Volume XVIII Issue 2 - FEBRUARY 2012

WORDS FROM OUR PASTOR CAN OTHERS SEE JESUS IN YOU? Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. —Acts 4:13 Max Lucado writes: “Let’s follow his sandalprints. Let’s sit on the cold, hard floor of the cave in which he was born. Let’s smell the sawdust of the carpentry shop. Let’s hear his sandals slap the hard trails of Galilee. Let’s sigh as we touch the healed sores of the leper. Let’s smile as we see his compassion with the woman at the well. Let’s cringe as we hear the hissing of hell’s Satan ....Let’s try to see him.” (God Came Near) We can, you know. We can see Jesus. We can see Jesus in the pages of the gospels written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We can see Him as a baby born in a manger in Bethlehem. We can see Him as a 12-year old confounding the temple scholars with His wisdom and insight. We can see Him entering the waters of the River Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist. We can see Him in the wilderness, tempted and harassed by Satan. We can see Him on a mountain top teaching the multitudes. We can see Him ministering to people—healing the lame, restoring sight to the blind, raising the dead. We can see Him walking on water and commanding the wind and sea to be still. We can see Him in the temple, upsetting the tables of the moneychangers and driving them out of His Father’s house. We can see Him kneeling in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane as sweat like drops of blood fall on the ground. We can see Him being beaten and battered by Roman soldiers. We can see Him carrying a heavy wooden cross on His way to a hill called Calvary. We can see Him hanging bleeding and bruised on a cross as He dies a cruel and agonizing death. We can see Him near the garden tomb speaking tenderly to Mary who had come with others to anoint His body for burial. We can see Him ascending into heaven as He went to be with His Father. We can see Jesus. We can see Him in the pages of the gospel record written under the leadership of God’s Holy Spirit by men who were there—men who walked and talked and lived with Jesus. John, who was one of these men, describes their relationship with Jesus in the words of I John 1:1 —That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life. . . They were with Jesus when He walked upon this earth. They listened to Him, they watched Him, they followed Him, and were led by the Spirit to leave a written record of their time spent with Jesus in order that you and I might see Him. There is another way you and I can see Jesus. We can see Him in and through the lives of individuals who know Him as Savior and Lord of their lives. We can see Him in the believer who visits faithfully the sick and shut-in. We can see Him in the believer who volunteers in the soup kitchen and the believer who brings a meal and a blanket to a homeless person living on the street. We can see Him in the lives of countless missionaries who have responded to God’s call to share Jesus with those who have never seen or heard about His love and grace and mercy. We can see Him in the life of the Sunday School teacher who prays and studies all week in preparation for teaching others about Jesus on Sunday morning. We can see Him in the faithful believers who intercede in prayer for those who need the touch of the Master’s hand. We can see Him in the lives of those who worship Him faithfully. We can see Jesus. We can see Him in and through the lives of those who know Him personally and intimately. The one thing our world needs more than anything else is to see Jesus. There are people you and I know—friends, neighbors, co-workers, even family members, who need to see Jesus—to see His love and grace and mercy. Some of them might pick-up a Bible, read the gospel record and see Jesus. Most will not. That is why it is so important you and I live in such a way that others will see Jesus in us. Can others see Jesus in you? I love you and thank God for the privilege and opportunity of serving Him with you! Love,

~ Sunday School Report ~ JANUARY - 2011 Preschool 04 Children 38 Youth 07 Adults 87 Total 136 Last Month 134 January 2011 131

~ Receipts for January ~ Offerings $30,458.50 Debt Retirement $50.00 Bynum & Alma Jackson Scholarship Fund CD $307.97 Youth Ministry $2,243.40 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering $5,590.00 Kitchen & Restroom Supplies $50.00 Scholarship Fund CD $152.20 Choir Robe Fund $500.00 Salemburg Christian Food Bank $250.00 Love Gift: Concert $525.00 Total $40,127.07

~ Children's Church Workers ~ Group 1 - February 5, 2012 Elaine Roberts Megan Daniels Jennifer Honeycutt Shannon Jackson Group 2 - Febuary 12, 2012 Troy Register Megan Wrench Tonya Register Brooke Dienhart Group 3 - February 19, 2012 Marshall Naylor Stephanie Naylor Johnnie Holland Jill Holland     Group 4 - Febuary 26, 2012 Simone Myers Brandi Edge Amber Williams Ken Hargrove Allison Hargrove Group 5 - March 4, 2012 Wayne Wrench Erika Wrench Heather Wrench Bradley Jackson Jessica Jackson Group 6 - March 11, 2012 Lisa Baggett Neil Baggett Sarah Brown Scott Brown

~ Nursery Workers ~ February 5 Bradley & Jessica Jackson February 12 - Women's Day Karen & Terrell Williams February 19 Megan Daniels & Tammy Williams February 26 Wilton & Brenda Page March 4 Kevin & Wanda Jackson March 11 Cindy Hayden & Christy Naylor

~ Happy Birthday ~ February 1 Tye Mullins February 2 Amy Blanchard Kevin Jackson February 3 Deborah Diane Butler Aaron Jackson February 4 Aubrey Williams February 5 Erica Autry Kenny Jackson Lisa Knowles February 6 Grant Naylor Danielle Tew Anthony Williams Heather E. Wrench February 9 Nathan Carroll Jerry Tyndall February 10 Christopher Vazquez February 11 Jason Faircloth February 12 Tommy Hobson Mary Ann Matthews February 13 Ryan Jackson Elizabeth Morgan Christy Naylor February 14 Shannon Talton Dylan Tew February 16 Doris Jackson February 18 Danny Hayden Jacob Honeycutt February 20 Don Edwards Trudy Wrench February 21 Dalton Naylor February 22 Andrew Buelna Judy Honeycutt Sherril Morgan Jennifer Tew Theresa Ward February 24 Farrah Jackson February 25 Cindy Hayden February 26 Joyce Daniels Wanda Edwards February 27 Jerry Honeycutt February 28 Avery Bulena Daylan Barefoot March 1 Lisa Peterson Madison Spencer Allen Tew March 2 Orretta Honeycutt Elton House Lisa Taylor March 5 Caleb Brown Ada Honeycutt March 6 Tabitha Fisher March 7 Jadyn Mullins March 8 Billy Gerald Peterson Mitchell Williams March 9 Pat Hall Elwood Tew Jonathan Williams March 10 Andrea Horne March 11 Geraldine Johnson

~ Flowers ~ February 5 Bonnie Autry February 12 Allen & Susan Carroll February 19 Hughie Wrench February 26 Open March 4 Open March 11 Open

~ Deacon of the Month ~ Billy Baggett

> ~ Miscellaneous News ~ ~ FROM OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR ~ The month of February is a time that we all probably think of LOVE and KINDNESS a little more than usual, just because of Valentine’s Day. We should be LOVING and KIND each and every day of our lives, but unfortunately we often let STUFF get in the way and we may not be as kind and loving, as we should be. Jesus NEVER let STUFF get in the way. Romans 5:5 tells us that “God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us,” and Romans 5:8 tells us “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” How wonderful and awesome that our Heavenly Father loved us so much!! Each of us has Jesus Christ in our hearts which should compel us to strive to be more Christ-like. We have rich folks, poor folks, homeless and destitute, sad and heartbroken, and even physically hungry people right here in our own community who need our LOVE and KINDNESS. Cooking a meal, baking a cake for someone, giving a used coat or sweater, sometimes just saying hello and giving a hug are all acts of love and kindness. Just a simple hug might just make someone’s day go a little better and remind him or her that you love them. We don’t always “like” all the people we encounter day to day, but we can “love” them through Jesus Christ. As Christians we should be reaching out to everyone and not let our likes and dislikes rule our Christian life. John 13: 34-35 tells us “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you.” Let us all try to be more loving and kind, maybe a little more soft spoken, a little more generous, both with our time and resources……not just this month, but every month. This is my challenge to myself and to our church. I love you and Jesus loves you. May God bless you with love and kindness!! Gloria Jordan ~ WMU News ~ MEETING DATES Wednesday, February 1st - 7:00 PM - Acteens Wednesday, Febuary 1st & 15th - 7:00 PM - Mission Friends, GA's and RA's Monday, February 6th - 7:30 PM - WMU #2 Tuesday, February 7th - 7:00 PM - BYW Wednesday, February 8th - 6:00 PM - WMU #1 Wednesday, February 15th - 6:30 PM - Acteens to Food Bank Wednesday, February 29th - 7:00 PM - Mission Activity Night HELP THE BROTHERHOOD AND YOUTH HELP THE SALEMBURG CHRISTIAN FOOD BANK Our Brotherhood and Youth are helping to support the ministry of the Salemburg Christian Food Bank and would like your assistance. The following items are needed: plastic bags (like those you get at Wal Mart or Food Lion), peanut butter, dried beans, bagged rice and breakfast items. Boxes will be available in the old fellowship hall to deposit your items. That you for supporting this worthy ministry. YOUTH MEETING TIMES Sunday, February 5th @ 5:30 PM - Super Bowl Party at home of Ruth Wrench Sunday, February 12th, 19th & 26th @ 6:00 PM - Youth Wednesday, February 8th & 22nd - @ 7:00 PM - Youth Saturday, February 15th @ 6:30 PM - Youth to Food Bank Saturday, February 18th. @ 8:00 AM - Food Bank Distribution Day Baptist Chapel Church  •  Our Fellowship is in Christ