This coming Sunday, June 28, we as a church will celebrate Freedom Sunday with our usual “Red, White, and Blue Jeans!” My message is titled “God’s Message to America” from Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” I am confident God has a towering message for His people as well as America. We are living in a time of lawlessness, wickedness, and an evil spirit running loose against the Creator, Savior, and His Church. Church, I am calling us to pray about matters that only can find peace in the saving power of Jesus Christ who died for the sin of all people. The unfounded stresses in our nation, sprinkled across America in the name of “my rights,” will only trample the stability offered in the true light of peace for the soul of humankind. Pray for the souls of all people because ALL people matter to Jesus, for He died for an entire world.
There is a callousness toward shameless sin in our nation that is nearing a boiling point and ripening for a devastating explosion of anarchy.“The remnant in the province, who survived the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down” (Nehemiah 1:3 HCSB). David continues Nehemiah’s drumbeat, “For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. They utter curses and lies” (Psalm 59:12 HCSB). Please pray with me, church family, for the troubling destruction of innocent lives, escalating undeserved violence, annihilation of a person’s earthly worth, and most importantly an acceptance of true salvation in Jesus Christ. “The LORD has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations” (Psalm 98:2).
Before the Titanic went under, three messages had been sent that said to watch out for the icebergs. Because everything looked all right, the folks taking the message never passed it on. They never sent the warning out to people who needed to hear, and as a result, over 1,500 people lost their lives. The folks who knew kept quiet.
Another tragedy of the Titanic was that the lifeboats, designed to carry people away from the sinking ship, were only half full. People who had made it to safety in the lifeboats didn’t want to turn around and go pick up people who were dying. They didn’t want to take the risk of panicking people flipping over their boats. So the people who were saved and safe kept on going. Fifteen hundred people didn’t have to die, but they did. The folks who were saved didn’t want to go back because it was risky.
Sharing the gospel has risks – the risk of rejection, the risk of being made fun of, the risk of being called “holier than thou,” the risk of being called “Reverend,” the risk of being avoided, the risk of being asked questions you don’t know the answer to. Yes, there are risks, but when someone is dying, offering them the gift of salvation is worth the risk.
This is what we must do during such trying times as now in our nation. We must pray for those that are in great need of salvation through Jesus Christ! Will you take a risk?
Pastor Rick
Worship With Us This Sunday!
Independence Day is approaching quickly and we want to take an opportunity to thank the Lord for the freedoms we enjoy. Join us for worship this Sunday, June 28, for our annual "Red, White, & Blue Jeans" Freedom Sunday service. As the name implies, you're invited and encouraged to wear patriotic colors and jeans that morning. Pastor Rick will preach on "God's Message to America" from Proverbs 14:34. You can preview the service plan HERE.
Doors will open at 10:15 a.m. for the 10:45 a.m. service. Please carefully review the reopening guidelines on our website before arriving.
Our early childhood ministry (nursery) will reopen this Sunday for children four years old and younger. Children and volunteers will undergo temperature screenings at the check-in desk. For more information, talk with ECM coordinator Richmond Joines or children's minister Brittany Erisman.
We are continuing to post our services online for those who can't join us in person! The service video will be posted by Sunday evening or Monday morning to our Facebook page. It will also be available at FreeChurchOnline if you do not have a Facebook account. Be sure to comment and let us know that you're watching with us! If you need any technical assistance, email Josh Erisman.
Wednesday Night Sunday School
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, our Sunday School classes are not currently able to meet (at least until July 5!). Each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. on our Facebook page and on FreeChurchOnline, student minister Jeff Taylor will give an overview of the previous Sunday's "Bible Studies for Life" lesson.
This Wednesday, July 1, we will continue a six-week study on "Living with Hope in a Broken World," which dives into the book of 1 Peter. Because believers' hope rests in Christ, knowing our hope in Him cannot be shaken, we can approach the questions and challenges of life with confidence. Our hope in Christ strengthens us to stand strong in a broken world. This week's lesson will focus on "The Endurance of Our Hope" from 1 Peter 3:8-17.
Printed copies of the curriculum are available by request at the Information Desk if you have not already received one. A PDF of each week's lesson will be made available on the FBC Strafford Family Facebook group (we cannot release it publicly due to copyright restrictions, but LifeWay has given us permission to share it within our group).
We encourage all Sunday School classes to stay in contact throughout the week and discuss the lesson through texts, phone calls, videoconferencing, or social media. Contact your Sunday School teacher if you have any questions.
Celebration Sunday
Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 5, a special day for our church family!
Sunday School classes will resume meeting in-person that morning at 9:30 a.m. Please be mindful of social distancing in the classrooms and hallways. The coffee station will remain closed for the time being and we are asking classes not to bring food to share with others. If you have any questions about Sunday School or need help finding a class, talk with minister of music and education Josh Erisman.
That evening at 7:00 p.m., come back for a "Family Picnic in the Backyard" behind the church. You are invited to bring food for your family and lawn chairs for an evening of fun and fellowship, including a spectacular fireworksdisplayaround 9:00 p.m.
Quarterly Business Meeting
Our next quarterly business meeting will take place on Sunday, July 12, immediately following our worship service (approximately 12:00 noon). Since our April meeting was canceled due to the stay-at-home order, reports will cover the first six months of 2020. We will NOT share a fellowship meal this quarter.
In preparation for the business meeting, the Finance Committee will meet on Thursday, July 9 at 6:00 p.m. If you have any questions, talk with Pastor Rick, committee chair Ashley French, or treasurer Terry Bruton.
"FBC Strafford Family" Facebook Group
One way we are staying in touch as a church family is through the new “FBC Strafford Family” Facebook group. This group is being used to share live videos, prayer requests, devotionals, and internal announcements through the week.
If you are a regular attender here at FBC and you are not yet a part of the group, click the link, request to join, and start connecting with your church family online!
Giving Options
Even if you aren't joining us for in-person worship on Sunday, please continue to remember your tithes and offerings. The church’s ministries and operational expenses go on in spite of the current situation. We want to be a blessing to our community and it takes resources to do that. Your faithful giving makes it possible!
In addition to dropping cash or checks in the offering box on Sunday morning, there are multiple ways to give your tithes and offerings:
Mail a check to First Baptist Church, PO Box 367, Strafford, MO 65757
Several of our members have begun using online bill pay through their bank to send in their offering. This is a free service that some banks provide. All you have to do is add the church’s name and address as a vendor, just like you would the electric company or any other business.
You can also drop your offering by the church office, but please call ahead to make sure that someone will be in the office.
Thank you again, church family, for your generous and faithful giving! If you need help setting up online giving or have any questions, contact Josh Erisman.
