CHANGE

HAS COME
TO HATTIESBURG

www.FirstHattiesburg.com
FROM THE
PASTOR
G
od has given
me a vision to
build a church
for people who
have been burned by religion.
A place where people are ex-
cited and passionate about
changing their city.
Ever since I was a young
teenager I have felt God lead-
ing me to try to make a dif-
ference in the lives of people
who feel trapped by hurt,
loneliness, addiction and bro-
kenness. I believe we (First

Hattiesburg) are becoming a people who care about being salt and light
in a dark and decaying world. I see us being a people and a place of
grace where truth is both taught and lived out in a world that has lost it’s
direction.
First Hattiesburg is a church full of real people with real prob-
lems. That is why amazing things are happening here. When people
honestly seek God, he moves powerfully in their lives. Every week we
see examples of God taking broken lives and making them whole. In
the next few pages you can read the stories of people like this. God has
rocked their lives and now they can’t help but share this with others.
If you’re searching for answers, then come visit us on Sunday
morning and experience how God heals broken hearts.
what is
ehind
B the new logo?

W
hen people become excited about
God and His plan for their lives
and this world, they are no longer
willing to settle for the status
quo. That is why First Hattiesburg looks and acts
a bit differently than most other churches. God has
given us a unique vision to show this city that He is
still moving, still working, and still putting broken
lives back together. God is exciting and powerful,
and as a result, the church should be the same.
From our children’s activities to our
worship, even to the design of our new building,
everything is designed to help people connect with
Jesus and with each other. When you first walk into
First Hattiesburg, you may find that it does not look
like you expected it to. But give it a shot! You
might find yourself having fun while God is busy
doing something special in your life.
Our logo is more than “just a pretty face”!
It tells a story. It symbolizes our strategy, based
in God’s Word, for leading you to know, love, and
follow Jesus. Read on to find out what’s behind the
new logo.
 Jesus b
it’s all
about

A
t the center of the First
Hattiesburg logo is the BUILD WITH TRAIN UP
cross. It reminds us that
our faith is centered
around Jesus Christ who gave His
life for us on the cross. Through
the cross Jesus tore down the walls
that separated us from God. When
we have Jesus at the center of our
lives, we seek to please Him, even
in the most routine and simple acts.
Life takes on new meaning and
purpose when you look at everything
and realize, it’s all about Jesus.
BRING IN SEND OUT

bring in
P M
eople who have felt what it is like
to have Jesus as the center of their
lives understand the need to share
that experience with others. There
is an excitement and joy that they want
everyone to experience.
At First Hattiesburg we encourage
those who have experienced what Jesus
y heart has always been to reach out and love
people. I love people and I love my church, so
I am always inviting people to come with me.
Investing in people and inviting them to church
is what comes natural to me. In fact, I search for people that
I can share my faith with.

“
is doing to bring friends and family to The great thing is that it’s so easy to invite people
church with them, here because the environment’s so welcoming and full of
so that they can energy. I tell people this is the
see for themselves.
To those who are
hurting and looking
for answers, we
because the environment’s so
welcoming and full of energy
“
it’s so easy to invite people here place to be, because our pastor
and staff have a heart for
reaching out, and it’s not your
typical church where you can
blend into the background. We
want you to know
that God has a plan encourage everyone to get
and wants to heal plugged in and there are all
your broken heart. kinds of ways to do that.
build with
T A
he Bible refers to a new follower of
Jesus as a “baby”. Babies grow, which
brings the color green to mind. Of
course, growth does not just happen
in babies. Even the most mature adults are still
growing and changing.
few years ago I got pregnant. I was
29 and not married. So we got mar-
ried and had Riley. She was the best
thing that ever happened to me.
My history with church was on and off,
but I would usually go with whomever I was

“
dating. I expected a big church like First would
At First Hattiesburg, we want to help people
be very impersonal, but I had such a great ex-
grow in their faith within perience
the context of a spiritual
family or community. The
Christian faith is not a go-
it-alone experience. It is
The church didn’t save me
from my problems, it helped
me get through them
“ and Riley
had
much fun
that
so

we
continued
meant to be lived out in to come. I
relationship with others. eventually
started helping out. I taught a class in Vaca-
That’s why we want you to build relationships with
tion Bible School, and I helped teach Team
other believers. Everything is better when we done Kid on Wednesday nights.
together.
It was almost immediate the great in-
crease in my faith, and the Lord began to use
this church to bring my faith to the forefront
of my life. I later went through a divorce and
thought I would have to move home because
I was a stay-at-home mom without a job. But
the Lord opened a door, and a position be-
came available in the Children’s department,
where I work now. The church did not save
me from my problems, but it helped me get
through them.

Kathryn Cooper

Bill Bustin
train up
I T
was the poster child for what not to do.
Sex, drugs you name it. Sin was fun at
the time and easy, but eventually I be-
came burned out and began feeling cynical
and jaded about people and life. Finally, I grew
tired of going down the road to destruction. I
“
told my roommate Jason, after a long night of
binge drinking, my soul
hurts.
Jason and I got
a call from Jeff Powell,
a minister at First. We
went and met with him
I told my roommate Ja-
son, after a long night binge
drinking, my soul hurts
and Jason got saved in
KLV RIÀFH DQG , JRW P\
relationship with Jesus back on track.
Today, my life is completely different
than it was six years ago. I serve the youth and
mentor to them. I explain to them not to live
like I did. I’m surrounded by people who love me
and let me serve their kids. I have accountabil-
ity partners and people that take time to invest
in my life.
If I had to compare my life then to now,
it would come down to hope. Back then I hoped
I didn’t get this girl pregnant, I hoped I wouldn’t
be arrested, I hoped these drugs wouldn’t kill
me. Now my hope is in God and his will for my
life.
Christy Buse
he ultimate goal for a Christian is
to become like Jesus. Jesus once said
that a student cannot be above his
teacher, but after the student has
been fully trained, he will be like his teacher.
This is why you must be trained in your faith,
to live out the teachings of Jesus. Just as an
Olympic athlete trains constantly in order
s
to win the gold medal,
“ followers of Christ must
“train”, in order to know
Him better, to love Him
more, and to follow Him
more faithfully.
At First Hattiesburg
we provide Bible
learning experiences in group settings, where
you can learn to apply biblical truths to your
everyday situations. We also encourage you
to “feed yourself ” spiritually. Practices such
as studying the Bible, prayer, and memorizing
Scripture contribute to a growing relationship
with God. No matter where you are, you can
always find people in front of you encouraging
you to run towards them, someone beside you
pushing you along, and someone behind you
who needs a challenge to join you where you
are.
Chris Canoy
 FIND MUCH MORE INFORMATION
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ONLINE AT WWW.FIRSTHATTIESBURG.COM

send out
I J
’ve experienced more in the short time I’ve been at First
than I have in my whole life. I joined First Hattiesburg
VL[PRQWKVDJRDQGLPPHGLDWHO\GRYHKHDGÀUVWLQWRWKHLU
ust as Jesus sent out his earliest followers
on a mission to share the good news of
the kingdom of God, we too are to do
the same. Our goal is to join together to

“
foreign missions. This summer, I spent one week in South meet the spiritual and physical needs of our
America that changed my life community, both
forever. inside and outside
We could see in the
faces of the villagers we went
to, that they were glad we
were there. I saw 3,000 people
receive the medical care that
I spent one week in
South America that changed
my life forever
“ of the church.
While we offer
several “mission
trip” opportunities
throughout the
they desperately needed and year, our primary
over 400 lives led to Jesus. focus is on “our own backyard”, Hattiesburg,
Not only have I been able to minister to people abroad, MS! As a church we feel strongly that God has
but I’ve been able to do it right here in my home town. I teach called us to be a church for the unchurched,
third and fourth grade Bible drill, where kids learn about the for those who have given up on church. So we
Bible in a fun way. My mother and I are also apart of the White consider our church family to be missionaries
Glove Team. We help straighten up the worship center before each that we send out into their own communities.
service and set up the refreshment room for other volunteers.
I would encourage anyone who’s not involved to look into
it and pray about where God can use you. It’s such a rewarding
feeling and there’s something for everyone.

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER -- @HATTIESBURG

“Come in, blessed of the
Lord! Why do you stand
outside since I have
prepared the house”

It has been an honor and

blessing to be a part of
such a vision as this.

- Charlie Finegan
 CHAIN ELECTRIC
C O M P A N Y

Luke says this

“No one lights a lamp and hides

it. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so
that those who come in can see the
light”

For the Chain Family, it has been our

pleasure to be a part of the glowing
history of First Hattiesburg.

- Bob Chain
 Paul said “For he was looking forward to the city
with foundations, whose architect and builder is
God”

Thank you church family for allowing our company

to play a role in God’s design for the future of First
Hattiesburg.
- Larry Albert

Pat L. McKenzie, Inc.

Proverbs says “He who has a cool spirit is a
man of understanding.”
It has been exciting opportunity for my com-
pany to be a part of a cool new church.

- Pat McKenzie
for your

Calendar
SEPTEMBER
25 HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BUILD

27 LAST SUNDAY IN DOWNTOWN CAMPUS

30 CELEBRATION SERVICE AT LINCOLN RD.

OCTOBER ALL OCTOBER IS

BRING YOUR CAMERA TO CHURCH MONTH

FUN RUN

FIRST SERVICE AT LINCOLN RD. CAMPUS

4
FOR MORE EVENTS AND DETAILS VISIT
FIRSTHATTIESBURG.COM

“Now the house was full of men and women, and all

MALONE
the lords of the Philistines were there. And about
3,000 men and women were on the roof looking on”
We did not build the roof to stand on, but we
E CORNELL MALONE CORP did plan on covering 3000.
- Cornell Malone
 Sunday
8:30 AM
Bible Study for older adults
9:30 AM

Wednesday
Preschool Sunday School
Children’s Sunday School
College Bible Study
Adult Bible Study
4:45 PM Worship Service
Dinner is served in the Student Building 11:00 AM
Auditorium. Cost: $5/adults; $3/children Preschool Extended Session childcare
6:00 PM Children’s Sunday School
Backyard Kids Youth Bible Study
Adult Bible Studies
Adult Bible Study
6:30 PM Worship Service
Youth Worship
8:00 PM
College Worship www.FirstHattiesburg.com

First Baptist Church of Hattiesburg

4142 Lincoln Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39402