Vol. XXXVIII • No.

12 • June 20, 2008

“Among Friends”
I came across this prayer by Teresa of Avila recently
and want to share it with you.
Surrender and Action:
Teresian Prayer for Contemporary Lives
Give me wealth or want,
Delight or distress,
Happiness or gloominess,
Heaven or hell,
Sweet life, sun unveiled,
To You I give all.
What do you want of me?
Give me, if You will, prayer;
Or let me know dryness,
An abundance of devotion,
Or if not, then barrenness,
In you alone, Sovereign Majesty,
I find my peace,
What do You want of me?
Give me then wisdom,
Or for love, ignorance,
Years of abundance,
Or hunger and famine.
Darkness or sunlight,
Move me here or there:
What do you want of me?
If You want me to rest,
I desire it for love;
If to labor,
I will die working:
Sweet Love say
Where, how and when.
What do You want of me?
Welcome New Member!
Tyler Brown
June 15, 2008
(by profession of faith; baptism)
Vacation Bible School
July 21-25; 9-Noon
Amazing Bible adventures, sizzling craft
experiments, super snacks, cool music, and
Hyperspeed games! Grab your friends so
everyone can plug into the Power! VBS is open
to children in 3 yrs—5th grade.
Thank you to the 18 adults who have volunteered to serve as
Teachers at the Power Lab learning stations! Many other
opportunities to serve are still available.
See these great opportunities below and
ask God which part YOU are meant to play:
Crew Leaders (29 have volunteered; 11 still needed from 8:30-
12:15): Crew Leaders are the heart of VBS! Each Crew Leader
is responsible for leading a group of 6 children through the
different stations at VBS. No teaching is involved - you'll just be
participating in fun activities with the children and sharing Jesus'
love with them.
Registration Workers (12 have volunteered; 8 still needed
from 8:30-10:00 on Mon., July 21): Friendly people are needed
to welcome arriving families to VBS, help them register, and
direct their children to their Crews.

Calvary or Tabor give me,
Desert or fruitful land;
As Job in suffering
Or John at Your breast;
Barren of fruited vine,
Whatever be You will:
What do You want of me?
Prayer “Champions” (2 have volunteered; many more needed):
This will be the real power source for the whole week. We ask
pray-ers to commit to spending 60-75 minutes in the Prayer
Room lifting up VBS in prayer. Choose from 3 shifts: 8:45-9:45,
9:45-11, or 11-12:15.

Yours I am, for You I was born:

What do You want of me?

St. Teresa of Avila, 16th Century

(From "In the Hands of God" (vol. 3, 378-79), The Collected
Works of St. Teresa of Avila)

What better prayer for our FBC Decatur family to be praying:

Yours we are;
For You we were born;
What do you want of us?
Congregational Life Prayer Concerns as of
June 17, 2008
Reception for Bill Neal and Tom Borgo--June 29
Join us after 11:00 worship on June 29 for a reception in honor of two men who have In The Hospital:
served Christ on the FBC staff in significant ways. Bill Neal began serving as ▪ Tyler Cagle, Acute Neuro Rehab,
Minister of Senior Adults in October of 2004. He resigned last summer in order to Phoenix, AZ.
become CEO of Developmental Disabilities Ministry (DDM) but has continued to ▪ José Edmonds, Scottish Rite
minister among our senior adults in a variety of ways. Bill is passing Sympathy To:
this ministry into the hands of Bob Williamson, who steps into the role ▪ Gary Bechdol on the death of his
of Minister of Congregational Care and Senior Adults this summer. Tom Borgo father, Earnest Bechdol.
began serving as FBC's facilities manager in March of 2003, bringing an ▪ The family of Virginia Haney.
unmistakable standard of excellence to everything under his care. Tom began a new ▪ Marian Smith on the death of her
job this month, serving as Facilities Manager at Clairmont Crest Apartments. Danny sister, Mitzi Rothermel.
Britt assumed management of our facilities last month. Join us as we honor and give ▪ The family of Martha Russell,
thanks to God for Tom and Bill. sister-in-law of the P-R’s.
▪ The family of Walt Mayfield’s
Guest Preachers in July brother’s mother-in-law.
Our own David King will be with us in worship on July 13. David and his wife ▪ Dot Gordon on the death of her
Lauren are relatively new members of the FBC Decatur family. David is a Ph.D. sister-in-law, Mary Gordon.
candidate in Historical Studies within the Graduate Department of Religion at ▪ Pat McNulty and Ginny McNulty
Emory University. In addition to his studies, he currently works with the on the death of their mother and
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in the area of New Church Starts. Lauren teaches grandmother, Anne Stephens.
second grade at Lilburn Elementary. They live in Lilburn with their dog Lucy. ▪ The family of Judy Heichel, cousin
of Jackie Durham.
Dr. Robert Wallace, Assistant Professor of Religion and Director of International Thank You Note Received from:
Programs at Shorter College, will bring the message on July 20 while Pastor Julie is ▪ Brandy Benefield
away on vacation. Rob has served as pastor and interim pastor in a number of
churches in Texas and Georgia. He is married to Cindy, who is a hospice chaplain
with United Hospice of Rome. They are the parents of two terrific boys, Daniel and Tithes & Offerings
Thomas.
A Generous People
Wednesday Nights This Summer 2008 Ministry Action Plan
New Schedule! Weekly Need: .....................$ 27,361
5-6—Supper (fellowship hall) Received on June 8:............$ 19,672
6-6:15—Prayer Time (Chapel) Received on June 15:..........$ 10,588
6:15-6:45—Our Baptist Heritage Series (Chapel) Y-T-D Need:.....................$ 656,671
Y-T-D Received: ..............$ 549,329
Our Baptist Heritage Surplus/(shortfall):............ (107,341)
June 4, 11 & 18 Baptist Prophets: Their Lives & Contributions; Led by Peter Rhea Jones
June 25, July 9 & 16 Baptist Theology: A Really Short Version; Led by Charles Whaley “Years of Opportunity 2007-09”
July 30, Aug. 6 & 13 Freedom: The Key to the Baptist Genius; Led by Bill Fulkerson Campaign
Given to Date:...................$ 307,494
Bank Loan Balance:..........$ 271,229
Owed to FBC Fdn.:...........$ 180,000

Missions Offering YTD ......$ 8,625

Save the Date—Church Work Day, Sept. 27
Mark your calendars now! Our next church work day will be September 27 from 9-4. Lunch will Wednesday Dinner Menus
be provided.
June 25
Go…Be…Do! Missions Corner Country Fried Steak w/ White
Pepper Gravy, Mashed Potatoes,
VOTE FOR HOPE Canned Food Drive Green Beans, Salad Bar, Buttermilk
Please bring CANNED FOOD when you come to vote in the July 15th State Primary elections at Biscuits, Coca Cola Cake.
First Baptist Church of Decatur. This effort is called VOTE FOR HOPE and it’s an opportunity to
combine the power of the ballot box with the power to directly help people in our own July 2
neighborhood. All CANNED FOOD will be given to Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry No Wednesday Night Meal
(DEAM) for distribution to people in need. Please call the church office if you have any questions,
404-373-1653.

Thanks for bringing both your vote and your hope!

Youth Sp•t
Kid’s Zone
The youth will be heading to Hurley, Virginia this year for
their annual out of town mission week. We will be working Each week during the summer FBC Decatur’s Activities
with Hurley Community Development. HCD is a Christian Ministry sponsors the finest Day Camp experience in the area.
organization that strives to meet both the physical and spiritual July 7-11 is Art Week. This year we are offering a mini retreat
needs of people in Appalachia and help them remain in the option through our Children’s Ministry as part of Art Week.
area. We will be helping HCD by providing labor and Children completed who have 3rd- 5th grade are invited to
material for all kinds of projects including home repairs, light spend 3 days at Dogwood Lodge in Chattanooga, TN. We will
construction, painting, roofing, and cleaning. This trip is open explore God’s Big Back Yard, where building character just
to all youth who have completed the sixth grade and it will be like Jesus is NUMBER ONE. You can call Pastor Debbie at
from Saturday morning, July 12 until Saturday, July 19. 678-414-0399 or sign up online through the Summer Camp at
campoffice@fbcdecatur.com. Registration Deadline is July 1.
The Children and Youth Ministries will be hosting a
progressive dinner and slumber party for all rising sixth graders Upcoming Extended Session Volunteers:
on Friday evening, July 11th. This will be a great time to help
welcome the new sixth graders into the Youth Ministry. Please June 22 June 29 July 6 July 13
keep your eyes open for more details in the coming weeks. Eargle Verdery Herndon Bigbie
Perry Sunday Williams Kennedy
R. Leeth School Minor Palmer
Henderson Class Visser Milton

The Outlook, a publication of the First Baptist Church of Decatur,

Georgia, is mailed to members and friends of the First Baptist family.

Main Office......................................404-373-1653
Finance.............................................404-370-7694
First School ......................................404-370-7688
Activities ..........................................404-373-2442
FAX ..................................................404-370-7692
Debbie Britt .....................................404-373-1653
Ryan Forbes.....................................404-370-7690
Julie Pennington-Russell.................404-370-7684
Kurt Varney......................................404-373-1653
Bob Williamson ...............................404-370-7687

Computer Connections:
Website—http://www.fbcdecatur.com
E-Mail—fbcd@fbcdecatur.com

The Outlook, USPS 600-320, is published bi-weekly, except

Christmas week, by First Baptist Church Decatur, GA

Postmaster: Please send address changes to First Baptist Church,

308 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030