“Community: The Church = People”

Posted on June 2nd, 2010

Column published in The Informer (FBC’s Newsletter for June, 2010)

Pastor’s note: The following column was written by Julie Gaines, our youth ministry intern. Even though it was originally written for our youth, I thought it was very applicable to our church as a whole. And so, it is with pleasure that I publish Julie’s column here.

A few weeks ago, Pastor Cheuk showed a video in service about how people tend to think of the church as a place to go on Sunday and not as the group of people that attend said place. I know that I’ve been guilty of this in the past, and I’m sure most of you would agree that you have as well. It’s what we’re taught as children, as evidenced in the nursery rhyme “Here is the church-here is the steeple-open it up and see all the people.” However, this “model” or idea of what church is isn’t working for most of America. I personally find it easier to isolate church and my faith as a separate part of my life when I think of church as the building we have on Main Street or the activities that I am part of on Sundays.

This past Sunday at my home church, University Baptist in Charlottesville, my pastor talked about how we sometimes talk about “my church” or “our church” doing things a certain way. He suggested that we need to be mindful of the fact that every follower of Christ is a member of the church at large, regardless of location, denomination, or any other factor; we’re all working towards the same goal—being a community of broken people who share life’s struggles and triumphs, who continually strive to become more Christ-like, and to share God’s unfathomably grand love with the world. When we begin to remove labels and anything that divides us, we learn quickly that we have much more in common with the guy next to us than not.

A friend of mine who is a youth minister in Richmond gave me a t-shirt a while back that said “Love God. Love others. Worry about the rest later.” So many times, I clutter my life with various activities and work, and it becomes all too easy to lose sight of what Christ wants for my life. I complicate things very easily-I’m quite the multi-tasker (guess it comes with the teaching territory…). This is one of the reasons I need church…to provide a sense of being a part of something much bigger than myself. To remind me that there are others who are hurting in this world and need to know God the way that I know Him. To realign my priorities for the next week. I hope as we head into the summer that we as a youth group can build on the sense of community that we already have, sharing our daily lives with each other, and moving outside of the “Sunday habit.” I look forward to spending the summer with you all.

Love in Christ, Julie

Filed under News Column | No Comments »

FBC Youth News

Posted on June 1st, 2010

Lock-in at FBC on June 18

As the title of this section implies, we’re planning a lock-in at the church for Friday evening, June 18 at 7 pm through Saturday morning, June 19 at noon. Activities in the planning stages include tie-dying t-shirts, finger painting, and hopefully a very interesting scavenger hunt. Details are being finalized, so please be on the lookout for emails in the very near future regarding what to bring and how you can help!

In the meantime, please email Julie and let me know if you (your student) will be able to attend. Please feel free to bring friends!! This promises to be an event of epic proportions!

“In the Kingdom of God, service is not a stepping-stone to nobility: it is nobility, the only kind of nobility that is recognized.”

-T.W. Manson

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under Youth | No Comments »

6-27 VBS!

Posted on May 30th, 2010

June 27 to July 1, 2010
6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
For ages 3 to completed 5th grade
Cost: Free

Register now by contacting the church office at 392-5041 or online.

Participants: Parents and older siblings are welcome to participate in our Egyptian families, too. So pass the word to children and all parents with children.

Volunteers: We need adult & teenage musicians, teachers, helpers, shopkeepers (i.e. crafts & food) to lead a variety of Bible-times activities.

Donations/Loan: We need the following to accomplish the Egyptian theme: baskets, costume jewelry, small tents, white sheets, blankets, terra cotta pots, urns, men’s large white T-shirts, burlap sacks, glue, ink pads. Of course, financial donations are also appreciated.

Prayers: Last, but not least, we need you to pray that God will direct this viable mission for the advancement of his kingdom!

If you can help, please contact Cindy Cave, 392-4422, or Sara Thompson for more information.

PS – in 2007, we did a similar VBS called “Galilee by the Sea.” You can see pictures of that VBS by visiting here.

Filed under Announcements, Children, VBS | No Comments »

The Church Is the People

Posted on May 2nd, 2010

Pastor’s Column published in The Informer (FBC’s Newsletter for May, 2010)

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to go on an Emmaus Walk. It was a wonderful experience, and I came away with a greater love for our gracious God who specializes in rescuing people out of dire situations in order to bless them with abundant life. I also came away with a deeper love for the people of Farmville Baptist Church. I want to thank the members of the Emmaus Community at Farmville Baptist for sponsoring me on the walk. I want to thank those who took time the time and special effort to lovingly encourage me during that weekend. I also want to thank all of you who are part of the Farmville Baptist family. For almost five years now, you have blessed me and my family with your love, encouragement, support and prayers. The joy in my ministry is not found in the “success” of our programs, but in the life-giving relationships with you the people as we journey with God together.

At our Spiritual Transformation Journey cluster retreat last weekend, I was once again reminded that the church is the people who make up the “body of Christ” under the Lordship of Jesus. As Reggie McNeal so clearly said in the video that we showed last Sunday in our worship service, the church is a “who” and not a “what.” I am the church; you are the church. Granted, neither I nor you are the whole church, but we definitely are the church. Therefore, the church is not the building, the budget, or the programs. The church is not a “What”; it is not an “It.” No, the church is the people, a “Who” that is alive and active in the world because the Spirit of our risen Lord is alive and active in the world. The church is greater than just the members of Farmville Baptist; it consists of all the saints in the past, present and future who have responded to God’s saving call to go on mission to be the presence of Christ in the world.

That is why I’m so grateful for our Missions Committee and their work in organizing a Missions Fair last Sunday. It was wonderful to have organizations like Habitat for Humanity, FACES, Meals of Wheels, Pregnancy Support Center, School Mentoring, Reclaiming Our Lives Ministry and CBF Global Missions as well as our newly formed church ministry teams represented at the fair. It was so gratifying to see folks signing up for various ministry and service opportunities. There was such energy and excitement in the room that I can hardly wait to see how God’s Spirit will unleash us to be a channel of God’s blessing to our community!

As we continue our spiritual transformation journey, it is a joy and an inspiration to see more and more people at Farmville Baptist prayerfully seeking God’s will and call for their life mission. I sense that we are on the verge of a spiritual revival, and I truly believe that God has amazing things in store for Farmville Baptist! So let’s stay the course that we’re on, and let’s be the church by rediscovering what it means to be the people of God sent on a mission to proclaim and live out God’s grace and love to the world!

Blessed to be journeying with you, Michael

Filed under News Column | No Comments »

Serving at Farmville Baptist 2010

Posted on April 29th, 2010

hand At our church business meeting on April 18, George Carter (Chair), Cindy Cave, Jack Davis, Drue Martin and Sandy Yeatts were presented to serve on our Nominating Committee for 2010-2011.

This committee has the responsibility for connecting people in our church community to different ways of supporting the work and ministry of Farmville Baptist through our committee structure. The following are the committees of Farmville Baptist. If you feel that God may be leading you to serve in any of these committees or positions of service, please contact Michael or Kathy at the church office to let them know. They will pass on your interest to the Nominating Committee

For a list of committees . . . Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under Announcements, Service | No Comments »

Missions Awareness Sunday

Posted on April 25th, 2010

On April 25, we had a Missions Awareness Sunday in worship. The following video of Reggie McNeal sharing at an “Unleashed” Conference was shown in the worship service.

Reggie McNeal Main Session Unleashed Conference 2010 from Unleashed Network on Vimeo.

Afterwards, attendees were invited to a Missions Fair in our Fellowship Hall. At the fair, there were information booths and representatives from various local ministries, community services, and Farmville Baptist ministries to share with attendees on how they can get involved in ministry and service in our community. We served “fair food” like hot dogs, snacks, popcorn, cotton candy, etc.

For more information about the Missions Fair and to see pictures of the event . . . Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under Missions, Service | No Comments »

Passport Kids! Camp Info

Posted on April 7th, 2010

Here’s updated information about Passport Kids! Camp for summer 2010!

Passport Kids! Camp
Eagle Eyrie, Lynchburg, VA
June 19-22, 2010 (Sat – Tues)

Theme: “Barefoot”
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

Total Cost: $235 (minus $60 deposit and fundraising amount credited to camper’s account)

Children who have completed 3rd grade through 6th grade are eligible for Passport Kids.

Payment Deadline: Sunday, April 25, 2010. (Parents and youth will receive a notification by April 18 letting them know exactly how much each camper still owes for camp.)

For more information and to download information and medical release forms . . .
Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under Announcements, Camp Information, Children | No Comments »

Passport Youth Camp Info

Posted on April 7th, 2010

Here’s updated information about PassportChoices Youth Camp for summer 2010!

PassportChoices Youth Camp
Wingate University, Wingate NC
July 18-23, 2010 (Sun – Fri)

Theme: “Barefoot”
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

Total Cost: $328 (minus $75 deposit and fundraising amount credited to camper’s account)

Payment Deadline: Friday, May 22, 2010. (Parents and youth will receive a notification by May 10 letting them know exactly how much each camper still owes for camp.)

For more information and to download information and medical release forms . . . Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under Announcements, Camp Information, Youth | No Comments »

4/18 – College-Led Service

Posted on April 2nd, 2010

Emily Caviness

On Sunday, April 18, our college students will lead in our morning worship. Emily Caviness, one of our Longwood students, will be giving the message called “The Face of Jesus.” Other college students will read scripture, pray, present special music, and lead in congregational singing.

After the service, there will be a free luncheon in the Fellowship Hall for all our students and their adoptive parents.

For view pictures and to download Emily’s sermon . . .

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under Collegiate Ministry, Worship | No Comments »

4/11 – Youth-Led Service

Posted on April 2nd, 2010

Julie Gaines, our ministry intern is organizing our youth to lead in morning worship on April 11. There will be skits, special music, readings, and prayers.

Afterwards, our children and youth will be hosting a spaghetti lunch fundraiser and dessert auction to help raise money for summer camp. All are invited to enjoy the lunch (for a donation) and to take home fabulous desserts that will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. If you can provide a dessert for the auction, please contact Kim Davis 223-4413 or JoAnn Bauer 391-1115. Please RSVP the church office by April 7 if you’re planning to attend.