Newsletter for August 20, 2025

On behalf of Matt and Jennifer West, I would like to thank everyone who generously donated furniture, appliances, household goods, and monetary gifts. Just a few weeks ago, they lost everything in a devastating fire.

Jennifer cared for my sister, Martha Anne, for nearly five years before she passed away with Alzheimer’s. Since Jennifer doesn’t have the names and addresses of each person who gave it, I wanted to share this thank-you on their behalf.

Matt and Jennifer were deeply touched by your kindness and support, and they want you to know how much they appreciate every gift and expression of love shown to them during this difficult time.

Thomas Brown

You can watch any of the sermons you missed by clicking the link to our media page, where each message is available to view anytime.

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!

We’re taking a trip to Cotton Hall Theater in Colquitt, GA, home of the beloved play Swamp Gravy! This year, the cast will present a Christmas performance titled.
“Christmas Eve at the Doublestack Diner.”

Set in a small-town diner on Christmas Eve, this heartwarming play weaves together stories of hope, humor, and unexpected miracles. It’s a feel-good celebration of the season filled with laughter, music, and the joy of community.

Date: Saturday, December 6, 2025
Showtime: 2:00 PM
Cost: $22 per ticket
Tickets: 20 seats have been pre-purchased—first-come, first-served!
We only have 5 tickets remaining that were pre-purchased.

To reserve your spot, please contact Jonathan.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy a memorable Christmas experience with your 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 . . . . $209,374.77
Received to Date . . . . . . . . $178,984.22      
Needed for weekly budget . . . $6,344.69
Tithes Received this week . .  . $3,088.00

I’m sure at some point in your life, you have been frustrated with changing technology. As I sat in the balcony running sound during the revival, I thought about how much things have changed just with our sound system. In the early 2000s, I purchased the first CD player for the balcony, even though we were still using cassette tapes regularly at the time.

But what made me laugh the most was that I had to stop and read the instructions on the sound booth wall to remember how to record the services with the new soundboard. The ironic part is I’m the one who programmed the board, set it up, and even typed those instructions. Yet, because I don’t use it regularly, I have forgotten how to use it.

Technology isn’t the only thing that works this way. Anything that we don’t practice regularly, we tend to forget. The same is true in our walk with Christ. We cannot fool ourselves into thinking we will grow as Christians if we are not constantly growing in the Word of God.

Peter writes, “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation” (1 Peter 2:2, ESV). We are all familiar with this picture. Just as a newborn baby craves milk, not just occasionally, but constantly, in the same way, every Christian should have a deep and ongoing desire for God’s Word. A baby doesn’t just want milk; it needs it regularly, and nothing else will nourish or satisfy. Similarly, we cannot grow in our faith without consistently feeding on Scripture.

James 1:19–21 emphasizes the importance of not just hearing God's Word but actively obeying it. James urges believers to be "doers" of the Word, pointing out that mere listening is inadequate. He warns against people deceiving themselves, comparing listeners who ignore what they hear to individuals who glance at their reflection in a mirror and quickly forget what they saw. As believers, we are called to be obedient listeners, who listen, remember, and take action when we hear God's message.

Just as I needed to read those instructions again in the sound booth, we need to return to God’s Word repeatedly. When we neglect it, we forget. However, when we practice it daily, we grow stronger in faith and become better prepared for the challenges of life. As believers, we cannot neglect a regular time of reading scripture if we desire to grow in our faith.