Newsletter for July 16, 2025

First Baptist Church is putting together a special cookbook, and we need your help! Our goal is to celebrate the legacy of faith, family, and fellowship by gathering cherished recipes that have been passed down through generations, recipes you love and want to share with others.

We are collecting recipes. Here are ways you can contribute.

• Request a link from Jonathan and you will able to helps us out by typing a recipe in.
• Pickup a form from the church and fill out your information. 
• Download and print of a form. Click Here

Let’s preserve and share the flavors of our church family!
Please see Sue Mastrario, Nel Meyer, or Jonathan if you have any questions.  

SPARK Leadership Conference – Sunday, September 7, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM – 8:15 PM
Location: Sherwood Baptist Church, 2201 Whispering Pines Rd, Albany, GA
Cost: $15 per person

SPARK is a one-day leadership event designed to equip and encourage everyone involved in ministry—from pastors and worship leaders to Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and more. Whether you're new to ministry or have years of experience, there’s something for everyone.

Jonathan Perry will be attending—see him if you'd like to go with him!
The evening includes a keynote message from Dr. Mark Clifton, breakout sessions, and a light supper. Don’t miss this great opportunity to grow and connect!

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025 at 5:00 PM

The sanctuary flowers used each Sunday are in need of a refresh, and the church would greatly benefit from new arrangements. If you’d like to help enhance the beauty of our worship space, a designated Flower Fund has been established for contributions. Thank you for your support!

If you would be willing to serve on our nursery rotation, please see Eilene Perry or send us a message through our contact form. While we don’t have children every Sunday, we want to ensure this ministry is staffed and ready whenever families need it.

Your willingness to serve helps us extend love and care to the youngest members of our church family.

Kids, Youth, Parents, and Senior Adults: Friday, July 25th

Young People paint ornaments starting at 10:00 AM
Everyone enjoys lunch at 11:30 AM
Adults Painting Time: From 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

Cost: 1 ornament for $5 or 4 for $20 (all supplies included)

Sign up sheets are in your Sunday School or contact Jonathan.

Don’t miss Brother David’s Mid-Week Devotions in Psalms!
New messages are posted every Wednesday on our media page—take a midweek moment to be encouraged and refreshed in God’s Word.

Budget for 2025 . . . . . . . .  $329,624.00
Tithes Needed to Date . . . . $177,490.04
Received to Date . . . . . . . . $149,859.12       
Needed for weekly budget . . . $6,338.93
Tithes Received this week . . .  $3,707.00

Can God really be trusted?  We face that question in every circumstance in every day.  We face it in needs, problems, confusion, fear, sorrow, hopes, and dreams.  The deciding factor of every circumstance is our estimation of the trustworthiness of God.

But, we really shouldn’t have any questions about God’s trustworthiness.  Everything in His Word shows He is worthy of our trust.  In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul reminds us of Israel’s experience in the wilderness after God had brought them out of Egypt.  In verse 11 he wrote, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”  All of Israel’s experiences serve as lessons for our walk with the Lord.  Their experiences show why we can trust the Lord.
What do we learn from Israel?  We learn of God’s presence with us.  God was visibly with Israel when they were in the wilderness.  He appeared as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 40:38).

No, we don’t have a visible cloud or fire over our heads.  We have the Holy Spirit within us.  He helps and encourages us (John 14:16-17).  He will teach us and bring to our minds what He has taught us (John 14:26).  He equips us for service (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).  We have God with us.  He is not “up there somewhere”.  He has come to live within us.

We also learn God’s provision.  No, we don’t experience manna every morning (Exodus 16:35).  But God has promised to meet our every need (Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:19).  Sometimes He provides in unexpected skills, abilities, and opportunities.  It is all from Him.  He is worthy of our trust.  He will provide.

Last, we think about God’s protection.  God protected Israel from all their enemies and the dangers they faced.  Our wonderful Shepherd protects us even in the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4).  No matter what is frightening us, we can trust our Lord.
Israel shows us we can trust God in the real issues of life.  Whatever you are facing, you can trust Him.  He will not fail you.