AgApe MessAgeVolume 1, Issue 6 November 2012

Pastoral NewsDr. James HassellPastor of Preaching and Pastoral CareThe autumn breezes are here! We finally get a break from the hot weather, and I’m glad to be heading full tilt towards Advent and Christmas. Please keep alert, then, to the information in this newsletter and in the Sunday bulletins. - Our Wednesday Noon Bible Study continues each week, and we now are exploring a series of studies around the theme Theology and Real Life. Come and explore ways to connect our thinking about God with our everyday actions. - November 18 will be a significant Sunday for us! We plan to observe the Lord’s Supper in our morning worship service as well as take up a special in-gathering to catch up on our budget. By the way, let me be one of the first to say “thanks” for your Capital Campaign giving. We are over the halfway point of reaching our pledge amount. Through October, total contribu-tions are $425,228. That leaves us with a little over $389,000 left in meeting our pledges. Church, we can accomplish great things when we rejoice in challenge! - Your Coordinating Council has discussed changes to our ex-isting Ministry Team organizational structure in order to meet congregational needs more effectively and to get ready for the future on Harris Parkway. The Council will make a decision this month on these changes and bring information and recom-mendations to the wider church body. - The deacons approved a new strategy for implementing a Family Ministry Plan in their October meeting. Kevin McClean will present this information to you this month. A big “thank you” goes to the deacons and sub-groups for their painstaking work.

Inside This Issue1 Pastor James’ Article CBF Global Missions

2 Pastor’s Article continued Missions Celebration Angel Tree Church Profile

3 Calendar of Events Karen Church Report Pray for . . . Pledge Amount Given Toward Campaign

4 Children’s News and Youth News Pumpkin Party photos

Newsletter 1

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“... whatever you did for one of the least of these ... you did for me.” — Matthew 25:40

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship www.fellowship.info/give Church goal: ________________

God’s mission, your passion

C h a n g i n g C o M M u n i t i e s i n K e n y a

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CBF Offering for Global Missions is the way many CBF field personnel are supported in ministry. Your gifts are what sends them to the mission field and keep them there to be and share the presence of Christ. CBF has set a national goal of $5,500,000.

Agape Baptist Church has voted to set its Global MIssionsOffering goal at $24,000. Your offerings will be received in December and January. Offering envelopes for this purposewill be in the pews during these months.

LOOKING AHEAD AT CBF EVENTS:

CBF Regional Luncheon:November 8, 11:30 am at Broadway Baptist ChurchRick McClatchy, Texas Field Coordinator will discuss changesoccuring in CBF. Reserve lunch: kgilbert@the fellowship.info.

Churchworks: February 25-27, 2013 - Broadway Baptist Church Join Princeton University Professor and author Kendra Creasey Dean to discuss the church, culture and our response to the times in which we find ourselves. church works combines wor-ship and small group time in a setting where ministries deepen their understanding of ministry and discover new ideas.

Advocacy in Action:March 10-13, 2012 - Washington, D.C.Join CBF on a 3-day journey to become a voice for the world’spoor and marginalized to advocate religious liberty and to wit-ness a local missional church in action.

In Pastor James’ sermon Sunday on November 4, he preached on religious liberty. There are two websites you can check out that promote this topic:Christian Life Commission: www.christianlifecommission.comBaptist Joint Committee: www.bjcpa.org

- Your 2014 Task Force also has been hard at work. In addi-tion to helping Shena with our Pumpkin Party they are work-ing with me on the possibility of a monthly Saturday evening fellowship and worship experience at Fort Worth Academy. You will see more information about this possibility in the newsletter. Please pray with me regarding our presence and ministry near the new property. - I have been sharing information with Ministry Team leaders, Bible study teachers, and the Coordinating Council over the past month regarding my ideas for developing and implanting a timely vision for ministry and facilities. These conversations have been candid, honest, and prayerful. The Coordinating Council will consider my ideas again this month and bring recommendations to you either in December or January. - I would like the opportunity to visit more with you about my ideas regarding Harris Parkway plans our church’s overall vision, as well. Join me in the worship center on Wednesday, December 12 at 6:30 pm for Q and A Night with Pastor James. This is our opportunity to visit informally about your questions and concerns about church growth and our future ministries.

God is at work. Let’s keep praying together.

James

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Newsletter 2

Angels are Coming

The angel tree for children in need at Luella Merrett Elementary School will be up in the back of the worship center during the month of November. You may choose one or more angels from the tree, purchase the listed gifts for that child, wrap them, and return them to the tree. Yours may be the only gift that some child will receive this Christ-mas. You, as well as that child, will be blessed.

MISSIONS CELEBRATIONPlease join us on December 1 for our annual “Missions Celebration” from 10:30 - 2:30 in Fatih Hall. We have invited CBF missionaries to share information regarding their ministries and how their lives and the lives of others are impacted “Because you Give.....” The missionaries will set up tables with information about their ministry and will be available from 10:30 until 11:45 to discuss with any who might have questions. After lunch, we will have a program in which the missionaries share about the dif-ference that our giving makes in what they do each day. When the program ends, there will be additional time for informal contact with the missionaries. Tickets are $5.00 per person with a $10.00 family limit. If you have ques-tions, please contact a member of the Missions Ministry Team.

AGAPE ANNUAL CHURCH PROFILE STATSFOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS

Each year our church sends statistics about our church to the BGCT on the annual church profile. It is a snapshot of churches across Texas. Below are some of the stats we reported on our pro-file:

Average Agape Bible Study Attendance 183

Average Agape Worship Attendance 180

Total Undesignated receipts/giving $769,511.

Total Receipts/giving $1,302,678.

Giving to BGCT 7% $51,808.

Total Missions Expenditures $149,724. (Global Missions, BWA, TBA, BGCT, BJCPA)

Total given to TBA Missions 2% $20,703.

Mary Hill Davis State Offering $12,709.

CBF Global MIssions Offering $33,061.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering $2,500.

Total Church Membership 405

Active members 372

Total Baptisms 7

Needed: Greeter at the eNtraNceto the childreN’s area,

adult BiBle study classes(the covered drop-off)

please see pastors James or Jeff if

you caN serve iN the capacity.

Newsletter 3

CALENDAR OF EVENTSSATURDAY, NOVEMBER 109:00 am Literacy Connection Book Fair - FH

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 114:30 pm Coordinating Council - HH111

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 136:00 pm 1st Tuesday Potluck, Game Night - FH

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 145:30 pm Finance/Stewardship Meeting - FH office

SUNDAY, NOVMEBER 184:45 pm Deacons Meeting - HH1116:00 pm Prayer Emphasis in worship

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21There will be no evening activities at the church

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22Thanksgiving Day

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23church offices closed

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 254:30 pm Missions Team Meeting - HH1116:00 pm Church Business Conference

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 01Missions Celebration - FH

OCT. 2012 AGAPE EBENEZER KAREN BAPTIST

CHURCH REPORT

The church has averaged around 135-140 in the services, held a youth Bible study and choir practice on Saturday evenings, used instruments for worship, and they have invited Shannon Hassell to meet with them the month of November to teach vocal principles to the choir.

Karen Morrow and Caroline Bell (CBF) have led a group of volunteers to teach literacy to 3 and 4 year olds in Ladera Palms Apts. We are half way through the Thursday midday program. and so far, 7 families are taking part. Shena, Mary Ann, Edlyne and Moo Dah are helping teach. This pilot program will culminate on Nov. 10 at 10:00 am with a Book Fair in Faith Hall. Several other CBF churches are helping by furnishing food, etc. Literacy Connects is providing books and bookcases for all the families. Our own youth are paint-ing the bookcases .

The Karen are planning for Christmas activities. Karen Morrow has arranged for another church women’s group to provide wrapped gifts for the 125 children attending our church.

We would like to request the following:“That on Dec. 16, we have a RICE Sunday where members of the Agape Church bring 10 lb. bags of rice ($10.00) and place them under the Christmas trees at the altar of the church and have a special time of prayer for the 60 # fami-lies touched by the Karen Church. We will ask donors to sign Christmas cards which will be attached to each bag of rice. “ Hopefully we will collect 60 bags of rice.” A survey shows that only two of the sixty families receive more than $1,000. per month, including food stamps. Out of that they pay rent, gasoline, clothing, etc.

October 2012 Camgaign Giving

Total amount pledged to our“Rejoice in Challenge” campaign:

$814,451.00

Amount given toward pledges throughOctober: $425,228.00

As you pray, remember . . .• Our friends, Tom and Joe and families, Lucille, Bill, Diane, Gay, Roy, Carol• Church members who have recently lost loved ones• Staff: James, Jeff, Shena, Luke• Our church family• Our three cultural congregations• Our Campaign Giving and Budget Giving

Children’s Ministry NewsShena Smith, Children’s Minister

Newsletter 4

Dr. James Hassell, Pastor of Preaching and Pastoral Care Luke Cunningham, Youth MinisterJeff Bankhead, Pastor of Education and Administration Shena Smith, Children’s Minister

Cheri Jordan, Worship LeaderAgape Baptist Church 817-923-6800 info@agapebaptist.org www.agapebaptist.org

Christmas Bells are about to ring! Come and join the fun as we invite the kids to stay in and the parents to head out. Holiday season can be one hectic rush after another so we would like to offer a fun evening of kid-friendly, holiday-themed activities for children 3yrs- 6th grade. The event will be held December 7th from 6-10p.m. at Fort Worth Academy. Parents are free to drop off and pick up their child(ren) at their convenience. All participants must sign up by December 5th. To sign up or for more infor-mation, contact Shena Smith or visit our website: www.agapebaptist.org

Agape Baptist Church3900 S. W. BlvdFort Worth, TX 76116

November 16-18 the Youth Ministry will lead to Mt. Leba-non for their fall retreat. Students will be participating in ropes course challenges and Bible studies each morning and night. In past years this has been a good event for strengthening relationships within the youth group and a great opportunity for students to invite friends.

Youth Ministry NewsLuke Cunningham, Youth Minister

PUMPKIN PARTY ON NEW LAND November 3