Connect - October & November 2015

2 | First Lubbock Connect

October & November 2015 | 3

In any academic pursuit, the mastery of a particular discipline requires certain foundational moorings. This necessity is apparent even in many of the introductory level textbooks, which include the word “foundations” in the title: Foundations of Math, Foundations of Philosophy, Foundations of Education, etc. Such texts introduce a body of knowledge that must be mastered and rooted in the life of the student; that will serve as the foundation for all future knowledge and understanding within the given discipline. In fact, it is a safe to say that the potential success of a student in most any academic discipline is evident in their proficiency within this foundational, core curriculum. This is why certain classes are disparagingly referred to as “weed out” courses. Such classes eliminate those students that show no indication of future success within a particular field.

That a good foundation is necessary for future success and a strong finish is true even in the life of faith. The weeding, or dropping out, of those who do not persevere in the life of faith and the rigors and responsibility of congregational life can usually be traced to the lack of a firm foundation in the life of the individual. Some have just grown up in a culture of church; a comfortable, institutional kind of religion requiring no real faith expression and that seeks and desires only to sentimentally cling to some idealized past. A firm foundation, however, rooted in the person of Jesus Christ and an understanding of the unique way God is working in history through the life of the community of faith, his church, enables us to withstand the disappointments and hurts that circumstances and people inevitably bring to our lives that we so often blame and use as our excuse for not participating.

I’m convinced that a firm foundation in the life of faith begins with the word of God and the inspired accounts of how God has uniquely worked in certain events to reveal and make himself known to humankind. These events, such as creation, the fall of man, the flood, the tower of Babel, the exodus, the giving of the Law, etc., were never intended to answer our questions of “what and when”, but rather “who and why”. We are mistaken when we seek to impose our western questions upon an eastern text that was not even concerned with such matters of curiosity. The emphasis and what is foundational for us, the people of God and community of faith, is God’s active involvement in accomplishing his desires in his created order. These foundational and revelatory events in the history of God’s dealings with humankind provide the foundation for the full revelation of God, made known in the person of Jesus Christ. When our awareness of God is grounded, rooted, and established in the knowledge of his active history and working, it is then that our faithfulness prevails over the pain and disappointment that people and circumstances can create.

Each message in our “Foundations” series is designed to establish another layer of understanding to a foundational appreciation of God’s working and His preparing of the world for the advent of Christ. The proper perspective is for us to view each and every Sunday as a foundational experience; adding a stud to the walls of our life’s structure so that we might better withstand the storms that inevitably come.

Bobby DagnelPastor


One of the most famous stories about a foundation involves the Brooklyn Bridge, which spans the East River and joins Brooklyn to Manhattan. The work began in 1869, but by 1872 people were growing very impatient because they had seen little indication that anything was being done in the construction of the bridge on the New York side. Three long years. Yes, they could see a tower across the river on the Brooklyn side, but could see hardly anything on the New York side.

In June of 1872, the chief engineer on the project wrote: “To such of the general public as might imagine that no work had been done on the New York tower, because they see no evidence of it above the water, I should simply remark that the amount of the masonry and concrete laid on the foundation during the past winter, under water, is equal in quantity to the entire masonry of the Brooklyn tower visible today above the waterline.” (David McCullough, The Great Bridge)

The foundation of our faith, the rock-solid core of who we are, what we believe, and that which we base our entire lives on - is the truth that the God of the Universe, the Creator God, always has been, is, and always will be! THAT is the God we worship, love, adore, serve, etc. The singer wrote: “In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands” (Psalm 102.25).

What a song!

I remember my Dad reading that passage as he and I stood on the edge of the Grand Canyon. I didn’t fully understand the implications of that moment, nor did I grasp what this passage meant, but I do remember Dad impressing on me that our God -

His God and my God - was so big and so mighty and so amazing that He made all that we could see that day! I remember holding hands with

Mom and Dad and we belted out the refrain, “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee; How great Thou art!”

What a worship moment!

As I have grown older, I now know (but still don’t fully understand) that God has ALWAYS been! And that not only has He created all that I can see, He has also created all that I canNOT see! Every living, breathing organism - from the molecules in the highest heavens to the microscopic organisms living in the massive body of water recently discovered beneath the earth’s crust!

As I face, with you, uncertain days, we can rest in the fact that our great God has always been, is, and will always be. THAT foundation will be more than enough to sustain us, encourage us, and bolster us for whatever lies ahead.

If daily, 150,000 vehicles and pedestrians put their trust in the 125-year-old Brooklyn Bridge, with a foundation that is deeper and wider (and older) than the actual bridge itself, then certainly you and I can trust the God of the Universe, who was God long before He laid the foundations of the earth (because He’s always been God), to sustain us, to provide for us, and to be true and good and faithful!

What a song! What a worship moment! What a life!!

Ken DraughonAssociate Pastor for Music & Worship


Deuteronomy chapter 6 is a passage in the Old Testament where Moses is trying to get the word of God into the hearts and minds of the Children of Israel. In 6:20 Moses writes, “When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and statutes and rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’” Moses is assuming in this passage that children are going to ask questions. He is also assuming that children are going to ask questions regarding the faith of their parents. One of the most important aspects of parenting is establishing the foundation of God’s word in a child’s heart. There are many different ways to accomplish that, but one of the most basic is regular weekly church attendance. As our pastor has referred to many times, building a spiritual house is done one stud at a time. You and I build our spiritual walls through making God, His Word, and His church a priority in our lives. As we do this spiritual building, our children will ask questions about our faith as their faith becomes their own. One event that we have coming in October is the Dad & Kid Campout at Caprock Canyon State Park. This is a great time where Dads and their kids can get away. The kids have fun, and Dads get to fellowship with other Dads. It is also a time where Dads and kids get to spend some extended quality time together. If you come, you and your kids will have fun, but you may also be surprised how God will use this time to help you answer the questions that your child will ask you.

scott

Scott CarlinAssociate Pastor for Family Life


Opportunities at Dupre Elementary

Dupre Elementary school is very special to our church family. Did you know that we have approximately 30 mentors that visit with 30 different children during each week? The most important foundation in all our lives is a relationship with Jesus, but a secondary foundation in the lives of these kids is an education and adults to invest in their lives.

Children who attend school in the Lubbock area face many different challenges. Those challenges may look different for each child; however, what I do know is that FBC Lubbock makes an impact at Dupre Elementary. Mentoring at Dupre has opened up greater opportunities to not only impact the 30 children that we work with, but an entire school.

What does this look like?

Our church family for the last five years has sponsored the Dupre Fall Festival. This allows us to serve the families of the children who attend Dupre by providing an evening of fun activities. The Dupre Fall Festival is scheduled on Friday, October 30th from 6:00pm-7:30pm at the Dupre Elementary Gym. We need volunteers. To sign up to volunteer, or for more information, call the Global Mission’s Office at 806-747-8153.

A second way that we can make a difference is by providing the Christmas Store for the families of the children that we mentor. The Christmas Store will be open Sunday, December 13th. Be watching for more information in the days ahead.

Building a foundation can be an arduous task, and I am grateful for a church family who is willing to invest the time and resources to build foundations in the lives of children.

What is the Global Missions Offering?Each year the Mission’s Team at FBC sets a Global Mission’s offering goal. Our goal this year is $172,450. This is an offering that goes above our normal giving to the general budget.

What does this offering support?

Although we have a mission’s budget in our general budget, there are other ministries that are supported by our Global Mission’s Offering Goal:

David Abbot - MissionaryWord of Hope - Bible studies for those in prisonGilbert Herrera Evangelistic MinistryKid’s Hope USA - Mentoring Program at FBCYouth Ministry Mission TripsUniversity Ministry Mission TripsHomeless Ministry in Lubbock

St. Benedicts ChapelLubbock Impact Young Adult Mission TripsMary Hill Davis Offering Lottie Moon OfferingAnnie Armstrong Offering

As you can see, when you make a commitment to support our Global Mission’s offering beyond your regular giving, it makes an impact around the globe. If you have any questions about any of these ministries, please contact the Global Mission’s Office at 806-747-8153.

Jerry RamirezMinister to Missions and Buckner Initiatives


In Estes Park, Colorado there is a somewhat famous hotel known as the Stanley Hotel. It was built in 1909 by a business man named Freelan Oscar Stanley, who most of you probably know for his Stanley Steamer. What is particularly interesting about this hotel is that if you were to go to the fourth floor and take a look down the hallway, you would notice that walls lean and slant from one end of the building to the other. In addition to being rather disconcerting, the lean in the hotel wall is also quite puzzling. But all questions surrounding the slant become quickly answered if one were to go to the basement and look at what the hotel was originally built upon. Underneath the Stanley Hotel there are just a few beams of wood that act as the foundation for the building, and while there may not be any discernable difference in the shaky foundation on the first, second, or third floor, by the time one gets to the fourth and final floor, the building’s foundation, or lack thereof, becomes strikingly noticeable.

In the youth department, our hope is that we can provide students with the tools, training, and experience that would create a foundational faith that will not lean, slant, and give way as they walk through this life. But how is this accomplished?

Earlier this year, Preston Gilmore, a senior at Coronado High School, was diagnosed with cancer. He’s been doing really great. Chemotherapy has gone about as smoothly as it can go, and Preston is expected to be just fine. In addition to the medical treatments he has been receiving, Gilmore did attribute at least some of his recovery to the foundation that he has here in the student ministry.

“It’s a place where I can go for recovery and not worry about what’s going on outside and focus on my faith and praising with my friends,” Gilmore said.

This life provides its fair share of difficult obstacles, but in the face of those obstacles it is comforting to know that we do have a faith that provides a firm foundation for us to stand upon and fellow believers who can walk through difficult times. And these sentiments are not just felt by Gilmore, they are shared by Darryl Evans, a senior at Lubbock-Cooper High School.

“When I’m struggling, I know I’ve got a group that has my back, and that’s the youth ministry,” said Evans.

For Preston and Darryl, the opportunity to build upon their foundation and experience fellowship with friends comes simply through the programming that we provide on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. But the foundation building process does not stop at weekly Bible studies. It includes any time we play ultimate frisbee, have a movie night in the café, host Disciple Now, go to camp, and go on mission trips.

Over the past three summers the student ministry has partnered with the Worship and Arts Ministry to create a unique mission trip called, “Mission Endeavor.” Mission Endeavor combines evening worship concerts with labor intensive work during the day, which has provided students with the opportunities to help out less fortunate communities in both Colorado Springs and Santa Fe. We built playgrounds, put down flooring, painted houses, mowed lawns, and interacted one-on-one with the people that we were serving. For students like Evans, this can be an eye-opening and foundation-building experience.

“It’s crazy seeing how much we have and how little other people have,” Evans said. “Being able to help with projects and spread the word has helped me see how great God is.”

The foundation of our faith is something that we need to be able to confidently stand upon, and within the Student Ministry we are committed to not only providing multiple opportunities for middle school and high school students to strengthen their foundations, but opportunities to build with one another. The whirlwinds of this life can be troublesome, but with a firm foundation built upon God’s truth, and a support network of believers, we can face those winds with confidence.

“While one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12.

Josh JacksonAssociate Youth Minister


Holiday Fun Day is November 3rd from 9:30am-2:30pm. It costs $10 per child. Getting ready for the Holiday Season is always fun. Parents, this is your opportunity to do some shopping or decorating while your kids are having fun with their friends at church. Be watching for opportunities to sign up soon!

Kids Night Out will be October 23rd from 6:30-10:30pm for ages birth through 5th grade. Please contact Elisa Oglesby ([email protected]) for questions or to learn how to sign up.


Sunday, October 18th we will be inviting all parents with children in the Preschool, Children, and Preteen ministries to join together during the regular Sunday School time for food, fun, and family Bible study. This will be a casual Sunday for those who participate, and it will be wonderful to see everyone join together for a family Sunday School lesson. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the Preschool, Children, or Preteen staff:

T2 Moms will continue to meet each Thursday in the Corral on the first floor of the Activities Building. This group is for any mom at any stage in her life; this includes grandmothers raising grandchildren! We would love to have you be part of this group.

Juli Springer ([email protected])Jennifer Fornari ([email protected])

Elisa Oglesby ([email protected])Meredith Poe ([email protected])


Baby Steps in Foundation-Building:I feel so blessed by having the opportunity to work with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. It is the greatest responsibility, and yet the greatest pleasure, to make sure these young minds are taught the Bible truths that will be with them throughout their entire lives. If you want to remember what it means when we are instructed to have the faith of a child, just visit one of our preschool classes and hear these children talk about God’s creations or how Jesus loves. It begins in the baby room where our teachers don’t just rock the babies, they sing to them and talk to these sweet little ones about Jesus and pray over them each week. At snack time, we pray and thank God for our food to reinforce what our parents are teaching at home. Our 4-year-olds are learning about corporate worship each Sunday as they join with the congregation to sing praises to God in the Worship Center. Sometimes they do it with their hands over their ears, but they do it with excitement in their hearts.It seems that every week we are privileged to hear from parents about how their child shared God’s love by telling what they learned about in Sunday School. Mostly, our children are learning that the Bible is God’s holy word, and if we read it and learn from it, we will build a stronger foundation each day of our lives.

Preschoolers in Sunday SchoolOur Preschoolers will be continuing our journey in the study of Genesis. We will be starting with Noah and end with Joseph’s dream coming true. Be on the lookout for the Parent Pages we send home so you will know what we studied each Sunday.On Wednesday nights during IGNITE in October, we will study Southeast Asia, and in November we will learn about missionaries in Denver, Colorado. Each month we will have a mission project. Be watching for information from the teachers.Upcoming events:Family Dedication will be October 25th during the 11:00am service. If you are interested in participating in this event, you will need to attend the October 4th class. It will be from 5:00-7:00pm, and childcare is available. Please contact Juil Springer ([email protected]) to register or for questions.

Find us on Facebook (FIRST LUBBOCK PRESCHOOL)!

Juli SpringerPreschool Ministry Coordinator


JUMP!!Propelling their faith forwardSunday nights 5:00-6:30pmPizza servedActivities Building

Jennifer FornariMinister to Children and Preteens

Preteens: Adding to their

FoundationOur 4th and 5th graders are placed in a ministry of

their own - Preteens. This ministry is for that seemingly quirky but essential stage where the student doesn’t want to be

“taught” Sunday School but prefers, and responds better to, being “led.”

Through their years in Sunday School, they have learned the truths of Moses, Noah, Christ, and His resurrection - the solid foundation has been laid and now they

begin building their “own faith”.

A transition arises: teachers to “leaders” and preteens to “builders”.

We use this opportune time to guide the preteens to answer questions concerning their own journey of faith: “What does it mean to ‘live in Christ’?” “Is there really a God?” “Why do I need to pray?” They learn that the

Bible is no longer just a book of history and religion, but the source for answers and guidance. The preteen’s prayer transitions from requests to conversation. It’s this self-discovery and understanding of what their faith

means that lays another layer to their foundation. But this time, they participated in laying the foundation, rather than it coming from just their parents or the church. An ownership of their faith combined with the confidence of

who they are in Christ prepares them for the highly anticipated transition into “youth”. We are always looking for more “leaders” to guide their journey: college students, young adults, and veteran parents. Bring your tool belt and

come take part in building a preteen’s spiritual foundation.

“On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand…”

All solid Christian faiths are built on some kind of foundation. My foundation began in First Baptist Church - Borger, Texas. I grew up there, literally. My mother worked at the church when I was a child, so I actually was raised roaming the halls of First Baptist.

In those halls, I built my faith foundation. The children’s ministry was great, and my foundation really took off when I was a preteen. There was one Sunday school teacher, my mother, who showed me how to be a woman of God, even when I wasn’t quite a woman yet.

This is why I chose to get involved in the preteen ministry here at First Lubbock. Preteen ministry is so important, and I am glad to have the opportunity to impact these kids’ lives the way mine was impacted as a preteen. Having a church family here makes college just a little easier. Because of it, I feel more grounded in my own faith foundation to grow and serve.

Blaine Hill, Junior at Texas Tech University

IgniteEquipping kids with the Sword of the SpiritWednesdays 6:00-7:30pmin the Activities BuildingTheme & Missions Nights:• October 28th The Great Affliction• November 18th: Family Missions Night

Ignite Kids in WorshipCome experience worship as we lead Sunday evening’s worship:• October 11th

• November 15th

Kids will begin rehearsal at 4:00pm in the Chapel


Foundational to our Christian faith is the fact that we are all created in the image of God. Each and every person ever created is uniquely made and uniquely gifted. God has a plan and a purpose for each person. It is, therefore, our choice as to whether or not to seek to know God more intimately, to serve Him more intentionally, and to share His love and His Gospel more readily. By choosing to follow Him, we can use the gifts and passions He has given us for Kingdom good and for Kingdom purposes, and in so doing, we can point others to God and to His plan of salvation in and through Jesus Christ!

Our desire for the new Sunday School year here at FBC, and throughout the future, is that we will continue to build upon God’s foundation with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone, and that many others will join us “on mission” as we allow God to make “all things new” in our lives as individuals, as families, and as a church family! How will you use your giftedness and passion in Christ Jesus in order to build upon the foundation of your faith and to point others to Christ?

Randy HolmanAssociate Pastor for Pastoral Care and 50+ Adults


For a list of all media in the library, including the new additions of fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, CDs, and DVDs, go to library.fbclubbock.org:81

Justin BranchJunior MendezBriana RohmerLloyd RussellMason SmithXochitl SotoYuping SunMarie-Anne TurnerElla Wylie

Jayson AndersonLindsay AndersonMatthew BartenJerri DurhamDaivis GallagherJohn GallagherTammie HillKyle JohnsonCamille LanceJustis Nelson

Don RaneyJoseph RaneyKatie RaneyRobin RaneyCharlee RossDavid SliceKaris SmithRyan SmithRachel UptainRodney Williams

Welcometo our new members

(August & September)

Joined by Letter of Statement of FaithJoined by Baptism or Profession of Faith



OctoberCalendar Dates

November

December2 50+ Adult Game Day 3:00pm in Lowrie Hall

4 Family Dedication Class 5:00-7:00pm

11 IGNITE / Kids in Worship

18 Sunday School Inside Out (see pg. 9)

23 Kids Night Out and Preteen Night Out 6:30-10:30pm (see pg. 8)

23-24 Dad & Kid Campout (see pg. 5)

25 Family Dedication during the 11:00am service

28 IGNITE Missions & Theme Night: The Great Affliction

30 Dupre Fall Festival 6:00-7:30pm (see pg. 6)

1 Daylight Savings Time Change

3 Holiday Fun Day 9:30am-2:30pm (see pg. 8)

6 50+ Adult Game Day 3:00pm in Lowrie Hall

8 Last JUMP!!

15 IGNITE / Kids in Worship

18 IGNITE Family Mission Night

26 Thanksgiving Day

2 Kids in Worship Practice 6:00-6:30pm

Women’s Missions Dinner 6:00pm in Lowrie Hall (see pg. 12)

4 Kids Night Out and Preteen Night Out 6:30-10:30pm (see pg. 8)

6 3rd Grade Puppet Show

Keyboards at Christmas 6:00pm in the Worship Center

9 Kids in Worship Practice 6:00-6:30pm

13 Journey to Bethlehem (K-3rd grade)

Christmas Store

Night of Worship at Christmas 6:00pm in the Worship Center

20 Prime Time Christmas 6:00pm in the Chapel

24 Christmas Eve Service: Carols, Candelight, & Communion 6:00pm in the Worship Center

25 Christmas Day

31 New Year’s Eve

Firs

t Bap

tist C

hurc

h22

01 B

road

way

Lubb

ock,

Texa

s 794

01

Mark Your CalendarsChurch-Wide Dates

October

November

December

4 Family Dedication Class 5:00-7:00pm

18 Sunday School Inside Out (see pg. 9)

23-24 Dad & Kid Campout (see pg. 5)

25 Family Dedication during the 11:00am service

30 Dupre Fall Festival 6:00-7:30pm (see pg. 6)

1 Daylight Savings Time Change

3 Holiday Fun Day 9:30am-2:30pm (see pg. 8)

26 Thanksgiving Day

6 Keyboards at Christmas 6:00pm in the Worship Center

13 Christmas Store

Night of Worship at Christmas 6:00pm in the Worship Center

20 Prime Time Christmas 6:00pm in the Chapel

24 Christmas Eve Service: Carols, Candelight, & Communion 6:00pm in the Worship Center

25 Christmas Day

31 New Year’s Eve

Documents

Connect - October & November 2015