FIRST BAPTIST SEVIERVILLE | APRIL 2013

Volume 75, No. 6

IN THIS ISSUE

This church could change the world!Bro Craig talks about the importance of being involved in Sunday school.

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Be HolyA reminder to us as Christians that we are to be holy always!

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God’s timing is always right John & Kaye Thomas share about their recent mission trip to New York.

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First Baptist Church of Sevierville’s Monthly Newsletter

Be HolyLucas Munasque

Most topical Bibles have this Scripture reference, 1 Peter 1:15-16, within a section titled the same way I have it listed. Here, Peter was admonishing the people of Christ to live as a people sanctified for Christ’s purposing and for His will rather than chasing their own fruitless pursuits and desires.

However, this was not the first time God had mentioned this idea through the pen of man. In Leviticus 11, as Moses recorded the various laws of God, he would say in verse 45, “I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy because I am holy” (NIV). Now, if you are like me, reading Leviticus is akin to listening to that one old guy in the family tell you the same story for the 12th time, but the book has some great spiritual truths to it.

The story mentioned in Leviticus is, of course, the Israelites’ exodus from their slavery in Egypt. As part of the Mosaic Covenant, the Israelites agreed to abandon their bondage, never look back, and let God lead them. However, as the record shows, they would constantly desire their old trappings. The reality of the situation is that we as Christians mimic the behavior of God’s first people and often abandon God’s gift of salvation to return to our old sinful selves.

Therefore, God, through Peter, saw fit to bring up the mistakes of the past so that we might learn from them and not follow in the footsteps of those who messed up the first time. So, the next time you might find yourself facing temptation, let God’s words, which have resonated throughout the ages, resonate in your heart and mind today. Do not be stuck in your slavery of sin, but, as your God is holy, be holy!!!

This church could change the world! You need to know that statement is more than words to your pastor. I actually believe it. If I didn’t believe that God could use this church – you and me and us – to make a difference locally and globally, then I would pack up my office and find something else to do. I believe it.

This is exactly what the original church wanted and believed in: the idea that Christ could use us to change the world. I believe we need to hear that every Sunday from the pulpit, ask that every time we make a decision or plan an event, pray for that every time we bow our heads, and remind each other of that every time we meet. Oh, if First Baptist Church could embrace such a vision! We would love more, baptize more, and serve more – and this church could change the world.

Jesus stated His intentions for the church in Matthew 16:18, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus gave the church her marching orders in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” And then Jesus gave the church her strategy in Acts 1:8, “And you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Following that strategy and starting with only 120 people, the original church took Jesus at His word and mobilized so effectively that they reached entire cities and saturated whole countries with the Gospel. In Acts 17:6, even their enemies admitted that they had “turned the world upside down.”

As I look at our church, which has the same directive from Christ, the same power from the Holy Spirit, and yet many more people, infinitely greater technology, a completed Scripture, and the advantage of 2,000 years of church history from which to learn, I think, “This church – First Baptist Church – could change the world!”

And church family, we live in a world that is in desperate need of change. God’s plan was not to plant governments to change the world with legislation; God’s plan was not to plant schools to change the world with knowledge; God’s plan was not to plant charities to change the world with good deeds – God’s plan was to plant churches to change the world with the Gospel!

I’m excited to be a part of that. It could happen…this church could change the world.

I love being your pastor!

Dan Spencer

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From the Pastor’s Heart...

UP 6th Grade WeekendApril 30th and May 1st

Sign up in Sunday Schoolor call the church office

Romans

8:11

Sonrise SeniorsApril 2; 9:00am/Parlor

Triple L LuncheonTuesday, April 9; Noon/FLCBring a covered dish.

Wonderful Weekend for WomenFriday, April 12, 7:00-9:00 pm and Saturday, April 13, 9:00 am – 2:00 pmGuest Speaker: Carol Kent, bestselling author and international speaker.Musical Guests: Voice of MercyCost: $20, includes boxed lunch provided on Saturday.

Men’s Ministry - God, Guns & GrubSaturday, April 13; 10:00amCost is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 12 & under

Senior Adult One Day TripDillard House & WaynesvilleApril 15 $40.00 per person (due at sign up please)Deadline for sign up April 12Fee includes lunch & transportation onlySign up at Welcome Center, Sonrise Senior Breakfast or Triple L Luncheon

Celebration CraftersThursday, April 18; 10:00am/E-218

PEP Moms - Spring LuncheonFriday, April 19; 9:15am/ParlorJoin us for this time of food, fellowship and devotion. Special guest: Cindy McFalls. Cost is $7.50 for new members and t-shirts are $5. Reservations required for childcare, please send them to trice@fbcsev.org

Children’s ChurchSunday, April 218:15am & 10:45am– Grades K-6 will meet in the Chapel

COMPELApril 21 - 24; 6:30pmSpecial guest: Evangelist Bill Britt

6th Grade Up Weekend RetreatMay 17 & 18Sign up in Sunday School

College Panama CityMay 20 - 24Cost is $225 per person. You can sign up in Sunday School, at Journey or in the church office.

Upcoming Events

Special AnnouncementsOnline GivingContributions may be made online by visiting the church website at www.fbcsev.org. Giving is simple, easy and secure. 

Everyday in the WordReading God’s Word in 2013 with the Church family. Sign up at www.fbcsev.org to receive Brother Dan’s daily blog.

Bible Drill - Sundays; 5:30pmBible Buddies 1st-3rd, C-220Bible Drill 4th-6th, C-212

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Youth Bible Drill; 7th - 9th gradeSundays at 5:30pm in room B-203

You’re InvitedPlease join us for a baby shower honoring Jordan Andrews to celebrate the anticipated arrival of Tristan Michael Andrews. Sunday, April 28th from 2:00-4:00pm in the Parlor. Registered at Babies ‘R’ Us & Buy Buy Baby.

Graduate Recognition SundaySunday, May 19; 10:45If you are graduating from high school or college and would like to have your name and picture included in our graduate mail out, please drop off your picture (no proofs please) to Amanda in the office no later than April 10. Also, if you would like to attend the recognition luncheon please let Amanda know in the office by May 7.

April2013

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Dorothy Jensen Dottie ReaganEd Barnes Rex & Louise DelozierPRAYER ROOMWanda Barker Linda Henderson RolenFrank Ham Milford & Shirley BlairCHRISTMAS STOREGlenn Henderson Linda Henderson RolenRhonda BreedenAileen LovedayAndy Andrews Curtis & Shirley KingFrances Galliher Charlie Ownby’s SS ClassPARK ROAD PROJECTAndy AndrewsJames “Babe” Thurman Charles & Gail FancherRhonda BreedenDorothy JensenDavid King Jo BlalockDorothy Jensen Harold & Sue’s

NeighborsGreg HallDorothy JensenPat WalkerAileen LovedayWanda BarkerGlenn Henderson Lyle & Judy Pat OverbayTV MINISTRYGlenn Henderson Mr. & Mrs. Jack DentonGlenn LethcoGlenn HendersonRhonda BreedenAl Keener Mike, Linda &

Brandon Berrier and Beulah McMahan

MUSIC MINISTRYAndy AndrewsAl Keener Jo BlalockAndy Andrews Buddy & Carolyn Glenn Ruby Maples Beulah McMahan

and Mike, Linda & Brandon Berrier

Al & Kathy ValentineAndy AndrewsAnn FulcherAl Keener Jimmie & Marie TempleANNIE ARMSTRONGBryan Blalock Jo BlalockOur Parents Rex & Louise DelozierEd Glaspie Belva GlaspieMr. & Mrs. Lyman

Delozier’s Birthdays Melba DelozierHoney Gregg & Tracy PriceBen Carr Rowena McFallsAndy Andrews Dave & Dink TinoMISSIONSGene TurnerAndy Andrews BIll & Nikelle BurkeAndy Andrews Kristie RussellHELPING HANDSFrank Ham Pat Loepp Jack & Pat Palmer Al & Kathy Valentine Alvin & Ruby Scrivner Gary Roach’s SS Class Jimmie Faye Trotter Larry & Charlene Castle Rex & Elizabeth Mansfield Willis & Leigh Russell Ben & Sieglinde Baldwin Tim & Melissa Scholz Michael & Sharilyn

Schattgen Carl & Betty EcholsCHILDREN’S MUSICPaul & Ruth Galyon Robbie & Sandy Fox

TRIBUTEDGIVING

Attendance Report 2/24/2013 3/3/2013 3/10/2013 3/17/2013 8:15am Worship 675 527 469 604 9:30am SS 1376 1206 1138 1260 10:45am Worship 1465 1166 1138 1201 6:30pm Worship 529 428 365 408

Biblical Stewardship 2/24/2013 3/3/2013 3/10/2013 3/17/2013 Total Weekly Needs $ 86,177.00 $ 86,177.00 $ 86,177.00 $ 86,177.00 Tithes & Offerings 134,756.92 73,400.79 99,885.91 90,613.61 Building Fund 331.00 2,231.00 621.00 821.00 Designated Fund 4,675.25 49,865.07 3,995.00 7,183.00

New MembersBill JohnsonMaury PhanJim & Doris BushGabriel MejiasVictoria “Blake” RussellJoey HenryAngelo RagaHugo ContrerasJodie HuskeySarah Hayes

Recently HospitalizedSandrinne RimmerRalph “Gene” CatlettJonathan BowlingCiara HollifieldSherry SawyerSharlon MarshallCarolyn SullivanMarvin FisherDon OgleFred RiedelJenny MattoxJohn NivenDavid JohnsonClyde TrenthamRuby ScrivnerEula CatlettFred Flynn

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

Family of Cecil Clabo Family of Rhonda BreedenFamily of Glenn Henderson Jana Chapman

• The following families wish to express their appreciation for support from the church: Patricia Palmer Ruby Maples

• Ryan Reeder in the passing of his mother

• John Cottongim in the passing of his sister, Joyce Cottongim

• Shirley Galyon & Diane Reed in the passing of her father, Corbin King

• Larry Ogle in the passing of his uncle, Corbin King

• Carolyn Glenn & John Mount in the passing of their mother, Marjorie Mount

• Alana Owens in the passing of her father, Allen Howard

• Jana Chapman in the passing of her aunt, Francis Alexander

• Barbara Roberts in the passing of her mother, Helen Allen

• Katherine Welch in the passing of her sister, Lucille Brandon

Thank You Notes

Sympathy to

TOMMY PARROTT MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP

Louise Parrott Hazel Taylor

IN HONORBUDGETJimmie Faye Trotter &

Hailey Turner on her 100th Birthday

Jean WhiteBathsheba’s Birthday Rachel BurkeNURSERYCindy McMahan’s Birthday Thomas & Carolyn

McMahan

IN MEMORYBUDGETHoneyGeorge Headrick Greg & Tracy PriceJane Temple’s Birthday Christa Roach Melba DelozierGlenn Henderson Mary Louise HaileyAndy Andrews JB & Shirley Matthews Kevin & Amy MaplesDorothy Jensen Bryan & Tina TarkingtonElben WhiteMartha GuyJimmie TurnerEd GlaspieEmily CantwellNovie Thomas Jean WhiteLon Sutton Beulah SuttonElmer Huff Herman & Jean Huff and

Brenda TestermanRobert Delozier Melba DelozierBUILDINGAndy AndrewsAl Keener Rex & Louise Delozier

Helping a Friend During a Time of GriefJerry HyderAssociate Pastor of Adults

Our world today is so much different than just a few generations ago. The world is now a global neighborhood. Because of that, families don’t always live in the same community as much as they once did. Our world today is also in a hurry, busy with activity. It is no wonder we now have difficulty in understanding grief when someone passes away. Previous generations knew how to understand grief because of the support system of families and close-knit communities where they experienced grief together. We now have a culture that is really clueless on how to handle such experiences by themselves, much less how to help others with their grief. Let me offer a few suggestions:

1. Being there is more important than what you say to those who have lost a family member or close friend. Don’t let the feelings of awkwardness and not knowing what to say keep you from reaching out to them. It is supposed to be awkward. Often times we don’t know what to say, that is just part of it.

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Send questions or comments to newsletter@fbcsev.org

Island. We will remember the people we met: the church members at Zion, Ralph and Janet who became friends, the NAMB staff, the other disaster relief workers who arrived in March, and the college students who gave up their spring break to help others.

We will fondly remember the people we met who had been affected by Hurricane Sandy. We will remember Mr. and Mrs. J who live in the house that belonged to his grandpar-ents. He told us of the summer that all his relatives added on to the two-room summer home to make the house as it was today. He spoke of the family who came together to do that and how they are now helping each other rebuild their homes. They were so appreciative of Southern Baptist help in cleaning out the mud and debris from their home in the fall and now that we will be able to help them hang sheetrock.

We will remember Lily who cried when we told her that we could help her rebuild her

Go ahead and do something to express your love and concern for them. Go by and see them at the funeral visitation or take their family some food or think of doing something for them that they don’t have time to do during this difficult time. If you are not able to visit them, make a phone call, or send a card, e-mail or text. Communicate your love and concern for them.

2. Avoid trite words such as “I know how you feel.” Actually you don’t know how “they feel.” Even if you have had a similar experience that doesn’t mean that they feel exactly they way you did because they do not have exactly the same personality, family background, emotional make up as you.

3. Realize everyone grieves differently. Respect that. Even in the same family, people will express grief differently. Some grieve more in public. Others grieve more in private.

4. Keep in mind , grief is a process. It takes time. If the death was unexpected, the feelings of shock and disbelief will be there. If the death follows a long illness, the grieving process may have already begun during that

time. If your friend was a primary caregiver during that time, there may be a sense of loss of identity because for months or maybe years their daily routine and priorities were spent taking care of their loved one. Now that the loved one is gone there can be a feeling of loneliness and “not knowing what to do.” That is why it is important to stay in touch after the funeral. It is good to keep in mind that the first year can be difficult, especially around birthdays, anniversaries and holidays.

Our church offers a Grief Share class on Monday nights at 6pm. George Myers leads this group. Grief Share is a great place for people who are dealing with grief to find help. Also, if I can ever be of assistance to you or a friend that is experiencing grief, please let me know. I would be glad to talk with you.

house so that she and her children could be together again. We will remember the retired couple who had moved to New Jersey from Staten Island. Both homes were damaged. We will remember these and many others that we talked to as we assessed their damaged houses. They are all so thankful for Southern Baptist volunteers who give of their time to help others.

We came as caretakers for the site and damage assessors, but became maintenance workers after the blizzard when all the pipes thawed and were burst. We then stayed longer to help cook for the NAMB staff and the first week of college students. Now going home on March 6, we are thankful for our many experiences that God has given us.

God’s Timing is Always RightJohn & Kaye Thomas

Staten Island, New York – not a place that we had dreamed of spending the month of February. But God always knows where we should go. We had planned mission trips to Guatemala and to Cincinnati, but they did not materialize. God knew that we were going to Staten Island even before we did!

On January 31, we left home amidst snow flurries that turned into snow and ice the further we drove north. Several inches fell soon after we arrived and over the next weekend we experienced the Blizzard of 2013! We survived the high winds and cold temperatures in our 30-foot 5th wheel camper parked on the North American Mission Board Disaster Relief site at Zion Lutheran Church.

However, the weather is not what we will remember about our time spent on Staten

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)

Rev. Dan Spencer Senior Pastor

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 Discipleship

Royce BaileyAssoc. Pastor of Children

Clark ByramBusiness Administrator Contact UsSenior Staff

fbcsev.org

info@fbcsev.org

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Pastor on Call(865) 453-9257

Prayer Line(865) 429-PRAY