FroMYour Pastor’s heart

jhenry@fbcfairhope.org

Welcome to the First Family

First Edition - page 2

Easter is approaching! Each Sunday is a celebration that we serve a risen Savior, because He was resurrected on the � rst day of the week. Easter however, is the historical remembrance that Jesus died at a time and place in history, and came out of the grave three days later. The cruci� xion and resurrection of Christ are not add ons to what we believe, but stand at the very center of our faith. Easter creates a greater sense of worship. We have a living Lord who we come to with our deepest needs and he � lls us with his mercy and grace. (Hebrews 4:16-17). We pour ourselves out to Christ and He pours himself into the emptiness of our souls. As we encounter the living Christ in worship, we receive the full blessing of God because “by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:3-5)Thank God for Easter! When you read this, Susan and I will be playing with our grandchildren in Virginia and West Virginia. It has been November since we were with them. Our prayer is that we will be the kind of grandparents that not only teach our grandchildren about Jesus, but they will see the love of Jesus in us. In my absence on March 22, Dr. Joe Savage will preach the morning messages, and Shawn Trotter will preach the evening message. I will return to the pulpit on March 29 to preach about Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem and the cruci� xion. I thank God for the great turnout for the Walk for Life. Our support for pro-life remains strong. We are in the process of taking up the o� ering for North American Missions (Annie Armstrong O� ering). Our church has a history of being generous in this o� ering. The worship services this past week were blessed occasions. Four were baptized in the 11:00 worship service and two came forward for Christian commitment. One of those baptized, George “Bubba” Bishop, comes from our Deaf Ministry. He may be hearing impaired, but in our worship service, he heard the voice of God speaking his name -- and he said “yes!” Amen and Amen! Behave yourselves while I am on vacation. Remain faithful. May our church be a place where people continue to experience God, � nd community, and ful� ll God’s purpose for their lives. It is an honor to be your pastor,God bless each of you,Jerry, Hebrews 4:14-16

Marie JohnsonJoins by Letter104 Adkins Lane, FH

Curt & Mona Schoenrock (& Luke)Join by Letter (Luke by baptism week before)11448 Co. Rd. 32. Fairhope, AL / 662.492.1912

Dean GearhartJoins by Profession of FaithParents: Kelly and Jason Gearhart

George “Bubba” BishopJoins by Profession of Faith14142 Bama Lane FH

Kayce SextonJoins by Profession of FaithParents Stacey & Tracy Sexton

Friday, April 3 Good Friday Communion Service, 6:00PMSaturday, April 4, Eggciting Saturday, Fairhoper’s Community Park, 10:30-noonSunday, April 5, EASTER Worship, 8:30am and 11:00am (no Sunday afternoon/evening activities)

For Princess es MARCH 27On Friday March 27th all Girls 1st-5th grade are invited to a special Girls only Kids night out Princess Party. On this night our girl power will be in full force as our little princesses travel by bus to the Eastern Shore Center in Spanish Fort for a meal at Chick-� l-a, then jewelry shopping at Charming Charlie, followed by Disney’s Cinderella at Premiere Theatre. This is a NO BOYS ALLOWED, Cootie-free event! We will leave FBC Fairhope 4:00PM and will return to the church by 9:00PM. All Princesses should wear something pink this night. This event is for 1-5th grade only and there will be no preschool-k care at the church this night. Cost for the Princess Party is $15 dollars and includes meal, Movie, Popcorn kids pack, and a gift at Charming Charlie. Sign up online now. Absolute Deadline for this awesome Girls night is Wednesday March 25th. See you in pink at GNO “No Boys Allowed” Princess Party! See Bro Kevin for details.

First Edition - page 3

For Pirates APRIL 17All Boys 1st-5th grade are invited to a No Girls Allowed Pirate Party on Friday April 17th. On this night our pirates will travel by bus to Lulu’s in Gulf Shores for dinner, followed by outdoor play on the elevated skywalk and sandlot in the courtyard. We will the close out the night at The Track for a group go cart race and indoor arcade free play. All boys should wear pirate gear! (And no.. you’re not too cool to participate!) Cost for this event is $15 dollars and includes meal at Lulus, 25 game tokens, and cost of go cart track race. (Little pirates are subject to the Tracks height restrictions) Join the Pirate Party by signing up online today. Pirate friends are welcome to join us but ev-eryone must be signed up no later than Wednesday April 15th. Sign up today! We will leave the church at 4:00PM and will return by 9:00PM. You Arrrrgggghhhh in for a great time! See you at the “No Girls Allowed” Pirate Party! See Bro Kevin for details.

Parents Night Out for “Illusion of Parenting” event On Friday night May 8th all kids whose parents are signed up and in attendance of the PEP Talk “Illusion of Parenting” event in FBC Fel-lowship hall are invited to a Kids Night Out to Eastern Shore Lanes in Spanish Fort. Kids will have the option to bowl or play indoor arcade games including laser tag. We will eat at bowling alley this night. While there is no cost for this event, kids will need money for meal at bowling alley and for bowling or arcade option. We will leave church by 6:00PM and will return to church by 9:00PM. Sign up online for Pep talk, and parent’s night out today. There will be preschool childcare this night for those in attendance. See Kevin for Details.

Family Together

TimeChildren’s Worship ChangesBeginning April 4th, Easter Sunday, All children 1-5th grade will attend Corporate Morning Worship with their Families. The � rst Sunday of each month will be designated as Family Together Time at FBC Fairhope. There will be no separate children’s worship with the Children’s Team on the � rst Sunday of each month. Also, on the � rst Sunday of each month ALL PARENTS must pick up your children from their Sunday school class. (NOT IN THE CHILDREN’S WORSHIP ROOM) This is very important to note. Please be prompt in picking up your children each week from Sunday School. Family Together Time is your opportunity to model worship to your child, and our e� ort to expose our children to congregational worship. It is my prayer that as your child grows; he/she will grow to love assembling together in Christ’s Church. Preschool-K kids worship will meet as usual.

It’s that time again! CentriKid Camp is set for July 6-10 at Shocco Springs Conference Center in Talladega, Al. This is a � ve-day camp for kids completed 3rd-5th grades. During this amazing week, campers will learn about the spiritual practices that will help them grow their faith. Together we will seek God’s Word and let Christ be our teacher. The goal of this year’s Bible Study time is provide kids with some hands-on, practical, take-it-home-with-them tools for using spiritual practices as they grow their faith. Our verse and focus for the week will be:2015“You will seek me and � nd me when you search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (HCSB) Cost for Centrikid is $337.00 per child and must be paid online or by check only. Sign up your child online today. There are only 40 spaces available and this camp is full. Please reserve your child’s spot today. Once we � ll our allotment, there will be no further additions allowed by Centrikid. Reserve your child’s spot by going online and making payment today! I look forward to another amazing week at Centrikid.

Mission Trip Yard SaleSaturday, April 18 :: 6:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.The POD Storage Unit will be on the back parking lot unlocked during daylight hours beginning the � rst week in February. Please call Paula Bosarge at 510-2487 for big items to be picked up. Pick up planned for Friday, April 17.We accept items in good working condition and wearable clothes. We do not accept magazines. Pray for good weather for the sale.

Our very own missionaries, Ron & Jean Mitchell, are currently serving another 3 month tour in Brazil helping a local church to spread the good news of the Gospel. One of their primary means of doing this is using what is known as an EvangeCube. This tool has been ultra-successful in leading people to Christ in Brazil. Through some circumstances, a ministry in Brazil has 4,000 of these “CUBES” already in country that they are needing to sell. Normally with shipping costs and a 40% excise tax the “CUBES” would cost around $13 each. They are available for $6.70 through this ministry, so we are asking for everyone to donate at least one (1) for $7.00.

We want to help Ron & Jean purchase as many of these “CUBES” as possible…all 4,000 is our goal. HOW CAN YOU HELP? You can donate the cost of one (1) or more of these “CUBES” by making out your check to First Baptist and simply writing CUBES on the bottom of your check.

NOTE: You can go by the EvangeCube table in the Gathering Space beginning March 15 to see the “cubes” and may make a donation there or in the Church O� ce. Each “cube” is $7.00.

Our Annie Armstrong O� ering Goal: $40,000Ingathering will be Sunday, April 12

LUNCH TO GO for MISSIONSSunday, March 29Immediately following Sunday School and the 11:00 AM Worship service a tasty LUNCH TO GO will be available for pick up. The meal will be prepared under the guidance of Chef Vann Saltz and will include Chicken Strips, Mac-n-Cheese, Green Beans and Cookies. The funds donated will go to help support the Tanzania, Vancouver Island and Brazil Mission Trips, so you are encouraged to be generous.NOTE: Sign up for your Lunches to Go ONLINE or in Sunday School or with LaSha Powell in the Church o� ce by March 25 (928-8685 or lpowell @fbcfairhope.org).

MISSION: CUBES

First Edition - page 4

CONNECTIONS OUTREACHTuesday, March 31 :: 6:00pm in Social HallJoin the fun and help us deliver fresh baked cookies and info about our church to recent guests in worship and newcomers to our area.

Arts & Crafts Water OutreachAs we have done in the past, we will show guests in the city our Fairhope hospitality, by o� ering bottles of water to those parking around the church during Arts & Crafts weakend March 20-22. If you would be willing to sit and o� er water to people walking by, contact Jennifer Coulter to sign up for a time period of not over two hours. (928.8685 or jcoulter@fbcfairhope.org)We will begin Friday afternoon and end Sunday afternoon.

Our North American Mission Board exists to work with churches, associations and state conventions in mobilizing Southern Baptists as a missional force to impact North America with the gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelism and church planting. NAMB estimates that 3 out of 4 people living in the United States and Canada do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Because of our gifts to the Annie O� ering, the gospel is being shared in under-served and under-reached places, new churches are being started and People are coming to Christ and growing in Him. Help reach those that are lost in our own North America....Give to the Annie O� ering!

Enjoy the Convenience of Online Giving…First Baptist wants to remind you that we o� er online giving as a way to automate your regular giving. Online giving o� ers an easy way for indi-vidual members and attenders to provide much-needed giving consis-tency for our congregation.

Online Giving lets you to to our website, www.fbcfairhope.org, at any time to set up an automatic giving plan, change your giving plan, make a one-time gift or view your online giving history. As you contemplate future contributions, please consider the convenience of online giving.

Thanks to everyone who walked and sponsored a walker! Because of your involvement the Women’s Care Medical Center can cortinue to minister to women and families in crisis pregnancy situations. We had over 100 Walkers and raised $10,000.00...To God be the glory!

Thanks for Walking

Legacy Path Milestone 1Parenting Class Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

In preparation for our next Parent/Child Dedication ceremony on May 10th we will be o� ering our � rst class in the Legacy Path Milestones. This class is designed to equip parents for the spiritual journey they are beginning with their child. Topics are chosen to support parents and to particularly address the various Legacy Milestones their child will pass through. This class is essential if you are desiring to dedicate your infant/child.

Legacy Path Milestone 1 - First Steps Class will be o� ered Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at 5:30pm in MPR 1. All those interested in Parent Commitment and Child Dedication are encouraged to attend!

Because our Learning Tree is growing, we are taking teacher applications for the 2015-16 school year. Also, we are � lling our classrooms quickly so if you are interested in enrolling for the Fall, apply in The Learning Tree o� ce. Our Art Walk was a huge success! Thank you for your support.Tender hearts, times of joy, little hands of girls and boys, planting seeds, watch them grow, God has a plan, this I know.Lynn Carrolltlt@fbcfairhope.org

weekday study for women9:30-11:00, Brides RoomChild Care provided by sign upCost: $15.00Sign up & pay online (scan code)or at the Welcome Center.Contact: Tammy Henry 504.8959

First Edition - Page 6