Center Baptist Church Christ is the center of all we do. Col 1:18

Fall 2004: From The Corner

Greetings from Center Church! It is already October and this year is quickly moving on. Before I go much farther in this short note I want to read the following passage.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Over the last several weeks this area has seen almost no rain. The pastures that once were green are brown. The yards that were being mowed every week have stopped growing. It’s amazing how quickly a green pasture can turn into a brown crunchy field with little nutritional value. Thinking about that makes me glad that God is my Shepherd. Life does not always go how we like it and sometimes we find ourselves in a ‘season of drought.’ The circumstances of living have sapped out much, if not all of the joy we once experienced. These times in our lives are not always long, and many times we get though them without any trouble, but once in a while these droughts hit very very hard. The point I want to make is simple. When you are facing a drought in your life stay with the shepherd and His people. God is our shepherd and His people are sometimes His greatest avenue of hope.

Pastor Mitch Fischer

---

Youth

After a month of being at Center, Jenny and I would like to say thanks for welcoming us into the church family. We are very excited about the years to come. We are getting to know your teenagers; they are lively and an awesome bunch of students.

We will be taking them on a Truth Retreat October 15-17th. Please remember us in your prayers over that weekend. Thank you for your support and supplies for this trip.

A couple of upcoming events to look for: Family Christmas Party, Disciple Now’ 05, and THEE Camp’ 05. The Family Christmas Party will be held in early December…more details to come. Disciple Now’ 05 will be in February and is going to be rockin’. THEE Camp’ 05 is in June. I know this seems a long way off, but Camp is going to cost around $200. We say this to help your budget heading into the next summer. We will have camp fundraisers, but don’t except this to cover the total cost.

On a personal note I would like to thank you for your prayers for my mom following my stepfather’s death. Please continue to pray for her and the family.

God Bless, Ryan and Jenny

---

Women on Missions

The goal of W.M.U. is to promote missions first in our church and community and than throughout our county, state, nation and into all the world as we were instructed to do by our Lord Jesus Christ in Acts 1:8:8.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (KJV)

The month of September we brought food for Greene County Grand Oaks Mission and promoted Missouri State Mission Offering. Watch for information on our “Shoebox ministry” projects for Oct. & Nov Mission project.

W.M.U meets the first Thursday of every month at 10:30 A.M. in the church fellowship hall. Bible study and business meeting in the morning, potluck lunch followed by mission study in the afternoon. We invite all our ladies to come and study and pray with us.

Ronna Hubbard

---

Sunday School

The new Sunday School year started the first Sunday in September. I would like to thank each teacher and those who are substitute teachers for being willing to do what the Lord has called you to do.

We have classes for all ages and if you have friends or neighbors that do not presently attend Church, please invite them to come and be a part of Center Church. We have something in the planning for Sunday School such as a high attendance Sunday, and some teacher get togethers. We will keep everyone informed of these upcoming events.
Let’s all work together and watch our Sunday School grow by asking friends and neighbors to come to Church with us. If you remember, our Pastor ask each of us to invite 2 or 3 each Sunday to come with us.

Thanks John Rohlman

---

Royal Ambassadors

The first RA meeting was held on 09/01/04 and we opened with a pizza party! There were five in attendance. We had the first outing on Oct. 1-2, an overnight fishing trip on Table Rock Lake. Hopefully in December we will be able to take a drive through the Christmas Light display.

We meet on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 – except on business meeting nights. Grades 1-6 are eligible. We encourage all Parents and Grandparents to let their families know about this opportunity for the boys to participate in fun and games and to learn more about Christ.

We are concentrating on teaching the boys the books of The New Testament. We’ve started taking an offering and so far we have $7.42. We hope to make a difference in each boy’s life by teaching them to support missions in our church and other mission projects.

We appreciate this opportunity to work with these boys- God has great plans for them and we Thank God for letting us help plant good seeds.

Don

---

Men's Prayer Breakfast

We would like to invite all the men of the church to come and fellowship with us on the Third Saturday of every month at 8:00 am.

Andy Grimes

---

Library News

Fall is here, and with it comes a little more time to sit down with a good book. Don’t forget to stop by the library on your way to Sunday School or after Worship. We would be happy to help you find a good book or two. Or maybe you would like to check out a good video to enjoy with your family. We have 60 new video titles and about 30 new book titles for you to choose from.

October is inventory month. We have several books that have not found their way back to the library. We understand how easy it is to forget to return a book. There are no fines or penalties in our library. We only ask that you take a few minutes to check your bookshelf at home for any books that need to be returned so that someone else can enjoy them. Above all, please use your Library!

Your librarians Jim & Chris Cathey

---

Girls in Action

We’re excited about this year. We have many plans for the girls. They have already learned so much.

In October we are planning on going to Spooktacular. In November we are taking up a food basket to the Ozark Food Harvest, and in December we will help sponsor a family for Christmas.

This year we have a new system of points for the girls. This system can be viewed on the GA bulletin board downstairs. This year the girls are required to memorize verses, books of the Bible, and know what a missionary does. We will also be taking the girls on fun trips similar to the Putt-Putt trip in September.

Overall, it’s going to be an exciting year! Any questions, contact Leslie Tate or Jessica Doran.

Thanks, Leslie & Jessica

---

Choir

Greetings and Salutations!

As the fall season begins, the activity increases in the music department. We are beginning practice for our Christmas programs, “His Very Own Star.” Any and all are invited to join us for choir practice at 5:30 on Sunday evening. We are also doing a children’s program, “From Our Herd to Your Herd.” If you’re interested in volunteering to help with either of these programs please let us know.

During this time of preparation, practice and performance we are going to strive to glorify God in what we say and sing. As you and your family join in on all the activity this time of year brings please remember to “Give Thanks”... for our church family, our wonderful community, and our God. Have a great autumn season and remember to enjoy the creation God has given us.

In Christ, Nathan and Joanna

Summer 2004: From the Corner

Welcome to Summer!

Greetings from Center Church and I hope this newsletter finds you doing great. If I had one word to say about the summer of 2004 it would be busy. It has been a season of ministry opportunities and travel. First of all I was privileged to take the youth to Chicago June 5-11 for a mission trip. There were a total of 15 who went on the trip, 11 of which were youth from our church. Our youth spent many hours preparing for this trip, going over songs, Bible stories, learning the plan of salvation and how to share it, doing fundraisers to help with the cost and many other things. Our ministry destination was The Old St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in the west side of Chicago. It is an inner-city church located in a very depressed area. The youth did Vacation Bible School from Monday thru Thursday as well as attending the Sunday and Wednesday services. Along with the ministry of the Word, they also used their backs cleaning, painting and generally helping the church building look and little better. Before I move to the next thought I want to thank the Dennis, Debbie and Gina Whitehead for going as adult sponsors. It would be impossible for me to list all they did, but to put it simply, they were, and are, a true gift from God. Only in heaven will we see the fruit of this family’s labor and sacrifice for this trip and this youth group.

On a more personal note I want to say how much I appreciate the week of vacation our family had following the mission trip. We were able to see a lot of the country between Missouri and Virginia, but more importantly we were able to rest and refresh. I say that to encourage you to take some time to rest and refresh. Looking at the life of Jesus one can see that He often would find a time and place to be alone. It’s easy for us to feel like we cannot let up or take time to rest, but the truth is that we can. I encourage you to find some time and a place to let God minister to you. It may be a vacation you have planned for many months, or simply an afternoon get-away, but the important thing is to plan to rest.

One last thought before I close this note: I want to thank you for the prayers and encouragement that I have received over the last five years. We have seen God fulfill the vision He had given us and we look forward to the many things He has planned for our future. To think of the next five years brings thoughts of excitement and wonder. I’m excited that God is only beginning what He wants to do and I wonder about the many blessings and trials we will face as we seek His will. It will truly be another exciting ride as we follow God’s leading.

Again, thanks for taking time to read this note and I pray God’s blessings on you and your family.

Pastor Mitch Fisher

---

Girls in Action

GA’s will not be meeting on Wednesday nights during the month of July. When school begins in August, we will be having GA meetings every Wednesday night, except for when there is a business meeting. This year we are planning several activities for the girls in first grade through sixth grade to participate in. The girls will be working on mission projects, learning about missionaries, and working on their own projects to earn badges. On specific occasions, we will send out letters to the parents of the GAer providing more information as it gets closer to the event. Leslie and I are so excited for this new year and can’t wait to get started. We will see you girls in August!!!!

Jessica Doran

---

Library News

Calling all readers! Summer is a busy outdoor time. Time for yard work, trips to the lake, making hay, and READING!

That’s right, READING! Contrary to all claims, curling up with a good book is still a good way to slow down and relax. So, as you come in to Sunday School or as you are leaving after Worship Service on Sunday, walk through the door at the northwest corner of the sanctuary and visit your Library. You will be pleasantly surprised. We have a variety of good books for your enjoyment. Everyone, from toddlers to seniors can find something to interest them. We have fiction, inspiration, poetry, history, and Bible helps. For those of you who have not read the Left Behind series, we have the complete set. Once you start you won’t be able to put it down! We just received more new issues of the Left Behind for Kids Series. We now have Volumes 1 through 36.

It’s easy as can be to start reading. Just come in, pick out a book, and your librarians, Jim and Chris Cathey will be glad to check it out to you.

Jim and Chris Cathey

---

Men's Prayer Breakfast

We met, ate and prayed. We would like to invite all the men of the church to come and fellowship with us on the Third Saturday of every month at 8:00 am.

Andy Grimes

---

Royal Ambassadors

The R.A.’s are now on summer break. We will restart our mission’s studies in August. We meet on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. and invite all boys’ grades 1 through 6 to join us in our studies, games, and activities. Have a great summer!

Eddie Mulbery

---

Sunday School

The nominating committee has been formed to start filling all the positions in our Church. There will be a need for teachers, etc. for the upcoming Church year that starts Sept. 1st. We will begin meeting and spend some time Praying and talking about the needs of our Church. We urge all of you to spend time in Prayer for us as a committee to be able to know God’s Will for our Church and to also Pray about what part of the new Sunday School year God would have you to do. There is a need for several people each year. We would like to have you as part of the work of this Church as we do what God has asked us to do as He tells us in the last verses of Matthew.

I also ask all of you to help us to reach out to the people in this area who at this time do not attend Church. I am sure that we all have friends or neighbors who do not attend. If you have names of some people and if you would bring that to either Mitch or myself we will get those names to the appropriate Sunday School class so we can visit those families and watch as God begins to do a special work in the lives of those families. If you have questions or concerns about Sunday School, please feel free to ask me and I will try to help.

Thank You John Rohlman

---

The Choir

Greetings and salutations!! Barbeques, Road Trips, and not so lazy days can only mean one thing – summer is here! The gardens are producing, flowers are blooming, and children are rampant in the street. VBS is quickly approaching, as are the relatives, and the heat is steadily increasing. I love summer. It seems I have more energy to get stuff done- kind of my “New Years resolution” six months late.

There are still choir seats available, get yours today. We are practicing, though numbers are low. Also, we are experimenting with ensembles. Please be patient as we try to figure out whom sounds best with whom.

Have a great summer and be expecting to see us (and Jaxon – our dog) if we smell the grill from down our way!

In Him, Nathan & Joanna

---

Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School will be held July 12 – 16 from 6 – 9 p.m. nightly. I invite all children ages 3 through 6th grade to join us as we “Race to Jesus” in the Far-Out Far East Rickshaw Rally. We will have an exciting week filled with Bible study, games, crafts, snacks, and even a few surprises. This is a tremendous outreach opportunity for our church and I encourage everyone to get involved.

Rally Official Dawn Mulbery

---

Women on Missions

In a previous newsletter we said the goal of W.M.U. is to promote missions first in our church and community and than throughout our county, state, nation and into all the world as we were instructed to do by our Lord Jesus Christ in Acts 1:8: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (KJV)

We have been able to put this in action this last year with our mission offerings and projects. We always support the missions of our church like donating our time, cobblers, and crafts for the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home festival in Sept. We gave a love offering and supported the different fundraisers for our Youth’s mission trip. We helped our local Ministerial Alliance’s “Operation Barnabas” Project by bringing food and buying presents for children in our community at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Several times throughout the year we sent love offerings to Baptist Children’s Home in Mt. Vernon including ones in memory of our former W.M.U. president of over forty years, Ruth Burton and in honor of our former pastor, “Buck ” Perryman on his birthday. We gave a love offering to Praise Keepers Prison Ministry after hearing about their work in Springfield from our guest speaker, Mary Adams. We had special emphasis on the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. In April we brought food for Grand Oaks, our Greene County Association mission, we are currently promoting the Jim Joslin Associational Missions Offering. The purpose of the offering is to encourage and fund mission’s efforts that are close to the heart of the Greene County Baptist Association churches. Again we are asking everyone to give “As the Lord Leads”.

W.M.U meets the first Thursday of every month at 10:30 A.M. in the church fellowship hall. We have our business meeting, prayer time, and Bible study in the morning, with a potluck lunch followed by mission study in the afternoon. We invite all our ladies to come and study and pray with us.

Ronna K. Hubbard

---

Youth

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Philippians 4:8

The youth have recently returned from Chicago where they ministered to the people of the Old St. Paul’s Baptist church and community through service projects and daily Bible school. Among many exciting events that took place, two young people from Chicago became Christians. As the youth returned and reflected on their experiences, they were incredibly thankful for their own families, friends, and church. We ask that you join us in our prayers for this church, community, Rev. Jakes, and the two young men that became Christians.

We invite you to join us for Extreme worship, prayer, Bible study, and fellowship on Sunday mornings at 9:15am and on Wednesday nights at 7:00pm.

Christi Hoppe