Dear Gaston Church Family,

For over two years it has been my privilege to pastor this wonderful church. Together, we have seen God do great things! To God be the glory! I believe the best years are ahead for this great church.

Now God is leading us down new paths. For First Baptist the time has come for new leadership. My personal desire is to continue here, but the Lord has other plans. I deeply love all of you but the call of the Lord is even stronger on my heart. Most of all, I want to obey God’s will. For many years God has placed on my heart the desire to start a church that will plant other churches to reach others for Jesus Christ. I must be faithful to God’s call. On Monday, March 2nd, 2020, I will conclude my ministry here.

May God continue to use First Baptist Church of Gaston. Karen and I will always be grateful for the time we’ve had together.

Love in Christ, Pastor Rex

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A bimonthly publication of First Baptist Church of Gaston

March/April 2020 Vol. 46 Issue 2 Rev. Rex D. Simmons, Pastor

“As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers

will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep

affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.” 2 Corinthians 9:13-14

Pastor Rex and Karen,

These words show our heart more than any we can come up with our own. The two precious years God allowed us together have been a blessing to us. You truly did seem to see us through the eyes of Jesus; and not just our church family but our community as well. You showed us by your actions, that caring is “doing something” and not just talking about it or staying stuck in our old ways.

You challenged us with your new ideas but mostly by the dividing and sharing God’s word according to His truth! We will miss our Sundays and Wednesdays with you… but also, all of the other times that you visited our members, made us feel like we were on the right path and encouraged us to love one another and always “Tell people about Jesus and about this good church.” It is our prayer that we continue with the good works that you helped us start.

We will be praying for you and Karen and your new ministry! May God bless you immensely as you follow His plan for a new church that will assist in furthering the kingdom of God and start other new churches! What an exciting time in your life!

Though our time together was short it was rich and we will treasure it forever!

Love always… Your Gaston First Baptist Family

Jesus told her, “ I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. John 11:25

What HOPE! What PROMISE! We who believe will live, even though we die! We want to celebrate with you on Resurrection Sunday, April 12th! We will celebrate with God’s Word, singing, music and a meal!

Here is our schedule for Easter Sunday…. April 12, 2020

7:30 AM Resurrection Service (outside if weather is permitting so dress appropriately and bring your yard chairs!) 8:15 AM Breakfast (a sign up sheet will be in the Welcome Center. If you do not attend regularly please call the church office at 803.794.0377.) 9:30 Sunday School / 10:30 Worship Service / NO EVENING SERVICES

We look forward to sharing this special day with you ! Joyfully Serving, —Sherrell

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

4 Tara Craps Michael Hankins Bailey Speares Richard Tackett ♥Kenny & Pam Saunders

Spiritual Warriors Luncheon 11:30

Supper 6-6:45 PM Prayer Service &

Mission Groups 7PM

5 Sherry Goodwin Jimezy Kelly Richard Shuler ♥Robert & Tara Craps

6 Jessica Vest

7 Aaron Aycock Bray Cross

Set clocks ahead one hour before

going to bed

1

Mia Drawdy

9:45 AM Sunday School 11 AM Combined Worship Lunch to Follow in honor of Pastor Rex and Karen

No PM Service

2 3

8 Chris Gates Allison Sanford Beth Spires Daylight Saving

Time Begins

Annie Armstrong Offering Kick-off

9 Janice Boldt Lisa Lowrey Patricia Watts

Ladies Home Mission

Meeting at the home of Collette Knight 6:30 PM

10 Krisstopher Hall

11

Supper 6-6:45 PM Prayer Service &

Mission Groups 7PM

12 13 Brittany Brant Jim St,Clair Chris Vidrine ♥Thomas & Cynthia Furtick

14 Matthew Barker Victoria Delatorre Suzanne Gregory Cheryl Hicks Jimmie Pound Allison Sleeper Kathy Sturkie

15 Christopher Hatfield Lynn Madden

16 Adam Jumper Taylor Whitaker Melba Williams

17 Aimee Jo Anderson Scott Clayton Christie Dowd Donnie Dowd Christy Hanna Carolyn Meetze Donald Pound

18 Sam Hart Walker Spires Amber Vella

Supper 6-6:45 PM Prayer Service &

Mission Groups 7PM

19 Trenton Barnett James Barwick Kayla Greene Frank Mack Dodger Williams

20 Marsha Adkins Ted Boldt Jeannie Harley Bryan Knight Kathy Robinett

21 Mark Dowd Zachery Edwards Jo Ann Frownfelter ♥Charles & Beatrice Bryant

22 Adrienne Bolt Pam Campbell Wendy Lemon Susan Spires Amanda Ussary

Travis Ussary

23 Irma Baden Karen Griffin

24 Amanda Lewis

25

Supper 6-6:45 PM Prayer Service &

Mission Groups 7PM

26 Johnny Dowd Tonya Goodwin Deborah Martin

27 Joshua Edwards

28 Lindsey Sightler

29 Donald Hilderbrand Kim Sharpe

Beginning of Annie Armstrong

Offering

BEULAHLAND QUARTET 6 PM

30 Alex Bennett Carrie Knight Jeanette Lee Elizabeth Williams

31 ♥Gary & Marsha Adkins

March 1-8 Season of Prayer for North American Missions / Kick-off Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

Wednesday, March 4 & Wednesday, April 1 In March pork loin will be provided ham will be provided in April. Please bring sides and desserts.

If you are not attending the senior luncheons, the Spring will be a great time to begin. These meetings provide a devotional, plenty of good food and great fellowship. See you there!!

March 2020

March 27-28 Annual WMU Meeting-Greenwood, SC

Spring Arrives

March 19!!

Church-Wide Easter Celebration Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - 6-8 PM Please see Travis or Liz Henderson

to volunteer… much help will be needed. A P R I L

2 0 2 0

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that

ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said.

Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:5-6

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1

Jody Griffin Liz Henderson Crystal Pound ♥Stafford & Kaylyn Johnson

Spiritual Warriors Luncheon 11:30

Church-Wide Easter Celebration

6-8 PM

2 Pearl Dowd Jacob Lassiter

3 Colleen Burrows McKenzie Platt ♥Harry & Linda Wilson

4 ♥Steven & McKenzie Kirkland

5 Mallory Deavers Jeremy Gleaton Destin Hellard Jacob Hull Carolyn Mann Samuel Woods

6 Jason Christman Erik Painter Kayla Stabler Robbie Stabler

7 Robin Anderson Thomas Lewis Brandy Ramey ♥Ricky & Kathy Sturkie

8 Lureen Marks Ken Nelson

Supper 6-6:45 PM Prayer Service &

Mission Groups 7PM

9 John Gregory, Jr. Blake Oxner

10 Lena Clark Kristin O’Stein McKayla Sleeper

Good Friday

11 Jane Pound ♥Devin & Sherri Miller

12 Kathryn Gunter Carl Reynolds Amelia Sightler Erin Miller Taylor ♥Gabe & Adrienne Bolt

Easter Sunday See schedule for the day on cover.

13 Patricia Hildebrand ♥Jody & Karen Griffin

14 John Ridgeway

15 Dalton Bozard Britt Drawdy Carlie Reynolds Daniel Speares Vickie Vick

Kelly Watts

Supper 6-6:45 PM Prayer Service &

Mission Groups 7PM

16 Cynthia Furtick Kenny Saunders

17 Jaxon Barnett Stephanie Brown Mariah Ingals Alisha Sirianni

18 Jim Cox

19 Kaylin Johnson Dwayne “Kippy” Watts

20 Kristen Kirkham Kadence York

21 Tatum Cox Lisa Hinson

22 Lenora Johnson Daniel Rabon ♥Ned & Jo Ann Frownfelter

Supper 6-6:45 PM Prayer Service &

Mission Groups 7PM

23 ♥Steven & Kim Sharpe

24 William Guy

25 William Keadle Debra Kyzer ♥Tommy & Carol Furtick ♥Henry & Paula Dowd

26 Sunnie Gail Pound ♥L. H. & Amelia Sightler

Cooperative Program Day

27 Hannah Edwards Leonard Thomas

28 Todd Ayer Denise Knight Hanna Lopez Raegan Woodward

29 Melissa Yandle ♥Buddy & Jeannie Hart-ley

Supper 6-6:45 PM Prayer Service &

Mission Groups 7PM

30 Sara La’Due Mallary Sproul ♥Joey & Amber Calvert

First Baptist Church Gaston—121 Oakey Springs Drive, P.O. Box 309, Gaston, SC 29053 Telephone 803 794-0377 / fbcg003@bellsouth.net / www.firstbaptistgaston.org

Members MR. Cecil R. Batson passed away December 26, 2019. A memorial service was held at City of Hope Worship Center in West Columbia, SC Sunday, December 29. Burial was at the First Baptist Church of Gaston Cemetery.

Mr. Etheredge Harsey passed away February 8, 2020. A memorial service was held February 12 at Culler-McAlhany Funeral home in North, SC . Burial was at the First Baptist Church of Gaston Cemetery.

First Baptist Church Gaston is saddened by the passing of the following church members. We extend deep sympathy to the family and friends. We have members who also lost a close family members.

Non-Members Mrs. Carolyn H. Douglas, mother of Mrs. Patricia Rowe, passed away December 16, 2019. A memorial service was held at Bar-Price Funeral Home Thursday, December 19, 2019 with burial at Southland Memorial Park.

Mrs. Ruby McMaster, mother of Cathy Shurling, passed away December 30, 2019. A memorial service is planned for the spring.

Mrs. Ramona Scott, grandmother of Neil Hanna, passed away February 2, 2020. A memorial service was held at Barr-Price Funeral Home February 5, 2020. Burial was at Union Baptist Church in Pamplico, SC.

Spring is almost here, and mission opportunities are everywhere.

March 1-8…..Season of Prayer for North American Missions & Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (GOAL $6,500) March 9……..Ladies home meeting at 6:30 pm – Collette Knight’s home, 947 Pine Plain Road, Gaston March 27-28...WMU Mission Encounter & Annual State Meeting-South Main St Church, Greenwood, SC April 1………GA Camp La Vida registration information due April 6………WMU 2020 Spring Associational meeting 7:00 pm – Lexington Baptist Assoc April 4 &18…Camp La Vida Workday – all are invited to go help get the camp ready for the kids April 12……..Annie Armstrong Collection Emphasis (GOAL $6,500) April 26……..Cooperative Program Day April 30……..Health Kits due to the Lexington Baptist Association – (Church goal 25 bags) Place the following items in a 2-gallon Ziplock bag.

Let me know if you have any questions. —Thanks Margie

1 – 4.5 oz bar of soap 1 – toothbrush 1 – bath towel

1 – comb 1 – toothpaste 1 - washcloth

IN CONCERT!! Sunday, March 29, 2020 at 6 PM

Beulahland Quartet!! First Baptist Church Gaston

After the concert, you will be able to meet the quartet in the Fellowship

Hall… food will be provided.

Non-Members Mrs. Margaret Sturkie, wife Marion Sturkie, passed away December 26, 2019. A graveside memorial service was held at the First Baptist Church of Gaston Cemetery December 31, 2019.