April 2021 Monthly Publication of Garden City Baptist Church Volume 34 Number 4

Take the Journey!

March 31 - April 2 5:00 - 7:30 pm

This is a self-guided prayer experience that uses all five senses to reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross. Take the journey alone or with friends and family.

Allow at least thirty minutes to go through the thirteen stations.

Celebrate the resurrection of Jesus

April 4

6:30 am

on the beach

by Marlin Quay’s Marina

Sunday, April 25 “in remembrance of me”

From the Media Messenger...

Trial and Error by Robert Whitlow

Small town lawyer, Buddy Smith, has been looking for his daughter for seventeen years. Searching for missing children, including his own, has been the focus of Buddy’s legal practice. He knows the agony of being separated from a missing child. Her mother disappeared shortly after her birth and Buddy has not seen either of them since that time. Adding to the mystery is the discovery of checks written by Buddy’s recently deceased father to his missing daughter’s mother.

Gracie Blaylock is the county clerk of court. She and Buddy have known each other since high school. Now another child is missing and she knows just the person to handle the case. Buddy, Gracie, and Mayleah, the new detective in town, join forces. They chase every lead in an effort to find the missing child before it’s too late.

The power of God’s restoration and the power of prayer are evident throughout the story. Buddy is not only seeking his daughter, but also a sense of peace in his life. Robert Whitlow will keep you guessing as you navigate through this legal thriller. It is a wholesome character-driven novel that will not disappoint.

Special thanks to Hope Whittaker for decorating the media display window.

April Birthdays 1 – David Lane 1 – Rayne Stoll 2 – Bonnie Williams 3 – Faith Hopkins 3 – Steely Hays 3 – Olivia Dorman 3 – Bill Bayer 5 – Selma Reburn 6 – Marlene Keith 6 – Debra White 9 – Karen Speziale 9 – Doris Wilson 11 – Caden Devlin 12 – Randy Lampley 13 – Kaleb Funck 17 – Hayden Broz 17 – Donna Nathlar Shirley 19 – Travis Bailey 20 – Randy Roof 20 – Linda Clark 21 – Brenda Martin 25 – Bothwell Painter 25 – Kate Evans 26 – Sandra Painter 27 – Varina Alexander 29 – Chandler King 30 – Barbara Anthony 30 – Nancy Gaul

LUNCH BUNCH

Hi Girls I think we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully we will have a luncheon on May 21 at Deck 383 outside on their deck... Hopefully most people will have had their shots by then. Let us know if you still need a shot.... perhaps we can point you in the right direction. If you are interested in going to lunch please let me know shirloest@aol.com or 843-748-0465. I realize the luncheon is two months away but I need to get a feel of how many are interested. Remember to check in on those you haven't seen lately. It has been a tough time and just a call or a card is so important. Hope to see you all real soon. Love, Shirley

SOUTH STRAND MOBILE MEALS

VAN 1 April 26-30

See Esther Holland or Phyllis Melton for information

or to volunteer.

Old Testament Chronological Study Sundays from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Both men and women are welcome. All social distancing rules will be followed and you are encouraged to bring your own snack and drink. No meeting Easter Sunday.

Wednesday Nights at 6pm

Prayer Meeting & Adult Bible Study Fellowship Hall

& TeamKID Meeting Upstairs

Baptist Men Bible Study – Max Lucado’s “Before Amen: The

Power of a Simple Prayer” – Thursdays at 7:45am in the Fellowship Hall

Varina’s ♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫ I want to thank each of you for your prayers, calls, cards, and concern during my recent health issue. I am thankful I am cancer free! Glory be to God!

Happy Easter! It is so wonderful to worship, in person, with all of you. May the joy of Christ’s Resurrection Day bring us ever closer to Him.

• The Chancel Choir and Praise Band will celebrate our Savior’s resurrection Sunday, April 4. We are looking forward to lifting Him up through song!

• The Chancel Choir and Praise Band are rehearsing every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. for our Sunday services. Please come join us. We look forward to seeing you at rehearsal!

• The Music Committee will meet Wednesday, April 7 at 4:00 p.m. • The Chancel Choir and Praise Band will sing Sunday, April 25.

Please pray for our Music Ministry: that we have a heart that desires more of our Lord each day; that we always acknowledge His greatness; and that we always glorify, honor, and praise His Holy Name.

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He Who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100 NIV)

Children’s Program As the air begins to warm, and the skies begin to clear, it is an exciting time in the lives of our children! We have had a great March so far and are looking forward to our upcoming spring-time activities. From movie nights with plenty of fun and fellowship, to growing in the faith through TeamKID, observing a Passover Seder to remember what Christ has done for us, and the upcoming Easter activities; it is a great time to be GCBC kid!

Youth Program The youth have also benefited from the warmer weather! Thanks to generous donations we were able to purchase some new sports equipment for outdoor activities like volleyball, soccer, dodgeball, and more! We have been enjoying playing all sorts of engaging outdoor games during our Sunday night youth meetings. Further, we will be enjoying a two-week study on Easter and God’s love for us shown through Christ’s work. We have some awesome activities planned in the coming months like biking through state parks, lock-ins, mini-golf, and fellowship nights with other youth groups! Please invite your grandchildren, children, and neighbors who are youth age to join us on Sunday Nights from 4:00-6:00pm for dinner, games, fellowship, and Bible study.

Wednesday night, March 24 the children of TeamKid experienced a Seder. We had 8 kids and 7 adults. We started by reading the Exodus story. Then we went through each part of the Seder, explaining what it meant to Israel and now what it means to those who follow Jesus. We had a meal together and enjoyed searching for the Afikomen. It was a special time for all!

Women’s Tea 2021 Twenty-one women gathered together for the Women’s Ministry Annual Tea on March 20. One lady said, “We enjoyed laughs, good food, and

were blessed by the sharing of Scripture and song.”

(Above: Sheila Britt’s award winning hat)

(Below: Anita Lampley, Sheila Britt, Hope Whitaker) Here’s the SCOOP!

All ladies invited to an evening of “make-your-own” ice cream sundae or banana split. All fixin’ provided by the Garden City Baptist Church Women’s Ministry. Games, Prizes & Surprises! Contact person: Roberta Collins 843-954-4021

FROM THE APPALACHIAN MISSION FIELD, MARCH 2021 – Eric & Sissy Rutherford They’re baaaaaaack! It has been more than a year since we have had the full mission team experience. COVID has interrupted travel, group contact, interactions with the public, and – at times - access to our ministries, including the Lamp House Coffee shop. The ministry with which we serve, Meridzo Center, usually hosts thousands of short-term missionaries each year. The mission

teams, including the ones sent by Garden City Baptist, are truly the hands and feet - and often the heartbeat - of our ministry here. Since COVID landed stateside, travel in general, including mission trip participation basically screeched to a halt. One of the last of the larger teams to serve with us in March of 2020 was with Rock Pointe Church from Flower Mound, Texas, whose groups come annually. After a long, lonely season we are finally starting to see teams return! The Flower mound group was back this month. One of the young ladies, Josephine (third from the right), helped Sissy at the Lamp House coffee shop last year while I was running the Black Mountain Exchange. She spent

a couple of days with us again at the coffee shop. The rest of the team, which also included adults, worked in all areas of the ministry doing everything from IT work expanding our Internet access and security systems to pressure washing the future site of a new worship center. Our Moms - We appreciate Garden City Baptist remembering our moms on the prayer list. Sissy’s mother Ramona who has always gone by “Muttsie” passed away peacefully on March 9th in Wisconsin; and, a celebration of life was held the 12th. Fortunately, Sissy and her three sisters, as well as other family members including Muttsie’s sisters and several grandchildren were all able to visit her bedside and be with her during her final days. Not too long ago we were able to visit and all went to brunch following a doctor’s visit. Muttsie was a believer so we mourn our loss here, but are celebrating her homecoming in Heaven. My mom Joyce is at home with my dad and family in the D.C. area and your prayers for her and my family are always appreciated.

-In His Love and Service, Eric and Sissy

Eric & Sissy is just one of the missionary groups we support throughout the world. Jason & Laken Cizdziel with their children should be back in Papua New Guinea returning after the pandemic. Deep in the southwestern Pacific, off the coast of Australia, lies the culturally diverse isles of Papua New Guinea. A land of coral reefs, active volcanoes and river-laced jungles. Its home to many indigenous tribal groups, including the Uriay people of the Wabuku village. Since early 2017, it is home to the Cizdziel family as they immerse themselves in the culture for the sake of sharing the Gospel story (learning the language and translating the Bible).

The Fisher family, missionaries in Gifu, Japan will be sending a current video soon so we can catch up with them. This is Barry & Sue Gelman’s daughter and family.