A 50+ ministry of Salem First Baptist Church
Many
of us look forward to the age of 65 when we can retire, take it easy
and enjoy what we’ve worked for in prior years. It’s not the age that
we want, it’s the benefits. From an early age we are encouraged to
prepare for and put aside for retirement as if that magic experience is
the fulfillment of our lives. It used to be that this was the
“beginning of the end”. Now, however, we would like to see it as “a
whole new beginning”. George Burns once said “I still had pimples at
65”.
The generation called “Boomers” began in 1946 with a huge
growth in post-war birth rates and wraps up generally around 1964, with
ages 50 to 68 or 69 years. Every day in the USA there are 8,000 people
turning 65, that is 330 people per hour! There are approximately 78
million “Boomers” in the US today. The American Church has, generally,
ministries for pre-school & children, youth and college, young
adults or newly married and senior adults. But, what do we have for
those who are mature adults but not yet seniors?
A new ministry of Salem First Baptist kicks off on Friday night, May 9. ENCORE presents the Finishing Strong dessert
with John Coulombe, InterGenerational Pastor at Evangelican Free Church
in Fullerton, CA, where he and his wife, Jacque, have ministered for
the past 26 years. His focus this evening will be “Living Sensibly in
the Coming Age.” ENCORE is a ministry to
assist the post-retirement generation to utilize their past experience,
knowledge and love of the Lord in order to Finish Strong. Few
will remember our life for what we did in the first fifteen years.
However, the final fifteen (or thirty, or forty) years of our life will be the years that our family, friends and church will remember.
Paul gives us a Scriptural foundation for such a ministry: “
I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to
what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the
heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us”.
Phil. 3:13, 14
The name of the ministry, Encore, is defined: “A second achievement especially that surpasses the first.” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). This seems fitting to our purpose. The ENCORE mission is “Making the Rest of our life the Best of our life. It is not only a ministry to the Boomer generation, but a ministry by the Boomer generation that has such a great potential in today’s church.
For more information, or to RSVP for the Finishing Strong Dessert contact: Gene & Pat Taylor derraldgene@gmail.com or Pastor Edwards eedwards@fbcsalem.org. (503) 364-2285
First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org
Friday, April 25, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Why a Christian Education at Sonshine?
Reasons to register your child (or grandchild) at Sonshine Christian School:
1. Sonshine Christian School is a ministry of First Baptist for over 30 years.
2. Church members get a 20% tuition discount.
3. Excellent teacher/student ratio
4. Discounts given for having more than 1 child enrolled.
5. Bible-based curriculum
6. 6. 7. 8. …..
Rather than continuing to list reason after reason, I had the opportunity to talk to a couple of last year’s “graduates” recently. Both Josiah Poush and Chase Emery are 6th graders this year, and were excited to give me a list of how Sonshine impacted their lives.
How did Sonshine Christian School prepare you academically for middle school?
Josiah: Chase:
1. On track or ahead in 1. Gets assignments done
most of my classes more quickly
2. Especially in Math 2. Especially in Math
and Language Arts
3. Cursive writing 3. Cursive writing:
("Most kids can’t write ("Most kids can’t even
in cursive") read cursive!")
What are some of your favorite memories about Sonshine?
1. Math Olympics 1. SeaKrest
2. Great friends 2. Great teachers
3. We’re like a family 3. Like my extended family
How did Sonshine prepare you spiritually for your future?
1. Helps me make 1. Good Bible foundation
good decisions
Because of the small class size at Sonshine, capping at 20, teachers are able to get to know the students, encourage them in life skills as well as academics, pray with them, and be a listening ear when needed. During the year, students can earn awards in reading, Bible memorization, honor roll, even P.E. and Music. However, the award that students (and their families) look forward to all year are the character awards. These affirming awards, given at the end of the year, recognize those Christ-like attributes displayed by the students.
Sonshine Christian School also has a number of extra-curricular activities. Both Josiah and Chase competed in the ACSI Math Olympics and did very well. Josiah placed 1st in Math Reasoning with a 100%. (by the way, Math Reasoning means . . . . story problems!) Besides the math Olympics, Sonshine also participates in the ACSI Spelling Bee, ASCI Track & Field Meet and hosts the ACSI Regional Speech Meet each year. Both Josiah and Chase also remember the fun field trips, especially the overnight trip to SeaKrest Lodge. An overnight stay at the beach with their classmates is a great bonding time and provides some lasting memories to the 5th graders who are leaving Sonshine.
Open enrollment has just begun. If you have any questions concerning tuition or would like to schedule a tour, please call the Sonshine office at 503-375-5764.
Are you glad you went to Sonshine Christian School?
Josiah & Chase: YES!!
- Mona Breach,
Sonshine Christian School Music Teacher
Sonshine Christian School Music Teacher
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Junk Email to Outreach
I almost ignored the email and did the “junk ~ block sender” routine as just another bothersome ad. But surely the Holy Spirit directed me to pay attention, and after several attempts at a meeting, Pastor Jeff and I met with Louis, the local representative for Uncharted Waters, a sports camp ministry. After their (very positive!) references were diligently checked out the process of finding the perfect location began.
What a learning process, and the path was paved with an increasing sense of excitement as the vision for a new and potentially enhanced capacity of outreach took hold of our collective heart. Walker Middle School was chosen as the location – it’s close by, right in the heart of our local area of influence, with an abundance of unchurched families within walking distance. All the elements we need are there – gym, cafeteria, and abundant green space.
Potential for outdoors … at a local school … flag football, basketball, soccer, cheerleading, and motor-skills training for the 4 & 5 year age ~ how inviting AND non-threatening as an outreach tool into our own neighborhoods and the area around Walker! All the powerful components of VBS, all the heart, dreams, and vision for outreach are there, in a venue that will surely open a door of invitation to a wider range of families.
Inherent in the program are the same strong outreach components of VBS ~ one-on-one interaction with godly mentors (coaches and assistant-coaches), Bible Stories, memory verses, snack time, play time.
I don’t like to wish my life away … but I am so stoked and ready for summer to come! My prayer goal is for 100 children to come to salvation this year. This is surely a powerful tool; I hope you’ll be involved in what God will do!
Sherri Sperling, Children's
Ministries Director
_____________
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). Let's continue praying for each other. Send in your prayer requests for the prayer wall: prayer@fbcsalem.org or text to 62953 (put sfb in the message and then your request).
Keep visiting the Prayer Wall: Your friends need you.
First
Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org
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