C o m p a s s P o i n t s Pastor Randy Evans

Compass Volume 10 Issue 8 October 2019

I wish I could sit down with each of you individually and tell you all Julie Ann and I experienced during our recent decision-making process. One truth I would most certainly share is a truth we were reminded of throughout this process: God is faithful. And I can never consider God’s faithfulness without hearing some words from one of my favorite hymns ringing in my mind:

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed, Thy hands have provided;

great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

These words speak to me each time I sing them and it’s because the truth of this hymn’s message is timeless. And I believe the message of this hymn is especially appropriate for all of us to hear at this moment––Great is His faithfulness! Even though there are many unknowns for the future of the church . . . Even though some things will change . . . Even though we know many things will be different . . . Even though we know there will be bumps on the road ahead . . . we can rest assured that even in the midst of all the unknowns, all that will change, all that will be different, and all that will be bumpy . . . God is faithful.

We’ve celebrated this reality for many years in our church. In fact, it was the theme of our 125th anniversary celebration in 2014. During

that celebration we showcased our church’s Historical Room. If you walk into that room across from the office the verse greeting you from the top of the far wall is the first portion of Psalm 119:90, which says, “Your faithfulness continues through all generations . . . .” If, while you are in the Historical Room, you turn around and face the picture collage, you will see written above all those pictures the words of Deuteronomy 7:9, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

So, just as we have celebrated God’s faithfulness to the First Baptist Church of Holland over the past 130 years, we claim the promise of these scriptures for God’s faithfulness to be made manifest to His church in the days, weeks, and months ahead. May you say it to yourselves often and speak it aloud to one another in the days ahead, “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

I have written it many, many times at the end of my monthly article and so I write it today, one final time––“Know that I love each of you” (I really do!) and “I have been proud to be your pastor” (it has been one of my greatest joys!) And, this time, may I add, “I believe God has great plans for this amazing body of Christ in the future. Be faithful to listen to Him because He will be faithful to speak!”

Our Purpose. . .

FBCH exists to glorify God by

obeying the Great Commandment and the Great

Commission as we participate in . . .

Worship

Ministry

Missions

Discipleship

F I R S T B A P T I S T C H U R C H OF H O L L A N D

UPCOMING EVENTS

It’s time again for our annual Trunk or Treat and Carnival!

We need your help by purchasing a few items:

• Candy!

• Sodas! 6 packs (20 oz.) and 1 & 2 Liter bottles (we need 40+)

• Small prizes

• Volunteers to assist with games

• People who will distribute candy from their trunks

First Baptist Church

Trunk or Treat and Carnival

Oct. 31st 6:00pm — 8:00pm

BAPTISMS

Tessa Burton

Karley Gomez

Penny Parmer

Ayden Tomasek

Facts & Figures

2019 Monthly Budget Need $17,067.00

September General Fund Receipts

As of September 27, 2019

$16,555.42

Small Group Bible Study Average Attendance As of September 27, 2019

69

Morning Worship Average Attendance As of September 27, 2019

96

BAPTIST WOMEN’S NEWS The next Baptist Women meeting is October 7th at 6:30p.m.

Come ready to discuss how we can be a blessing to our church and surrounding community.

B APTIST MEN The Baptist Men will meet at 8:00a.m. October 19th with the cook team of Boady Johnson, Cody Decker, Bill Walker, Marvin Ralston, and Santos Minor. Following the breakfast and

fellowship, we’ll head out to Highway 95 for a bit of trash pick-up. All men and boys are encouraged to be a part of this ministry.

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october 2019

Holland Community Food Pantry

Care Packs @ 12:30p.m.

Setup @ 1:15p.m.

Serve @ 2:00p.m.

Deacons & Staff @ 8:00a.m.

SS/ABS @ 9:30a.m.

Morning Worship @ 10:45a.m.

Alana Doskocil Cade White

FBCH STUDENT MINISTRY NEWS

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1-3

Time is a funny thing. It is the only thing in this world we know for certain will keep moving, yet often times we wish it to stand still. Time effects all of us one way or another. We age, people come and go in our lives, and circumstances in our daily lives change. Often, these changes that happen over time are gradual and hardly noticed. Other times they are abrupt— shaking our lives to the point we don’t know where to go from there.

Our church is experiencing one of those sudden changes right now as we enter into this time of

transitioning with our pastor. We as a church face something unknown. However, what the writer of Ecclesiastes didn’t mention in this poem about time found in chapter 3, is the one thing in this world that never changes: God. The Lord has not changed from the time these words were written in Ecclesiastes until now. He is the constant in life. He is the Creator of time itself, so He is not limited by it. His view of reality is from the perspective of eternity and His will for His people at First Baptist Church Holland has not changed. So during this time of change for our church, do not be discouraged over time moving in a way that is challenging, do not neglect the call that is on your life to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Take heart in knowing the Lord is still where He has always been: with us, leading us into His will and for His glory. Blessings, Trey & Kelsey

Baptist Men’s Breakfast

@ 8:00a.m. followed by

trash pick up

Baptist Women @ 6:30p.m.

Kids For Christ, Student Ministry,

Ladies Bible Study, & Adult Prayer

Meeting @ 7:00p.m.

Tyler Barabas Stephen Evans

Linda Jones

Kendyll Morris

Bessie Dobias Fran & Jimmy Callanhan

SS/ABS @ 9:30a.m.

Morning Worship @ 10:45a.m.

Kids Helping Kids/ Baptist Women’s Scholarship Fund

Fundraiser Luncheon @ 12:00p.m.

Linda Gaines

Amanda Chanthavong

Cody Decker

Jody & Juanita Arnold

Mark Karl

SS/ABS @ 9:30a.m.

Morning Worship @ 10:45a.m.

Melody Hart

Kids For Christ, Student Ministry,

Ladies Bible Study, & Adult Prayer

Meeting @ 7:00p.m.

Kids For Christ, Student Ministry,

Ladies Bible Study, & Adult Prayer

Meeting @ 7:00p.m.

SS/ABS @ 9:30a.m.

Morning Worship @ 10:45a.m.

Quarterly Business Meeting & Luncheon

@ 12:00p.m.

Prayer Walk @ 5:00p.m.

Cameron Doskocil

Norm & Bessie Dobias

Jase Decker

Lauren Arnold Bethany Hart Santos & Jill Minor

Franklin Groseclose

Kids For Christ,

Student Ministry, Ladies Bible Study,

& Adult Prayer Meeting @ 7:00p.m.

Columbus Day

Church Office Closed

Daylight Saving Time ends November 3rd.

Kids For Christ, Student Ministry,

Ladies Bible Study, & Adult Prayer

Meeting @ 7:00p.m.

Trunk or Treat & Carnival 6:00p.m.—

8:00p.m.

REMEMBER!!

It’s nearing the time to get shoeboxes flying!

Bell Baptist Association

Annual Meeting @ Immanuel

Baptist Church, Temple