of the cross, or in front of the altar at the Jordan, we are circling Jericho.  Giving thanks to God causes us to remember His power, and affirm His love in our lives.

2.   Giving thanks matures our character 

-      It delights the inward soul

It centers our attention on our God which allows our anxiety to be replaced with faith.  Isaiah reminds us that when our hearts and minds are focused on the Lord we experience peace.  We focus on what is rather than what is not.  We celebrate what has been given versus being filled with fear and disappointment with what has been withheld.

-      It deepens our wisdom

Meditation on the great works and deep thoughts of God is the way to avoid sin and deepen wisdom ( Ps. 92:5–6).

3.   Giving thanks helps us establish a redemptive pattern

As we look back and give thanks we imprint on our memory a history of God’s work.  Psalm 107 repeats five times the call, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.”  Don’t forget what God has done.  Can you see a pattern of His faithfulness?  Do you see how He has led your life?  His past works will change the way you look at your present situation and your future path. 

4.   Giving thanks inspires others to trust in God

One last direction we need to consider.  Our thanks has an outward benefit.  The psalmist speaks of a declaration.  When we declare God’s faithfulness it helps the senseless man or the stupid man who has up to this point simply taken credit for what he has. 

The Bible describes a stupid man as one who has no idea of God’s plans.  He has no awareness of God’s power, His providence or His grace.  Giving thanks helps to get rid of stupidity in your midst.  How incredible is that!!! 
It is good to give thanks to the Lord.  Like a healing balm, like a refreshing brook is a grateful heart.  Tweet your thanks, Facebook your thanks, speak your thanks and watch stupidity flee.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

When YES Means Everything




I never imagined I’d have a child with a disability. Yet on August 2, 2002, I was blessed with my daughter Lora Grace who happened to have Down syndrome. In the beginning I was so scared; I was afraid I wasn’t equipped to handle such high demands, though I found that the demands were not that high. In the beginning I found myself so afraid for her future; I was finally able to give that to God and it really helped me to move forward. Don’t get me wrong, there are still times that I try to look towards her future, but I’m better equipped now to handle those emotions.  
I was prepared by other moms of children with special needs for the reaction that I would receive from the general population. For example, I can’t remember the last time Lora was invited to a birthday party for a friend; she just seems to have been forgotten. I’ve grieved that loss, but I knew that I needed to expect that. The one thing I never thought about nor expected was the reaction I received from the Christian Church. There was a lack of knowledge and understanding of what to do with her; to me she was just Lora. I found myself having to leave churches because they felt as though they couldn’t help us. That is a hard experience to feel like the one place you should feel accepted just doesn’t know what to do. I do not fault any of the churches; we are all human, and we all make mistakes.
As time went on, eventually Lora and I were not attending church. It was so painful for me, especially since the rest of my family was able to attend the church we belonged to. It took me awhile to reach out to First Baptist; I was so afraid of rejection once again. I still remember that day when Patrick Frost called me to give me information about Fusion. I had explained to him that Lora had Down syndrome, and his reaction brought me to tears. I can’t remember exactly the conversation, but I can tell you how I felt as I talked with Patrick about  Lora starting in Fusion. I’ve never felt more loved on and accepted. Lora has been with Fusion for a year now and is fully included just like any other child. She’s gotten to go on retreat twice now, just like everyone else. I never dreamed that she would be able to go overnight somewhere with a church group. She is loved and accepted just as she is. Until you have a child that's been excluded you can't understand the pain that one feels. I'm so glad she will never be excluded again. Lora is so happy to be with her friends. She loves it, I love it.
Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Fusion staff; Lora has her moments, but the staff is incredible, they help her and just love on her. There is not anything more I could ever hope or wish for her here. We are so blessed by Fusion and First Baptist; I can’t begin to express my gratitude sufficiently.  
 -Cory Wingett
 
You are invited to the monthly S.E.E. meetings which is for parents and others involved in loving and supporting people with disabilities.  They meet each month on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the CLC Room 420.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Live Your Faith


At Thrive, we work with a large range of students and families. One type is “the-kid-who-grew-up-in-church”. Being a kid who grew up mostly in the church myself, I found it was harder for me to really take on my faith as my own and live it out. When you’ve known something your whole life, it’s easy to just fall into the motions. Our goal at Thrive is to challenge students out of that mindset; to live out their faith as their own, and to serve God and each other. For the last two years, we have implemented something at Thrive called our “Bringers”. These students, who are in any grade, are our students who want to go beyond the motions. Who not only want to come to Thrive, but want to own Thrive as their own ministry to lead their friends to Christ. Within the last two years, we have seen countless Thrive students invite non-believing friends, lead games, dress up as characters, lead worship etc… but none as much as our senior classes.

This year, I have been particularly impressed with our seniors. A lot of them have grown up in the church and, until now, have coasted along; coming to Thrive, but not really feeling the urgency of the Gospel. This year though, God is moving. I can see their growth, and our underclassmen notice it too. At our fall retreat, Ignite, one student has really stuck out to me. Ashley has gone to Salem First her whole life, and has been a part of Thrive for almost 4 years. Over the summer, she connected with some freshman girls, to get to know them and make them feel truly welcome at Thrive. This year she has been constantly welcoming students at Thrive, getting to know their names and where they go to school so they feel at home. She really has a heart for the underclassman girls, wanting to be a good role model for them. Last week on our retreat, she pulled aside some students, mostly freshman girls, to get to know them on a deeper level and to specifically pray for them. Usually, the leaders are the ones having 1 on 1’s with students, but Ashley devoted her whole free time to meeting with students! She’s been in church her whole life, and she is getting it. She blesses me and I see Christ moving through her so evidently. It’s so exciting to see students live out their faith! She has been a part of this ministry, but now she has made this ministry her own.

-Jessica Ivanitsky

Friday, June 19, 2015

DAD


 


Dad was quiet but a powerhouse.  I’ll never forget what he used to say …..“Rome wasn’t built in a day because I wasn’t on the job”.  He didn’t say much; his actions spoke louder than his words and they were always fun-loving, wise and made you stop and listen.  You never knew when he was going to offer a story, dress up or do something to make you laugh.  My sons love to be silly and will tell you they got most of their wisdom from grandpa.                            -Janice Adams
 
From my dad I learned my work ethic.         -Wayne Bernard
 
I learned from my dad what it means to work with all your heart at all you do as if for the Lord. He would go to work for 12 hours at the wood mill, get off just in time to hustle to my baseball practice, then coach my team for the next 2 hours. He didn’t do this just once, he did it day after day. All that with a great sense of humor and love for all the kids he coached. He was, and continues to be, one of the hardest working, funniest, and most loving men I know.                    -Pastor Patrick
 
I’ve learned a lot from my dad like how great John Wayne westerns are and how to hunt and fish, but the lesson that sticks with me the most is the importance of working hard and sacrifice. My dad taught me early on that if you want something it’s not just that you have to earn it but it feels good to earn it. I remember a time when things were rough and my dad took my brother and I berry picking so we could have a new set of clothes and shoes for school. He was always willing to do whatever it took to provide for us and teach us along the way.  Thanks Dad for all your hard work, faithfulness, and love for the Lord I hope to pass the same things on to my kids.                                   -Pastor Brian
 
My Dad was known by all as a man of his word.  The one word that comes to mind when I think of him is integrity.  I have never heard my father tell a lie or to go back on his word or responsibility. Dad had three passions in life: his family, his Lord Jesus Christ, and his work as a carpenter (not to mention his taste for strawberry milkshakes). He was also one of the wisest of men whom I have ever known.  He was my adviser and mentor far into my adult years.  He gave himself in service to his church when he was physically able and was well known among his neighbors as a man who could be counted on in time of need. He was an example to follow.                     -Pastor Ed
 
My father’s life was predominately lived for himself not for God.  Behind his wake was left a series of broken relationships and deeply wounded people.  So one might think he taught me nothing, but nothing could be further from the truth.  In his life my Father taught me so much.  My Father in heaven taught me that all have sinned and are in need of God’s grace.  I witnessed the reality of God’s teaching in Matthew 20:1-16 that no matter how late in the day you come to Christ, you will receive an equal reward with those who have been faithful the longest.  I learned that forgiveness takes the supernatural work of Christ, but with Christ we can do all things.  I learned that there is joy in seeing your family come to Christ.  In his last days my dad held my hand up against his cheek.  His body was giving way to death, yet his heart was being softened by God.  A man who had allowed his anger to rule him and throw people through doors was now expressing thanks.  I learned that you can teach old dogs new tricks, you can change and it all happens when a person has a direct encounter with the living Christ.   -Pastor Mark
 
My dad taught me the value of hard work and never giving up. Quitting is only hard the first time, after that it becomes the easy path of least resistance. Not only did he teach me to work hard in order to provide for my family, he also modeled the importance of working hard to value family.   - Jeff Poush


I learned so many meaningful things from my dad. He taught me how to fish the wilds of Alaska, to take a deep breath, let half out and gently squeeze the trigger on a moose or caribou in order to fill the freezer for the winter.  The best thing he taught me was something he showed me and never said; each morning he would be in his chair reading the Word of God.  Now that I see him loving Jesus and my mom well all these years later, it gives me confidence to know how to finish strong.  Thanks dad for showing me the priorities that matter.     -Pastor Nate
 
My dad was a very generous man. Willing to give anything he had and his time toward those in need.  -Pastor Leon

Friday, May 8, 2015

I Love you Mom





My mom always loved a party and could turn any normal “happening” into something fun, almost outrageous and always with lots of yummy food.  It is fun to hear my three sons talk about “gramma” with those same special memories sometimes even with a tear in their eyes.  She was a treasure and left her mark on our heart.                    -Janice Adams

From Mom I learned to enjoy and appreciate music and the importance of prayer.         

-Wayne Bernard

I learned from my mom how to love people and build people up through reinforcing the gifts that God has given them.  She has always believed in me and told me that God has made me with specific gifts to accomplish a specific purpose and to allow no man to change who God made me to be.      

-Pastor Patrick

My mom taught me the power of listening.  No matter the time of day or night, she always made herself available to hear about my day, the challenges of high school, or my hopes and dreams.  Her life was never too important to put on hold for a few moments to listen and encourage her children.  Thanks, mom.

Happy Mother’s Day!                    

-Nate Dunn

There are a lot of lessons I’ve learned over the years from my mom:  how to cook, do my laundry, clean the house, but the most profound has been to not let my past define my future, to live today in God’s grace and out of who He says I am.  Who I am is not what I’ve done but what God has done in me and can do through me.  That He who began a good work in me will complete it.  Thanks for pulling over to the side of the road so many years ago when I was thinking of leaving the ministry to remind me who I am.  Love you, Mom.    

-Pastor Brian

I learned that winning isn’t everything, that the people on the team are what counts.  Mom coached my 2nd grade girls softball team. We were a last-minute entry, and got the last of the girls that no one wanted.  Two of them, twins with cerebral palsy, played every game.  We never won a game, but we were never skunked.  We were all very proud of our team that year.                           

-Sherri Sperling

Thank you, Mom, for showing me how to see the best in people by never speaking badly toward another person. When people were rude to you, you would always respond by saying that they were probably having a bad day. Then you would mention a good quality that person had.               

-Pastor Leon

My mom taught me the truth behind the adage, “it is better to give than to receive.”  I have learned the joy of giving to others by watching her consistently and generously give gifts to those she cares about. 

 -Pastor Jeff

Ruth Edwards, who lived to a full 97 years, had lots of time to teach me what is really important in life.  I trusted Christ at nine years of age, but it was Mom who laid the foundation and took us three kids to church and Sunday School.  Above all else, Mom loved the Lord and prayed without ceasing for family members who did not know Jesus. Her devotion to the Bible was a solid example for me.  Mom also loved people and was sacrificial in sharing and doing for others.  If there was not enough pie to go around, she willingly did without.  She also gave me a sense of humor, but never to match hers.  I also inherited from her an appreciation for good, home cooked and delicious family meals.  I am sure it was due to her prayers that I was led by God to the mission field.                           

-Pastor Ed

My mom taught me to use whatever God has given to you for the blessing of others, she taught me to forgive others so they would not wound you twice, and she taught me that you can face anything if God is your strength.
 - Pastor Mark 

Friday, May 1, 2015

Coming Full Circle



How can so many things be so right and so wrong, all at the same time?  I only knew I was out of control, losing it.  Nineteen years old, married over a year, and my marriage and life were in a shambles.  Unstoppable tears fell despite my iron will as emotions overwhelmed the resolve to bear up.  Driving home from work that sunny spring evening, I knew I could no longer move forward while afflicted with the brokenness of my past.
I had never paid much attention to the big church on the corner where I turned, but this day desperation drove me to stop and walk through the cavernous entry.  It didn’t matter … nothing mattered except that it felt like I was dying and needed hope to live.
The Pastor kindly welcomed me, sharing the hope of salvation.  I had attended church as a child and been baptized at 12 but didn’t understand what it meant to make Jesus Lord of my life.  He explained it and suddenly I knew!  I was free, it was real!  It didn’t matter that there were no stars exploding or church bells ringing!  My salvation was real and Jesus gave me life and a purpose for life!
Knowing I would need mentoring Pastor made arrangements for us to meet with another young couple from church.  We had a delightful connection for a few weeks, yet never attended church.   Shortly thereafter we moved out of town.  In a long and round- about way we ended up in a nearby town and were actively involved in church, and grew in our relationship with the Lord.  But it was on a particular spring evening, in a large church on a busy street corner, that my true life began.
Nearly 40 years later, life came full circle.  I was hired as Director of Children’s Ministries at that same church on that same busy street corner in Salem.  What a delightful reunion when I saw the precious couple who had aspired to mentor us those many years ago!  Jerry and Doris VanDeKoppel’s hair has a bit more gray than it did in the spring of 1972, and Pastor Whitwell has gone home to be with the Jesus he introduced me to.  The call of Jesus to make disciples, and the mission and vision of Salem First Baptist has gone unchanged.  God put us here for a reason … as a beacon in a dark world.  Thank you, SFBC, for being a beacon now, and so many years ago, to damaged and dark souls.
Sherri Sperling, Children's Ministries Director
 
Those who read lead.  That thought was burned into my brain years ago by an effective leader.  It is true the great leaders are learners.  Therefore, go check out the library.  Our team of librarians work weekly to have a quality resource tool so that you can grow.  Check it out this weekend.
 

Friday, April 24, 2015

Grandparent Conference





It was such a thrill to be on the ground floor watching God inspire and put together His plan and program for the Grandparent Conference.  What a faith builder to those of us He called together as a committee to be a part of His vision.  He unfolded step by step the vision, speakers, topics, and program.  It was exciting to see how each of our spiritual gifts came into play to bring a truly professional conference into being.  

Following the conference there were many exciting comments.  One grandparent commented they appreciated the encouragement of being an active and godly grandparent along with the many ideas to be a “grand” grandparent.  Another reports that she has now put together her Prayer Journal having interviewed her grandchildren for their specific prayer needs.

For one grandparent, just one slide showing a family tree of a Boomer to a Millennial made a huge impact.  It was amazing to see how our families have changed over the past decades. From two parents and four grandparents to a multitude of both, as well as siblings that are not related biologically. In our own city, where we could make a difference, children are shoved from foster home to foster home; their parents no longer able to care for them because of drug abuse.  

Another grandparent was reminded by a comment by John Coulombe that “we need to be multigenerational in our church.”  It is so easy to get in our comfort zone with our activities, our style of music, and our lifestyle.  It is a challenge to interact with someone not years but decades younger and try to relate to their world.

As we age, it seems it becomes harder to accept change and even to learn some of the new technologies available and used on a daily basis by our own grandchildren.  It was enlightening to have a breakout session where grandparents were made aware of how much our grandchildren use social media.  We were reminded not only of its uses but also of some of the dangers these sites hold for our grandchildren.  They are so connected yet so isolated because there is no longer the face to face interaction with another person.  Seeing some their peers’ postings that make their life look so much better than the life they live can lead our grandchildren into times of despondency.  It is these times that we as grandparents need to come alongside in prayer and encouragement.

--Nancy Sperling for The Grandparent Committee

 

 

REMINDER:  Turkey Mission Trip Garage Sale is this weekend!

Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and 

Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
The address is 220 Superior St S.

Friday, April 17, 2015

Come and See





Our men’s ministry is looking for opportunities to invite men outside our church to “come and see” events. We want our men to feel comfortable inviting other men to one of our activities and we want the invitees to feel comfortable attending. We want them to “come and see” Christian men having a good time.   We also want the invitees to check out our church and to check out Jesus. Our mission is to bring men into a life changing relationship with God and other men.

 One of these “come and see” events was our recent Sportsman Dinner. The theme was “the pursuit.” Our men invited many who do not attend our church.  Imagine walking from the parking lot into the building with the smell of grilled meat penetrating your nostrils and telling your stomach that you are starving. Once you are in the building your senses move to thoughts of the outdoors. You enter an area of duck and elk calls creating the atmosphere of the hunt and the outdoors. As you make your way to your table you see the wildlife mounts on the wall. Wow! You wish you could be out in the wilderness praising God for His beauty.

Our speaker talked about going on the hunt and ending up as the hunted.  So often we are hunting significance, control or comfort. We think that if we succeed in these areas we will be happy and prosperous. We do not realize that we are being hunted, either by a roaring lion who is looking to devour or by the Creator--the almighty personal God.  The results of the pursuit will be determined by how we respond to the signs that are around us. We can either be taken captive by the philosophy and empty deception of the world or we can be transformed by the renewing of our mind as we become Christ-like.

Our evening was full of laughter.  The stories and fellowship created an environment that made the men feel comfortable. They were willing to talk and listen. They were fed well and they had opportunities to win a nice door prize. But most important of all, they got to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The response to the message was encouraging. We had four men who wanted to have coffee and talk more about Christianity, five men who would like to be discipled and 11 who said they trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Please pray for these men who “came and saw” as their lives were touched. Now our desire is to have them “watch and learn” (discipleship) -- being transformed into His likeness so they will then be able to engage and reshape the culture they live in to reflect God’s heart.

I want to say thank you to all those who made this evening possible.  All 182 men appreciated it.
--Pastor Leon

Friday, April 10, 2015

Eternal Value





Are you looking for friends, new experiences and excitement? You don't need to bungee jump, hike the Pacific Crest trail or travel to exotic lands. Volunteering can bring all of these things to your life and you can have an eternal impact on the lives of others as well.  

I come from a family that has modeled the importance of serving others. Some of my great memories are working with my dad and others putting up sheetrock and pulling wires in a new church building project my dad was heading up, helping my mom put together table favors for special events, and sewing curtains for the nursery with my mom and her friends.

From the time we got married my husband, Skip, and I have been involved in Awana. It's so fun to see "kids" that are now grown, and reminisce about them being in one of our Awana clubs. Today Skip is serving in Awana with a young man that used to be one of his clubbers! What a joy to be involved in the lives of these kids for eternity whether in Sunday school, Awana, nursery, Upward Basketball or some other ministry. 

Over a year ago my daughter expressed an interest in serving in Higher Grounds, the coffee shop at church.  We thought this might be a fun way to be able to serve together - and it has been.  She has also had the opportunity to learn some valuable job skills plus gain some real-world experience. Serving in Higher Grounds may not seem like it has eternal impact but we have been able to provide yummy drinks (and caffeine!) to church attendees and visitors to help them enjoy their day.  We've also had the opportunity to build relationships with the fabulous volunteers in the coffee shop and with those who regularly stop by.  Since people are eternal, working in the coffee shop does have eternal value!

Really, volunteering is just a way to be involved in the lives of others, to walk with them in life and to encourage them in their journey of faith - sharing in their joys, struggles and challenges.  Nothing could be more exciting than that!

--Karen Neill

 

THE GOD QUESTIONS

Exploring Life's Greatest Questions about God

If you would like to sign up for this 4-week small group then all you have to do is fill out your name, email, phone number, and specify which time you prefer to attend the class. It’s that easy. For any questions, you can call the church at (503) 364-2285 and ask for Pastor Jeff.

Click this link to sign up for The God Questions Registration  http://fbcsalem.org/godquestionsregistration/

Friday, April 3, 2015

Resurrection Sunday


Was it a morning like this?   Were you there when they crucified my Lord?  The apex of Christian thought, celebration, theology and joy is found in what we celebrate this weekend....Easter.  He is Risen!  He is risen, indeed! 
Who has God put on your heart to invite to join you this weekend?   The Good Friday and Easter services are easy invite events.  I'm praying for my friend Trevor and his mom and dad who will be joining us in the 2nd service on Sunday.  Who do you need to place a phone call to right now?  Which house across the street do you need to walk to later today and ask, "Would you join me for Easter?"
In 1971, Jim and his wife, Marilyn poked their heads into a small church in New York.  They had been religious as kids but since their late teens had wandered from any expression of faith.     That day, Easter Sunday, 1971, the Lord opened their eyes to something.  In the parking lot after the service, Jim said, "These people have a peace that I don't have."  After the Pastor followed up with them a few times, Jim and his wife gave their lives to the Lord a few weeks later.  The Lord has used them to impact countless lives for eternity in the years following.
By 1977, Noel had been a Christmas/Easter Christian for many years.  She came for the music, but that was the extent of it.  On Easter, 1978, her sister-in-law invited her to the services at their church in Danville, California.  It was on that day the Lord met Noel and she yielded her life to Christ.  Years later, she serves faithfully.  This weekend, Noel and her husband, Dan will be singing their hearts out for the Lord in the choir. 
We never know when and how God will work.  Might you be used this weekend in one of your dear friends’ lives? 
I'm praying for boldness for all of us and for you to hear and follow the Lord's leading.  May His grace cover you and may His strength and power surround you.  And may all your friends respond with, "Yes!  I'd love to go with you!"
Pastor Nate

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Men, Come and See


One of our men’s ministry focuses is on events that are “come and see” events.  In John chapter 1 some of John’s disciples started to follow Jesus and He asked them, “What do you seek?”  They responded by asking him where he was hanging out. Jesus said to “come and see.” Then we see in a few verses later the two disciples following Jesus’ example with their brother and close friend—“come and see -- we have found the Messiah.”   We want our men to have safe environments where they can invite their unsaved or un-churched friends to an event where they can “come and see”.  Come and see that Christian men are okay, that church people are accepting and see Jesus loving them through our men’s actions.
A few weeks ago we had a men’s game night. This was not just for our men to enjoy, which we did, but we had 5 guys join us, who were not part of our church. They came and saw that our men can have fun and eat.  We had men ranging from grade school to the 70s.  We had scheduled games from 8:00-11:00 pm. We had men staying until midnight. Thank you to the ladies for allowing your men to stay out late that night with the guys. I wish to thank Michael Sanders and Aaron Harada for their planning and coordinating this activity. As the old saying goes, “A good time was had by all.” How is your “come and see” ministry working?
Men-- if you have ideas that might be good “come and see” events, I would be glad to visit with you.
--Leon
 
Book Recommendations
1. Surfing for God--by Michael John Cusick.  This book is a must for men who want to do more than manage their sexual struggles, but to understand them and find victory that is lasting.  Ladies if you will read this book it will also help you understand how to be a help-mate. 
 
2. 9 Things You Simply Must Do by Dr. Henry Cloud.  The author of Boundaries has once again written a very practical and helpful book. 
 
Faith4Now Update
It is an amazing thing to watch God work in people.  To date we have received $761,000 in pledges and gifts to our North Property purchase.  We have until April 12 to get our pledges in. 
One man as he gave a very substantial gift said with a smile, "I hope people discover just how wonderful it is to give to God's work." 
Continue to pray with us that God will show His mighty hand through and to our church.  Pray that we will be so filled with faith that we will say to these mountains, "move from here to there, and it will be done for us."  Pray that we will be so filled with faith that nothing will be impossible for us. 
 

Friday, March 6, 2015

Worship One, Two, Three





Several weeks ago the worship team invested the weekend digging deeply into God’s word. Seeking the heart of God for our church and driving down into authentic relationships with one another led us to some great discussions. One of the key struggles we dealt with had to do with who the audience of our worship is.  I was challenged thinking about the two contexts of worship and how they practically impact our lives.  We found this simple phrase that Mike Cosper uses in his book, Rhythms of Grace, helpful as we worked through this:  Worship One, Two, Three.

Worship has One object and Author:  God.  The Triune God is at the center of all Christian worship.  God declared His centrality to worship in the 10 commandments (Ex. 20:1-5).  He explicitly states in other places that He will not share His glory with another (Isaiah 42:8, 48:11). As creation progressed, the Father lifted up Jesus as the central figure of worship (Philippians 2:1-11). God is not only the supreme object of our worship; He’s also the author.  He alone gives us life, breath, vision, redemption, eyes to see, ears to hear and mouths to declare His goodness and glory. Worship is all about God.

Worship occurs in two contexts: gathered & scattered. Gathered worship occurs when the church meets to remember the story of God’s faithfulness, encouraging one another and blessing one another.  The gathering of the church is one key way to hold fast to God under the pressures of a broken world and the temptations to sin (Hebrews 10:24-25). Scattered worship is the Spirit filled life of the Christian in the world. Jesus effectively deconstructed worship from time and place in John 4:21-24.  This means that when we leave the gathered worship service, our scattered service of worship begins!  The apostle Paul says that our entire lives, even the messy parts, are transformed in Christ and offered to God the Father as a beautiful sacrifice of praise (Romans 12:1).

Worship has three audiences:  God, the church, and the world. God is both the object of and the witness to our worship.  The church both participates in and witnesses the gathering of its people.  The world is watching from the darkness.  Having God in our audience means there is One who accepts us as we are and deems our imperfect worship as made perfect in Jesus.  Worship offered humbly in Jesus’ name is always received with joy by the Father (Hebrews 10:12-14). When you enter the gathered worship of the church, don’t fear acceptance or lack thereof.  Trust in Jesus. Your fellow worshipers, the church, also act as an audience to your worship, “ The gathering of the church is … an encounter with God intensified among the people of God, filled with the Spirit of God, spurring one another along in the mission of God.  Gathered worship is a communal experience, not an individualistic one. Christ in me meets Christ in you.”  (Mike Cosper, Rhythms of Grace)

 The world also watches as we worship.  When we gather, it’s the clarity of the gospel message that allows the Holy Spirit to transform the heart of an unbeliever.  As we testify to the power of God in our lives, God allows the world to hear us worshiping Him (and in fact commands us to worship in front of the nations). Who knows but that someone might give glory to God and say, “surely God is in this place!” (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)

Worship: One Object and Author.  Two Contexts.  Three Audiences.

As you put the gospel on display for the glory of God, the edification of the church, and as a testimony to the unbeliever this coming week, know that worship team is cheering for you, praying for you, and worshiping with you. 
-- Pastor Nate (for the musicians that lead our church in musical worship)

Friday, February 20, 2015

Grief Share




December begins for most people on the 1st of the month, but for others the 25th of the month seems to be the following Friday. Writing personal messages in our Christmas cards gives me time to pray about friends far and near.  My smart phone interrupted my solitude.  Our daughter was calling from Bellingham, Washington, sobbing and breathless as she spoke.  I couldn’t make out what she was saying; thoughts of our three young granddaughters, and James our son in-law who drives to Seattle and back each day, dashed through my head. Finally, she began to explain that Piper, her sister and brother and all their children were in Disney World for a week with their parents as a Christmas gift from their Mother, Nana and Stepfather, Papa.  Piper is one of our daughter’s special friends and Jack and I love her as well. Piper and her mother enjoyed riding roller coasters together since she was a young child.  That day they had screamed with joy and laughed, stepping from their seats onto the walk-way, Nana began to feel terribly uncomfortable.  Nana’s husband and Piper helped Nana to a bench as her children and nine grandchildren watched.  Papa alerted a Disney employee to send for an ambulance for his wife.  Immediately the EMT’s were administering aid and placed her in the ambulance leaving for the nearest hospital.  Children were taken to the hotel with an uncle and Nana’s children and husband raced to the hospital. By the time they arrived to the emergency room, plans had been made for Flight for Life to take Nana to a larger hospital where a group of specialty doctor’s would treat her. Nana’s husband and children now knew she was in critical condition. Again, the family drove to another unfamiliar area to locate another hospital. Nana had suffered a brain hemorrhage and now was on life support.  The doctors determined that the extent of her brain damaged was over 80%.  Papa and her children prayed and then took Nana off life support, which was her desire if she was in a situation such as this.  The family remembered words Nana had said to the family, “One day I will see you all in Heaven.”
The following Sunday during Sunday school, I asked for prayers for Piper and her family.  Jim and Diane Weil were present and Jim suggested Grief Share for Piper and her family after our class.  I had never looked into this literature, but after Jim explained its effectiveness and the booklet, “Surviving the Holidays,” Jack and I made arrangements to pick up the booklet.  Both Jim and Diane gave us two books and reinstated important areas within the booklet.  Jack and I walked through its contents and mailed the booklet the same day with prayers.  Piper told our family that she could not have gotten through the holidays without this information and is still re-reading its pages.
-In Him, the Lord who knows our needs, Lauralee Caubin.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Owning the Ministry


As a youth ministry one of our values is that students would serve, that students wouldn’t just come to Thrive, but would own their faith and be Thrive. That they wouldn’t just be consumers, but take responsibility to lead worship, give announcements, lead games, share their testimony and so on. It has been really encouraging this ministry season to see our leaders modeling, coaching, and giving away responsibilities and the students stepping up. One of the struggles over the years has been the commitment level of our seniors; often they would turn into one of our smallest participating classes, but this year with them owning Thrive, using their gifts, and the underclassmen looking up to them, it is our largest, especially our senior boys. It’s been exciting to see our students not just take responsibility for the program side of the ministry but for each other.

Two years ago this January, Liv, who was invited by one of our students and had been attending our midweek meeting for a few months signed up for our Dare2Share retreat and gave her life to the Lord. She was so excited by her new relationship she couldn’t help but share it. She kept inviting her friend Jedidiah to come to church but he refused. Finally though, through her persistence he agreed to come on a Tuesday night. That night, as he says it, the message seemed to be right at him. Over the next few months with the encouragement of Liv, God continued to soften his heart. After a few months when summer came around Liv and Jedidiah signed up for H2O, our summer camp. That week through the messages, Liv’s prayers, and God’s grace, Jedidiah gave his life to the Lord. Liv and our team were praising Jesus. A year goes by and both Liv and Jedidiah are growing in their faith and their involvement in the ministry until this fall. Liv just stopped coming; through some choices she made, she didn’t feel comfortable. Leaders reached out but nothing seemed to matter. So Jedidiah went to work praying and inviting. His friend who helped lead him to Christ was falling away, so the once pursued became the pursuer. Two weeks ago Jedidiah shows up excited to youth group, for Liv said she would come. That night Liv was back, and at the end of the night said it was for good.

This story is just one example of how we have seen students step up to share and live out their faith. In Thrive we call them “Bringers” from our mission statement, “Bringing others into a life changing relationship with God and each other.” It’s where they see the house of God as their house; that being a member of God’s household is a privilege and a wonderful responsibility. It’s where, because we have experienced the inside we get to go outside; not just something we attend but something we are. How do you see the church? As a youth Pastor at SFB these last eleven years it has been a blast ministering to our youth, it has been even more fun giving the ministry away. Thanks for all your prayers and support as we pursue kids for Christ and equip them to join us in the pursuit.
-Brian Woolard, Student Ministries

Friday, February 6, 2015

Not Just Chaperones


If you have ever been asked to chaperone something, maybe a school dance or a field trip, you know that it is not a desirable job to have. You may start with the best intentions but soon you realize that you are basically the fun police. The sentences you say most often are “Don’t do that!” or “Shhhh! Listen to the person who is talking up front.” You, mostly, don’t get to participate in what is going on and pretty much just stand on the edges of the group watching for rule breakers. You know that you might be helping a little bit in the moment but your work as master chaperone is not going to have a lasting impact. Many people believe that the adult leaders in Fusion and Thrive are basically chaperones. This could not be further from the truth. Let me tell you a story about the long term relationships that are being built and the deep spiritual impact these selfless volunteers are having!


In order to develop relationships throughout a student’s time in youth ministry, they are assigned to a small group which is led by a couple of adult volunteers known as leaders. One of the most impactful times for the leaders and students is the small groups during the last part of the midweek meeting. The leaders start discussions and prompt the students to dig deeper into the message of the night. These times provide the leaders great opportunities to speak into the lives of the students and, in a case just recently, lead a student to Christ. The message for the night had been on spiritual maturity and taking the next step in their relationship with Jesus.  Small groups had ended, parents were arriving, and any chaperone would have called it a night and been praised for a job well done. However, our 8th grade girls’ leader is not a chaperone. She is a leader and her work for the night was not done in her eyes. So she took the initiative and asked one of her girls in her small group if she had started a relationship with Jesus. The girl said she had not made that decision; right then and there the leader led her to Christ. That’s the type of ownership and personal responsibility the leaders in Fusion and Thrive possess. She acted not out of duty but out of a desire to introduce a girl to the love of Christ.


If you asked the leaders, they would probably tell you that they don’t view themselves as special. They would probably say they are just doing what the Lord has led them to do. I would have to disagree with them. I think they are special. It takes a special person to intentionally enter back into a middle school or high school group. It takes a special person to give up their free time to go to games, plays, concerts, hang out on weekends, give students rides, pray for students, give up full weekends to go on retreats, and to deal with all the joyous things that teenagers do. That’s special. I would guess that there would be a few other people who say the leaders are special too: the students. That’s because they know their Leaders love them and are there to help them grow in their faith. They know they’re not just chaperones.
 -Patrick Frost
Middle School Youth Pastor

Friday, January 30, 2015

Aging Gracefully





            There aren’t many heroes left in the course of our everyday lives.  However, we are surrounded by men and women who breathe the breath of God when they speak and whose lives rise above the crowd in walking with Christ. One of my heroes is Hokie Moore, who celebrated his 100th birthday last October.  He enjoys talking of how he became the positive and gentle man that he is today.

            Hokie’s early years were not spent in a Christian home.  His family moved to Merrill, a small town near Klamath Falls.  When he was a teenager his mother trusted Jesus while listening to “First Mate Bob & The Good Ship Grace” on the radio.  Hokie was eighteen years old when an evangelist came to Klamath Falls.  He and his brother went with their mother to attend the meetings.  Hokie had never heard the gospel, but that first night his attention was caught by the message.  He returned eagerly the next day.  That night, both he and his brother went forward to accept Jesus Christ.  This eventually led to their whole family coming to know the Lord.

           The evangelist who led him to Christ encouraged him to become a pastor.  It took several years of education, and while a student, he started a church at Rhododendron and became its pastor.  This was followed by pastorates in seven churches, ministry in the NW CBA and the Alaska CB Church offices and interim positions as well.  Several of these ministries were of 10 or more years.  He still gets a spark in his eyes when he talks about the fifteen years in Alaska, first at Fairbanks and then in Anchorage.  These years were the best years of his ministry.

            Hokie’s love for the Word of God has been the cornerstone of his life and ministry.  I Cor. 15:58 has been his life verse: Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

            So, how has he kept such a positive and cheerful attitude in all of these years?  His reply: “I could not be anything else.  I have always had a positive outlook on life.  The Bible says that ‘You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.’  And, ‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’”

           Would he follow this path again?  “I sure would!” was the reply.  “I would do it with joy.  God has said that he will never leave me, nor forsake me.”  He has no regrets for the past and no fears for the future.  “Rather than fear what could happen, I know that we will be absent from the body and present with the Lord, at home with family and friends.”

            His advice for the younger generation is to know Christ early. Nothing is more important. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

            This is why Hokie is one of my heroes.
            -Pastor Ed