From the Desk ofSenior Pastor Jon Vincent

Our church is growing andthat means new people,some old faces returning andpresent faces being moreregular but as always thereis still many to encourage togreater faithfulness.We (Sue and I) have hadnine months to learn theDNA of our church and thatlearning continues into thenew yearWe have a newreconstituted deacons boardwith new faces. Please prayfor these men.

We have a positive legacy ofmen coming off the board towhich we owe great thanks.

continued on page 3...

Our Pastor’s ParagraphsThe men in the church havebeen a source of strength andencouragementThe women of the churchhave helped fill in therelational gap that comeswith moving far fromfamily.We are thankful for the newand developing women’sministryWe experienced the blessingof having family down thissummer (especially Joshua).We had the joy of spendingUS Thanksgiving with ourfamilyWe had the joy of spendingChristmas with all of youMy office is now lessutilitarian. I have items thatremind me of my blessingsas a follower of Jesus, mynational identity, my newnative home and my sportspassion for all teamsToronto.We are thankful and blessedto Pastor you as members ofFirst Baptist Church

Eighteen thoughts as weembark into 2018:

Seventeen thoughts andblessings from 2017:We were able to keep ourhome in Canada to help rootmy daughter and grandsons.We finally arrived toKewanee after so manymonths of waitingOur home had severalrepairs upon arrival but wewere able to resolve mostfairly quicklyOur neighbors have beenwonderful people, very kindand welcoming.We are happy to be settlinginto a new rhythm and itfeels right.We are experiencing thekindness and love of God’speopleWe have seen and areexperiencing the Lord’spresence and blessing in ourchurch activitiesWe have been blessed to besurrounded by so manyencouragesMinistry is difficult but youhave allowed me to servewith joy and not sorrow

January2018

The Baptist Visitor

Letters fromLaura

2

Prayers&Birthdays

4

FinancialReport

7

New YearsHistory

5

New YearsAround theWorld

3

Inside this issue:

F I R S T B A P T I S T C H U R C H1 2 3 S T R E M O N T S T . K E W A N E E , I L

C FFINANCIAL REPORT

Year-To-Date

Total 2017 Budget $294,257.44

IncomeGeneral Offering $205,505.86Initial Offering $134.00Gas for Vehicle $0.00Now Acct Interest $200.121/2 Merritt Dividend $37.55Use of Building $150.00Boss Comm. Center $6,500.00Total Income $212,527.53

ExpensesMission Tithe $12,353.17Payroll $134,880.11Payroll Benefits $14,380.47Trustee Board $44,732.75Deacon & Deaconess Bd. $9,404.88Mission Board $373.51Music Committee $3,809.71Decoration Committee $347.09Social Committee $145.83Dues $35.00Boss Comm. Center $15,558.45Total Expenses $236,020.97

C F R F D

General Off - $24,386.65Mission Tithing - $2709.63Total Offering - $27,096.28

Approx. Expenses:$14,133.34

Sunday School - $126.95 Fellowship off. - $123.50

Dividends - $13.84 Designated Ministry -$4,093.60

Coffee / Pop - $0.00 Boss Community Center -$450.00

Special Programs Fund-$3.46

Youth Fund - $408.00

Special Interest Fund -$7.62

College Fund - $1.38

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The Baptist Visitor

Dec. Sun. Worship Sun. School

3rd 130 104

10th 189 100

17th 144 92

24th 128 No SS

31st 96 56

LETTERS FROM

LAURA

two mechanics. It was afruitful time of ministry withour teammates from the US,from Trujillo, Peru, andfrom the two hostchurches. Here is the fruitthat God produced:177 receivedwheelchairs (143 adults and34 children) and31 received a walker, caneor crutches.

More importantly: 278heard the Gospel(recipients and those whoaccompanied them)...128trusted in Jesus Christ, 101were already Christians, 10recommitted their lives toChrist and 39 listened.Next month, for the first timein my missionarycareer, I’m going to the USjust for Christmas!

God at work…- Praise the Lord for the“Women ServingWomen” module, andplease pray about howGod would use what I havelearned in futureministries.- Praise the Lord for the“Ladies of Light”

discipleship group and allthat we have learned.Please pray that we wouldbe able to put it intopractice.

- Praise the Lord for theWheels for the Worldevent, for our team fromEcuador and theirwork, and for the resultsthat the Lord gave!

Please pray for thesalvation of Jolimar, myhair stylist, SeñoraMagdalena, my formerlandlady, Galo and Martha,my current landlords, andCarlos and Paola and theirchildren, my formerneighbors.

- Praise the Lord that I getto spend Thanksgiving withfriends here in Ecuador,and the Christmas holidayswith family and friends inthe US!

A blessed Thanksgivingand Christmas to you,

- Laura

Thanks so much for praying!The last week in Septemberfound me in Texas,Participating in the “WomenServing Women”module. It was verybeneficial to me personally, aswell as for future ministries.Here are some of thelesson titles: “TheBiblical Basis and Calling ofWomen in Ministry,” “SpiritualGifts,” “Understanding ourTemperaments,” “BuildingTeams,” and “DisciplingWomen as Ministry Leaders.”My facilitation of the lesson“Appreciating BiblicalSingleness” went well. Andwhat a wonderful group ofladies to learn with and from!After my return, the “Ladies ofLight,” our discipleship group,finished our study. This hasbeen another wonderful groupof ladies with which to learnand I pray for their ownministries in the future.

Last week, the team of six ofus from our church inCumbayá, Ecuador, wentto Chiclayo, Peru toparticipate in Wheels for theWorld. I was proud of ourteam of four interpreters and

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We continue to evaluatewhat we have done, what we aredoing and what we can do in thefuture

Some future insights to prayabout: We as a leadership teamare working on a membershipclass for all new and prospectivemembers.

We as a leadership team areasking God to expand our out-reach to the Hispanic community

We as a leadership teamcontinue our study of the

“Unity Factor” by Larry OsborneWe as a leadership team will

be studying the BaptistDistinctives following our

Pastor’s Paragraphs Continued...Youth ministry with spiritual renewaland revival and that God would drawmore young people.We ask God to visit revivalthroughout every ministry of ourchurchWe ask God to further strengthen ourprayer livesWe are asking God to expand ourfaith and trust Him as He calls us towork in the fieldsWe are asking God to makewitnessing to our family and friends apriority in 2018. Make it your prayerthis year ask at least once, all thosepeople in your circle of influence tocome to church.-Pastor Jon

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1.OfficeClosed

2.

6:30pmLadies Bible

Study

3.

Choir 7:00pm

4.Girl Scouts4:00pmCub Scouts6:00pmCollege Group7:00p.m.

5.Youth RetreatLeaves at4:15p.m.

6.YouthRetreat

7.Communion

Sunday

BusinessMeeting

11:30a.m.

Youth ComeHome afternoon

8.

Troop 1067:00pm

9. 10.

Choir 7:00 pm

11.

Girl Scouts4:00pmCub Scouts6:00pmCollegeGroup7:00p.m.

12. 13.

14.

5:00 - Deacon5:30 - Mission/

Deaconess/Trustee

6:00 - YouthGroup

6:30 - Advisory

15.

Troop 1067:00 pm

16. 17.

Choir 7:00pm

18.Girl Scouts

4:00 pm

Cub Scouts6:00pm

CollegeGroup7:00pm

19. 20.

21.Annual Report

BusinessMeeting

Youth Group6:00pm

22.

Troop 1067:00 pm

23. 24.

Choir 7:00pm

25.

Girl Scouts4:00pmCub Scouts6:00pmCollege Group7:00p.m.

26. 27.

28.

Youth Group6:00pm

29.

Troop 1067:00pm

30. 31.

Choir 7:00pm

January 2018

“Unity Factor” studyPlease pray as we seek new

ways deepen our discipleshipimpact.

Please pray for us as weconsider best options to raise upmore godly male leaders in ourchurchPlease pray that our ladies willdeepen in their faith and pass ontheir faith and wisdom to the nextgenerationGod has blessed our Sunday schoolwith more children. We are askingGod to do more. We are askingGod to give us more children andraise up more teachers.We are asking God to bless our

New Years Around the World1) Lunar New Year – ChinaFor 15 days, billions of people in China, as well as those from Asian countries including Indonesia andVietnam, celebrate the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival. It gets the name‘Spring Festival’ because the new year’s first day marks the end of the most frigid part of winter, whichmeans people can anticipate the start of the spring months.2)Rosh Hashanah - IsraelJewish people around the world celebrate the new year in September or October during Rosh Hashanah,which means “Head of the Year.” Rosh Hashanah is considered a time of rejoicing, introspection andcelebrating the completion of another year. It’s welcomed on the first two days of Tishrei, which is theseventh month on the Hebrew calendar. Jewish people will walk to a body of water to shake out theirpockets, symbolically casting their sins into the water.3) Nowruz – IranFor 13 days, about 75 million people in Iran and 30 million people in Afghanistan celebrate the rebirth ofnature for Nowruz, which means “new day,” at the start of spring. Also known as the Persian New Year, it’sone of history’s most ancient celebrations, having been celebrated for about 4,000 years. “It is celebrated justlike Christmas in Germany,” said Clemens Sehi, travel writer and creative director of travel magazineTravellers Archive. “In Iran, families come together and give presents," Sehi said. “It is also almost likeBlack Friday [in the United States], because shopping is an important event and wearing new clothes amust.” A major part of the holiday is a deep cleaning about three weeks before the vernal equinox, duringwhich homes are tidied and cleared of clutter to make way for a fresh start.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/how-different-cultures-around-the-world-celebrate-the-start-of-a-new-year/70003709

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Remember In Prayer

Jan. 2nd - Glenna Minton

Jan. 3rd - Jean Hadsall &Marilyn Ickes

Jan. 5th - Rick Moon

Jan. 6th - Ethan Quagliano

Jan. 7th - Donna Cox

Jan. 8th - Shirley Robbins

Jan. 12th - Richard Witte

-Shirley Robbins

Dorothy Hotchkiss,Rollie Omanson,

Don Currier,Tom Pease,

Evelyn Basham

Margaret Donaldson,Peggy Schmelzer,Susannah Talbot,

Millie Cagle, Linda Roller,Buck Fleming,Sherry Flack

Penny Millslagle

Jan. 15th - Lexi Winter

Jan. 18th - Kendallyn Kull

Jan. 19th - Kim Cummings

Jan. 20th - Karen Craig

Jan. 21st - Steve Martin

Jan. 22nd - Mary Lou Standaert

Jan. 25th - Don Currier

Jan. 27th - Mabel Harper

JanuaryBirthdays

LSenior Pastor Jon, Youth

Pastor Luke Kockler,Pastor Dan,

and Church Staff,

FBC Boards andCommittees,

Sunday SchoolTeachers / Officers

NEW YEARS HISTORYhttp://www.history.com/topics/holidays/new-years

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Jan. 28th - Rick Jacobs & Sujey Robleto

Jan. 29th - Jim Heberer

Early New Year’s CelebrationsThe earliest recorded festivities in honor of a new year’s arrival date back some 4,000 years to ancientBabylon. For the Babylonians, the first new moon following the vernal equinox—the day in late March withan equal amount of sunlight and darkness—heralded the start of a new year. They marked the occasion with amassive religious festival called Akitu (derived from the Sumerian word for barley, which was cut in thespring) that involved a different ritual on each of its 11 days. In addition to the new year, Atiku celebrated themythical victory of the Babylonian sky god Marduk over the evil sea goddess Tiamat and served an importantpolitical purpose: It was during this time that a new king was crowned or that the current ruler’s divinemandate was symbolically renewed.Did You Know?In order to realign the Roman calendar with the sun, Julius Caesar had to add 90 extra days to the year 46 B.C.when he introduced his new Julian calendar. Throughout antiquity, civilizations around the world developedincreasingly sophisticated calendars, typically pinning the first day of the year to an agricultural orastronomical event. In Egypt, for instance, the year began with the annual flooding of the Nile, whichcoincided with the rising of the star Sirius. The first day of the Chinese new year, meanwhile, occurred withthe second new moon after the winter solstice.

January 1 Becomes New Year’s DayThe early Roman calendar consisted of 10 months and 304 days, with each new year beginning at the vernalequinox; according to tradition, it was created by Romulus, the founder of Rome, in the eighth century B.C.A later king, Numa Pompilius, is credited with adding the months of Januarius and Februarius. Over thecenturies, the calendar fell out of sync with the sun, and in 46 B.C. the emperor Julius Caesar decided to solvethe problem by consulting with the most prominent astronomers and mathematicians of his time. Heintroduced the Julian calendar, which closely resembles the more modern Gregorian calendar that mostcountries around the world use today. As part of his reform, Caesar instituted January 1 as the first day of theyear, partly to honor the month’s namesake: Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, whose two faces allowedhim to look back into the past and forward into the future. Romans celebrated by offering sacrifices to Janus,exchanging gifts with one another, decorating their homes with laurel branches and attending raucous parties.In medieval Europe, Christian leaders temporarily replaced January 1 as the first of the year with dayscarrying more religious significance, such as December 25 (the anniversary of Jesus’ birth) and March 25 .(the Feast of the Annunciation); Pope Gregory XIII reestablished January 1 as New Year’s Day in 1582.

New Year’s TraditionsIn many countries, New Year’s celebrations begin on the evening of December 31—New Year’s Eve—andcontinue into the early hours of January 1. Revelers often enjoy meals and snacks thought to bestow good luckfor the coming year. In Spain and several other Spanish-speaking countries, people bolt down a dozengrapes-symbolizing their hopes for the months ahead-right before midnight. In many parts of the world,traditional New Year’s dishes feature legumes, which are thought to resemble coins and herald futurefinancial success; examples include lentils in Italy and black-eyed peas in the southern United States. Becausepigs represent progress and prosperity in some cultures, pork appears on the New Year’s Eve table in Cuba,Austria, Hungary, Portugal and other countries. Ring-shaped cakes and pastries, a sign that the year has comefull circle, round out the feast in the Netherlands, Mexico, Greece and elsewhere. In Sweden and Norway,meanwhile, rice pudding with an almond hidden inside is served on New Year’s Eve; it is said that whoeverfinds the nut can expect 12 months of good fortune.