FBC Newsletter 1 June 2015

FBC Mission

Statement Our mission

is to glorify God by helping people know, love, obey,

and exalt Jesus Christ

FBC Vision

Statement Our vision

is to present Christ to Decatur, Madison and

the world in a contemporary and

creative way through equipped and

mobilized believers who make disciples.

June 2015

A Monthly Source of News and Information for Members & Friends of First Bible Church Decatur — Madison

NewsletterFBC2015 FBC Graduating Seniors

Steve Bateman, Em Barran, Zach Erwin, Richard ThompsonNot pictured: Dave Truitt

L to R - Whitney Button, Madison Keith, Sarah Fowler, Allie Varwig*, Brianna Head, Alainnah Cheshier Row 2: Charlee Anderson, Aliyah Prater, Emily Bender, Olivia Bolton,

Merrell Bowman, Taylor Townsend Row 3: Mally Coleman, Jocelyn Williams*, Maddie Vinton Row 4: Jacob Vehrs, Carter Shelton, Brandon Schreiber, Ben Hodge*,

Patrick Metzgar*, Brent King Back Row: Jonah Estrada*, Garrett Gladish, Nichols Teichmiller, Evan Francis

*Student who completed Church Membership

Serbia Team

FBC Newsletter 2 June 2015

At Sav-a-Life, we are given the opportunity to work with people who need Jesus. We are able to share the Gospel with each client, and we inform them of their pregnancy options and give an ultra-sound to every client. If you feel God is leading you to work in a crisis pregnancy center, please contact the office at 256-355-3828.

God is good and is work-ing in the lives of the cli-ents here. As of March 2015, we had 193 pregnancy tests with 136 positive results. 88 ultrasounds were performed, and 85 made a life choice after the ultrasound. We gave out 141 Bibles; 15 received Christ, and 9 re-dedicated their lives.

So how can you help?1. Pray! Pray! Pray!2. Volunteer.3. Give monetarily or bring in new and gently used items, diapers, wipes, formula, and baby food.4. Ask for the “Choose Life” tag at your local office.5. Pancake Day Fundraiser on Saturday, July 25 from 7am to

12pm at Westmeade Baptist Church in Decatur.

May God bless you as you prayerfully consider how God would have you be involved in this ministry.

News continues

Remaining 2015 Mission TrpsPeru Dates: June 13-21Leader: CJ JacobsSummary: This trip will be done in coordination with Not Forgotten. The team will spend time doing projects and activities in and around Iquitos, Peru. The exact day-to-day schedule and types of activities will be determined closer to the trip departure depending on current needs and team composition.

JAARS Headquarters (Waxhaw, NC) Dates: June 14-20Leader: Liz KerrSummary: The team will (singles or families with children) be traveling by vehicle to the JAARS missions agency global headquarters in Waxhaw, North Carolina and spending time working on light construction projects and other support needs.

Portugal Dates: July 17-27Leader: Sean & Joy ConwaySummary: The team will be working with our missionaries, Teo and Madalena Cavaco, to host a basketball clinic for the local youth, help with their local ministry outreach, and some light construction.

FBC Newsletter 3 June 2015

Looking Ahead with Steve

News continues

On March 23, in our worship services, I announced the exciting new direction that God is leading Wayne and Brittany Campbell. I asked Wayne on that Sunday to briefly share with you about the opportunity he has to become the pastor of Potter’s House Community Church in West Kelowna, British Columbia. Wayne will be leaving his position as the Madison Campus Pastor to take this position in Canada sometime this summer. As I mentioned at the time, we are not losing Wayne and Brittany. Rather, we are sending them to a place that needs the gospel. The Campbells are the newest addition to our missionary family. This exciting news raises several questions that I will answer here:

Q1: When will the Campbells leave for Canada?

A1: Like most missionaries, the Campbells are required to raise prayer and financial support. When the mini-mum support level is raised, they will make the move. We expect this to happen by late summer. The church in Canada is understandably eager to get their new pastor and his family!

Q2: Are the Campbells working with an existing missions agency?

A2: Yes. They are working in partnership with The North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Conven-tion (www.namb.net) and the Canadian National Baptist Convention (www.cnbc.ca).

Q3: How can I support the Camp-bells and join their team?

A3: See Wayne’s article in this newsletter.

Q4: Who will take Wayne’s place Madison Campus Pastor?

A4: We are currently and actively interviewing candidates for this position.

Q5: How will the new Campus Pastor be selected?

A5: The Elder Board is receiving resumes and will narrow the search to the most qualified men. Qualified candidates will then meet with the Dea-con Board who will give their evaluation to the Elder Board. When the Elders find a candi-date they can recommend to the congregation, he will be introduced to the church fam-ily. After the church family has an opportunity to get to know the candidate, a con-gregational meeting will be called in which church mem-bers will vote.

Q6: Can I recommend someone I know for this position?

A6: Absolutely! They can send an inquiry letter and resume by email to Steve Bateman at steve@fbc.org.

Q7: When will we get a new Campus Pastor?

A7: Ideally, we will get the new Campus Pastor on board prior to Wayne’s departure so that their ministries can over-lap and make for a smooth transition. However, this deci-sion is so crucial, it is worth being patient until we find the right man. As in all things, we trust the Lord for his tim-ing while we work diligently to make this happen sooner rather than later.

Q8: Does this change of leadership slow our efforts to purchase land in Madison?

A8: No. We are intentionally mov-ing forward on this strategic initiative. In fact, we are cur-rently and actively involved in negotiations for a piece of prime property for a perma-nent location for the Madison Campus.

If you have any more questions about this exciting opportunity to impact both British Columbia and Madison, Alabama with the gospel, please contact me or any of the Elders!

Pastor Steve

FBC Newsletter 4 June 2015

First Bible Church Family,

I want to start by thanking you for letting me a part of such a wonderful church for the past ten years. I consider my time serving at First Bible to be one of the greatest blessings of my life. It has been an amazing experience to get to lock arms with you and serve our Lord and Savior. I look back over great years of ministry and see how the Lord has worked through our body. I also look back and see how God was preparing me for what’s next. As Steve men-tioned in his article, my wife and I have partnered

with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) to go and be a part of a church replant effort in British Columbia, Canada. The last ten years include some tremendous blessings: finishing my semi-nary training, being ordained by First Bible, marrying Brittany, the birth of our son Rowen, years of disciple making ministry with students, developing leaders, numerous mission trips, serving on and learning from an excellent pastoral team, launching the Madison Campus, being a part of God grow-ing and establishing the Madison Campus, etc. I can now see how God has really used the past ten years to prepare me for what He has next. It is very bittersweet to enter into this next chapter. Brittany and I will miss being a part of this church family here locally but are excited that God has called us to become a part of the missionary family of First Bible. It encourages us that our relationship with First Bible is not ending, just changing.

We are in the process of finding partners to be a part of the important work of making dis-ciples in a very spiritually dark place. We are trusting the Lord to place this ministry on the hearts of those who he wants to be involved. We need partners who will join our prayer team. What we are go-ing into will be a complete disaster if the Holy Spirit is not orchestrating the whole thing. So we need as many prayer partners as possible who will faithfully pray for us and the advance of the gospel in BC. To receive our prayer updates please contact me so I can add you to our list.

Also, we need financial partners. The reality of life necessitates finances in order for us to go and do what God has called us to. We would love for you to join our team of financial partners who want to be a part of this exciting work. We enjoy meeting with people and getting to share our excite-ment about what the Lord is doing. Let me know if you would have time for us to tell you more about what we are doing and how you can be involved. If you are interested in finding out more please con-tact me so we can figure out a time to get together. If you just want to read more about where we are going and what we are doing, you can do so at http://bit.ly/1FwrSBA.

In Christ, Wayne Campbell robertwaynecampbell@gmail.com 256-565-6556

News continues

A Letter from Wayne Campbell

Wayne, Brittany & Rowen Campbell

FBC Newsletter 5 June 2015

News continues

Welcome New Members

Allie VarwigDecatur Campus

Wayne and Annie HurtDecatur Campus

Melanie DickersonDecatur Campus

Steve & Gwenn RogersDecatur Campus

“Forged” Prayer MinistryPrayer Time

Monday, June 225:00

Madison “Summer SuppersOur second Summer Supper will be

Wednesday, June 10 at 6:00 pm at Taziki’s in Madison

105 Brookridge Drive Suite A

FBC Newsletter 6 June 2015

News continues

Student Ministry

Alexander Roberts Pastor to Students

Matt Dubach, Associate Director of

Student MinistryCamp is Coming SoonSign Up Today!

A $50 deposit secures your spot and price.These rates are for BOTH camps: Regular Registration $275.00Late Registration: $300.00

Summer Wednesday 1:8

Watch Facebook, Twitter, Student Announcements and Text Message updates to stay up to date on Wednesday Night Activities for your student.

Middle School Crossings Camp - June 1st-5thLate registration: After May 24

High School 1:8 Camp - June 26th-29thLate Registration: After June 21st

FBC Newsletter 7 June 2015

News continues

JuneDeacons of the

Month

Barry Fuller Decatur Campus

Justin RogersMadison Campus

THiS MONTH

Jun 1-5 Crossings Camp Jun 9 Elders meet 5:30 pm Jun 10 W3 Summer Suppers

Madison Campus Jun 11 Mission Committe Mtg

5:30 pm Jun 13-21 Peru Mission TripJun 14 Flag DayJun 14 Deacons Meet 3:30 pm Jun 14 Churchwide Pool Party

Hartselle Jun 14-20 JAARS Mission TripJun 20 Connect Race for Win-

Shape Camp Jun 21 Father’s DayJun 21 1st Day of SummerJun 22 W3 Forged Prayer Time

5:00 pmJun 26-29 High School Camp

Newest AdditionsKeegan Beau Blaylock

born May 1, 2015 Parents:

Ryan & Christie Blaylock~

Colin Everett Barnesborn May 5, 2015

Parents:Brian and Nicole Barnes

Evening Bible Study and

Sunday night ministries

will resume after

Labor Day!