THE FIRST EDITION In everything Give Thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 The holidays will be here before we know it, but we have much to accomplish at the campuses of FBC~McDonough before they arrive. So buckle up and get ready to ride! Thanks for your love and leadership at FBC and for all that each of you does as we serve our Lord. Remember the importance of reaching out to others, especially at this time of year when people begin to open their hearts to spiritual things as we approach Thanksgiving and Christmas. Remember to pray for the many, this season, who lost loved ones this year or the last and may be entering the holiday season with apprehension and sadness. Invite someone to join our GriefShare event called Surviving the Holidays on Saturday, November 14, from 4-6 pm at our Downtown Campus Fellowship Hall. Lately, there has been some resurgence among sociologists and psychologists about the need for fathers to take the reign of leadership in their homes as they raise their children ThePastor’s Pen “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”. Dads make the difference in their homes and a Dr. Charles J. Thomas father’s faith must make the difference in his own life before he can be fit to lead his own family. Sunday morning, November 15 at 8am in our downtown fellowship hall, we will host a men’s breakfast and our special guest speaker, Gregg Hodge, will address the need for men to rise up and lead their families. His focus will be on intentional times of personal Bible study that can fuel a father’s faith and prepare him to take on the important roles as father and husband. Check the article below for more details, but Gregg is an award- winning singer/songwriter from Nashville who spends a lot of his time mentoring and teaching men to be the men God called us to be! Men of FBC, don’t miss this important breakfast (which is free, by the way) and invite another father/husband to join you! Many blessings! Faithfully yours, Pastor Charles Special Men’s Breakfast Event! FBC Downtown / Fellowship Hall Sunday, November 15, 8a.m. Special Guest Speaker ~ Gregg Hodge Gregg is the lead singer and principal spokesman and teaching pastor for the Nashville-based rock group – The Princeton Revival. Originally filling a spiritual void in their own lives, the five members of Princeton Revival came together with a desire to inspire one another to pursue biblical manhood. They quickly realized that other men may benefit from the band members’ personal journeys. They are a group of theologically trained, tenured musicians, tried believers and true friends. Between the five of them, they hold Master of Divinity degrees, have served, or are serving, as pastors, elders, and lay leaders in the Church; most importantly, they are all committed to growing in faith and practice. Their collective experience as musicians includes having toured with artists such as: The Allies; Sweet Comfort Band; Ceili Rain; Michael W. Smith; Charlie Peacock; The 77s; Rebecca St. James; Prince; Shania Twain; and the Temptations. Their writing talent has crafted Contemporary Christian Music hits, among them the Grammy Award winning crossover Butterfly Kisses by Randy Thomas. Their quests to glorify God by enjoying Him forever have resulted in the practical books, useful digital resources and powerful events they desire to share with others. Gregg has a powerful message to share with our men at First Baptist McDonough. Don’t miss this inspiring morning as we reclaim our role as spiritual leaders in our homes! West Campus Reach people...Create disciples...Multiply disciples and groups On October 17, from 5pm-7pm, we hosted our annual Fall Festival at our West Campus. We had a great turnout, the weather was fantastic, and it was one of the best Fall Festivals I've experienced. We had 155 people register and we gave away gift cards to Kroger, Walmart, and Toys-R-Us. We served tons of hotdogs, chili, boiled peanuts, popcorn, cotton candy, cakes, and of course, candy. Families enjoyed a free event sponsored by a church that wanted to share the love of God with them. During the event we paused our activities and after the last drawing, I had an opportunity to share the gospel using John 3:16 as my text. I honestly thought that it would be a battle to try and keep their attention with all the activities around them. But I can honestly say there was a stillness that came over the crowd as I shared four things from the passage: God loved, God gave, We believe, We receive. People were hanging on to the hope we offered from God's Word. Rev. Tommy Hargrove Seeds of the gospel were planted in many hearts at the Fall Festival. Out of the registration cards we received, eleven people indicated they wanted more information on how to become a Christian. We have followed up with those requests by personal visits giving them a Billy Graham "Living in Christ" inquirer guide. It also comes with a copy of the gospel of John. Thank you FBC for your part in helping us pull this event off. A special shout out goes to Kathy Pipkin from the Family Life team as well. It was a lot of work but so worth it! Pastor Tommy Pastoral Care Being Thankful As we approach the holiday season, our lives are so busy with family, church, work and school, and the list goes on and on… We are so busy, we can’t enjoy our time with family and friends. We have other places to go and other things to do. We sometimes need to stop and be still, and focus on what’s really important. The Bible says to be still and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10) We need to look to the Lord and rest in Him. He is our refuge and strength, ever present in time of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) When have you and I stopped and rested in the Lord? Relied on His power and strength? I think if we would do that, it would bring glory to God. I believe it also would help us focus on what’s really important and give us liberty to say no. It’s hard to say no, especially during the holiday season. We should be focused on the things He wants us to do and focus on how good and great He has been to us. When we do that, we will have a thankful heart and attitude that will Rev. Tom Bergman show. During this holiday season, let us focus on Christ and think of how good He has been Pastoral Care / to us. I could tell you the things in my life that I’m thankful for, but I want you to start writing Facility Maintenance down what you are thankful for each day of November. It will change the negative things [email protected] in our lives and give us a heart of thanksgiving and praise. The Bible says to be thankful in all things because this is the will of God. (1 Thess 5:18) To do the will of God, we need to be thankful for all He has done and all He’s going to do. God bless you. I’m thankful to be able to minister to you. Your servant, Pastor Tom 3 Benton House: Harold Grace Pace, Autumn Village, 753 Covington St, Jackson, GA Adamson | Betty Caldwell | 30233 Jack & Janet Thomas Barbara Carley, 109 Holland St, Thomasville, GA 31792 Dogwood Forest: Kathleen Madden Golden Retreat: Cee Moorhead prayer Laurel Park: Rev. Ray Collins Rev. Kim Jenkins, Open Door Community House, Columbus, GA | Campbell & Katie Thames, Church Planting (Live Oak The Palms: Junie Brannen | Louise Helton Church), Myrtle Beach, SC | Chris & Colleen Watts & Westbury: Bonelle Turner family—on mission in India | State, North American & International Missionaries | Pregnancy Resource Center | Helping In His Name Food Pantry | Samaritans Together | Macedonian Call | Marketplace Ministries | Chris “Shep” FBC MEMBERS: Shepherd, Keep the Change Ministries | Julie Haney, Ad Yvonne Rickman-Williams - Congestive Heart Failure | Deum II Dance Jane Sawyer—Health | Larry McWhorter—heart | Joseph Mitchell—Jaw surgery | Susie Minter - recovering from surgery, possibly has Parkinson’s | Natalie Hall— Seizures | Barbara McElroy—Double mastectomy | Janet & Brandon Stallings (Kathy Tucker’s son-in-law) Jack Thomas - strength and comfort as Jack recovers from LCPL Landon Williams (Son of Beth & John Bigham) - MOS surgery | Jim Adams - epidural tumor, radiation treatments School, California | Juanita Fryar—Peace and comfort | Stevi Williams - health issues | Linda Gayle Strawn - Stroke | Penny LCPL Nathan Cupit– Camp LeJeune, NC Stewart - Knee surgery SSGT Brian A. Brannon (son of Terry & Michele) - Afghanistan FBC EXTENDED FAMILY: SFC Tim Hall Gene Thomas (Pastor Charles’ father)- MSA | Barry and SSGT Jason McKinney (son of David & Karel) Joanne Barnhart (Leslie’s parents)-father diagnosed with 2LT Ryan Morris (son-in-law of Tim and Tracy Hall, husband Parkinson’s | Lynn Gibson (Irma Selman’s son) - at La of Alexia) Grange Nursing & Rehab recovering from stroke | Joyce Godwin (Friend of Mike & Tracy Haney) - ALS (Lou Gehrig’s) SFC Michael Pittenger (grandson of Jean Peeler) - Ft. | Venta Lee Parks (Ken Reece’s Sister) - spinal stenosis | Campbell, KY Brenda Mitchell’s Mother—recovering from sepsis and E3 Alex Archer (Nephew of Kevin McGee) pneumonia | Charlotte Walker (Tracy Hall’s mother—stroke, high blood pressure) | Margaret Bond (Mary Mann’s niece) -Throat surgery, looking for rehab in Warm Springs | Allison Brannon— Recovering from stroke | Marvin Andrew Sgroi (Friend of Jim Spayd) - aggressive cancer Griggers (Brenda’s father) - Esophageal Cancer | John Jim Kempf - Back Surgery on 11/2 David (Enid Lloyd’s son) - Cancer | Brian Harris (Joel & Sandi Reece (Marilyn & Scott White’s niece)—brain bleed, Robin’s son) - cornea transplant 6/17 | Chuck Grubbs surgery 10/14 (Franklin & Emma Lou’s Son) - motorcycle accident | Alan Darrell (Friend of Butch Nixon) - general prayers Fincher (Ashely Hall’s brother) - brain aneurism surgery 7/8.