Vol. XXXVIII • No.

17 • August 29, 2008

“Spirituality for Real Life” - Led by Sharyn Dowd
Wednesday Night Bible Study Series
September 17 What does “spirituality” have to do with real life?
September 24 Giving God the Keys
October 1 Spirituality and Money
October 8 Why praise? Does God have low self-esteem?
October 15 Radical Forgiveness
October 22 Praying Politically (not nationalistically)
October 29 Fall Festival
November 5 What’s with this “Ask and you will receive” and
“Your Father knows before you ask”?
November 12 “In all things give thanks.” (Who is God kidding?)
November 19 Walking with God (through a prayer labyrinth).

unplugged
worshipforyouth•wednesdaysat6:30
wednesdaysat6:30
This fall our youth will have a weekly worship service called
unplugged. Unplugged will be an uncomplicated time of worship
where youth can disconnect from all the things that fill their lives
and connect with God. This service will happen in the chapel at
6:30 on Wednesday evenings.

God called Samuel as a child

…Samuel ran to Eli’s bedside, this time Eli knew it must be God
wanting to speak to Samuel, so he told Samuel to go back to bed and if
he heard it again say: “Speak Lord I am listening.”

“SAMUEL,”

“Yes Lord, your servant is listening.”

Samuel listened carefully and did what God told him. This made God
happy. He knew He could use Samuel do great things for HIM.

Just as God called Samuel, leaders with a heart for missions are
committed to teaching children to listen and answer God’s call
through DiscoverKids. We have been very intentional this year in
our planning to provide life-changing, hands-on mission
experiences for children so they can follow God’s call in their
lives. Children will be engaged in missions through the Bible,
meeting real missionaries, playing games, experiencing different
cultures, enjoying the arts from different cultures, tasting the food
of different cultures and mission action environments will be
available. Children will not only hear about missionaries and
foreign places but will be challenged with several service projects.
The Fall Semester topics are:
▪ A New Life in America for the Karen or hilltribe people of
Southeast Asia
▪ Mission Adventures from Hungary
▪ Sharing God’s Love with Berbers of North Africa
Congregational Life
Prayer Concerns as of
Aloha Church Family Field Day—Wed. Sept. 3 August 26, 2008
We are inviting everyone to come to the front lawn on September 3 at 6:00 pm for our “Aloha
Church Family Field Day.” The church will provide the drinks, chips, paper products, and the hot Congratulations To:
dogs/bratwursts. We ask those who can to bring along side dishes to share. Please be generous in ▪David and Katie Howard on the
what you bring and plan to bring along a lawn chair as well. birth of identical twins, Grace and
Rebecca.
College Ministry Kick-Off ▪Scott and Michelle Minor on the
We will be having a college ministry kick-off breakfast on September 7, right after Fresh Start in birth of their second son, Luke
the third-floor conference room. If you know a local college student, or a student who is home on Robert.
weekends, please let us know. Send contact information to Richard Parker (rpsr65@gmail.com) or In the Hospital:
to Sharyn Dowd (sdowd@fbcdecatur.com). ▪Juanita Hogan, Piedmont, Rm. 476
Sympathy To:
Eddie Hammett @ FBC Decatur Wed., Sept. 10 ▪ The family of Paul Greene, friend
Many church leaders are asking how to keep people over 60 years of age while at the of the Massingale’s.
same time reach people under 40. Does meeting the spiritual needs of one group
necessarily create a barrier to working with the other? Join us in Carreker Hall for a Tithes & Offerings
special Wednesday night session with Eddie Hammett and Randy Pierce as they share
insights from their book, Reaching People Under 40 while Keeping People over 60.
Lay leaders from around Atlanta have been invited to join us for our Wednesday night meal
A Generous People
2008 Ministry Action Plan
followed by the session with Eddie & Randy. Please note—on this night only, the Bible study hour
will run from 6:30-8:00 pm.
Weekly Need: .....................$ 27,361
Reaching People Under 40 While Keeping People Over 60-Part 2: Reduced Rate for FBC Folks
Received on Aug. 17 ..........$ 20,086
In addition to the Bible study on Wednesday night, Eddie Hammett is offering a bigger “second
Received on Aug. 24 ..........$ 13,387
helping” on Thursday, September 11, at FBC Decatur from 9:00a – 2:00p. This day-long
Y-T-D Need:.....................$ 930,284
conference, sponsored by the Atlanta Metro Baptist Association, will draw leaders from around the
Y-T-D Received: ..............$ 770,239
state. FBC folks have the chance to attend at a reduced rate—just $25 per person. Register by
Surplus/(shortfall):............ (160,045)
sending a check to: AMBA, 3070 Mercer University Dr, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30341-4138.
Deadline for registering is noon on Monday, September 8.
“Years of Opportunity 2007-09”
Campaign
Conference on Effective Ministry
On Wednesday, September 17, you are invited to join the pastoral staff at a conference on effective
Given to Date:...................$ 319,439
educational ministry sponsored by McAfee School of Theology. Reggie Joiner will speak at the
Bank Loan Balance:..........$ 256,443
conference at Northeast Baptist Church, which begins at 10 a.m. and concludes at 2 p.m. FBCD has
Owed to FBC Fdn.:...........$ 180,000
paid to enroll as many people as want to attend. If you are interested, contact Sharyn Dowd at
sdowd@fbcdecatur.com.
Missions Offering YTD ....$ 13,800
Workday September 27
Our fall workday is just around the corner on September 27 and we need your help to make it is a Wednesday Dinner Menus
success. There is now a Workday mailbox in the mail area across from the Welcome Center. Please
suggest projects that need to go on the “To Do” list for this work day. Also, if you're not able to September 3
participate, please consider donating funds to help cover the cost of supplies. These workdays save “Aloha” Church Family Field Day
the church thousands of dollars in labor and help us to be good stewards of our resources. Plus, Please join us on the front lawn at
they're just a whole lot of fun. Plan to join us! 6:00 PM!
2009 Ministry Action Plan—Voting in Sunday School September 10
After month's of careful research and preparation, the budget preparation team will present the 2009 Pick one of the following menus:
budget for approval during the Sunday morning Bible study hour on September 28 in the Sanctuary.
All adult Sunday school classes will meet in the Sanctuary for a brief lesson that will be taught by Traditional Menu
Sharyn Dowd. The lesson will be followed by a discussion and vote on the new budget. A copy of Parmesan Crusted Chicken, Potato
the proposed budget will be mailed out in early September. Salad, Italian Cut Green Beans,
Salad Bar, Yeast Rolls, Strawberry
Go…Be…Do! Missions Corner Cake

September is DEAM Collection Month—Please bring your donation of canned goods and “Lighter Side” Menu
non-perishable food items for the Decatur Emergency Assistance Ministry (DEAM) during the Soup of the week, Salad/Baked
month of September. Boxes will be placed through-out the church to collect your donations. Potato Bar, Grilled Chicken Strips,
“The Works” Pizza. Chocolate
Update on Boxes for Soldiers—We are still needing items for the boxes we are sending to the Pudding
soldiers: Paperbacks and videos (needed for the soldiers in the hospital), washcloths, small
towels and packaged snack items.
Youth Sp•t
September will be a big month for our youth --- We will be kicking
off our new fall schedule and it is a little different this year…
By the end of September we will have a new slate of youth leaders
in place for Sunday morning Bible study. This will be a big change
for our youth as we involve more parents in our Sunday morning
experience. We will continue to meet in the Activities Center on
Sunday mornings at 10:00 in between our worship services.
On Sunday evenings we will have a youth ensemble that will meet
at 6:00 in the choir suite and will be led by Ryan Forbes. This will
be a great music experience and is open to all youth in grades six
through twelve. Rotisserie will follow from 6:30 to 8:00 in the
Activities center. We will take one Sunday evening off per month
as a Sunday evening Sabbath. This will be a time for youth to
relax, sleep, study, or spend time with family.
On Wednesday evenings we will invite all youth to eat dinner in
the Fellowship Hall for $3.00 and then at 6:30 we will head to the
chapel for Unplugged. This will be a time of worship for youth
with music and a message. We are calling it unplugged because we
intend for this to be an uncomplicated time of worship for youth
where we unplug for a time each Wednesday to connect with God.
Keep your eyes open for more information as the month of
September unfolds.
Garden of Eatin’ Set for Sept. 13
The annual fund-raising event for Decatur Cooperative Ministries
(DCM) will be held on Saturday, September 13 at the Holiday Inn
Conference Center. More than 25 Decatur restaurants will serve
samples and there will be a silent auction, music, and activities for
children. Tickets are available from Carla Stanford or from the
church office. Thanks for supporting the important work of DCM.
Kid’s Zone
Fall is bringing us great growth and new opportunities in the
children’s area and we find ourselves in need of some folks who
love children and could be committed to team teaching in our
children’s area. Please pray as we seek the folks God is calling to
this ministry. Contact Debbie Britt for more information.
I am really excited about DiscoverKids this year. The key
element this year is hands-on mission projects, like delivering
meals to shut-ins, buying Christmas presents for Hagar House and
taking treats to the residents of Briarcliff Oaks. You will not
want to miss how the Karen or hilltribe people of Burma,
currently known as Myanmar, are Finding New Life in America.
We will experience virtual Mission Adventures from the United
States to Hungary to Berber Friends and Neighbors. We have
several hands-on mission projects planned for this semester that
truly teach children to Go…Be…Do…Missions. Join us on
September 3rd for Aloha night and then on September 10 at 5:30
for New Community and DiscoverKids.
Several items are needed for children’s crafts. You will find
collection boxes in the main office and in the preschool
welcome station. We need: empty glass baby food jars, empty
crystal light containers, empty Pringles containers, empty toilet
paper rolls and empty paper towel rolls.
Children’s Fall Consignment Sale
Sept. 19-20; 9am-3pm—Gym
You won't want to miss the great bargains on gently used
children's clothing, toys, shoes, books, videos, bicycles, strollers,
maternity, scout uniforms, and much more. Many items 1/2 price
on Saturday. If interested in consigning or for more information,
call Jeannie Lippy at 770-414-6099.

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
Sharyn Dowd....................................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—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