Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Gumby is the unlikely name given to a man in Central Asia, known to many in our fellowship who have travelled and ministered in that area of the world. His story is amazing, and one that we should all keep in mind as we approach the Christmas season. Gumby was brought up as a devout Muslim in a nation closed to our faith. As a young man, he was even chosen as a muezzin, the men who call out the hours of prayer each day from the mosques. Soon after he married, Gumbys zeal for his religion led him to Cypress, where he and his wife threw themselves into the work of reclaiming Muslims who had converted to our faith. But then Jesus showed up in his life. A local pastor gave Gumby and his wife a Bible, and challenged them to read it alongside the Koran. As they did, the Holy Spirit stirred in their hearts and they gave their lives to the Lord. Just as in the apostle Pauls life many centuries before, the man who had been a relentless enemy of the faith turned completely around and became instead a passionate follower of Jesus. Gumby moved to yet a third Muslim nation and connected with some of our churchs partners. They spent time in discipling him and providing training for the next stage of his lifes journey. A short time later, he and his family returned to his native country to begin the arduous work the Lord had prepared him forplanting house churches among a people adamantly opposed to our faith. His miraculous journey returned full circle: from the land of his birth to Cypress to a third nation for discipling then back to his native country for ministry. For seven years, Gumby carried on his work. Then the authorities caught up with him, imprisoning both him and his wife. Like so many other believers throughout the Muslim world, the two of them were persecuted and put in jail. It didnt surprise anyone who knew them that they spent their time of incarceration witnessing to fellow prisoners, prison guards, lawyers and judges. Our partners in the area worked ceaselesslyand many around the world prayedtoward their release. And the Lord answered their prayers. Gumby and his wife were released as refugees back to the nation where they had received their training. Pam and I had the chance last spring to connect with Gumby and his wife in their apartment and enjoy lunch (his wife is an amazing cook) and a time of fellowship. What a wonderful and God-lled couple! We came away with a deep appreciation for this brothers zeal for the Kingdom and his willingness to follow Gods will wherever it takes him. Andhere is where Gumbys story really gets interestingthe next stage of Gumbys journey will be to Lexington, SC, where our church will host them for a period of time as he prepares for yet another place of service. Its vitally important that we as a church family keep in mind the untold numbers of people across the world who dont know Jesusthe lost multitudes being reached with the gospel as God raises up apostolic leaders like Gumby. And its also essential that we keep in prayer the multitudes of Christians in, especially, the Middle East and Central Asia who are suffering for their faith. We live in urgent times, where there are so many opportunities to take the message of Jesus to Lexington and around the world. How excited I am about your passion as a congregation, to be obedient and faithful to Jesus in holding onto a world-wide vision of the gospel!
308 East Main Street, Lexington, SC 803.359.4146 www.LexingtonBaptist.org 24-Hour Prayer Line: 803.808.7729
PASTORAL STAFF
Dr. Mike Turner Senior Pastor Steve Foxworth Associate Pastor (Administration) Dan Williams Associate Pastor (Worship) Alyce Gilliam Associate Pastor (Missions) Ian Geimer Associate Pastor (Next Generation Ministries) Jerry Freeman Associate Pastor (Senior Adults & Congregational Care) Maegan Bolding Childrens Ministries Director (Birth - Grade 5) Daniel Walker Middle School Ministry Director (Grades 6 - 8) Jon Foster Recreation Ministry & Facilities Director Jessica Wyndham Communications Director
To hear more from Pastor Mike, make sure to follow his blog at miketurnerblog.com.
Service of Remembrance
6 pm in the Worship Center
Spending time with family and friends during the holidays can be enjoyable yet stressful. Facing the holidays with the memories of losing a family member can be dreadful. We invite anyone who has lost a loved one to join us for our Service of Remembrance on Sunday, Nov. 17. The service will include special music and a message of hope as well as an opportunity to light a candle in memory of your loved one. Families are invited to bring a picture of your loved one to display in the Worship Center before and during the service. The service will conclude with light refreshments in the Reception Hall (next to the Worship Center). Our prayer is that this service will provide hope and comfort in the coming holiday season. Will you make plans now to join us for this special service? For more information, please call the Church Ofce at 359.4146.
Sunday, Nov. 17
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed to collect shoe boxes from the community. Volunteer in the foyers on Sundays or email mindy_moore19@hotmail.com.
Compelled by Love
Followers of Jesus Christ are compelled by the love they have for the Son to do good works. We see this in Scripture. James even states that these good works are completing evidence of the faith believers have. Its a joy to see this lived out in our student ministry. This is clearly portrayed through, but not limited to, our CORE group. CORE students are middle and high school students in leadership roles inside the student ministry. Youve seen these students wearing their CORE shirts and serving in a variety of ways, such as in childrens ministry on Sunday mornings, Tailgate Sunday, Light Up the Night, Christmas at the Barn, LICS, serving homebound members, nursing homes and FCA. I also believe that this service contributes to the closeness of our group. In my life, when I do ministry with someone, theres a special bond and connection with that person. Many of you have also experienced this bond. Let us all continue to do good works for His glory!
Nov. 6
Ive heard that in ancient times, a tiny clay lamp was attached to the thong of a sandal. The light that was cast from the tiny lamp was sufcient to guide a single step. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:105, Thy word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light on my path. I nd it so comforting to know that God will guide my every step. Unfortunately, I dont always allow Gods word to be my lamp. The past nine months were lled with me racing to the front porch in the afternoons to see which new book had arrived. I am a typical rst-born and wanted to be prepared for this adventure known as motherhood. Amazon became my tool for ordering countless books about baby sleep cycles, nursing, discipline, parenting philosophies and baby development. I read these books with delight, knowing that I was tucking away chunks of information that would prepare me for the arrival our rst baby. It did not take long after our sweet Noras arrival for me to realize that Nora hadnt read the books I had read. I had a quick ashback to the rst few months of marriage. Before I got married, I read a stack of books about marriage. During those rst few months of marriage, I learned that there is one book that should be the foundation our marriage the Bible. Motherhood isnt any different God gives us His word to guide our steps for every decision. He has blessed me immensely with the two best resources that I could ever have as a mom: scripture and fellowship with other moms through MOPS. God will provide enough light to take one step at a time by giving me all the resources I need in each stage of motherhood! ~ Carrie Geimer
Nov. 13
Nov. 20
Adults: $6.00 Children (5 - 12): $4.00 Children 4 & Under Eat Free! (Family Maximum**: $15.00) Payable at the door.
Reservations Required. Deadline for Reservations & Cancellations: Sunday at 5 pm Make Weekly or Permanent Reservations! Please make reservations online, by using the tear-off in the weekly bulletin, or by calling 359.4146.
MOPS meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month. A one-time registration is required. For more info or to register, please go to www.LexingtonBaptist.org/MOPS.
Serve
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
~ 1 Timothy 6:18 This year, we are challenging our families to do more, love more, give more, and share more all in the name of Jesus! Every month, we are highlighting one area of need and ways that you can help to serve others. For the entire month of November, we are collecting supplies to prepare Blessing Bags for the homeless of downtown Columbia. Every Monday night, a group from LBC feeds and builds relationships with approximately 150 homeless men and women. This year, we would like to distribute Blessing Bags to these individuals for Thanksgiving. To help, please bring the items below on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights throughout November. John 13:35 says, Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples. Help us to reect the love of Jesus by loving these men and women! Babies to Two Year Olds: White Socks Three Year Olds: Gloves Four Year Olds: Toothbrushes Five Year Olds: Mini Toothpaste First Grade: Mini Deodorant Second Grade: Chapstick Third Grade: Mini Lotion Bottles Fourth Grade: Mini Packs of Tissues Fifth Grade: Bars of Soap
Tuesday, Nov. 19
12 - 1 pm at Reflections 1937 Augusta Highway, Lexington
Lets Be
A A A A A A A A A A little more GO and little less COME little more BOLD and a little less TIMID little more RISKY and a little less SAFE little more GIVE and a little less TAKE little more DISCIPLE and a little less PROGRAM little more PRAISE and a little less PERFORM little more PRAY and a little less DISCUSS little more OPEN HAND and a little less TIGHT GRIP little more HUMBLE and a little less PROUD lot more JESUS and a lot less US!
Joyfully Yours,
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Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they arent real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes ~ David Platt in Radical
Alexas Story
We met Alexa because Steves sister saw a child that needed stability and love and decided to step in and help. When I rst heard she was getting involved, I said, This is not a good idea. You really need to mind your own business. Thankfully, she didnt listen. After meeting Alexa a few times, we fell in love with this spunky, full of energy, precious girl. Then one Sunday, we were visiting a new church, and the special message was about the sanctity of life and especially, about adopting older children. When we got in the car, we both said, God just told us we should adopt Alexa. We called Steves sister and asked her to talk with Alexas biological father. It just so happened that earlier in the weekend he agreed that Alexa needed a permanent home and it was time to nd an adoptive family. We met him the next day, and a week later Alexa was moving in with us. We had a year-long battle (in the courts) and at times, we thought we would lose her. We did actually lose her for ve days, but I knew God had brought us to her and He had placed it on our hearts to be her parents. I knew He would get us through though I couldnt actually see how. One Sunday, our pastor stood up and said, We are going to hold hands and pray for Alexa. We are going to pray that God storm the gates and claim Alexa. This is a battle against the devils schemes. That moment was a turning point for me. From that moment on, I knew we were ghting for her life. When God created Alexa she was no accident. God knew the moment He made her the plan for her life and who her real parents were to be. He just needed a vehicle to get her to us. I am so thankful that we didnt ignore Gods tugging at our heart. I am so thankful that He provided us the stamina and courage to keep ghting for her. Alexa is our miracle child. She has been such a blessing to our family and our family would not be complete without her. ~ Steve and Beth Moore
Meilis Story
My adoption story begins at my birth. I was adopted when I was three days old by my parents. I love to hear them recount the story of my arrival. My mom says when the social worker placed me in her arms, it was like I was born to her in that very moment. My dad describes a scene where I was screaming my head off when the social worker brought me to him. She placed me in my dads arms, and I immediately calmed down, looked up at him with wide eyes and melted his heart. I thought that this happy story is where my adoption story would end. But God had something else planned for me. My husband Aaron and I have been married for 18 years. We have two handsome sons, Alex (13) and Andrew (11) whom we love very much. We thought our family was complete and we settled into a happy life together raising two boys. But God had something more planned for us. About a year after we moved to Lexington in 2009, we met our neighbors, John and Jennifer OCain. We became acquainted with them shortly after they brought home their rst adopted daughter from China, Lily. We soon became close friends and were inspired by their adoption journey. Looking back on this time, we now know this was the time period where God was preparing our hearts for adoption. Aaron and I began to talk about the possibility of adopting a daughter. At rst, we had just casual conversations and then began to talk more seriously. Eventually, we found ourselves talking about this little girl on the other side of the world all the time and realized that God was calling us to get started. In January of 2012, we completed an application to adopt a little girl from China. After 20 months of home studies, ngerprints, paperwork, piles of copies, notaries, physicals and visas, we are waiting for one nal travel approval from China to go get our little girl, Meili. Meili Brace was born Dang Mei Li in China in October of 2009 and abandoned when she was two months old. Since then, she has lived in an orphanage in an industrial province of China (Shanxi). We have only seen four pictures of her and reviewed a medical le but we know she belongs in our family. We are so grateful to family and friends for their prayers and encouragement throughout this journey and to God for giving us the gift of a daughter and sister to love! ~ Aaron, Lynne, Alex, Andrew, and (coming soon) Meili Brace
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A day when women came together, drew near to God with sincere hearts, and were offered a full assurance of faith. They did not give up meeting together, but rather encouraged one another as members of one body with one single purpose of giving glory to God in all circumstances of life (Hebrews 10:22-24). One hundred and fty women from LBC and our surrounding communities enjoyed a morning lled with fellowship, worship, encouragement and breakout sessions designed to meet specic needs of individual women. The day began with a breakfast t for a queen, and continued as women laughed and worked together in crafting Scripture Jars to take home and help commit scriptures to memory. Jane and Luke Willis then led us into the throne room of God with songs of worship. Through the story of Peter in Matthew 14 and the lyrics of Oceans by Hillsong, Jane encouraged us to nd Christ in the great unknown of life where feet may fail to be condent that with Him our strength can stand. During this time, hearts came together as women were in awe of our Savior, giving Him honor and praise. The focus of the morning then turned to the fteen breakout sessions designed to meet every day needs of real women. Each session lasted fty minutes and was led by women experienced in advising women on each topic. The hardest part was choosing only two from the fteen sessions offered. ~ Jenny & Kay Coker Spending time with other ladies, all in different stages of life, was so refreshing. To see that we all go through similar battles and struggles was truly encouraging and uplifting. Through the breakout session Finding Your Place: What If You Were Made For More Than to Fit In, led by Karen Koon, the Lord spoke to me about tearing down my walls and letting love in. Im happy to say I did and I have learned so much. God blessed me through this event and Im grateful for our church and each person that listened to Gods call to plan, attend and teach. ~ Kim Smith As a working professional, I did not want to get up early on a Saturday morning. But I am so glad that I did! In the Godly Grandmother session, Ruby taught us above all that in order to love our grandchildren, we must rst love their Mom and Dad unconditionally. As I looked around the room, you could see in the eyes of each woman that she had connected with us all in that simple, but true statement. ~ Maggie Glass What a blessing to my soul! This is a group of women who are warm, inviting, real and most importantly, share the truth and hope of Jesus Christ. I am not a member at LBC and these women invite you in and the love of Jesus is truly all around. ~ Becky Edwards This was a wonderful, eye-opening event for me. Through the Finding Joy in Trying Times session, these three women had us riveted through telling of their tragic times, and how they were able to rebound to joy and peace through Jesus Christ, and all their Christian friends and family. I only hope my faith and love of God will carry me through my next trying time as well as theirs did. 14 They were an inspiration. ~ Vicki Monical
The morning was so beautiful from the breakfast, to the craft and gifted singing. God was so alive in our church before the sessions even began. The presence of the Holy Spirit was so evident in the women and their presentations. What a blessing! ~ Eleanor Durban
NOVEMBER 2013
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Sunday
8 am 9 am Adult Bible Study Blended Worship Vertical (Contemporary Worship) Adult & Student Sunday School Childrens Sunday School (All Ages) 10:15 am Blended Worship Adult, Student, & Childrens Sunday School (All Ages) 11:30 am Vertical (Contemporary Worship) Childrens Sunday School (All Ages) 4 pm Praying for Prodigals Group 5 pm Missions Prayer Team 6 pm Evening Worship WAM Childrens Choirs
6 pm GameDay at River Bluff High School and at White Knoll High School (Students) (Off-site)
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11 am Cornerstone Lunch (Senior Adults) 7 pm ManUp Bible Study (Students) (off-site)
7:30 am Mens Ministry Breakfast 5 - 9 pm The Great Date Challenge
Monday
6 pm
Tuesday
8:30 am 9:30 am 6:30 pm 7 pm
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9 am Single Senior Ladies Breakfast Bunch (off-site) 7 pm MOPS Meeting
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9 am OIl Change for Single Moms & Widows
Precept: Covenant Precept: Gideon Ladies Bible Study Mens Bible Study
Wednesday
3 pm 4 pm 4:45 pm 6 pm 6:15 pm 7:30 pm
Senior Adult Choir Rehearsal Midweek Worship Fellowship Supper Encounter 431 (Grades 6-12) Midweek Worship Wired (Birth - Grade 5) Adult Choir Rehearsal Orchestra Rehearsal
Thursday
2 pm
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Operation Christmas Child Sunday 9, 10:15 & 11:30 Worship Services 6pm Service of Remembrance
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12 noon PowerUP Lunch (off-site)
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6 - 6:15 pm Preschool Fam Jam
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9 am Senior Adult Mens Breakfast Club (off-site) 11:30 am Single Senior Ladies Lunch Bunch (off-site) 7 pm Girls, Inc. Bible Study (Students) (off-site)21
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7 pm Community Thanksgiving Service at New Bethel AME Church
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No Fellowship Meal
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30
PAID