First Love to the World - Summer 2014

Love of God is the language that we share with people all over the world.

Prayer is the power released from above to carry that love to different places.

Would you join in praying for Teams that are going this year to take God's love to His world?

Two Groups will leave this week (June 19-29) - please pray for these two groups as they go to love children on the other side of the world and as the other heads to Burundi.

7th - 9th Mission Trip - These students will minister in Ft. Worth and Round Rock at the Gospel Mission and Texas Baptist Children's Home (June 30th -July 4th)

10th - 12th Mission Trip - These High School students will be traveling to Thoreau, NM to build a couple of hogans for the people to live in and minister to the children living there. (July 20th -26th)

Paraguay Summer Trip - Eight members of this team will serve in two churches in Luque and Moras Que. (July 27th - August 4th)

Paraguay Fall Trip - This trip will follow up on the Summer work and join in the Annual Crusade across Luque. (September 15th - 22nd)

There will be a MISSION CELEBRATION SUNDAY on August 17th in the Morning Worship with pictures, testimonies and celebration of all that God is doing in the lives of people at First and around that world.

Decatur Cares 2014 Kicks Off

Once again the Decatur Community comes together to love our children and fight hunger. Tomorrow Night, Tuesday, June 3rd at 6:30pm will be the Kick Off Rally where all those accepted into the Summer Feeding Program will meet for orientation, food and fun. This year has already enrolled the limit of families with 277 children who will receive food every Tuesday from 10-11am at the Learning Ladder next to the DISD Administration building.

This ministry is staffed by volunteers who serve on the board under WARM and volunteers from the community churches and businesses who come weekly to pick up food, pack it and distribute it to about 100 families. The program runs for 11 weeks in the summer and begins with the Kick Off on June 3rd and ends with a Celebration Event in the Family Life Center of First Baptist Church Decatur on August 19th.

Decatur Cares is funded by donations from gracious individuals, churches, ministries and businesses in the Decatur Community. It received the 2012 Business Excellence Award for Community Effort and has been an example of the love and care this great community has for everyone who lives here.

Truly Decatur Cares. Come join us! Donations can be made to Decatur Cares c/o WARM, 300 N. Trinity, Decatur, Texas 76234 or Ken at First Baptist Church, 1200 W. Preskitt Rd, Decatur, Texas 76234. 940-627-3235.

Come Join Us!

William Baer - SBC Missionary in Paraguay

Dear Prayer Partners, 

Thanks so much for praying for our vacation time in the U.S. in May.  It was a WONDERFUL time

filled with many special family visits and events!!! We both feel that it was the VERY BEST vacation we have ever had in our lives! We know that His amazing grace and your faithful prayers made it so.  We are most grateful!!!

As we "plug back into" our work here, we would ask that you lift up the following:

 
1) In a few weeks we will be teaching at a cross-cultural worker orientation facility for a week. 

Please lift us up as we prepare and as we teach, that we would be used of our Father to bless and to help prepare these future workers, as they follow His call. 

2) Today we visited a small group of believers who are planting a new church in a small community outside of Asunción.  During the meeting, "N" shared a very touching testimony.  Although raised in a Christian home, at age 14 he chose to leave all of that behind and try all the world had to offer.  He lived like this until, when in his 40's, he suffered a serious illness.  It was at this time that he experienced the love of our Father through His people and came to truly know Him in a personal way. Now "N" faithfully serves the One he rejected for so long, alongside his wife "F."  While 5 of their 6 children have come to know Him, one son continues in the old footsteps of his father. 

Pray for this dear couple, their lost son, and this small group of believers who are currently meeting under a shade tree as they plant this new church. Pray that our Father will guide and bless their work as they reach out to their community.

3) Please ask that our personal devotional lives will remain strong and focused on Him and on His Word. This is the real source of power and anointing for the work He has called us to do.

Your faithful intercession, loving encouragement, and generous financial support (through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering) enable us to serve Him here.  Thank you for partnering alongside us in His Kingdom work. 

You are GREATLY appreciated!

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. 

Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. (Proverbs 3:5-6, The Message) 

Trusting Him, 

Bill & Terri

First Gives @ Christmas

This Christmas First Decatur was committed to joining the Lord Jesus in giving throughout the community and around the world:

     Operation Christmas Child - Each year First has joined Franklin Graham in sending shoe boxes around the world with gifts for children. This year First also became a collection point for the area and had churches across the county join in packing the trailer with donations. Thanks to all who helped bless children around the world.

     Supporting our Missionaries - First sent love offerings from the Mission Fund to our partners in Africa, Canada and Paraguay. Praise God for these special friends who serve our Lord by sharing Jesus everyday.

     Lottie Moon Christmas Offering - The last two years have been a little different. Instead of setting a monetary goal, the fellowship has been challenged to set a goal of every family giving something to Missions. This year Pastor Ken asked the body to pray about giving a gift to missions equal to the gifts we give to one another and family at Christmas. The church responded and gave over $20,000 to this special foreign mission offering.

     Caring for one another - Many classes and individuals were involved in finding families to bless in the community. Just as Jesus gave, First joins God in giving. What a great Christmas!