August 6th, 2010

Hey Church family!  I want to say thank you to all of you who helped send children to preteen camp.  You all did a great job in showing support to the children of our church and I am proud of you.  We will be leaving around noon today to transport the preteen campers to Riverbend Retreat Center in Glen Rose, www.riverbendretreat.org.  The camp will post pictures of our kids along with the other campers at our week.  You can look at them by going to the website above, go to the camper/parent tab,  scroll to the bottom to the camp link section and click on the gallery,  choose Aug 6-10-FBC Fort Worth Preteen and view the pictures.   I want to ask you to please pray for these children and their time at camp.

We have a number of things going on in our church and I want to draw attention to a few of them.

Operation Christmas Child donations will begin August 22nd and end Nov 7th.  Each week we will highlight a different item that would be good to put in a box. A person can collect these individual items and drop them in the boxes provided at the church or a person can also pack their own boxes and turn them in any time before Nov. 7th. Each box cost $7 to ship, and if you would like to help with the shipping you can include this in the box.  We will also accept donations to help with the shipping of the boxes.

Last year we sent 117 boxes. Our goal this year is 140.

Since beginning in 1993 over 68 million boxes have been filled and distributed to children around the world, all being told that Jesus loves them!  In 2009, 7.9 million boxes were sent out.

During the fall we are going to have some special emphasis Sundays.  The design behind these special Sundays is to give you an opportunity to invite those people that you are in contact with to come to church with you.  Please use these Sundays to invite others to come with you to church.  Remember, 50% of people when surveyed said that they would go to church if someone that they know invited them.   Only 20% of America attends church on any given Sunday so this gives is a ripe harvest field.  Please use the following Sundays to invite those you know to come to church with you.  Let’s be the harvesters that the Lord is looking for.

Back to School Sunday, August 28-For parents and children.  I will pray over our children and youth and we as a church will encourage them to live Godly lives this coming school year.

Back to Church Sunday, Sept 12-How many people do you know who “used to go” to church, but just don’t anymore? If you are like most Americans, you know quite a few, or maybe you are one of them yourself. According to the book American Church in Crisis by David T. Olson, “Most Americans have been to church, and yet only 20 percent are regular attendees.” Dr. Gary L. McIntosh from the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University estimates “more than 76 million people have attended church at least once in their lifetime.” Clearly, most people who do not currently attend church did attend at one time. Many of these people—maybe even you, might be willing to try church again, given the right opportunity. Back to Church Sunday is designed to be that opportunity—a special day dedicated to people who do not regularly attend church, a time when those who have left the church are encouraged to return and give it another try. We will need to put forth some effort on this day to bring those who are unchurched.

Adult Bible Study Classes to begin Sept 19,-We will be kicking off our adult bible study classes on this Sunday.  The way that I envision this working is for our adults to come to worship during the 9:30 hour and have bible study classes during the 10:45 hour in the house.  Our youth will have bible study during the 9:30 hour and attend worship the 10:45 hour.  The reasons behind us having adult bible study classes on Sunday mornings is to primarily build in some fellowship and discipleship into our Sundays.  These groups will be the primary means of caring for and looking after each other in our church.  I want all of you to consider being a part of one of these classes.

Church Dedication Sunday-We have not had a special day in which we dedicate the building that the Lord has given to us and I would like for us to do this in the fall.  I will have more details upcoming but please make this a matter of prayer.

The Promise on Saturday October 23^rd. The tickets are $35 each and the money is due by Sunday, August 29.  The Promise is a dramatic portrayal of the life of Christ.  It is moving and powerful.  Brochures are on foyer table while they last.

Please keep our church in prayer as we look to the Lord for His direction and guidance.  Please be in church this Sunday to represent your faithfulness before the Lord.  I look forward to seeing you.

Hal Helton
Lead Pastor