Text Box:   Text Box: First Baptist Church EDITION OF The Baptist Record Church Offices: 20144 Pineville Road, Suite B Mailing Address: P. O. Box 338 Long Beach, MS 39560 228-864-2584, Website: www.fbclb.com Text Box: January 31, 2008 Text Box:   OUR GOD REIGNS! Text Box: Total Annual Budget             $835,869.00 Budget to Date Needed          $268,108.87 Budget Received to Date       $274,305.80     January 2008 Budget as of 1/31/08                   $  63,084.00 Budget Rec. as of 1/27/08          $  57,761.23   His Church Rising Totals           $584,174.23

Text Box: Hey Youth,    Well, I hope our outreach went well on Sunday. I know it may seem to some of you that it is a waste of time, but we cannot just give up. You guys have a good thing going with your youth group and it will only get better when we move into our new church. Keep up the good work and continue to be Christ-like to those around you. Your town and your school needs good youth that can lead in a positive way.    Our workday was a partial success. I know it was rainy and everything, but we were inside and all was well. We were able to get approximately 60-70 crosses ready for painting. Some of the adults took home a few more to complete the ones we didn’t finish. We should be ready to paint on February 16th.     We’ve got a huge party this Sunday. That’s right! We will be having a Super Party. A “Super Bowl” party at my house Sunday at 4:30. Remember to invite a friend. We will be having a super fan contest. Come dressed as the “FAN” of your favorite team and win a prize. It will be a lot of fun.    “Winter Jam” is coming up on February 9th. We will meet at the annex at 1:00 pm and we should be returning by about midnight. The cost to get in is $10. There is no pre-payment or pre-registration, but we will have a sign-up sheet so we can get an idea of numbers. You can sign up at my house or at Sunday school.    You guys have a great weekend.                                   Scott

Text Box: Choir Schedules: The Youth and Worship Choirs will not meet on Feb. 3, due to the Super Bowl Party, and school holidays. Our regular schedule will resume on Feb. 10 – Thanks.   The LBHS Concert Choir under the direction of our own Joel Dunlap will be singing in our worship service on Feb. 24. I look forward to their sharing with us.   The Coast-Wide Choir Festival is coming, Thursday, Feb. 28, 7:00 pm, at First Baptist in Pascagoula. I know it’s a long way to Pascagoula, but we surely would appreciate your support, and I know you will be blessed! Don’t miss this great evening of music, worship and praise.   HeartSong Youth Music Camp is “ON” again for 2008! Dates are June 23-27, on the campus of William Carey University in Hattiesburg. More information will be available at Youth Choir on Feb. 10.

Text Box: Heart to Heart   Six more months.  If all continues as anticipated, we will move into our new church house within six months.  That’s right.  July 17th is the anticipated completion date for our new campus.  God has brought us a long way through your personal commitments to sacrificial giving.  Let me commend you for a few ways in which you have given significantly.    You have given encouragement and hope to so many individuals and families going through a life crisis.  By walking alongside them, calling them, listening to their story, and reaching out to them, you have allowed God to bring hope and encouragement to so many people.  You continue to reach out to others and because you are willing to do this, God is able to do great and mighty things in the heart and life of individuals and families.    You have given time and service that has enabled us to minister effectively in and to our community.  Think of the time required to set up for worship services and Sunday School each Sunday morning.  Understand that the stage and gym floor covering are done on Saturday evenings.  Then everything is taken down, packed up, stowed away and readied for the next weekend when all is repeated.  For 2-1/2 years (to be exact, 29 months) a large number of you have sacrificed many hours to help set up for Sunday morning services, not to mention all the hours invested in committee work and other time consuming work to move us forward in our rebuild.    You have given cooperation.  The spirit of cooperation and unity is so strong and clearly demonstrates a high level of spiritual maturity.    You have given money.  The financial commitment to our general ministry budget and to our His Church Rising rebuild needs can only be described as very generous—sacrificial.     You are to be commended for your personal commitment to sacrificial giving.   See you when I return to town! Bro. LaRue

Text Box: Check-out our Church Website for recent pictures, including the Jan. 12 Work Day, and the Jan. 13 Slab Signing, and much more… www.fbclb.com

Text Box: Brenda’s Notes . . .                  I want to thank all of you that are really reaching out to others.  The youth got off to a great start this week with sending out cards to all that were not in attendance.  Adults:  Don’t let them show you up.  I had an email from a lady this week whose family has been visiting for a couple of weeks.  Here is what she said: “Just last Sunday after church, several folks either said hello, simply smiled at us, or engaged in some conversation. I wish you would share with the church just how much this means to visitors, especially those looking for a church family as we are. Thank you to all who are making us feel welcome.”                  Church, you never know how much a simple hello or a smile means to some people.  Just think what a handshake or a short conversation might do.  If you are going out to lunch after church, invite them to go along.  Please reach out and get to know the people sitting around you at church.  They just might need a small bit of encouragement that day.  Let’s be the hands, mouth, and heart of God to this community.                  I need another person to step up to be a hospital visitor one day a month.  If you are interested, please give me a call.                  I want to thank the 55+ Planning Team for providing us with a wonderful January Bible Study.  I hope that you were able to get in some of the day or night meetings.  If not, please make plans next year to be involved.  See you Sunday.     Stepping Up A Bible Study by Beth Moore   Begins on Feb. 12th Church Annex 10 a.m. or 6:30 p.m.   Cost: $10.00.  It is a 7-week study led by Jamie Bridger.  Please sign up on the bulletin tab or call the church office.  Deadline for sign up is Feb. 10.