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FROM THE PASTORS DESK...
As I write this article, it is Thursday of Vacation Bible School here at F.H.B.C. We are having a wonderful time watching God move in the hearts and lives of young people. We knew this would be a great week, primarily because we have experienced many attacks of Satan and miraculous interventions by our Lord in the past few weeks. When Satan is attacking, we know that God is trying to do something very positive. In your life, if you never experience the attack of Satan it may well be that you’re not doing much to advance the kingdom of God. Our little country church, like most churches, has experienced some financial setbacks during the recent economic downturn. We honestly didn’t know where the funds for V.B.S. were going to come from. Additionally, it seemed that our people were reluctant to sign up as workers. We were struggling and I knew that we were under Satanic attack. Tammy and Bill, our V.B.S. directors along with Reva and I began to pray fervently for God to intervene. Within a couple of weeks we received checks from two of God’s saints who are not even a part of our church family. Their gracious gifts made it possible for us to purchase our initial V.B.S. resources and teachers’ manuals. Then, it seemed like overnight that our own people began to give sacrificially once again. I am happy to report that as of last week all of our expenses have been met. People began to sign up to work and soon all of the necessary positions of leadership were filled. God was moving!
The week before V.B.S. began, Satan began to roar once again. Tragedy struck our community when a three-year old child of a family we have been trying to minister to was found lifeless in the family car parked in their driveway. He had wandered out of the house, found his way into the car and suffocated. One of our dear members lost a special needs child to death. Though the child was sixty years old and had lived far beyond the age doctors had predicted, her death came like a thief in the night and all of our church family mourned her loss. We had set aside Wednesday as a Day of Prayer for V.B.S. and had our prayer calendar filled with people coming to the church throughout the day and evening to pray over all of our preregistered children, our workers and their families. At 8:00 a.m. that morning emergency sirens began to blast across our county and the flood waters began to rise. Many here in the Seguin and New Braunfels area were displaced from their homes and one man lost his life. Satan had attacked, and though he kept many of God’s people from coming to the church building to pray, the old devil couldn’t keep God’s people from praying. God moved in a wonderful way and we’ve had reports from many who were very blessed during their prayer times, even though they couldn’t make it to the church building.
On Sunday morning, God moved in a mighty way during our service. A couple came to our church for the first time and during our V.B.S. kickoff service the man was introduced to Jesus Christ. He was miraculously saved and made a public profession of his faith in Jesus Christ. On Monday, V.B.S. officially began with 87 children present. This was the most children we’ve had in V.B.S. in several years. On Tuesday two 5th-grade boys accepted Jesus as their savior and other children were making serious inquiries. So, once again we see God defeating Satan and reigning victorious.
Changing the subject, I want to encourage everyone who made a commitment to read through the Word of God this year to remain faithful. God is really honoring the reading of His word and if you have gotten behind please get back on track. Try doing one of two things: Read two of the readings each day until you’re caught up or, simply start fresh today with today’s reading. I hear people talking about their Bible reading all the time. Just this week during V.B.S. I over heard several of our workers talking with one another about their Bible readings. God’s word is always fresh and relevant. Don’t miss a blessing by failing to be in His word each day.
Have a wonderful summer and remember to remain faithful to our Lord even while away on vacation.
In His Love,
Bro. Mitch
Saddle Ridge Ranch: 2010 VBS
THANK YOU!!!
By Tammy Johnson
Wow! VBS every year is a busy, eventful, tiring week. Even more than that, it is always such a huge blessing. This year in the beginning, I admittedly did not have high expectations. I should have known better. I must have temporarily forgotten what a mighty God we serve. Honestly when plans first began for VBS I was very discouraged. Lack of funds and lack of workers had me very disheartened. VBS is such a big ministry for our little church that I could not imagine a summer without VBS. Discouraged as I was, I still had to try to muster enthusiasm and encourage other potential workers to be excited. Excitement is contagious and I knew that enthusiasm needed to catch on. As God worked in the hearts of our church family more workers volunteered, more money was given, and the excitement began to grow. We faced many changes in the way VBS was planned and implemented this year. Rotations were eliminated, added, or changed, focus was shifted a bit, schedules were revamped altogether….all on top of doubts about having enough money and workers to see it through. Through it all, God remained faithful and would not let us just let go of VBS. Despite our doubts, God still had a plan to use VBS to grow His kingdom.
All week children were taught the “A, B, C’s” of becoming a Christian. Testimonies were shared and deeper explanations given from Wednesday through Friday. It was very exciting to see children come to know the Lord more intimately. Many tears fell in the office one day as a particular child shared her experience of coming to know Jesus as her Savior. This was a child we’d all watched grow up in VBS year after year. VBS continues to have far-reaching effects on these children and their families.
Family Night was an opportunity to share with the families of the children who attended VBS. One hundred eighty-five people attended and some of them returned for Bible Study on Sunday morning. I continue to be excited and encouraged. God is still working in these families and still speaking to hearts through VBS. What an amazing road this has been! From the beginning of the planning stages to now, it has been both rewarding and exciting! “THANK YOU,” to each and every one who had a part in making this all possible. To the widow with the very first donation and the friend of the church soon after, to each who gave, to each worker, teacher, parent and child, thank you for once again proving God is still using us all to grow the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Widow’s Mite
In Mark 12 and Luke 21 Jesus speaks of a woman who had very little in material possessions. She was a widow, but even in what the world might consider a meager physical condition, she was in love with the Lord. She gave an offering, though small in secular value was of great proportion in the eyes of God.
In the hands of God, little given in love becomes huge. Recently F.H.B.C. experienced this biblical message come to life but most never even knew about it. 2010 began as a financial downer for the church. Our budget had to be slashed because of the lack of monetary income and even then the finances had to be closely managed to make sure expenses didn’t exceed income. Vacation Bible School, one of the greater ministries of the church loomed on the horizon, but it appeared that it may have to be cancelled for the year. There were insufficient funds to cover the projected expenses. The spirit of God’s children seemed to be at a low point and few workers were willing to step forward to make commitments to teach. V.B.S. leadership began to pray about the dire situation and the church was asked to join them. Then, something happened.
In February the pastor was contacted by a lady who lives many miles from the church. She is not a member of F.H.B.C. but had read about our dilemma through the Trumpet Call and various daily prayer emails. This lady, like the one in Scripture is a widow and not of great wealth, but one who loves the Lord with all of her heart. She told the pastor that she wanted to give a small monetary gift to the church so that the children of southeastern Guadalupe County could have Vacation Bible School. Soon the check came and God began to move. The initial check was not large, but was enough to buy some very basic items needed for V.B.S. A spark of hope had been struck. Soon another check followed: this one from a local businessman who is a friend of the church although not a member. A flame was now aglow within the fellowship of believers. Tithes and offerings began to increase and God’s people began to volunteer for positions of leadership in V.B.S. A fire of passion for lost children and their families began to sweep through the congregation. Other donations began to come in and by the end of May sufficient finances and staff were in place to move forward with V.B.S.
While Satan worked to tear apart plans, God worked to solidify them. The passage found in 1 John 4:4 was never more applicable. It says, “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world,” and God proved His word to be true once again. During the week we enrolled ninety-two children in V.B.S.and averaged eighty in attendance. Additionally, we had 50 youth and adults who sacrificially gave of their time and energy to assist in leading V.B.S. We saw seven children make life commitments to Jesus Christ and witnessed several other spiritual decisions made by youth and adult workers during the week. Please pray for us as we follow up with each of these in the coming days to verify their understanding of God’s cal upon their lives. Additionally, we took up a special missions offering during the week. This offering will be sent to assist our friends in the village of Coconut Beach Brazil with the construction of their first church building. This is a church that F.H.B.C. assisted in planting during a mission trip in September 2008. Southern Baptist I.M.B. missionaries Vic and Sharon Johnson continue to work in this fishing village along with other indigenous Baptist Christian friends to maintain this vital kingdom work. The V.B.S. missions offering totaled $1,313.63.
In 2010 the church witnessed the best, biggest, most rewarding V.B.S. in many years, and the offering was unbelievable. It had to be a God thing, and to think it all began with the gift of a widow’s mite. That’s just the way God works, and may all glory go to Him!
Tell Me Again, WHY Do We Do That?
By Bill Wilcox
I have a story to tell you. It’s about some Christian growth and direction in my life. It’s a bit of a rambling story but I hope it makes sense as you read it and you can learn something from it as well.
It was Wednesday, like any other Wednesday: work, home, church, VBS Day of Prayer (again). I felt like I had been “directing” VBS for so long at Forest Hills that many things had become old-hat to me. Many things were planned just because that’s the way they have always been done. I felt VBS Day of Prayer was one of those things. I arrived at work on that rainy Wednesday. Denise, my wonderful wife called to tell me the flood sirens were sounding. Then Tammy, my VBS co-director, called me to ask what we should do about the day of prayer. With all the rain and flooding, what if people were unable to come to the church to pray? I flippantly replied, “then they can just pray at home”. Makes sense, right? If someone didn’t want to come up to the church to pray there, they could just pray at home.
Well, in my sanctified brain that applied to me as well. Yes me, the same guy who, whenever Larry or Mitch mentioned the Day of Prayer for VBS, always heartily shouted “Amen!” in response. Yes me, the same guy who encouraged others to sign up and told them that praying at the church is the best place to pray. Well, it wouldn’t apply to me because I was going to be at Church that night and I’d be the last one to pray. I like being the last one to pray. It’s something mental with me, everyone else has prayed all day for the kids and workers and me, the leader. So it’s my turn to pray for all of them.
The day continued with more flooding, me making sure my family is safe, emails with Tammy about VBS, keeping track of the weather and checking the current river conditions. Tammy emailed and said “no services at the church tonight” . All right!! I felt I been given a “freebie” and wouldn’t have to go to the church to pray. Never mind that I had encouraged about 30 people to be involved and go to the church to pray. Never mind that we continuously encouraged volunteers not to miss their time slots. Heck no! I wasn’t going to ignore all of that. I had the attitude that I didn’t HAVE to go to the church to pray and I was going to pray at home!
I informed others of my plan but received no response, except for one, but it wasn’t favorable. What!? I had all this worked out in my sanctified mind. I was going to do what I said others could do: just pray at home. I was then informed that everyone made it to the church to pray except those that were directly affected by the flood.. Humph, well that wasn’t going to deter me. I had a plan. If the weather was too bad to go out for church services, then why should I be expected to go out to the church to participate in the VBS Day of prayer?
At the end of the day and I jumped in my truck to go home. I was traveling along looking at the rising creeks and streams. Then I heard it, “Bill you are being a hypocrite!” Wait, what was that? It must have been the wind, the noise of my truck, or something said on the radio. I turned down the radio and kept driving, concerned about church family I knew who lived along the rivers and creeks. “Bill, YOU are being a HYPOCRITE!” well I heard it that time. It wasn’t the radio or wind noise, it was Holy Spirit. I tried to ignore it but I kept hearing it.
I stopped on the side of the road in Belmont, Texas and asked God to forgive my hypocritical heart and my actions. As I was talking to God I realized how much He really does love me and wants me to live in His blessings. I started crying. What a hard heart I had. How many blessings was I missing out on because I was so stubborn and wanted things my way? God, you really do love me, don’t you!
I went to the church that night. I prayed for each of the workers and students listed. I thanked God for all of your efforts, hard work and tenacity to make this year’s VBS, even with all of the changes, even better than before. I thanked God for the opportunity to serve Him for 8 years in this capacity. I worshiped Him!
That was my day as I learned about myself and more about God than I ever thought possible. I hope this story will help you learn something about yourself and your relationship with Father as well.
BCFS Training
Sunday, August 1
6:00 pm
FHBC
Baptist Children and Family Services Training is mandatory for all who wish to volunteer during a Medical Shelter Emergency here at the church. Volunteers must be 18 or older.
Another training date will be set up at a later time for those who wish to go through the more in-depth Medical Shelter Manager Training (3½ hours).
~ Birthdays ~
JULY
Roby H. 07-05
Vivian R. 07-08
Frances T. 07-09
Stacey T. 07-10
Jeanette H. 07-11
Finley C. 07-12
Curtis W. 07-12
Megan A. 07-16
Scott H. 07-19
Rosealie S. 07-23
Nathan B. 07-24
Donna H. 07-24
Marty J. 07-24
Nicholas W. 07-29
Mary U. 07-31
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AUGUST
David H. 08-04
Kaci J. 08-07
Richard K. 08-10
Edith L. 08-11
Christine D. 08-12
Katie W. 08-12
Jim A. 08-13
Jess H. 08-14
Dana R. 08-15
Frank C. 08-17
Heather C. 08-18
Roy J. 08-25
Heather J. 08-26
Dawn K. 08-26
Kaylene P. 08-26
Leo T. 08-26
Rodney C. 08-31
Milton J. 08-31
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