El Salvador Mission Trip Saturday Evening Update

Another day in El Salvador which means….another day of rain.  It has rained every day since we have been here.  But today there was even more rain because Tropical Storm Agatha has hit!  The rain didn’t stop us from our task and we had a great day of ministry.

This morning we worked with the youth from Candace’s church.  We swam, played soccer, threw the football, played soccer some more, played Uno, played Wii and then played soccer some more.  They absolutely love soccer and they put us to shame when we played with them.  They stayed until lunch time and as they were leaving the 22 orphans we visited on Wednesday came to us.  We were so happy to see them again.  Kevin Johnson, one of children’s ministry summer interns, taught the Bible story until free time (and yes, soccer was involved once again).  After eating pizza and snow cones we gave them each a new set of clothes donated by our church members  We were also able to provide each child with a brand new Bible that was appropriate for their reading level.  I wish you could have seen some of their faces when they received their clothes and Bibles.  Like we mentioned in the earlier blog, we had the chance to give them some new mattresses and pillows for the kids who did not have either.

Thanks to your giving to FBCT we were able to provide these incredible gifts to the boys.  It was hard not to get emotional seeing them load into the back what looked like a U-Haul truck and just hold on for their hour ride up to the orphanage on a dirt road.  I have seen animals that have traveled in better conditions than these precious kids.  As they left they all asked us, “Please say that we will see you again.”  We have all learned so much from this trip, but probably the greatest lesson we have learned is just how blessed we are.

Tomorrow (Sunday) we will go to church where we will participate in the service by preaching and sharing testimonies. Depending on the path of the Tropical Storm we may have the afternoon to go sightseeing before we head back to Birmingham on Monday.  Thank you so much for your prayers.

Church, El Salvador, Missions Shortlink

El Salvador Mission Trip Friday Update

Today was another great and safe day in El Salvador.  Some highlights are:

  • Today we had an opportunity to speak to a private school…there is a big difference between a public and private school here (private school is much better)!
  • The question of the day:  How do you say Imodium and Pepto Bismol in Spanish?  Yes…the Latin American cuisine has hit!
  • Cindy and Joy continue to keep us on task.
  • Chad is the popular man today…he has the meds!
  • This afternoon I traveled in a 15 passenger bus…with 24 people… to an orphanage in a very rural section of El Salvador.   Candace has been caring for 10 of these boys for over 5 years.  If you are reading this in America…thank God for His goodness to you!!!
  • We spent time with 22 orphan boys, gave them a new change of clothes, hung new crimson (yes I had a problem with that) curtains in their rooms and put new bed sheets on their beds.  It was a cool afternoon.
  • Tonight we ate some American food…Pizza Hut in an attempt to calm some digestive systems.  Pizza for that?  Oh well…maybe it will help.
  • Taylor and Andrew are having a great week.  Andrew is picking up a lot of Spanish. 
  • Macie is speaking Spanish like she knows what she is saying…apparently 6 years of Spanish really does teach you something!
  • Our translators are incredible people…wish we could bring them to the states so you could meet them!
  • Today three of us traveled back on the bus…with 21 people from El Salvador…the “greengos” sat in the back of the bus…I laughed to myself.  They are great people to hang out with.

 More schools tomorrow and Kid’s Clubs in a neighborhood!

Church, El Salvador, Missions Shortlink

El Salvador Mission Trip Wednesday Update

All arrived in El Salvador and in good shape.

Yesterday we spoke to a school and shared Christ in classrooms.  Several children prayed to receive Christ! What an awesome sight!  Afterwards we went door to door, witnessing and inviting families to a kids club in the park and movie.  Had a great turn out there. So amazing to get to share Christ with families as they came to watch the movie.

We’re heading back into schools today to share with other classrooms.  Pray for a great explosion of decisions.  Tonight we’ll enjoy another movie with families.  

On Thursday, we will attend church with Candace and Vlady Vasquez.  We’re praying for a great experience of  worship as the Body of Christ.

One quick highlight:  Johnny Dailey is a rock star over here.  He had to sign over 100 autographs because of his guitar playing for a classroom.  Rock on Johnny D!

Continue to pray for our team as we serve Him this week.

Church, El Salvador, Missions Shortlink

Stress Relievers

Last Sunday I asked you to send a text and let me know how you handle stress.  Here are the results of our very “scientific” (not really but that sounds official!) poll:

 How We Handle Our Stress?

Physical Activity            31%
Eat                                18%
Rest                              18%
Verbal Expressions       14%
Turn to God                   9%
Other                           10%

We will continue to learn each week how God’s Word gives us practical tips for reducing the stressful lives that we are living.  See you Sunday!

Church, Sermon, Stats, Stress Shortlink

Reflections

It was another great weekend!  Perhaps…one of the best in recent memory?  How could that be?  When was the last time we baptized over 30 people in one day?  It is always encouraging to see people follow Jesus’ example of baptism by immersion, take the first steps of obedience in their walk with Christ and publicly confess Jesus as their Savior.  That is good stuff!

  • Sunday we baptized 33 in one special service!
  • It is great to see the complete body of Christ shift their schedules for something fantastic.
  • We still have a large group of people that need to be baptized.   Pray for them to take the next steps with Christ.
  • God added new family members to the church Sunday morning.  That’s always exciting.
  • Sunday night, 15 more people indicated they would like to make FBCT their home in our Membership Class.
  • We had good attendance in our Membership Class.   It is cool to see people understand that we are Committed to God, Know His Ways and Do His Work…Because It’s All About Him!

Tonight, we will have our basketball awards night at 6:00 in the Worship Center.  It will be an awesome night to reach out to our families in a unique way.   I hope you are planning to come and see the conclusion of months of hard work by an army of volunteers.

This Sunday we will learn a little bit more about “Who Is Jesus?”  Our topic on Sunday will be that He is THE Savior of the world!  Bring a friend to any of the four worship service options and their lives will be blessed.

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Team Impact – Amazing!

What can we say about Team-Impact?  Wow…the humble giant servants served the Lord and many lives were changed!  Reflect on these numbers for just a few minutes:

  • 50 School Assemblies
  • 17,470 students spoken to in three days
  • Capacity crowds filled our sanctuary each night
  • 521 Decisions were made
  • 413 Salvations
  • 108 Recommitments
  • Of the decisions made,
    • 101 were from FBCT
    • 131 did not list a church home
    • 289 were visitors from area churches

 When was the last time we had that many people at God’s altar?   It was amazing.

The great thing is, you were a part of eternity changing for hundreds of people!  You served, you gave, you prayed…you gave God a platform that He could bless and touch many hearts and lives!   Go God!

This Sunday is going to be awesome!  We will start a new series called “Who Is Jesus.”  Watch this teaser:   [wpvideo PJ5NsE6C] Also, this Sunday we will have a special baptism service in the sanctuary for everyone at 10:30.  Make plans to be there and see some of those that made decisions take the next steps in their new life with Christ!

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A Real Team Impact

Tonight we have finished the Friday night event of Team Impact!  I hope you have experienced these humble servants who love the Lord and have a passion to share what Christ has done in their lives.   They began sharing their ministry with us on Wednesday morning and during the week the team has spoken to 50 assemblies which totaled over 17,470 students.  In our evening services we have seen 299 boys, girls, students and adults come to a personal relationship with Christ.  The great news is that we still have Saturday and Sunday nights remaining!

 Some Highlights:

  • The First Baptist Army is truly Doing His work!
  • Great character education assemblies provided to local schools free of charge thanks to generous corporate sponsors.
  • Giant men with even bigger servant hearts.
  • Countless stories of friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers, fiancés, students, etc – coming to Christ.
  • People inviting others to Team Impact!
  • A church staff laying it on the line 24/7 in order to get the job done.
  • Receptive and appreciative schools that really appreciate FBCT and corporations caring about their students.

 The list could go on and on.  I hope you have experience the IMPACT! 
See ya Saturday night!

Church, DO His Work, Team Impact Shortlink

Sunday, February 14 Reflections

The best news from this past weekend…it didn’t snow on Saturday night! That is always a bummer for those of us who are weekend warriors. Friday brought about some cool scenes but still adjusted some events that were scheduled during the weekend. Sunday was another good day around FBCT!

• God continues to add new families to the fellowship…that always makes for a good day!

• We did a much better job parking across Chalkville Road this week…but we still ran out of parking places. This week we will have more options for parking so that we can continue to reach people…including you!

• We had 1540 in our small groups and 1808 worshipping together in the four different options. That’s a great winter Sunday!

• We have 53 fourth graders at church yesterday!! We had to move tables out of the classrooms and do their worksheets in their laps!! Isn’t that awesome…wait a minute…we have to fix that problem! We will!

• We had 155 in children’s worship with only 6 empty chairs…that’s not much space for growth.

• Don’t fret…A Night To Remember…that we can’t remember has been rescheduled for Friday, March 5, 2010, 6:00-8:30pm! Keep your dancing shoes out and invite a friend!

• The city wide TEAM food drive got off to a great start. It will continue through the week and you are welcome to place your items in the bins located in the mission area.

• Did you notice how many we had to dedicate themselves and their children to the Lord Sunday? Pray for dry weather so we can get the new building ready!!!

• Team Impact is coming!!! More on that in the coming days. Keep praying.

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Sunday Reflections

Monday is here and we’ve completed another weekend of God touching lives at First Baptist Trussville.  It was a cloudy, cold winter day but God was still working and accomplishing His will.  We understand now that His Will includes serving…using our gifts, passion, abilities, talents…all that we are to make His message and church vibrant!

  • Amy Hood did a great job helping us understand that if we are willing…God will work.  Thanks Amy!
  • There were many great fellowships that took place around the area during the Super Sunday!
  • Ugh…we ran out of parking this week.  Really need your help on this.
    • We had 46 open spaces across the street.  Please help us fill these up first.
    • Cross the street where the police officers are standing…it is a lot safer that way.
    • Pray for dry weather for the construction crews…we will have about 100 spaces open up at the end of March.
    • However, we will still need to park across the street.  If we run out of parking…we stop growing…period.
  • This Wednesday we will learn how to get the most we can from the Bible.  It will be fun…you will not be tempted like last week!  Bring a friend.
  • When you arrive on Wednesday we will have notebooks for you to keep your notes.  It will also have other tabs for your prayer time, small group information and we will add tabs as we start future series.  Help us off set the cost by dropping $5 in the basket.
  • Team-Impact is coming!  It is going to be awesome!  Here is how you can help:
    • Pray.
    • Give to help us cover the expenses of the school assemblies.  We need corporate and individual sponsors.  We will advertise your corporation in our nightly piece and many hearts will be touched because of your generosity.
    • Invite.  Most people will come to this event if someone will ask them.  Will you help us fill the empty chair?
    • Help. We will need an army of people each night.

It’s going to be a great week.  See you Wednesday night!

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Reflections

Well I’ve never been drunk…but Monday’s for a preacher has got to be the closest thing to a hangover that I ever want to experience!  Even with that…there might be enough coherent thoughts to pull together some cool things to be thankful for!

  • I’m still excited about some of the neat things God did this past year! Click 2009 In Review  to watch highlights of last year.
  • In 2009 we received a record number of gifts to the ministry of FBCT!  A total of $6,976,166.00 with a per capita giving of $95.83.  That’s crazy!
  • Yesterday people joined the church…even after a tough message of having a lifestyle of giving…and yes I did find a few friends that still loved me!
  • We now have 83 people/families that indicated they would start tithing…pray for them, that is a huge step of faith.
  • We also had 321 people/families that will continue to tithe, 87 that will increase their giving and 71 people/families who will increase their giving above the tithe!  How cool is that?!
  • Sunday night was a sweet time of worship and study of God’s Word.   We will still have Sunday night church from time to time and it will really be a blessing!
  • Upward had another banner day this past Saturday.  Kudos to the leaders who are making that happen…God is touching 100’s of lives through that ministry! Pray for the next few weeks as kids hear the plan of salvation during their team devotions.
  • We had great attendance yesterday 1787 in worship and 1540 in our small groups!
  • Team Impact is coming!  I wish I could explain to you about what God is going to do!  Just wait…it will be incredible!  Pray hard everyday and get ready to serve!
  • I wish you could have heard some of the testimonies from senior adults that have tithed for years…you really can’t out give God!
  • This Wednesday night is going to be awesome!  We will study about temptation and how we beat it!  I hope you will be there and bring a friend!
    • Church, Commitment, Faithfulness, Thankfulness Shortlink