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Missionary’s Musings by Bobby Braswell, Jr.
When my son was married a few years ago it occurred to me that I was part of the oldest generation left on my dad’s side of the family. My dad had passed away along with every one of his eight siblings. Things have changed and they’re not changing back. I noticed it first when my mom died back in 1998. An important linchpin was gone. The human who was the centering, anchoring force was gone and we were temporarily set adrift. After my dad (too quickly) remarried we wondered, where was the family Christmas gathering going to be observed? Family equilibrium was upset. In some ways, now, even 21 Christmases later it doesn’t feel the same (but it’s getting there).
Ours isn’t an isolated or uncommon experience. It’s universal. In Scrooge’s vision of what might be, Bob Cratchit lamented Tiny Tim’s passing as “the first parting there was among us.” But those painful partings come with undeniable and irresistible frequency in all our families. I’m wading in deep here. What can we say, “Chin up?” How do we deal with these too frequent partings and changes and holiday blues and all the rest?
To begin with my mom would never have wanted the focus to be on herself at Christmas. She baked a gazillion cupcakes for the kids at the youth detention center. She threw parties for marginalized kids and shared the love of Christ with them. She’d have wanted us to behave similarly—to live outwardly—to find someone vulnerable and be the hands and feet of Christ to them. I know it’s cliché, but she’d have wanted us to make much of Jesus on His birthday celebration.
Stephen Chbosky said, "Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody." Whatever changes in our ever changing, transient lives, there is one centering reality. And as much as I love and admire my mom, it wasn’t really her. It was the One she stood for who of course gave context and meaning to the celebration of Christmas. “When Christ, who is our life, appears, you also will appear with Him in Glory” (Colossians 3:4).
Food Pantry Needs : canned tuna,
chicken, salmon, ham, Spam, Vienna
sausage, spaghetti sauce &
noodles, Jello, pork and beans...
Resources on the Net at middlebaptistassociation.org •Printable Lighthouse & Online Version
•Event Trailer Registration Request form
•Pastor Supply list •Training Available for Your Church
•MBA Churches and addresses….MORE!
Coming in January...Bible Study, Evangelism Conference,
NOBA Conference, VBS Jumpstart, REELfest, Kids Summit...
Event Trailer request form is on our website for our member churches.
First come, first serve basis. (912)564-2884 for calendar check!
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Check online Resource Center:
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SUPPORT MISSIONS WITH EMPTY INKJET CARTRIDGES.
THERE’S A COLLECTION BOX & POSTPAID MAILERS AT MISSION
CTR. PROCEEDS SUPPORT MISSIONS. RECYCLE!
Happy Birthday to:
George Pabst–6-Crossroads
Lynn Roberson–8-Pine Street
Pete Wall–15-Evangelist
Susan Edenfield-23-Lil Ogeechee
Rick West-23-Corinth
Nancy Moore-24-Elam-Egypt
Josh Slater-26-Rocky Ford
Shirley Brown–30-Retired
For Basic help with a website…call the Mission Center!
(912)564-2884
First Baptist Springfield January 21st
FREE Event!!!
At our VBS Jumpstarts, we’ll be discussing creative ways to invite your community to VBS, ideas for enlisting and training your leaders, and exploring and digging into the LifeWay’s VBS curriculum. Take your team!
2020 January
Bible Study
December 23rd thru January 2nd
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the MBA,
Bro. Bobby & Annora
The Lighthouse December 2019
Newsletter
1471 Frontage Road—P.O. Box 160 Sylvania, Georgia 30467
Email: [email protected] Web: www.middlebaptistassociation.org
FB: Middle Baptist Association
Bobby Braswell, Jr. Associational Missionary
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (912)657-5889 Office: (912)564-2884
NAMB’s 3 Point Discipleship Free training from the MBA
Call and schedule an “In-House” session at your church (912)564-2884.
Church News and More… First Baptist Church Sylvania will present “Emmanuel– Celebrating Heaven’s Child” on December 8th at 11am performed by the sanctuary choir and friends from GSU. All invited to come and enjoy!
Elam Millen Baptist Church News: The Christian Index featured Elam Baptist Church in the November 25th Edition in an article titled “Gathering and Giving leads to Growing at Elam Baptist in Millen”. The online publication highlighted their outreach in Portal, increased baptisms and attendance, and their foster care ministry. Read it online!
Oak Hill Baptist Church News: Upward Basketball and Cheerleading Season practices begin in December and games in January. Call 478-982-1616 for more information.
Elam-Egypt Baptist Church News: There will be a Lottie Moon Auction on December 8th. They are collecting Christmas Backpacks to deliver on a mission trip to Tennessee on December 13-14. Join them for a Candlelight Communion
on December 24th. Ring in 2020 at their annual Oyster Roast on December 31st.
First Baptist Springfield’s Sanctuary Choir and Children’s Choir will be “Waiting for Christmas” on Sunday, December 15th at 6pm with a musical of faith and hope about the joys set before us as believers in Jesus Christ. Join them and stay for refreshments.
Rocky Ford Baptist Church will have a musical celebration on December 15th at 6pm. All invited!
Memorial Baptist Church will host a 5th Sunday Sing on December 29th at 6pm. All invited!
West Millen Baptist invites all to their Christmas luncheon on December 15th and their musical celebration on December 22nd.
To volunteer for the 2020 Behold the Lamb at the Wall farm around Easter, call/text Gina Wall at (912)682-9791.
We need 100% Participation!!!
The Annual Church Reports have been
sent out. Please make this a priority to
fill out as soon as possible!
Clerks, Pastors, Treasurers...Please Prioritize!!!
Call Annora for help, information or paper copies
(912)564-2884.
DECEMBER 1-8 WEEK OF PRAYER
MBA Pastors & Wives Christmas Party December 12th
6:30pm Black Creek Scout
Reservation
Please RSVP ASAP (912)564-2884
$20 - January 17-18 - FBC Dublin Youth choirs, orchestras, and individual students can attend this event to experience a time of musical inspiration. Join together with others from the state to sing and play new music.
