In This IssuePage 2Marriage Course to begin May 8

Page 3 Graduate Sunday & FBC Summer Interns

Page 7Volunteers & Chaperones Needed for Summer Camps

First Baptist Church Wilmington | North Carolina NewsKingdom

Issue 5 Volume 78 May 2014

Intergenerational Sunday School Series-Salt for the City

Why does the Church exist? What is our purpose in a broken world? Do we hold ourselves at a distance from that brokenness, stand in judgment on that brokenness, or do we rush toward it, believing that with God’s help, we can make a difference?

Jesus told his followers that we are to be salt and light. Salt doesn’t exist for its own sake; it’s only good if it’s spread around. Light doesn’t exist for its own sake, it’s always illuminating something beyond itself. That’s the purpose of the Church. God is far less interested in a Church that is seeking its own self-preservation. God wants our Church to be out in the world making a difference. That’s our purpose.In our Salt for the City series, May 18 – June 1, we will discuss what it means to be salt and light in our community as we pair up Sunday school classes of different generations to build community and to be in conversation with folks we would otherwise not have many chances to interact with. We will also have an opportunity to BE salt and light and to be a witness to God’s kingdom in our city as we go out into our community as the hands and feet of Christ for Mission Possible Day on May 31st, helping with projects for those in need.You will want to be a part of this time to put our faith in action in our city. If you do not have a class to meet with, contact Jayne Davis, jdavis@fbcwilmington.org.

Together, We Make Things Possible

MISSION POSSIBLE DAY 2014 will be Saturday, May 31 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This will be a great opportunity for all members of First Baptist to “give their lives away” and for the Wilmington community to see by our actions that we love them. Our projects for the day include painting the main sign for Alderman Elementary School, various painting projects and pressure washing at our downtown location, several fix-it projects for PORTA (an inner city child tutoring mission located right down the street from our downtown church), and a couple of other terrific projects. We need a lot of help, especially “handy man” help! If you are interested in volunteering at Alderman or

at PORTA, please contact Don Vigus at dvigus@fbcwilmington.org or 910-799-7564; or if you would like to volunteer at our

downtown location, contact Joe Capell at jcapell@fbcwilmington.org or 763-2471. Come join us; we will have a super time together

serving our God.

MISSION POSSIBLE DAY 2014

“Without You, There Wouldn’t Be a Game”

A couple of years ago I took the kids to their first major league baseball game. Before the game I was watching the home dugout. A few of the players were talking with the fans, enjoying the interaction, especially with the kids. Most of the players weren’t however. I get it. I suppose the players had a game to win and people can be distracting. But then I wondered, what would happen if suddenly all the people were gone. What would happen to the game? I was remembering that moment this past week as I was getting ready to preach the firstmessage in our “I Do” series on marriage and relationships. 1 John is the biblical foundation of the series, and the basic message of the entire book is this: we can’t say we love God if we’re not loving each other. That has obvious implications for marriage. We tend to think about our marriages as something between two people, but according to John it’s bigger than that. How we love each other in mar-riage either helps us love God better, or makes it harder. John puts it this way: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other.” Marriage done right then is an act of discipleship. If we love our spouses well, then we don’t just grow in love for each other, we grow in our relationship with God. But, while that’s true for our marriages, it’s also important to remember that it’s also true for ALL our relationships, even our relationships with people we barely know. Right after we finish “I Do” we follow that up with a series called “Salt for the City.” It’s taken from the passage in Mat-thew where, as Christians, we are called to be salt and light for the world. Matthew and John are basically saying the same thing—as human beings we don’t exist for ourselves. That’s not how God made things to work. We exist for each other. That’s when we are at our very best, when we realize that we were created to bless and love each other. A couple of years ago a friend of mine told me about a time that he took his kids to a profes-sional baseball game. After the game was over, his son got an autograph from Michael Young, who at that time was one of the bigger stars in the game; and my friend thanked him for taking the time. “It’s my pleasure,” said Young, “without you, there wouldn’t be a game being played here tonight.” Young was right. He got it. He wasn’t just there for himself. Sometimes we can lose sight of that, even in the Church. But thankfully, we’re following someone who never did.

THANK YOU We’re a little sad around the First Baptist office these days. You see, we’re saying goodbye to wonderful people who have served our church faithfully these last few years. Ashton Gourlay is in charge of our creative communications. All of those wonderful images you see on our Along the Way material, and lots of other creative forms of communication that appear in various ministries all start with Ashton. AND she’s not only creative, she’s also amazingly kind and helpful. She and her husband are moving to Raleigh and we’ll miss them once they’re gone. We’re also saying goodbye to Judy Brown (or at least we’re saying goodbye to her in the office on a daily basis). Judy is a beloved member of our team, and most of us would tell you that she’s the glue that holds things together. She’s not only hard-working but she’s a lot of fun, and so we’re not only going to miss all the wonderful things she does for our church, but we’re also going to miss the laughter and the wit that she brings to our staff. After seventeen years of putting up with us, however, she’s ready to be a full-time grandmother and enjoy some leisure time in retire-ment. Thank you, ladies, from the bottom of our hearts for who you are and what you’ve done for our church! -Matt Cook

OUR VISION:“To become a community of

believers that is open and welcoming to anyone, no matter where

they are on their faith journey, and is intentionally joining with Christ in his

redemptive work and purposes in the world.”

OUR MISSION:“To become, and help others to

become, fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.”

Thursdays, May 8-June 96p.m- 8p.m.The Marriage Course is a 7-session course set in a fantastic atmosphere. You will be served with a candlelit meal at a romantic table for two while listening to practical talks that are informative and fun. There is never any group work and you will never be asked to share anything about your relationship with anyone other than your partner. You will discover practical tools to help you:• Understand each other’s needs• Communicate more effectively• Grow closer through resolving conflict• Heal the ways you’ve hurt each other• Recognize how your upbringing affects your relationship• Improve relationships with parents and in-laws• Develop greater sexual intimacy• Discover each other’s love languages and much, much more!

Register for The Marriage Course today www.fbcwilmington.org

Cally Baucom FBC Youth Summ

er Intern

Ashley Corwin FBC Youth Summ

er Intern

Taylor Hamlet FBC Children Summ

er Intern

Attention College Graduates & FamiliesIf you or a family member is graduating from college and you would like to announce this wonderful accomplishment in the Kingdom News, please email Ashton at agourlay@fbcwilmington.org with the name, college/university and degree the student is graduating with.

Graduate Sunday

We hope the FBC church family will make plans to celebrate with our high school seniors on Sunday, June 8, as we recognize this milestone in both morning worship services. We ask that you continue to pray for our seniors as they finish their last exams and projects of high school and also for their families during this exciting time.

Taylor has been an integral part of the children and youth ministries growing up at FBC. She is finishing up her first year at UNC-Chapel Hill and is pursuing an environmental sciences major. Her desire to help aid in the faith journey of other kids, the way previous leaders have helped shape her journey, along with her love of children and

tremendous theater and singing experience will greatly enhance the children ministry this summer. As well as working with our children, Taylor will be empowering all the many volunteers that will help lead the three children

camps and many other ministries this summer. We are honored to have Taylor Hamlet join our team!

Ashley is finishing up her second year at East Carolina University. She is pursuing a social work major with a special interest in child welfare. Ashley was a part of the FBC student ministry as a teenager and is excited to give

back to a ministry that gave so much to her. As a social work major, Ashley hopes to gain some insight on what it would be like to work with this age group. Ashley does a great job of building relationships and

helping young people feel included and we are excited for her to be with us this summer.

Cally is finishing up her second year at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, in Belton, Texas. Cally is pursuing a nursing major with a minor in Christian Studies and has a heart to be a medical missionary one day. Cally wanted to gain some ministry experience in a local church this summer outside of Texas and was intrigued by the unique ministries that make up FBC Wilmington. Cally will devote the majority of her time to our student ministry, but

will also have an opportunity to serve among some of our other ministries as well.

Our fbc SUMMER INTERNSWe love

Leadercast 2014Our Activities Center will return as a viewing site for the national Leadercast Live simulcast on Friday, May 9, from 9:00am to 4:30pm. This year’s theme — Beyond You — challenges leaders to leverage their influence for the sake of others. Come hear world-renowned leaders like Andy Stanley, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Laura Schroff, Dr. Henry Cloud, former first lady Barbara Bush, and others as they help us discover what it means to be a leader worth following. Leadercast takes place in Atlanta, but is simulcast all around the world. We are excited that our Activities Center will be a viewing site for the Wilmington area. Your Leadercast Wilmington ticket provides entry to the event, conference materials, continental breakfast, and catered lunch. For more information and/or to purchase a ticket, please visit http://leadercast.com/location/wilmington.

Celebrating God’s Work Within FBCWhat a great time we had at the Missional Celebration on April 6 focusing on a few of the fantastic ways God is blessing us as a

congregation. Over 160 people gathered in Smith Hall at the Activities Center for an evening of sharing delicious desserts and giving thanks to God for some of the ways we are using the blessings God keeps giving

us to serve as the presence of Jesus in our city and with people from across the globe. College students shared with enthusiasm the difference a team of them

made in Seaside Heights, New Jersey during their spring break from classes. While many students headed south seeking sunshine and frolicking, a group of our mis-sionaries traveled northward into the snow to help families rebuild their homes that were destroyed by the effects of Hurricane Sandy that ravaged the Jersey shore over a year ago. Additionally, we were blessed to have a large contingent of our Karen congregates in attendance as they introduced their new pastor to us. He expressed his deep apprecia-tion with a spirit of humbleness for the ways we have provided hospitality to these precious refugees from Burma that have Baptist roots as deep as our own. Teenag-ers with which we worship and to whom we tutor sang songs of faith in their native language and in English as well as quoted verses of scripture detailing their faith in Christ. A report from the children that took part in the NC State Bible Drill was received warmly as we thanked our adult mentors that helped our children grasp a better understanding on God’s word and be recognized for being winners in the State Drill held in Durham on April 5. Finally, a glimpse of what we intend to do in our city on Mission Possible Day was shared. Put May 31 on your calendars now and plan to be one of the missionaries that prove “the best is yet to be” for the residents of our city.

Sharing Life Together LWelcome New MembersTom and Evelyn Johnson

We welcome Evelyn and Tom Johnson to our fel-lowship as they have come to us by transfer of their membership from First Baptist Church of Oak Island. Evelyn and Tom are quite familiar with us as their daughter and son-in-law, Stacy and Matt Elving-ton, have been part of our church family for the past several years. The Johnsons have retired to our area after Tom had a career in law enforcement in Shelby, NC

and most recently as the Police Chief of Oak Island. Evelyn and Tom are developing new friendships in the Wells Sunday School class and are thrilled to be living just a couple of blocks from their granddaughters, Hadley and Rynley. Welcome!

Douglas StanalandDoug Stanaland has joined us by transfer of his membership from Beach assembly of God in Ocean Isle, NC. After a career in sales, Doug is now retired and has found friendship with those that participate in our weekday worship and lunch held at the Activities Center

each Tuesday at noon. He is a part of the Friendship Sunday school class and worships at The Journey worship service. Doug was introduced to FBC by Deborah Hubbard.

Giving April Goal: $154,529.00

April Receipts: $157,617.41YTD Goal: $618,116.00

YTD Receipts: $638,655.00 Inner City Missions $1,925.65

SympathyChristian sympathy is extended to David Gill on the death of his mother, Lois Gill, on April 7, 2014 in Concord, NH.

Christian sympathy is extended to J Corpening on the death of his father, Julius H. Corpening, on April 2, 2014 in Winston-Salem, NC.

Christian sympathy is extended to Laura Baxter on the death of her father, Morris Baxter, on March 19, 2014, in Hannover, Germany.

Christian sympathy is extended to Fred Harrell on the death of his sister, Sheilah Harrell, on March 29, 2014 in Shallotte, NC.

Christian sympathy is extended to the family of Darrell and Linda Simpson on their deaths April 11, 2014. They were members at FBC for 18 years.

General FundIn memory of Tom Welchel by

FBC DiaconateSmith/West Class

John J. and Ida B. WatsonIn memory of Morris Baxter by

Tommy & Ann MillardIn memory of Frances Baxter & Morris Baxter

by Susan & Carlton Prickettby Coleman & Patti Long

In memory of David McCall by Sid & Donna Livingston

In memory of Jack Davis byJanet & Fred NelsonJohn & Ruth Clayton

Jack & Beth UptonIn honor of Joan & Terry McCall by

Sid & Donna LivingstonIn honor of Todd Thayer’s birthday by

Ronald and Tracey Thayer, Jr.In memory of Preston Newton by

Dr. & Mrs. Aaron H. O’Bier, Jr.In memory of Onree & Louise Fisher by

John & Ruth Clayton, Jr.In memory of Dell Upton by

Jack & Beth Upton

Missions & Ministry In memory of Lamar Brooks by

Mary Margaret Brooks

Tuesday Noon We hope that you will be a part of our May Tuesday Noon Services. We meet each week for a wonderful meal and time of fellowship, followed by a short devotional. The cost of the meal is $5 and no reservation is required. We look forward to seeing you Tuesdays!

May 6: Speaker- Daryl Trexler Menu: Spaghetti, tossed salad, Texas toast & strawberry short cake

May 13: Speaker- Rev. Chris Adams, Curate at St. Andrews On The Sound

Menu: Salad plate: pasta salad, chicken salad, congealed salad and delicious

dessert.

May 20: Speaker- Jim EveretteMenu: End of the Year Picnic!

Check the FBC website for the most updated schedule and menu: www.fbcwilmington.org.

WMU of NCIn memory of Dell Upton byDobson Sunday School Class

In memory of Preston Newton byDobson Sunday School Class

Local MissionsIn memory of Louise & Onree Fisher by

Donn & Melissa Evans

Pastor’s FundIn memory of Velma Gaskins by

Joan MarshallIn honor of Donice Harrod by

Joan Marshall

Senior MinistryIn memory of Velma Gaskins by

Tracy & Nancy Formy-Duval

Baptist Children’s HomesIn memory of Dick Gough by

Mary Gough & Dick Gough, Jr.

Music MinistryIn memory of Susan Marie Knipel by

FBC Chancel ChoirIn memory of Mary Hartley by

FBC Chancel ChoirIn memory of Mack Hall by

FBC Chancel ChoirIn memory of David McCall by

FBC Chancel ChoirIn memory of Norwood Bender

by FBC Chancel Choir

Attendance Worship 642 697 1075 711

Sunday School 489 496 453 547

ArrivalsCongratulations to Steven and Jessica Nelson on the birth of their daughter, Avery Grace, on March 27, 2014. She weighed 8 lbs. 10 oz.Congratulations to Brent and Ashley Wells on the birth of their son, William Austin, on March 18, 2014. He weighed 9 lbs. 2 oz.

Ringing of the BellBell ringers are needed after the 11:00 worship services on Sundays. If you can help in this unique opportunity, please contact Joe Capell at jcapell@fbcwilmington.org.

APR6

APR 20

APR27

APR 13

1268 Including Sunrise Service

NC Baptist Hospital Mother’s Day Mission Offering Goal $3,000You will find a special envelope in your pack of offering envelopes for the month of May. This special envelope is to be used for financial donations you would like to make to support the CareNet Counseling Center ministry of the North Carolina Baptist Hospital. Giving Hope is the theme of this year’s offering and it is named appropriately. The CareNet Counseling Center has been providing hope for people in crisis and healing of the emotional maladies that have wounded and scarred many hurt-ing people since its earliest days of ministry in our community. Our church has provided foundational support with our financ-es, counselors, volunteers, encouragers and by referring family members and friends to the superior staff of CareNet. Members of our pastoral staff do not hesitate to refer people in crisis to the Care Net Counseling Center because we view CareNet as the counseling ministry of our church. Wilmington is fortunate to have a CareNet Center in our city, and the ministry of our

church is strengthened by our partnership with them.

A Retreat of Fellowship & FunA great group of Karen middle school and high school students joined sev-eral First Baptist adult chaperones and GPS college student leaders to spend a terrific weekend on retreat at Myrtle Beach . They spent three days and two nights building relationships and studying God’s Word. Our Bible Study topic this year was Jesus: The Way, the Truth and the Life. We studied the seven I AM statements of Jesus. An equal amount of time was spent in the heated pool and lazy river of the Breakers Resort hotel and out on the beach playing volleyball, football and fris-

bee. Each GPS college student and adult chaperone were assigned 3 Karen/Burmese students for each of the Bible Study times together. We ate a lot of rice and shared a lot of Jesus’ Excessive Love! We returned from Myrtle Beach to provide several songs for the Missional Celebration held at the Activities Center that Sunday night. A great time was had by all.

Terri and Craig Hutchinson

Sherri and Mark Sexton

Mother’s Day OfferingNorth Carolina Baptist Hospital

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God.” ~ Romans 8:28

Your gift helps patients in times of suffering and financial need pay their hospital bills — in the name of Jesus Christ. See the life-changing difference at www.mothersdayoffering.org.

“The Mother’s Day Offering intensified my faith in people and in God: I know everything will work out.” ~ Terri Hutchinson

“I want to thank every person who gave to help us. Please don’t pass the Offering by. Everything

you give helps someone in need.” ~ Sherri Sexton

Welcome FBC’S New Church Secretary

Please join us in welcoming Deborah Rivenbark as the newest member of our staff. We are so excited that Deborah will be joining our team as our Church Secretary. Deborah brings with her a wealth of administrative support experience, as well as a kind and loving spirit. You may already know Deborah as she is a member of FBC Wilmington and is no stranger to many of our members. She began her new full-time role here at FBC on April 22nd. We invite you to join us in welcoming Deborah to our team!

UpcomingWorship Services

May 4“Putting the “DO” in I DO”

1 John 3:17-18Daryl Trexler

May 11Beyond the Bachelor Pad

1 John 4:7-12Matt Cook

Salt for the CityMay 18

“Flowers in the City”Jeremiah 29:4-7

Matt Cook

May 25“Salt and City”

Matthew 5:13-16Jim Everette

June 1Isaiah 58:6-10Jim Everette

Children of the DayA new Beth Moore Bible Study will begin Wednesday, June 4th, at

10:00 a.m. at the Activities Cen-ter. We will study Children of the

Day which focuses on 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. Your circumstances

and conditions are not coincidental in your journey. God’s timing is impec-cable. Join Beth Moore on the Thes-salonian shores as you face real crises, real medical diagnoses, real afflictions, real relationships, real doubts, real con-cerns, and real fears. Let’s not brush the sand off quickly. Let’s sit a while and let the tide come in and wash our eyes with fresh vision for 8 beautiful weeks. This 8-week study will be led by Barbara Williams. Register by calling Gaye Thomas at 910-791-2943 or jthomas14@ec.rr.com.

“Invite Your Neighbor” Service

The FBC family is invited to the “Invite Your Neighbor” service at the Temple of Israel, at 8:00 on Friday, May 9th. The last four have been very popular, with the opportunity to learn about the Jewish Sabbath evening service, get a close-up look at the Torah scroll, and meet members of the Temple and community. This is purely for educational and goodwill purposes. There

are refreshments following, and all are invited.

ARE

YOUTH CHAPERONES & VOLUNTEERS:

The Children's Ministry is planning for a wonderful summer sharing the love of Jesus to children of FBC and their friends. Are you interested in joining this great team of camp leaders? Big and small jobs are all needed to make camp ministry successful. We are in great need of Camp Jonah volunteers in the following specific areas: sports elective leaders, jugglers, acrobats or tumbling, walking on stilts. Also, Fine Arts

is looking for folks willing to be ‘shepherds’ for the different age groups as they move to multiple activities. If you have any of these gifts and would like to help, please contact Mrs. Jeannie at 763-2471 or jtroutman@fbcwilmington.org.

Youth 9th-12th grade are needed to chaperone Camp Jonah (June 23-27), Fine Arts Camp (July 14-18) and Camp Creation (July 8-10). If you can help this summer, please contact Cindy Hudson for Camp Creation at 910-471-2901 or cindyahud-son@hotmail.com or Jeannie Troutman for Camp Jonah & Fine Arts Camp at 910-352-4355 (call or text name & grade). Camps are not possible without our teenagers serving in this great summer ministry so thanks in advance for your help!

CAMP JONAH - JUNE 23-27 CAMP CREATION- JULY 8-10FINE ARTS CAMP- JULY 14-18 JR. DISCIPLESHIP MAY 2-4

YOU INVITED!

VOLUNTEERS :

YOUTH Chaperones:

Welcome FBC’S New Church Secretary

Please join us in welcoming Deborah Rivenbark as the newest member of our staff. We are so excited that Deborah will be joining our team as our Church Secretary. Deborah brings with her a wealth of administrative support experience, as well as a kind and loving spirit. You may already know Deborah as she is a member of FBC Wilmington and is no stranger to many of our members. She began her new full-time role here at FBC on April 22nd. We invite you to join us in welcoming Deborah to our team!

411 Market StreetWilmington, NC 28401

Kingdom News is a monthly publication of First Baptist Church of Wilmington, NC

USPS-295-400411 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28401

Periodicals postage paid at Wilmington, NC

Back to Basics Course on the Bible Begins June 8th

It is said that at the beginning of each season, legendary football coach Vince Lombardi would sit his team down, hold a football in his hand high up in the air and say to his team, “This is a football.”

Getting back to basics restarts good habits and corrects some bad ones. It helps us to ensure that all that we do is built on a sure and firm foundation and reminds us of why we do what we do and how to do it well.

The same is true in our discipleship. We all need to get back to basics every now and then. Prayer, Bible, Mission. The firm foundation of our faith. In 2014, as we focus on Discipleship and being more deeply ROOTED in Jesus, we are offering Back to Basics

courses on these three topics. Back to Basics – KNOW will be offered on Sunday mornings, June 8th – 22nd, from

10-10:50am in the Media Center. The three-week course will focus on the Bible. Where did we get our Bible? How was it put together?

How do we understand the Bible? What is the overarching story that it tells?

Why is the Bible so important to our Christian faith? To our relationship with God?

How can we read the Bible in ways that make a difference in how we live every day?

Space is limited. Register at www.fbcwilmington.org