Steven Smithson, Pastor John Holland, Minister of Music & Senior Adults

Tyson McIntyre, Minister of Students Jason Mercer, Minister of Children

First Baptist Church

201 East Court St.

Winnfield, LA 71483

318-628-3544

VOL. 85 I NO. 1

January 8, 2017

Calendar of Events

Youth Camp Out 1.06

Associational Prayer Rally at FBC

1.08

WMU Meetings 1.03 & 1.10

Deacons’ Meeting 1.08

Wednesday Night Activities resume

1.11

Vision Sunday 1.15

Senior Adult Luncheon 1.19

Greetings Friends, Welcome 2017!?. I ended that sentence with three punctuation marks intentionally because these are the ways that people typically approach the future. Consider, which of these categories are you in? Some approach the future with excitement and joy. They are exclamation point people that are ready to walk into the new year. Others welcome a new year and new things in general with apprehension and questions. It is not always that they are stuck in the past, though this is sometimes the case. It is that the future can be confusing and uncertain as we are dealing with unknowns. Finally, some people see the future as a reality that cannot be avoided. These period people are not excited, nor do they have major concerns. For them, the future isn't a question of good or bad, hope or dread, it is just a reality to accept and embrace. Churches have each of these people in them. They can all be very helpful as they work together. As your pastor, I want to remind you as we begin this new year, we are better together. A healthy church comes from healthy believers who focus on God and the benefit of others. I am praying that this year will be a year of kingdom growth and health and impact. Growth always runs on the track of change. Any time that you have grown personally, it was because you changed. Change can be both the stimulus of growth and the result of growth. Would you begin to ask the Lord to change your heart? Ask Him to make you become more aware of His presence and His desires for you and for our church this year. I am praying for this constantly and I hope you will join me in that prayer. Finally, I want you to make plans to attend our Vision Sunday on January 15th. During Vision Sunday evening, we will look at where we have been and where we are going as a unified body of believers. In my last evangel post I said that Communication and Connection would be themes for 2017. I want you to be a part of this special night so that I can address some opportunities and obstacles that stand before us. I can’t wait to see you this Sunday. I love you. Keep Moving Forward, Pastor Steven

Offering Envelopes are available in the Church Welcome Center.

All Wednesday night activities will resume on January 11, 2017.

Sunday, January 8 9:00 - 9:45 AM Library open 9:40 AM Sunday School 10:40 AM Preschool Worship 11:00 AM Morning Worship 12:00 PM Youth Leadership Meeting 4:30 PM Deacons’ Meeting 6:00 PM Associational Prayer Rally Tuesday, January 10 7:00 AM Men's Prayer Breakfast 6:00 PM WMU Meeting Wednesday, January 11 7:00 AM Youth Prayer Breakfast 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Library open 6:00 PM Prayer Meeting 6:00 PM Kids on Mission 6:20 PM OneEighty 7:00 PM Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

Associational Prayer Rally for

Winn Parish Crusade Sunday, January 8, 2017

6:00 p.m. First Baptist Church Sanctuary

Deacons’ Meeting

4:30 p.m. Sunday, January 8, 2017

“Food of the Month” January—Lagniappe

Updates and information concerning FBC are available at www.fbcwinn.com.

Youth group T-Shirts - Our youth group t-shirts are here! Only $5 per shirt while supplies last. We also have free Youth Worker Shirts for our volunteers!!! Try to wear these Wednesday nights! If you haven't picked yours up, do it soon!

Sunday School! - Sunday morning from 9:40-10:45 a.m. in the youth room. Get connected. Wake up and come join us!!! No excuses.

OneEighty - Wednesday nights at 6:20 p.m. on the 3rd floor. Bring all your friends and join us for games, worship, and Jesus! OneEighty will resume January 11, 2017.

Youth Prayer Breakfast - Every week we have school, we have Prayer Breakfast! Each Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. at McDonalds! Bring money if you want food. Start your day with friends and Jesus!

Student Leadership Meeting - Next meeting: January

8th after church on the 3rd floor! Applications are

available now ‘til January 8th for students who are

interested in joining SL! After that our group will be

closed and the team will be set for the rest of the

semester.

Disciple Now - D-NOW - Mark your calendar for the first weekend in February 2017. D-NOW will be held on February 3rd through 5th .

Children’s Bible Drill Sunday, January 8, 2017 4:30 p.m.

Kids On Mission Wednesday, January 11, 2017

6:00 pm.

Music Notes

Merry Christmas, Jesus Loves You! A couple of weeks ago, Brother Steven “dared us…double dog dared us…no triple dog dared us” to say “Merry Christmas, Jesus Loves You” to at least 40 people. I took his challenge and began immediately after the worship service because it was easy to say to our own church members. However, the next day when I began to greet people around and in stores, it took a little more effort. I was determined to meet the goal, so I began to make a concerted effort to work the phrase into my conversations with people. Before I knew it, my goal had been met and I even exceeded it! I have to confess that the simple phrase did help promote the Christmas spirit! Now if we can just continually remind ourselves that the spirit of Christmas should last all year long in our hearts. Maybe that would be a good challenge for us throughout the new year! Senior Adult Luncheon Revivals Coming up on the horizon in the near future will be an associational revival crusade. There could be no better way to begin the new year than with a sense of revival! My prayer for 2017 is that we will experience a renewal and revival within our church and community. In an effort to do this, we will begin a series of monthly Luncheon Revivals which will include a different guest speaker each month. In addition to an inspiring mini-message, you will be treated to a meal, so call the church office and sign up now. The first luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, January 19 at 11:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room, so bring a friend and come join us! John

BIRTHS

Joseph Shelton Davis November 28, 2016

William Carter Cummings

December 26, 2016

Children’s Summer Camp 2017

Parent Meeting

Sunday Jan. 29, 2017 FBC Café 5:00 p.m. Pre-K - 6th grade

First Baptist Church EVANGEL (USPS 042-320) is published weekly by First Baptist Church, 201 E. Court St., Winnfield, LA 71483-0230. “Periodicals” Postage paid at Winnfield, LA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH EVANGEL, P.O. Box 230, Winnfield, LA 71483-0230 Editor......................................FBC STAFF

FOR THE RECORD

(January 1, 2017)

Sunday School Attendance

Adults 108 Youth 32 Children 24 Pre School 7

Total 171

Tithes & Offerings December 25, 2016— end of 2016 year

Budget Required $ 15,865.85

Budget $ 44,508.20

Designated $ 3,237.00

Total $ 47,745.20

Restoring God's House $ 4,235.00

Year-to-Date

Budget Required $ 825,024.20

Year-to-Date

Budget Receipts $ 842,387.32

Over (Under) Budget $ 17,363.12

Restoring God’s House

Beginning Balance $ 597,924.00

Current Balance $ 90,240.11

Tithes & Offerings January 1, 2017

Budget $ 15,596.00

Designated $ 484.00

Total $ 16,080.00

Restoring God's House $ 75.00

Restoring God’s House

Beginning Balance $ 597,924.00

Current Balance $ 90,240.11

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8

Beth Collier, Marjorie Price

MONDAY, JANUARY 9

Jackie Collins, Alon Shelton

TUESDAY, JANUARY 10

Luke Cummings, Brenda Etheridge, Lance Gardner

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

Erica Allwell, Denise Laughlin,

Kerrigan Worsham

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12

Paige Marionneaux

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13

Kristy Avant, Brent Chandler

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14

Bobby Roberts, Shirley White

First Baptist Church Winnfield

Disciples Making Disciples

Rodger Jones Shirley Jones

given by Kiah and Jan Beville

In Memory of:

Extended Session

January 8, 2017

Eric & Shanna Dupree

Sunday January 8

Genesis 24-25

Monday January 9

Genesis 26-27

Tuesday January 10

Genesis 28-30

Wednesday January 11

Genesis 31-32

Thursday January 12

Genesis 33-35

Friday January 13

Genesis 36-38

Saturday January 14 Genesis 39-41

Sunday January 15 Genesis 42-44