Why Give to Annie Armstrong?Because three of four people in North America are lost. One hundred percent of dollars given to the AAEO go to support over 5,000 missionaries and their ministries in the United States and Canada.

North American Missionaries Though their stories and methods are different, they share a common urgency for sharing the gospel. Missionaries depend on the faithful prayers and generosity of Southern Baptists. Please pray for our missionaries and give generously to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.

MThe

ESSENGERA worshiping family of believers in Jesus Christ committed to understanding,

living and sharing His message.

Vol. LII, No. 10 March 3, 2011 Mobile, Alabama

The ChurCh STaff

The minister on call for emergencies this weekend is Ben Purvis. You can reach the digital pager by calling 463-4350.

The MesseNger, (uPs 512-220), Is PuBLIshed weekLY, (wITh The excePTIoN of The chrIsTMAs week).PosTMAsTer: seNd Address chANges To sPrINg hILL BAPTIsT church, 2 souTh Mcgregor AVe.MoBILe, ALABAMA 36608PerIodIcAL, PosTAge PAIdMoBILe, ALABAMA

Administrative Office 342-5320Paul sands, Ph.d. ..................................PastorTerry richey ........ Pastoral care/Administratorrandy grim .......................... Minister of MusicBill Taylor ...................... Asst. Minister of MusicTom carter .................Minister to senior Adultsdebbie rice ...... children’s Music coordinatorMissy Powell ..........................................Pianist

Education Office 342-5349 Ben Purvis .........................Minister to studentsMax woodruff ..............Minister to single Againcarole hegwood ........Interim Minister to childrenMichael sherman .... Interim Minister of educationLyles Tuttle ..........................Media coordinator

Activities Center 342-5375Bobby Butler ......Minister of recreation/sports

Weekday Preschool Education Office 342-6044 February 27, 2011

STEWARDSHIPBudget receipts ................................. 65,755.15restricted giving .................................. 3,449.95Annie Armstrong offering ..................... 1,332.00Total .................................................... 70,537.10Needs to date ................................... 549,460.71given to date .................................... 498,853.63

Loving the God We Hardly Know

In Our PrayersSYMPATHY TO:The family of ginny Mosley in her death on february 28.

Adults .............................................................. 379Young Adults ..................................................... 87college ............................................................. 18Youth ................................................................ 85Preteen ............................................................. 27children ............................................................ 47Preschool .......................................................... 72sub-total ......................................................... 715

off cAMPus cLAssesgordon oaks .................................................... 25grANd ToTAL .............................................. 740

Sunday School Attendance at SHBC on February 27, 2011

Extended Session for week of March 6Preschool A: Julia Morris,

Trey & sullins walls Preschool B: rachel & cindy cazalas,

Tremaine & Tracy MartinPreschool C: Baron & sheila Morvant

National Goal: $61 MillionOur Goal: $24,000

Annie Walker Armstrong Easter OfferingDid You Know?

While the majority of Annie Armstrong Easter Offering gifts provide salary support for missionaries, some are used for ministry supplies. Here are a few examples of how missionaries use your monetary gifts.

$1 buys a New Testament for an unbeliever. • $3 buys a meal for a child at a block party. $5 buys study books used in literacy missions. • $17 buys a teen Bible for a teenage girl in an outreach program.

Prayerfully consider how you will share His message. Are you willing to pray, give and tell others?

Men’s

Softball League 2011

Games are played on Monday nights at Cottage Hill Park.

Sign up NOW at the Activities Center.Our first practice game

is Monday, March 7!

New MembersBY BAPTISM:Anna caroline Martin7412 summer ct, Mobile, Al 36695

ANNIE ARMSTRONG OFFERINGgoal .................................................... 24,000.00given to date ........................................ 1,672.00

In her Notebooks, the French writer Simone Weil (1909-1943) wrote, “If we love God, even though we think he doesn’t exist, he will make his existence manifest.” The words are paradoxical but profoundly true. God seems unreal to many people, not because they cannot see him with their eyes, but because they do not love him with their hearts. God makes himself known where he is wanted.

I once had dinner with an atheist. He wanted to tell me why he didn’t believe in God. As you might expect, he had plenty of reasons for not believing.

• “HowcouldGodexistwhentheworldisfilledwithsomuchsuffering?” • “SciencehasmadebeliefinGodobsolete.” • “IfGodwantedustobelieve,heshouldappearintheheavenssothatCNN’scamerascould record it.”

After listening for awhile, I asked him if he desired God. “Even if you don’t believe God exists, do you wish hedid?”

“Not really,” he said.

“YouwillneverfindHimuntilyoudo.”

There is a spiritual component to knowing God. Only if we love the God we hardly know shall we come to know the God in whom “we live and move and have our being.” He is not far from us; our hearts are far from Him.

InChrist’sservice,

Paul

Attention Church Family:Due to school Mardi Gras holiday, there will

be no children’s choirs or children’s mission activities Wednesday, March 9.

The fellowship meal, Bible study and Sanctuary choir WILL be at the regular time. All activities

will resume Wednesday, March 16.

Sarah Kirk Bible StudyTuesday, March 15 at 9:30 a.m.

at the Activities Center, Room 220/222We will be studying “John’s Letters - Discovering

Genuine Christianity” by Ron Blankley, Chapter 6, “Blessed Assurance”

Friday, April 8, 5:30 a.m.Senior Fest at the New Orleans Baptist TheologicalSeminaryChallenging

Bible teaching. Insightful season-of-life applications.Costis$25.00perperson.

Monday, April 18 through Wednesday, April 20

NatchitochesHereWeCome! Louisiana’s oldest town. Setting of “Steel Magnolias”.CaneRiverPlantationCountry.

The Ole Mercantile. Pick up brochure intheEducationOffice.

SAve the dAte: More information coming.

September12-CanadianMaritimes November28-GaylordOprylandResort

Come With M.A.G.I.C.

Weekly Calendar

NEW Ladies Bible Study Beginning

Thursday, March 31 in the Activities Center

at 9:15 a.m.Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted

WhatdowedowhenGodinterruptsour lives?Manytimes,likeJonah,werun!Inthis7-sessionBible study, Priscilla redefines interruptionand shows that interruption is actually God’s invitation to do something beyond our wildest dreams. When Jonah was willing to allow God to interrupt his life, the result was revival in an entire city.

Eyeglasses for AfricaIn 2010, the mission team to Africa distributed

prescription eyeglasses, reading glasses and sunglasses to hundreds of people in two villages in Tanzania. Hearts were

warmed and praises lifted as many adults could now thread a needle, cut theirfingernails,readabookandseethebeautyoftheirland.Thesunisnorespecter of persons and the people who live there can reduce the risk of becoming blind by receiving a single pair of sunglasses.

During the next several months we will be collecting all types of eyeglasses which will be taken to Africa in June by the team. Please donate what glasses you can to this important endeavor.Collection boxes will be located in the Library foyer, theActivities

CenterandtheDiningHallfoyer.Wewanttohelpotherstoseephysicallyas well as spiritually.

This is the tallest mountainyou've ever climbed andwe want to help. . .Come to Spring Hill Baptist Church Divorce Recovery Wednesdays at 5:45 PM

Topic: March 16 “Overcoming the Fear”

2 S. McGregor Avenue, Mobile. For more information, call 342-5349.Please, share this invitation with a Friend.

A Dinner Theater presented by

Jr. High Singers Sunday, April 10th, 5:30 p.m.

Dining Hall, Spring Hill Baptist Church Tickets: $ 6.00

(Tickets go on sale Sunday, March 20th)

BY BAPTISM:Anna caroline Martin

Welcome New Members

Sunday, March 6 9:30 a.m. ............................................................... sunday school10:45 a.m. ............................................................. worship service5:00 p.m. .......................................................shs/Jhs rehearsal5:00 p.m. .....................................................................Life groups ..................................................... fresh encounter (f-207) ..........................................................gospel in Life (f-206) ...................................................... financial Peace (f-205) .............................................The family god used (f-204) ..............................................Before You say “I do”(f-203)5:00 p.m. ....................................... Bible skills and Thrills (d-104)5:00 p.m. ..........................................................college Night (Ac)Monday, March 79:00 a.m. ...................................................................ZuMBA (Ac)10:00 a.m. ....................................gayle ferrill ss class Mtg. (Ac)11:00 a.m. .......................................................... ZuMBA gold (Ac)5:30 p.m. ...................................................................ZuMBA (Ac)6:00 p.m. ................................................. Ladies Bible study (Ac)6:30 p.m. ...........................................revelation Bible study (Ac)Tuesday, March 8

The Church Offices and the Activities Center will be closed for the Mardi Gras Holiday.

Wednesday, March 99:00 a.m. ...................................................................ZuMBA (Ac)9:00 a.m. ................................................ chancel Bells rehearsal11:00 a.m. .......................................................... ZuMBA gold (Ac)4:45 p.m. ................................................................... supper (dh)5:00 p.m. .................................................Prayer Ministry (chapel)5:45 p.m. ....................................................................drs (h201)6:00 p.m. ......................................................................wow (Ac)6:15 p.m. ......................................Prayer Mtg. & Bible study (dh)6:15 p.m. .......................................................Psalmists rehearsal6:15 p.m. ...........................................Ladies ensemble rehearsal7:00 p.m. ............................................ sanctuary choir rehearsalThursday, March 109:15 a.m. ................................................. Ladies Bible study (Ac)5:30 p.m. ...................................................................ZuMBA (Ac)6:00 p.m. ..................... Power of A Praying wife Bible study (Ac)6:30 p.m. .................................................. Men’s Bible study (Ac)Friday, March 119:00 a.m. ...................................................................ZuMBA (Ac)9:30 a.m. ........................................... M.A.g.I.c. to hyundai PlantSaturday, March 129:15 a.m. ...................................................................ZuMBA (Ac)

Monday & Wednesday at 11:00 amCrank up the heat and lower the

impact with ZUMBA GOLD!

Class ScheduleMonday, Wednesday & Friday at 9:00 amMonday, Tuesday & Thursday at 5:30 pm

Saturday at 9:15 am Note p.m. time change!

at Spring Hill

Making a Difference in the Way We ServeVolleyball

Recreation/Sports MinistrySpring Hill Baptist Church

Mobile, Alabama

we are looking forward to hosting Impact Volleyball here at spring hill. This is a four-week program for girls who are in the 6th, 7th or 8th grade from our church and the community. Impact offers the girls an opportunity to work on their fundamental volleyball skills/drills, game strategy, make new friends and build other relationships. The girls will meet on Monday afternoons from 4:00 till 5:30 p.m. each week they will

spend time working on the various skills of the game, share a devotional time with our staff and play in a game situation. our purpose is that this hour-and-a-half will make an impact in their ability to play volleyball and also on themselves as individuals. registration forms will be available in the Activities center later this month. help us share this information with girls in your neighborhood.

Impact Volleyball, Making a Difference in the Way We Serve.

date correction

Make your ReSeRvAtIONS for the above trips by calling the Education Office,

342-5349 or Olna at home, 476-6812.