September 22, 2017 Dr. Bill Montgomery, Interim Pastor Vol. 58 No. 19

From your Interim Pastor Perhaps no other time in the history of our country has there been the attention giv-en to natural disasters. Certainly the two recent hurricanes are not the first and likely not the last to impact our nation in such a catastrophic manner.

As Harvey and Irma were spinning in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, mil-lions of people watched on televisions or their smart phones. The information about the storms was available in real time. One could follow every movement of the eye-wall and locate each band of wind and rain. Technology has provided our society the ability to observe such disasters in a fashion never thought about just a few short years ago.

As we have watched from afar, it is easy to forget these events are happening to real people and the destruction is not just a pixel on a screen. Every person affected by the storms is experiencing a life changing event. Some are uniquely able to bounce back and rebuild quickly, others may never be able to move ahead.

What makes the difference? Certainly the availability of resources is important. How-ever, those who work in disaster relief have observed that there is a greater element that motivates one to return and rebuild. It is HOPE!

[continued inside]

Children’s Choirs

Tuesday at 2:45

come to FBC office to register

& sign a bus permission form

New Pictorial

Directories If you had a portrait made

for the Church Directory,

you may pick up your FREE

directory in FBC office

On the inside… Men’s Bible study – Friday

Children’s Bible Drill – Sunday

New Members

Memorial gifts

Pastor Search Committee

Prayer Warriors Needed

Student Ministry events

Women’s Ministry events

From your Interim Pastor [continued] Hope may come from various places but it is always centered in one central theme. This theme is based on purpose. One returns to rebuild because they have a purpose in being there. This is why as Christians we are involved in disaster relief. We are to come alongside those in need to encourage hope and share purpose. There is likely no greater time to share the hope and purpose we have found in Jesus Christ than when one is looking for help in rebuilding their life and home.

How do we help?

First, you are already helping as a member of a Southern Baptist Church. Disaster Relief is an ongoing ministry of our Southern Baptist family. Our gifts given through the Cooperative Program of approximately $100,000 in this calendar year are at work providing relief and hope. The annual gifts we share through the Covington County Baptist Association of $20,000 are already at work making a difference. Special mission offerings given directly to the Alabama Baptist State Conven-tion help fund the Disaster Relief Teams that provide food and shelter as disasters are ongoing.

Your faithful giving of tithes and offerings is making a tremendous difference. Your gifts afford the disaster relief teams the resources to prepare and provide in the time of need.

There are many other places through which we may provide financial help. No organization is doing a better job than Samaritan’s Purse. I encourage you to lovingly give to disaster relief through your church but also to groups like Samaritan’s Purse.

So what is next?

First Baptist Church is blessed with boundless resources. Our people are gifted, talented and certainly blessed. God’s Word reminds us that to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12). As we have been blessed, inherent in this blessing is the call to service!

In the next few weeks we will seek to organize the talents and abilities of our membership and create a strategy for [continued in next column]

ministry that will include not only the needs of those impacted by the hurricanes but others that God leads into our path.

On Sunday September 17th

there will be cards for each of our members to fill out indicating interest and availability to help in disaster relief.

This may well be a defining moment in the life of our church. As we pray for God to send His man to be your pastor in the days ahead, what better way to be ready for his coming than to be busy ministering in the Name of Jesus to those in need.

In this interim season it is a joy for Elaine and me to serve alongside you. For nearly a year as we have worshipped together, we have come to love and appreciate you so very much. We believe God will raise up champions in His Kingdom for this great purpose!

First Baptist Church Andalusia has a wonderful history. For this we are all grateful. But let us not forget in the midst of unparalleled need and limitless opportunity, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Bro. Bill

Pray for Pastor Search Committee Linda Finlin Dodd Riley Lenora Johnson Teresa Ward Joe McDanal Kittye Wyatt Jeremy McMath

Louise Anderson & Benny Gay – alternates

Pray for Minister to Students Search Committee Tripp Bass Glynn Ralls Sharon Bulger Lynn Starnes Sandra Davis

Nicole Jackson & Lex Short –alternates

BIBLE STUDY CLASSES for all ages meet at 9:15 every Sunday morning … are YOU involved in one?

Student Ministry

College Sunday School Class Sunday at 9:30 am in student ministry building

Youth Choir Kick-off Sunday September 24 at FBC Montgomery sign up to reserve your spot

See You at the Pole Wednesday September 27 at your school flagpole

To receive updates & announcements about Student events…

Text follow ignitefbc to 40404 to

receive text messages when announce-ments are made

Follow us on Facebook on the Ignite Student Ministry page

Follow us on Twitter: ignitefbc

Thank you On behalf of the First Baptist family, I would like to express our deep appreciation to the staff as we serve the Lord together: Bro. Bill Dwight William Jeanne Cindy Sheila Chris Brian Each one of you has a very important responsibility in serving our Lord. We appreciate the work you do. May God bless you and your families. Many thanks, Ziba

Memorial Gifts Given

In memory of Polly Waits by Glenn Anderson families

In memory of Polly Waits by Nancy McCollum

In memory of June Smith by Ziba & Pennye Anderson

In memory of Polly Waits by Bill Tadlock

In memory of June Smith by Teresa Mabrey

In memory of Polly Waits by Paul & Anne Liles

Prayer Warriors needed We have prayer teams who pray in the prayer room during our Sunday morning and evening worship services. They are on a schedule to pray once a quarter. If you would like to be on a Worship Service Prayer Team, please call FBC office. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. -Matthew 18:20 ESV

Adopt a Deployed Family is a support prayer group that meets in FBC prayer room every Sunday morning at 8:30 primarily to pray for military service members, their families and veterans

Margaret Eiland is turning 100 Time to celebrate!

First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall September 30 2 pm – 4 pm

No gifts please

Prayer Ministry…

In the hospital

FLOWERS HOSPITAL, DOTHAN John Weaver

S.E. MEDICAL CENTER, DOTHAN A. G. Palmore

If you know of a church member in the hospital please call FBC office

Christian sympathy is extended to the family of Joyce Cook at her death

Do you need prayer? Does someone you know need prayer?

call the FBC community-wide Prayer Line at 334-582-5155 & tell others about it

Women’s Ministry Bible study Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer – Sunday – 5:00 – adult 3 department (behind chapel) – bring $13 to class to have a book ordered

New 3rd Wednesday study i am n from Voice of the Martyrs, a study of the persecuted church – starts September 20 – 12:00 noon – student ministry building – bring a sack lunch – book: $5

LOL group Tuesday September 26 – 12:00 noon – student ministry building

Children’s Bible Drill Sunday – 5 pm – meet in adult 7 room 202 – for children in grades 4-6

Men’s Bible study Stepping Up-Calling Men to Courageous Manhood by Dennis Rainey – Friday – 6:00 am – choir room [NOTE location change]

Discipleship class Slaying the Giants by David Jeremiah – Sunday – 5:00 – conference room – for men & women

Extended Teaching Care FBC office: 222-5152

SEPTEMBER 24 – 10:30 am (arrive at 10:15)

3-4 year olds – Lee Wise & Candice Vinson

6:00 pm (arrive at 5:45) 1-3 year olds – Lynn Twitty & Judy Powers

OCTOBER 1 – 10:30 am (arrive at 10:15)

3-4 year olds – Billie Ann Loflin & Candy Givhan

6:00 pm (arrive at 5:45) 1-3 year olds – Jackie McDanal & Cindy Benson

Welcome new members

Frank Allen & Grace Anne Gafford 1705 Rosewood Ln, Andalusia 36421

by baptism

Sally & Sonny Steele 1705 Rosewood Ln, Andalusia 36421

by letter

Mother’s Day Out 8:00-12:00 on Tuesdays & Thursdays – call 222-7859 for information

To learn more about FBC…

FBC services – live on Sundays on Andy Cable channel 12 at 10:30 am & 6:00 pm

If you are a member of Facebook, to join FBC page go to www.facebook.com/andalusiafirstbaptist

and choose the LIKE button

E-Messenger – if you want to receive an e-mailed FBC newsletter please send your e-mail address to Rick Sherman at shermshack@andycable.com

The Messenger is printed bi-weekly

If you want to receive a mailed copy please call FBC office You may find the Messenger each

week on the FBC website at www.fbcandalusia.org

CHURCH TELEPHONES - 222-5151 & 222-5152

PRAYER LINE - (334) 582-5155

CHURCH WEBSITE - fbcandalusia.org

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES Sunday Sunday School 9:15 a.m. Morning Worship 10:30 a.m. Discipleship Classes 5:00 p.m. Evening Worship 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday Fellowship Supper 5:00 p.m. RAs, GAs, Mission Friends, Students 6:00 p.m. Adult Prayer Meeting 6:00 p.m. Ladies Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Adult Choir Rehearsal 6:00 p.m.

Church Staff Dr. Bill Montgomery Interim Pastor

bmontgomery@fbcandy.org Dwight Crigger Associate Pastor/Music

dcrigger@fbcandy.org phone ext 327 William Worley Ministry Associate

wworley@fbcandy.org Jeanne Bozeman Supervisor of Admin Services

jbozeman@fbcandy.org phone ext 326 Sheila Prescott Finance Admin Assistant

sprescott@fbcandy.org phone ext 321 Cindy Benson Education Admin Assistant

cbenson@fbcandy.org phone ext 332 THE MESSENGER (USPS 700-520) is published bi-weekly except Christmas week & July 4th week by First Baptist Church, P O Box 788, 700 E. 3-Notch Street, Andalusia, Alabama 36420 Periodicals Postage paid at Andalusia, Alabama

Our Record A LOOK AT LAST WEEK… Sunday School attendance 221 New Members 2 Visitors 1 Discipleship Ministry attendance 72

AND THE CHURCH GAVE… Budgeted offerings this week $17,393.71 Offerings received this week $13,337.40

Budgeted offerings to date $661,505.98 Offerings received to date $747,789.45

Fix-up Fund $27,464.75 – account balance as of September 17

Deacons in service – September 24 Steve Barlow (222-1338) & Tripp Bass (222-8313)

October 1 Herb Carlisle (222-7353) & Jay Farrington (222-7859) _____________________________________________________

Offering – October Ziba Anderson, Steve Barlow, Herb Carlisle, John Collier, Bob Harry, Jeremy McMath, Tim Nall, Dodd Riley _____________________________________________________

Ushers – September 24 Front Door Back Door Barbara Posey David Clark Jerri Stroud Nancy Clark Helen Smith Wesley Smith

October 1 Front Door Back Door Charles Young Candy Parker June Young Stacie McCalman David Marcum Randall Lee _____________________________________________________

Sound/Light/TV – September 24 Sound Light/Computer TV Operator Lex Short Joe Parker am-James M./pm-Bob H.

October 1 Sound Light/Computer TV Operator Chase Cotton am-Will B./pm-Casey T. am-James M./pm-Don C.

Fellowship Supper Please make or cancel supper reservations by NOON ON MONDAY. If they are not cancelled by noon on Monday, they are to be paid for by person making the reservation

PRICES: $7.00 – Adult $3.00 – Youth (7th-12th grade) $3.00 – Child (birth-6th grade) $20 maximum for a family

MENU – September 27, 2017 – chili, French fries, chips & cheese, green salad, dessert

MENU – October 4, 2017– catfish, cheese grits, cole slaw, hush puppies, baked beans, dessert