Participation in the Gospel

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-6

I am overcome with joy and thanksgiving tonight for all that I have witnessed and experienced this week. We have surely participated in the gospel. Like Paul, I am confident that God has begun this good work and will now perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Our responsibility is to follow God and cooperate with Him to perfect what has been begun. We must be changed by this week and look forward to what He will accomplish in the future. Here are a few things that have been begun:

*9 children have received Christ through our Day Camp.
*Many families were touched by our Block Party today and thanked us for the event. (Everything went smoothly and the kids and their families had a great time!)
*Many new relationships were formed in our own fellowship.
*Around 30 unchurched C3 families were visited.
*Relationships were begun with the families of our Day Camp children.
*Our community has been touched by all of our various "Taking it to the Streets" ministries - goodies to community servants, local businesses and restaurants; free car washes, laundry-mat services, nursing home visits, and more.
*People were comforted by our prayer shawl ministry.
*Many were encouraged by our senior adult/cleaning ministry.
*We shared our love in action with the 30 homes that received construction work.

My prayer is that some of these ministries will become ongoing plans for our church fellowship. I pray that people in our area will see us as the loving, giving, and caring people that we have been this week. We must be careful to love as Jesus loved and give Him all of the glory. He has prepared good works for us, we just need to be on the lookout for them and have the courage to begin! He will supply all that is needed to bring them to completion.

Our biggest prayer concern for tomorrow is for our Fourth of July celebration. Please pray that John and Sandra Smith will have God's wisdom and guidance as they set up and prepare for this event. We could use more people to help. Please contact John and Sandra Smith if you are available (770-439-5761). Everyone is invited to come and enjoy the evening in Powder Springs. It is always a lot of fun. It almost has a "Norman Rockwell" feel; the whole town is gathered to eat and watch fireworks! We will have a band of "local renown" and our church choir will sing at 7:00. Our folks will be giving out water and goodies. Please join us!

Thank you to everyone who has prayed for the Father's hand to be on this entire week. We have been blessed beyond measure. I am so thankful for what we have begun and what we have accomplished. Please check back here over the next week for a more complete "wrap-up" of the details of the week. Once again, to God be the glory, great things HE hath done!!

Hope Delivered

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they many see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

I have just returned from Branson Homes where the choir sang and our people visited with the residents. We enjoyed the sweetest fellowship. The people there were overwhelmed with our ministry for them. They all want to know when we are coming back! I believe that the work we have done there this week cleaning homes, making crafts, studying the Bible and just loving the people, has truly brought glory to our Father who is in heaven. The lady who is the director for Branson and Johnny Walker homes was amazed by the number of people who attended tonight. My prayer is that they have seen Jesus in us and that they will continue to build a sense of community in their neighborhood. Honestly, they have blessed me this week more than they know. Many of them have had very difficult lives and circumstances but they live with dignity. They just need a little time and love. It was a blessing to share with them this week.

Here are some updates from today:

*Four children were saved in Day Camp this morning!!!
*More cars were washed
*Prayer shawls, music, and even a canine friend were shared with residents of Bethel Gardens in Powder Springs
*Visits were made to over 30 unchurched families form C3 camp
*Breakfast and lunch were served to Day Camp children
*More construction sites were completed
*Our childcare kids visited Branson Homes residents today
*We had a great time of fellowship with the Branson Homes folks, complete with watermelon!

A few prayer needs for tomorrow:

*Pray that all preparations go smoothly for the Block Party tomorrow afternoon (12-3 in the Powder Springs Park) (Stephanie Still and Kelly Davis are planning this event)
*Please pray that our people will have the strength and endurance to complete what we have begun
*Pray for wisdom and direction for all of us to know how best to spend the last days of Mission Trip 2009
*Pray for our people who are planning the Fourth of July celebration (John and Sandra Smith) and join us if you can!
*Pray that the families that we meet tomorrow during the Block Party will see the love of Jesus in us and be drawn to Him
*Continue to pray that our hearts will be changed to see the needs around us in a different way and look for ways for God to use us to demonstrate His love

We continue to be abundantly blessed this week. I am still sometimes overcome by the size and scope of this endeavor and I am so thankful for the leadership of our pastor, staff, and mission team that makes this all possible. To God be the glory!

Day Three!

Can you believe that we are half way through with Mission Trip 2009? We had another great day of ministry today. Here are some highlights:

*Popsicles were delivered to area swimming pools
*30-35 cars were washed
*Goodies were taken to workers at five area restaurants
*6 prayer shawls were given at Powder Springs nursing home
*Goodies were taken to local businesses
*Several new construction sites were begun
*Our childcare visited the Yellow River Game Ranch
*We had 75 children at Day Camp today
*The clown ministry visited Branson Homes, the nursing home, and our childcare
*We made tremendous progress at some construction and cleaning sites
*The number of construction projects has increased from 23 to 30 sites
*All 350 of us posed for a picture in front of the church this afternoon

We continue to enjoy a sweet fellowship and a great spirit of cooperation. Bonnie Moreland remarked tonight that she sent out a call for help and had a great response of people offering to help. An entire week set aside for ministry seems to intensify our willingness and ability to minister to people. I pray that our hearts will be permanently changed to look for opportunities to show the love of Christ to the people we meet.

Please continue to pray that we will bear fruit for the glory of God this week. The last few days of the week could be the most difficult. There is nothing quite like what I call "mission trip" tired! It is a tremendous blessing, but it is also a physically demanding week. Please pray that we will all "run with endurance the race that is set before us". (Hebrews 12:1)

The temperature was rather warm today! Please pray that our people would continue to be safe as they work and travel.

The mission trip choir sang at Doss Memorial Baptist Church tonight and will sing at Branson Homes tomorrow night at 7:00. Please pray that the residents will join us and enjoy our fellowship together.

The gospel will be presented to the older children at Day Camp tomorrow. Please pray that God would speak through our people and draw the hearts of these children to Him.

We have realized that many of the children coming for Day Camp are hungry when they arrive. Tommy Farr is responding by bringing both breakfast and lunch to the children tomorrow. What a blessing! Please pray for the food ministry as they increase their workload!

Thank you for your participation through prayer. Please pray fervently that God would go before us in all that we do. We will be careful to give Him the glory!

Day Two

"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing." Psalm 100

We read this verse at our prayer time this morning. That's what I have seen all day: our people serving the Lord with gladness. It is a joy to see. The week is not without it's challenges, but I still see people serving Him with gladness. Please pray that everyone would continue to be joyful in all that we do. It's what sets us apart from the world.

Some of today's victories:

*Pleasant, cool breezes, lower humidity
*15-20 platters of "goodies"delivered
*71 kids in Day Camp
*2 or 3 construction sites completed
*Everyone in attendance touched by a Branson Homes resident named Helena who hungers to know the Word of God
*Red shirts recognized all over town
*A special needs child blessed by Ian Roemer
*A recipient of our construction ministry crying as she thanked us for her new patio
*A new "laundry-mat" ministry begun - clothes washed, dried, folded, and paid for by our people at 3 locations
*A 99 year old woman blessed by our childcare kids on her birthday
*350+ people well-fed by our food ministry
*Day Camp and Branson Homes blessed by our puppet ministry
*25 cars washed
*Once again, pleasant, cool breezes, lower humidity!

Some prayer concerns for tomorrow:
*Guidance and direction in how to meet the needs of the people to whom we minister
*Continued pleasant, cool breezes, lower humidity!
*Physical strength and endurance for all of our people to make it through the week
*Protection from discouragement from ANY source
*Our clown ministry as they perform in several sites
*Increased participation in our afternoon sessions at Branson Homes
*Continued safety of all of our people as they work and travel

Our number one prayer this week is that the Son of Man would be lifted up so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. (John 3:14,15) Please pray fervently that people will continue to see God all over us so that they will find true Hope.

"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God!" Rev. 19:3

Red Shirts Everywhere!

An army of "red shirts" was spreading Hope all over our community today! It was thrilling to see all of the red shirts at breakfast this morning, eager to get to work! The Lord blessed us with clear blue skies, lower temperatures and even a cool breeze on the first day of Mission Trip 2009! I believe that the weather was a direct answer to our prayers for the week!

Here are some more answers to prayers from today:

*40 children in Day Camp
*12 more apartments to clean for senior adult ministry
*great relationships begun at Branson Homes and Johnny Walker Homes
*25 cars washed
*no major injuries!
*92 year old patient at Cobb Hospital blessed by our prayer shawl ministry
*miraculously, enough t-shirts for 350 + people!!
*miraculously, cloths for "Taking it to the Streets" completed
*new relationships formed in our own fellowship

Just to name a few! Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with a great first day!

Requests for tomorrow:

*MORE children in Day Camp
*MORE senior adults to receive us
*Physical strength and patience for the food ministry
*Continued blessing and guidance over each ministry tomorrow
*Continued strengthening of the bonds of our fellowship

One of the ladies at Branson Homes remarked today that she could just "see God all over" our people. My prayer tonight is that everyone who even sees one of our red shirts will "see God all over us" the remainder of the week. Thank you for your continued prayer support.

To God be the glory, great things He hath done!

What a Day!

It has been a great day at Powder Springs First Baptist! We had a wonderful patriotic celebration and then Mission Trip 2009 started with a bang! It was so exciting to see 300+ people signing forms, receiving t-shirts and schedules, and meeting with their ministry groups. The CLC was buzzing with activity! Thank you, Lord, once again, for allowing us the opportunity to participate in this ministry. I am looking forward to seeing what will be accomplished for our Lord both in our community and in our fellowship. We are so blessed.

NOW, is the time to bring this mission trip before our Lord. There are many needs and concerns. Here are a few:

*Please pray that our people will be protected from the heat this week. Most of our ministries take place outside. The weather forecast looks good for a little cooler temperatures! I am still praying that our people will take necessary precautions in the heat.
*The Day Camp folks need children! We are praying that the word has spread and that Powder Springs Park will be flooded with children tomorrow morning!
*The senior adult ministry also needs people to meet and help! Please pray that God would work in the hearts of the residents of these two communities and that they would be drawn to our people. Pray that any barriers to ministry would be removed for us this week.
*Our childcare numbers increased today. Pray that they would have plenty of workers and activities for our children and that our children would always remember the blessing of Mission Trip 2009.
*Actually, all of our numbers increased today! Please pray that all of the logistic details of the week would just fall into place. (T-shirts, food, transportation,etc...)
*Jackie Harmon is still planning details for Wed. and Th. afternoon. Please ask that she would be able to clearly see God's direction for these days.
*Please pray for safety for all of our people, especially our construction workers. We don't want any trips to the emergency room!
*The Block Party team has requested that we especially pray for their set up on Friday morning. The city's preparation for the Fourth of July event will be happening at the same time.

"Reflections" in the evening has always been a special part of our mission trips. Announcements are made and the blessings of the day are shared. Even if you are not "officially" involved in the mission trip, please join us for this sweet time of fellowship. Reflections will take place Monday night at 6:15 in the sanctuary, and Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 6:15 in the CLC. On Friday night, we will have a "No Talent" show at 7:00. You won't want to miss that!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

This is what we believe, this is our motivation and our message. Now, let's get started!

On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!

It's here! All of the months of anticipation and planning are coming to a close and Mission Trip 2009 now begins. I know that today is full of activity for many of you who are preparing for the week. We will be praying that you will be led by the Holy Spirit in everything that you do and say today. I heard recently that the best way to avoid anxiety is to adopt the "P and P" plan: prayer and planning. Often in times of preparation for major events anxiety leads to fear and discouragement. In John chapters 14 and 15 Jesus teaches these truths:

*"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." (14:1)
*"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (14:6)
*"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."(14:23)
*"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." (15:5)

Essentially, I believe that Jesus is teaching me not to be anxious, but to have faith in Him because He is Life. He loves me and abides in me. My strength to bear fruit comes only from Him - I can do nothing in my own strength. It's really that simple. I place my faith in Him and He supplies all that I need for the task ahead. Lord, please help us all to remember these truths in the next days.

Please join me in praying especially for our Patriotic worship service, our fellowship lunch, and the opening meetings for the mission trip tomorrow. What a day! Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of this opportunity to serve you this week. Help us to share our Hope with the people of our community. We give You all the praise and glory! Amen!

A Legacy of Missions

I have added childcare, led by Kim Moore, to the the list of our missions team in the side bar. I apologize for not having it there earlier. Kim has the precious job of planning for and staffing the childcare for the children of our workers next week. Our daughter fondly remembers past mission trips before she could officially help with the mission. I was always sure that she was in good hands and that she was having tons of fun. Now, she has participated in three mission trips as a worker. This year Kim will have the children of some of our church's "children" who have also progressed from being in childcare, to working on the trip and now are repeating the process with their own children. I am so thankful for the legacy of missions that we are creating in our children. Thank you, Kim, for your sweet spirit and for all of your preparation for this special week. Your work really makes this trip possible for many of our people.

Please join me in praying for all of our childcare workers next week. What a busy week they will have! Oh, Lord, please instill a heart for missions in each of our children.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Prayer Walking

I spent Thursday morning praying with Mrs. Dean Barber at Johnny Walker Homes and Branson Homes where our senior adult ministry will work next week. We also prayed at the Powder Springs Park where our children's day camp will be held. Mrs. Dean and I prayed for every aspect of the ministry for these places. Our prayer is that God would use our people as channels of His love and grace in these ministries. I don't know the needs of the people we will meet. But, I know Who can meet every one of those needs. I pray that we can introduce people to the Savior, the source of our Hope.

These are a few of the specific prayer needs that I know of this morning:

*The residents of Branson and Johnny Walker Homes to be open to our people to minister to them. The director said yesterday that the people are very skeptical of anyone coming in to help them because of those who have taken advantage of them in the past. Paige and Bonnie are planning to bring Chik-fil-a biscuits and maybe Dunkin Donuts on Monday morning for the residents. Please pray that we can form relationships with these people so that they will feel comfortable allowing us to minister to them.

*Please pray for the food ministry led by Tommy and Becky Farr. They are right in the thick of planning and cooking for 300 people all week. They have also had family health issues this week. Please pray that everything would go smoothly for them and that each detail will be taken care of. Today, they are in need of a freezer. Please pray that one is found quickly!

*Please pray for the construction team as they make plans to minister at 25 different sites. I am praying for wisdom as they organize this monumental task!

*Our children's day camp people will be meeting at the Powder Springs park Sunday at 2:00 to make final plans and to pray for the week. Please join us, if you would like, for this time of prayer.

*Taren Jordan and Elaine Puckett have the daunting task of registering all of our 300+ people for this event. Please pray for them in these next few days. They need the organizational skills to gather all of the necessary paper work so that the week will run smoothly.

*Smitty Duggar has the job of coordinating transportation for the week. Please pray for the safety of all of our people as they travel from place to place.

*Jackie Harmon is leading our "Taking it to the Streets" ministry. She is planning a prayer shawl ministry. Julie Elliott is making these shawls to give out to people who are in desperate need of comfort. Jackie would like for each shawl to be prayed over this Sunday. Please come to the bride's room, upstairs near the choir room, to help with this ministry. Also, please continue to pray for Jackie as she give leadership to this brand new ministry.

Again, please use the list of ministries in the side bar as your prayer guide during the next week. I am asking that God would lead us in how to pray for each area. Sunday morning after the Patriotic Service will be a time of commissioning for all of those involved in the mission trip. We will also be passing out the names of our missionaries for the week to those who will partner with them in prayer. Thank you, again, for your participation through prayer. Mrs. Dean reminded me yesterday that many battles have been won in prayer closets! Please help us win this victory for our Lord!

Have a blessed day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yes, I'm well aware that it is June and we have had countless days of 90 degree weather! But, I believe today is a day for thanksgiving! "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6 For months now we have been making our requests for this mission trip know to God. Today I want us to be reminded of some of the ways He has already blessed this trip.

*We now have over 300 of our people registered to work.
*Our people have given over $46,000 toward the expenses of this trip.
*The meeting with the mayor went very well last Friday. She is excited about what we are doing and hopes to visit us during the week.
*The construction team has plenty of sites to work.
*Yesterday, Paige and Elizabeth Rice were unloading a truck full of supplies by themselves at the church when a number of people miraculously appeared to help them in the 90 degree weather!

These are just a few of the ways that God is going before us on this adventure! If you know of others, please add them to the comments below. We are so blessed!

Tonight at 6:30 in the sanctuary we will bring our "prayers and supplications with thanksgiving" before the Lord. Please join us for this special time of prayer for Mission Trip 2009.

Have a great day and, Happy Thanksgiving!

Loaves and Fishes!

Good Morning!

I understand that we now have over 300 people registered to minister next week. Tommy and Becky Farr are planning all of the meals for the week. That's 3 meals a day for 5 days for 300 people! That's a whole lot of loaves and fishes!! Meal time has always been a sweet time of fellowship for our mission trips. Please join me in praying for Tommy and Becky today as they plan and prepare to feed a lot of hungry people!

Another place of fellowship is our "Gathering Place" ministry. We started this ministry two years ago with our first "at home" mission trip. In previous years we always had a place where people just naturally tended to gather and visit after the day's work. We tried to recreate this gathering place in the carpeted area of the CLC with rocking chairs, snacks, games, and even cool washcloths! This year Nancy Dunn and Susi Morrell are leading this ministry. Please pray for them today as they prepare for this special place of fellowship.

Please join us tomorrow night at 6:30 in the sanctuary for a special time of prayer for our mission trip. We will also be distributing names of our missionaries for the week so that you can pray for a specific person as they minister.

Certainly, this trip is all about sharing God's love and hope with our community. However, one of the benefits of this trip has always been a growth in the connection of our own people. My prayer is that our people will be perfected in unity so that the world will know that we have been sent by God. We will be careful to give Him all the glory.

The words of Jesus: "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me." John 17:19-23

One More Week!

Good Morning! What a wonderful day of worship we had yesterday - honoring fathers and celebrating the Lord's supper and baptism. The Lord's supper reminds us of the sacrifice of Jesus and baptism demonstrates new life found in Him. My prayer today is that we remember that this is the message of Hope that we share: cleansing from sin and eternal life through faith in Jesus. Please pray today for these particular needs as you continue to pray for all of those involved in our mission trip:



*Please ask God to open the hearts of the residents of the senior communities to receive our ministry. As in years past, the residents are hesitant at first to allow us to come in to their homes to clean. By the end of the week, however, word has spread and we can hardly keep up!

*Pray that our people will remain open to the call to give of their time and resources toward our mission trip.

*Please pray for our mission trip choir as they prepare this Wed. for several services next week. It will be a heavy week for them on top of the patriotic service on Sunday.

*Please pray for our construction team as they prepare this week for all of the sites where they will work next week . Also, please pray for their safety next week - and for the heat to break a little before then!

*Please pray for our puppet and clown team as they practice this week for all of their appearances next week.

*Pray for our day camp leaders and all who will work with them. They will be meeting tonight to finalize plans for the week.


What a blessing and honor to proclaim the name of Jesus to our community! Thank you again for your participation through prayer. We just want to follow God's lead in all that we do. Please join us for a special time of prayer seeking God's guidance and protection in our regular Wednesday night prayer service at 6:30 pm.



"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen." Philippians 4:19,20

Hope

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5



A living hope. Not an "iffy" hope, but a steadfast expectation of what is to come. That is the hope that we share in Jesus Christ. This week as I mourn the loss of my grandmother and grieve with the Edfeldt family, that hope is my comfort. In the end, it is the only thing that matters. Please join me in prayer for our mission trip as we share our hope with our community.



Please pray especially for the following needs:



*more workers in the areas of senior adult ministry, day camp, and "Taking it to the Streets"

*a meeting today between our mission team and the mayor of Powder Springs

*clear direction for each member of our team as they make final preparation for the week

*the community of Powder Springs, that they will see Jesus in us and be drawn to Him



Please use the list of team members in the side bar as your prayer guide over the next two weeks. Pray that they would be sensitive to hear the voice of God as He leads them in this endeavor. Ask that God would go before them and have His will in each detail of the plans for the week.

To God be the Glory!

Harold & Laverne Wilcox Mission Offering

I still miss Harold and Laverne Wilcox. I was blessed to know both of them and witness their special heart for mission work. They devoted their lives to ministering to people who needed the Hope of a Savior. I watched them lead us to begin a tradition of church wide mission trips dedicated to spreading the love of God outside the walls of our church. I believe that Harold and Laverne knew that spending one week solely focused on serving the Lord would change not only the lives of those we went to serve, but it would also shape us into a people with a continuing heart for missions all year long. What a legacy they have left for us!

Please pray that the people of our fellowship will seek and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit concerning their gift to the Harold and Laverne Wilcox Mission Offering. John 6 tells the story of what Jesus can do when we are willing to give what might seem to us a meager offering. Over 5,000 people were fed because one boy was willing to give what he had. I can't wait to see what God will do with the offerings of our people!

Thank you for your prayers! To God be the Glory!

Only Four More Weeks!

"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

It's June 2nd and 90 degrees in the shade - it must be time for a Mission Trip!! Has anyone ever been cold on a FBCPS mission trip??? I think it's time for a cold wash cloth and a rocking chair! (Memories of Mission Trip 2007!) Yes, our mission trips involve being hot, sweaty, dirty, and incredibly tired, but, they also involve a lot of love. Love shared between our own members who might never have met, but are now forever bonded by working together for our Lord. Love is also shared with people who desperately need the Hope that only Jesus can offer. Surely, Christ's redeeming love is revealed most effectively through us when we share His love with others.

Our Senior Adult ministry, led by Bonnie Moreland and Paige Rice, is preparing to share God's love in a powerful way with the residents of Branson Homes and Johnny Walker Homes in Marietta. Bonnie and Paige are making plans to take teams of workers into these homes to offer cleaning services and to just sit and visit with the residents. In the afternoons, they will offer crafts and Bible teaching to these precious people. Our mission trip choir will be sharing with them on the night of July 2nd. Paige says that she and Bonnie just know that God was leading the way when they began investigating sites in January and February. The manager has been very welcoming and is excited that we want to come. Paige asks that we pray specifically for the following needs:

1.Please ask that God would prepare us to love and minister to these folks right where they are. Ask that we would humble ourselves before God for His direction, protection, words, and actions of love for every person we serve.

2.Ask that God would direct Paige and Bonnie as they plan the cleaning teams and activities. Also, please pray for those who are planning the crafts and Bible study.

3.Pray that Jesus would be glorified in us and through us as we serve the residents of these homes.

4.Pray that God would send workers for this ministry. They still need 28-30 more people. They also need cleaning supplies - mops, brooms, paper towels, cleaners, etc. (Boxes are located at the church, outside the copy room and in the clc for donations of supplies.)

Thank you for your prayers for all of the ministries of our mission trip, and especially for the Senior Adult ministry this week. Please continue to seek God's guidance regarding how you will participate in this year's trip. If He leads you to serve in the Senior ministry you may get a bit sweaty and dirty, but I can guarantee you a lot of joy in return!

Have a blessed week!

Step by Step

Our mission team is meeting weekly to discuss plans for our trip. Each member of the team has such a heart for this event. Please pray that they will be lead step by step. I keep thinking of a lamp guiding them one step at a time. Isn't that all we really need - light for the next step? God honors our faith in Him as we move forward according to His direction. We may not always see two or three steps ahead, but He will light the next step, the next decision, the next direction. He calls on our faith to trust Him in His sovereignty to lay out the path. We just travel it step by step. Lord, give us eyes to see the next step.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105

"O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling places. Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; and upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God." Psalm 43:3,4

Please pray specifically in the following areas:

• Food Drive Ministry led by Debbie Arrowood. Debbie needs clear direction in how best to gather and distribute food for the needy of our community.


• Fourth of July Event led by John and Sandra Smith. Our team is meeting with the city leaders to discuss how we can best minister to people attending the annual Powder Springs celebration. We want to enhance and support what the city is planning.


• Please pray that our people will hear God's call to be involved with this trip and officially register. The team will be better prepared to plan as they know how many people will participate.
  

Thank you for your participation in this vital part of Mission Trip 2009. We envision this trip as being bathed in prayer from start to finish! Please continue to pray for each area of ministry and the ones who are giving leadership. Their names are all listed in the sidebar.

Have a blessed week!

How will you share?

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." 1Corinthians 12:4-7



The mission trips of Powder Springs First Baptist are an excellent example of the different gifts of the Spirit being used for the common good of the body of Christ. A small army of willing hearts led by the Spirit venture into unknown territory intent on sharing the love of Christ with a community. Each one is led and empowered by the very Spirit of God in unique ways perfectly designed to share Jesus through various events and ministries. Even in our diverse gifts and callings, we are unified in working toward a common goal. From the childcare workers taking care of our children to the food ministry packing lunches for hardworking construction crews, each of us has an important role to play. And, each of us receives a special blessing in being a part of something so much bigger than what we could accomplish alone. Lives have been changed by these trips; our lives have been changed by these trips.



What will be your place of ministry this year? How has God uniquely qualified you to share Hope for Every Man? Each area of ministry for this year's trip is listed below along with a brief description and contact name. Please use this list for two purposes. First, please ask God to show you the area where you will serve. Secondly, please use the list as a prayer guide for each area and the people who are leading it. Please complete the registration packet available at the church and specify your chosen area of ministry. It will be a busy week! We need you to fill the spot God designed for you!




Childcare


This area of ministry will be led by Kim Moore. Because this is a family mission trip, we provide childcare for children whose parents are ministering in our community. (All children in our childcare must by "potty trained".) If you have any questions about this area of service, you can contact Kim at 770-943-2720


Construction


Our construction ministry is led by Kirby Southerland and David Moreland. This ministry will be going to homes in our community that are in great need of repair and the homeowner is unable to afford the cost. If you have any questions about this area, you may contact Kirby at 770-943-0294 or David at 770-427-6076.


Food


This are of ministry will be led by Tommy and Becky Farr. Just like all other mission trips, we will be eating three meals a day with each other. This will require help in several areas such as set up, food preparation, clean up, etc. If you have any questions about this area of ministry, you can contact Tommy or Becky at 770-947-0343.


Fourth of July Event


Mission Trip 2009 will culminate with our "Fourth of July" ministry. This ministry is led by John and Sandra Smith. We believe this is an incredible opportunity for ministry to our community. If you have any questions about this area of ministry, you con contact John and Sandra at 770-439-5761 or jmssts@yahoo.com.


Half-Day Day Camp


Our neighborhood outreach ministry will be led by Laura Martin and Susy Shelton. This ministry involves teaching Bible stories, doing crafts, and recreation. This year our day camp will be held at Powder Springs Ball Park. If you have questions about this area of ministry, you can contact Laura Martin at 770-427-4415 or Susy Shelton at susyshel@aol.com.


Puppets and Clowns


This ministry will be led by Dawn Smith (puppets) and Becky Chastain (clowns). They will be using puppets and clowns to minister in very unique ways in the community. If you have questions about this ministry you can contact Dawn Smith at 1freespirit@bellsouth.net


Senior Adults


Our senior adult ministry will be led by Paige Rice and Bonnie Moreland. This ministry will be going into local assisted living facilities and homes of elderly and/or disabled people who are unable to clean their homes. We will need several teams of three or four people per team. If you have any questions about this ministry, you can contact Paige Rice at 770-439-7212 or Bonnie Moreland at 770-427-6076 or atp@bellsouth.net.


Mission Choir


Those who can carry a tune in a bucket (and those who can't) will have several opportunities to sing for the Lord at senior adult locations, churches, etc. If interested in this ministry please contact Steve Jett.


Food Box Ministry


The church at large will have opportunity to donate food for those in need and it will be distributed during Mission Week. Please contact Debbie Arrowood for more information.


Taking it to the Streets


We will be taking kindness to the streets of Powder Springs. There will be a multitude of opportunities to serve from taking cold water to workers, to ministering to our neighbors on the square, appreciating our law enforcement and city officials, working with a homeless ministry, reaching out to the many families at the ball park, along with other creative ways to minister. We will be taking the verse, "Be kind one to another" to heart as we share God's love by meeting needs and showing kindness to the Cobb/Paulding area.

Jesus - Good Enough to Share !

Last Sunday our precious pastor challenged us with the question, "Is your Jesus good enough to share?" Our mission trip team answers with a resounding "yes"! The team is busy seeking God's will and making plans for us to do just that - share Jesus with our community. Perhaps the event with the most potential for life changing decisions is our children's Half-Day Camp. Laura Martin and Susy Shelton along with Sherri Southerland and Vickie Hogue are planning this event. Our Half-Day Camp will be held daily in the Powder Springs Park from 9:00 - 12:00 during the week of our trip. Laura shares the following prayer requests:

• May God send us the children that He wants us to work with in large numbers so that we can truly make a difference in our community.


• May He open the hearts of our community leaders to allow us to share information regarding the Day Camp with our elementary students.


• Please pray that God would send an abundance of workers to share God's Word with the campers.


• Ask that the children will see God through the workers as they grow closer to the campers.

Please join Laura in her prayer for our ministry through this event. As you pray, listen carefully to hear God's call for you. You just might be the answer to Laura's prayer!

Yes, our Jesus, our Hope is good enough to share!!

Catching the Vision

What a great time of celebration, fellowship and challenge we had last night as we kicked off our season of preparation for Mission Trip 2009! Certainly, we celebrated past victories and saw how lives have been changed through previous experiences. Yet, surely every heart was touched and challenged by the messages that we heard. We learned about the impact of our work in the community of Powder Springs, in the lives of one of our families, and in the commitment of one of our own to full time foreign missions. Through a humble servant of God we discovered much more than how we affected his work in Williamsburg, Kentucky. We saw in Keith Decker what God can accomplish through a man whose heart is totally and unconditionally committed to pleasing Him. Please pray that our entire church family would seek this kind of commitment and dependence on our Father. Keith said, "Listen to Him speak." Our desire is that we would listen to every direction of the Father for this summer's mission trip.

Please pray specifically this week for Myra Woods, Donna Campbell, Vicky Hogue, and Sherri Southerland as they give leadership to this year's trip. Each of these precious ladies has such a heart for the Lord's work. We are asking God to go before them in each aspect of their preparation. Our prayer for them this week is based on Colossians 1:9-11. "We will not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all aspects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father."

I believe that God has already begun to answer our prayers for this trip. Surely, the Spirit of the Lord was in our midst last night and we will be careful to give Him all the glory. Keith Decker said, "Cedar Ridge does not depend on me. It depends on God. God does not fail." We will depend on God and He will not fail. Thank you, Lord, for allowing us to catch the vision for Your Mission Trip 2009.

Off and Running!

Our mission trip team is hard at work planning all of the details for the 2009 edition of the First Baptist family mission trip! A long running tradition at PSFB, this year's mission trip will take place right in our back yard in the big city of Powder Springs! We are planning to give HOPE to every man, woman and child in our area during this exciting week. Please pray for each member of our Mission Team as they seek God's plan for every area of our ministry.

We are asking this week that you pray particularly for our Celebration on Sunday night. Our prayer is that this night would be a time of both celebration and anticipation. We celebrate the tradition that has been laid before us and we look forward with anticipation to what lies ahead. Mike and Sharon Jacobs are busy planning Sunday night's event. Please pray for their family during this week. May God go before them in each detail of their plans.

In Exodus 33 Moses pleads with God, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?" Our prayer is that God's very presence will go with us, lead us, and distinguish us through every aspect of this mission trip so that we might share the Hope that we have in Him.

Thank you for your willingness to enter into this experience through the power of prayer. Have a blessed day!