FirstUpdate | January 25, 2023

A weekly update from First Baptist Church of Strafford

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Per our winter weather policy, when Strafford Schools are closed due to inclement weather, First Baptist Church is closed and all activities are canceled. Therefore, NOW will NOT meet TONIGHT (Wednesday, January 25). Please help spread the word. Stay safe and warm and enjoy the beautiful snow!

Welcome to the Family!

What an incredible service this past Sunday morning, as we had the privilege of witnessing four believers publicly declare their faith in Jesus Christ through baptism (with two more scheduled in the coming weeks)! At the conclusion of the service, six more individuals joined our church by statement of faith. To God be the glory! Great things He is doing!

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬)

Worship with Us This Sunday!

We invite you to join us for worship this Sunday, January 29, as Pastor Orvin continues our Philippians series, Choose Joy, with a message titled "The Joy of Magnifying Jesus" (Philippians 1:20-26).

During the service, we will observe both of the church ordinances, as we watch one of our precious children follow Christ in baptism and celebrate the Lord's Supper together. Music will be led by our praise team and band.

We hope to see you and your family for Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and worship at 10:45 a.m. You can preview the service plan HERE. The bulletin will be available for download HERE by the end of the week.

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

Lunar New Year is the biggest holiday in several Asian cultures. Millions of people travel back to their hometowns to be with family. As a result, believers return from large urban centers to smaller villages and towns where the Gospel has yet to be proclaimed.

Missionary Stella McMillian experienced this in action when she traveled to her friend Xin Yi’s* hometown. Her friend was not only the first believer in her family but also the first believer in her town. Xin Yi is only able to return home once a year. As she loves her family, she demonstrates how Christ changed her life.

THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM takes the Gospel to the nations and the neighborhoods. Your financial support through the Cooperative Program allows missionaries to support local believers in reaching the unreached areas of the world with the Gospel of Christ.

PRAY for McMillian and her local believing friends in their work to reach friends and family who need to know Jesus.

*Names changed for security reasons

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

Wednesday, January 25
NOW Canceled (Winter Weather)

Thursday, January 26
10:00 a.m. | Painting Class
6:00 p.m. | "Man Up" Men's Group

Sunday, January 29
8:45 a.m. | Worship Team Rehearsal
9:30 a.m. | Sunday School
10:45 a.m. | Worship Service
3:30 p.m. | Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday, February 1
6:00 p.m. | NOW Free Family Meal
6:30 p.m. | KidsNOW (Birth-6th Grade)
6:30 p.m. | M-power Youth (7th-12th)
6:30 p.m. | LivingNOW (Adults)
8:00 p.m. | Orchestra Rehearsal

Thursday, February 2
10:00 a.m. | Painting Class

Saturday, February 4
9:00 a.m. | Psalm 119 Club
11:00 a.m. | Prayer Walk
2:00 p.m. | Mexico Mission Trip Informational Meeting @ GCBA Office
6:00 p.m. | M-power Youth "Power-Up" Night (Valentine Party)

CLICK HERE to view full calendar.

This Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023

ECM | Colleen A. & Barb C.
Greeters | Sandy S.
Information Desk | Wanda G.
Audio | Wayne S.
Video | Jeff P.
Security | Larry A. & Steve E.
Children's Church | Courtney E.
Ushers | Ray S. & Jeremy F.
Counters | Colleen A. & Shannon P.

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 January 22, 2023
Worship Attendance - 117
Sunday School Attendance - 77

Undesignated Giving - $2,584.50
Weekly Budget Goal - $5,000.00
Jan. Undes. Giving - $18,050.51
(90.3% of budget through 4 weeks)
YTD Undes. Giving - $18,050.51
(90.3% of budget through 4 weeks)

NOW Attendance - 105 (Jan. 18)