Mission Group from Gulf Coast to Report Tonight!

Seven members from First Baptist Church traveled to the Beaumont area this week to help in our Church2Church partnership with Westgate Memorial Baptist Church and the Golden Triangle Baptist Association. Don't Miss their report in the Evening Service at 6:30pm tonight. Pictures will be on the website soon!

Continue to pray for those devastated by Hurricane Ike.

Update From Vancouver - The Connection!!!

Friday, November 14, 2008]

In the midst of the spiritual battle it is sometimes easy to take victories for granted. So I want to take a few moments to publically thank God for a few wonderful answers.

As a family we are working on the habit of gathering in the evening, reading a little scripture and praying for our needs. A few days ago Adam prayed for his DS (a video game) and IPOD. He was afraid that these had been stolen when our car had been broken into. But after he prayed, he found both and we thanked the Lord. It was a small thing, but meaningful.

When a child sees an answer like that it can stir him to pray bolder prayers. So this past Wednesday night we were praying and Adam prayed that he would not need another cast. The next day, Thursday, was his next Doctor’s appointment. He was scheduled to get a new cast for several more weeks. We didn’t want to stop him from praying, but Tiffany and I knew that this was practically impossible. But when he went to the doctor yesterday she felt confident to enough to send him home without any cast at all. Another answer to prayer. God is good.

Then there was an answer of another kind.

As we’re working on the movie, Kyle and I have been praying for a way to distribute it. We have connections to some individuals who do small scale distribution but nothing that could make world wide impact. Then yesterday, out of the blue, Kyle got an email from one America’s biggest movie making companaies.We had not contacted them and knew nobody at this place. Somehow they had found us on a blog and wanted to talk to us. Kyle called them back today and found out that they were excited about the trailer and were ready to screen the movie when it is finished.

Wow! Lesson learned. God answers as we ask. He just does.

So, this evening, before you watch any TV, gather your family around and pray about your needs. You never know what might happen.

Yours
John Martens
The Connection
www.TCJourney.com

Church2Church Trip to the Gulf!!!

First committed to help churches in need in Gulf Coast Area after Hurricane Ike!

Bobby Cox, our interim Education Minister along with Charlie Burns will lead a group to the Gulf Coast area of Beaumont to help with the continuing recovery from Hurricane Ike. They will leave next Sunday, November 9th after morning worship. Already nine have signed up to go and help with clean-up and repairs. If you would like to go, contact the office or Bobby asap.

Praise God for the opportunity to help our brothers and sisters along the coast who have been devastated by this storm. Although the media coverage has ceased, the need is still great. Pray about going. If you cannot go, pray about giving to our support of Westgate Memorial Baptist Church and the Golden Triangle Association. We WILL hold the ropes for these fellow churches.

Thank you church for caring!!! Pastor Ken

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.