Volume 27

Issue 5

May 2015 How firm a foundation you saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in his excellent Word! What more can he say than to you he has said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

This is the first verse of the beloved hymn, “How Firm a Foundation.” Isaiah 43:1-5 is the scripture passage on which the hymn if based. Each verse of this hymn is a paraphrase of Bible verses.

The hymn is an encouragement to stand strong in the foundation of our faith as established through Jesus as proclaimed in the Word of God. Such encouragement is needed for believers in our day and time as we see the moral foundation of our society crumbling before our eyes.

I want to borrow from Leonard Sweet. In his book, AquaChurch, Sweet compares the world to the sea with the church being a ship on the sea seeking to navigate through it. The world is indeed fluid in its standards. In the recent days, the waters of the sea is getting more and more rough to the point that it is beating against the side of the ship. How do we chart a course for life in such an environment?

Sweet tells us that navigators of the sea used a fixed point by which to navigate. That fixed point is the North Star. In those days, when the North Star cannot be seen because of storms and clouds, the compass is used to point us to North.

Sweet explains that our North Star is Jesus Christ. Our compass is the Word of God.

Going back to the hymn, “How Firm a Foundation,” verse 1 is based on 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Verse 2 is based on Isaiah 41:10 - ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Verse 3-4 – Isaiah 43:2 - “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.

Verse 5 – Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 13:5; Deut. 31:6

Hebrews 13:5b says, “For He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”

Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Stay in His Word that

proclaims the way of the Lord.

-Pastor Gary

Maple Baptist Church 4500 Highway 65, Conway, SC 29526

843-365-2627 maplebaptist@yahoo.com

www.maplebaptistchurch.com

Pastor Gary Reeves cell 843-421-7583

pastormbc4500@yahoo.com

Member of the SC Baptist Association and the Waccamaw Baptist Association

Beyond What You Think Ephesians 3:20

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The Story Behind the Hymn

Have you ever felt God just slap you up the back side of your head? Come on, be honest; I am sure we all have, because of something that "we" thought "we" had done on "our" own. Well, that is what happened to me preparing for the monthly newsletter. I kept thinking, "what can "I" write? What can "I" come up with?" Soon, I felt it; that spiritual pop up the back side of my head. Do you see what I was doing? I was putting me in this equation all by myself. I failed God. I failed to pray and ask for God's guidance in what He would have me submit. It can really convict your heart when you slip up like that; not meaning to, but to just assume "Oh God you know what I meant......POP....there He went again. Not acceptable. However it did make me think about how wonderful His faithfulness really is. He could have overlooked it, but He can't overlook these things because it prevents Him from getting the glory and it puts self in the wrong place. In that mistaken thought, I did see His faithfulness, in that He will correct His children and when we accept His chastisement, knowing it is done out of pure love, then we see that great faithfulness He has promised to us. This made me think of that wonderful hymn, "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". Now why in the world would all this have taken place for me to think of a hymn?

How is He going to tie all this in together? That is when He lead me to the hymn itself. I did some research; and I found the story behind the hymn. But before we get to that, let me ask you; have you ever worshiped in that hymn? "Morning by morning new mercies I see . . . each day He brings us mercies. I mean every single day we see His mercies upon us and others. "Thou changes not" . . . Our God is the same from age to age, never being anyone different from who He is to us. "Thou compassions they fail not" . . . When we cry, He cries, when we rejoice He rejoices, when we grieve He grieves and when we mess up and confess He is faithful and compassionate to us."As Thou has been and forever will be . . . from the very beginning, He has always been on our side, sovereign. He has always come through on His promises.

So I ask you, have you ever worshipped through hymns or even prayed them? When I went back through this hymn, I could feel the Lord's arms around me and I actually understood how Thomas Chisholm felt as he penned these words as a testimony of God's faithfulness throughout his life. If we were to compose a hymn as a testimony of God's faithfulness in our lives, I wonder if our words of gratefulness and humility of what He has done for us individually would bring Him great honor and praise. As you read his story, pray that we also will always say " Great Is Thy Faithfulness" even in our darkest hours and deepest valleys.

I love it when God pops you up the side of the head to put you in His direction and then brings it all together. He had the plan and knew I was off course. Isn't that just like Him?

You don’t need to be rescued from life-threatening danger or see God’s miraculous provision in the direst of financial crises to truly know the faithfulness of the Lord. God remains faithful day in and day out in the largest and smallest of circumstances.

Thomas Chisholm wrote “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” as a testament to God’s faithfulness through his very ordinary life. Born in a log cabin in Franklin, Kentucky, Chisholm became a Christian when he was twenty-seven and entered the ministry when he was thirty-six, though poor health forced him to retire after just one year. During the rest of his life, Chisholm spent many years living in New Jersey and working as a life insurance agent. Still, even with a desk job, he wrote nearly 1,200 poems throughout his life, including several published hymns. Chisholm explained toward the end of his life, “My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness.”Just think, with each new day, God gives us the chance to prove His faithfulness. And throughout history, He’s never once been proven wrong, for His mercies are new every morning, no matter what."

And we pray: Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to us. May we never fail to see Your blessings and mercies. And may we never fail to prove to You how we give back to You through our faithful work for Your Kingdom and our eternal home from which Your son gave His life so He could prepare for us in the time of God's calling

us home. In Christ's name, Amen

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's loving kindness indeed never cease; For His compassion never fail. They are new every morning; Great Is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I have hope in Him. Lamentations 3:21 -24

Blessings, Julia

Page 2 The Maple Messenger

Monday Nights: Upper Room 7:00

pm, Alternately meet @ Spearman/

Hall Homes

Wednesday Nights: Supper6:30,

Children, Youth, Young Adult

Discipleship 7:15

Sundays: 10:00am– Kid’s Bible Study, 11:00am–

Mission Friends, 6:00 pm– GAs & RAs & Acteens meet

Knees of Maple

WMU Meeting

Dates

VOLUME 27 ISSUE 5 Page 3

Sallie Powell

Group

2:30 pm

May 19

“He will show him

even greater works

than these, so that

you will be

amazed.”

John 5:19-21

Current

balance in

the account

$38,882.08

Don’t Forget

Your Pledges!

Ethel Stephens

Circle

6:30 pm

TBA

Dorothea Long

Sewing Ministry

8:30am-noon

Bible Study/

Fellowship Group

May 4

May 2

Woman’s Missionary Union

Maple on Mission NEWS FROM MAPLE WMU ~ May 2015

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will

heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Waccamaw Baptist Association is holding The National Day of Prayer 2015 at the Myrtle Beach

Speedway on Thursday, May 7, at 6:30 P. M. As you are able, will you set aside time to attend this

prayer service and join other Baptists to pray corporately and publicly for our nation, its leaders, and

its citizens?

This Call to Prayer sets the tone for The Season of Prayer for Associational Missions and the Martha

Compton Offering for Associational Missions the week of May 19-25, 2015. Waccamaw WMU

invites churches to “Prayerwalk the Association” on Monday, May 18. Will you come to pray on-

site (1607 9th Avenue, Conway) for our Waccamaw Baptist Association Director of Missions, staff,

and ministries? One (1) one-hour Prayerwalk is planned, beginning at 12:30 P. M. We seek your

prayers for the entire Association and the people whose lives are touched and changed through

their ministries.

Established in 1997 to honor Martha Compton who served within the Association and First Baptist

Myrtle Beach alongside her husband, Dr. Carl Compton, the Martha Compton Offering for

Associational Missions provides individuals, churches, classes, groups, and age-level organizations

throughout Waccamaw Baptist Association opportunity to participate in missions through prayer,

giving, and doing. The 2015 goal of $100.00 per church has been established. Will you, all age-level

individuals, participate in this offering?

Congratulations to Maple Baptist Church! Maple WMU received 2012-2013 Growth recognition at

the spring meeting held at Buck Creek Baptist.

Thank you to the church for supporting the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.

We appreciate the opportunity for Maple Baptist Church to participate with Buck Creek Baptist

Church in the “Meal and Message” at Coastal Carolina on Thursday, April 15! Such a joy and blessing

to eat and worship with students as we talk, form relationships, and learn from them!

Girls in Action, under leadership of Edith Glasgow, planned a GA Tea on Sunday, April 26, at Cedar

Grove Baptist Church. We appreciate our GA Leaders and the Girls in Action!

Health kits are being accepted, so please join us for this missions project! As you are led, please

prepare some kits especially for children, including a toy, coloring book and crayons, colored pencils,

etc.

God Bless.

Peggy J. Jones, WBA WMU Director

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2

Dorothea Long

Sewing Ministry

8:30am

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

SBC Senior Adult

Sunday

WMU Bible Study

7:00pm

Upper Room

7:00pm ESL Class 6:00pm ESL Class 6:00pm

Hadley Allsbrook

Birthday Party

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

No Evening

Services

Upper Room

7:00pm

Street Reach 6:00

ESL Class 6:00pm

ESL Class 6:00pm

Armed Forces Day

Andrea Johnson

Brad Skipper

Wedding

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Prayerwalk the

Association

12:30pm

Upper Room

7:00pm

Sallie Powell

Group 2:30pm

ESL Class 6:00pm ESL Class 6:00pm

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Upper Room

7:00pm ESL Class 6:00pm ESL Class 6:00pm

31

Trinity Sunday

SBC Life

Commitment

Sunday

Wednesday Supper 6:15 pm

Youth Disciple Training 7:00 pm

Children’s Choir (G’s K-6) 7:00 pm

Young Adult Bible Study 7:00 pm

Prayer Service and Bible Study 7:15 pm

Sunday

Mission Friends– after children’s sermon

RAs, GAs, Acteens, & Challengers– 7:00 pm

Discipleship Courses – 6:00 pm

Adult Choir meets 5:00pm

Page 4 The Maple Messenger

Season of Prayer for Association

Missions and Martha Compton Offering

M a y 2 0 1 5

May 10-17 SBC Christian Home Week

SBC Baptist Association Emphasis

Carson –

Newman

College

July 13-17,

2015

Get Ready for Summer!

Season of Prayer for Association Missions and Martha Compton Offering (19-25)

MMMARCHARCHARCH, A, A, APRILPRILPRIL & M& M& MAYAYAY

COUNTING COUNTING COUNTING

COMMITTEE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE

David Long

Pam Blake

Bonnie Todd

USHERSUSHERSUSHERS David Long

Alex Calder

Ronnie Norris

Ricky Blake

FFFLOWERSLOWERSLOWERS FORFORFOR THETHETHE SSSANCTUARYANCTUARYANCTUARY

03

Placed by Shelba, Che, Alan,

Kelly and Grace Jordan in

memory of Henry W. Jordan

10

Available

17

Available

24

Placed by Joanne Morris in memory

of Joe Long and Ernest Porter

31

Lord’s Supper

Page 5 Volume 27 Issue 5

DDDEACONEACONEACON FFFAMILYAMILYAMILY AAASSIGNMENTSSSIGNMENTSSSIGNMENTS 201520152015

A - B: Neil Allsbrook

C - Di: David Harris,

Do - Ha: Guy Majewski

He - Johnson (A-K): Gene Abercrombie

Johnson (L-Z) - Lee: Raymond Hairston

Lef - Norris (A-E): John Johnson

Norris (F-Z) - Ri: Leroy Clewis

Ro - Ta: Price Todd, Jr.

Te - Z: John Spearman

MMMAYAYAY DDDEACONSEACONSEACONS 03 John Spearman

10 Neil Allsbrook

17 David Harris

24 Guy Majewski

31 John Johnson

The Deacons meet the first Sunday of each month at 8:30 am

Morning Evening

05-03-15 Melissa

Stephens &

Melissa Boyd

Jane Reeves

05-10-15 Bonnie Todd &

Elizabeth Calder

Ellis Spearman

05-17-15 Mary Beth

Bennett &

Katelyn Hucks

Kristi Bratcher &

Helen Stephens

05-24-15 Helen Hall Tonya Todd

05-31-15 Paula Allen &

Taylor Stevens

Pam Allsbrook

Thank you to all those who volunteer in the nursery so

parents may attend the worship services. Questions about

the schedule? Call Helen Hall 488-4463

1

Heidi Yarrison

3

Andrew Reeves

6

Michael Stevens

8

Melissa Boyd

Charles Edge

Ronnie Norris

12

Doc Norris

13

Brice Hardwick

Kaitlin Hankins

15

Dorethea Long

Betty Stephens

16

Jimmy Brown

17

Ellis Spearman

21

Wanda Tompkins

23

Skylar Jacobs

24

Joe Hall

29

Dominic Mason Jr.

Joanne Morris

10

Dominic & Cheryl

Mason

Gene & Jessica

Abercrombie

29

David & Megan

Harris

Bible Quiz

According to

Acts 2, on

Pentecost some

people accused

the disciples of

being drunk. Why?

A. Because they were still asleep at

9 in the morning.

B. Because all the wine was gone.

C. Because they were all speaking

in foreign languages.

D. All of the above.

Answer: C (See Acts 2:4, 13.)

Andrea Johnson

& Brad Skipper

May 16, 2015

Advice for grads: The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived

and lived well. —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ministry Opportunities

Sunday

Deacons Meeting - 1st Sunday 8:30 am

RAs, GAs, Acteens, & Challengers– 7:00 pm

Mission Friend– after children’s sermon

Brotherhood Breakfast - 2nd 8:30 am

Church Council Meeting - TBA

Business Meeting - 2nd evening

The Lord’s Supper - 5th, Morning Worship

Discipleship Courses – 6:00 pm

Monday

Upper Room 7:00 pm

WMU Bible Study / Fellowship - 1st at 7:00pm

Tuesday

Street Reach Ministry - 2nd 6:00 pm

Sallie Powell Prayer Group Meeting - 3rd 2:30 pm

English as a Second Language - 6:00pm

Wednesday

Supper 6:15 pm

Youth Disciple Training 7:00 pm

Children’s Choir (G’s K-6) 7:00 pm

Young Adult Bible Study 7:00 pm

Prayer Service and Bible Study 7:15 pm

Thursday

English as a Second Language - 6:00pm

Saturday

Dorothea Long Sewing Ministry—1st at 8:30am

Non Profit Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Conway, South Carolina

Permit No. 111

Maple Baptist Church 4500 Highway 65

Conway, South Carolina 29526

“Growing a Family of Faith”

Return Service Requested

Maple Baptist

Staff

Pastor

Rev. Gary Reeves

Music Director

Jacelyn Spearman

Secretary

Julie Holliday If you would you like to be removed from this mailing list, call 843-365-2627 or email maplebaptist@yahoo.com

“Memorial Day”

Is it enough to think today

Of all our brave, then put away

The thought until a year has sped?

Is this full honor for our dead?

Is it enough to sing a song

And deck a grave; and all year

long

Forget the brave who died that we

Might keep our great land proud

and free?

Full service needs a greater toll,

That we who live give heart and

soul

To keep the land they died to save,

And be ourselves, in turn, the

brave!

—Annette Wynne