First Baptist Church of
Sparta, NC
Contact
Volume 45, Issue 1
Pastors Notes
Wear the Armor.
This is the theme for
2016.
Just
as
having a fishing pole
does not catch fish,
having the Armor of
God
does
not
protect you if you do
not use it. You need
to wear the armor to
get results. Why not
test this theory this
year? Wear the
armor and see how
your life will change.
Check it out in
Ephesians 6: 10-18.
Any piece of the
armor where you
may be lacking can
cause problems in
the armor. Put on
the whole armor of
God that you may
stand.
Baptist Men Sunday
is
January
24.
Hopefully
the
weather will hold up
for us. Also, we are
trying
a
new
program called the
Gospel Project for
the
G-Force
Children’s worship
time. This will begin
January 3rd. We
could still use some
volunteers to help
our leaders each
Sunday.
A
fifth
Sunday
Night
Singing is being
planned for January
31. If you would like
to be a part of the
service,
contact
Laura Epps.
Thank you to each
of you who have
sent cards and
given Sandy and I
gifts
this
past
Christmas. We love
you and wish the
best for you. May
you find this new
year
full
of
blessings.
January
Special Points of
Interest:
Communion Sunday,
January 10th
Soup & Salad
Fundraiser/ Youth
Sunday, January
17th @ 11:15 am
Baptist Men’s Day
Sunday, January
24th
Surry Assoc.
Quarterly Meeting,
Monday, January 25,
@ 7:00 pm @ Dover
Baptist Church
Inside this issue:
Birthdays &
Anniversaries
2
Notes of Interest 3
Helmet of
Salvation
Righteous
Living
Shield of
Faith
Word of
Truth

Ephesians 6:11-18
Mission
Opportunities
3
Youth News
4
Solid Rock Food
Closet Update
5
Women’s
Ministries News
6
Deacons
Minutes
7
Page 2
Contact
Birthdays
1 Oscar Reeves
2 Brandon Atwood
3 Katlyn Miller
4 Wiley McNeil
Karly Stoker
5 Kaye Royall
6 Santiago Reales
7 Madeline Shepherd
11 Lorraine Sturgill
Renae Caldwell
Terry Joines
Matt Foster
12 Hope Carpenter
Jacob Simpson
Kathy Trosino
13 Joe T. Irwin
Carolyn Caldwell
Ricky Royal
15 Charles Adams
16 Jessica Caudill
18 Louise Farmer
Nathan Tucker
Chad Simpson
19 Ross Richardson
22 Laura Epps
23 Brad Bedsaul
John McCray
29 Laura Bloodworth
Christina Shaw
31 Jewell Thompson
Debbie Bare
Steve Cothren
Shannon Epps
Anniversaries
“As we settle
back into
non-holiday
routines,
Jesus, remind
us that every
day is holy
when we live
in you. Amen.”
January 19, 1974
A M & Pam Phipps
January 23, 1999
Faron & Dawn Atwood
Resolve to revitalize
Church revitalization is
a hot topic, and ideas
for congregations can
bring fresh energy and
meaning to personal
and family life, too.
Consider the following
tips:
•Have a clear vision.
It’s easy to go along
day to day without
considering
what
you’re moving toward.
Beyond the everyday
routine, what bigger
vision does God have
for you? This year,
take specific steps
toward living that out.
•Ask questions. What
gets you excited —
even passionate?
What
issues
or
situations break your
heart? What are you
good at? Resolve to
use a talent or
something you enjoy
to help heal hurts.
•Balance history with
innovation. Honor
your past as God’s gift
that makes you who
you are, but be open
to change. Dare to
step out in faith for
the sake of your life’s
mission. Try something new in the spirit
of the God who’s always
doing
a new thing (Isaiah
4 3 : 1 9 ;
Revelation 21:5).
The best way to
revitalize a church
might be to revitalize
the lives of its
individual members!
Volume 45, Issue 1
Notes of Interest
Transportation—If
anyone is in need of
transportation to church
on Sunday
Mornings
please contact the drivers
for the month of January.
They are Jim Cox@ 6578942 and Charles
Adams@ 657-8962.
Attention Nina Crouse—
WMU Study Group —The
study Group will meet on
Monday, January 11th @
1:30pm.
Family Night Dinner: The
Family Night Meal for the
month of January will be a
fundraiser for our Solid
Rock Youth. This will be a
soup and sandwich meal
that follows the Morning
Worship Service on
Sunday, January 17th at
11:15 am. There will also
be a business meeting
that follows the meal. So
please plan to attend and
help
support
the
projects of the youth
group.
Surry
Baptist
Association—Quarterly
Meeting will take place on
Monday, Jan. 25th @
7:00 pm at Dover
Baptist Church. The van
for messengers an
interested parties will
leave at 5:00 pm.
Brotherhood Breakfast
and Baptist Men’s Day—
Baptist Men’s Day will be
January 24th, 2016. The
brotherhood breakfast
will take place that
morning at 7:45 am. All
men are invited to attend.
Bulletin Information:
Announcements and
information for the
Weekly Church Bulletin
needs to be in the church
office by each Wednesday
afternoon.
Newsletter Information—
Keeping the church
informed is a big
responsibility. If your
group, committee, or
organization
has
information,
or
opportunities that needs
to be published in the
newsletter, please have
your information ready by
the 20th day of the
month. You can email the
church office with your
info at fbc_sparta
@skybest.com or there
are forms located outside
the church office to fill out
and place in the box
beside the office door.
Please consider placing
your information in the
monthly Contact.
Newsletter Folding Party—
Would you be interested
in helping get the
newsletter assembled &
ready to mail on Friday,
January 29th @ 9:30 am?
If you would like to
volunteer, please contact
the church office at 3728446.
Mission Opportunities
There have been many
opportunities for giving
of time and offerings
this year especially in
December. Next year
the theme for our
church will be WEARING
THE ARMOR. Paul tells
us in Ephesians 6, that
there are several pieces
of armor we are to wear
to protect us from the
evil one.
After the
armor he tells us to
pray at all times with all
persevera nce
and
intercession for all the
saints. Without the
prayer aspect the other
pieces of armor will not
be effective. Let us
begin this year with a
commitment to pray
without ceasing for our
missionaries in the
field, Leaders for our
Country that will have
values
based
on
Biblical principles,
those who are in prison
because of
their
Christian belief and all
of those in ministry
inside and outside the
walls of the church and
for us to have the
boldness to share
Jesus with those we
come
in
contact
with. Pray that there
will be revival in our
nation.
Missions Coordinator
Eva Rice
Page 3
Page 4
Contact
Youth News
Sundays
@ 4:00 pm
Wednesdays
@ 6:00 pm
“A new day!
A new year!
Show me
the steps
you would
have me
take,
O Lord.”
Well, we are already
turning a new page,
and a new year. It
doesn't seem like it has
been so long ago when
I was writing this letter
for
this
past
January. This past year
has been filled with
many great memories
of the youth that have
grown, and started
college, and also our
new youth that have
not only joined our
youth group, but also
our family in Christ. We
cannot wait to get a
great start to this year,
and hope to continue
the growth that we
have had, not only in
numbers, but in our
faith with God. If you
are one of the millions
of people who make
new years resolutions, I
ask that you make
praying for our youth
one of them.
The
temptations that they
have to go through on a
daily bases is nothing
like what we had to
experience
when
Brandi and I was
coming
through
school. Pray for our
college students that
they will be able to
stand for what they
believe in, because
once they get out of our
little town, there are
many new threats that
are there trying to pull
them
in
and
down. Pray for our mission trip and for the
services that we do
around the church so
that we are able to
show God's love to
others, and so that we
are
doing
God's
will. We want to make
sure that you know that
we
appreciate
everything that the
church has done for us
and the youth, and we
hope that we can
continue to work in
other peoples lives. We
have a dinner on
January 17th and it is
our Soup and Salad
dinner. Please plan to
come out and enjoy
fellowship with other
members of the church,
and with the youth.
Thank you again.
Mitchell Reedy
Lambs & Sheep Study Group
Happy New Year,
Ladies!
What better
way to start 2016 then
joining other women in
studying the Word of
God. You are invited to
join the "Lambs &
Sheep" Women's Bible
Study in our Fellowship
Hall on TUESDAY,
JANUARY
12th.
We
share
warm
beverages and goodies
during fellowship time
from 10--10:30 AM.
Bible Study is from
10:30--11:30
AM.
During the Winter
months, our study will
be cancelled if our
schools are closed due
t o
w e a t h e r
conditions.
Please bring your Bible
and come open the
Word with us. We will
encourage
one another.
Sylvia Jackson
Volume 45, Issue 1
Page 5
Solid Rock Food Closet News
The Solid Rock Food
Closet is needing help
every
Wednesday
m o r n i n g
a t
approximately 10:00 to
help unload the truck
from Second Harvest
Food
Bank
in
Winston-Salem. If you
could help do that on
any Wednesday please
call the Food Closet at
372-6560 or just show
up!
Also, one of our regular
workers who keeps the
shelves stocked, food
packages labeled and
food items weighed is
going to have surgery
on January 15 and will
be unable to carry out
those responsibilities
for a while. So we need
someone to help in the
storage room of the
Food Closet during this
time. If you are willing
to help any days
Monday
through
Thursdays, please call
the Food Closet at 372-
6560.
Thank you so much for
helping us feed the
hungry of Alleghany
County!
Seeking
the best
Choir Notes
The Adult Choir sung
very joyfully during this
past December as they
celebrated the birth of
Christ through song.
We are very blessed to
have such a dedicated
group of singers. Not
only did they practice
and sing for our regular
services, but those that
were
able,
also
represented us well
during the Singing
Christmas Tree. As we
look ahead and prepare
for services in the
months ahead, if you
are feeling led, we
would love to have your
voice
join
us.
Rehearsals are every
Wednesday evening
from 6:30-7:30pm.
Our Adult Bell Choir
continues to glorify God
with their dedication
and new found talents.
They rang beautifully
during the Singing
Christmas Tree. We will
begin meeting again on
January the 11th from
5:30-6:30pm.
The Children's Choir
sang for our Hanging of
the Greens Service and
the Singing Christmas
Tree. They did a lovely
job.
We will begin
meeting again on
Mondays starting on
January the 11th from
6:30-7:15pm. If you
know of any children
interested,
please
contact the church
office
for
more
information.
I believe that
appreciation is a
holy thing — that
when we look for
what’s best in a
person we
happen to be
with at the
moment, we’re
doing what God
does all the
time. So in
loving and
appreciating our
neighbor, we’re
participating in
something
sacred.
—Fred Rogers
Contact
Page 6
Women’s Ministries
According to the
Gospel of John,
which disciples led
others to Jesus, and
whom did they
lead?
A. Matthew led
Judas.
B. Andrew led
Simon-Peter.
C. James led John.
D. Philip led
Nathanael.
E. All of the above.
F. B and D.
The final count for our
OCC shoeboxes for our
church were 153. Dan
and Kathy reported that
our Sparta Relay Center
processed 2159 shoe
boxes and are in route
to South Sudan. Again,
THANK YOU for being a
part of this ministry!!
As we look forward to
shoeboxes for next
year, we will be
collecting TOYS in
January.
will be eating
and
meeting
again with the
food
already
provided for and
planned out. We are
bringing back our
Chocolate-Covered
Easter Egg Fundraiser
this year and will be
taking orders, so begin
making your list of
those you would like to
share sweet treats with.
Join us and be a part of
the opportunities God
has for us in 2016.
Hope to see you there
We will have a
Women’s
Ministry
meeting on Tuesday,
January 12 at 5:30. We
As we welcome a new
year, we can look back
and rejoice in God’s
love and faithfulness
this past year and let it
prepare us to move
confidently forward into
a new year prepared to
stand firm on God’s
promises. Happy New
Year!
Love, Tammy M
Kindness Counts
Need some creative
ideas for performing
acts of kindness? Here
are a few from
randomactsofkindness.org:
•Make blankets or
scarves for homeless
people.
•Send a care package
to someone who’s in
college
or
the
military.
•Collect coins for a
charity or cause.
•When you can’t
attend an event, give
the
tickets
to
strangers.
•Provide tutoring or
mentoring in your
field of expertise.
•Offer to babysit or
pet-sit for free.
•Send a note of
appreciation
to
someone who’s made
a difference in your
life.
•Share your gifts of
music, reading or
conversation at a
nursing home.
•Donate old sports
equipment to schools.
•Give someone the
benefit of the doubt —
maybe even a family
member or yourself!
Answer: F (See John
1:40-42, 45ff.)
Volume 45, Issue 1
Page 7
Deacon’s Minutes
Warren Taylor called
the meeting to order at
7:00 pm and opened
the meeting with
prayer.
The minutes from our
November meeting
were reviewed, a
motion to approve was
made and seconded.
The motion passed
unanimously.
The
financial report for
October was reviewed.
There was a motion
made to approve the
financial report and
seconded. The motion
carried.
Old Business:
The
Scouting
Resolution
was
approved by the church
on November 1st. A
scout
leadership
meeting will be called
to have all of the
current leaders to sign
the affidavits.
New Business:
The news that a fire
had
destroyed
a
structure
at
Bannertown Baptist
Church in Mt. Airy was
shared. At this time
they do not need any
assistance.
The proposed 2016
church budget was
presented by the
S t e w a r d s h i p
Committee.
After
discussion, a motion to
approve the proposed
budget with one line
item adjustment, if
needed, to the pastor’s
insurance cap was
made and seconded.
The motion carried.
John informed the
board that a new
program,
“Gospel
Project”, will replace
G-Force. The leadership
group will be meeting
soon to make plans for
implementing the new
program.
The Deacon Prayer List
was updated. A prayer
for this list was given by
Gary Poole.
Other Deacon Family
concerns were shared.
Before all else fails ...
In Too Busy Not
to Pray (InterVarsity
Press), Bill Hybels cites
reasons that prayers
may seem to go
u n a n s w e r e d
( unco nf ess ed
s i n,
selfishness and so on).
The most common
cause, though, is
prayerlessness:
“People often
tell me how they have
attempted to address a
pressing need,” Hybels
writes. “They have gone
to counselors, read
self-help
books,
claimed
biblical
promises, practiced self
-discipline, confided in
Christian
friends,
practiced assertiveness
or submission or
self-denial or positive
thinking, even read
books about prayer —
and their need is still
not met.” But when
asked if they’ve prayed
Monday,
January 11th
@ 7:00 pm
“fervently
and
regularly” about the
matter, the answer is
usually no.
James 4:2 says,
“You do not have
because you do not ask
God.” So instead of
thinking “When all else
fails, pray,” try this:
“Pray before all else
fails.”
Great beauty,
great
strength and
great riches
are really and
truly of no
great use; a
right heart
exceeds all.
—Benjamin
Franklin
Contact
F|Üáà
BtÑà|áà
V{âÜv{
Éy fÑtÜàt
U S Postage Paid
Permit # 3
Non-Profit Org.
Sparta, NC 28675
Monthly Newsletter
PO Box 668
202 South Main Street
Sparta, NC 28675
Phone: 336-372-8446
Pastor’s Cell: 336-657-2103
Email: [email protected]
Were The Armor
Return Service Requested
Sunday School Attendance
In December, 2015
Date
Attendance
6
102
13
129
20
97
27
85
Sunday School Enrollment
Average Attendance
119
104
WE’RE O N THE W EB
SPARTAFIRSTBAPTIST. COM
Committees and Special Services for January
Nursery
Schedule
Of winter’s lifeless world
each tree
Now seems a perfect part;
Yet each one holds
summer’s secret
Deep down within its
heart.
~Charles G. Stater
Katie Nilo
(336-372-5088)
4 David & LeAnn
Gambill
10 Betty Guynn &
Debra Gonzalez
17 Jim & Joan Cox
25 Lynn Adams &
Susan Murphy
Ushers
Brad Gambill
JD Brooks
Van Drivers
Jim Cox @
657-8942
Charles Adams
@ 336–657-8962
Family Night
Dinner
Youth Fundraiser
Heat & Air
Controller
Brotherhood
Breakfast
Gerald Leftwich
Robert Patrick
Warren Taylor
Jim Cox