IN THIS ISSUE:Church Announcements ...........................................page 2 Church-wide Calendar ................................................page 4 A Letter from Pastor Ross ..........................................page 5 Music Ministry .........................................................page 6Adult Discipleship ........................................................page 7Senior Saints Ministry .................................................page 8Student Ministry .....................................................page 10Children’s Ministry ...................................................page 11Preschool Ministry....................................................page 12FBC School-The Lion’s Roar ......................................page 13Special Announcements...........................................page 14From Troy’s Heart ...................................................page 15

CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHURCH STAFFRoss Shelton, Pastor rshelton@fbc-brenham.orgTroy Sikes, Associate Pastor tsikes@fbc-brenham.orgAlex Morrison, Minister to Children amorrison@fbc-brenham.orgChad Marrs, Minister to Students cmarrs@fbc-brenham.orgStacey Strickland, Preschool Ministry sstrickland@fbc-brenham.orgTeresa McGlasson, Office Manager tmcglasson@fbc-brenham.org

Annette Rogers, Comptroller arogers@fbc-brenham.orgLindee Knowles, Graphic Design / Media lknowles@fbc-brenham.orgDonella Peevler, Church Receptionist dpeevler@fbc-brenham.orgO’Dell Merryman, Facilities Manager omerryman@fbc-brenham.orgNancy Fritz, School Administrator nfritz@fbcsbrenham.orgKristie Mendoza, Mother’s Day Out Director waumbaland@att.net

APRIL 5TH 8:00 AM - 4:30 PMPlease be in prayer for the women

attending this special event.

CHILDREN’S & YOUTH FUNDRAISER MEALAPRIL 21 4:30-6:30 PM TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

Our elementary kids and youth are selling tickets to help raise funds for summer camp. Tickets are $9.00 each.

Catered by: The Cannery KitchenThey are also selling coffee - $14/bag.

RESULTS OF VOTE ON PURCHASE OF 33 ACRESOn Wednesday, March 19, we voted 109 yes, 5 no, and 1 abstention to move forward with the purchase of 33 acres on S. Market St. near the 290 intersection and across from Tractor Supply. The money for the purchase of the 33 acres will come from the Story to Build On designated fund, which has more than enough money to cover the purchase price of a little over 1.4 million dollars. We also voted to authorize the Facilities Committee to discern which of the listing agents/marketing firms they want to recommend to the church for church approval for the sale of the 51 acres. As we go forward, you will be informed of each step. The most important next step is for us to pray for God to bring us the right person or group to purchase the 51 acres. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in this process most recently and throughout the previous years!

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LINKS TO CHECK OUT ONLINE CHURCH & SCHOOL WEBSITE: www.fbc-brenham.org

CHURCH FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/BrenhamsFirstBaptistChurch

SCHOOL FACEBOOK PAGE: www.facebook.com/Brenhamfbcs

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Thurs: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Fri: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.

First Baptist Church Contact Info:Phone: (979) 836-2807 Fax: (979) 830-0122

Mailing address: PO Box 600, Brenham, TX 77834 email: info@fbc-brenham.org

HERE I AM ORPHAN MINISTRIES: 2014 MISSION TRIPSTeam members will hold a VBS type program, including: a Bible lesson, a craft, singing, serving a lunch and spend lots of time loving on the children and playing with them. Each trip is a week and we will visit a different orphanage each day. Team members should have a servant’s attitude, be flexible, and have a willing spirit. If you possess these qualities and have a love for the Lord and for His children, then you are qualified.

Trip dates and cost are as follows: Honduras – June 8-15, $1,550 & El Salvador – July 20-27, $1,500

If you are interested in attending either of these trips, please go to our website www.orphanministries.com and fill out the application. There is a link on the front page under 2014 Mission Trips. If you have any questions, please feel free to call (979) 421-6471 or email Debbie@orphanministries.com.

COMMUNITY-WIDE GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE

April 18th at 3pmat St Paul Luthern Church

Pastor Ross will be attending and everyone is invited.

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CHURCH-WIDE CALENDARAPRIL:April 1 Joy Class Meeting at 2pm in the Sycamore House April 3 Open Prayer group begins -10am - Sycamore garageApril 5 Priscilla Shirer Simulcast 8am – Sanctuary/GymApril 6 Deacon’s Meeting at 2:00pm in Room 111April 7 FBCS PALs Meeting at 12pm – Sycamore HouseApril 11 UIL Meet FBCS Campus-wide Event 7:30am to 6pmApril 11 Alex Morrison’s 10 year anniversary with FBCApril 14 Widow/Single Ladies Home Team @ 6pmApril 14 Finance Committee Meeting 6:30pm Pastor’s OfficeApril 20 Easter Sunday Worship Times: 9am and 10:45am April 22 Senior Saints Trip to the Painted Churches 8amApril 25 FBCS Jammin” All Night Party Church and Gym 7pm April 27 Student Life Camp Meeting at 3pm - Student CenterApril 31 Early-bird registration for Camp Tejas ends

MAY:May 2 Maifest – Church Office ClosedMay 5 Deacon’s Meeting at 2:00pm in Room 111May 5 Widow/Single Ladies Home Team 6pm May 6 Joy Class Meeting at 2pm in the Sycamore HouseMay 6 Personnel Committee Meeting at 6pm - Sycamore House GarageMay 11 Baby Dedication Sunday - (sign up by April 28) May 12 Finance Committee Meeting - 6:30pm - Pastor’s OfficeMay 18 Graduate Sunday at 9:45am in the GymMay 18 Honduras Mission Meeting at 5pm - Student CenterMay 19 Widow/Single Ladies Home Team 6pmMay 19 FBCS Kindergarten Graduation- 6pm - Sanctuary/GymMay 20 FBCS 6th Grade Graduation - 5pm - Sanctuary/GymMay 21 FBCS End of Year ExtravaganzaMay 21 Coffee with the Pastor - 6pm in the GymMay 25 Church Business Meeting - 5pm in the Gym

I am excited that we finally know our direction in terms of relocation. On Wednesday, March 19, we voted and approved our relocating to the beautiful 33 acres on South Market at Highway 290. We also voted to authorize the Facilities Committee to bring to the church for our approval their recommendation about which marketing/real-estate firm we want to use to market and sell our current 51 acres. I want to encourage you to pray for God’s leading in the selling of the 51 acres. When I drive by the 51 acres on Market

Street, I try to take an opportunity to pray for God to bring us the right buyer. Thank you to Brandon Musser, David Baker, Will O’Brien, Terry Roberts, and Jesse Ladd for all of their hard work on the committee. Thank you, as well, to Bill Betts for his consulting with the committee as they thought out the legal issues associated with the purchase of property.

As we move forward, our first priority is the sale of the 51 acres. Our next priority is not to discuss buildings and design but to move by faith. I realize that there will be lots of questions associated with buildings and design: size of buildings, aesthetics of the buildings and property, which building will be built first, etc. Before all this, I want to propose to our church that this relocation and building process be done debt-free. That is, as God provides financially, we build. If we chose to follow this path, it will mean we will walk by faith as a church. There will be no Plan B. I have spoken with the deacons and the staff about this and am ready to begin discussing this with the church.

The heart of choosing to build debt-free is the opportunity to watch God provide for our church and experiencing Him as He provides. That is, my focus in proposing this is not that this is a wiser financial strategy (although I think it is), nor I am proposing this because it will resonate with the culture of thriftiness that is a part of Washington County. The reason I am proposing this is because it will cause us to walk by faith. Can you imagine our first Sunday in a new building with no debt hanging over our heads and being able to give a testimony after testimony how we saw God work throughout this process? For right now, I simply want to put building debt-free before the church for prayer and discussion.

Somewhere down the road, we will need to vote on this concept. If we do this, I want us to join together and do it joyfully, not thinking of it as the “pastor’s idea.” I know there are questions that will surround building debt-free, and I am anticipating these. If you want an example of how God can do this, I want to encourage you to look at the example of Sagemont Baptist Church in Houston. They have been committed to building debt-free since the 1970s, and they have seen God provide in miraculous ways. I have spoken with their pastor, Dr. John Morgan, about the nuts and bolts of building debt-free. He also agreed to come and speak with us if we chose this path. For the time being, again, I simply want to bring this before the congregation for discussion and prayer. Thank you for allowing me to be your pastor. I am excited to see what God is going to do. -Ross

FROM PASTOR ROSS

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WORSHIP & MUSIC MINISTRY

WEDNESDAYSHandbell Choir – 5:30 to 6:30 pm, Worship Choir – 6:30 to 7:45 pm

THURSDAYS- Praise Team Rehearsal – 6:30 to 8:00 pm

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A PART OF OUR PRAISE & MEDIA TEAM FOR THE 11:00 SERVICE?

Volunteers are needed to help with sound, computer persentation, and video. Please contact Ross Shelton is you are interested.

If you are a singer or musician interested in participating on the praise team, please contact Chad Marrs.

JOIN US SUNDAYS 8:30 am - Blended Service9:45 am - Bible Study

11:00 am - Contemporary Service

TUNE IN YOUR RADIO Listen to our service every Sunday @ 10:00am on KWHI AM 1280

TURN ON YOUR TV Watch the Blended Service every Sunday @ 8:30am - Cable Channel 9

MUSIC MINISTER SEARCH COMMITTEE The members of our newly formed Music Minister Search Committee are:

Gregg Workman Ron Kirby Bud Lovell Pam Young Sami Rahman

In the next few weeks, you will learn about the opportunities to give input and pray. Please keep these people in your prayers as they seek the Lord’s direction. At any point, if you have a question, you can call or email the pastor.

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ADULT MINISTRIES

Fellowship Potluck Meal: Wednesdays 5:30-6:30pm In the church gymMid-Week Bible Study: Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30pm, Room 112 “1st place 4 Health” Group: Tuesdays, 5:30-7:00pm, Sycamore House Rm. 201Men’s Study/Prayer Breakfast: Wednesdays, 6:00 AM, Sycamore House Women’s Wednesday Bible Studies: 9-11am – Sycamore House – Experiencing God 6:30pm – Sycamore House – Wonderstruck : Live Astounded by GodLadies Precept: Tuesday 9am – Pahl House Wed. 6:30pm – Pahl House NEW - Open Prayer Group: Thursdays, beginning April 3, 10-11am – Sycamore House GarageWednesday night class @ 6:30pm in room 111. “Foundations: Building Blocks for a Life of Purpose” In the course we will talk about: Understanding Your Salvation, Our Identity in Christ, The Spiritual Battles We All Face, How to Get the Most out of Prayer, Worship, and the Bible, Servant Living and God’s Plan for Our Life.

SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE CLASSESAt BFBC we offer fifeen different Sunday Morning Bible Studies for YOU! Each Sunday @ 9:45am, you will find people eager to meet you and engage you in friendly discussions of faith and life from the Bible.

Marriage Builders - Family Ties (young couples/families) Agape (various ages) Virtuous Women (Ladies - various ages) Life Applications (various ages) Family Life Class (various ages) Choices (various ages)CSI: Brenham (Open to All) Adult 1 (Sr. Adults)

•Joy (Ladies) •Friendship (Ladies) •Scripture Searchers (Men)

Adult 2 (Sr. Adults - all ages)•Hope Class (Ladies all ages) •Covenant Keepers

Adult 3 ( 60’s)Adult 4 (50’s & 60’s) Adult 5 (50’s)

WE HAVE A COLLEGE CLASS ON SUNDAY MORNING! Help us spread the word that we are now offering a College-age

Bible study on Sunday Mornings at 9:45. The class is meeting upstairs in the Sycamore house. This is a laid back group being

taught by Mrs. Bobbye Marrs. All are welcome!

WEEKLY BIBLE STUDIES & FELLOWSHIP

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:Marriage Tune Up 2 – January 30-Feb. 2, 2015 7

SENIOR SAINTS NEWS

Neil Kulhanek 4/3Bill Arnold 4/5Bill Whitaker 4/5Mike Cowan 4/9Bruce Drummond 4/9Midge Lubbock 4/9Geneva Walker 4/10Joyce Ruley 4/11Dan Bishop 4/13Shirley King 4/13

Helen Yeakley 4/14June Smith 4/15Jane Barnett 4/18Beverly Whitman 4/19Marilyn Brown 4/20Marilyn Beardslee 4/23Rita Schneider 4/24Charlie Matejowsky 4/25Connie Poffenberger 4/25Waverly Craft 4/30

CELEBRATE OUR APRIL BIRTHDAYS!

SR. SAINTS & FRIENDS TRIP IN APRIL:

WHERE: Painted Churches Tour in

Schulenburg, TxWHEN:

Tuesday, April 22nd from 8:00am-4:00pm

(meet in the Sycamore Parking Lot) COST: $35 per person

TRIP INCLUDES: Charter Bus, Lunch Buffet at Oakridge Smokehouse and Tour of 4 painted churches

WHO: Sr. Saints and Anyone who would

like to be our friends!Sign up TODAY at the church office!

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Dear Friends, We are home from our vacation, and it was really different this year. It seemed as if anything could go wrong it did. I was so looking forward to just relaxing and enjoying some quite time after the surgeries I had and slow healing. It was really a crazy three weeks, and it was also a time of ups and downs in my mood for sure. As time was winding down and I started thinking about this month’s newsletter, the word trust came to me. It took this time of craziness for me to realize the importance of trust. The dictionary defines trust as:

1. A confident expectation of something…hope2. A person on whom or thing which one relies.

That being said I learned this past three weeks that maybe I need to have more trust in God than I do. I always thought I did trust completely, but as the weeks went on and I got more and more down how things were turning out I realized I may have been trusting that things might work out, but not really trusting that things would work out. Now I know what I need to work on in my personal life.

“Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.” Psalms 37:5

On another note, I have really enjoyed seeing the pictures on Facebook of some of our families helping build a home and doing a VBS in Penitas Texas this week of spring break. I was so happy to see so many families and church leaders on this trip. We are blessed to have such a great group of young people here as well. As our thoughts turn to Easter and springtime, I pray that you will have a blessed one. Don’t forget we can always pray for one another if we are unable to do anything else. Prayer for one another is the most important thing we can do. Blessings, Reba Pair

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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STUDENT MINISTRY

I can't tell you how proud I was of the students and the families that went with us on Mission to Penitas this Spring Break. Everyone worked so hard and ministered to a family in need. As I look back at the trip I can't help but think that we all were the ones that were truly blessed. I got to know each and every one better and saw the hands of God and the Holy Spirit at work. I am always amazed to see the Spirit of God fall on someone when I am witnessing to them. I was equally amazed to see Him working in the team Brenham's First Baptist sent out . Thank You First Baptist family for your prayers and donations in sending us to Penitas, Texas. I look forward to seeing what team God will put together next year. It is great to be here in Brenham and serving beside all of you. In Him, - Bro. Chad

• Student Life Camp Meeting/Student Center on April 27,2014 @ 3:00pm. I need at least one parent there to fill out all paper work and to receive information about the trip to Student Life Camp in Colorado. All money for camp will due June 8, 2014.

• Graduate Sunday /May 18, 2014 “Class Of 2014” Seniors need to fill out a Graduate information form and turn in three pictures (1. Baby Pic, 2. Child hood Pic, 3. Senior Pic) by Sunday April 27 to be in the Graduate video and bulletin.

• Honduras Missions Meeting/Student Center on May 18, 2014 @ 5:00 PM. All students that are going to Honduras and their parents need to be at this meeting to fill out paper work and to get all the information for the mission trip to Honduras. All money will be due June 1, 2014.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

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CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

• VBS@FBC-2014: June 1-5, This year we are going to have evening services M-Th. If you have never been able to serve because of work, now is your chance. Kid’s registration will open on Easter.

• The OuterMission for InnerMission: June28-July 5th, 5th & 6th graders will go to Mission Arlington for a week of missions.

• Camp Tejas: iServe.2014 “Lovin Like Jesus”, July 14-18, Kid’s Camp for 3rd-6th grade students, Early bird sign-up thru April 31.

• 2:4 The Mission: July 30-31, 1pm-1pm, 24 hours of mission fun, games and projects for 1st & 2nd graders.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN ANY OF THESE EVENTS PLEASE CONTACT ALEX MORRISON - amorrison@fbc-brenham.org

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

A SPECIAL THANK YOU Each week our kids get cookies from a very special person in our church.

I am sure that she would not want me to publically advertise her contribution, but I do want to tell her “Thank you” in case she is reading this. So, thank you

Connie Poffenberger for bringing smiles to our kids faces each week.

BFBC Kids Klub Monthly Virtue: Humility Putting others first by giving up what you think you deserve.

MINISTRY NEEDS: VBS IS ON ITS WAY AND WE NEED YOU! Volunteer Forms are now available at church or the office.

In the book, Follow Me, David Platt asks, “Ultimately, why do we share the Gospel? Why do disciples of Jesus make disciples of Jesus?” (Platt, p.120). He goes on to explain that our true devotion comes from the excitement of our new relationship with God. Much like my excitement to have found a woman who would find enough worth in me to be willing to spend the rest of her life with me, we should be at least equally excited about a God who loved us enough to allow His only Son to die in order to restore our relationship with Him - which we broke. Find a man who brags on his wife and ask him why he is bragging. His answer will probably be, “Because I love her.” Likewise, ask someone you would call a disciple-maker or a Christ-follower why they make disciples or follow Christ, and their likely answer will be, “Because I love God.”So, what is your motivation to make disciples or follow Christ? Are you in love or are you just following rules?Bro. Alex

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PRESCHOOL MINISTRIES

MOTHER’S DAY OUT What a wonderful month this is going to be for Mother’s Day Out! Our children are looking forward to learning about Easter and what it means! We will have our annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 17th! Even though we don’t come to school in June, we never want to forget how much our dads/granddads mean to us… so we will be honoring them on April 10th with donuts! I would like to thank our teachers, students and parents who helped with the March of Dimes mini walk and carnival! Our Fall Enrollment begins April 1. If you or you know of someone who is interested in our MDO program, come by the Stone House Tuesday or Thursday and take a tour. Enrollment packets can also be picked up in the church office or online. - Kristie Mendoza

Jesus wants to be my friend forever. Isn’t that AMAZING? He wants to be MY friend. He wants to be YOUR friend. Jesus wants to be my friend, forever. What a life-changing truth. What a foundational truth. What an awesome thing to put in the hearts of our preschoolers. Our preschoolers will start this month learning about Jesus’ good friends, Mary and Martha. They will then hear the exciting story of the Entry Celebration! Then, we get to hear and talk about the Easter story – the amazing, fabulous, wonderful, awesome Easter story. I pray that those who visit our church this Easter will walk away knowing that Jesus really is their good friend. We will then finish the month with the promise that Jesus is building a place for us where we can be with Him forever. What an amazing friend He is! I am so thankful He wants to be my friend forever. - Stacey Strickland

SUNDAY MORNINGS IN APRILBasic Truth: Jesus Wants to Be My Friend Forever

Key Question: Who is your good friend?Bottom Line: Jesus is my good friend.

Memory Verse: “A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17 NIrV

Baby Dedication on May 11th You can pick up a form from the Nursery area or at the church office. Please turn in completed forms no later than April 28th.

Happy Birthday to: Cooper Sanders 04/24

FBC SCHOOL & EECWe are praising God for the spring-like weather! I want to wish each one of you a blessed Easter Sunday. Without God’s sacrifice through His son, Jesus Christ, we would not have hope for eternity. I pray you are praising Him as I am. I encourage you to share His love with someone as a random act of kindness this season. You, too, will receive a blessing!~Nancy

MINISTRY NEEDS: We are collecting money for the School’s Tuition Assistance Fund or Scholarship fund. If you feel so led to give to this fund, please send a check to FBCS and place scholarship fund on the memo line. Several students benefit from this each year.

4-11-14 UIL Event (School and EEC closed) Close to 500 students and adults will be here4-18-14 Good Friday – School and EEC Closed4-25-14 Elementary P.E. Showcase4-25-14 Jammin’ All Night Party

FBC SCHOOL CALENDAR

TEXAS CELEBRATION UPDATEThe PALs leaders and FBCS Staff did an absolute fabulous job and worked so well together as a team. Together we raised $59,000 for the school!FBC supporters, our wonderful community, parents, and grandparents dug deep into their pockets, and it meant a record amount was raised in one evening!! And for that, I say a huge "Thank You" to you. Yes, it takes a lot of work to put this together, but if there are no buyers or bidders, we do not have a successful evening. The bidders bid and the buyers bought, and for that we are thankful! We not only have great PALs volunteers, FBCS families, and school Staff, we have You, FBC members who are great supporters in so many ways. Philippians 1:3 - “I thank my God every time I remember you.” We are all a successful team, because we choose to work together. There is evidence of this from this exciting event in the life of our church school. On a side note, it gave me great joy knowing our pastor volunteered to work the event and helped clean up afterwards - go Pastor Ross!

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTSOur Sympathies To:

Jackie Holmes and family in the loss of her father Les Cooper.

Church Thank Yous:Mrs. Sylvia Roundtree Thank you Dear Church Family for your prayers, calls and support during my recent illness. Thanks to Pastor Ross and Troy for their calls, prayers, and Troy’s weekly checks on me. I’m truly blessed to be a part the BFBC.

New FBC Members:Gilbert and Darlene Welty Mordecai and Daphne Brownlee Ryan and Sarah Roy

FIIND THESE GREAT RESOURCES AND MORE IN OUR LIBRARY!FOUR BLOOD MOONS by: John Hagee It is rare that Scripture, science, and history align with each other, yet the last three series of four blood moons have done exactly that. Pastor Hagee explores the supernatural connection of certain celestial events to Biblical prophecy - controlling the sun, moon, and stars to send our generation a signal that something big is about to happen.

THE GREATEST GENERATION by: Tom Brokaw This is about the men and women who came out of the Depression, who won great victories and made lasting sacrifices in World War II and then returned home to begin building the world we have today.

THE GREATEST GENERATION SPEAKS by: Tom Brokaw The author shares the avalanche of letters and responses touched off by his first book about America. Now America wrote back.

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FROM TROY’S HEART God loves us too much to leave us where we are. Have you ever heard that truth spoken? I have. More often than not the phrase was spoken to remind me of a few truths:

1. God loves each one of us.

2. God has a plan for our lives.

3. God’s plan includes change.

Henry Blackaby in the book, Experiencing God, phrased the above-men-tioned sentence this way, “You can’t stay where you are and go with God.” God doesn’t leave us where we are when He has somewhere for us to go. He didn’t leave the Prodigal in his muddy pig-slopped clothes and shoes. He didn’t leave Zacheous up in the tree or Lazarus in his grave clothes. God’s plan may move us from one place to another physically, emotionally, economically, intellectually, socially or spiritually. Shoot, sometimes, He moves us in all of the ways at once!

God is always up to something and we should be eagerly following on His heels. Change and adaptation for the follower of God should be common-place. I am glad God, although His character never changes, is always doing a “new thing”. And, when He is working a new direction, I want to eagerly say, “How can I join You?”

God is doing new things with us as His followers in Brenham! His love is moving us in new directions. Come along, it’s going to be great!!

I love you,Troy

NEWLY DESIGNED NEWSLETTER We presently offer 2 options for receiving the church newsletter.A mailed newsletter -OR- A digital newsletter emailed each monthWe will mail the newsletter to all members who are currently on our Double Nickel News mailing list. The mailed newsletter will be a blend of the Church-wide newsletter and the Double Nickel news .We would like everyone to fill out our Newsletter Subscription Form:www.fbc-brenham.org/resources/church-newsletter-subscription/Or call the church office & we will add you to the mailing list of your choice.

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