FirstUpdate | December 23, 2022

A weekly update from First Baptist Church of Strafford

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Thank you, church family, for the generous Christmas gifts.
It is a blessing and privilege to serve the Lord alongside you.
We pray that you and your families have a blessed Christmas!

—Pastor Orvin, Josh, Brittany, Brianna, & Jessica

Worship with Us on Christmas Day!

We invite you to join us for Christmas Day worship this Sunday, December 25, as Pastor Orvin concludes our Advent series A Weary World Rejoices with a message titled "Christmas: God's Love for Everyone!" (John 3:16-17). We will complete our Advent celebration with the lighting of the Christ candle and close out the service with our annual "Carols & Candlelight" celebration.

We hope to see you and your family for this special worship service at 10:00 a.m. (note the time change). The service will last around one hour. Sunday School classes will not meet this Sunday. You can preview the service plan HERE. The bulletin is available for download HERE.

2022 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Your giving (above and beyond your tithe) to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions enables Southern Baptist missionaries to be sent to make disciples and multiply churches among unreached peoples and places for the glory of God. What will YOU give so that others can go?

We have received $2,005 toward our 2022 church goal of $2,500. A special basket for the Lottie Moon offering is available at the back of the worship center. You can also designate an amount to Lottie Moon in the memo line of your tithe check or give online through Tithe.ly. We will receive the offering through December 31.

Sign up for Bless Every Home!

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life."

The Lord planted our church where we are to help our neighbors discover the light of life. So, we're asking each member of our church to consider becoming a Light to their neighbors and living intentional "pray-care-share" lifestyles.

Becoming a Light is free and confidential. You'll receive a map and list of your closest neighbors, along with emails at the frequency of your choice to pray for your next five neighbors that day. When you get a chance, walk or drive by those homes as you pray for them.

To learn more about this opportunity visit the following link to sign up on the website: https://blesseveryhome.com/fbcstrafford

SBC Missionary Highlight & Prayer Prompt

Medical needs throughout many North African towns are numerous and most people have very few opportunities to receive proper medical care. And so, when free medical clinics arrive, facilitated by missionaries Patrick and Anne Stein*, word spreads quickly. Healthcare professionals at the clinics are ready to use their skills to provide for both physical and spiritual needs.

The Steins train several hundred people each year in Gospel-sharing strategies, and many are used alongside the medical clinics. They see countless relationships built, some that flourish to the point that local believers are asked to start prayer meetings, Bible studies, or even churches! This exposure to the Gospel is unprecedented in most countries where the growth of Christianity is strictly guarded.

THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM and THE LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING take the Gospel to the nations and the neighborhoods. Your financial support through these endeavors allows missionaries all over the world to share the good news of Jesus and bring the lost to eternal restoration.

PRAY for the Steins and their work in North Africa, as well as that God would use the conversations that happen in medical settings to not only bring physical healing, but also spiritual rebirth.

*Names changed for security

For more about this story, visit: https://www.imb.org/pray/week-of-prayer/day-2

In every edition of the FirstUpdate, we are highlighting the efforts of the International Mission Board (IMB), the North American Mission Board (NAMB), the six Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) seminaries, and the various Baptist state conventions. Each month, our church and the other 47,000+ churches in the SBC contribute a portion of our undesignated offerings to these important Cooperative Program (CP) ministries. For more information about CP, click HERE.

Giving Options

Church family, we appreciate your ongoing commitment in giving your tithes and offerings. In addition to FBC's ministries and operations, we want to be a blessing to our community and our partner ministries around the world and it takes resources to do that. Your faithful giving makes it possible!

In addition to dropping cash or checks in the offering plate or offering box on Sunday morning, there are multiple ways to give your tithes and offerings:

Online through Tithe.ly or the Tithe.ly app
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 giving! If you need help setting up online giving or have any questions, contact Josh Erisman.

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This Week @ FBC Strafford

Saturday, December 24
Christmas Eve

Sunday, December 25
Christmas Day
10:00 a.m. | Worship Service (No SS)

Wednesday, December 28
No NOW (Christmas Break)

The church office will be closed December 22 through January 2, but our staff will be in and out of the office. Please reach out by email or phone if you have a need.

CLICK HERE to view full calendar.

This Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022

ECM | Colleen A. & Barb C.
Greeters | Sandy S.
Information Desk | J. Martindale
Audio | Wayne S.
Video | Gibson D.
Security | Mike B. & Steve I.
Counters | Sandy S. & Jeanne I.

If you cannot serve on your assigned Sunday, please arrange a substitute and let the church office know by calling (417) 736-2148 or emailing us. Thank you to all those who serve our church in these important roles each Sunday morning!

Week ending December 18, 2022
Worship Attendance - 118
Sunday School Attendance - 66

Undesignated Giving - $5,877.16
Weekly Budget Goal - $4,961.54
Q4 Giving - $64,675.32
(108.6% of budget through 12 weeks)
YTD Giving - $242,587.71
(95.9% of budget through 51 weeks)

NOW Attendance - 175 (Dec. 14)