Newsletter for July 30, 2025

Instead of our regular Wednesday night prayer meeting, First Baptist Church will gather at the Elementary School for a special time of prayer. We invite everyone to join us in front of the school as we lift up our students, teachers, staff, and community before the start of the new school year.

Let’s come together in faith and unity as we seek God’s guidance and blessing over our schools.

Join us for a powerful 7-week journey through the Gospel of Luke with Kristi McLelland’s study, Luke in the Land. Together, we’ll explore the life and ministry of Jesus through the lens of His first-century world.

Begins Tuesday, September 23 at 1:30 PM
Family Ministry Building

To ensure everyone receives a workbook before the first session, please sign up by August 17.

To register, call or text Elizabeth See at (xxx) 567-1708.
Come walk where Jesus walked—and grow in faith, fellowship, and understanding.

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, 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.

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 . . . . $190,167.90
Received to Date . . . . . . . . $158,960.26       
Needed for weekly budget . . . $6,338.93
Tithes Received this week . . .  $6,468.18

Are you especially needing God’s deliverance and intervention today?  While we need God for every breathe of air, there are times where our need for Him is exceedingly great.  We often face times of adversity, difficulty, fear, need, broken- heartedness, and fatigue that intensifies our need for God.

David was in just such a time in Psalm 11.  While the historical situation is not revealed, it is obvious that it is a time of great need.  Yet, as we read the psalm, we see David is confident of God’s security and sufficiency.  It is those around him who are fearful and uncertain.  What was David doing that his advisors and friends weren’t doing?  What do we learn from David?

First, trust God’s security.  Our security is found in God, not our circumstances.  David’s advisors said to run away (v. 1b-3).  David didn’t need to run away.  He knew he was secure in the Lord.  He began this psalm by saying, “In the Lord I take refuge…” (v. 1b-3).  As we face life’s difficult times we need to rest in God’s unfailing security (Psalm 46:1-3).

Next, we need to trust God’s sovereignty.  Our Father rules overall.  He is in complete control.  Our God reigns.  In verse 4, David wrote, “The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven…”  God is in control of every circumstance in our lives.  Psalm 115:3 “But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.”

David then shows us that we need to trust God’s righteousness.  God will do what is right.  He tests for righteousness.  He rewards righteousness and judges wickedness. Verse 5 says, “The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and the one who loves violence His soul hates.”   We can trust our Father to do what is right in every situation.  

Last, we can trust God’s lovingkindness.  Verse 7 says, “For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face.”  In Psalm 23:6, David wrote, “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  We can trust God’s lovingkindness.  

No wonder David had security and confidence when everyone else thought running away was the best option.  His whole focus was on God.  May we put our eyes on the Lord as we face life’s storms and difficulties.