First Impressions a publication of First Baptist Gallatin fbcgallatin.org MARCH 5, 2018, VOL 7 NO 5

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Pulpit Swap

Sunday, March 18th Pastor Travis Fleming Sunday, March 25th FBC on Main Palm Sunday

Pastor Derrick Jackson Sunday, April 1st FBC on Winchester Easter Sunday From Your Pastor...

I awoke Wednesday morning to read a social-media post from my younger brother informing me that Billy Graham had passed away. Even though I knew Dr. Graham was approaching 100, it was still surreal to see the scores of news’ feeds declaring that he indeed had passed sometime during the night at his home in Montreat, NC. Since Wednesday morning, I have read and watched several tributes about Dr. Graham’s life and ministry. I remember fondly watching him preach on my parent’s television in our living room when I was just a child. As a child, I was captivated by his voice and his passionate preaching of the pure Gospel of sin, God’s love, the cross of Christ, and our need to turn to Christ for forgiveness of our sins. In fact, when I entered The Southern Baptist Seminary in the fall of 1997, I chose to enter their Billy Graham School of Evangelism, Missions and Church Growth because of my love for Dr. Graham and Travis Fleming evangelism. I would suggest that besides Billy Graham, no one since the Apostle Paul has preached the Gospel with such power, boldness and love. Senior Pastor I am sure many of you probably saw him in a crusade at some point. I’ve already heard that some of you saw him at the Nashville Crusade back around 2000. I had the privilege to hear him live in 2001, in Louisville, just a few years before he retired from his crusade ministry. Though we may be saddened on this side of eternity, I love what he said about his upcoming death: “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.” Can you imagine the meeting between Graham and the Lord Jesus as Graham saw in full, rather than in part, Wednesday morning? I am quite sure Graham heard a resounding, “Well done, Billy! Well done, my good and faithful servant!” Here are a few things I think stand out about one of our heroes in the faith: 1. His Gospel presentation was biblical, and it was simple: Can you hear his voice now at one of his crusades saying, “Come now, God loves you, give your life to Jesus Christ!”, as George Beverly Shea sings, “Just As I Am”? It is reported that an estimated 2.2 billion people have heard Dr. Graham share the Gospel, whether on TV, in person or on the radio. Furthermore, it is estimated that approximately 2.2 million people accepted Christ through his crusade ministry. How fitting that his grave marker will include the following statement: “Preacher of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ”. Graham stuck to the basic plan of salvation, and I believe his presentation also shows us that when we speak to people about Jesus, we also need to stick to the basics. 2. He was courageous in his ministry: Dr. Graham wasn’t afraid to call people to repentance and to point out that we are sinners in need of God’s grace. We also know that he was a bridge builder as he sought to minister during the volatile time of segregation. Long before desegregation here in America, he insisted that his crusades be open to everyone, regardless of one’s skin color. The turning point was the 1953 Crusade in Chattanooga, TN, where it is said that Graham took down the ropes that would have separated blacks and whites in their seating areas. Additionally, I learned recently that he posted bail for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963, after King was arrested in Birmingham, AL. Even still, Dr. Graham wasn’t afraid to condemn apartheid in South Africa during one of his crusades there in 1973. May we continue to be courageous in confronting sin with the Gospel, and may we speak up for social justice issues today and in the future. 3. His personal integrity still speaks today: The number of famous preachers, politicians, and celebrities that can be looked up to for their personal integrity is sadly pretty small. When one thinks of Dr. Billy Graham’s decades of having the national spotlight placed on him, there is not one episode of a moral failure that is attached to his legacy. Graham and his ministry team consisting of Cliff Barrows, Grady Wilson and George Beverly Shea made an agreement known as the “Modesto Manifesto” when they were in Modesto, California, for a crusade. Two of the main things they agreed to be held accountable for were finances and sexual purity. It is known that Graham would not go anywhere alone with a female, who was not his wife. May we strive to emulate the integrity that Dr. Graham lived before us on a daily basis. Finally, as I close, may we also strive to share the same, simple, Gospel of our Lord Jesus that Graham did, until we too, change addresses. From Kevin... Our Weeks Ahead

The Bridge Student Ministry has an upcoming event, called Spring Picnic, designed to help our students welcome and invite friends who may not otherwise connect with a church community. Our theme for the Wednesday, March 7 9:30am Generation Mom weekend will be community and team building. Our 5:15pm Fellowship Meal - FH Spring Picnic will be Friday night, April 13th from 6:15pm Experiencing God, C322 6-10pm, and Saturday morning, April 14th, from 6:15pm The Truth Project with Pastor Travis, Loft 9am-2pm. We will meet in the Student Ministry Cen- 6:15pm Children’s Ministries 1st-5th, 1st Floor ter at 6pm on Friday. We will have food and snacks Pre-K, 2nd Floor available. Then, we will have a square wide scavenger 6:15pm Choir Rehearsal, B311 Kevin Buynak hunt by class, and a time of worship together. 6:15pm The Bridge Student Ministry, Student Pastor 6th - 12th grades, SMC On Saturday, April 14th, we will have a time of prayer, 6:15pm Whisper with Ralph Troutman, FH worship, and serving in the morning. Afterward, we will have a cookout lunch Sunday, March 11 and a great time of fellowship at the rec field, behind our main church property. 8:30am Worship, Worship Center All parents and students are welcome to the cookout. This will be a great op- 8:30am Children’s Worship, Room 2 portunity to grow together and welcome others to do the same. Below are three 9:45am LifeGroups 11:00am Worship, Worship Center ways you can join in praying for the next generation. 11:00am Children’s Worship, Room 2 12:00pm Ecuardor Missions Mtg, FH 1) Pray for students to come near to God. His invitation is open, and He is pursu- 4:00pm Financial Peace University, Loft ing them. Monday,March 12 6:00pm Men’s Prayer Group, FH 2) Pray for students to come near to God’s people. Students need healthy com- munity. Wednesday,March 14 9:30am Generation Mom 3) Pray for students to invite others to join. Students are looking to belong. 5:15pm Fellowship Meal - FH 6:15pm Experiencing God, C322 6:15pm The Truth Project with Pastor Travis, Loft Thank you for your prayers and support of the next generation! 6:15pm Children’s Ministries 1st-5th, 1st Floor Blessings, Pre-K, 2nd Floor 6:15pm Choir Rehearsal, B311 6:15pm The Bridge Student Ministry, 6th - 12th grades, SMC 6:15pm Whisper with Ralph Troutman, FH

Thursday, March 15 11:00am First Impressions Stickers

Friday, March 16 3:30pm Nashville Rescue Mission

Sunday, March 18 8:30am Worship, Worship Center 8:30am Children’s Worship, Room 2 9:45am LifeGroups 11:00am Worship, Worship Center 11:00am Children’s Worship, Room 2 2:00pm Neighborhood Canvasing, SMC 4:00pm Financial Peace University, Loft

Monday, March 19 6:00pm Men’s Prayer Group, FH

Wednesday, March 21 9:30am Generation Mom 5:15pm Fellowship Meal - FH 6:15pm Experiencing God, C322 6:15pm The Truth Project with Pastor Travis, Loft 6:15pm Children’s Ministries 1st-5th, 1st Floor Pre-K, 2nd Floor 6:15pm Choir Rehearsal, B311 First Family News 6:15pm The Bridge Student Ministry, 6th - 12th grades, SMC Sympathy: 6:15pm Whisper with Ralph Troutman, FH • is extended to Martin and Ben Spears and Mary Webb Nolan on the death of their grandfather, Cordell Spears. • is extended to Brooke Bowen and family on the death of her grandfather, Murry Exum of Jackson, TN • is extended to Robert Pate and family in the death of his uncle, Joe Pate. • is extendended to Ruth Wright and family in the death of her brother, Russell Wolfe of Ohio • is extended to the family and friends of Janice Dycus. Ecuador Missions 2019 Thursday, April 26th

*Space for 20 Volunteers (10 years old and up) to serve dinner; minors There will be an informational meeting on Sunday, March 11th must be accompanied by an adult. for the Ecuador Missions trip planned for June 7-15, 2019. We will meet after the 11 am service in the fellowship hall. We an- ticipate a large group for this mission trip. Please have at least Departure time from FBC Gallatin 3:30PM (Bus Provided) one member of your family present at this meeting if you are *E-mail or call Nick to volunteer* thinking about participating. th th A $100 deposit for each participant will be due by Sunday, May VBS June 25 - 29 6, 2018, in order to hold your spot. The approximate cost of the trip is $1500 per person. We are excited to welcome Missionary Steve Thompson from Ecuador to First Baptist on Sunday, April 2018! AM PM 15th. Please contact Jim or Linda Daniels (615-452-5265) if you 9:30 - 12:30 have any questions concerning this trip. For Grades Completed (2018) Kindergarten - 8th Grade

205 East Main Street, P.O. Box 369 Gallatin, TN 37066 - 615.452.5715 fbcgallatin.org (online giving available) Office Hours Monday - Thursday 8am-5:30pm QR Code th First Baptist Church, Gallatin, TN for giving. Wednesday, April 18 @FBCGallatinmain 1:00pm - 7:00pm

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