UPDATE keeping the Faith family in the loop . . .Faith Baptist Church, Covington, VA

The Flexible Church In order for a church to accomplish the mission God has given to it, there must be a willingness to adapt and change. I am so thankful that I serve a church that is open to change and willing to adapt to the challenges of ministry in 2007. Let me give you some examples: - Our Sunday morning men's class was meeting in the pastor's office, it was obvious that they were out growing the small office, yet they had no where to move. They showed their flexibility and converted our garage into a classroom.
 Here are the guys in the "Man Cave", their converted garage.
- Our teen ministry felt the need to reach out more to our community. How could they impact other teens with the good news of Jesus Christ? They decided to have their Sunday night meeting at our local bowling alley. Praying this would make it easier for non-churched kids to connect with the group. They had their first meeting last Sunday night and they were excited when 37 teens showed up. They will now be meeting there 3 nights a month.
- Leaders in our church got a burden for us to reach out to our community and show them the love of Christ. Why not give children a safe environment for Halloween? Trunk or Treat was born. We are trying to say to our community we love you in the name of Christ and we care about your children. Last Wednesday almost 400 people visited our church campus for our second annual Trunk or Treat. One of our ladies works in a local doctor's office, the day after Trunk or Treat, a lady commented to her, "I was really impressed that your church cared enough to offer this safe alternative for our children, I think I might visit your church."
 Here are some of our special guests at Trunk or Treat! See all the photos here
The message of a church should never change, but the methods have to change to reach each generation. Thank God for a flexible church that is willing to do whatever is necessary to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 9:20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 9:21 to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law. 9:22 To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. Steve, who recently became a Christian had this to say about Trunk or Treat: Throughout the evening we got to enjoy the hospitality and fun of handing out candy, drinks and balloons to so many children. We had a very big bucket filled over halfway full of candy and drinks and still had to get re-supplied two times. The atmosphere was so pleasurable it is hard to explain. Seeing everyone coming together to extend a hand to the community with the hope to change the life of just one person or family fills our hearts with such joy. Ever since being led to the lord I continue to see and feel inspiration and the need to shout out the love that I have for our father each and every moment that he allows. God has blessed us to have found such a caring church family. Audrey and I would like to thank each and everyone of you for enabling us to be a part of something that we feel is a blessing from God. James 1:25 He who looks into a perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. May Faith always be a flexible church willing to do whatever is necessary to get the gospel out to the lost and dying.
GOD FOCUSED LIFE
I will be continuing the above series this Sunday. It is based on Psa. 19 and we will discover how David was able to live a God focused life. This week we will discuss how God reveals Himself through His working in our personal lives. I hope you will plan to attend and bring a friend. Maybe God will touch them through His word. PSALM 19 GOD @ WORK IN CREATION 1-6 GOD @ WORK IN HIS WORD 7-11 GOD @ WORK IN THE SOUL 12-14 We have seen in our series that God reveals Himself in many ways. This week we will see how God reveals Himself as he works in our lives to bring about real change. Maybe you have tried and tried to change but have failed. Let me give some hope, God can change you and this week will look at the process God uses to bring about that change.
NOVEMBER IS A PREACHING BUFFET AT FAITH We will have a different preacher each Sunday morning at Faith during November, here's the menu - November11 Chris Chesley--"Let's Talk Turkey"
- November 18 Missionary Doug Williams
- November 25 Matt Walls (Family pastor Southside Baptist Church, GA)
COMMUNION THIS SUNDAY @ 6PM
Hope you have a great weekend and that church is part of it, see you Sunday. Don't forget to turn your clocks back this weekend. |