Pastor Attends Annual Chaplains Convention - Waxahachie

Greetings from Lakeview Conference Center located between Waxahachie and Maypearl Texas. I would like to ask you to pray for me as I join 176 Chaplains from all over the nation in this three day conference. Chaplains for our Baptist Convention of Texas serve the Military, Hospitals, Jails and Prisons, Law Enforcement and Disaster Relief. Some are full-time, part-time and volunteer. They are men and women of all ages and backgrounds who love the Lord and bring Jesus to those in various places and positions in everyday life. Pray for these front line ministers as they prepare and refresh for ministry.

During the conference, I have the privilege of being certified in ASIST - Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training. This training developed in Canada and has spread around the world with over 600,000 people being certified. It is provided through the BGCT as a way for churches and ministers to help intervene in the lives of people who are at risk to suicide. We are here to give life. Pray for me as I learn how to better help those in our community. Pray for First that we will be a life giving church. Have a great week and see you Sunday as we complete our series on PARADOX.

The Connection Makes Movie! See Trailer ...

Hi there folks.

Happy Thanksgiving (Canada) & Columbus Day (US)

Just a quick note that the first (teaser) trailer for our film is up on You Tube. Click on it as many times as you want and pass it on to your friends. Put it in your Facebook, embed it in your web site, whatever you want. Just get this out there. The more exposure we get, the better. (If you have lots of time you can just watch it 45 times. That will help too. :)

(You can click on this link.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIPd7zZELwg

Sorry if you get this message more than once, I'm just combining lists to make sure everyone gets this.

John Martens
The Connection
www.TCJourney.com

First Decatur Partners with Westgate Memorial!

First Baptist Church is partnering with churches in Beaumont to help with Hurricane Ike relief. The Texas Baptist Men were some of the first on the scene to help the thousands of people who have lost so much. Last night at the HBA Annual Meeting Leo Smith told me that we had served hundreds of thousands of meals and still hundreds of volunteers are in the Gulf Coast helping with tree trimming, clean up and mud outs. More volunteers are needed and BGCT has challenged the Church2Church initiative to partner with over 100 churches that have devastating damage. Watch this video by Pastor Raymond McHenry at Westgate Memorial Baptist Church and pray about going to help or giving to the relief effort through FBC Decatur.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJHUjzoIzJI

Pray for our friends in the Gulf Coast that as the Pastor said God will bring good things out of the bad.

Missions Committee Approves Fund for Mexico!

Great Things are Happening in Mexico! Philip and Rebecca continue to lead the Children's Home on the Mountain to build new dorms for the precious children of Saltillo. Two houses are complete - a third is being built - the fourth is promised - First Baptist is raising $50,000 for the fifth. Pray about giving. In the last two weeks, over $5000 has already been given.