EASTMONT BAPTIST CHURCH 

// JANUARY 22, 2023 // VOLUME 32 // NUMBER 2

From Your
Student Pastor
CLEVE MALLORY
CMALLORY@EASTMONT.ORG

My name is Cleve. And I’m a procrastinator.

I define procrastination as “intentionally putting off until later that which should be done now." Don’t get me wrong. I'm not
“lazy.” I get the work done. But I almost always make the work a lot more stressful than it had to be. (Full disclosure: I am
writing this article ON THE DAY IT’S DUE.) Why do I put off until tomorrow what could have been done days ago? It’s not
intentional. I’m not trying to devalue the task. I simply struggle with (and from) procrastination, and I bet many of you do, too. I
am writing TO MYSELF, but you are welcome to glean insight from a suffering (recovering?!?) procrastinator. Here are three
ideas that will help me (and you) overcome the pitfall of procrastination this year:
-Diagnose Our Problem.
Though we may still meet a deadline, procrastination carries serious consequences. The effects are obvious at times,
like causing undue stress on ourselves, which is often taken out on loved ones. But perhaps the more damaging effects are
those that go unrealized. When forced to rush our work, we sacrifice excellence. Our abilities may be superior to others’
abilities, but procrastination lowers our standards of excellence for which we should strive in all we do. Colossians 3:23-24
calls us to “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Procrastination prevents us from fulfilling this New Testament
mandate.
-Define Our Purpose and Prioritize.
We’re all busy, but we only have twenty-four hours in each day. Perhaps our tendency to procrastinate results from
losing sight of the purpose(s) for which we labor. Our purpose drives our priorities. Each day, we ought to consider WHY we do
what we do: Our WHY should determine our WHAT. When we keep the purpose in mind, we are less likely to waste time
pursuing matters of lesser importance. Then, as we complete the greater tasks sooner, in the long run we actually find more
time to pursue other ventures that don’t rank as highly on the priority list. Prioritizing is essentially planning an agenda. Plan a
year once a year. Plan a month once a month. Plan a day once a day. Then allow that list to govern your efforts.
-Devote Ourselves to Prayer.
Though this is listed last, it ought to be first. I place prayer last because, if you’re like me, prayer often becomes a last resort
rather than a first priority. Prayer is our means of communicating with our LORD. He cares for us. He desires for us to bring our
burdens and petitions before Him, just like a young child would with his mother or father. A regular prayer life allows our mind to
regularly be focused on the things of God. A scarce prayer life, likewise, causes us to scarcely be focused on the things of God.
My prayer life reminds me of my purpose(s) and helps me to prioritize my time in a way that honors my Heavenly Father.
In this new year, let’s eliminate the excuses we use for why we procrastinate on the tasks that matter most. Stop delaying in
our obedience to Christ. Stop creating undue stresses in our lives (there is enough stress already). Whatever we do, let’s
strive for excellence as is working “for the LORD and not for men.”
 OUR CHURCH
Jamie & Lauren will be with us on Sunday,
FAMILY
January 22, before they return to S.
Asia
SYMPATHY TO to continue to share the Gospel. We
James Kemp in the loss of his wife, will be collecting a love offering to
Helen Kemp, who passed away on help with some expenses as their
January 13, 2023.
family is growing. Scan the QR code
The family of Linda Bowman who if you want to sign up to receive
passed away on January 9, 2023 and updates from them.
whose son, Greg Bowman passed
away on January 11, 2023.

Church Center Directory

Eastmont’s new online Directory is
coming later this month and we want
you to be a part of it!

Directory will be available though the Church Center app or at

eastmont.churchcenter.com. Directory will be available to those who are
active church members. An “active church member” is someone whose
membership has been affirmed by church vote and regularly attends
Eastmont.
BUILDING LOCK UP What do you need to do?
January 22 1. If you have a smart phone, download the Church Center app on your
Danny McDonald & Joe Clements phone. If you don’t have a smart phone, simply go to
January 29 eastmont.churchcenter.com and register.
Allen Deal & Eric Hill 2. On Friday, January 13, an email was sent out to people who are active
church members with an email address in our computer system to
confirm their email address. If you did not receive this email, make sure
to check your spam or junk folder. If it is not there, send an email to
kbush@eastmont.org.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT 3. Watch for another email in late January or early February inviting you
to join the Directory, click on the link, and follow the directions.
FELLOWSHIP MEAL
You will have control over what is in the Directory concerning you and your
January 25 family. If you don’t want to be a part of it, simply ignore the invitation email.
Chicken Alfredo, Green Beans, and However, as with any directory, it is only as good and helpful as those who
Garlic Knots participate make it. Adding a picture and allowing your basic information to
February 1 be included helps us as a church family know each other better.
Hamburger Steak with Gravy & Onions,

Mashed Potatoes, English Peas, and

Roll
 Let’s make a difference in the lives BY THE NUMBERS
of hurting people in Montgomery!

WEEKLY GIVING
By partnering with the Alabama Baptist State
Board of Missions and River Region JANUARY 1
associations, Send Relief is making it easy for GENERAL FUND $16,706.00
you to have a real, lasting impact in the lives EMERGENCY FUND $920.00
of Montgomery’s most vulnerable. JANUARY 8

There are lots of projects available, and GENERAL FUND $45,006.73

Eastmont is coordinating two of them. EMERGENCY FUND $1,807.50
Registration opens January 22, on Eastmont's LOTTIE MOON OFFERING
Events page. GOAL: $60,000

FINAL TOTAL GIVEN: $60,058.60

LIFEGROUP TOTALS
JAN 8 JAN 15
PRESCHOOL 32 23
CHILDREN 48 46
STUDENTS 58 67
January 22 & 29
ADULTS 431 385
3:00 - 5:00 pm ~ Room 129
TOTAL 569 521
A membership course for those
considering taking the next steps in the
journey toward church membership. Call
the church office to register today!
WEEKLY
SCHEDULE
MINISTRY HAPPENINGS Sunday
College Senior Adults 8:30 am Worship Service
gkim@eastmont.org bdickey@eastmont.org 9:45 am LifeGroups
Forever Young - 11:00 am Worship Service
Home Groups - Sundays @ 6:00 pm at the Kim home.
Topic: Biblical Overview February 21 @ 10:00 am 5:00 pm Ladies' and Men's
Pursue Conference @ FBC Montgomery - February 24- Special guest: Tammy Bible Studies
25. Register through the Events page on the Eastmont Chavers, Ventriloquist, Handbell Choir
website or on our Facebook page. Cost: $20. and Charlie. Covered
dish lunch will follow in Wednesday
Fellowship Hall. Meat 5:00 pm Fellowship Meal
Students Music
provided by the church.
cmallory@eastmont.org worship@eastmont.org 6:00 pm Prayer Meeting &
Jr/Sr Banquet - Bible Studies
DNOW - Senior Adult Choir - Tuesday, February 14 @
February 17-19. Choir / Orchestra
January 31. 6:00 pm in Fellowship
Registration opens Hall. Special Guest: Ed Rehearsal
January 22 on Cleveland. $10 per Timeout
Eastmont's Events person. Ticket required (Student Worship)
page or on the Student
Mission Friends
Ministry Facebook page. Children
Cost is $40 tlogan@eastmont.org (Preschool)
Pinewood Derby - February 26th in Fellowship Hall Bible Skills, Drills, &
following the second service. Details coming soon. Thrills (1-6 Grades)
THE ENCOURAGER
EASTMONT BAPTIST CHURCH
4505 ATLANTA HIGHWAY
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36109

IN THIS ISSUE
From Your Student Pastor

Church Center Directory

Send Relief Serve Tour

Montgomery

Next Steps Membership

Class

Upcoming Events

Ministry Happenings

CONTACT US
Office: (334) 277-6300 Careline: (334)277-6384 Prayer Room: (334) 277-8876
Email: ebc@eastmont.org Website: eastmont.org
Facebook: facebook.com/eastmont Twitter: @eastmontbaptist
OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm; Friday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm