Senior Pastor Daryl Evans Assoc Pastor Brian King Youth Pastor Josh Medlin

701 N. 7th St. Fairbury, IL

815-692-2654 fbcfairbury@gmail.com www.fbcfairbury.com

Sunday School: 8:45 am

Worship: 10 am

Deacons Alan Dunahee

Mark Haab, Jerry Huddleston,

Ken Masuda, Wayne Nelson,

Dave Taylor

January 2019

Looking Forward, Looking Back

It is the beginning of a new year, with all that represents: starting a new church

year, starting a new calendar; remembering to write “2019” instead of “2018.” A new year is a time to look forward, at all the potential the new year holds.

That’s why we make new year’s resolutions — January brings a feeling of a fresh start, and we can think in terms of getting a new beginning on all those

things in which we fell short last year. This year I’m going to discipline my time

better — even better than I was going to discipline my time last year! This year I’m really going to get in shape just like I said I was going to get in shape last

January!

The beginning of a new year is also a time to look back and reflect on the people and events which played a part in your life and ministry. Can you think of some

special people who made a real contribution to your life during the past year?

I am thankful for all of those who make the ministry of First Baptist Church

possible: the people who serve on administrative council and the many committee members of each com-mittee; the folks who keep our church clean, making sure everything is in order; our deacons who pray

and serve the church body in so many ways and who are men that I rely on and trust in their wisdom and discernment; our entire staff including Pastor Brian, Pastor Josh, and our secretary Patsy; those who serve

in a kids ministries that is ever expanding including weekly AWANA and our winter Upward Basketball

program; our worship teams and those involved in our Sunday Worship services; and for the many people that do things behind the scenes that often go unnoticed, I salute you and thank you for making First

Baptist Church a light for our community.

As I look back and reflect, I am also thankful for the lives of friends we have lost in 2018. In the past 12 months, we have said goodbye to some members and others connected closely to First Baptist including

Shirley Herron, Martin Travis, Mike DeBartoli, Nancy Ifft, Ray Bahler, Barbara & James Flood, Ina Westerfield, Dale Strike, Mary Ann Boruff, Clinton & Dorothy Denham, Mildred Sommer, Connie Wil-

liams, Frances Brown, Marjie Barnes, John Brown, Bill Brown, and Greg White (I apologize if I missed

anyone). We had more funerals at the church this year than any year in recent memory.

We all stand on the shoulders of many influential members that have gone on before us, enabling us to

look ahead even farther than we otherwise could. As I look ahead to a fresh year, I see great things on the

horizon. I am so excited about the new families that have become a regular part of our worship services. In 2018 we had 18 baptisms and we will have more baptisms early in January too! I see new faces coming

on the scene to “stand in the gap.” As 2019 begins, I am excited about the unseen blessings yet to be received: new people who will be a part of this work, new leaders who will emerge to become models for

the rest of us, new experiences that God will use in our lives to strengthen and encourage us to greater

effectiveness.

My desire, as your pastor, is that we are equipping you and giving you opportunities to use your abilities

and your God-given spiritual gifts. First Baptist Church becomes the church that God wants us to be

when you are using your gifts in service to Christ the King! What has God called you to do this year?

Let each one of us strive to take the message of Jesus Christ to the world!

It’s going to be a good year.

Thankful for each of you,

Pastor Daryl

From the Office of Assoc Pastor Brian King

Love Always Wins

Lesley and I just had our second grandson one week before Christmas. What a wonderful time

of the year it is already and then to have the gift of life to hold and meet for the very first time. I

was holding him just a few hours after his birth into this new world and his little eyes were

closed as I was talking to him and telling him how blessed we were to have him here and how

happy we all were. Suddenly, he opened his little blue eyes and looked up at me as I continued

to share my heart of thankfulness. This little boy looked at me like he knew exactly what I was

talking about. It was at that point I realized I had a love for this little blue eyed boy who I barely

knew. The love for this new baby came over me like a tidal wave, a love so great that every part

of his little face was so beautiful, his little fingers to his little toes were amazing to see this

wonderful gift from God. People would always tell us that there is nothing like being a grand-

parent. I can say that this is so true.

Since this is the case in loving my family and grandchildren so much, can you just take a mo-

ment and think about how much God loves you and me. When he sees us, He sees more than

you and I. He does not see our flaws, our imperfections like we may in one another. He looks

always through the eyes of love, showing us and telling us every moment of the day how im-

portant we are to him, how valuable we are to Him. He sees us so different than we see our-

selves or how we at times see others. His love for us is described so well in I Cor. 13 and also

how we are to model that love towards others. Why should I love any other way towards any-

one else differently than the way God loves. Can we do this and still be happy, fulfilled and

obedient to His way of His plans and purposes for our lives? Can we choose to be different in

loving others and then expect God to answer our prayers and bless us to be a blessing? Can our

hearts be truly set free if we do not let God’s love flow through us? Can I be a witness for Jesus

Christ if I do not love the way He loves me? Do people look at me and see the love of the Fa-

ther in me or do they see me as just another church attendee? Is the love of my grandson greater

than the love I have for others who are lost and without Christ? Is my love for my family,

friends, church family and neighbors conditional on how I feel and if they are treating me well?

I believe, if we all could just take a moment and realize that “love always wins” out in dealing

with whatever relationship problems we may encounter. Loving people well just like our Heav-

enly Father loves us in also the way He wants us to love others.

Looking into the face of my new grandson and seeing only perfection and beauty is really how

God looks at us. His creation, His purpose, His plan for us, because we are made in His image

through the love of a caring and loving Father. We all need to make this year of 2019 the great-

est year of loving like He loves, to all we come into contact with. Let us love one another like

never before. The Greatest of these is to love.

Congratulations to Pastor Brian & Lesley as they welcome

their 2nd grandchild, Lincoln Isaiah.

Lincoln is the son of Mike & Hannah Henrichs

and was born December 18.

Medlin’s

Minist

ry Messa

ge

We are busy working to put together 21 Teams for our Upward Basketball

program this year! We have a record-breaking number of kids signed up with 188 kids planning to play Basketball within our

Church walls! We also have 44 Coaches planning to help us make this year a blessing to the Upward families.

We will start our Upward practices the week of January 7th. Games will start Saturday, January 19th.

We are doing something different this year to adapt to the ever-increasing number of kids and limited gym availability. We

are planning to have one (1) Bye-week for each team in our league. What this means is every team will have one week throughout the

season where they do not have a game. This will allow every team to have a better number of kids with the amount of coaches and gym

time available on Saturdays for games.

We hope to have Coaches contacted with rosters and families informed of

their schedules before January 1st. I am committed to making sure that we have

clear and frequent communication with Parents and Coaches throughout the season! We hope to continue to improve our basketball program every year as

the program continues to bless more and more families.

If you are interested in refereeing or speaking as a Half time Devotion

speaker! We need all the help we can get in those areas!

Be praying for a great year for Upward Basketball!

Blessings, Pastor Josh

Mission Committee Minute

January 14

7 pm

After Worship—January 6 there will be a Meeting for All Those Serious about going

to Brazil March 30-April 7. Information will be available on how to proceed with needed

items just as Visa, Passport, Yellow Fever vaccination and other needed vaccinations.

Costs will be discussed and tentative plans will be made. If you are unable to attend

this meeting please contact Terry Zimmerman prior to January 6.

FBC of Fairbury sent 162 shoeboxes to children

around the world. If you paid your postage

online you can now “track” your box.

Go to www. Samaritanspurse.org/operation-Christmas-child

Click on the Follow Your Box Look-Up Tool

Enter the email address you used or the Bar Code # from your box.

Mine went to Madagascar. Madagascar is a country of 25 million people located off the

coast of southeast Africa. 40% of the population is 14 years or younger. I’m curious to know

where others went, so when you find out please let me know. —-Patsy

Mark Your Calendars —— January 13

Baptisms in Worship / Potluck After

Annual Meeting will be held on

Monday, January 14 at 7 pm.

We encourage ALL members to come.

March 30—April 7

1 - Tammy Hoffman

1 - Debbie Vaughan

Don & Lisa Schmid

Jan 1, 2000 (19 yrs)

3 - Tessa Klus

Thom & Kathy Ladeairous

Jan 3, 1976 (43 yrs)

5 - Caden Addis

5 - Gene Jones

7 - Adam Short

8 - Sharon Cooper

8 - Andy Lassiter

8 - Mike Steidinger

9 - Jackson Broquard

9 - Carrie Rafferty

11 - Kiley Addis

12 - Derek Stephens

13 - Brad Haab

14 - Courtney Farrell

14 - Cole Vaughan

15 - Tom Yoder

17 - Tim Pickett

18 - Mary Beth Slagel

19 - Nicole Medlin

20 - Mark Wilson

21 - Gary Huston

Gary & Sharon Cooper

Jan 21, 1962 (57 yrs)

Jim & Diane Krueger

Jan 21, 1984 (35 yrs)

24 - Doc Janecek

24 - Lesley King

24 - Bill Munz

26 - Dennis Brummitt

26 - Ivan Miller

27 - Nic Henson

28 - Courtney Johnson

29 - Barb Taylor

30 - Janet Klossing

Online giving (tithe.ly) is an easy convenient way to tithe

through the church website (fbcfairbury.com/Giving) or a

phone app.

One of the most powerful things one person can share with another is encouragement.

Encouragement can stop a suicide, a divorce, and countless other tragedies. A word of

encouragement can heal someone who is broken and wounded. It can give someone the

courage to keep trying.

Our world is full of negative, bitter, uncaring people who can’t say anything good about

anyone or anything. The people of God should be a radiant contrast to the people of the

world. We should bubble over with the joy of the Holy Spirit. We should find it easy to be

positive and uplifting.

Are you an encouragement to those around you? Don’t let someone die from neglect and

lack of encouragement. Share your Christian joy by encouraging those around you on a

regular basis!!

Schedules

Ushers: Any questions/changes can be directed to Dave Buchanan (815-848-1057).

January: Mark Davis, Matt Davis, Aaron Gerber, Paul Mason,

Curtis Meiss, Chuck Mueller, Delmar Platz, Darryl Stiles

Greeters: Any questions/changes can be directed to Sue Gero (815-692-3232).

Jan 6 SS & Worship: Barb Kaeb, Carol Walls, Linda Hoffman

Worship Only: Jerry & Kathie Huddleston

(Sub: Sue Gero)

Jan 13 SS & Worship: Barb Taylor, Mary Streitmatter, Connie Haas

Worship Only: Evelyn Yoder

(Sub: Mark Strike)

Jan 20 SS & Worship: Betty J Lawrence, Aaron & Jeni Gerber

Worship Only: Darryl & Peg Stiles

(Sub: Sue Gero)

Jan 27 SS Only: Rita Meiss Worship Only: George & Sue Gero

SS & Worship: Arnold Ifft, Joy Mason

(Sub: Dawn Metz)

Children’s Church: Any questions/changes can be directed to Nicole Ricketts (309-287-4840).

Pre-K/Kdg Elementary

Jan 6 Deanna Evans Joy Mason / Lauren Broquard

Jan 13 Carol Nelson Destiny Rothert

Jan 20 Joni Kilgus Tiffany Cooley

Jan 27 Kendra Broquard Dede Traub

Nursery: Any questions/changes should be directed to Kendra Broquard (309-242-3538).

Sunday School Worship / Front Only

Tanya Rothert Jan 6 Lassiter Family

Brenda Mueller Jan 13 Emily Jones

Linda Broquard/Lynette Johnson Jan 20 Amy Bachtold

Arla Wheeler Jan 27 Brynn Stephens