05.06.11

May 6, 2011 Pastor's Update Keeping the Faith Family in the Loop

This Sunday ___________________________________________________ Morning (9 AM and 10:30 AM) This Sunday in both morning services we will be honoring all mothers present at Faith. We have a very special music CD that we are giving to each mom.  Come and help us honor these special ladies. The morning sermon . . . Christian Influence     Titus 2:3-5 Join me this Sunday as I look at the importance our impact we can have on others.  On Mother's Day we reflect on the impact of our moms, but influence and impact is not reserved just for moms.   3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Titus 2:3-5 (NASB95) Albert Schweitzer said setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, but the onlymeans.--Discipleship Journal My example can point people to God  ________________________________________________________  Night (6 PM) No service to allow families to be together on Mother's Day ___________________________________________    Around Faith VBS and Teen Week are Coming!  We need your help! Our debt on the land across the street is less than $6,000 The Victory Bible Class heard about a family in our area who lost much in a fire, they decided to take up a love offering to help this family, praise God this Wednesday night class was able to help these folks in a very real way Deacon on Deck this month is  Steve All Missionaries of the week are Pink and Selena Davis, New Zealand Our church has a presence on Facebook, please use this as a tool to help get the word out about the Lord and Faith, just follow this link, Faith Baptist Covington on Facebook Don't forget to check out our web site for all of the latest from Faith, Faith Web Site Don't forget Wednesday nights, each Wednesday we meet at 7 PM with groups for everyone, why not try it this Wednesday? Elaine and I celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary this week and began our 40th year of marriage, I thank God for Elaine and all she has meant to me    ______________________________________________________________________________  I had the opportunity to speak last Sunday at the Wytheville Baptist church in Wytheville VA.  We had good services and the people were very kind to me.  As I got up to speak in the first service the lightning flashed and the lights almost went out!  I thought to myself "Not again!", for the last two Sundays at Faith the power had gone out.  But thankfully the power stayed on and we were able to finish.  I was also glad to hear the power was still on at Faith. Smallest Church in Wytheville While in Wytheville I was introduced to an unusual ministry that I was not familiar with, laymen all over America are building the "Smallest Church" in their communities, these are actually outreach vehicles in which people come by and pray and receive Christian literature.  They are open all the time and anyone can come and pray whenever they need to, I read some of the comments in the visitor's book and it was very moving.  Here is a photo of the one in Wytheville I wonder if we will ever have one in Alleghany County? Hmmmm?   Check out their web site Wytheville's Smallest Church __________________________________________________      We have a great opportunity!  We can host the Children of the World choir on Sunday night August 28 here at Faith.  They have been with us several times and every time they have been such a blessing.  Check out their web site Children of the World Webpage There is a catch. We need seven families who will act as hosts for these precious children.  They will be with you two nights and you will have to provide some meals. We need to know this week if we can count on you, if we have adequate lodging it will be a go, if not we will have to let this pass. Please sign up at the Welcome Center, call or email the church office by next Thursday. I hope we can do this I always enjoy this ministry.  ___________________                                                                                                                                                    Would you be willing to be a check mate?  As our church has grown, it is sometimes hard to keep up with everyone who is attending. We all sit in the same pew every Sunday morning.  If we could find someone who would be responsible for each pew, a check mate.  If a regular attender is missing for a couple of weeks give them a call or send them a card, remember their birthday etc.  In other words keep a check on your pew.  We have 37 pews so we would need 37 people in each of the two morning services to become"check-mates".   I am very thankful for those of you who have signed up to be a check mate.  If you would be interested in participating please call Elaine at the church office (962-6335) _________________________ Hope to see you Sunday Have a great day Bro. Billy  Psalm 121:1-8 (NASB95)  1 I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun will not smite you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. 8 The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.                                                                                                        Subscribe to Pastor's Update

Faith Baptist Church 311 Jackson Drive, Covington, VA 24426 Phone: (540) 962-6335

April 28, 2011

April 28, 2011 Pastor's Update Keeping the Faith Family in the Loop

This Sunday ___________________________________________________ Morning (9 AM and 10:30 AM) The Reach of the Resurrection (Chris Chesley)  ________________________________________________________  Night (6 PM) ___________________________________________    Around Faith Our debt on the land across the street is less than $10,000 Jam Kids did a great job Sunday even without power Thursday is National Day of Prayer, the church will be open from 8-2 PM for anyone wishing to pray and joint prayer will be led in the auditorium at noon. Mission Team yard sale raised over $4,000 and reached their financial goal! Thank You for your faithful giving, we have been able to send our missionaries over $300 each for the first three months of  2011 Deacon on Deck this month is  Steve All Pray for our missionary Nathan Miller in the death of his mother (Nathan has been a friend of our church for many years) Missionaries of the week are FBC Mexico Mission Team Our church has a presence on Facebook, please use this as a tool to help get the word out about the Lord and Faith, just follow this link, Faith Baptist Covington on Facebook Don't forget to check out our web site for all of the latest from Faith, Faith Web Site Don't forget Wednesday nights, each Wednesday we meet at 7 PM with groups for everyone, why not try it this Wednesday? ______________________________________________________________________________ Easter Sunday 2011 will not soon be forgotten at Faith.  One man told me, "It was the best service he had ever been in."  We lost power during the music service in the first service and I was forced to preach in the dark using a flashlight.  Because of quick thinking on part of our members, chairs were quickly set up on the front lawn and the second service was held outside.  God blessed and we had two great services with over 400 in attendance.  Even without power the praise team, Jam Kids and Emory sang to the delight of the congregation.  God blessed with beautiful weather and you couldn't have asked for a more perfect setting.  I want to thank everyone who jumped in and helped make Easter 2011 such a special Sunday.      ___________________ CHECK MATES   Would you be willing to be a check mate?  As our church has grown, it is sometimes hard to keep up with everyone who is attending. We all sit in the same pew every Sunday morning.  If we could find someone who would be responsible for each pew, a check mate.  If a regular attender is missing for a couple of weeks give them a call or send them a card, remember their birthday etc.  In other words keep a check on your pew.  We have 37 pews so we would need 37 people in each of the two morning services to become"check-mates".   I am very thankful for those of you who have signed up to be a check mate.  If you would be interested in participating please call Elaine at the church office (962-6335) _________________________ Don't Forget Mother's Day next Sunday, special gift for all moms present at Faith Hope to see you this Sunday. Bro. Billy John 11:21-27 (HCSB)  21 Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 Yet even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.” 23 “Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her. 24 Martha said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. 26 Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die—ever. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told Him, “I believe You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”                                                                                                      Subscribe to Pastor's Update

Faith Baptist Church 311 Jackson Drive, Covington, VA 24426 Phone: (540) 962-6335

04.07.11

April 7, 2011 Pastor's Update Keeping the Faith Family in the Loop

This Sunday ___________________________________________________ Morning (9 AM and 10:30 AM) PAUL'S GREATEST FEAR            GALATIANS 2 "God created us to live with a single passion to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all spheres of life.  The wasted life is the life without this passion.  God calls us to pray and dream and plan and work, not to be made much of, but to make much of Him in every part of our lives."-copied The apostle Paul was definitely brave.  But their were certain things that caused him to pause and even to be filled with dread.  Repeatedly in his letters he referred to coming to the end of his life and being able to say, "I have not lived in vain".  This week we want to look at Paul's plan for not living in vain found in Galatians chapter two.  Join me as I try to prepare you from God's word to live a life that is not in vain.  ________________________________________________________  Night (6 PM) Our church has been blessed by the attendance of many of the residents from Boys Home.  This Sunday night we will have a presentation telling us more about this local facility.  Hope you can come.  ___________________________________________    Around Faith Man saved this week at Faith Jam Kids are gearing up for Easter, see Karen Bradberry  Seasoned Saints this Tuesday at 12 NOON Mission Team yard sale, Saturday April 16, Mountain View Elementary School- 8 AM-? Thank You for your faithful giving, we are ahead of budget and able to send our missionaries excellent support ($324 each this month) Deacon on Deck this month is  Ron Seabolt Pray for our missionary Nathan Miller in the death of his mother (Nathan has been a friend of our church for many years) Missionaries of the week are Steve and Rhonda Nicholes (Korea) Our church has a presence on Facebook, please use this as a tool to help get the word out about the Lord and Faith, just follow this link, Faith Baptist Covington on Facebook Don't forget to check out our web site for all of the latest from Faith, Faith Web Site Don't forget Wednesday nights, each Wednesday we meet at 7 PM with groups for everyone, why not try it this Wednesday? _____________________________________________________________________________________ Cookie Confusion Sunday, April 10, after the evening service So many to choose, you won’t know what to do… bring cookies to share   _________________________ CHECK MATES   Would you be willing to be a check mate?  As our church has grown, it is sometimes hard to keep up with everyone who is attending. We all sit in the same pew every Sunday morning.  If we could find someone who would be responsible for each pew, a check mate.  If a regular attender is missing for a couple of weeks give them a call or send them a card, remember their birthday etc.  In other words keep a check on your pew.  We have 37 pews so we would need 37 people in each of the two morning services to become"check-mates".   I am very thankful for those of you who have signed up to be a check mate.  If you would be interested in participating please call Elaine at the church office (962-6335) _________________________ EASTER IS ALMOST HERE! Palm Sunday – April 17th •        Baby Dedication in the 10:30 am service (Contact the church office if you would like to have your child dedicated.) •        Jacob Morse, Missionary to South Korea in the 6 pm service. Easter Sunday April 24th Special music including J.A.M. Kids Message by Bro. Billy No Evening Service The Sundays around Easter are normally the most heavily attended of the year.  This gives us a great opportunity to reach out to our community.  People will attend church this time of year when they usually don't come at all.  Please help us make this years Easter outreach a great success.  Here are some practical things you can do: Pray that people will be drawn to Christ during these services Park in the gravel areas to make room for the large number of guests we expect Come to the first service (9 AM) to make room in the second service If possible just bring one vehicle Easter Sunday to free up more parking Invite your friends, family and neighbors, studies have shown people are more open to church attendance at this time of year than at any other time of the year  Here is the famous chicken we found in our backyard on Elaine's 60th Birthday. 5:45 AM the next morning he worked just like clockwork :) Hope to see you this Sunday. Bro. Billy 1 Corinthians 9:26 (ESV)  So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. Philippians 2:15-16 (ESV)  15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.  2 Corinthians 5:10-11 (ESV)  10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.                                                                                                         Subscribe to Pastor's Update

Faith Baptist Church 311 Jackson Drive, Covington, VA 24426 Phone: (540) 962-6335

The Huge Curtain    Part Two: The Tear                     Matthew 27:51             Victory Bible Class   March 16, 2011

This week we continue a three part series on the veil in the Temple in Jerusalem. 

      The Tear(March 16)

      The Approach(March 23)

When Jesus lived, the temple in Jerusalem was divided by a huge curtain, keeping people out of the 'holy of holies' - the holiest place. The Temple curtain in front of the holy of holies was 22 yards high, 11 yards wide and about 3 inches thick. That would make the weight between 4 to 6 tons. In fact the Talmud notes that it took some 300 priests to carry it. –copied

Matthew 27:51 (NKJV)
Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

Luke 23:45 (NKJV)
Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

Mark 15:38 (NKJV)
Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

The Tearing of the Veil

ü  Not natural decay

ü  Not caused by earthquake

ü  Torn in only two pieces

ü  From top to bottom (of divine origin)

ü  Coincidence or act of God? (precise moment of “It is finished” cry)

ü  The cry and the tear occurred at 3 PM

ü  The time of the evening sacrifice

ü  The priest was in the Holy Place in front of the veil

ü  God meant the tear to be seen

ü  God meant the tear to be pondered

God is never early or late, but always on time

 “Things don’t just happen to us who love God,

They’re planned by His own dear hand,

Then molded and shaped, and timed by His clock,

Things don’t just happen–they’re planned.--Esther Fields    

03.11.11

March 11, 2011

Pastor's Update

Keeping the Faith Family in the Loop

This Sunday ___________________________________________________   Join us this Sunday. . .  many of the great truths of the Bible simply make no sense to the culture we live in and in this series we want to present these truths in a way that will help you understand   the Biblical viewpoint of life and why it seems like “Madness” to our world.  Join us as we take a closer look at some of the important truths of the Christian Faith.  This Sunday Chris will be discussing the madness of sin. The Madness of Sin   03.13.11 The Madness of Salvation   03.20.11 The Madness of Holiness   03.27.11   Join us this Sunday for a very special service as we will be baptizing two young men following the second service. ________________________________________________________ This Sunday Night Conclusion  Balancing the Christian Life  (The Four “Ds” of a Balanced Christian Life) 1.  Dedication       that you present your bodies a living sacrifice Romans 12:1 (NKJV) 2.  Discipline       But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.                                   Romans 8:13 3.  Dependence    I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.Galatians 5:16 4.  Development   But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.            1 John 1:7 (HCSB)  ____________________________________________________________________    Around Faith The Alleghany County Sheriff's Department is having a community meeting at our church this Tuesday, 7 PM to discuss the rash of break-ins in our community Jam Kids are gearing up for Easter, see Karen Bradberry  The teen praise team did a wonderful job this past Sunday in the AM and PM service Mission Team yard sale is on the horizon, any spring cleaning going on at your house? We have three scheduled for baptism this Sunday March 13 (please contact Billy at 968-1302  if you know someone who needs to be baptized) Deacon on Deck this month is  Mike Wade A. J. came home Friday and is doing great! continue to pray for him in his therapy Missionaries of the week are Romeo and Kaye Capuli (serving in the Philippines until May 26) Our church has a presence on Facebook, please use this as a tool to help get the word out about the Lord and Faith, just follow this link, Faith Baptist Covington on Facebook Praise the Lord for the Alleghany High School Band drum-line for being a part of our church service last Sunday  Please pray for those in our church who are battling cancer (Audrey Mercer, Brenda Lockhart) Grass cutting time! Thanks for the rapid response the schedule if full! _____________________________________________________________________________________ Praise God this year we will have people all over the world in Missions, here are the locations PNG ( Papua New Guinea) Australia Cambodia Mexico Honduras  These are all  short term mission trips from within our congregation.  Get involved!  Pray, give or go! Hope to see you this Sunday. Bro. Billy Romans 12:1-10 (HCSB) 1 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. 4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. 6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of faith; 7 if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.                                                                                                      Subscribe to Pastor's Update

Faith Baptist Church 311 Jackson Drive, Covington, VA 24426 Phone: (540) 962-6335

03.03.11

March 3, 2011 Pastor's Update Keeping the Faith Family in the Loop

This Sunday ____________________________________________________   Join us for a brand new sermon series starting this Sunday. . .  many of the great truths of the Bible simply make no sense to the culture we live in and in the new series we want to present these truths in a way that will help understand the Biblical viewpoint of life and why it seems like “Madness” to our world.  Join us as we take a closer look at some of the important truths of the Christian Faith.  This Sunday Chris will be looking into Romans 1:18-28, his core message is "When  truth is absent from our minds, madness will consume our lives." The Madness of the World   03.06.11 The Madness of Sin   03.13.11 The Madness of Salvation   03.20.11 The Madness of Holiness   03.27.11 Join us this Sunday for a very special surprise! ________________________________________________________ Communion this Sunday Night "The Horizontal: A Communion Thought"-We often think of communion as only dealing with out vertical relationship with God, but according to Matthew 5 there is definite emphasis on the horizontal.  Join us as we gather at the Lord's table.  ____________________________________________________________________    Around Faith Congratulations to Jacob Tolley and Kristi Harris on their upcoming wedding this Saturday at Faith 18 Teens spent the weekend at Grace Bible Cap  Parents of Senior High Teens-all parents of active SR high students (10th - 12th grade) - meeting in the Horizon room immediately following 2nd service Mission Team yard sale is on the horizon, any spring cleaning going on at your house? We have three scheduled for baptism on Sunday March 13 (please contact church office 962-6335,Office Email if you know someone who needs to be baptized) Deacon on Deck this month is  Mike Wade A. J. rode an exercise bicycle 1.5 miles this week Missionary of the week is Weekday Religious Education of the Highlands Our church has a presence on Facebook, please use this as a tool to help get the word out about the Lord and Faith, just follow this link, Faith Baptist Covington on Facebook Praise the Lord tests came back clear for Lois Hinkle Please pray for those in our church who are battling cancer (Audrey Mercer, Brenda Lockhart) Grass cutting time! If you can help the church out please sign up at the Welcome Center Hope to see you this Sunday. Bro. Billy 18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. 24 Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served something created instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 This is why God delivered them over to degrading passions. For even their females exchanged natural sexual intercourse for what is unnatural. 27 The males in the same way also left natural sexual intercourse with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty for their perversion. 28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong.                                                                                                     Romans 1:18-28 (HCSB)  Subscribe to Pastor's Update