A Weekly Newsletter of

 First Southern Baptist Church of Avondale and

Estrella Falls Baptist Church of Goodyear

July 3, 2008

Jesus Centered, Bible Focused, and Prayer Powered

FSBCA Home
EFBC Home
Job Jar
August 24 Sermon

July 6

8:30  and 11:00 FSBCA Worship

10:00 EFBC Worship

July 6

12:15 BBQ / Volleyball

July 19

Women's Movie Matinee

August 23

ACE Conference

BBQ and Volleyball Tournament!
 

We invite you to join us at 12:30 pm for this Sunday's BBQ and volleyball tournament.  The church will provide hotdogs and hamburgers and we invite you to bring a side dish and drinks to share.  After the meal we will have our tournament in the MAC.  12 teams, consisting of 2 males and 2 females, have signed up.  Families are welcome to join us for the meal and to cheer for their favorite teams.  For more info, contact Amy Zimmerle by email or at church,  623-932-2723.

ACE Conference

 

We invite you to join us for an excellent leadership training event on Saturday, August 23, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, at North Phoenix Baptist Church.  There will be 150 different breakout sessions to choose from. 

 

The cost is $25 if you get your name in by August 1.  Lunch is provided.  It will be a treat for all who go.  Contact Phil Johnson for more information or to sign up. 

This newsletter is designed to keep friends up to date on the ministries of our congregations.  For more info, go to First Southern Baptist Church or Estrella Falls Baptist Church.

If your email reader doesn't display this one correctly, you can access it online!

Where Am I Going?

 

I like maps.

 

As a boy, I collected maps.  I had a map of the United States on one wall, a map of the solar system on another, a globe on my dresser, and a few dozen assorted maps in a box.  On family vacations, I was always the navigator.  I guess I've always liked to know where I was and where I'm going.

 

I still want to know where I'm going . . . even after I die. 

 

I'm not so foolish to think that I'm going to live forever on this Earth.  Though many people have tried to find a fountain of youth, the unassailable fact is that we're all going to die.  In the year 1850, there were over 1 billion people living on planet Earth.  100% of them have died. 

 

Since it's inescapable, it makes sense to look at the future.  On Sunday, we will take a look at the Bible to answer the tough questions about the future.  Where am I going?  What is the future of planet Earth?  What happens to us--if anything--when we die?

 

I can't give you a map on this one . . . but I can do my best to present what the Bible really does teach on these issues.

 

See you Sunday!

Pastor Jack Marslender

What Do Deacons Do?

 

We have always had a great group of deacons in our church.  In an effort to improve their ministry, our deacons recently voted to reorganize the way they operate.  The results have been incredible.  Our deacons are now leading some of our most effective and important ministries--and doing so with excellence.

 

Most of their work is behind the scenes.  But the results are obvious to even casual attenders of our church.  For example, our deacons have teams to lead us in these ministries:

  • Altar Counselors.  You will notice that we always have men and women near the front altar to counsel with and pray with those who come forward.  These altar counselors are led by a team of deacons. 

  • Benevolence Ministry.  When tough financial times come to a church member, they can contact a deacon or staff member.  They will be referred to our benevolence team (led by our deacons) who can provide financial help and/or financial counseling as needed. 

  • Visitation Team.  Many people who visit us want someone to visit them to tell them more about our church.  A team of deacons leads this ministry!

  • New Member Team.  Our deacons also make contact with new members and giving them a basic orientation to our church!

  • Membership Team.  One team of our deacons contacts those who have not been coming, attempting to bring absentees back into our fellowship.

  • Hospital Team.  Our hospital team makes sure that our members get loving attention when they are in the hospital.

Our deacons will be forming new teams in the future (Senior Ministries, for example) to make our church ministry even more effective.  

 

So what does a deacon do?  A lot!

Women’s Ministry

 

Attention all WOMEN!  Why not break away from your summer Saturday routine and enjoy a "Movie Matinee and Munchies?"  Lean back and enjoy a great movie, sip on your favorite soda, nibble on some old-fashioned popcorn, and indulge in a handful of M & M s and a little ice cream.  We’ll provide all the munchies and ask you to consider adding an “M” for Ministry this time as you bring one item to donate to the Agua Fria Food Bank’s emergency food box program to help feed a hungry family in our community.

 

Don’t miss this chance to have some fun, get to know each other better and benefit your community during one “ordinary” Saturday afternoon in July!

 

Join us on Saturday, July 19, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm in the lower level.  This event is designed for all women, middle school and above, and features "The Magic of

Ordinary Days,” from the Ann Howard Creel novel.  It stars Keri Russell, Skeet Ulrich and Emmy-winning actress, Mare Winningham.