From the Pastor:

Written on Monday, July 10, 2017...

Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

What a blessed Communion Sunday! We had a chance to fellowship with the Lord and with each other. Fellowship is an integral part of church life. We all need it, whether we like to admit it or not, especially as Christians! There is something powerful about having fellowship and camaraderie with one another that helps us get through the bumps and bruises of life.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< Acts 2:42 – And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

One reason being with others is so helpful, especially as we go through difficult times, is that we begin to realize in the course of conversation, that there are others who have been through many of the things we are going through. And they have held on to Christ victoriously through it all! We gain strength when we realize we don’t have to walk through things alone.

Some might argue that they have tried church, and found it to be failing, and even though they didn’t expect “perfection”, they at least were hoping for something close! But Bill Hybels said this: The mark of community–true biblical unity–is not the absence of conflict but the presence of a reconciling spirit.

I want to encourage you today to make regular Church attendance a goal, and then work to achieve that goal! I believe that as you dedicate yourself to something that God clearly approves of, and yes, even commands, then you will begin to find greater joy and fulfillment in life.

Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us… 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

We live in a challenging day, yet there is nothing quite so powerful as the strength we receive from the Lord as we gather together with His

body in fellowship and worship. Let’s commit to that goal of fellowship with one another with regular church attendance.

Love You All in Christ, Bro. Nick

Jaki and A Toothbrush A Shoebox Story

I’ve never met my birth mother. People at the orphanage told me that she brought me there when I was a few months old.

At the orphanage in Guatemala, the caretakers provided for our basic needs. They taught us, fed us, and clothed us, but their limited resources meant that we ate a steady diet of rice and beans and wore whatever clothes were available, no matter what the size. Sometimes, the girls wore boy clothes because that’s what the orphanage had on hand. I don’t remember us having any combs or brushes.

We did have a toothbrush—one toothbrush for 10 girls. We shared it, like we shared everything else. That’s why I was so excited when we each received our own Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift.

My favorite thing I received in my box was a toothbrush of my very own. I got a lot of use out of it. It was a prized possession. To this day when I pack shoebox gifts, I don’t just include one toothbrush—I pack at least four of them in each box! That way, the children can use them for a long time, or have enough of them to give to their friends or family members.

I also received a stuffed animal. I was 5 years old, so I loved to hug it. I was delighted to receive crayons and coloring books. When the girls and I colored, there was no white space left on the pieces of paper. We filled every available space with color.

We received our gifts in plastic containers, so we kept our larger gifts in them. The possessions we really cherished we kept underneath our mattresses. I didn’t receive a photo in my shoebox, but some of the other girls did. They kept the photos underneath their mattresses so they could pull them out to look at them then tuck them away again for safekeeping. I always include a photo and a letter in the shoeboxes I pack because I remember how much the girls treasured them. Even if they couldn’t read the writing, it meant something to them that they were from those who had given them the gifts.

I had heard about Jesus at the orphanage. When we had received our shoeboxes, we learned the song, “Jesus Loves Me.” But it wasn’t until later that I truly knew who He is and that Jesus really does love me. A year after I received my shoebox, I was adopted by a couple from the U.S. My parents took me to church and, within the year, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

I still love the song, “Jesus Loves Me.” I love to sing—I’m on the worship team at church. I’m also a nanny, so I get to teach the song to the kids. Many of the children are from my church, which has packed shoeboxes for many years—long before I became a part of the congregation and began sharing my story.

I get to help the children pack shoeboxes. I tell them that I received a shoebox gift and answer their questions about what to put in the boxes. I explain how important basic items like paper and pencils are to a child who doesn’t have them. They’re amazed that I had to share a toothbrush—they couldn’t imagine having to share things like that. But they grasp at an early age what it is to give to others.

I hope that my story will make a difference in other children’s lives—both those who pack shoeboxes and those who receive them. I’m so thankful that someone took the time to pack one for me. We are asking for school supplies to be donated to OCC during the months of July, August, and September. There is a donation box in the foyer.

JOY Club Trip

Thursday, July 20 - Pioneer Playhouse “Guarded”

Tickets are $16.00 Bus leaves at 7:30PM.

Contact Margaret Ray (606-365-7716) for tickets.

Cuba Mission Trip July 21-28

The mission team is in need of a few tools for the trip, as well as suitcases on wheels. They will be leaving all of these things in Cuba. If you have any of the following items to donate please bring them to the church ASAP.

• Work gloves • Mason trowels • Electric drills • Hand saws • Other light tools

Please join us on Wednesday evening, July 19 for our Packing Party!

Please pray for our youth group while they are

attending “CIY Move” summer camp next week.

We have 10 attending plus chaperones.

MOVE is a 5-day high school event held all over

the country designed to amplify the call of Christ

on students’ lives to become Kingdom workers.

Thanks to Philip Sebastian for filling in at the piano last Sunday. Thanks to Samuel Bullock for his beautiful piano and vocal offertory. The Adult Choir looked great with 27 (in summer) and did a beautiful job on their communion anthem.

This Sunday Becky and Laura Lee will be playing the offertory. The Adult Choir will be singing “That’s a Hallelujah”.

Have a Great Week!! Stuart ____________________________________________________________________________________________

From the Mailbox:

Dear SBC friends,

Thank you so much for your prayers and concern for my husband, Donnie. His surgery was successful and there is no more cancer.

Love, Brenda Wilson

Dear Church Family, I want to thank you for all the prayers for George and me, we couldn’t have made it without you. Thank you for all the cards, calls, and visits; they meant so much to us. Love and blessing to each of you, Rosie

Thank you so much church family, for the many ways you have shown your love to me during my illness. Thanks for the many prayers, cards, calls, visits, and food, and most of all for Calvin & Harriet Denham and their many acts of kindness.

Love, Frankie

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Mark Your Calendar:

17-22 – CIY Youth Summer Camp 17 - LCBA Commodity Distribution, 9:30 AM (Volunteers always needed) 19 – Cuba mission trip Packing Party 20 – JOY Club trip to Pioneer Playhouse, “Guarded” by Angela Correll, Bus leaving at 7:30 PM 25 - Amazing Grace Book Club meeting, 10:30 AM

PRAYER LIST

Connie Armentrout Timothy Manzie Shut-ins Frankie Barlow Lee Martin Grace Blanton Brenda Bottoms JoAnn Miracle Glen Davis Gary Brummett Van Munford & group Marjorie Gooch Joe Bullen Keith Napier Geneva Hawkins Ancil Cave Howard & Dorothy Noland Faye Oaks Alice Collins Sean Odom Pauline Shearer Jeremy & Bridgete Cook David Pettus Stanford Care & Rehab Michael Coulter Anne Nita Rankin Billie Sue Cornelius Samuel Coulter Dorothy Robbins Ann Durham Martha Dean Ewona Robbins Millie Hundley Nell Deatherage Abby Scott Lancaster Christian Care Frank DeMarcus Beverly Shaddox Sandy Austin Harriet Denham Phil & Patricia Smith Margaret Stephens Todd Denham Trent Smith Wilda Sweeney Hurl Durham Joe, Norma, & Lily States Brenda Watts Rose Drakeford Terry Whitis Stewart Lucy Ann Embry Susan Sullivan Elizabeth Ann Fletcher Herb Toombs. Jr. Military Fred Fox, Jr. Rick Traynor Marcus Denham Bill Frazier Lisa Turpin Maria Hunter Connie French Paula Turpin Jared Johnson Donna Gooch Loretta Whitaker Paul & Betty Greer Tim Whitis Marjorie Grigson Unspoken requests Ministries Ann Hopkins Youth camp (7/17-21) Ralph Horn Bereavement Cuba mission trip (7/21-28) Steve Howerton, Jr. Ruby Roller family Bruce Johnson Irene Pennington family Janie Lasure William Maddox, Sr. Sabrina Manzie

The Pathfinder

PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY STANFORD BAPTIST CHURCH

Phone (606) 365-2178

Vol. 21 No. 26_____ _ July 14, 2017

SERVING THIS WEEK

Door Greeter: Gladys Burnside

Deacon Greeters: Ward Hart, Brandon Curlis, & Mike Tracy

Van Driver: Paul Playforth (859-583-7788)

Children's Church: Donya Baker (PreK-3rd)

Dana & Cebern Moore (4th-5th)

Nursery Workers: (AM) Upchurch Family (PM) Rosanna Sutherland

Stan

ford

Bap

tist

Ch

urc

h

N

on

-Pro

fit

20

4 C

hu

rch

Str

eet

P

erm

it 2

8

Stan

ford

, KY

40

48

4

S

tan

ford

, KY

40

48

4

____

____

___

____

____

____

____

____

____

____

__

RET

UR

N S

ERV

ICE

REQ

UES

TED

Musically Speaking Stuart Underwood, Minister of Music