Calvary Talk - Spring 2015

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calvarytalk Volume 1, Issue 2 Spring 2015 Tripped Up Galatians 5:7 18. Reaching Out Locally Making a Global Impact 04 . The Human Touch That Spells Le 19.

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This issue of Calvary Talk explores our churches emphasis on missions, reaching locally and making a difference globally. You'll read the Life Story of Audrey Weaver, and much more.

Transcript of Calvary Talk - Spring 2015

Page 1: Calvary Talk - Spring 2015

calvarytalkVolume 1, Issue 2

Spring 2015

Tripped UpGalatians 5:7

18.

Reaching Out Locally

Making a Global Impact04.

The Human TouchThat Spells Love

19.

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It’s Just RightMilitary Wives Mentoring09.

Tripped UpGalatians 5:718.

If you would like to contribute, please contact

Alan Smith.706-322-1491alansmith@

calvaryministries.com

New Membersand Baby Dedications24.

calv

ary

talk Creative Arts Pastor,

Chief EditorAlan Smith

Art DirectorLaura Atterbury

Graphic EditorBecky Smith

Contributing WritersJune WilhiteVickie Dort

Beth BrittonChris SharpLisa JohnsonRicky SmithNick BrunerRyan Pearse

Cassie WaltersFred Marshall

John Harris

PhotographersHeidi May

John David HelmsDonnaJune Waller

Ken BrantleyAmber WilhiteBekah MoonAlan SmithRicky Smith

Michael KingLisa Johnson

If you would like to contribute contact Alan Smith.

706-322-1491

[email protected]

2

Reaching Out LocallyMaking a Global ImpactRyan Pearse

Upcoming EventsMarch, April, May

25.

Consider SmallGroupsNick Bruner

22.

Family WorshipRicky Smith

14.

Easy, Inexpensive DIY TransformationLisa Johnson

10.

Not so Random Musings on SpringFred Marshall

07.

04. 08.Life StoriesAudrey WeaverChris Sharp

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The Whole TruthFor the Whole ChildReaching the Whole World

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11.

5 Tips for Your 2015 Income Tax RefundJohn Harris

The Home and the HubA Vision for Youth MinistryBeth Britton

The HumanTouchThat Spells LoveJune Wilhite

15. 16. 19.

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Written byRyan Pearse

Reaching Out Locally

Here at Calvary Baptist Church our mission statement is to “Carry out the Great Commission Through Healing Hurts and Meeting Needs.” The Great Commission can be found in Acts 1:8 and Mark 16:15, but it is most noticeably and com-prehensively quoted by our Lord in the last two verses of the book of Matthew. In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the

name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And

behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus spoke these

words to His eleven disciples immediately before He ascended into

Heaven. Even today, Jesus’ commission to “go and make disciples”

is an ongoing directive to those who claim to be a Christian. In fact, before “the end of the age” when Jesus comes back in glory (Titus 2:13), the Scriptures teach us that the Gospel must be proclaimed to all nations (Matthew 24:14). So what is our role in proclaiming the Gospel to all the nations? Where do we fit into the last words spoken by Jesus on earth? In order to answer this, we must fully understand what “go and make” mean. Certainly overseas mission trips are part of it, but isn’t there something we can do here in our own neighborhood to fulfill The Great Commission?

The words, “go and make disciples” in the original language literally mean “as you are going about your business make disciples.” Making disciples is in the imperative, infinitive tense of the verb. In other words, Christians must carry out The Great Commission until we die or The Rapture occurs and Jesus takes us home. On the other hand, the verb “go” in the original Greek language is in the present participle form. This means, as stated earlier, that we need to be making disciples as we are

Making a Global Impact

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going about our daily lives. “Our daily lives” does not typically include spending thousands of dollars on a plane ticket and going overseas on a mission trip. As we are going about our daily lives includes telling others about Jesus at our job, at our family reunion, at the gym, school, grocery store, and anywhere else we go throughoutour community. After all, “how are they to hear without a preacher” (Romans 10:14)? We are to talk about Jesuswith our friends, neighbors, and everyone else with whom we may converse. Jesus tells us to be a neighbor and show mercy to all (Luke 10:37). After a careful examination of God’s Word, we can see that we are all called to be preachers of the Gospel to everyone we meet at all times as we are going about our daily lives.

This brings us to the subject of local mission trips. At Calvary Baptist Church we don’t just say we believe The Great Commission, we actually mean it. We believe The Great Commission so much, along with various overseas mission trips, we have planned a local mission trip once a month, every month, for the entire year of 2015, and we are inviting you to be a part of this. You may not be aware that we actually took a local mission trip every month in 2014, and with your help we will make a more concerted effort to reach the Chattahoochee Valley in 2015. Just like in 2014, every month in 2015 a pastor from Calvary will lead a mission trip to Columbus, Phenix City, or Fort Benning. In 2014 we noticed a trend where typically the same people were participating in these trips. However, we are asking each of our members, regular attenders, and anyone else who is willing, to plan to join us on at least a couple of these monthly mission trips throughout the year. We will do many things during these mission trips such as engaging others in conversation at a local coffee shop, canvassing local neighborhoods, conducting street-level evangelism, setting up an outdoor event with

a band, conducting a prayer service, feeding the homeless, and as always “making disciples” in obedience to The Great Commission.

In order to “make disciples’ we must be disciples. The word “disciple” is used in the word discipline. As a disciple we must be disciplined to God’s calling on our lives which includes making disciples. This is not a suggestion, but a command. We have been commissioned for an extraordinary task. There is no way around it, as a Christian our calling is to be obedient to The Great Commission. I don’t know of another church in this area that is as committed as Calvary is to making disciples. We want you to be involved in what God is doing in our city and we want to be a means in which God accomplishes His ends in the Chattahoochee Valley and in the world. Making disciples can be as easy as inviting a college student over for dinner and striking up a conversation with them about your faith. Or you could invite a soldier who has nowhere to go for the weekend over to your house to spend time with you as they get to see how a Christian household operates. Whatever it looks like, we must be obedient to make disciples. Furthermore, we are called to make disciples who in turn make disciples. Jesus expected His disciples to make disciples of others. This is how the early church grew for Christ and this is exactly how the Chattahoochee Valley will grow for Christ today. Not only will Christ’s name be exalted in our community, but it will be exalted to the uttermost parts of the world.

Believe it or not, Columbus and Phenix City are international cities because of the influence of Fort Benning in this area. As an Infantry Officer who has been deployed overseas and currently serves in the Georgia Army National Guard, I can attest to the immense influence Fort Benning has around the world. If you are in the Infantry the old saying is, “All roads lead back to Fort Benning.” The Army has a way of bringing many infantry soldiers who are temporarily stationed at Fort Benning back home. Some of these soldiers may hear about Jesus during their time in this area, go to another duty station or be deployed, make disciples of their own, and eventually come back to Calvary many years later. Through local mission trips we have a unique opportunity to make a difference for literally the entire world. However, it’s not just Infantrymen that come to Fort Benning. Fort Benning trains non-Infantrymen in

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

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such schools as Basic Training, Airborne, Ranger, Officer Candidate School, among others. Even if you have never been in the service or even stepped foot on Fort Benning, we want you to be involved in what God is doing through the military. One of our pastors who is not familiar with Fort Benning, led a mission trip there just a couple of months ago. Whether it’s Fort Benning, Columbus, or Phenix City, our local mission trips can have an international impact.

In a very real way, the world is coming to Columbus and Columbus is going to the world. One prime example of this is what is known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), formerly known as the US Army School of the Americas. WHINSEC is a United States Department of Defense Institute located at Fort Benning that provides military training to government personnel of Latin American countries. Some of the graduates from WHINSEC go on to become high-level government officials in their home countries such as the head of intelligence, the head of state, generals, politicians, and even presidents. Most Latin American countries have a strong Roman Catholic influence but with the help of

members from this church we can reach these international soldiers with the true and pure Gospel message. In turn, they can go back to their countries where they can be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16) to an otherwise dying world.

Our Lord Jesus was never static. He was always moving and He was always proclaiming the Kingdom of God everywhere He went. Likewise, the Apostle Paul spent much of his Christian life “going” and “making” disciples. You don’t have to wait long for an opportunity to go on a mission trip around here. Unfortunately, many churches do not take The Great Commission seriously, but around here we do. You may think that mission trips aren’t for you, but we believe telling others about the Gospel is every Christian’s responsibility and privilege. We ask all of you to join us as the pastors at Calvary lead local mission trips throughout the Chattahoochee Valley in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We can make an impact for God’s Kingdom throughout the world without even leaving our own neighborhood. 

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Not So Random Musings On

SpringWritten byFred Marshall

It is tough being cynical during spring. The newness of seemingly everything, everywhere, melts what might otherwise be a perpetual gloom, as the sun melts what would otherwise be a permanent frost. (If you grew up in New England as I did, the snow and ice imagery is more meaningful.) And as though it would catch us by surprise, this happens every year with, except for relatively minorfluctuations now & then, predictable regularity, just as we were told it would long, long ago (Genesis 8:22).

This season makes me realize that breaking any resolutions I might have made back in January isn't cata-strophic, and who said they are only for the New Year anyway? Spring is as good a time as any to resolve to do (or not do) something. Sixty degrees feels warmer in the spring than it does in the fall, though it is the same temperature. Spring is when I was born, though not the first time. The renewal of spring isn't just for things in nature, but ourselves as well; our bodies, minds, our emotions and our spirit. Warmer weather makes exercise in the fresh outdoors more inviting, as might the reminder that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit; who doesn't want to properly maintain a temple for its worthiest resident?And what about spring cleaning, something whose effortwe may dread, but whose benefits we then enjoy?

There is another tendency this time of year toward lazinesswe sometimes call spring fever. I recall having it a few times during high school, staring out the windows of classrooms at where I would rather have been. We have to fight this laziness on more than just the physical and mental front. The very exercise we don't feel like doing is actually the best weapon against it. Gullibility is a form of mental laziness. Allowing our emotions to rule our thinking at the expense

of logical reasoning can lead us to reach faulty conclusions about things.

Trusting sources who do not have our best interests at heart to spoon feed us information is not good stewardshipof the reasoning faculties with which we've been blessed. The brain is like a muscle, and thinking is good exercise!Critical reasoning tends to prevent us from being misled.How different the outcome of countless situations in Scripture would have been had the victims of the adversary's deception depended on their minds ratherthan on their hearts. Granted, emotions have their purpose, but the enemy exploits our sometimes excessive reliance on them to sway us to make poor judgments.

Paul said in Romans 12:2 "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewingof your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."Jesus said "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harm-less as doves." God values logic, as He demonstrated when He spoke to the prophet Isaiah saying "Come now, and let us reason together...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18, emphasis added) He did not appeal to Isaiah's emotions, knowing that "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked..." (Jeremiah 17:9)

Another way we are worth so much more than the lilies of the field He mentions in Matthew 6:28-

30, is that they only grow during certain times of the year, bloom, and die. We, in a sense,

have no such limits. We can grow daily, bloom daily, according to our willingnessto be fed, watered and nourished.

This spring, today, resolve that you can be renewed, in every way. AllowHis Holy Spirit to renew you, to do the best possible kind of spring cleaning; whether by convicting you of sin, the need to repent, and the need

for a Savior, or by the continual regeneration He provides to those who

have thus accepted His gift of salvation.

Yes, spring is a time of renewal, but renewal need not be confined to spring.

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Audrey Weaver

works in his life, we had to do more in order to get our place in Heaven.But, this was done without a personalrelationship with Jesus.

Second, tithing was incredibly important. At first, this doesn’t seem to be a bad thing, but the Mormon temple that she went to took it further when Audreytried to go to temple. The process for going to temple was that a followerhad to be recommended after an interview with the Bishop. However,Audrey was found unworthy of goingto temple (in effect, the presence of God) because she didn’t go to church enough and didn’t tithe enough.

What I found interesting about this, and told Audrey, was that I felt that there were probably many Christiansin churches across the U.S. that were going through the same motionsof living a “good” life and tithing to get into Heaven without a truerelationship with Christ.

Strangely, the Bible was part of Mormon teaching, but a small partand not the focus. Anything in the Bible that contradicted the Book of Mormon was blamed on an incorrect

Life Stories Written byChris Sharp

Admittedly, I know nothing about the Mormon faith or the Mormonchurch, so when I was given the opportunity to interview AudreyWeaver, a recent convert from theMormon church, I looked at it as anopportunity to both learn about a newly baptized Christian and abit about the Mormon church. Aftermoving to Ft. Benning from theWashington, D.C. area for a teaching position, Audrey became anew resident to the Columbus areain August of last year, where life in the South was completely different.She was raised as a Mormon and grew up knowing nothingelse in terms of religion. She had never read the Bible; only the Book of Mormon. I was very interestedby this because I wanted to hear some of the beliefs of the Mormonchurch since the only thing that I had to base an opinion on were the Osmonds and Mitt Romney. Whatshe said was incredibly enlightening.

First, she said that the Mormons teach that good works will get you into Heaven and create a relationshipwith God. The idea behind thiswas that since Jesus did so many good

translation of the Bible; the onlyapproved Bible was the King James Version. I found this interestingbecause I have heard many people,including my own father who wasLutheran, say the same thing aboutthe Bible; basically refuting the teachings of the Bible as an in-correct version, or just a story, in order to justify their behavior.

Since Audrey accepted Jesus as her Savior and was baptized, she has read the Bible and found that it significantly contradicts and refutes the Book of Mormon. She now knowsthat grace and salvation are not about good works and tithing, but come from accepting Christ into one’s life and seeking a deep relationshipwith Him. Although she feels that she doesn’t know as much as she should about Christ, she is finding more depth to her faith. Personally, I think she’s at an amazing point in her faith journey because she has discovereda new relationship with a loving Saviorand is seeking deeper meaning while learning the peace of knowingChrist intimately. In this, she has what we all should have, the faith and adoration of a child for Christ.

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I have been an Army wife for almost ten years now, and the majority of the time I love it. I feel it is a privilegeto have a husband who fights for the freedoms this country holds dear. But military life comes with its fair share of struggles. I love moving to new duty stations and getting to set up house in a new town. However, afterthe dust settles sometimes lonelinesscan set in. I am not great at making new friends, and it is something I dread every time we move. I think, “I had perfectly good friends at our last duty station; why do I have to make new ones?” or “Why doesn’t the army allow us all to move together?” So, despite my stubbornness I set out in search of a new “group” to join. I have been a part of multiple Family Readiness groups, Protestant Women of the Chapel, playgroups, strollerobicsand church Bible studies. None of them seemed to have what I was looking for. Sometimes I felt like Goldilocks “This chair is too small” (I feel like everybody is staring at me) or “This chair is too big” (Does anybody even notice I am

here?). I wanted a group of women who shared the daily ups and downs of military life, but at the same time were focused on growing with God.

My husband and I had been comingto Calvary for over a year before the Military Wives Mentoring Group was started. I was anxious to try this “group” out and see what it was all about. And a little over a year later I am here to tell you that this group is wonderful in every way. It is a small enough group that you can get to know every person, yet it is big enough so you never feel pressure to share more than you are comfortablewith. We have four wonderfulmentors who are all veteranmilitary wives, so they can relate to the daily struggles we face. They are always available when you need wisdom, comfort, prayer, or just someone to talk to because you can’t stand to have one more conversationwith your three year old aboutcartoons. We meet every Wednesdaynight at Calvary and so far have been through studies on fear, moving,

and prayer. We take time each week to share prayer requests and pray with and for each other. I love checkingin with ladies throughout the week to see how God is working in their lives and what prayers He is answering!Just in the past year, He has granted smooth moves for those PCSing,began repairing broken relationships, healed sick children and familymembers, and helped us all grow clos-er to Him. We also take time almostevery month to have a specialfellowship. We love to eat and craft, but have also had the privilege of throwing multiple baby showers andhad our first wedding shower!

In this group we live, laugh, pray, cry, learn and grow together. God is teaching us how to care for othersas much as He cares for us. And despite the craziness of the militarylife, our friendships grow and so does our faith in our precious SaviorJesus Christ. So if you feel like Goldilocks too, looking for that “just right” chair, come join us! We would love to get to know you!

It’s Just Right...Written byCassie Walters

Sometimes I felt like Goldilocks “This chair is too small” (I feel like everybody is staring at me) or “This chair is too big” (Does anybody even notice I am here?).

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Recently, my daughter and her family moved into anew home. She quickly started transforming it to make it her own, and I was excited to lend a hand. I love transforming things that are old and makingthem new, so we decided that transforming herexisting dining room chandelier would be my nextproject. It was in great condition, but a bit dated…the 90’s to be more exact. My son-in-law tookdown the chandelier, and I brought it home for thetransformation. I can’t help but think of how GODtransforms us.

Submitted byLisa Johnson

Easy and Inexpensive DIY Transformation

Needless to say, the light had been hanging since the 90’s, so it was dusty. It is important to prep and clean the fixture prior to painting.

Once clean, I put cotton inside the candletubes on the light to keep paint from gettinginside the light sockets. I hungthe fixture outside and spraypainted it with an Oil RubbedBronze finish paint byRustOleum. Wow, what a greatproduct! The coverage was superb, and it was easy to use.

Following the directions on the can, I sprayed one coat, and touched up some areas after it was dry. I was amazed at how quick and easy this project was.

Now that the chandelier had beentransformed, I couldn’t wait to see it hung. My son-in-law happily hung thelight, and my daughter added burlapshades for an added touch.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

I have to admit, this was my first time transforming a light fixture...make that two. We decided I would do the kitchen light too.WOW! What a transformation.

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Calvary Christian School is a thriving ministry of Calvary Baptist Church. The school adjoins the worship center while the classrooms and halls are shared with the church. What is this ministry all about and how does it and will it impact the city, the surrounding area and even the world?

The WHOLE Truth

For the WHOLE Child

Reaching the WHOLE WorldWritten byVickie Dort

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doing their best to teach excellently and accurately. At the same time, math is also an incredible opportunity to teach absolute truth. Four plus four is always eight. Teacherscan look for opportunities to teach with Biblical permeation where truth is integrated into every aspect of education.” A motto of the school is “teaching the whole truth to the whole child.” Since we are made in the image of God with a body, soul and spirit, Christian education should cover all the bases. There is no divisionbetween the sacred and the secular.Football, basketball, music, lunch-time and playtime are all activities where God is present and the practical truths merge with spiritual truths. “The disciple- making moments often take placeoutside the classroom....in thelunchroom, the hallway or thebasketball court where conflict occursand there is kid drama.” Those are the moments when real lessons arelearned. “Calvary will always be Christianfirst and school second.”

In every area of expertise or excellence, there is an important aspect which cannot be overlooked. Whether it involves music, art, sports, the business world or an educational institution, there must be a unique factor

Before looking forward to the future, it is imperative to look back at the origin of the school. In 1975, Dr. Don Wilhite (Pastor Emeritus) had a desire to reach and serve the city of Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley.He also had small children of his own, which also made it a personal desire. This two-fold decision was the birth of Calvary Christian School. Fast forward forty years later to 645 students from 21 denominations and 119 churches within the walls of the school. Headmaster,Dr. Ricky Smith, says, “the school is a mosaicof the body of Christ in this city. We are a good cross section of what the Church universally looks like.” Even the school board is made up of people from otherdenominations and pastors from other churches.

Every ministry or organization has an underlying purposeor mission. There is a formal mission statement, of course, but Dr. Smith stated, “the bottom line answer is that Calvary Christian is about making disciples and buildingyoung men and women to be full of character with a Biblical worldview. We are doing that while providingan excellent education.” Developing their faith in Christ along with achieving their individual academic excellence“as they fulfill their God given responsibility in the home, the church and their community” is key. “In the context of excellent education, the goal is to teach students to apply Biblical teaching to everything.”In every academic subject and every school activity there is opportunity to teach truth. For example, “a math teacher is

“The school is a mosaic of the body of Christ in this city. We are a good cross section of what the Church universally looks like.”

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that causes the individual or organization to stand out from the crowd. There are many singers, artists, sports stars, businesses and educational institutions, but what makes them different and unique? Calvary Christian School is distinctive in several different aspects. The studentreceives a “complete school experience” includingmusic, the arts, athletics, clubs and many extrasthat round out the student. Not only is curriculumexcellent but also there is ample opportunity for students to discover their unique gifts and talentswithin the school setting.

Another unique aspect among Christian schools is the fact that Calvary has a full time school nurse available. When a child is ill or injured, there is immediatemedical attention provided. This makes Calvary Christiana safer and healthier environment for the student.

One of the exciting and unique aspects of Calvary is the Discovery School. This is a unique programspecifically designed for the unique child. This is aplace where Christian parents with children with special needs can have some real help and encouragement. Once again, Calvary is meetingthe need of teaching the whole child from the whole body of Christ the whole truth. Even Jesus was educatedby others as well as His Heavenly Father. Luke 2:52 says his learning process caused Him to “grow in wisdomand stature, and in favor with God and man.”

With a look at the past and the present, it is now time to look toward the future of the school. Changes are takingplace that will be completed in the near future. Sports fields are being built and the Middle School is beingremodeled. Classrooms will be added in the future with the goal of accommodating 1,000 students. There are plans for an online program that would enable students to take online classes, whether they are local or somewhere else.

In forty years, the leaders of Calvary Christian have learned a lot. One of the long term goals is to becomethe number one resource for Christian education, not in the city or the nation, but period. That's right, the world. This would be for the purpose of helping others, whetherit is a homeschooling parent or another Christianschool or a missionary parent across the planet. The teachers of Calvary could share their knowledge and wisdom with others who have an educational need.

The symbol for the 40th year is a flame. As the world grows darker, a flame shines brighter. A flame provideswarmth in a cold world. It is also significant that a flame will ignite almost everything it touches. One of the major goals for the future of Calvary Christian is to be a “beacon” or a light in a dark world. As students catch the flame, they will pass it on to others in their homes, their churches, their communities and even the world at large. There may be future politicians, soldiers,lawyers, doctors, pastors and missionaries within the walls of the school. There is no limit to how these individuals could affect the world. Calvary Christian is teaching the whole truth to the whole child with the goal of reaching the whole world one step at a time.

This article is the result of an interview with Dr. Ricky Smith, the headmaster of Calvary Christian School. He passion-ately and effectively communicates the history, mission and future goals of the school. Some of the facts are direct quotes from Dr. Smith and others are paraphrased.

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Fathers, you are the God-ordained pastor of your home! No pressurethere, but this is a huge responsibility.Parents should take very seriously the God-given mandate to shepherd our children. Both dads and moms are challenged to hold God's Word in high regard and to have continual conversations about God, His Word, and how they relate to life. Themandate is not that we be perfect, but here are some thoughts that may help your home be more like what God intends.

First, we must be present. It is easierto be physically present, than to be emotionally present. The stress of the day often causes us to shut down when we walk in the door. Rather than a time of rest, this is a time to engage. After a brief exhale, committo be present with your children.Playing together, cooking together,or going for a walk are simpleways to build a platform to makedisciples of your children.

Second, we must keep it a priority. Disciples are not mass produced.

Family Worship

Written byRicky Smith

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (ESV)

They are made one at a time. This means that the discipleship of yourchildren must be a constant priority. Deuteronomy 6:7 implies that conversations about God andHis Word should be the norm,not an exception.

Third, we must be practical. For my family, worship time is part of our bedtime routine. It only takes 15-20 minutes to spend time reading and discussing the Bible. We always end in prayer. At times we have used family worship devotionals, which provide creative and interactiveactivities. During Christmas, we usethe Jesse Tree Advent study. Truthfully,most of the time we just work through a book of the Bible and let God's Word speak for itself.

There isn't a magic tool, but family worship is critically important tomaking disciples of our children. As we pastor our homes, we will witness a greater move of God through the next generation. Imagine the impact we can make on our city and this world if we commit to raise up children who passionately follow King Jesus.

Be Present

Make it a Priority

Be Practical

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Tips for your 2015 Income Tax Refund5

Submitted byJohn Harris

Tip #1: Maximize your contributionsIn 2015 the IRS will allow you to deduct $5,500 ($6,500 if you're over 50) in contributions to a tax-deferred IRA and $18,000 to a traditional 401(k) plan. By contributing early and often, you may be able to decrease your tax liability and allow your investments plenty of time to grow before retirement.

Tip #2: Know who's being paid whatIn the world of investing there are many different fees assessed to investors, and those fees can have a huge dragon your wealth over time. In fact, according to Vanguard,

if you had $10,000 and achieved a 6% return over 25 years, you would have almost $98,000.

However, if you paid a 2% annual fee over the same time period, you

would only have about $56,000(a $42,000 difference).

Tip #3: DiversifyAs we have all heard from our parents, it is best not to put all our eggs in one basket. Thesame is true forinvesting. Diversification is the process by which investorsspread their moneyacross multipleinvestments, asset classes, and countries which may help reduce the risk that individual investments may pose totheir portfolios. By holding many different companies and investments, you can focus on broader economic factors that are impacting your returns and not worry so much about how an individual company will impact your portfolio.

Tip #4: Don't chase returns, stick to the planJust because a company, mutual fund, or ETF has had a great year, does not mean that those returns are guaranteed to continue. Beforeselling out of your

current investments to buy that "hot" stock,

be sure that you fully understand the risks that

investment will have on your portfolio and be sure

you are buying based on scienceand fundamentals not intuition.

In fact, according to a study by the St. Louis Fed, individuals who chased returns

realized a 2% lower return than those who "buy-and-hold."See TIP #2 to see how big of a difference this could have on your portfolio through time.

Tip #5: Invest Comfortably & Know When You Need HelpThinking about retirement and savings can be very stressful and intimidating given the complexity of the many different types of investments available to investors. When you invest, make sure that you know and understand what you are putting your money into including the underlying investments, transaction fees, risk, costs and expenses. If you are uncomfortable with the risk that a particular investment has, then you should consider looking for a new investment. If looking at your portfolio overwhelms you, or you don't know what to do, consider hiring someone to help. There are many trustworthy investment advisors who are genuinely interested in your success and can help remove the emotional elements of investing to developa long-term cohesive plan. As you are looking for an advisor, make sure you stick to the Tips #1 - 4.

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The Home&

A Vision for Youth MinistryWritten byBeth Britton

On the door of the youth room, the word HUB is stenciled in a splash of vibrant, multi-colored spray paint. The simple artwork christens the room, giving it both a name and a purpose. For com-puter nerds, a hub is a place of convergence where data arrives from one or more directions and is forwarded out in other direc-tions. For travelers, a hub is a connecting point from one destina-tion to the next. For the student ministry at Calvary, the Hub is a place to link with other members of the church and be taught God's principles, but it's not the final destination or even the main center where students are meant to be filled with the data of God's word.That is what HOME is for. So, how do the Hub and home work together?

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The Home - Where the Hard Work is Done Frank Bowden, husband, father, and new student minister at Calvary, explains how the home is to functionin the student's life. "I believe that Scripture is clear that parents are the primary disciple makers in the lives of their children, my hope is to partner with parents in their pursuit of this mission by coming alongside them in the discipleship process."

Home is where the pastors of Calvarywant parents to be living out Deuteronomy 6:6-7, doing the hardwork to make disciples. "And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up."(NLT)

The Hub - Equipping the HomeDisciple-making is intense, and the church is here to help. The Hub is where all of our families converge. It's here that we connect, learn, and get the support that we need to be able to do the spiritual work in our homes and for our families. The Hub's success,which Frank defines as "students coming to know Jesus's love for them and ultimately having a life altering

relationship with Him" hinges on parental involvement. He continues,"There are many ways to be involved, but first, pray. Pray for our families and students that are coming.Pray that I have an awarenessof the need(s) that are present and then that the Lord will send those who can best meet that need."

For the students, in this time of transition, Frank wants to reassure them. "Hang on! Calvary student ministry is going to take off. We're committed to making King Jesus known throughout our schools and city and doing so can be a lot of fun! Own it! Be proud of your church and the student ministry, but also serve. Students leading in small groups, in worship, or helping turn on lights and setting up chairs are essential ways

students can love Jesus by serving."

God's model for student discipleshiphas been laid out to us, with parentsteaching their children and pastorspartnering with them as they accomplish their mission. Our churchis fortunate to have a staff of men who know God's vision and are dedicated to fulfilling it. Parents can begin today the task of disciplingtheir children, knowing that they have a network of support availableto them, and their biggest impacton the church community will bethe children they raise.Resources for parents and teens:1. Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham2.Revolutionary Parenting: Raising Your Kids to Be Champions of the Faith by George Barna3. http://www.parentingministry.org/4.http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/teens/page/1

Who is the New Guy? - Student Minister StatsName: Frank Bowden, 30Family: Wife -Paige, six years and son - Austin Paul (1 year old)Hometown: Columbus, GAAlma Mater: Brewton-Parker College, Mount Vernon, GaMinistry History: Student Minister, Central Baptist Church, 6+ years Campus Minister, Baptist Collegiate Ministries, CSU Ministry Philosophy: Partnering with parents to make disciples who: know, grow, show, go. Jesus wanted people to know Him, grow in their faith and obedience to Him, show others His love and go to tell people about Him.Preferred Superpower: The ability to fly!

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Tripped Up

At a crowded starting line of a marathon, it is commonto see a runner tripped up by congestion. Perhaps heis tripped up by an aggressive competitor who intentionally impedes the racer’s progress. This imagegives us a good visual of Galatians 5:7.

Many athletes can start well, but it is importanthow one finishes. Throughout Paul’s letters he wouldfrequently use athletic references. Running was usedspecifically here in Galatians 5:7, and also in 1 Corinthians9:24-27, Philippians 3:14, and 2 Timothy 4:7. The ideaof running carries with it endurance, persistence, fervor,and focus. It seems that the Galatians had struggledwith all of those characteristics. From Paul’s first visitto them, they got off to a strong start. As Paulsaid it, “You were running well.”

The word “hindered” literally means “cut in on” or “held you back.” The visual of a crowded starting line in a race gives the imagery described. A competitor cuts in on another racer to trip them up, or to gain an advantage. Although in the

Written byRicky Smith

form of the Judaizer, the answer as to who cut in was very clear. Paul certainly understood that the Enemy was at work. The Devil had craftily twisted their minds to fall away from the “truth of the Gospel”, as Paul references in Galatians 2:5, 14. The perception is that the Galatians had not been fully convinced to follow the Judaizers, therefore Paul is arguing to convince them to return to the Gospel.

The Gospel is not simply to be heard, but is also to be obeyed. The verb tense of “obeying” in Galatians 5:7 is in the present tense. As believers we are called to obey the Gospel continually. Our attention to the Gospelshould influence all areas of our life, therefore a solidunderstanding of the Gospel is required.

We are able to resist the temptation of the Galatiansif we develop a clear understanding of the Gospel,and walk in obedience as we apply the Gospel to our life. We must always be aware of the Enemy’s schemes to impede our progress. Praise the Lord.

You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?Galatians 5:7 (ESV)

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When I think of Haiti, I think of people bathing and wash-ing their clothes in dirty river water, walking on dusty dirt roads, and drinking unclean water. In our sanitary, germ

conscious world, most would naturallyresist an invitation to go to Haiti.We fear Malaria, hepatitis, and

intestinal issues. We might question– what difference could I make anyway? There was atime when I would have had such fears and questions. But Jesus said, “Go.” He instructed that Christians should “go into all nations. “ So I said, “Yes, Lord.”

Trip Preparations: Once the commitment is made there are orientation meetings to attend, travel items to gather, passports and identity papers to obtain, and preventative injections and pills to take. Dates are set, travel plans are made, and an itinerary is prepared.Finally, small suitcases or duffle bags are packed – light on clothes and personal products, leavingroom for healthy snacks and other essentials.

Team Efforts: The agenda for my first trip to Haiti was a combination of physical labor – putting a concretefloor into a new children’s building at a village church, and installing a water pump for a village which had no clean running water – and also visiting schools where we would administer worm pills, and give out vitamins and goodie bags to each child. This team needed a number of physically strong and energeticyoung people. The young people brought smiles

Written byJune Wilhite

THE HUMAN TOUCH

That Spells Love

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to us older folks as well as to the villagers.

Last year, Don and I went with a team of medical professionals and willing helpers. We were two of the willing helpers. We spent three long hot days at a village where there was a pretty nice sized church. This church had a clinic next to it where they had a small group of medical personnel who would see sick village people each week. Our team included two doctors, a nurse, a dentist, and a dental assistant. It was an added blessing to be on the same trip with our daughter and granddaughter. All the team members worked together well. Each one worked past weary, yet with happy smiles. What a blessing to see so many villagers who left the clinic having had many varied physical needs met. And I was blessed to be a part of it all!

Touch-love: Here’s where I keep smiling while I’m typing. I’m not sure how aware that citizens of struggling countries are of the healing touch of love. In fact for most people, who simply struggle to survive and who know little about the love of God, life is simply a matter of obtaining food, shelter, and clothing. Yet even for these, a human touch prompted by the love of God, can infuse strange warmth.

When our goal is to connect with people in a way that they sense a Godly love, even a moment’s touch of a cashier’s hand while paying for a purchase can be unconsciously felt in the heart. Add to that a sincere smile coupled with eye-to-eye contact and you will brighten that cashier’s day. This concept can be applied in otherways as well. Watch for every opportunity. You’ll see.

In Haiti, as in many other countries, you can often see skepticism and suspicion regarding the motives for your presence. These doubts can be diminished when we applytouch-love such as described above. There are plenty of opportunities to hold babies, or to play games with the children, hand in hand. On my first trip, we attended PastorJulio’s worship services a couple of nights. Several team members encouraged children to sit with them. On the second night, I was looking at the front section where

most of the children sat. One little girl, 6 or 7 years of age, caught my eye. I gently motioned to offerher a seat beside me.She looked up at her big sister for permission. Hersister nodded and Belinda

(Pastor Julio told me her name) came shyly and sat next to me. I patted her and gave her reassuringsmiles. During the message, Belinda began to get restless.I remembered that I had a thin compact in my purse. It opened to a mirror. I showed Belinda how to open it and she was quite entertained for a while – opening, looking at herself, and closing it. I bent down, while she gazed at herself, and said, “Belle.” I knew this word meant pretty. She smiled. She felt my denim dress, my arm, my face, and my hair. Soon Belinda became drowsy. She had becomecomfortable with me so she laid her head on my lap.

A human touch, prompted by the love of God, can infuse strange warmth.

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Before I knew it she was sound asleep and slobbering on my dress. I was okay with that. Sometimes I slobber on my pillow. I like to think that Belinda sensed a love of God from this white lady from the states.

On the medical trip last year, another team member and I wereselected to do triage on each patient in preparation for hisor her turn to see the doctoror dentist. The process includedtaking temperatures, weighing,checking pulses, doing a sugarprick if they were (or if we thoughtthey might be) diabetic, and checkingbreathing rates. I asked how wewere supposed to do breathingrates. I was told to simply put myhand on their chests and feel, while watching the second hand on my watch. This was not alwayseasy to be exact because some breathed more shallowly than others. But I did my best. We recorded all the figures on the sheet of paper given to them by the intake person when they entered the room (worship center).Then someone lined the patients up

on the pews, numbering their papersin the order in which they’d arrived.The patients ranged in age frominfants to elderly. The maladies forwhich they came included sicknesswith fever, stomach issues, arthri-tis pain, crippling toothaches, and desires for teeth cleaning. Wesometimes used disposable plasticgloves, but mostly just scrubbeda dose of sanitizing liquid onour hands between each patient. I loved this job for several reasons. We were privileged to spend a few personal minutes with each individual.We held babies while weighing mom. We shared an “I love you” smile with each and every one. We touched each one in several ways, such as supporting them as they stepped on the scales, and holding their chin as we communicated for them to open their mouths so we could insert the thermometer. I remember one toddlerwho was frightened and crying.I began singing “Jesus Loves Me” loudly enough for the child to hear me. The child relaxed. I looked up to see that all the others had relaxed

as well, and were smiling.

My favorite part turned out to bethe breath counts. This was truly ahands-on experience. I remember one lady who was wearing a low-cutblouse. As I placed my hand uponher bare chest, she looked up at me suspiciously. I simply continued the process, not letting her know that I had noticed. As with each one, my desire was that each would feel and sense the love of Jesusvia my touch. It truly seemed to me that I could sense a calm and growing trust from each one.

The Take-away: Paul wrote to the Corinthian church (and to all Christians) that, no matter whatwonderful Christian qualities we have,or what wonderful acts of faith andgoodness we perform, if love is not involved we gain nothing (1 Corinthians13). Whatever we are or do asChristians, whether on mission trips,at work, at home, or driving downthe highway - it amounts to nothingif not accompanied by the love of God shared with our “neighbors.”

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27, HCSB)

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“We were not made to live Alone. Only in community,in fellowship, in interacting with others, do we

find ourselves and come fully alive.”

-Bruce Milne “We Belong Together: The Meaning of Fellowship”

We all live in a community, whether we know it or not. There are circles of people that we are graftedto; that define us. It’s our culture. It’s who we are. It is a part of us. These circles of friends and colleagues cater to the rhythm of life that we are in and us to them. But Christ followers are grafted into something that is eternal, found in Jesus Christ.

Living life together in Christ is by design. It is made manifest not only in the Church, but also in the very nature of who God is. God is Trinitarian.His existence is communal, and driven by the

Consider Small G

roups

Written byNick Bruner

relationship between Father, Son, and Spirit.And because of The Gospel, the individualChristian and the gathering of all Christians havebeen given the gift of being able to exist in that Trinitarian relationship because of Jesus Christ.

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things

that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. (Acts 4:32)

As Christ followers, it is Jesus himself who defines our commonality and drives our desire for community. All affinities, ages, races and cultural distinctions are made secondary in light of our commonality in Christ. The entire New Testament is written to acommunal people. Though at times some of theletters are written to individuals, there is

We believe that in small groups a person is not just part of the crowd but involved with each other’s lives.

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Consider Small G

roups

overwhelming emphasis on the community of Christ followers. Consequently, Christianity defined without community is not Christianity as the Bible defines it. The Christian life is built on the fellowship of the Saints, not on the individual.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of

bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42)

Community and Fellowship of Christ’s people,as Milne would say is the “birthmark” of the church. And it has been from the very beginning.

So to that end, we believe that being in a small group is essential to discovering who Jesus Christ is, and growing deeper in our knowledge and understanding of what that means; for us individually and as a group. We have intentionallyprovided a way for you to connect with othersin our Church. We want you to be in community.Whether that is in a small group that meets on Sunday mornings, a home group that meets during the week, our post-Wednesday night service group or in the various Bible studies that we offer, there are many avenues at Calvaryto connect that fits your rhythm of life.

The life that Christ has given you can only be fully expressed in community with other Christians. I encourage youto make strides to connectwith others in Christ.

In small groups you have the chance to ask deep questions about the Bible, faith and how following Jesus looks. Small groups care for each other in ways that the large group could never care for each other. Therefore, we often say at Calvary that if you only had one hour to give to our church each week, we would rather see you in a small group than in our large group, church setting.

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CH

Last Quarter New Members

Malachi Kenneth Pearse, son of Ryan & Kelly Pearse

Ella Leslie Osbourne, daughter of John &

Tina Osbourne

We believe that every member is a minister and every minister

should have a ministry. God has shaped each one of

us for ministry, and for you it may be in the creative arts.

We believe that God created each of us with gifts and talents to be used for His Glory and for His purpose and the creative arts is no exception.

If you are a copy editor, illustrator, artist, writer, designer,photographer, videographer, or anyother creative art form, we want you to use those skills to spread the Gospel, enrich the Church, and minister to others.

We are developing many platforms where your talents can be utilized to help Calvary Baptist Church carry out the Great Commission through healing hurts and meeting needs. Our website, app, magazine and other media platforms need men and women exercising their gifts for the Glory of King Jesus.

If you want to get involved or have questions, please contact Alan Smith at [email protected] orthrough the church office at (706) 322-1491.

Want to KnowHow You CanGet Involved?

Last Quarter Baby Dedications

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December Ashley Fortenberry Jimmy and Hattie Stanley

January Stuart and Dana Davis Janet Whalum Alex and Jackie Pugh Tracy Townsend Connie and Gary Reynolds

February Justin Wiles James and Jody Headyca

lvar

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Women's Ministry Focus GroupSunday, March 1 at 12:00 P.M. (immediately following the church service) in the cafeteria. We ask twoladies from every adult Sunday School class to attend. We are reachingout to seek ideas and directionfor functions, and hope that it willfoster new support from various age groups. Lunch is provided.

Young AdultsAtlanta Hawks Game on Saturday,March 22. The Hawks versus theSan Antonio Spurs at Philips Arena.We will be departing the church at 12:15 P.M.

For ticket information, contact Ryan Pearse at 706.322.1491.

Young at HeartYoung at Heart (Senior Adults) group is having a day Trip to Juliette, GA with lunch at the Whistle Stop Cafe on Thursday, March 19.

We will meet at 8:30 A.M. at the church and will return to the church by 3:30 P.M.

04 Wednesday 6:30 P.M. AWANA: Fruit of the Spirit Night

11 Wednesday 6:30 P.M. AWANA: Family Night

15 Sunday 9:00 A.M. Student Ministry Care Breakfast This is our once a quarter PCB event for parents of students and will be held at the Hub. We’ll feed you breakfast, provide the upcoming quarter’s calendar of events, make general announcements regarding the student ministry, give out parenting resources to help you disciple your teen, and close with a time of encouragement from God’s Word.

18 Wednesday 6:30 P.M. AWANA: Penny Night

24 Tuesday 12:00 P.M. Let’s Do Lunch! All students, if you’re home Tuesday of Spring Break then let’s do lunch. Meet at El Carrizo and BYO$

24-26 Tuesday 8:00 A.M. Camp Logos Camp Logos is a two-day, hands on computer training seminar for Logos Bible Software. The event will be Tue. and Wed. from 8:00-5:00 in HH and the Cafeteria.

25 Wednesday No AWANA

27 Friday TBD Godly Women in a Modern World PJ Movie Night This will be a fun time of fellowship as we get together and watch a movie.

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Resurrection Celebration This event is for children in first through third grades and will be on Sunday, April 5 9:30-10:45 A.M. in the Cafeteria and Worship Center. This will be a fun time to celebrate Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. They will enjoy a concert, story time, activities, and crafts.

OpenNight 2412

Young Adults: Centennial ParkOn Sunday, April 12 the Young Adults Ministry will be going to Cen-tennial Park. We will be departing church at 12:15 P.M.

Contact Ryan Pearse at 706.322.1491 for more details.

Open Hub NightThe Student Ministry Open Hub Night is Friday, April 24, from 6:00-9:00 P.M. at the HUB. All hubs will be open: the media hub will be running video game tournaments, the snack hub will be open with food and drinks, the missions & resource hub stocked with freebies and more.

MAY

01 Wednesday 6:30 P.M. AWANA: String Night

05 Sunday 8:30 A.M. & Easter Service 11:00 A.M. Easter Service

08 Wednesday 6:30 P.M. AWANA: Backwards Night

15 Wednesday 6:30 P.M. AWANA: F.R.O.G. Night

16 Thursday 6:00 P.M. Young at Heart Spring Banquet The Young at Heart Spring Banquet will be held in Hightower Hall. Senior Adults, come and enjoy dinner, fellowship and entertainment.

22 Wednesday 6:30 P.M. AWANA: Mr. Potato Night

25 Saturday 12:00 P.M. Lunch at Callaway Gardens Godly Women in a Modern World will have a lunch together in Pine Mountain and then enjoy a day of fun at Callaway Gardens.

25 Saturday 2:00 P.M. Airsoft Columbus Young Adults meet at Airsoft Columbus. 2:00-5:00 P.M. and the cost is $20

25 Saturday 7:30 P.M. Midtown Coffee Young Adults meet at Midtown Coffee from 7:30-9:30 P.M. to enjoy time together as the Wednesday night band performs.

29 Wednesday 6:30 P.M. AWANA: Camp Night

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27 2921Fried Tomato BuffetThe Young At Heart Ministry will en-joy lunch at the Fried Tomato Buffet in LaGrange on Thurs-day, May 21.

We will meet at church at 10:00 A.M. and return by 2:30 P.M.

Young Adults Camping TripThe Young Adults will be having a co-ed group camping trip in Pine Mountain on Friday, May 29.

We will be departing from the church at 5:00 P.M.

Summer Kickoff ClassicThe Student Ministry will be kicking off summer with Water Wars Mania on Wednesday, May 27 at the Hub.

The time is TBA.

More information is available in the Hub.

02 Saturday 1:30 P.M. Amazing Race This is a fellowship for married couples including: a scavenger/challenge race with prizes, refreshments, encouragement for married couples. This event will be open to military and non-military couples with a cap of 40 couples. We will meet in Hightower Hall at 1:30 P.M., receive instructions for the race, start the clock and send them off! The race portion should take approx. an hour and a half and After the race, the couples will return to Hightower Hall for refreshments.

03 Sunday 9:00 A.M. Class of 2015 Graduation Breakfast The Graduation Breakfast is a time to honor all students graduating from high school. Please RSVP to the church office by Wednesday, April 22.

6 Wednesday 6:30 P.M. AWANA: Ice Cream Sundae Night

13 Wednesday 6:30 P.M. AWANA: Beach Night

20 Wednesday 6:30 P.M. AWANA: Awards Night

24 Sunday 12:15 P.M. Lenox Mall The Young Adult Ministry will be having a group outing to Lenox Mall. We will be departing the church at 12:15 P.M.