R E D E F I N E DF B C S TA R KV I L L E M A R C H 2 0 1 6

G R OWF a m i l y E a s t e r

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G OM i s s i o n Tr i p

P r a y e r G u i d e s

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G I V EYo u t h Vo l u n t e e r s

i n P re s c h o o l M i n i s t r i e s

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CONTENTS

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MINISTRY STAFFC H I P S T E V E N S S E N I O R PA S TO R | cstevens@fbcstarkville.com

C L I F TO N C U R T I SA S S O C . PA S TO R O F PA S TO R A L C A R E & FAC I L I T Y A D M I N .

ccurtis@fbcstarkville.com

TO M J E N K I N S A S S O C . PA S TO R O F M U S I C & M E D I A | tjenkins@fbcstarkville.com

J A S O N D U R A N A S S O C . PA S TO R O F FA M I LY M I N I S T R Y & D I S C I P L E S H I P

jduran@fbcstarkville.com

N AT H A N TAY LO R U N I V E R S I T Y & M I S S I O N S M I N I S T E R | ntaylor@fbcstarkville.com

N E I L T U L LO S YO U T H M I N I S T E R | ntullos@fbcstarkville.com

L E A H F R A N C E S E ATO N DIRECTOR OF CHILDRENS MINISTRY | lfeaton@fbcstarkville.com

C H A R I T Y G WA LT N E Y DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL MINISTRY | cgwaltney@fbcstarkville.com

B O B BY D ’A L E S S A N D R O DIRECTOR OF MEDIA & TECHNICAL ARTS MINISTRY

bobbyd@fbcstarkville.com

FEATURES5 Ministry Spotlight: Lord's Supper Committee

15 GO: Annie Armstrong & Mission Trip Prayer Guides

18 Lydia's Kitchen

19 Camp in the City Fundraiser

OUR CHURCH FAMILY20 Upcoming Events

21 Calendar

G I V EYo u t h & U n i v e r s i t y Vo l u n t e e r s

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arch has come in roaring like a lion. We've gotten our fair share of rain and we've seen the first signs of spring in our gardens. I'm reminded of a quote from Martin Luther, 15th

century theologian and the author of the Protestant Reformation. He wrote, “Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.”

Easter comes early this year, much like our spring weather. There are many opportunities to gather, grow, give and go during this month. Please take a moment and catch up with all that's planned for you at FBC.

Much like the saying ‘In like a lion, out like a lamb’, we’ll share the Easter story together on the last week of March as we consider Jesus who was like a lamb led to the slaughter for our sins. And in this Paschal season, we can rejoice together over that Lamb crucified because he is no longer dead but is risen. So we shout together, ‘Christ is risen, the Lord is risen today!

We have a special time of worship planned on Wednesday, March 23 at 6 pm as we celebrate the ordinance of the Lords Supper with great music and worship led by our Celebration Choir and orchestra as well as our Kid’s Choir. This will be a special service you won't want to miss!

FIRST WORDFROM TOM JENKINS

F B C S TA R K V I L L E . C O M 5

LO R D ’ SS U P P E R

CO M M I T T E EB Y C O U R T N E Y D U E I T T

he observance of Communion, or, as we more commonly refer to it, The Lord’s Supper, is one of the most tangible applications of the Gospel that we participate in collectively as the body of Christ. It is a special time that asks us to

reflect on who Jesus is and on the ultimate sacrifice that He made for each and every one of us. However, this symbolic ceremony requires a lot of preparation that goes beyond us individually preparing our hearts to partake in this reminder of God’s ultimate gift. Thankfully, we have a group of church members who serve on The Lord’s Supper Committee who work vigorously behind the scenes to make sure that this is always a smooth, successful, and reverent affair. One of those six members is Holly Fron who has served on this committee for almost three years, and here is some of what she had to say about the committee’s role in this event and her personal reasons for choosing to serve in this capacity.

How did you come to be a member of this committee?

A few Sundays ago, Pastor Chip preached a sermon on how we are to give of ourselves by serving in the church. I've always enjoyed serving in more "background" roles rather than being front and center. I was asked to be on this committee and I knew it was a way I could serve our church and ministry staff in a way that would honor the Lord. Just as Pastor Chip said in his sermon, when we're asked to serve in some way, we shouldn't hesitate to recognize it as the Lord's calling. We are all called to serve! So when we are given opportunities, we shouldn't search for excuses. In a very similar way, when I was asked to serve on this committee, I knew it was God leading me to do this. I went forth in obedience and said yes.

What does a typical Lord's Supper Sunday

entail for a committee member?

The committee meets just before the Sunday of the Lord's Supper, usually the Saturday morning beforehand. We fill the cups and the bread trays. Then we place the trays in the sanctuary and

COURTNEY DUEITT is an instructor in the English Department at MSU and a newlywed who is happy to have found a wonderful church home and family at FBC Starkville. You can connect with her on The City.

make sure both services have enough cups and bread for everyone, so that means that between services, we refill the trays and make sure everything is prepared for the second service. After all services on Sunday, we clean up.

How has the Lord worked in your life through this ministry?

I have truly enjoyed serving on this committee. I grew up in the church (daughter of a Southern Baptist pastor and missionaries), so I've always known about the Lord's Supper. Serving on this committee has given me a whole different perspective of it, though. As we prepare the trays, it helps me to also prepare my heart for the reverent observance of the Lord's Supper. Before coming to the table, we are to ready our hearts by confessing our sins and acknowledging that Christ is Lord of our lives. Preparing the Supper reminds me to do this. It reminds me how holy the observance of the Lord's Supper is and of the sacrifice that Christ made for me.

What would you say to others who might

consider joining this ministry?

It is a great way to serve and support our church and ministry staff. As a pastor's daughter, I know how much our ministers carry on their shoulders. They have so many responsibilities and this is one responsibility that the committee can help carry for them. I enjoy supporting our ministers in this fashion. And, as I mentioned before, it is a great way to serve "behind the scenes." So if you feel the Lord leading you to serve, but you don't want to be "front and center stage," consider joining the Lord's Supper committee. The "behind the scenes" roles are just as important as the "front and center" ones!

Next time we have the opportunity of coming before the Lord and partaking in The Lord’s Supper, be sure that you take a moment to thank God for his faithful servants whose efforts make this observance possible for such a large congregation, and if you’re looking for a place to serve, perhaps this could be just the ministry for you!

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B Y TO M J E N K I N S

F B C S TA R K V I L L E . C O M 7

Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth was written by Dr. Reza Aslan, professor of creative writing at the University of California in Riverside with degrees in Religious Studies, Theological Studies (Harvard University) and a PhD in Sociology of Religions from UC Santa Barbara.

Dr. Aslan purports to uncover the historical Jesus of Nazareth from the myths that were built around Him in the decades that followed His death. After dismissing the gospel narratives describing the birth of Jesus as fiction, he describes Jesus as a social heretic who was found guilty of sedition against the government and crucified. He claims that most of the gospel story of Jesus the Christ was concocted by His followers in the years following His death. After this so called "rebellious movement" led by Jesus was quashed by His death by crucifixion, Aslan writes that his followers needed to create something new about Jesus

Precisely because the resurrection claim was so preposterous and unique, an entirely new edifice needed to be constructed to replace the one that had crumbled in the shadow of the cross. The resurrection stories in the gospels were created to do just that… (Reza Aslan, Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth)

Aslan goes on to write that His followers had to answer basic questions about a supposed resurrection and began to add details to the story to answer critics who denied the claim. “Jesus’s body was stolen? How so, when Matthew has conveniently placed armed guards at his tomb… Again, these stories are not meant to be accounts of historical events; they are carefully crafted rebuttals…” Aslan writes to remove all deity from the man Jesus. He says Jesus is an influential historical figure but no more than that.

An authentic Christ Follower may read this short description of Aslan’s book and dismiss it. A Christ Follower has faith in the resurrection. It’s not a story continued by first and second century social rebels but the truth of God’s Word. However, thousands and thousands of people have read Aslan’s book. It was named one of the best books of the year by Good Housekeeping. It was #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list and has been translated into twenty-eight languages. His particular version of the historical Jesus spread like wildfire.

People are always interested in the truth. Even Pilate is recorded as asking Jesus during his trial, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Yet, in our modern world, truth is supposedly subjective and relative to our culture and world. However, Christians have THE truth.

Why do we need Easter? To reaffirm the truth of the whole story of Jesus Christ.

To cast aspersions on the resurrection of Jesus is to stab at the very heart of Christianity. You cannot have a Savior without the resurrection. Paul wrote of this in 1 Corinthians 15:14-19:

And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do

not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

People will fill churches this Easter season who normally don’t attend church. They are looking for truth. It’s been argued since Christ rose and will continue until He returns. We show by our example what we consider to be the truth. How do you celebrate Easter? Eggs and Chocolate? Buying new clothes? Attending worship? Sleeping in on a long weekend? How are you communicating truth?

John Piper writes, “The best news of the Christian Gospel is that the supremely glorious Creator of the universe has acted in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection to remove every obstacle between us and himself so that we may find everlasting joy in seeing and savoring his infinite beauty.”

Why do we need Easter? To stand unashamedly with Christ Followers around the world on the common ground we find at the foot of the cross.

A Chr ist Fol lower

has fa i th in the resurrect ion.

I t ’s not a story cont inued

by f i rst and second century

socia l rebels but the t ruth

of God’s Word.

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There are many things that separate Christians into denominations and sects. Easter is a time to show unity in our common beliefs. It may seem like a small gesture, but when we celebrate Easter at FBC Starkville, we stand with believers around the world. Ethiopians will attend their traditional Easter service beginning at 8:00 pm on Saturday until about 3:00 am on Sunday morning wearing their finest white clothes. The Germans of Oberammergau have performed their famous Passion Play every decade for almost 400 years. In Greece, the Eastern Orthodox churches fill with people just before Midnight as they light candles to proclaim Christ is risen. Mexicans may celebrate "Semana Santa" or "Holy Week" with Passion plays of their own. The town of Iztapalapa has performed a passion play with the whole town playing a part since 1833. Asian believers, as well as many others, color and give eggs as a symbol of new life.

Finally, when we celebrate Easter, we proclaim that the martyrs who have died at the hand of ISIS and others around the world, did not die in vain. Phillips Brooks was a nineteenth century preacher and writer. He said, “Let every man and woman count himself

immortal. Let him catch the revelation of Jesus in his resurrection. Let him say not merely, ‘Christ is risen,’ but ‘I shall rise.’”

Centuries ago, church leaders gathered together to hammer out a common core of beliefs regarding Christ. It’s called the Nicean Creed. It’s the "common ground" for Christians, first proclaimed in 325 AD:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Why do we need Easter? To kneel in awe at the open and empty tomb and to prostrate myself at the thought of the glorified Christ, the one who now stands as an intercessor next to the Father God.

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. - 2 Corinthians 15:20-26

Because the world needs Easter, we must worship, dress up, dye our eggs, gather our family, and be intentional in our celebration. Because the world doubts Easter, we must stand in unity and proclaim, "Christ is risen, the Lord is risen indeed!"

DR. TOM JENKINS serves as Associate Pastor of Music and Media. You can connect with him on Twitter @DrTJenkins or on The City.

“Let every man and woman

count h imsel f immorta l .

Let h im catch the revelat ion

of Jesus in h is resurrect ion.

Let h im say not merely,

‘Chr ist i s r i sen,’

but ‘ I sha l l r i se.’”

- Phi l l ips Brooks

F B C S TA R K V I L L E . C O M 9

GROWF B C S TA R KV I L L E

B Y J A S O N D U R A N

FAMILY EASTER

their whole lives, and 98% of church-goers never extend an invitation in a given year (Dr. Thom Rainer, The Unchurched Next Door). This Easter, let’s not fall into that same statistic; rather, we want to encourage all of you to invite someone to join you Easter Sunday.

We are also providing you with a Reading Plan Bookmark. This is intended to help you daily study God’s Word from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. The daily Scripture selections are intended to help you center your heart on all that Christ has done for us in his life, death, and resurrection, and properly prepare your heart and mind for worship as we celebrate our Risen Lord this Easter. We will make these Reading Plan Bookmarks available in the weeks leading up to Palm Sunday.

Be sure to join us Wednesday night at 6:00 pm as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a church family.

As a Family Ministry team, we want to be a resource for your family. Always feel free to reach out to one of us if you ever need anything. This year, as you walk past all the candy or spend time searching for that perfect outfit, refocus and take time as a family to live the life God has given you and share His Easter message with others.

ave you struggled with ways to teach your children about Easter? It can be hard to keep the focus on Jesus’s death and resurrection in the midst of chocolate bunnies, dyeing Easter eggs, and then searching to find those colored eggs.

This year, one of our goals as a Family Ministry Team has been to help parents teach their children about Easter. If you’re like many families who struggle to find the time to apply God’s word then this article is for you.

We want to help you create an environment in your home where your children can ask questions about Easter and investigate its importance and meaning. Beginning with Palm Sunday, we have created activities that your family can utilize as you take time this Easter to focus on what Jesus has done for the world.

We also invite you to pick up an invite card located in The Commons and in your community groups. Use this card as a tool to invite a friend to join us for Easter Sunday. Did you know that your children know other children who don’t attend church? Having them invite their friends and then you inviting their parents may encourage them to attend church. Studies show that people are not inviting other people to church anymore; a recent study shows that 7 out of 10 unchurched people have never been invited to church in

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The book, Red, Green, Yellow, Too . . . Look What Jesus Did for You!, will go home with all preschoolers on Easter Sunday morning. They are for families to continue to read together.

Easter Sunday in the Preschool Department:

• Large group worship time for 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s with a telling of the Easter story

• Rotation Stations for 3s, 4s, and 5s for Crafts, Snacks, and Games all centered around the theme of Easter

Continuing the connection at home:

• Re-read the book Red, Green, Yellow, Too . . . Look What Jesus Did for You.

• Talk about God’s amazing love and forgiveness for your child.

• Talk about the real reason for Easter (for older preschoolers, consider reading Mark 16:1-7 with your child).

• Memorize a verse together: Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us. Romans 8:34 (Hint: the verse is found in your child’s new book.)

PRESCHOOL ACTIVITIES

F B C S TA R K V I L L E . C O M 11

KIDS ACTIVITIESPalm Sunday:Individual classes will be discussing Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Ask your children what it would have been like to be among the people that day in Jerusalem.

Sunday – Palm Sunday (John 12:12-19) Purchase palm leaves and use them to form a cross. Using construction paper and popsicle sticks, have kids make their own palm branches.

Monday – Jesus Predicts His Death (John 12:20-36)Give each family member a cupcake with a trick candle. After reading the passage, light the candles. Blow out the candles after referencing how Jesus predicted His death and His light leaving the world. When the candle reignites, explain that while Jesus died for us, He would not remain dead. His light was going to come back!

Tuesday – Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet (John 13:1-17)Fill a bucket with water and grab towels. Read the passage as a group. Beginning with the parents, wash the feet of your children and pray over them. Allow them to do it with their siblings and you, following your example.

Wednesday – The Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:1-14)Use this time to walk through the Gospel with your kids, explaining John 14:6 and allowing your kids to ask questions.

Thursday – The Vine and the Branches (John 15:1-17)On cardstock paper, draw a vine along the page. Using the bottom of plastic coke bottles, allow your kids to dip them in paint and create flowers and branches along the vine. Explain how we cannot bear “fruit” if we do not remain in the vine.

Friday – The Garden Prayer (John 17)Take your family to a local garden or park. Read John 17 and pray together as a family, modeling Jesus’s prayer.

Saturday – The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19) Using your Bible or the Jesus Storybook Bible, read of the death of Jesus. Ask your kids why Jesus died. Draw a red dot on the inside of your child’s palm. Explain that Jesus died out of obedience to God so that we could be saved from our sin. Using a Black sharpie, write your child’s name next to the dot. Remind them that Jesus’s death means our sins are paid!

Sunday – The Empty Tomb (John 20)He is Risen! Bake Resurrection Rolls (bake a marshmallow inside a crescent roll topped with butter, cinnamon, and sugar) and discuss the empty tomb.

Easter Sunday:In Children’s Church, we will be celebrating the Empty Tomb. Ask your kids what makes Christianity different from other religions? Why is Jesus different than other gods? (John 14:6) Drive home that we serve a LIVING God!

Tag @starkkids on social media to share how your family is celebrating Easter.

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YOUTH MINISTRY

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

For our Youth ministry we will have daily postings on social media that’ll take teens through Jesus’ week from Palm Sunday through Easter. Follow the FBC Youth Ministry on Twitter and Instagram: @starkyouth.

Family discussions will be posted in our Youth Parents Group on The City based on our youth community groups on March 21 & 28. These groups are open to all parents. If you would like to be added to The City group for Youth Parents, please email Neil Tullos. (ntullos@fbcstarkville.com)

Pick up your FBC Easter Reading bookmark. Follow the FBC University Ministry on Twitter and Instagram: @FBC_U. We will be making daily posts to help you focus on Christ this Easter.

F B C S TA R K V I L L E . C O M 13

oming full circle. In 2004 when I joined the staff at FBC, many of the current youth and university freshmen were young children. I ministered to them as preschoolers, saw them through their elementary years, sent them on to the

youth group, and some of them are now university students. Many of these young men and women, both youth and university stu-dents, to whom I ministered as preschoolers and children are now giving back to the church and serving alongside me in the Preschool Department.

Traditionally, many of FBC’s youth have helped out with Vaca-tion Bible School each summer. This past year, however, has seen a surge of youth helping out by serving on the Sunday morning Pre-school Rotation and on Sunday nights in Preschool ZIP. A current theme for why these individuals chose to volunteer is that they love little children and that they had great experiences growing up in the church and wanted to pass some of that on to others.

One of these youth is 10th grader Aubrey Claire Armstrong. She was 4 years old in the Preschool Department when I began minis-try at FBC. She currently helps out in the Preschool Department on Sunday mornings by serving twice a quarter on the 11:00 am Pre-

GIVEF B C S TA R KV I L L E

B Y C H A R I T Y G WA LT N E Y

YOUTH & UNIVERSITY VOLUNTEERSIN PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES

school Rotation. Additionally, she was active this past fall on Sunday nights in Preschool ZIP.

When asked why she volunteers to help out with preschoolers, she emphatically replied, “The kids, the kids, the kids! . . . Being with the kids. I love the kids so much. I like playing all of the games with the kids and watching them.” She was quick to add that some of her favorite activities from ZIP were singing the “Wiggle and Giggle” song and playing a game called “Four Corners.”

Aubrey Claire also added that working with preschoolers has been good preparation for what she may do in her future career. She explained, “I want to work in the medical field someday. Maybe pe-diatrics. And working with preschoolers at church has been good preparation to work with kids in the future.”

Another youth, Emory Stevens, has also helped out in ZIP on Sunday nights. She was only 5 and a kindergartner in FBC’s Pre-school Ministry when she moved to Starkville. Her favorite part about serving in ZIP this past fall was coloring pictures with the children, dancing with them during worship time, and playing with them. She also added, “I want one day to be a wound care nurse, and I want to work with younger kids.”

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Currently one of my youngest youth volunteers is Audrey Grace Swortzel, a seventh grader.

She was only 7 when she began attending FBC. She helps out on Sunday mornings with preschool rotation and helped out in January on Sunday nights with ZIP. “I love little kids and I like to help out,” she said when asked why she volunteers.

High School sophomore Sara Grace Duncan likewise helped out with ZIP on Sunday nights last summer and fall. She was in kinder-garten when I joined FBC’s staff and like so many others, I ministered to her until she moved on to the FBC Youth Ministry. She added, “The children’s ministry at FBC Starkville has helped me in so many ways. Not only was it the starting point for my relationship with Christ, but it also now gives me an opportunity to pour what I have learned back into the children. Through working with ZIP, I have realized that I want to be a teacher and work with kids so that I can hopefully impact them like I was.”

I recently spoke with two university freshmen, Lauren Ware and Hannah Ball, who were young children when I started ministry at FBC. They both serve in the Preschool Ministry by serving on the Extended Care Rotation at 11:00 am on Sundays.

Hannah Ball was in first grade during the early years of my min-istry at FBC (I also taught her in Kindergarten VBS the year before I joined the staff!). She signed up to help with the rotation last year. She said, “We had the Give Card sign up in church, and I decided to volun-teer with kids because I knew how much it (preschool and children’s ministry) meant to me growing up.” She added that her favorite part of

volunteering is “seeing the kids and how excited they are to play games, do coloring pages, and read Bible stories. They also have the funniest answers to questions.”

Lauren Ware says that she came to FBC when she was in either second or third grade. She remembers when her parents taught in the two-year old class in Sunday school. She comment-ed, “I loved helping Mom and Dad in the 2 year old class when I was younger.” As a result, when she got older, she volunteered to help out with preschoolers. She explained, “I love kids. I felt like volunteering was something I would like to do.”

There are additional youth and young adults helping out in the Preschool Ministry at FBC who were with me during their preschool and elementary years. Like the youth mentioned, I saw them through Sunday school, Mission Friends and RAs and GAs, Preschool and Children’s choirs, Bible Drill, Vacation Bible School, numerous Fall Festivals, and countless other activities. Many of them also serve in other areas of the church, such as with elemen-tary aged children, during Vacation Bible School, and by singing in the Adult Choir. They were once “my kids” and to see them giving back to the church makes me immensely proud of them and makes me see that my ministry really has come full circle.

CHARITY GWALTNEY serves as the Director of Preschool Ministry. You can connect with her on Facebook and The City.

F B C S TA R K V I L L E . C O M 15

ach year, we honor the life and advocacy of Annie Walker Armstrong (1850-1938) when we give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® for North American missions. As a tireless servant of God and a contagious advocate and supporter of

missions efforts throughout the world, Annie Armstrong led women to unite in missions endeavors that ultimately led to the formation of the Woman’s Missionary Union, for which she served as the first corresponding secretary.

Annie believed in and followed Christ with all her heart, but it was her hands that expressed that belief in tangible ways. She spent a great amount of time typing and handwriting letters in support of missions. Many of these letters were quite lengthy, and all were filled with her conviction that more could and should be done in our missions efforts. Annie also never hesitated to use her hands to reach out to hug a child or to distribute food, clothing, and the Word of God to those in need. Her hands held her own Bible as she studied to know how best to share God’s love with others. Most importantly, Annie was a woman of prayer, folding her hands in prayer to intercede for the missionaries and for those they were helping to discover Christ.

Annie rallied churches to give more, pray more, and do more for reaching people for Christ. As modern-day missions advocates unite to continue that work today, we can be confident that her legacy will also be ours. Source: anniearmstrong.com

Pray and consider how you can generously give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering this year.

GOF B C S TA R KV I L L E

B Y N AT H A N TAY LO R

ANNIE ARMSTRONG

FBC GOAL:$22,000

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VICTORIA PRAYER GUIDE

PUERTO RICO PRAYER GUIDE

• F R I DAY, M A R C H 1 1 Pray for the continued preparation of the team's hearts as they look to bless and serve the people of Victoria.

• S AT U R DAY, M A R C H 1 2 Pray for the final preparation of the basketball clinics and for the publicity for the clinics.

• S U N DAY, M A R C H 1 3 Pray for Canvas Church's worship gathering including the new families that have never been to Canvas.

• M O N DAY, M A R C H 1 4 Pray for the FBC clinic workers to make great connections with the kids in the camp.

• T U E S DAY, M A R C H 1 5 Ask the Father to build a spirit of community in each of the church's community group gatherings.

• W E D N E S DAY, M A R C H 1 6 Pray that God would bless the basketball clinics today. Ask God to bless the team with opportunities to visit with and befriend non-believers.

• T H U R S DAY, M A R C H 1 7 Join the Austin family in asking Jesus to open the hearts of Mitch, Natasha, Jenny, Paul, Lisa, Irene, Chris, and Victoria.

• F R I DAY, M A R C H 1 8 Pray for the eternal impact that this 5-day basketball clinic will have on the city of Victoria.

We have a team of 25, 21 teens and 4 adults, who will be

going to Puerto Rico to serve the week of March 11-18. We’ll

be serving with FBC Arecibo in the city of Arecibo. During

the mornings, we will be working in an elementary school

with which the church has an existing partnership. In the

afternoons, we’ll be doing cleanup and light construction

on a home near the church that the church has recently

acquired. Here are a few ways that you can pray for our team:

• FBC Arecibo and their pastor, Jorge Alvarez

• That our team would be unified by serving in the name of Jesus

• That this experience would capture the hearts and minds of our team and result in a life long obedience to the Great Commission

"Declare h is g lory

among the nat ions…"- Psalm 96:3

F B C S TA R K V I L L E . C O M 17

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MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST

• 3 pounds of venison roast or 3 pounds chuck roast

• 1 dry ranch packet

• 1 au jus gravy packet

• 1 stick of unsalted butter

• ¼ cup of water

• ½ jar of sliced pepperoncini peppers

• Place ¼ cup of the water in the bottom of your crock pot. Put your preferred cut of meat into your crock pot. Sprinkle your dry ranch packet on meat then your au jus packet. The stick of butter will go on top of your sprinkled packets. Lastly, pour over the ½ jar of pepperoncini peppers. If you like your roast with a little more spice to it then feel free to add more peppers. Cook in your crock pot on low for 8 hours. Check at the four hour mark to see if it needs a little more water.

elcome to the first Lydia’s Kitchen! I am so excited to be contributing to Redefined. The goal of Lydia’s Kitch-en is to share YOUR favorite recipes with our church family. The first recipe that I want to share with you is

a roast recipe that I have been cooking for about a year. When Scott and I first got married, I started cooking venison. I knew NOTH-ING about how to appropriately prepare this kind of meat. I learned quickly that you have to tenderize it…A LOT. Although I felt like I had eventually mastered cooking venison, I could never find a rec-ipe for a roast that didn’t leave it tough, chewy, and dry. Scott came home one day from hunting with Mr. Bobby Watkins, and Mr. Bob-by had cooked a scrumptious pot roast lunch at the hunting camp. Scott began working with Mr. Bobby many years ago on wildlife re-lated projects, and we are also blessed to attend church with him and his family. Mr. Bobby and Mrs. Martha have been faithful to serve on the Fellowship Committee for many years. When Scott brought home this recipe, he proclaimed that it was the best roast he had ever eaten. That is a tall compliment considering my grandmother can make a mean Sunday pot roast. I must say that I thought, “Well, here we go again trying a roast recipe. I doubt it works, but I will give it a shot.” I reluctantly gave it a try, and it was, indeed, wonderful! Be-low, I give you Mississippi Pot Roast. I have cooked this several dif-ferent ways: I have added carrots and potatoes for a more traditional roast, and I have also served it on a sub roll topped with provolone cheese. This is a crowd pleaser for sure in the Edwards household.

Happy Cooking!Lydia Edwards

B Y LY D I A E D WA R D S

LY D I A ' SK I TC H E N

F B C S TA R K V I L L E . C O M 19

Starkville is gearing up for a big hit this summer with Camp in the City. Camp will be held on June 20-24 for children entering the 1st grade through

6th grade. Camp begins daily (Monday through Friday) at 9:00 am and wraps up at 4:00 pm This camp is a wonderful opportunity for children to experience all of the fun of a traditional summer camp within the city limits! Campers will be engaged in daily activities and immersed in intensive Bible studies and energetic worship led by college students while interacting with other children in a fun-filled setting.

Pine Cove will be partnering with FBC Starkville to host this day camp. Pine Cove’s Camp in the City program focuses on teaching children about Jesus through worship, Bible study, and camp counseling. They provide fun activities for children to enjoy such as slides, wall climbing, obstacle courses, and so much more. These activities are designed to simulate the “real deal” summer camp experience for children in the community. Pine Cove ensures that campers have an enjoyable and safe experience by providing college students as counselors who encourage children in their faith and lead the high-energy activities throughout the week of camp.

Online registration for Camp in the City opened on February 8th, so if you have not already registered your child for this event, now would be the perfect time to do so. What are you waiting for? Camp in the City will be the summer event that will have your child excited for weeks and will give you the reassurance that your child is having a great time in a fun and faith-filled environment.

Additionally, FBC Starkville will be hosting a dessert auction on Sunday, April 3rd to raise funds for this event. Funds raised will go toward scholarships for children whose families may not be able to afford the attendance fee and camp expenses. In particular, FBC Starkville would like to be able to help eligible foster children from Oktibbeha County to participate in the camp, so if you are looking for an opportunity to be involved, a couple of great ways to help out would be to attend the fundraiser and bring your sweet tooth! Look for more information regarding details of the fundraiser and other ways you can help out with fundraising for the event in the upcoming weeks.

Registration information for the Camp in the City as well as any other information about Pine Cove and their camps and fundraising opportunities can be found online at fbcstarkville.com and/or at campinthecity.com.

B Y L A U R E N C U M M I N G S

C A M P I N T H E C I T YF U N D R A I S E R

LAUREN CUMMINGS is a senior at Mississippi State University majoring in Animal and Dairy Sciences with a concentration in Equine Science and Production.

20 M A R C H 2 0 1 6 | I s s u e 1 5

COMMUNITY GROUP ATTENDANCE FOR FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY 7 | 1077

FEBRUARY 14 | 1035

FEBRUARY 21 | 1080

FEBRUARY 28 | 1052

LUNCH BREAK MENUS

MARCH 2Hamburgers and fixin's, potato chips, BBQ beans, and dessert.

MARCH 9Chicken Spaghetti, green bean, green salad, rolls, and dessert

MARCH 16No Lunch Break

MARCH 23Shepherd's Pie, buttered corn, green salad, rolls and dessert

MARCH 30Taco Salad Bar and dessert

UPCOMING EVENTS

SPORTSMAN'S BANQUETSUNDAY, MARCH 6 | 5:00 PM | SPORTSPLEX | $5All men and boys are invited to join us on March 6 for the Sportsman’s Banquet at the Starkville Sportsplex at 5:00 pm. We will have a firearms giveaway for adults and a gift card giveaway for youth. John Croyle is our speaker this year. John founded Big Oak Ranch for children in Alabama, has penned several books and played for Bear Bryant at The University of Alabama. Purchase your ticket today at fbcstarkville.com.

RODEO ROUND-UP FOR PRESCHOOLERS AND THEIR PARENTSDURING M3, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30 | 5:45-7:00 PMParents and Preschoolers, dress in your best Western duds and come have a boot scootin’ time at M3. Music, Western games, and a whole lot of fun.

PASSION WEEK

• PALM SUNDAY MARCH 20 | 8:30 & 11 :00 AM

• MIDWEEK SERVICE MARCH 23 | 6:00 PM Celebrate the Lord’s Supper Featuring the Celebration Music Ministries

• EASTER SUNDAY MARCH 27 | 8:30 & 11 :00 AM Celebrate the Resurrection

CHILDREN'S CHURCH

SUNDAY, MARCH 27 | 8:30 & 11 :00 AM

ECHO FOR YOUTH AND PARENTSSUNDAY, APRIL 3 | WAREHOUSE OCOn Sunday, April 3 we will have Stuart Hall with us for our spring Echo. Stuart and his wife, Kelle, have a son who plays football at Duke and two teenage daughters. He’s an engaging speaker with a wealth of experience from raising his own children in addition to his career in serving churches. Stuart has written several books: The Seven Checkpoints: Seven Principles Every Teenager Needs to Know, MAX Q: Developing Students of Influence and Wired: For a Life of Worship. I believe that every mom & dad will be encouraged as well as given practical tools in navigating raising a teenager.

SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY:• 8:30 am & 11:00 am: Stuart will be preaching in our worship services

on what it means to be a biblical family• 9:45 am Stuart will be speaking to parents of preschool, children &

teens• 5:00 pm Stuart will be speaking to the entire church on the role the

church plays in partnering with parents in discipling of their children

11TH GRADE ADVANCESUNDAY, APRIL 10 NOON - 4:00 PM

TOPIC: SERVANT LEADERSHIPA selfless attitude and the actions that accompany it are attractive qualities, but it doesn’t come naturally. We have to learn to serve others by serving. In order to help prepare our teens for their senior year and increased leadership responsibilities we’ll spend the day not only discussing serving by looking at the leadership style of Jesus, but also through serving others. We’ll also visit Catch A Dream Foundation to hear how they serve others.

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P E R I O D I C A L S

106 East Lampkin St. Starkville, MS 39759

FBCSTARKVILLE .com | 662. 323. 5633

FBCSTARKVILLE

@FBCSTARKVILLE

@FBCSTARKVILLE

FBCSTARKVILLE