Volume 82 Number 2 February 2021 Some churches are doing well; many have closed From the Pastor ... their doors for good. Here are some common themes among most of the churches in their latest responses to WE ARE STILL THE CHURCH! the pandemic.* With all that is crazy in the world right now, the true church keeps going! So as you pray for world and “Continuing in-person services with less participation. national peace, pray also that: Most churches have decided to keep the in-person • The vaccines against COVID-19 will be effective services open. But the leaders have encouraged those with • The new strains will be contained health challenges, the elderly, and those with any exposure to COVID patients and victims to remain at home and watch the • Our nation’s leaders to follow the Lord services virtually. Obviously, worship attendance has been hit • Many people in Hartsville will be saved and become again by this move.” strong members of our church At FBC Hartsville, we are meeting Sunday mornings at 10:00. But new for a season, we ask everyone to keep SUNDAY SCHOOL and SMALL GROUPS their masks on and worship in their hearts without singing out loud. It’s very strange. I look forward to when At the end of my article in last month’s newsletter, I we can really meet and worship together again. wrote, “Our church council has set a tentative date of January 17 for our Sunday School classes small groups “Renewing emphasis on digital services. to return to campus…. Of course, if the virus blows out Churches in general have gone through three phases with another dangerous spike, we will postpone the digital services. regathering.” 1. They moved to digital with enthusiasm and effort. Obviously we postponed. We hope to return this month (February), but we are still keeping an eye and ear 2. As they returned to in-person services, many churches out for a safe time to return in small groups. gave much less attention to streaming services. I am so grateful that many of our church family has 3. Now churches are renewing their emphasis on digital been able to get the vaccine. We pray that the whole services. virus will be a thing of the past within a few years. More church leaders are realizing they should not have Meanwhile, we are getting ready to upload some decreased their emphasis on digital services at all.” online small groups: Thank the Lord that we at FBC have kept an emphasis on digital services and are continually working ➢ Bible Basics, a 6 week study about the Scriptures, at making it better. Thank you for praying for us. by Dr. Boyd. ➢ Shaken, a 4-week study video study about pushing “Making adjustments to the budget. through life’s storms, with Tim Tebow. Facilitated by Many church leaders were pleasantly surprised to see Dr. Boyd. giving stay strong in the early stages of the pandemic. There ➢ Reopening Christianity, a 5-week video study that was a sense that church members were rallying to a cause. The stimulus funding by the federal government helped as asks important questions that challenge us to well. Then, the giving began to wane in many churches “reopen” or come back as stronger Christians after (emphasis mine). We anticipate giving to be down around the global pandemic, by Zach Zehnder. Facilitated by 20% in 2021, even with the second round, and possibly a Dr. Boyd. third round, of stimulus funding.” ➢ The Case for a Creator, a 6-week video study from Ouch. We have seen a drop in contributions, but we former atheist Lee Strobel, who discovered that are still doing OK for now. Please keep praying for us. science, far from being the enemy of faith, now provides a solid foundation for belief in God. “Many small groups returning to digital. Facilitated by Dr. Boyd. Some churches have moved all of their small groups back Most likely these will be Zoom meetings. We are still to digital. Other churches have a mix of in-person and digital working on the tech part of this. Stay tuned for better small groups. The churches that have maintained their details. emphasis on small groups, whether digital or in-person, are If you are interested in any of the studies above, typically among the healthiest congregations today.” please call the church office or sign up online. This trend affirms my strong desire for our Sunday Schools and small groups to meet together again. They We know that pretty much everything has changed are essential for our church health and growth. this last year. Maybe you have wondered the same thing * https://churchanswers.com/blog/five-moves-churches-are-making-in-the-second-covid- I have about church, “How are churches in the USA spike/?utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Church+ doing with the COVID-19 changes?” Answers+Week+in+Review+January+19+-++January+22%20-%205170792 February Birthdays Please Contact the Church Office: • If your address, email, or telephone number 2-1 Robert Goodson Jr. has changed 2-1 Andrea Hays • If you have updates for the Prayer List 2-1 Crystal Hopkins (FBC Financial Secretary) • If you need more offering envelopes or would 2-3 Phyllis Blackman 2-3 Hunter Frazer like to get personalized offering envelopes 2-6 Amy King • If you would like to place flowers in the 2-6 Ellie Langford Sanctuary in 2021 in honor or in memory of 2-6 Suzanne Toups someone 2-7 Russell Joye 2-7 Spann Reames 2-9 Gerardo Segura Jr. With Thanks 2-10 Merle Baxley 2-10 Campbell Hays 2-10 Porter Hays Dear Church family, 2-10 Frank Marino We want to express our sincere appreciation for 2-11 Willis Britt your prayers and acts of kindness during this 2-11 Amanda Scarborough period of grief. Mom truly loved First Baptist 2-12 Kaye MacDonald Church, the church family, and her many friends. 2-13 Dawn Munn We miss her but celebrate her long life and 2-15 Howard Jordan enduring faith and trust in God for almost 92 2-16 Jen Easterling years. 2-16 Jennifer D. Fink ~The family of Retha Chapman 2-16 Pat Gibson 2-17 Elaine Nichols 2-18 Vernon Boyd With Sympathy 2-18 Daniel Dixon 2-19 Debby Burry 2-21 Anthony Floyd Our hearts go out to the families of: 2-22 Mary Snipes 2-23 Natalie Elsesser • Retha Chapman, FBC member since 1940 2-23 Sera Joye • Nelle Goudelock, FBC member since 1948 2-24 William Sligh 2-25 Vivian Drinkard • Norman Turner, FBC member since 1960 • Roger Winburn, grandson of Doris Winburn • Wilma Chapman, mother of LaJoyce Chapman Happy Birthday!

Announcements

Received for Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions: $8283.25

How can I contribute to First Baptist if I’m not able to attend Sunday service? • Mail a check or bring it to the office: 104 E. Home Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550 • Give online through our website: www.firstbaptisthartsville.org and go to the “Online Giving” tab • Text “BeCheerful” to 73256 • Use the slotted, outdoor mailbox next to the Church Office door.

Student Ministry Music

I want to start off by saying Hey Church Fam, THANK YOU so much for the generous monetary gift Thank you for your with which you blessed my patience as we prepare family. It was unexpected, to meet back in person. Be on the lookout for an and definitely not the reason I serve, but it is so official start date soon. nice to be appreciated!

Thanks, Although we are limited right now to just a few Megan people on stage, we are still forging ahead! The choir is still not meeting for the time being due to coronavirus concerns, but we will be together again FBC on Social Media soon. Also, we are continuing with our online worship experience, so please check those out every week! Most of the time we try to mirror what Website: firstbaptisthartsville.org is done on Sunday mornings, but there are usually a few surprises mixed in there. I am always Facebook: First Baptist Church Hartsville encouraged by the comments and shares, so please keep that up! I truly believe that we have a lot to YouTube: FBC Hartsville SC offer the local area as well as those who are hundreds of miles away. On a similar note, we are Instagram: @firstbaptisthartsville looking for help in our video editing area. If you have any experience with that and are willing to help out, please reach out to me or the church Thank You office! I look forward to the days ahead, and I hope we can continue to be a blessing to our community and beyond! Dear First Baptist Church, Thank you for your continued support! As the Regional Director for Church Engagement, I want to thank you for First Baptist Church’s Sterling partnership with the ministry of Samaritan's Purse. In response to Christ’s Great Commission and His command in Luke 10 to love our February Events neighbors in word and deed, Samaritan's Purse runs to those sitting in ditches of war, poverty, disaster, famine, and disease. This year during the Souper Bowl of Caring Offering - Sunday, pandemic, we have seen God significantly extend February 7 our platform for Gospel witness. All funds collected will be divided between Hartsville Through Operation Christmas Child we also run to Interfaith Ministry and Connie millions of children and families sitting in ditches Maxwell Children’s Home. of darkness apart from Christ. FBC’s partnership Checks may be made out to with this global discipleship movement (and First Baptist Church. recent gifts to Operation Christmas Child) will send the Gospel message across the globe in 2021- First Baptist will volunteer at the Hartsville -sending Gospel light to many children sitting in Soup Kitchen on Thursday, February 11. If you darkness. are interested in helping with this ministry, please contact the church office. We deeply appreciate your church’s partnership in the Gospel! The church office is open Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm Lynne Rienstra Lunch 12:30-1:30pm SAMARITAN'S PURSE Friday 8am-12noon Hey Church Family! 843-332-6571

First Baptist Preschool 1st Kids Children’s Ministry

Enrollment for next school year Dear Church Family, is officially underway and we are excited about all the These next few weeks for my possibilities of a brand new children are devoted to love. God's year. We can't wait to welcome new families love. God's love for us and God's love through through our doors and are equally excited about welcoming our current families back. We kicked us. Each week we have anywhere between 9 and off a brand new toddler class this month and are 18 children on our Zoom learning very important thrilled about our growing school program. To lessons. They have really soaked them up! While keep up the momentum and growth we will be we still aren't sure when we will be back together, reopening our Kindergarten class next school year! we know these classes will continue. If you know More information can be found on the church anyone who would like to join, wherever they are, website or by calling the school office, 843-878- please let us know. We are serving families in 0445. North Carolina as well as our own!

February is always a fun time at First Baptist On February 10, we will be meeting in the Preschool. We have Valentine's Day parties and get to see the excitement on the kid's faces as they Fellowship Hall for our final lesson on love. We exchange cute Valentines, but what truly makes will end our lessons with a Valentine's Day the month so special is the emphasis on the love of party! Yay! As usual, it is from 5-7pm and you God! February 14th is also the beginning of will drop off your children under the Random Acts of Kindness week, another portico. Masks are required and temperature will celebratory tradition at FBP. Teaching our be taken at the door. students the importance of being kind goes perfectly with the lessons of God's love. It is a very One final note. It has become increasingly sweet time that we cherish each year in our school. difficult to figure out when we are coming back on All of us at First Baptist Preschool wish you a Sundays due to the lack of volunteers. In order for Happy Valentine's Day and we pray you feel the kindness and love of God always! us to have a successful ministry, it is imperative that we have small group teachers and nursery Thank you, workers on Sunday. I have heard from most Brittany Caddell everyone saying they are unable to help at the moment, and I completely understand. However, Facebook: First Baptist Preschool-Hartsville in order for us to make a plan, we need to have Instagram: @FBPHartsville enough volunteers. If you are interested in helping, please reach out. Church Staff

Dr. Greg Boyd: Pastor- Thank you all so much for your continued love [email protected] and support. I hope that in 2021 we can double this ministry! Lauren Wint: Children’s Director-

[email protected] In Love, Megan Boyd: Volunteer Student Leader Ms. Lauren Sterling Dyar: Volunteer Worship Leader Crystal Hopkins: Financial Secretary- [email protected] Ruth Kilgore: Administrative Secretary- [email protected] Brittany Caddell: Preschool Director- 843-878-0445