FIRST BAPTIST SEVIERVILLE | OCTOBER 2010

Volume 45, No. 6

IN THIS ISSUE

Staying Focused!Dr. Price challenges us as Christians to keep our focus on the banner of the Cross at all times.

Page 2

Singing with JesusTestimony to the power of Christ in our lives no matter what we happen to be going through.

Page 5

East Tennessee 101Our German Intern, Max shares about his time at FBC.

Page 5

First Baptist Church of Sevierville’s Monthly Newsletter

E.A.G.L.E. Ministries presents 2010 Men’s Wild Game SupperSaturday, October 16th; 5:30pm

Where are They Now, Part 4Chris Kirby

Psalm 127:3-4 teaches parents how to view their children, “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.”

Children are gifts to be cherished and a gift to be given. A warrior takes his arrows and shoots them out into battle. In the same way, a parent raises their child and prepares them to go into the world to make an impact for the cause of Christ. I know this was the heart of Marvin and Carlene Maples as they raised their son, Derek.

Derek grew up at First Baptist, graduated from the University of Tennessee. He is now serving as Student Minister at Providence Church in West Knoxville and pursuing his Master of Theology degree through Dallas Theological Seminary. Derek is responsible for teaching, planning events, and leading students in grades 5-12.

I asked Derek what his greatest passion in ministry is and his response reveals his Christ-like heart, he de-sires to “love the unloved.” There are so many students who do not experience love at home and greatly de-sire to know love. Through his ministry and teaching, Derek is showing them the love of Jesus Christ. He shared that the greatest lesson he learned as a young man at FBC was making church a priority because of the importance of fellowship and accountability. This is a principle he is now teaching young people, which reminds parents that it is worth it to get their children up to go to church Sunday after Sunday.

Derek asks that we pray that he would be wise in his time management as he is a full-time student and full- time student minister.

It is challenging to realize this is a rare and special church and at the same time be humble about it. Only by having Christ in focus can it be done. This simply is a rare and special church. Rejoice over it and at the same time be humbled by it. Commit yourself to do all within your ability to help it remain so. It is a rare and special church because of having a single vision. If all eyes are on Jesus, the body is focused.

In “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis, Satan writes his confidant on earth about how to recruit for their cause. He tells him the church is a great place to recruit. Then he adds, “One thing you must not do. You must not let them look up and see the banners flying or you have lost them.” If we get our eyes off the banners associated with “the banner of the Cross”, Satan wins. Those are such banners as “grace, love, mercy, forgiveness, joy, and peace.”

Every Christian, every church, has distractions. It is imperative that we stay focused on the banners. If you ever encounter a brother or sister having lost the proper perspective of the cross, compassionately help them refocus rather than allowing them to get your eyes off the banners. If we do stay focused, the cause of Christ wins.

As a preacher for 60 years, I know a plethora of distractions Satan employs - and you do, too. Be sensitive to them and not deceived thereby. To quote

Page 2 | First Baptist Church of Sevierville

Staying Focused!Being your Interim Pastor is an honor and a joy. My desire is to serve our loving Lord by giving you spiritual encouragement and personal challenges during the time our Lord allows. Let me share an outsider’s insight from one with the heart of an insider...

that great theologian Barney Fife (just kidding), “Nip it, just nip it.”

Join me as we rally around the banner of the cross and keep the focus of this great fellowship on Jesus Christ. I am excited about undertaking this venture with you.

In a little book entitled “Giant Land”, a character named Tim wanders into an underground world and speaks to a resident named Mrs. Snip, “I didn’t know people live underground until I came here to Giant Land.” Mrs. Snip replies, “Doesn’t everyone live underground?”

Like Mrs. Snip, we tend to think every world is like ours. That is, every church is like ours. Not so. God has done and is doing a special thing here. Believe it, rejoice over it, and be humbled by it.

WWJD is more than a clever little bracelet. It is a wonderful frame of mind by which to control our outlook, utterances, and actions. I am impressed by how this body has traditionally done so. Let’s upscale that frame of mind. I am hereby appointing you as a committee of one responsible for seeing that it is done.

Dr. Nelson Price Interim Pastor

UP 6th Grade WeekendApril 30th and May 1st

Sign up in Sunday Schoolor call the church office

Psalm

119:105

Ladies Home Bible StudyMondays; 1:00pm/home of Janice MotternLed by Ellen Williamson, please call Janice at 932-6235 for directions and information.

Children’s Choirs Wednesdays; 5:30pm-6:30pm4yrs (Pre-K): E-116, 5yrs (Kindergarten): E-123Grade 1: C-128, Grade 2: C-123Grade 3: C-211, Grade 4: C-213Grades 5 & 6: C-314

Sonrise Senior’s BreakfastTuesday, October 5th; 9:00am/Parlor

Children’s ChurchSunday, October 10thK-3rd grade will meet in the Chapel, 8:15 & 10:45 services.4th-6th grade will meet in the Fellowship Hall, 10:45 service only.

Triple L LuncheonTuesday, October 12th; Noon in the FLCBring a covered dish.

Men’s Wild Game SupperSaturday, October 16th; 5:30pm/FLC$10 adult, $5 child 12 & under. You can register at the Welcome Center.

Preschool Bible StudySunday, October 17th; 5:00pm/Parlor

Recognition of Perfect Attendance & Bible MemorizationOctober 17th; 10:45 service only

DivorceCareWednesdays; 6:00pm, Room E-234Any questions please call Kristie at 429-6303.

Judgement HouseOctober 20-21 & 24-26If you would like to attend this year’s drama please call Monica at 453-9001 for reservations.

GA JAM 2010 for GAs and Leaders, Grades 1-6 “Christmas Around the World”Saturday, October 23rd/FBC MorristownRegistration form and fee of $10 is due by October 6th. You can register during GAs or by calling Tammy at 429-6304.

Festival of HolidaysNovember 15th; 6:30pm/FLCHostess sign-ups begin September 26, mandatory attendance is required at one hostess meeting. Event sign-ups begin October 17th at the Welcome Center.

Operation Christmas ChildOctober 31st-November 21stStart saving your standard size shoe boxes now! Pack one, two or more and donate extra shoe boxes you may have for this ministry. Drop off at the Welcome Center.

Upcoming Events

Special AnnouncementsOpportunity to ServeGA & RAs teachers needed. We also need volunteers to help with our special friends in the Special Needs Ministry. Please contact Tammy at 429-6304.

Heavenbound Singers Our Senior Adult Choir has kicked back into full swing. We have a wonderful time singing and fellowshipping. We are getting ready for our trip to South Carolina to sing at Glenn Mett’s church in October.

Page 3

Bible Drill Programs Youth Bible Drill, High School Bible Drill, Youth Speaker’s Tournament and/or Xtreme Bible Challenge; if interested in any of these programs please contact Susie Delozier at 604-3287.

Two Full Time Preschool Workers NeededPlease contact Tammy at 429-6304 if you would be interested.

Adopt-a-ScholarOur college ministry has started a way for our church members to encourage our students who

are in college. Some are away from home while some are here at Walter’s State. Regardless of where they are they need encouragement. We want them to know that the church loves and cares for them. If you would be interested in helping encourage a college student by sending him or her a few notes and a small goodie bag once or twice a semester, please pray about signing up for this opportunity. You can sign up at the Welcome Center.

Oct.2010

Page 4

Larry Beck DeWayne & Libby

Lawson Milford & Shirley BlairHoney Gregg & Tracy PriceMaude SiscoJohn Edd BlalockJohn Edd Blalock, III Katie BlalockLarry Beck Bob & DeeDee

TrenthamLarry BeckDonald Schultz J.B. & Shirley MatthewsMaude Sisco Tommy & Jennifer BushMargaret Lester Lowell & Carolyn GlennMaude Sisco Sue Lawson Robert & Leslie

MilinkovicMargaret Lester Charles LesterEstelle KraftMargaret Lester Dave & “Dink” TinoPaul Ellison George & Barbara

HeadrickHelen Hodge’s Birthday Earl & Laura HodgesLon Sutton Beulah SuttonWallace Layman George & Barbara

HeadrickMargaret Lester Charles & Sara

Beth HardinTV MINISTRY Jimmy Turner Ralph & Jenny ChanceMargaret Lester

Edna Butler Jimmie & Marie TempleLIBRARYLarry BeckDonald SchultzPaul WoodsEdna ButlerWallace Layman First Baptist ChurchJimmy TurnerHobert Caylor Shirley Flynn BellYOUTH MINISTRYMy Father John

Hatcher’s Birthday Jerry & Marina WhaleyCHILDREN’S MINISTRYMichael Williams Birthday Beulah McMahan, Shirley

King, Nell HardinCHILDREN’S CHOIRPaul & Ruth Galyon Robert & Sandy FoxCHRISTMAS STOREEnglish McCarter LInda RolenEdna Butler Current Mission GroupJames Wolfe Donald & Marjorie

LeatherwoodMUSIC MINISTRYLarry Beck Woody & Jane JacksonMaude SiscoMargaret Lester H.D. & Georgia CourtneyMaude SiscoLarry BeckMike WilliamsEric Wallace John & Eleanor HayesPARK ROAD PROJECTEnglish McCarterKenneth GalyonJimmy TurnerTommy Agee Charles & Gail FancherMaude SiscoBryan BlalockLarry BeckEdna Butler Jo Blalock

TRIBUTEDGIVING

Attendance Report 8/15/2010 8/22/2010 8/29/2010 9/5/2010 8:15am Worship 673 610 619 540 9:30am SS 1705 1408 1531 1228 10:45am Worship 1480 1209 1279 1125 6:30pm Worship 630 477 581

Biblical Stewardship 8/15/2010 8/22/2010 8/29/2010 9/5/2010 Total Weekly Needs $ 91,151.35 $ 91,151.35 $ 91,151.35 $ 91,151.35 Tithes & Offerings 82,938.00 82,107.18 79,729.62 92,028.36 Building Fund 2,036.00 696.00 1,156.00 826.00 Designated Fund 1,195.00 1,281.50 2,029.19 5,898.22

New MembersAlexis McCarterSkye McCarterBryce McFallsAbigail MurrellHannah PelhamTaylor SeagleJacob WhaleyStewart WhaleyJacob HoffmanNathan HoffmanMichael MijangoCarl Williams

Recently HospitalizedBill RandlesJoe WoodsMary ThompsonJan ClineGary HollenbaughBelinda ConnerGary LawsonPhil SimpsonAnna Frank HammerVelda SeagleWalter DonnellEd White

• The following families wish to express their deep appreciation to the church for kindness shown during their recent loss:

Family of Donald Schultz Family of Maude Sisco

• The following families wish to express their appreciation for support from the church:

Harry & Carolyn Catlett

• Annette Carpenter, Frank Atchley and Tony Watson in the passing of their brother, brother-in-law and uncle, Larry Beck

• Jennifer Bush in the passing of her father, Donald Schultz

• Jenny Mattox in the passing of her aunt, Linda Blackie

• Megan May in the passing of her grandfather, Paul Ellison

• Rebecca Cusick in the passing of her father, Wallace Layman

• Harold Beaver in the passing of his wife, Ruth Beaver

• Debbie Hill & Callie Hill in the passing of their father and grandfather, Calvin Lambert

Thank You Notes

Sympathy to

STATE MISSIONSBryan Blalock Jo BlalockCarl Hatcher Ray & Wanda HendersonJohnny Watson Dale & Ruth MurrellHELPING HANDSRuth Beaver Gleaner’s Sunday

School Class

IN HONORBUDGETOur Daughter’s Birthday Conley & Carolyn MurrellCHILDREN’S DEPTMilford Blair’s Birthday Shirley BlairHELPING HANDSGary Lawson

IN MEMORYBUILDING FUNDMargaret Lester Woody & Jane JacksonStella JohnsonLarry Beck Rex & Louise DelozierLarry Beck Aileen Fowler Donald Brackins Leah BrackinsGlenn Burchfield Linda RolenJulia SlussJimmy Turner Helen FrostG.H. Conner Richard & Carol AtchleyPaul Woods Rex & Louise DelozierDonald SchultzEstelle Kraft Dale & Ruth MurrellRuth Beaver Aileen FowlerBUDGETMaude Sisco Woody & Jane JacksonEstelle Kraft Wanda Guffey

Singing with JesusKathy VanHorn

It had been the longest month of my life. My beautiful five-year-old daughter had changed from a laughing, carefree child into a jumpy, haggard waif-like creature. Her hair had lost its curl; her eyes were ringed with dark circles; her skin turned pasty white. She couldn’t sleep, wouldn’t eat and would not go in the bathroom unescorted. She would fall asleep, exhausted, only to wake screaming several times a night.

She and her brother had spent the weekend with a relative and no one seemed to real-ize how the movie Nightmare on Elm Street would affect her. But affect her it did. At first I had no idea what was wrong, it took a week before my son broke down and told me about the movie; a blonde haired, blue-eyed little girl whose nightmares would come alive. My little girl had so internalized what she had seen that she couldn’t function. I took her to the pediatrician and a child psychiatrist but nothing seemed to work. My baby was miser-able and there was nothing I could do to help her. Except pray; I prayed for and with her, our church prayed and our family prayed.

Page 5

Send questions or comments to newsletter@fbcsev.org

scenes, the amazing office staff. It is aston-ishing how much work is done when barely anybody is in the church. But in order to have a great worship service, enlightening discipleship training, uplifting music minis-try, warm-hearted care for church members and visitors, and many other blessed minis-tries, there is a lot of work to be done. I was surprised to see how much effort and love is put into organizational work.

During the time I spent in Canada six years before I went to seminary, God broke my heart for the people of North America. That ignited a passionate love for Jesus and a burning desire within my heart to commu-nicate His grace for a mere Christianized cul-ture and behavior. My desire ever since has been to do something about it. That is why I am so grateful that God has allowed me to

Southern Gospel (SG) music had been a part of our lives since I was a child. My children have gone to concerts since before they could walk and they listened to SG music quite a bit. Our house rule was that after bedtime quiet music must prevail. One night about a month into this ordeal, my daughter asked that since she wasn’t sleep-ing well anyway would it be okay if she played a SG tape as she went to bed. Worn out and not wanting to argue, I told her she could. When the tape stopped, I waited for her to wake up. I crept into her room to find her sleeping peacefully. I started the tape again and went to bed.

The next morning I woke thinking some-thing was different. I was alone, my daugh-ter had not crawled into bed with me during the night, nor had I been awakened by her cries. When she finally got out of bed, she came into the kitchen and said she was hungry. As we were talking, I asked her why she thought she had been able to sleep so well last night. Out of the mouths of babes comes such wisdom. As matter-of-factly as she could, she said, “Oh mom, I was singing

with Jesus. I didn’t have time to be afraid.” It was that simple! She was totally emotionally healed, and soon physically as well. We both learned a great lesson that night. When your focus is on Jesus, fear can’t take hold. God had truly answered our prayers far beyond what we could have imagined.

Soon after, I noticed that when she sang, it wasn’t as a five-year-old. Her voice was a gift from God and along with the voice came a desire to use it for Him. She hasn’t stopped singing since. She has been singing SG music professionally for eighteen years. She met her husband at a taping of the Gaither Homecom-ing series. With twin four-year-olds, she is not on the road right now, but she definitely is still singing with Jesus.

Do you have a testimony you would like to share with others? Send it to mystory@fbcsev.org

be a part of a church this past month that has a burden to see peoples’ lifes changed and renewed to wholeheartedly serve God and love people. FBCS is not concerned about numbers but about building and maintain-ing the Kingdom of God. Being involved in the different ministries in the church, I was blessed with new experiences and am well aware that I haven’t seen all the great work that is done in this wonderful church.

I’m leaving this place humbled and refreshed by the Holy Spirit. Wherever God leads me, I am sure that I will apply what I have learned at FBCS. There is no place like East Tennessee: lovely people, delicious cuisine, and a busy construction site for God’s kingdom. In the heart of the Smoky Mountains, there is a place that has a heart for Jesus. Oh, before I forget, “Go Bears and Go Vols!!”

East Tennessee 101Max SawazkiFBC Intern

When I approached Brother Randy and Craig in November 2009 about an internship, I just had a vague idea about what an internship at First Baptist Church Sevierville would be like. In the months to follow, we not only shaped a possibility for me, but also developed a way to give other students and graduates of the seminary in Bonn, Germany an opportunity to experience a living and growing American church.

After I finally got to Sevierville, I had a whole month of exciting and challenging experienc-es ahead of me. Not only did I get to minister with a dedicated pastoral staff, but I was honored to work with the people behind the

Published monthly by First Baptist Church of Sevierville.Periodical postage paid at Sevierville, TN | 317 Parkway, TN 37862RETURN POSTAGE REQUESTEDPostmaster send form 3579 to “First Word,” 317 Parkway, Sevierville, TN 37862(865) 453-9001 | FAX (865) 428-3920 | fbcsev.org

(USPS 661-090)

Roland MaddoxExec. Associate Pastor

Scott AndrewsAssoc. Pastor of Worship

Jerry HyderAssoc. Pastor of Adults

Address317 Parkway Sevierville, TN 37862

Office HoursMonday- Friday8:00am - 5:00pm

Office Phone(865) 453-9001(865) 428-3920 (fax)

Scott CarterAssoc. Pastor of Youth

Craig MintzAssoc. Pastor of Singles and Adult Discipleship

Royce BaileyAssoc. Pastor of Children

Clark ByramBusiness Administrator Contact UsSenior Staff

fbcsev.org

info@fbcsev.org

facebook.com/fbcsev

twitter.com/fbcsev

Pastor on Call(865) 453-9257

Prayer Line(865) 429-PRAY