The Good News Green Valley Baptist Church John Guillott – Pastor Ron Hood – Music Pastor

1111 N. La Cañada Drive– Green Valley, AZ 85614 – Phone: 520-625-3600 February 2017 dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed A Word from Pastor John. . . to the poor.” (Matthew 11:4-5)

When God Is Silent In other words, Jesus wanted John to see the truth. God still does. Pray that God would let Sometimes God can seem very quiet and you see truth and reality. distant. We sometimes feel we are all alone and Third, pray simple prayers. Ask God to that God is not hearing our prayers. What can you make Himself real to you. Tell Him how you feel do when God seems distant? I want to suggest and ask Him to let you see the truth and reality of some simple steps to take when God seems far the situation. away. Finally, stay close to Scripture, prayer, First, determine to live in reality rather and the church. The very worst thing you can do than in your feelings. It’s very difficult not to let in times of dryness is to neglect “the assembling of your feelings overwhelm you. Persecution, fatigue, yourselves together with the family of God.” (He- and discouragement can rob us of the sure knowl- brews 10:25) edge of the presence of God in our lives. When More than any other time, the times when this happens, feelings have taken control and faith, God seems silent you need the fellowship of the trust, and reality take a backseat. church. Gathering together as the church is an op- Even the greatest of the saints get caught portunity to encourage one another. Don’t miss up in destructive feelings. Take the case of John that opportunity. the Baptist. The Holy Spirit came upon John in the Share your need with others. Ask for their womb. John heard the call of God in his life and prayer support and emotional encouragement. Let followed obediently. He preached in the wilder- the church work the works of the Heavenly Father ness, calling the people to repentance. John even who loves and cares for us even in the difficult accurately described Jesus as “the Lamb of God times. who takes away the sin of the world.” Blessings, How then could John begin to doubt? We know he did so because he sent messengers to Je- Pastor John sus asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect another?” (Matthew 11:3) John’s difficult feelings had overtaken him. These emotions and feelings blinded him to the Report for truth. Lottie Moon International Missions Second, pray that God would let you see the truth. Jesus did not defend himself before Christmas Offering John. He simply shared the truth with the prophet: Our Church Goal: $9,500.00 “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those Total Offering who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the Received: $12,646.00 Speaker: Jim Ballard Cowboy Church Catalyst for NAMB Blackfoot, Idaho February 2017 Page Two Welcome to Interim Minister of Music Senior Adults John T. Prim Schedule for February John comes to us from Canyons Church in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he spent almost 20 Tuesday, February 7: Game Day – Bring years as worship pastor. He is a former IMB mis- lunch to church at 11:30 a.m. and join the fun. sionary to South America, and has been a pastor Tuesday, February 14: Lunch at Cheddar’s as well as a seminary teacher. His wife’s name is Restaurant. The bus will leave church at 10:15 Leigh; and his dad, Jim Prim, along with his wife a.m. Joyce are members of GVBC. John is getting set- Tuesday, February 21: We will have the tled in the area and plans to be active right away. Scam Squad from the Sheriff’s Auxiliary here to Choir practice begins Wednesday, February 1, at speak about current scams in the area. Bring your 6:45 p.m. lunch at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 28: Lunch at Lin’s Chi- “SOUPER SUNDAY” nese Restaurant in Tucson. The bus will leave church at 11:00 a.m. February 5 Our ministry is open to anyone who would like to participate – church members, non-mem- February 5 is the scheduled Super Bowl bers, friends, neighbors and relatives. All we ask is Sunday for sports enthusiasts. It is also the date that you sign up for the activity on our bulletin board Green Valley Baptist Church has designated as our outside Fellowship Hall. See you there! annual “Souper Sunday.” We will be collecting Judy & Mike cans of soup for Caring Ministries on that Sunday. Tables will be set up in the front of the church sanc- Mead tuary for your cans. Each table will have a basket Sr. Adult Activities Director for monetary contributions. (Checks should be made to Green Valley Baptist Church.) This is a longstanding project of Women on Mission. Thank you for sharing.

 THANK YOU   A great big “Thank You” from the Church Staff for the Christmas bonus gift we received. We are so blessed to be a part of this wonderful church Anniversary Dinner, Friday, Feb. 24 family and to serve the Lord at Green Valley Baptist 6:00 p.m. Church. Speaker: Steve Lindsay May you enjoy a Happy New Year and may Pastor, Canelo Cowboy Church, Arizona God bless each of you richly! Music: 2 Lazy 2 Ranch Band The Staff Menu: BBQ Ribs and Chicken, * * * Baked Potato, Coleslaw Dear Church Family, Anniversary Cake Thank you for your prayers and cards of en-

Limited Seating: couragement, your hugs each Sunday, meals, Please Sign Up by February 17 cookies, candies, visits and phone calls. I just Western Wear Encouraged passed my two month life expectancy, in part to your faithfulness in prayer. I’m looking forward to Sunday Worship Service, Feb. 26 seeing what our gracious Lord has planned for me. I love and appreciate each one of you. 10:30 a.m. God’s richest blessings to each of you. Love in Christ, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Our contact is Sue Reed, 399-1009, [email protected]. Marj McQueen As for our youth, they are beginning to be February 2017 more visible on Sunday mornings. It is our hope Page Three that their visibility will continue to grow over the coming months as they take on more responsibili- ties for our church family. Children and Youth Ministry May Our Lord Bless Each of You

On Sunday mornings there are services available for your children and grandchildren. Our church Nursery is an inviting space, staffed by Nursery workers ready to care for infants, toddlers, February and preschoolers. Our Nursery has age-appropriate toys and books, as well as a diaper changing area and play pen(s) for infants, and privacy for nursing Birthdays mothers. Nursery care is often available at other times during the week when there are activities at Bill Harper 3 GVBC. Please call the church office to verify that Kay Boone 4 the Nursery will be open. Gabriel Rodrigues 5 Children’s Church will continue for a few Judy Mead 7 more weeks. Children ages 6 through 5th grade are John Edquist 10 invited to attend Children’s Church each week dur- Jon Wallace 11 ing our Sunday worship service. The Sunday bul- Marj McQueen 12 letin indicates when they leave worship time. The Jack Minatra 14 curriculum for Children’s Church is Lifeway’s The Geri Smith 14 Gospel Project for Kids. We will continue to work in Alfred Luttrell 16 the book titled The Church, Unit 36: God’s Plan for Marilyn Schum 16 the Church is Fulfilled. Our lessons in February in- Terry McCardle 17 clude “God’s Warning to Seven Churches,” and Ro Vinson 18 “Jesus Christ will Return.” Jim Kitts 19 On February 12 our curriculum ends its 3 Don Brown 20 year cycle. The Children and Youth Ministry Com- Bob Spaude 21 mittee has decided to end Children’s Church after Peg Waltz 21 February 12. Since August 2016, we have been Lola Brown 24 serving 2 children who attend GVBC from time to Joy Streufert 24 time and any visiting children. Many weeks there Jim Goade 26 are no children in attendance. Although we have Shirley Wilson 27 thoroughly enjoyed time with your children, we felt they would be better served by learning to worship alongside their families. We will revisit this decision in the upcoming months. Please let us know of any It’s a input or questions you might have about this deci- Golden Celebration! sion. We value your ideas. There are several things we will be doing to Sunday, February 12 support our children and youth, and their families. 6:00 p.m. The first is that age-appropriate devotionals will be available for children and youth in the church foyer. A special service to honor those couples We are also looking for service projects that we can who have been married to each other for 50 years help the Shepherding team with or do on our own, or more. projects that will assist our church family. We have also purchased some books about children and Vow renewal ceremony youth ministry for our church library. Over the com- Corsage and boutonniere ing months we will include blurbs in the newsletter Certificate of Recognition about these books so you can start checking them out. If you have any other ideas about how we may serve our children and youth, and their families, Please call the church office by January 30 See you in Sunday School, and bring a to register. friend! February 2017 Page Four Stuart Austin Director Shepherd’s Fold Preschool “A Ministry of the Green Valley Baptist Church”

In February, the theme will be “Love and Favorite Books.” The children will learn how to care and love each other. I Corinthians 13:4-13 “love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it GVBC Library News does not boast, it is not proud.” February brings Many thanks to the volunteers for read- “Valentine’s Day.” Look for the Center to be cov- ing with the Shepherd’s Fold Pre-School chil- ered in “hearts.” We will also be having a Valen- dren on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings!!! tine’s Day Breakfast on Tuesday, February 14. If you’d like to be a part of this ministry, The children will continue going to the please call the church office. We read with the chil- Green Valley Baptist Library to check out books. dren between 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Or if you’d just like They will be able to bring in their favorite book for to help keep the library open on other days during the teachers to read in the classroom. the week or on Sunday mornings, please call the Fifteen staff members will be attending a church office or Barbara Zimmer at 308-3184. Christian conference sponsored by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). The con- Library Hours Are: ference will be in Tucson. This is a great opportuni- ty for the staff. Sunday: 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. The Center will be closed Monday, February Tuesday: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. 20, for President’s Day. Wednesday: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Please continue to remember the staff, chil- Thursday: 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. dren and families of Shepherd’s Fold Preschool in your prayers. We have a nice collection of not only reli- God Bless, gious media, but also fiction books, puzzles and DVDs for adults and children. Come visit us! We Shepherd’s Fold are located in the administration building. If you want to see the book cart remain an Staff alternate choice for checking out books, please voice your opinion either by phone or by email: [email protected]. Sunday School

We are blessed with busy classrooms. We Missions need an assistant for the grades 1-3 & 4-6 grade Breakfast classes, to be an observer and helper. Thank you for bringing neighbors & friends, and for joining us your- selves. Paul’s second letter to Timothy, chapter 2, February 18, 2017 verse 15 tells us to “Be diligent to present yourself ap- 8:00 a.m. proved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.” (HCSB). In the Fellowship Hall We teach by our words, and even more so by our actions. Speaker: Steve Hanna Arizona Baptist Children’s Services