Thank you for faithfully giving in 2015 to the budgeted ministries of First Baptist. We have so much to be grateful for, and we have work to do to meet our budget goal. Before I share the need, I want you to know how your giving has already impacted the lives of our students this […]
Read More »In my previous three posts, we’ve been reflecting on Jesus’ reign in the Gospel of Mark. As he takes control, he the world changes and so do we. We respond with courageous faith, and we also uncover barriers to that faith in our lives. Because of Jesus’ great mercy and love in our lives, things […]
Read More »We just returned from a great weekend in Sarasota watching Parker swim in the Florida Age Group Championships. Swimming, like many other sports, has its own little world of customs, expectations, and rules. If you want to swim, you do what the officials and coaches say. Otherwise, you’re disqualified. If you follow the rules, you […]
Read More »In my last post, we showed that Jesus’ resurrection affects life today. We respond to him with courageous faith and see evidence of it in your lives and in those around you. According to Mark, here’s what courageous faith looks like. Group action. Just as a few bystanders saw a paralytic responding to Jesus, a […]
Read More »The reigning, risen Jesus invites you to have courageous faith. Throughout the summer, we’ve been studying the components in the Gospel of Mark. During challenging times, we recognize how Jesus is alive and well. Death is losing its grip on us, and Jesus is Lord. He makes it possible for us to face these days […]
Read More »Twenty years ago, Marty Smith came out of “retirement” to serve as our Minister to Internationals. As you know, Marty and Janice are unstoppable forces of God’s love and grace. Their work to share the gospel with our community is unsurpassed. They brought all the energy and wisdom from a successful ministerial career pastoring churches […]
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The last time I walked door-to-door in Jesus’ name, I was on a mission trip to Bardstown, Kentucky. We spread the word about our youth group-led VBS. Last Saturday night, 18 of us from FBC and over 100 folks from our community walked the Providence Heights Neighborhood off Levy street. We responded to a request […]
Read More »Thank you so much for your kind words and support over the last couple of weeks. I’m so grateful to be a part of First Baptist, and our staff and families have felt your prayers. We’re having a great summer of ministry and mission. Your attendance has been outstanding in worship and Bible study. Our […]
Read More »Summer is a great time for me to catch up on history. I’m intrigued by the era when our nation was founded: 1630-1800. These years are also the formative ones for Baptists in America. In my last post, I refreshed your memory about some of the persecution that Baptists endured because of our views about […]
Read More »In 1771, “America” was a much different place spiritually. Most of the first colonies subsidized their “chosen” ministers’ salaries with tax revenue. Separate Baptists like Isaac Backus in Massachusetts were arrested and John Leland, John Weatherford, and David Barrow were assaulted by mobs and beaten with whips. In Caroline County, Virginia, 6 Baptists were arrested […]
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