Pastor Ricky Powell

The Tragedy of Missing The Lord's Heart

As church members, we can all get so upset about things that truly do not matter in the light of eternity. How sad and tragic when what breaks the Lord's heart is not what breaks ours. What breaks His heart? What moves Him with compassion?

“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”” (Matthew 9:35–38, NKJV)  

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, please forgive us for not seeing the lost world around us through your eyes of compassion. We become so easily distracted with our own plans, preferences, pleasures, and priorities that we become calloused to what moves your heart. You came to seek and to save those who are lost. We often come seeking to save our traditions or creature comforts. Please forgive us. Forgive us for getting more upset when things are not just the way we want them in the "barn", while being callous to the harvest of souls waiting in the fields just outside. Break our hearts with your compassion for the billions without you as their Shepherd. Thrust us out of our comfort zone with the Gospel message into the fields that are ripe for harvest. Grant that we can be a part of a wonderful harvest of souls for your Kingdom! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

A New Opportunity To Worship And To Witness At Fort Caroline Baptist Church

I am excited about a new opportunity to better reach our community. I have stressed many times over the years that we are a church that helps people love God, love others, and serve the world. Everything we do begins with the commission of Jesus to reach the lost with the Gospel. That is why we desire to be a church that unchurched people love to attend. And thanks to the support of our church body we are seeing that happen. Over the last few years we have seen a record number of people baptized, and over 600 people connected to a LifeGroup on a weekly basis. We have become one of the largest churches in East Arlington. We even had eight additions to the church last Sunday! We are baptizing several new believers this Sunday!

However, we are aware that there is a group in our community that will never be reached effectively in our current worship format. Nearly eighty percent of our surrounding community falls within the parameters of the group our current format is designed to reach; young families and those under the age of 55. However, there is another group that we can now effectively target, the 20 percent of our community that is over the age of 55. Because Fort Caroline Baptist has been so diligent in doing whatever it takes to reach the great majority of our community, we are now at a place to reach out to this smaller, yet still very important group. To help us in this endeavor we will be adding a new classic worship experience here at FCBC.

On May 12 (Mother's Day), we will begin to reach into this age group in an effort to win as many to Christ as possible. A large portion of this age group wouldn't necessarily be comfortable in our church in its current worship format. And as we have said so often, "we want to be all things to all people that by all means some may be saved" (see 1 Corinthians 9:19-23). This new format will help us in that mission.

The staff and I have prayed for a while about when would be the best time to begin this type of worship setting. We feel that time is now. But we need your help. We are not doing something just to please our people, although we are certain many of the people who have sacrificed so much over the years will be thrilled to be able to worship God in the language of their heart. This must be a truly evangelistic effort. Time is running out and we must do all we can to reach as many as possible with the Good News of Jesus. Will you help us? Will you pray and work towards seeing more people than ever being influenced by the Gospel in a relevant way? 

Service Details:


• The classic service will be held every Sunday at 8 a.m. beginning May 12, 2013.
• It will be traditional in its style.
• Hymns that are known and loved will be sung.
• Hymnals will be used rather than video projection for lyrics.
• The hymns will be accompanied by piano and organ.
• There will not be a choir weekly but the Senior Celebration Choir will sing at times throughout the year.
• Special music in the form of solos as well as piano or organ pieces will be used as well.
• The service will last an hour.
• Nothing will be radically different about this service other than the style and selection of music.
• The same sermon will be preached in all three services by me or by the speaker of the day.
• The other two services will be reduced to an hour in length as well. The second service will begin at 9:30. The third service will begin at 10:45.
• LifeGroup schedules will also move to the new schedule.
• Childcare will be offered for the classic worship service for birth to 2-years old. The childcare options for the other two services will remain in place as they are. Childcare options may increase at the classic worship service as the demand dictates.

I am willing to do whatever it takes to reach the lost. I need your help. I am asking for your support as we continue to follow God’s will. No matter which service you attend, I need you to invite the people in your sphere of influence to join you. And remember that we are one congregation with multiple services and styles of worship. Let us remain united in our effort to serve our one Master, Jesus Christ, by fulfilling our one Mission in the world as we share the one Message, the Gospel!

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:1–6, NKJV)  

 

What Our Church Members Ought To Be Talking About Today

A few years ago I asked the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention to conduct a demographic study of the area around our church. I wanted to know more about the people in our community so we could develop a strategy to better reach those who need Jesus Christ. NAMB sent me information on the people living within a 3-mile radius, a 6-mile radius, and a 12-mile radius. The report is on file in my office if you want a copy. Just contact me there during regular business hours. We have conducted more recent studies from other sources and found the estimates to be similar. 

The report showed that within six miles of our church there is an estimated population of 225,707 people! Does that not astound you? It blows my mind when I think of how many people live around our church. We asked NAMB to estimate how many of these people are without a saving relationship with Christ. They responded:

What percentage of the population do you consider to be lost? Obviously, this question cannot be answered precisely; however, educated guesses based on church membership and presence of evangelical churches suggest that 3 of 4 persons do not have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

I am in tears as I write this blog post. I am heartbroken when I realize that 3 out of 4 of our neighbors do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. That means 180,566 people within 6 miles of Fort Caroline Baptist Church are on their way to an etermity separated from God! Please read that last sentence again slowly. Let the horror of that fact sink in to your soul.

If that is not what our church members are talking about today, rather than lights, and music or they way people dress, then we have missed the Father's heart. And be sure, God has commissioned each one of us and our congregation to do everything within our power to present the Gospel to these people in a relevant, yes, contemporary way! So to be satisfied with 1,000 people on campus for Easter services, and only 700 or so on a regular Sunday is not acceptable. We are not making a dent in the lostness of this community! And to be satisfied with business as usual is not acceptable.

NAMB also revealed that within 3 miles of our church 82.4% of people are under the age of 55 years old. I am often accused of just trying to reach the "young" people. No! I am trying to reach our neighbors! It is that simple.

I am pleading with God to transform the mindset of our congregation, begining with the pastor, so we will see ourselves first as missionaries to this community rather than "members" of an organization. People are going to Hell too quickly for the church to keep moving so slowly in doing what it takes to reach them with a Gospel witness. I am asking our people to sacrifice their preferences at times to be the church that God wants us to be in this community at this time. I am asking you to join me, to help me, and to support me as I lead this church as best I know how. Young or old, traditional or contemporary, we are in this together.

“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” (1 Corinthians 9:19–23, ESV)

 

Guest Speaker: Pastor Joe Newton of Connection Church

For the last four months, our campus has been the home of a new church start called, "Connection Church". Now they are moving to Fort Caroline Elementary because they have outgrown the space they were using on our campus and because they want to be in the community they are called to reach. I asked Pastor Joe Newton to share with FCBC the vision of Connection Church and how we can continue to pray for them and support them in their efforts to reach people far from God. You can hear his powerful and moving message below.

2013 1 6 1030am from Fort Caroline Baptist Church on Vimeo.

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

 

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?

Church Unity

March 18, 2012 10:30 AM Service from Fort Caroline Baptist Church on Vimeo.

What Is the Population By Age Around Our Church? (And Why It Should Break Your Heart)

According to the North American Mission Board (NAMB) Center for Missional Research:

The Population by Age within a 3 mile radius of Fort Caroline Baptist Church is as follows:

• O-19 years old: 28%

• 20-54 years old: 54%

• 55 & Up: 16.3%

Note: 82% of our community within a 3 mile radius is below the age of 55.

The Population by Age within a 6 mile radius of Fort Caroline Baptist Church is as follows:

• 0-19 years old: 29%

• 20-54 years old: 53.7%

• 55 years old and up: 15.7%

Note: 83% of our community within a 6 mile radius is below the age of 55.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000 Census of Population and Housing. ESRI forecasts for 2005 and 2010. 

NAMB Comments:

Based on your knowledge of the ages of people in an area, what evangelistic approaches might best communicate the gospel? A characteristic of growing churches is flexibility in methods of communication. They understand that different groups of people respond to different forms of communication.

In areas where there are large numbers and/or percentages of children and youth, ministries geared toward children and youth will be an important part of strategy for church growth and planting.

Among younger adults, new congregations must be responsive to developmental needs such as selecting a mate, learning to live with a marriage partner, starting a family, rearing children, managing a household, and getting started in an occupation.

The church will have to compete for the time and attention of middle adults. Many middle adults will respond to nontraditional styles of worship and programming. These may include alternatives for Sunday school or Christian education; practical, life-centered preaching and teaching; and contemporary music.

New churches in communities dominated by older adults may need to emphasize traditional programs, styles of worship, and familiar music. 

Questions:

1. Did you know that 80% of our community is unchurched? That means 80% of our neighbors do not attend a church of any kind! Does this fact break your heart? People need the Lord. What will we do to reach them?
2. Are you willing to live as a missionary right here in our own neighborhood as we partner through the church to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
3. Did you know that God is blessing our church's renewed focus on reaching our community? We are seeing more people saved, baptized, and attend worship and Life Groups than ever in the history of our church. Praise the Lord, but we are only scratching the surface of the need in our community.

Why I Am Saying "No" to Mission Trips

¹⁹ Although I am a free man and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law —to win those under the law. ²¹ To those who are without that law, like one without the law—not being without God’s law but within Christ’s law—to win those without the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. ²³ Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits.  1 Corinthians 9:19–23 (HCSB)

 Question: What motivates my decisions and leadership as your pastor? Answer: I want to bring glory to God through a Gospel-centered ministry whereby we live as missionaries in our community and world. Living as a missionary in your community and through your church means you are willing to put aside your preferences in order to take the Gospel to the culture you are in. A few years ago I had the privilege of traveling to Cochabamba, Bolivia in order to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to encourage missionaries. During my visit in the city, as well as my travels in the Amazonian jungle, I tried to show sensitivity to the culture I was in and to the people I was trying to reach. I ate local food. I "tried" to learn the language. I adapted my attire to fit the people I was trying to reach. I used the local musical style and instruments in worship. I had a translator with me to communicate the Gospel in the heart-language of the people. I even adapted my sermons to the culture because I quickly discovered that many of my "tried and true" illustrations or jokes would not translate well in Bolivia. I have used similar missionary methods in Brazil and Haiti. My only caveat was I would not compromise Scripture in adjusting my methods. I am flexible in my preferences, but I have no right to disregard God's precepts. I must confess that some of the changes from my usual way of doing things were uncomfortable. I was out of my "comfort zone". Sometimes I felt silly, frustrated, exhausted, afraid, lonely, disoriented, and homesick. But I kept reminding myself that every sacrifice on my part was worth it if I could just reach one person with the Gospel. Besides, any sacrifice I made was not worthy to compare with the sacrifice the Lord Jesus Christ made when He stepped out of eternity into time and went to a bloody cross. How could I grumble to my crucified Saviour about being out of my comfort zone? He endured all the sin and suffering of this world in order to save me. As His follower He calls me to take up my cross, deny myself, and follow Him. There is no comfort zone for the Christ-follower except the peace that comes from obedience to Him.

A few days after I returned home from the mission trip to Bolivia I had the opportunity to share my experiences with our congregation. My fellow believers endured the requisite slide show. They laughed at my self-described bumblings in a foreign land. They wept with me as I recounted the stories of witnessing to indigenous peoples in the jungle, preaching to young people in the city, and sharing the Gospel with a wealthy Englishman at the pre-Inca ruins of Tiahuanaco. And when the last image from my slide show faded from the screen the people stood and applauded my efforts and sacrifices. It was a moving moment that signaled the completion of the trip. Now it was time to get back to "normal"; the normal routine...the normal way of doing church.

Over the last few years God has been working into my heart a holy discontent with my understanding of "missions". For too long, I viewed missions as something we do in "other" places. I was proud of how our church supported missionaries through our generous giving. I was proud of how our church went on "mission trips" to other parts of the world (Bolivia, Brazil, Australia, Wales, Mexico, Belarus, Italy, Haiti, the Dominican Republic) or to other parts of America. A haunting question, however, kept echoing in my mind: Why are we not living like missionaries right here at home? After all, God had only one Son, and He made Him a missionary. And Jesus calls us to be missionaries, too! He said that just as His Father sent Him into the world He was sending us (John 20:21). We are to be on mission in our everyday lives with the goal of sharing the Gospel as we go (Matthew 28:18-20). Missions is not just about crossing the sea with the Gospel. It is also about crossing the street with the Gospel. Living as missionaries in our community and through the church is to be the normal way of doing things. 

A warning is due at this point. It is not always comfortable or easy to adapt missionary methods here at home. Try changing the way you do things in your church and you will discover what I am talking about. Adapt the music to best communicate the Gospel in a language this culture understands, and get ready for a little discomfort. Adjust the church schedule and get ready for some pain. Adapt your attire to the people you are trying to reach, and prepare to be uncomfortable. As I have made changes in my ministry methods I have discovered that those same feelings of fear, frustration, loneliness, and homesickness that I experienced in a foreign land followed me home. They resurface every time I get out of my comfort zone. To adapt my methods of doing church or sharing the Gospel is to invite that uneasiness. Even I don't like some of the changes I've made! This discomfort is not a bad thing. First, it reminds me to check God's Word lest I go beyond what Scripture allows. Second, it reminds me to be sensitive, loving, and patient with other believers who also might be struggling with change. Third, getting out of my comfort zone reminds me of the sacrifices our Saviour made when He came to save us. 

Missionaries have always been willing to get out of their comfort zones to reach the lost. Lottie Moon, the great Southern Baptist missionary to China was willing to do whatever it took, short of sinning, to reach the Chinese. She moved to China, adapted to their customs, wore their clothing, ate their food, lived in homes like theirs, learned their language, and used their musical styles and instruments. We rightly celebrate her life and ministry to this day. Millions of Chinese Christians today owe a debt of gratitude to her legacy. Shouldn't we be willing to follow her example right here in our own setting? Americans without Jesus are just as lost and Hell-bound as anyone else! Lottie was only doing what the Apostle Paul did in his lifetime. He adapted his missionary methods to the culture he was trying to reach. He was willing to do whatever it took, short of sinning, to reach people with the Gospel (1 Cor. 9:19-23). May we be found just as faithful! I call on every member of our church to accept God's call upon your life as a missionary. No more mission "trips," just mission living! Let's join together and reach this community world with the unchanging message of Jesus Christ! Our methods will change from time to time, but our message never will!

I Have A Complaint!

“Do all things without complaining (murmuring) and disputing” (Philippians 2:14).

Murmuring, complaining, and fighting are kill-joys in a believer’s life and in a church. These actions make you miserable and they make everyone around you miserable. The problem is these are hard habits to break. We are negative by nature and by nurture. We tend to naturally focus on the bad things of life. We are also conditioned by society to be negative. Bad news sells newspapers.

“Murmurings” have been defined as the undertones of dissatisfaction; “disputings” are the overtones of dissension. Murmuring is what you do in private, while disputing is what happens when you take your complaints public with the wrong attitude.

• Has a negative attitude built a stronghold in your life?
• Are you defensive?
• Do you complain more than you praise?
• Are you easily angered?
• Are you critical of others?

Murmuring and disputing can destroy your peace. These attitudes can destroy a marriage, a relationship with your children, and friendships. Murmuring and disputing can certainly destroy the fellowship and effectiveness of a church. It is sad when a church is harmed by the negative attitude of members. Some members expend more energy complaining and criticizing trivial things in the church than they ever do in trying to reach a lost soul for Christ. Their attitude is destroying their witness in the world. People will not believe the authenticity of our Gospel message until they see the reality of our love for one another. That is why Paul wrote, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” (Philippians 2:14-15).

Here is a challenge for all of us:

1. Ask the Lord to fill you with His Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
2. Measure your love by how you treat others. Don’t just say you love someone; show it by how you treat them. Anyone can declare their love with words. Christians are to demonstrate love by their deeds. “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 [English Standard Version]).
3. Ask the Lord to tame your tongue. “And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring” (James 3:6-12 [New Living Translation, Second Edition]).
4. Repent when you find yourself being negative and work to maintain unity. “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3 [English Standard Version]).
5. Commit to coming to church this week and leaving your criticisms at the door. “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another” (Galatians 5:13-15 [New Living Translation, Second Edition]).
6. Try to make your pastor’s job easier by exhibiting a positive attitude. Don’t grab him on Sunday to unload your latest complaint. You certainly should not jump him just before the service before he has to preach. Most pastors would appreciate you scheduling an appointment during office hours if you need to discuss a matter. To corner a pastor before the service is saying that your complaint is more important than what will happen in the service that day and that his attention should be on you instead of getting ready to lead in worship. “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17 [New King James Version]).
7. Forgive. Most of our criticisms are over personal preferences not precepts of God’s Word. In that case, we need to build a bridge and get over it. Life won’t always be to my liking. However, if a person has sinned against you then you should seek to restore the relationship. Jesus gives clear instructions in Matthew 18:15-20 on how to lovingly confront a person who has sinned against you. In Colossians 3 we are commanded to forgive one another just as Christ has forgiven us. “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Colossians 3:12-13 [English Standard Version]).

What are other ways we can cultivate a positive spirit?