Pastor Ricky Powell

The VBS offering total for Haiti: $1,646.52
Praise the Lord!

Vacation Bible School Supports The Cabaret Children's Home In Haiti

As of last night, the children at VBS had given over $1,050 in pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters for the Haiti mission project! Tonight they overflowed the buckets with hundreds of dollars in change! The best part of VBS is that several children have prayed to receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord. We are now following up with them and their families.

Why Should A Fellow Baptist Have To Attend Our Membership Class Before Joining?

 

NextSteps Membership (August 19 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.)

Some have asked me why they should have to attend NextStep Membership if they are joining us from another Southern Baptist Church. This is a great question. The main reason is because God has a unique plan for each church as it fulfills the Great Commission. Thirty or fourty years ago most Southern Baptist churches were structered and operated in the same way. Those days are over. There is great variety among good SBC churches today. There are ways that our church is unlike any other church. This class helps you discover the unique mission and ministry expressions of Fort Caroline Baptist Church. For example:

• What is the mission statement of our church? 
• What are the top six core values of FCBC? 
• What is the doctrinal statement of the church every member is expected to believe?
• What is the God-given vision of our pastor for this congregation? 
• How and when was the church founded? 
• How is the church structured? 
• What are the three priorities we call every member to commit to? 
• How does the church support missions? 
• Who serves on staff?
• How long has Ricky been on staff? 
• How can a person volunteer to serve in a ministry?
• Why does FCBC use the methods it does to reach the lost? 
• What is expected of members as outlined in the membership covenant?

If you don't know the answer to one or all of these questions then you need to attend NextSteps Membership. In fact, there are longtime members who could use a refresher course. In the end, you will be blessed by investing 2 ^1/2 hours of your time getting to know the congregation you want to be a part of. And be thankful you have a pastor who wants to spend personal time with each new member who joins. I hope to see you in NextSteps!

Blessings,
Ricky Powell,
Senior Pastor

 

Help Us Take The Gospel To The Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic Mission Trip is scheduled for September 29th - October 6th. Please pray for the funds to be provided for this trip as well as for strength and wisdom to do the things that need to be accomplished while there. The objective for our trip to the Dominican Republic will be to share the gospel through evangelistic Bible studies, through door to door contacts and preaching events. We will prayer walk in the mornings and conduct evangelistic events in the afternoon and evening. The team members are: Greg Barber, Forrest Lynch, Rick Costner, Harry Smith, Rafael Mejia, Johnny Smith, Marcus Montenari, & Josh McDonald. Prayer bookmarks are available on bulletin board outside room B104. To learn how you can financially support the team please contact the church office at 904-642-2288, ext. 14.

 

Wrong Time, Wrong Place To Complain To Your Pastor

I believe pastors should be humble and approachable people. Pastors are not above reproach. Pastors are not perfect. We make mistakes. We even sin at times. However, some church members regularly choose the wrong time and place to share their complaints with the pastor. Here are some examples of the wrong time and place to complain to your pastor.

• On Sunday morning before he has to preach. You would be amazed at how many pastors have been cornered just before the service begins by a church member with a gripe. The person evidently believes their complaint is more important than the pastor's responsibility to lead the congregation in worship and to share God's Word. They would rather distract him and get his mind off the Lord's work with their complaint. They usually walk away feeling better now that they got it off their chest. But the pastor is left with inadequate time to respond and has to lead the service with that complaint ringing in his ears. It is very distracting and disrespectful. 
• In the receiving line after the service. 
• After office hours. Most pastors keep office hours. Don't interrupt his family time by calling him at home. Emergencies and ministry needs often intrude into the pastor's family time or day off. Don't add to that burden. Most complaints can wait until an appointment can be made. Call the church office and make the appointment. 
• At a funeral. Don't catch the pastor in the receiving line at the funeral parlor or graveside as your chance to complain. That is not the time or place to discuss the pro's and con's of contemporary Christian music, the temperature in the sanctuary last Sunday, or any other "concern" you have. The pastor is there for the grieving family, not you. 
• At the hospital while he is making visits.
• In the hallway of the church during the week. If it is important, schedule an appointment. 
• At a church fellowship. Many good meals have been ruined for pastors because instead of being allowed to enjoy the church fellowship he is subjected to people who pull him aside and give him a piece of their mind.

What should you do if you have a complaint about something in the church?

• Pray about your concern. God may show you a new perspective on the issue. He will also help you keep your spirit in check as you approach the pastor. 
• Schedule an appointment with the pastor or appropriate staff member during office hours. 
• Don't bombard the pastor with minor gripes. Personal preferences of every church member cannot be met. Mature Christians understand this and do not complain every time they do not get their way. 
• Don't hide behind anonymous notes in the bulletin. 
• Don’t hide behind e-mail. 
• Learn to appreciate the good things. There are always a few folks who are continually negative. If you listen to them long enough you would assume that there is nothing praiseworthy in their church. 
• Do not gossip. 
• Pray for your pastor.  

Do you have any helpful ideas for handling complaints?

Good quote:

If seniors remember why they built the church, they can see that those under forty have the same goals—winning people to faith in Christ and teaching them to be disciples, bringing them into the church and helping them grow—that the seniors did fifty years ago; those under forty just have different action steps to meet the goals.

Hammett, Edward H.; James R. Pierce (2007-11-01). Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60: Being Church for All Generations (TCP Leadership Series) (Kindle Locations 1283-1284). Chalice Press. Kindle Edition.

How To Have A Joy-Filled Life

What Kind Of Father Is God?

What kind of Father is GOD? from Fort Caroline Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Congratulations to Pastor Fred Luter On Being Elected The President of the Southern Baptist Convention!

The Lord is My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

This is the video of last Sunday's sermon on Psalm 23. I also had the honor of introducing our missionaries, Mike and Bonnie Snyder, from the Cabaret Baptist Children's Home.

Service of June 10, 2012 from Fort Caroline Baptist Church on Vimeo.