The Tri-Cities January 2011

CO MISSION
Reaching & Teaching Our Community For Christ

Is It Time
For

A New You?
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 The Tri-Cities

CO MISSION
Reaching & Teaching Our Community For Christ
Published by The Christian Community Resource Guide, Inc.
© 2010-2011 All Rights Reserved

Arnold J. Bur & Karla Bowman-Bur, Co-Editors

Dear Readers,
Welcome to The COmMISSIONer, a magazine dedicated to fulfilling
Christ’s Commission of Matthew 28:19-20 to “go and make disciples of
all...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...”

The COmMISSIONer is an online monthly magazine with regular features, columns and departments with articles that focus on
reaching & teaching the UNchurched members of our community. Our goal is to encourage and equip people in our community
that know very little about Jesus Christ, His gospel of good news, and about the “church”. Every issue will encourage our readers
to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and to use our magazine and website (www.tccrg.com) to choose a local church,
be baptized, worship, fellowship and serve as part of our local Christian community.

Each issue will have a monthly theme and all of the magazine’s contents will follow that theme. This January 2011 issue’s theme
is A NEW YOU! and the monthly theme scripture is 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new cre-
ation; the old has gone, the new has come!” This issue will have easy-to-understand articles teaching on how we can become
a new creation in Christ, all about baptism, how the various denominations practice the act of baptism, what it means to be a Bap-
tist, as well as our regular columns, features and advertisements to local churches, ministries, Christian businesses, schools, and
the activities and events that they sponsor in our community.

We pray that you use The COmMISSIONer to learn about Jesus Christ and His wonderful message of Good News! We also
hope that you find a great church, a trustworthy Christian business, an excellent Christian school, and/or a local Christian ministry
or mission to partner with. Please bless our advertisers with your support and prayers. If you have any questions or need help
choosing, please let us know!
Features, Columns & Departments
Your partners in The COmMISSION,
Simply Salvation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Arnold & Karla Bur Why Church? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
How To Choose A Local Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Practices & Distinctions of Faith Church Information Icons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Local Tri-Cities Churches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Even though many Christians share the same
foundational beliefs, our individual interpretations
They’ve Got It Goin’ On! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
and applications of these beliefs may differ. These Local Ministries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
differences, such as modes of baptism, gender Our Common Unity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
roles in the church, preferred Bible versions, gifts Denominational Differences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
of the Holy Spirit, styles of worship, imparting of tra- Denominations Defined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
ditions, creeds and sacraments, among other is-
All About The Bible. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
sues of distinction and practice, do not
necessarily prohibit our working together in
Back in Bible Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
unity of purpose. It is important that we hold to Christian Businsesses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
our convictions, but it is equally important that we Hiz Kidz Bible Story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
do so with humble spirits. In the midst of our differ- Crossword & Wordsearch Puzzles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
ences, our foundational beliefs establish a com- Church Chatter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
mon unity for possible opportunities to serve
together for the glory of God. However, practices
Christian Schools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
and doctrines that violate biblical ethics and moral- Holy Days, Holidays & Happy Days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
ity are not acceptable in any form and do not serve Local Christian Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
to advance our unity of purpose in Christ. Tri-Cities Testimonies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
DISCLAIMEr: The information in this magazine is carefully gathered, compiled, and produced to ensure maximum accuracy. The Christian Community Resource
Guide, Inc. cannot, however, guarantee either the correctness of all information furnished nor the complete absence of errors and omissions. Hence, responsibility
for same neither can be nor is assumed. In order to meet publishing and printing deadlines, the cut-off date for inclusion was November 30, 2010.

January 2011 Page 3

Simply Salvation
A N ew
You !
E
very year we all make New Year’s resolutions
to be a better person. We all know we need to
make some changes. No one is perfect.
Seems like no one is ever 100% happy with them-
selves. There’s always room for improvement. We
all daydream for a better life, one way or another.
Some of us believe that if we were more educated,
had better health, or had more money that our life
would be better and therefore we would be happier.
Some of us make a New Year’s resolution to lose
weight, eat better, exercise more, quit smoking or
some other “bad” habit. Some of us are happy with
our physical appearance but not quite happy with
our personal life, finances, or level of education.
We’re all looking for something that will make us a
new man or woman. We believe these things will
make us happy. And, honestly, there’s some truth in
these ideas and to pursue them is a good thing.
HIGHEr EDUCATION
People are more likely to pursue higher education or
training in a field that they are passionate about.
Working in a field that you have a passion for in-
creases your happiness. The bible says in Proverbs
3:18 AKJV that “she (wisdom) is a tree of life to them
that lay hold on her: and happy is every one that re-
tains her.” A New Year’s resolution to pursue a
higher education and/or training is a good thing!
MOrE MONEY
Statistics show that people with a higher education
generally earn more money. But good old-fashioned
hard work and determination can earn you more
money too. The bible says in Proverbs 14:23 NIV
Page 4
that “all hard work brings a profit” and in Ecclesi-
astes 10:19 NIV that “money is the answer for every-
thing.” You don’t neccessarily have to go to college
to earn a decent salary but you will have to work
hard. A New Year’s resolution to earn more money
is a good thing!
BETTEr HEALTH
Millions of people make a New Year’s resolution
every year to lose weight, eat better, and/or get
more exercise. It’s hard to be happy when you’re in
bad health. Taking care of our physical bodies is
taught in the bible. Proverbs 25:16 and 25 teach
that it’s not good to eat too much at one time.
Proverbs 23:21 teaches that “the drunkard and the
glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall
clothe [a man] with rags.” I Timothy 4:8 says that
“physical training (exercise) is good", 2 Corinthians
7:1 teaches that we should “purify ourselves from
everything that contaminates (our) body...” There is
no shortage of research and statistics that prove
that drugs, excessive alcohol, overeating, lack of ex-
ercise and smoking are all risk factors for bad
health. A New Year’s resolution to pursue better
health is a good thing!
ENOUGH?
Pursuing a higher education, more money, and bet-
ter health are all good New Year’s resolutions. But
will these things automatically bring happiness and
make you a new man or woman? All you have to do
is watch the evening news or daytime talk shows to
see that there are many highly-educated, wealthy,
and physically-fit people who are NOT happy! To
The COmMISSIONer
really become a new man or woman, it looks like
there’s something else we need to pursue!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
TrUE HAPPINESS he is a new creation; the old has
Ecclessiastes 5:19 says that “when God gives any gone, the new has come!
man wealth and possessions, and enables him to
enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his 2 Corinthians 5:17
work—this is a gift of God.” A study published in the
Journal of Economic Psychology states that “reli-
gious people tend to be happier than non-religious To be “in Christ” means to be...
people”1. You can have all the health and wealth in
the world and still be unhappy. True happiness is a
gift from God.
• made alive, given a new life
(2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 15:22)

I Timothy 4:8 doesn’t just say that “physical training

(exercise) is good”, it also says “but training for god-
• sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:2)
liness is much better, promising benefits in this life
and in the life to come." All of these physical things • justified by faith (Galatians 2:16)
are good things to pursue. But alone, they don’t re-
ally bring true happiness. A New Year’s resolution • redeemed (Ephesians 1:7)
to pursue a new life in Christ is the better thing!
• strong through the grace
A NEW YOU! that God gives (2 Timothy 2:1)
Go ahead and make those New Year’s resolutions
to pursue better things. But if you really want to be
“A New You”, be sure to make a better resolution to
• uncondemned (romans 8:1)
pursue God first. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that “if
anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has • anointed with the Holy Spirit
gone, the new has come! Accept Jesus Christ as and taught all we need to
your personal Savior and make Him Lord of your
life! He will make you a new creation and He will
know (I John 2:27)
bring you true happiness! 
• obedient to God’s word (I John
2:5)
2010 © The Christian Community Resource Guide, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
• chosen before the creation
1. "Getting off the Hedonic Treadmill, One Step at a time: The impact of regu-
lar religious practice and exercise on well-being ." Journal of Economic Psy- of the world (Ephesians 1:4)
chology 632–642 29 (2008). Web.

• holy and blameless in His

sight (Ephesians 1:4)
If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your
personal Savior today and would like to tell
us about it, you can send us an email to
• told “Yes” to all of God’s
editor@tccrg.com or go to our website at
promises (2 Corinthians 1:20)
www.tccrg.com and check the box and send
in your name and the date. We will publish • confident and not ashamed
your name in a following issue and/or on our web- before Him at His coming
site and share the good news! (1John 2:28)

January 2011 Page 5

Why Church?
P uT o N
T he N ew
You !
E
ver make a New Year’s resolution to quit
smoking, drinking too much or cussing and
still hang out with people who do it all the
time? It’s almost impossible to succeed. Common
sense will tell you that if you want to stop a bad
habit, then don’t hang around with people who still
do it. This doesn’t mean you can’t speak to, care
for, or spend any time with them at all. Hanging
around someone means spending most of your time
with them. We’ve all heard the old saying that “birds
of a feather flock together.” That means that people
tend to hang out with other people that have the
same likes, dislikes and habits. It’s true that people
who smoke, drink and/or cuss tend to hang out with
other people who do too. The same is true for just
about any other activity. People who like to hunt,
fish and go camping usually hang out with others
who like to hunt, fish and go camping too. It’s nor-
mal and it’s really no big deal. We just need to un-
derstand how we all make choices. Sometimes we
do things just because we’ve seen everyone else
doing it all our lives. These habits just seem to
come naturally to us. It’s not until we spend some
time away from our normal surroundings that we
even begin to consider that there may be another
way of behaving, believing, or belonging.
LEArNING SOMETHING NEW
The same concept is true if you want to start a new
habit or learn a new skill. For example, if your New
Year’s goal is to learn to work on your own car, then
you need to hang out with people who know how to
work on cars. If your goal is to learn how to play a
musical instrument, then you need to take lessons.
If your New Year’s resolution is to accept Jesus
Page 6
Unicoi United Methodist Church (Unicoi TN)
Christ as your personal Savior and begin living for
Him, then you need to hang out with other people
who have made the same decision and have the
same lifestyle.
PUTTING ON THE NEW YOU!
Colossians 2:12 says that “you were buried with
Christ when you were baptized...you were raised to
new life” and Romans 6:4 says that “we are buried
with him by baptism...so we also should walk in
newness of life”. Colossians 3 talks about this new
way of living. In verses 1-10, it teaches those who
have been “raised in Christ” (see What Is Baptism?
on page 12) to “set your hearts on things above...not
on earthly things... Put to death, therefore, whatever
belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality,
impurity, lust, evil desires and greed...You used to
walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But
now you must rid yourselves of all such things as
these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy lan-
guage from your lips... since you have taken off your
old self with its practices and have put on the new
self”. This issue’s theme scripture is 2 Corinthians
5:17 and states that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”
So, this month’s reason why Christians should go to
church is so that we can be taught, learn, and have
the opportunity to “put on the new man...a true and
holy way of living” (Ephesians 4:24). Going to
church and hanging out with other people who have
made the same decision to make Jesus Christ the
Lord of their lives will help YOU become the new
man or woman you have chosen to be in 2011! 
2010 © The Christian Community Resource Guide, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The COmMISSIONer
 how To ChooSe A
LoCAL ChuRCh
T
here are over 1,200 churches here in the Tri-Cities. You don't have to go to the one down on the cor-
ner of the street or the first one your finger falls on in the phone book. Deciding on which church to
attend should be well thought out. A church's doctrines, beliefs and practices should be the first
thing you consider but there are other things you should think about before making a final decision.
You (and possibly your whole family) will be much happier and much more likely to stay at a church perma-
nently, if this choice is based on the following points.

u Know God - Spend time in prayer with God daily, ask Him which Church HE wants you to attend.
(Psalms 25:9, Psalms 48:14, Psalms 73:24).

v Know His Word - Read the Bible daily. Look up topics such as salvation (Romans 10:9), heaven
(John 14:2, Revelation 21:27) and hell (Matthew 13:41). Find the biblical definition of “church” (Ro-
mans 12:5, I Corinthians 12:27, Ephesians 1:22-23) and “religion” (James 1:27).

w Know Your Beliefs - Base your knowledge on God's Word. Try not make your decision completely
based on family, ethnic, cultural or social traditions. Choose a church that teaches Bible-based doc-
trines. (Mark 7:13).

x Know Your Needs - Do you have a baby and need a Nursery? Are you handicapped and need special
accommodations? Find a Church that cares for you. (Ephesians 5:29, 1 Peter 5:7, Galatians 6:2,
Psalm 95:7).

y Know Your Style - There are different styles of worship, music, and dress even among churches of
the same denomination such as liturgical, traditional, contemporary, blended and southern gospel.
(Psalm 149:3, Psalm 33:3, 2 Chronicles 5:13, 1 Timothy 2:9).

z Know Your Preferences - Is it important for you to belong to a church that has regular family activities,
children & youth programs, singles groups, or community outreach ministries? (Hebrews 10:25).

{ Know Your New Church - Learn the name & location, get directions, visit their website if they have
one, call or email the Pastor and ask for a meeting, check and see if they are on Facebook!
Start making friends and begin attending services. (Jeremiah 29:13).

The Christian Community Resource Guide website has over 1,200 churches listed
as well as several local ministries, Christian businesses, schools, activities and events.
You can search for churches by city and/or by denomination.
Check it out at www.tccrg.com
If you would like someone to help you choose, we’d be happy to help you!
Send us an email to editor@tccrg.com or give us a call at (423) 202-7273.
January 2011 Page 7
 C huRCh I NFoRmATIoN I CoNS
You can use these icons to help you quickly and easily identify churches that have what you are
looking for while you are browsing the church ads in this issue!

Style of Worship Services Special Groups and/or Ministries

Liturgical (Highly structured, Organ-led, Hymn-
 based, Suits & Ties / Dresses)  Handicapped (Parking, Entrance, Seating, and
Restrooms)

✝ Traditional (Structured, Organ and/or Piano-led,

Hymn-based, Casual Dressy)  Hearing Impaired (Hearing Aids and/or Devices
for Use During Services)

✝ Blended (Blended Worship Styles, Praise Music &

Hymns with Various Instruments, Casual & Dressy)
Deaf Ministry (American Sign Language Interpreta-
tion During Worship Services and/or Other Events)

Contemporary (Less Structured, Worship Music

 with Electric Guitar & Drums, Very Casual Dress) † Deaf Church (Deaf Pastor, Staff, and/or Most of
Congregation)

✟ Southern Gospel (Various Worship Service

Styles, Southern Gospel Music, Various Dress Styles)
Spanish Ministry (Spanish Translation of Worship
Services and/or Other Events)

Acapella Spanish Church (Hispanic Pastor, Staff, and/or

†

 (Voices Only, No Musical Instruments) Most of Congregation)

King James Bible

KJB
(Only Bible Version Used) ☻ GLTB Friendly (Welcome to Attend, but Expect
Counseling Before Baptism and/or Communion)

Charismatic GLTB Full Participation (Participate in Baptism

 (Gifts of Healing, Prophecy, and Speaking in Tongues)  and Communion, Mixed Congregation)

GLTB Church
Size of Congregation Age Groups † (Gay Pastor, Staff, and/or Most of Congregation)
Extra Small Infants & Toddlers
XS (25 or less) B (Birth to 2 Years)  Deliverance Ministry (Drugs, Alcohol, Cults,
Cutting, Pornography, Homosexuality)
Small Preschoolers
S (up to 100) P (3 - 5 Years) Food Ministry
 (Free or Reduced Rates for Food)
Medium Children / Kids
M (100 - 250) K (K - Grade 7) Clothing Ministry
(Free or Reduced Rates for Clothing)
Large Teens
L (250 - 500) T (13 Years - Grade 12) Bus and/or Van Ministry (Transportation To and
v From Church Services and/or Other Events)
Extra Large Singles
XL (500 - 1,000) S (18 Years & Older) Prison Ministry (Jail and/or Prison Visitation and
† Church Services)
Mega Seniors
M (2,000 or more) Sr (55 Years & Up) TV or radio Ministry (Local Churches on TV or
11
Radio, Channel Listed on Icon)
raceway Ministry
. (Church Services and/or Ministries During Races) 2010 © The Christian Community resource Guide, Inc. All rights reserved
www.tccrg.com
Page 8 The COmMISSIONer
 L oCAL C huRCheS
There are 1,264 churches listed on The Christian Community Resource Guide website at www.tccrg.com

Erwin Church of God

799 10th Street (Rock Creek Road)
Erwin, TN 37650
(423) 743-9453
Pastor John Edwards
erwincog@embarqmail.com
www.forministry.com/USTNCOGCLECO5

Grace Bible Church A Great Place

Grow!
617 Donelson Drive

Kingsport, TN 37660

(423) 378-5498
to
Pastor Kerry Doyal

gracefree4u@juno.com

www.getgraced.homestead.com

✝ M  B P K T S Sr

St. John s Episcopal

“The Word became flesh and lived among us... 408 E. Mountain View Road
full of grace and truth” John 1:14 Johnson City, TN 37601
Holy Eucharist Each Sunday (423) 282›2227
8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m
500 North Roan Street Pastor Johnny Chase
Johnson City, TN
Email: pj@discoverlifeag.com
(423) 926-8141

 M www.StJohnsTN.org www.discoverlifeag.com

January 2011 Page 9

They’ve Got It Goin’ On!
h oPe h AveN
m INISTRIeS
"Helping the Homeless Help Themselves"
E
very month we will feature one of our local
Christian ministries, churches, businesses,
schools or individuals that 1) hold true to the
biblical definition of true religion as in James 1:27
that says “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of
our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and wid-
ows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained
by the world”, 2) is easily identified as His disciples
as in John 13:35 which says “By this all men will
know that you are My disciples, if you have love for
one another” and 3) who fulfills The Great Commis-
sion in Matthew 28:19-20 that commands us to “Go
therefore and make disciples of all the nations, bap-
tizing them in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that
I commanded you.” When they meet these three
qualifications, we think they’ve got it goin’ on!
This month’s theme is “A New You” so it’s natural for
us to choose Hope Haven Ministries of Kingsport
because they not only meet our three qualifications
but they also help all who come through their doors
to begin a new life. Not only a new life physically
and financially but spiritually as well, giving them an
opportunity to become...A New You!
Hope Haven Ministries of Kingsport holds true to
the biblical definition of true religion by providing
emergency assistance such as shelter, food, cloth-
ing and crisis counseling, and offering compassion-
ate and structured programs that stress
rehabilitation, restoration and a responsible attitude
toward God, self, family and society. They offer the
hope of freedom from addiction by teaching life skills
that will provide the necessary help for individuals to
Page 10
Hope Haven Ministries of Kingport
lead fulfilling, productive lives. The board of direc-
tors and staff believe that true restoration comes
only through Jesus Christ, so they address each
person's spiritual poverty as well as his/her physical
poverty. As they disciple these men, women, and
children, Hope Haven Ministries is also doing their
part in fulfilling The Great Commission here in our
community. And it’s easy to see that they are His
disciples when they provide encouragement, struc-
ture, and abiding love for every one who comes
through their doors. Hope Haven Ministries of
Kingsport Tennessee has got it goin’ on!
You can help Hope Haven Ministries keep it goin’
on! Just like every one else, they need resources to
do what they do. Only through the gifts of God's
people are they able to minister to so many hurting
people. YOU can be His disciple, practice true reli-
gion and help fulfill The Great Commission and join
with Hope Haven Ministries. YOU can help them
help the homeless help themselves!1
If interested in meeting the staff, touring the facility,
volunteering, or donating items and/or money con-
tact the Executive Director, Joel Trigg. For contact
information, see the ad on the opposite page. You
can also find them on Facebook!
1 Information taken from Hope Haven Ministries’ website (www.hope-
havenkpt.com).
2010 © The Christian Community Resource Guide, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The COmMISSIONer
 L oCAL m INISTRIeS
There are over 80 local ministries listed on The Christian Community Resource Guide website at www.tccrg.com

hoPe hAveN East Tennessee Christian Home

E♦T♦C♦H
mINISTRIeS
“Helping the Homeless Help Themselves”
“Growing Girls God’s Way”
P.O. Box 1147
Elizabethton, TN 37643
(423) 542-4423

F a i r h a ve n
Ministries
670 Dale Street

Come Away...be Renewed & Refreshed!
Kingsport, TN 37660

2198 Roaring Creek Road Winter
Roan Mountain, TN 37687
(423) 246-6012 (423) 772-4269 Special!
Joel Trigg, Executive Director www.fairhavenministries.net

www.hopehavenkpt.com
Hope Haven Ministries, Inc.
is a Christian, interdenominational,
non-profit ministry that reaches out to
homeless men, women and children
who may be impoverished economically,
educationally, emotionally and/or spiritually.

We offer emergency shelter – safe, clean,

temporary housing for those in distress.

You have the opportunity here for

a new start on life and a place to
experience God's love.

Hope Haven is a step along the path

1433 East Center Street
of recovery, not a destination...
We help the homeless help themselves! Kingsport, Tennessee 37664
(423) 723-7283
Invite a Hope Haven Representative to Speak
at Your Church or Organization Kathy Christian, Executive Director

January 2011 Page 11

Our Common Unity
B APTISm
B
aptism is believed in and practiced by all
bible-believing Christians. It is one of several
beliefs and practices that many denomina-
tions share in common. It is mentioned over 100
times in at least 10 different books of the bible.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all spoke about bap-
tism in the Four Gospels. John the Baptist prepared
the way for Jesus by going around the countryside
baptizing those who repented of their sins and be-
lieved in the coming Savior (Matthew 3:1-6). Peter,
the rock which the church was built on (Matthew
16:18), pleaded with people to repent, believe and
be baptized. Thousands of people were baptized
after hearing the Apostle Paul preach the good news
(Acts 18:8). Jesus Christ himself said he fulfilled all
rightesousness by being baptized and our Father in
heaven put his seal of approval on baptism when he
said "this is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well
pleased" (Matthew 3:13-16).
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
Baptism is a public ceremony and an outward ex-
pression of a person’s inward faith. It should be
done by those who have accepted Jesus Christ as
their personal Savior, repented of their sins, and
who want to dedicate the rest of their lives to living
for Him. Physically, it is a complete immersion (ac-
tually submersion) in water. Warning: You Will Get
Wet! However, there are some denominations that
practice it differently. They believe that sprinkling
and/or pouring water over the head is sufficient.
There are a wide variety of places that a baptism
ceremony can take place. As long as there is plenty
of water, any place will do. Most churches have an
indoor, heated baptismal, usually behind or to the
side of the pulpit and platform. During warm
weather, baptisms can be done in swimming pools,
ponds, creeks or even livestock watering troughs.
Page 12
Pastor Leonard Fletcher and Preacher Dean Fletcher, Dyson Grove
Baptist Church in Butler, baptizing Brother Jackson Yates
River baptisms are popular here in East Tennessee.
Almost all baptisms are performed by a pastor, min-
ister, reverend or other ordained, religious official.
In Matthew 28, Jesus commanded his disciples to
go and make more disciples and to baptize them!
Some churches now believe it is okay for the person
who has been discipling (teaching) you to baptize
you. Whether or not baptism is required for salva-
tion depends on how you interpret I Peter 3:21 that
says “this water symbolizes baptism that now saves
you” and Mark 16:16 that says “he that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved.” There are some
denominations that believe baptism is required for
salvation but most believe that it isn’t. They view it
as an act of obedience and therefore as something
that all Christians should do, if at all possible. It’s
just the right thing to do!
WHAT DOES BAPTISM rEPrESENT?
Romans 6:4 shows us that baptism represents the
death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. When we
admit we are sinners and in need of a Savior, we re-
pent (be sorry for our sins). Our old self dies and
that represents our death. When we go under the
water during baptism, it represents our burial. Our
coming up out of the water represents our resurrec-
tion. In the same way that Jesus Christ went
through these things, our old nature is to “die” and
we are to be “buried with Him through baptism into
death” and raised to “walk in newness of life.” We
don’t just try to be a better person, we bury the “old
person” in the water and become a “new person”
through our acceptance of Jesus Christ. It’s like a
new birth and a new beginning! 
To learn more about the specific ways that our local denomina-
tions practice baptism, you can refer to the table on the oppo-
site page.
The COmMISSIONer
 DENOMINATIONAL
DIFFErENCES

January 2011
How we all do the same thing
in our own special way!
Ordained Official Only

required for slvation

not required, but very important
not required, optional
not important, not practiced
Infants
Children
Adults
Sprinkling
Pouring
Immersion
Submersion
After a public confession of faith
After some counseling or a
class
Anytime
Church (inside)
Anywhere (rivers, streams,
ponds, swimming pools)
Anyone

DENOMINATION IMPOrTANCE AGE(S) MODE(S) WHEN WHErE WHO

African Methodist Episcopal Zion b b b b b b b b b

Apostolic b b b b b b b b b
Assemblies of God b b b b b b b b b b
Baptist (all branches) b b b b b b b b
Bible b b b b b b b b
Brethren b b b b b b b b
Catholic b b b b b b b b b b
Church of Christ b b b b b b b
Church of God b b b b b b b b
Christian b b b b b b b
Episcopal b b b b b b b b
Lutheran b b b b b b b b b
Methodist b b b b b b b b b b b b
Nazarene b b b b b b b b
Pentecostal (not incl. Oneness Pentecostals) b b b b b b b b b b
Presbyterian b b b b b b b b b
Seventh-Day Adventist b b b b b b b b b

Page 13
Denominational Differences
 Denominations Defined
w hAT D oeS I T m eAN To B e A...
BAPTIST
B
aptists are a Protestant (meaning non-
Catholic) denomination within the Christian
church. There are different branches within
the denomination such as Free-Will, Fundamental,
Independent, Missionary, Primitive, Reformed,
Southern, and Seventh-Day Baptists. There are
even a few Charismatic Baptists but that’s a whole
other story.
CHUrCH GOVErNANCE AND MEMBErSHIP
Baptists believe that each church is completely au-
tonomous and answerable to God alone. Baptists
believe that church and state matters should be kept
separate. Pastors and deacons are the only church
officers. Women are not usually ordained but their
place in ministry is very highly respected. People
join the church by "getting saved" and baptism or by
a letter transferring their membership from one con-
gregation to another. Each Baptist church has its
own statement of faith and standards of behavior.
Specific beliefs based on biblical interpretation can
differ among Baptist churches because of this, but
all Baptists share certain beliefs and practices.
BAPTISTS AND THE BIBLE
All Baptists believe the Bible to be God's message
to mankind, written by men who were inspired by
God Himself, and in it's original form is inerrant (con-
tains no errors), and is the final authority of right and
wrong. The majority of Baptists support the exclu-
sive use of the King James Bible, believing that it is
the only bible that a Christian should read and trust.
GOD, JESUS, AND SALVATION
All Baptists believe that there is one God, eternally
existing in three persons known as the Trinity, com-
prised of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
God, the Son (Jesus), was born of a virgin, lived a
sinless life, died for our sins, and is the only way to
salvation. Salvation is a free gift and cannot be
achieved by human effort. Baptists believe that any-
one who calls on the name of Jesus Christ will be
Page 14
Next Month: Assemblies of God
saved. Anyone who does not, will face damnation
and go to hell. Baptists are well-known for their “fire
and brimstone”, “hell-fire” sermons. You may not
want to sit in the first row!
ETErNAL SECUrITY
All Baptists, except the Free-Willys, believe in eter-
nal security. "Once saved, always saved," is a pop-
ular saying among Baptists. As their name implies,
Free-Will Baptists believe that a person has a
choice, a free-will, and can fall away and lose his
salvation if he turns away from God.
BAPTISM
All Baptists believe in full-immersion (actually sub-
mersion which means going completely under the
water) baptism, after a person has reached the age
of understanding, confessed their sins, and made a
public confession of faith. Baptists call this “the be-
lievers’ baptism.” Because an infant is not able to
“believe and understand”, they are not baptized.
Many baptists families do “dedicate” their infants
during a short ceremony in front of the congrega-
tion. Baptists do not believe in confessing sins to a
priest and, just like prayer, it is between the believer
and God. Only Charismatic (faith-healing, speak-
ing-in-tongues) Baptists believe in a separate Spirit
baptism. The vast majority of Baptists do NOT be-
lieve in this and aren’t afraid to tell you so!
THE LOrD’S SUPPEr (COMMUNION)
All Baptists believe in The Lord's Supper (Commu-
nion, the bread and wine, except they use grape
juice, symbolic of the body and blood of Jesus) and
it is generally open to all professing Christians. If
you attend a Baptist church but aren’t a Baptist, it’s
still okay to take Communion with them. Some
Baptist churches also add foot-washing as a prac-
tice. Baptists do not believe that communion, bap-
tism or church attendance is required for salvation.
However, all three are a standard practice of all
Baptists.
The COmMISSIONer
WOrSHIP SErVICES
Most Baptist churches have a traditional form of
worship, which usually includes hymns, opening
prayer, choral music by a choir, soloist, or both, the
reading of Scripture, the collection of tithes and/or
offerings, a sermon, a closing prayer and an invita-
tion to come to the altar (podium and/or platform) to
receive Christ as your personal Savior (get saved).
MINISTrIES
Many Baptist churches have very organized out-
reach ministries such as weekly “soul winning”, in
which groups go out and evangelize the community.
Some churches have bus ministries where volun-
teers drive church buses and/or vans to surrounding
areas to bring people (mostly children) to the
church’s services. A few still practice open-air
“street preaching” in city parks or on street corners,
although this is rare. Like many other denomina-
tions, Baptist churches send out missionaries and
evangelists to other parts of the U.S. and to other
countries preaching the gospel. They often have
prison and nursing home ministries as well.
DENOMINATIONAL BrANCHES
The terms "Independent, Missionary, and Southern"
really don’t have much to do with doctrinal differ-
ences like the terms "Free-Will or Reformed" do.
They were established many years ago and founded
on differences of opinion in church governance,
missions direction and issues of slavery. Some-
times these terms are combined when naming a
church. It's possible to see a church sign that says
something like "Bethel Independent Missionary Bap-
tist Church." But some of the terms do not mix very
well. You shouldn’t see a church named Bethel Re-
formed Freewill Missionary Baptist Church unless
the church is thoroughly confused, which is defi-
nitely a possibility. Bless their hearts! The whole
"denominational" thing can be very confusing.
DOS AND DON’TS
Most Baptists tend to be conservative in their
lifestyles. A few Baptists do not listen to rock-n-roll
or other forms of modern music, allow dancing,
women to wear pants or have short hair, men to
have long hair or wear earrings, gambling, alcohol
or tobacco, sex before marriage, homosexuality, or
abortion. However, there is a growing trend in many
Baptist churches to incorporate more modern styles
of music and less harsh approaches to entertain-
ment and dress. To know exactly what a local
January 2011
church believes in or practices, it's best to give them
a call, check out their website, or ask the Pastor or
another church member.
There are at least 479 Baptist churches here in the
Tri-Cities. You can go to The Christian Community
Resource Guide website at www.tccrg.com and see
them all on one list or browse them city by city. You
will find a link to a website for those who have one.
Many of them have Facebook pages, as well. Go
check ‘em out and make some Baptist friends!
20 % of Americans, not just Christian
Americans, but ALL Americans, identify
themselves as Baptist.
Here are a few of the famous ones...
Preachers: Billy Graham, Dr. Martin King Luther, Jr.,
Jesse Jackson, and televangelists Adrian Rogers and
Charles Stanley, founder of In Touch Ministries
Presidents: Abraham Lincoln (raised Baptist),
Andrew Johnson, Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter, Bill
Clinton, and Al Gore
Businesspeople: J(ames) C(ash) Penney, depart-
ment store magnet, son of a Primitive Baptist lay minis-
ter; John D. Rockefeller, twentieth century oil tycoon;
S. Truett Cathy, billionaire founder of Chick-fil-A restau-
rants; Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay
Christian Resources (bookstores)
Entertainers: Johnny Cash, country music singer;
Jerry Clower, rural humorist, member of the Grand Ole
Opry, lay minister; Aretha Franklin, singer and daughter
of Baptist minister C.L. Franklin; Kevin Costner &
Chuck Norris, actors; Dan Whitney ("Larry the Cable
Guy"), son of a Baptist preacher, attended Baptist Uni-
versity of America
Writers and Authors: John Bunyan, author of Pil-
grim's Progress; John Grisham, bestselling author of
The Firm; Tim LaHaye, co-author of the bestselling Left
Behind series; and Beth Moore, evangelist, author,
teacher, and founder of Living Proof Ministries
Athletes: Reggie White, professional football defen-
sive end, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame;
Zach Johnson, professional golfer, winner of the 2007
Masters Tournament; Ryan Langerhans, outfielder for
the Seattle Mariners
Criminals: (don’t forget “once saved, always saved”)
Jesse James, an American outlaw, son of a Baptist
minister
Page 15
All About The Bible

w hAT I S
T he B IBLe ?

T
he Bible is actually a collection of 66 different books written by more than 40 different people over a
period of time about 1,400 to 1,800 years long. A wide variety of men in all kinds of positions and oc-
cupations wrote down what God inspired them to write regarding his relationship with man. Writers of
the Bible include men who were kings, princes, prophets, and preists as well as men who were shepherds,
fishermen, tentmakers, a tax collector, a doctor and even a former murderer of Christians. The Bible begins
with the creation of the heavens and the earth, plants and animals, and man and woman in the book of Gen-
esis and ends with the book of Revelation detailing the End Times and the Second Coming of Christ.

The Bible has two parts called the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word “testament” used to
mean “a covenant.” A covenant is a legal agreement between two parties. These testaments are God’s
covenants, his legal agreements, with mankind. The Bible tells us who God is, who we are, what he wants,
what we are to do, and what benefits and blessings he will give us in return, specifically, our salvation.
THE OLD TESTAMENT THE NEW TESTAMENT
Genesis Ecclesiastes Matthew 1 Timothy
Exodus Song of Songs Mark 2 Timothy
Leviticus Isaiah Luke Titus
Numbers Jeremiah John Philemon
Deuteronomy Lamentations Acts Hebrews
Joshua Ezekiel Romans James
Judges Daniel 1 Corinthians 1 Peter
Ruth Hosea 2 Corinthians 2 Peter
1 Samuel Joel Galatians 1 John
2 Samuel Amos Ephesians 2 John
1 Kings Obadiah Philippians 3 John
2 Kings Jonah Colossians Jude
1 Chronicles Micah 1 Thessalonians Revelation
2 Chronicles Nahum 2 Thessalonians
Ezra Habakkuk
Nehemiah Zephaniah 39 Old Testament books + 27 New Testament books
Esther Haggai
Job Zechariah
= 66 Books of the Holy Bible
Psalms Malachi
Proverbs The Greek word τὰ βιβλία ta biblia means "the books"
Page 16 The COmMISSIONer
 How To Find A Scripture in the Bible  Cut & Keep Monthly Bookmarker
The Bible is divided into two parts: The Old Testa- One-Year Bible reading Plan
ment comes first because it was written before
Christ was born and it is followed by the New Testa-
ment which was written after the birth of Christ. The t
JANUArY
Genesis 1:1-2:25 2 Genesis 3:1-4:26
Matthew 1:1-2:12 Matthew 2:13-3:6
400 years in between are referred to as “the silent Psalm 1:1-6 Psalm 2:1-12
years.” Like all other books, the Bible has a table of Proverbs 1:1-6 Proverbs 1:7-9

contents at the front. It gives gives you a list of all of P Genesis 5:1-7:24
Matthew 3:7-4:11
r Genesis 8:1-10:32
Matthew 4:12-25
the books in each of the testaments and the page Psalm 3:1-8 Psalm 4:1-8
Proverbs 1:10-19 Proverbs 1:20-23
number where they begin.
L Genesis 11:1-13:4 S Genesis 13:5-15:21
Matthew 5:1-26 Matthew 5:27-48
Psalm 5:1-12 Psalm 6:1-10
Books, Chapters and Verses Proverbs 1:24-26 Proverbs 1:29-33
Each book of the Bible has been divided and organ- G Genesis 16:1-18:15 F Genesis 18:16-19:38
ized into chapters and verses. It wasn’t written that Matthew 6:1-24
Psalm 7:1-17
Matthew 6:25-7:14
Psalm 8:1-9
way but it was done later so that it would be easier Proverbs 2:1-5 Proverbs 2:6-15

to read, study and find particular topics or teachings. I Genesis 20:1-22:24  10 Genesis 23:1-24:51
Matthew 7:15-29 Matthew 8:1-17
When you see or hear of a scripture such as Ro- Psalm 9:1-12 Psalm 9:13-20
Proverbs 2:16-22 Proverbs 3:1-6
mans 10:9, the first thing it tells you is the book,
which is Romans, next, it tells you the chapter,  tt Genesis 24:52-26:16  t q Genesis 26:17-27:46
Matthew 8:18-34 Matthew 9:1-17
which is chapter 10, and last, it tells you the verse, Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 3:7-8
Psalm 10:16-18
Proverbs 3:9-10
which is verse 9. If you want to find this scripture
tP Genesis 28:1-29:35  t r Genesis 30:1-31:16
and don’t know where it’s at, then you go to the Matthew 9:18-38 Matthew 10:1-23
Psalm 11:1-7 Psalm 12:1-8
table of contents in the front of the Bible, find Ro- Proverbs 3:11-12 Proverbs 3:13-15
mans under New Testament, find the page number tL Genesis 31:17-32:12  t S Genesis 32:13-34:31
Matthew 10:24-11:6 Matthew 11:7-30
and turn to where Romans begins. Next, you turn to Psalm 13:1-6 Psalm 14:1-7
the chapter, which is chapter 10, then you can find Proverbs 3:16-18 Proverbs 3:19-20

the specific verse, which is verse 9. Now you can  t G Genesis 35:1-36:43  t F Genesis 37:1-38:30
Matthew 12:1-21 Matthew 12:22-45
find, read, and study exactly what you’ve been lead Psalm 15:1-5 Psalm 16:1-11
Proverbs 3:21-26 Proverbs 3:27-32
to. Now you know! It’s just that easy!
tI Genesis 39:1-41:16  qc Genesis 41:17-42:17

The Bible is the

Matthew 12:46-13:23 Matthew 13:24-46
Psalm 17:1-15 Psalm 18:1-15
Proverbs 3:33-35 Proverbs 1:1-6

 qt Genesis 42:18-43:34  qq Genesis 44:1-45:28

#1 Bestseller
Matthew 13:47-14:12 Matthew 14:13-36
Psalm 18:16-36 Psalm 18:37-50
Proverbs 4:7-10 Proverbs 4:11-13

 qP Genesis 46:1-47:31  qr Genesis 48:1-49:33

Matthew 15:1-28 Matthew 15:29-16:12

of all time!
Psalm 19:1-14 Psalm 20:1-9
Proverbs 4:14-19 Proverbs 4:20-27

 qL Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10  qS Exodus 2:11-3:22

Matthew 16:13-17:9 Matthew 17:10-27
Psalm 21:1-13 Psalm 22:1-18
If you don’t have a Bible of your own, Proverbs 5:1-6 Proverbs 5:7-14

please let us know and we will help you find one!  qG Exodus 4:1-5:21  qF Exodus 5:22-7:25
Matthew 18:1-20 Matthew 18:21-19:12
Psalm 22:19-31 Psalm 23:1-6
Proverbs 5:15-21 Proverbs 5:22-23
The Christian Community Resource Guide
 qI Exodus 8:1-9:35  Pc Exodus 10:1-12:13
P.O. Box 1073 Matthew 19:13-30 Matthew 20:1-28
Psalm 24:1-10 Psalm 25:1-15
Milligan College, TN 37682 Proverbs 6:1-5 Proverbs 6:6-11
(423) 202-7273  Pt  Exodus 12:14-13:16
(423) 202-3256 fax Matthew 20:29-21:22
Psalm 25:16-22
editor@tccrg.com Proverbs 6:12-15

www.tccrg.com
January 2011 Page 17
Back In Bible Times
D IeTARY D o ’ S
& D oN ’ TS
FRom T he D IvINe
For thousands of years,
God has given His dietary advice!
r
ight away, from the very beginning, God said
“I give you every seed-bearing plant on the
face of the whole earth and every tree that
has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”
Genesis 1:29. God created a garden, full of all
kinds of vegetation including seed-bearing and fruit-
bearing trees. He put man in the garden to take
care of it and told him it was his to eat from. Not a
bad deal, work the garden then eat the fruit of your
labor. But now comes the first “advice” that God
gives to man regarding what to eat and what not to
eat. God had also planted two special trees among
all the others. God told Adam that he could eat from
all of the trees except one. He had His reasons. He
told him NOT to eat from it or else he would die!
Here we are thousands of years later, and we’re still
eating things we really shouldn’t eat. Many people
die of diseases and conditions related to what they
eat and/or how much of it they eat. Not to mention
the fact that we no longer have to do our own gar-
dening to put dinner on the table. We get up off the
couch, drive to the store, push a rolling buggy, and
usually load up on whatever looks good. Eve had
the same problem. She “saw that the fruit of the
tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye” so
“she took some and ate it. She also gave some to
her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” (Gen-
esis 3:6). The rest is history! Our first sin as
mankind was eating something we shouldn’t have
eaten.
God gave specific dietary instructions along with
some food safety & sanitation rules to His special
people, the Isrealites, in Leviticus 11. He goes over
it again in Dueteronomy 14 where He also says ”for
Page 18
you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of
all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has
chosen you to be his treasured possession.” He
wanted them to be the healthiest of all people. He
loved them that much!
Don’t be jealous or say “well, that was for them, it’s
not for me” because God loves you just as much as
He did them and “God does not show favoritism”
(Acts 10:34) and the Bible says we “share equally in
the riches inherited by God's children” (Ephesians
3:6). God cares for everyone’s health. Here are
some examples of “divine” dietary advice:
Luke 12:22-23, 29 Then Jesus said to his disciples:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat; or about your body, what you will
wear. Life is more than food, and the body more
than clothes...do not set your heart on what you will
eat or drink.
Proverbs 25:16 NLT “Don't eat too much, or it will
make you sick!”
I Corinthians 8:8 NLT “It's true that we can't win
God's approval by what we eat. We don't lose any-
thing if we don't eat it, and we don't gain anything if
we do.” (Well, we do lose or gain weight!)
“So then, if it is a question of food or drink, or any
other thing, whatever you do, do all to the glory of
God” 1 Corinthians 10:31 Bible in Basic English
“Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy
wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy
works.” Ecclesiastes 9:7 King James Bible
The COmMISSIONer
 L oCAL C hRISTIAN B uSINeSSeS
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January 2011 Page 19
Hiz Kidz Bible Story
I n T he B egInnIng
g od C reaTed ...
genesis Chapter 1
new International Version Bible
n the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
I Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was
over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was
hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be
light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good,
and he separated the light from the darkness. God called
the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And
there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the wa-
ters to separate water from water.” So God made the ex-
panse (the sky) and separated the water under the
expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called
the expanse “sky.” And there was evening, and there was
morning—the second day.
And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to
one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God
called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he
called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God
said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants
and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, ac-
cording to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land
produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to
their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according
to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was
evening, and there was morning—the third day.
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky
to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as
signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be
lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.”
And it was so. God made two great lights (the sun and
moon)—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser
light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set
them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to
govern the day and the night, and to separate light from
darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was
evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures,
and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the
Page 20
sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and
every living and moving thing with which the water teems,
according to their kinds, and every winged bird according
to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them
and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the
water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.”
And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth
day.
And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures ac-
cording to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along
the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.”
And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their
kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the
creatures that move along the ground according to their
kinds. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let
us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them
rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over
the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures
that move along the ground.” So God created man in his
own image, in the image of God he created him; male and
female he created them. God blessed them and said to
them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth
and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of
the air and over every living creature that moves on the
ground.” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing
plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has
fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all
the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all
the creatures that move on the ground—everything that
has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for
food.” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it
was very good. And there was evening, and there was
morning—the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their
vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work
he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all
his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it
holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating
that he had done.
The COmMISSIONer
 ACrOSS
Creation Crossword 1 Be fruitful, and _________, and replenish the earth, and
subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and
over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that
1 2 moveth upon the earth.

3 In the _________ God created the heaven and the earth.

6 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold,
3 4 5 it was very _____.

8 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of

the _______,

6 7 11 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he

had made; and he _______ on the seventh day from all his
work which he had made.

8 9
DOWN
2 And God said, Let there be _____: and there was _____.
10
4 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule
the day, and the lesser light to rule the _______:

5 And ____ called the light Day, and the darkness he called
Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

7 And God said, Let us make man in ____ image,

8 God created ______ birds on the same day as He cre-

11 ated great creatures of the sea.

9 And God called the dry land ______;

10 And the____ of God moved upon the face of the waters.

In Sunday School, the children were learning about how God created everything, includ-
ing people. One little boy was especially interested in the part where God created Eve out
of Adam's rib. Later that week, his mother saw him lying on the sofa, looking ill. "What's
the matter?" she asked. "I have a pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife."

Creation Wordsearch U SGOODN I NNGGA T S

A L EMS I I ROOE NMHR
BEGINNING OUR HESA THGN I T I I UNE
DAY RESTED HRN I SGHDNDEN L UT
DOMINION SEASONS E N U V OO T U I E AN T I A
EARTH SEVENTH M O H G L I N N M T R I I MW
FRUITFUL SPIRIT OUT T I ARSOS TGPHF
GOD WATERS ORNH I I S FDEHE L I V
GOOD WHALES H T E T I GODRRU B Y H S
HEAVEN DN V H S L MUNUMA NH P
LIGHT U I E I N I AOE I I AFO I
MAN OF SNNGNRDRT TMER
MULTIPLY LOSG I HNATUUSFP I
NIGHT Crossword & Wordsearch G N R S A T Y S E L A HWU T
compliments of
www.kidsclubs4jesus.com RT SHGHTHEAVENT L
January 2011 Page 21
Churchy Chatter
B APTISm
w oRDS
Here are some definitions to words you may
hear at church on the subject of baptism
affussion - a mode (method) of baptism where
water is poured on the head. You will get a little wet!
aspergillum (aspergil) - a liturgical implement used
to sprinkle holy water on a person being baptized. It
can be a brush or a perforated ball at the end of a
short handle that is dipped in the water and shaken.
aspersion - a mode (method) of baptism where
water is sprinkled on the face. You will barely get wet!
baptism - The immersion (or in some denomina-
tions, dipping, pouring or sprinkling) of a believer in
water, symbolizing the complete renewal and
change in the believer’s life and testifying to the
death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the
way of salvation.
baptism of the Holy Spirit - some denominations
believe that if someone “speaks in tongues” that it is
the initial evidence of being baptized by the Holy
Spirit.
baptism certificate - almost all churches and/or de-
nominations will give you a certificate to recognize
your baptism. You may be asked to go up in front of
the congregation to receive it and be presented to
the church. Usually, everyone will clap to welcome
you into the family and share in your joy.
baptismal font - an article of church furniture or a
fixture used for non-immersion baptisms. The sim-
plest of these fonts has a pedestal with a holder for
a basin of water, usually less than 2 liters, often
placed at or near the entrance, between the aisles.
Page 22
baptismal gown - most churches provide a white
gown to wear during immersion or submersion bap-
tisms where your clothes will get wet so there is no
modesty issues to worry about and you won’t have
to bring extra clothes.
baptism invitations - some people send out invita-
tions to friends and family to come to their church to
witness the baptism.
Baptist - To learn what it means to be a Baptist, see
our article on pages 14-15.
immersion - a mode (method) of baptism where the
water completely covers the body, usually but not al-
ways the case. It can also refer to partial coverage.
You might get all wet!
liturgical - customary public worship done by a spe-
cific religious group, according to its particular tradi-
tions, rituals, or rites. It means doing the same thing
the same way, every time, usually very formal and
full of ceremony.
liturgy of baptism - in some denominations, there
are certain, very specific rituals and traditions that
are followed very carefully that dictate which day
one can be baptized, when during the service it can
be performed, by whom, with what equipment, cloth-
ing, decorations, who is to speak, what to say, and
when to say it.
submersion - a mode (method) of baptism where
the whole body is completely submerged under the
water. You will get completely wet!
The COmMISSIONer
 L oCAL C hRISTIAN S ChooLS
There are over 100 local Christian schools listed on The Christian Community Resource Guide!
www.tccrg.com

emmanuel School of Religion

- A Graduate Seminary -

Where is your faith taking you?

Maybe to Emmanuel — a nationally accredited graduate seminary supported by the Christian
Churches and Churches of Christ. Emmanuel offers rigorous academic programs geared to
the everyday practice of ministry, balanced with the development of devotion through the ex-
ercise of spiritual disciplines.

Since 1965, Emmanuel students and graduates — people like yourself — have served around
the world preaching, teaching, and counseling. They serve as preachers, missionaries, cam-
pus ministers, college professors, and administrators. Many are specialists in Bible transla-
tion, Old Testament, New Testament, Christian doctrine, and church history.

One Walker Drive

Johnson City, TN 37601
(423) 926-1186
www.esr.edu

January 2011 Page 23

Holidays, Holy Days & Happy Days

J ANuARY
2011
A calendar of days celebrated by
local Christians and churches

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven 1
New Year’s
Ecclesiastes 3:1 Day

2 3 4 5 6 7 8
last few days of Christmastide Epiphany

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22
Martin Luther
King, Jr.

23 24 25 26 27 28 29
Tu B'Shevat
30 31
Christmastide or the Twelve Days of Christmas - A twelve-day festival, starting on December 25, and
ending on January 5. Lutheran, United Methodist and United Church of Christ

Epiphany - A Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as
represented by the Magi or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ, a traditional
day for performing Baptisms. Lutheran, United Methodist and United Church of Christ

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) - A Baptist minister who became one of the
most important civil rights activists, helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, winner of
Nobel Peace Prize

Tu B'Shevat - The "new year" for calculating the age of trees. Customs: eating fruit or the Seven Species;
planting trees (or paying for planting them).
Page 24 The COmMISSIONer
 L oCAL C hRISTIAN e veNTS
There are over 100 local Christian schools listed on The Christian Community Resource Guide!
www.tccrg.com

Coming to... Weigh & Pray

Room 204

Meets every Monday

CenterPointe 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm
Fellowship Church Celebration Church
1864 Holston Drive Blountville, Tennessee
Bristol, TN
423-844-0574 Kathy Barnett 423.737.7832
kathy@allanbarnett.com

Sunday, January 30th Tables/chairs for 12 people

11 am & 6 pm
A free four-week program titled
“Healthy Living — God’s Way”
will be offered at
Living Word Church of God
146 Cherry Street
Gray, Tennessee

Begins Tuesday, February 1st at 6:30 p.m.

Jamey Ragle and continues every Tuesday until Feb. 22

“The Original Comegelist” Barbara Desso

Life Building Ministries sharing the
message of hope in Jesus Christ
For over three decades Jamey ragle has inspired
audiences in small country churches and some
of the largest arenas across America.
Jamey shares from his heart how we can take the
journey from brokenness to wholeness and breathe
in new joy. Jamey will inspire the listener to recognize
the joy and freedom that is only experienced
through a genuine God Encounter.
(master gardener, author, playwright and contributing
columnist for Johnson City “Senior Lifestyles”)
The program will focus on a healthier lifestyle through
growing more of our own food, seed saving, reading
labels, abstinence from pesticides/chemicals/fast foods,
learning about home (herbal) remedies, getting back
to the basics as we take back our health.
There will be a sampling of Mediterranean foods.
Registration is required

www.cpfonline.us Living Word Church Of God (423) 948-9211

Barbara Desso (423) 913-2468
healthyliving@centurylink.net
www.jameyragle.com

January 2011 Page 25

Tri-Cities’ Testimonies
h eAveNLY
h eALTh &
h eALINg
The LORD sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.
Psalm 41:3 ESV
Victory in Jesus
“12 years ago this March, my dad had a massive heart attack.
The doctors told us he wouldn't last the flight to the hospital.
When we got there, he was still with us. The doctors told us he
wouldn't last the night, morning came and he was with us. My
mother was devastated, my brothers and I were broken, but we
kept asking God to do the impossible. Two whole weeks later,
he was still with us. However, he was in CCU. Then 5,000 peo-
ple prayed for my father and family at a youth evengalism con-
ference. God gave us the strength to endure. I prayed and
asked God to give me a verse, to show me something. He did!
It was Jeremiah 32:27, ‘Behold I Am the Lord, the God of all
flesh; is there anything too hard for me?’ I claimed victory! God
was going to heal my dad. That night at the hospital, I heard my
mom pray for her sons and for her husband that she wasn't
ready to give up, but that if God was ready that He would give
us grace. Three weeks later, April 7th, my dad's birthday, our
Great God called my dad to heaven with his whole family by his
side singing, "Victory in Jesus."
When man can't help the healing of our fleshly body,
God gives a glorified body. When your family can't take you
home, God has prepared a heavenly home, only He can get you
there. When a family's heart has broken, Jesus, who not only
can heal the outside, can heal a broken heart.
Within 3 weeks, my whole family went from begging
God not to take him, to thanking God for where he was going”.
Keith Osborne
rogersville
raisin’ for Some Praisin’
“This is just a little thing compared to so many awesome ones,
but just yesterday my shoulder was in bad shape. I drive a
stick shift VW and I could hardly change gears. During our Fit-
ness Focus (a workout session) they prayed for me and I felt
some relief. About an hour later a couple came by to praise
and pray. In the middle of praise, James laid hands on my
shoulder and within minutes the pain was gone and I could
raise my arm straight up whereas just a few minutes earlier I
couldn't get it as far as my chest. Praise the Lord!”
Kathy Christian
Kingsport
Page 26
Migraine Miracle
“I had to have sinus surgery a few years ago. I had a total
blockage in my head which they thought was causing my mi-
graine attacks. After the surgery and for 3 years later, the
pressure continued building in my head and I was told then
that I would have to have a hole drilled and a drainage tube
put in to drain the infection. I have long hair that I have always
prayed to never cut. I went before the church and had our
church gather and pray for me. What they didnt know is that I
was in the hospital 2 days before. I felt the Spirit of the Lord
come all over me. I felt as though I was being lifted up and
being twirled slowly, even though I was still on the ground. I
cried, prayed, and asked God to heal me of whatever was af-
fecting me. That night, my migraine ended. From that day
until now, I have NO swelling in my head. My sinus are com-
pletely clear and there are no signs of infection! I give God all
the glory! He is an absolute loving, compassionate, and
HEALING God! By FAITH, I believe, God is my only physi-
cian!”
Angel Able
Johnson City
“I have been blind, deaf and paralyzed and by the grace of God,
I am well!” Donna renfro
Jonesborough
“My mother had a massive stroke at age 47, when I was 27.
We hadn’t seen each other in a long time and were just begin-
ning to spend some time together. It really meant a lot to me
to have her back in my life. I took a trip up to Indiana to see
her and she had her stroke while I was there in town. Thank
God I was there and able to get her to the hospital. She was
in the hospital for a month! They told me she probably wasn’t
going to make it. I prayed for her and asked about 5 different
churches to put her on their prayer list. Not only did my
mother make it, but I was able to bring her home to Tennessee
with me! And, 19 years later, she’s still here and a blessing to
my life. I now have 2 children of my own and they love going
to Mamaw’s to spend the night and be spoiled!”
Karla Bowman-Bur
Johnson City
The COmMISSIONer
 ADveRTISeRS INDex The Christian Community
Page Resource Guide
(an online directory of local Christian resources)
Anytime Fitness - Kingsport . . . . . . . . . 2 FrEE
S
Barbara Desso. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 LISTING
1,200+ local churches listed
Celebration Church - Weigh/Pray. . . . . 2 90+ local ministries
100+ local Christian businesses
CenterPoint Fellowship Church. . . . . . 2
50+ local Christian schools
Discover Life Church. . . . . . . . . . . 2 Monthly Christian events calendar
East Tennessee Children’s Home. . . . 2 Local Christian entertainers & entertainment
Emmanuel College. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Local Christian sports, fitness & wellness
Erwin Church of God. . . . . . . . . 2 Local Christian TV, radio and other media
Fun Expedition. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Christian travel & tourism
Christian classified ads & announcements
Grace Bible Church. . . . . . . . . . . 2
Tri-Cities’ Testimonies
Hallelujah Acres. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Bible jokes, games & trivia
Hope Haven Ministries. . . . . . . . . . 2 AFFOrD
AB
WEB A LE
Jamey Ragle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
www.tccrg.com
DS

Living Word Church of God. . . . . . . . 2

River of Praise Assembly of God. . . . . 2
St. John’s Episcopal Church. . . . . . . . 2

ADDRESS______________________________________________________
NAME_________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

PHONE__________________EMAIL_________________________________

ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS MY SAVIOR (DATE:_______________________)

The Fire Escape. . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
VISITOrS INFOrMATION CArD
The Health Barn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
PLEASE PLACE THIS CARD IN THE OFFERING BASKET OF THE CHURCH YOU VISIT

Win Win Solutions - iZigg. . . . . . . . . . . 2

All of our advertisers are partners

in our co-mission of reaching &
Teaching Our Community For Christ in
fulfillment of The Great Commission
commanded by Jesus Christ himself.
HIS IS MY FIRST TIME VISITING YOUR CHURCH
Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME

baptizing them in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world. Amen.

Thank You!
T
I
I

January 2011 Page 27

 You are Invited...
to Come & Worship with Us!

Warm & Friendly

Casual & Contemporary

Schedule of Services More great reasons to visit...

Sunday Morning. . . . . . . . . . .9:00 am monthly women's meeting
men's group
Children’s Church. . . .after Praise & Worship nursing home ministry
prayer meetings
Wednesday Bible Study. . . . . . 7:00 pm praise and worship night
4th Friday Fun, Food and Fellowship!
y
Nurser
ble!
Availa Pastor Scott & Plus we are active in local ministries and
Jennifer Hillman worldwide missions!

8250 E. Andrew Johnson Hwy | Chuckey | (423) 972-6951