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September 2019
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308 E. Main Street, Lexington SC 29072803.359.4146
24-hour prayer: 803.808.7729
LEXINGTONBAPTIST.ORG
MINISTRY STAFFDr. Mike TurnerSenior Pastor
Mark HathcoxAssociate Pastor (Missions)
Stephen McNeillAssociate Pastor (Next Gen)
Mark OwensExecutive Pastor (Equipping)
Dan WilliamsAssociate Pastor (Senior Adults and Congregational Care)
Sean AbramsFinance Director
Maegan BoldingChildren’s Ministry Director
Jenny ClarkCommunications Director
Juanita FarmerFacilities Director
Sabrina HookerPreschool Ministry Director
Jake JenkinsHigh School Ministry Director
Hamilton MathisRecreation & Middle School Ministries Director
Crystal RaySpecial Needs Ministry Director
Seth StoddardMissions Associate for Church Planting
Jacob PowersMedia Director
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From the Pastor
Preschool: What a Wonderful World
Children: Lex Kids Elementary Update
Middle School: Upward is Upon Us!
High School: Back to School
Next Gen: Summer Rewind 2019
Lex Unlimited: Lina’s Life Lesson
Senior Adults: Senior Adult News
Equipping: New LifeDesigns Starts This Month!
Missions: God is at Work
LBC News
Calendar of Events
Marriage 101: Dating Your Spouse
Finance: Only in the Darkness Can You See the Stars
Church Planting: Moving for a Change
I met with a young man recently who shared with me that during his college years when he did things that he now regrets and drifted away from his faith, one thing stayed the same. He never stopped praying. The faith he learned as a child had been so powerfully imprinted on his spirit through the prayers of his parents and the godly men and women in his church that even at his worst moments, he knew he could still talk with God. You could say prayer was his default response when life didn’t work.
Most of us who know first hand the power of prayer would say the same thing. That’s why I’m so excited about our Prayer Conference coming up Sunday, September 29! Preacher and author Dr. Terry Teykl will be here to lead us in a weekend devoted to “Welcoming the Holy Spirit, Acts 29.” You’ll remember that the book of Acts has only 28 chapters—so Acts 29 represents our response to the amazing Holy Spirit ministry recorded through the book of Acts! Terry will help us catch a fresh vision of the power of prayer and the ways the Holy Spirit continues moving today.
Also, we’ll receive Prayer Commitment cards for our intercessory prayer ministry during the morning services—if the Lord is drawing you into a deeper experience of praying for others, this is the ministry for you! The commitment cards will be available the Sunday prior to the conference, September 22.
To help prepare our hearts for the conference, we’re using a special 10-day guide called “Acts 29 Prayer Guide” that’s available in the Worship Center lobby as well as in the Children’s area lobby. You and your family can pick up the guide anytime throughout the month then begin using it on Thursday, September 19 so that it completes on Saturday, September 28, the day before the conference begins.
Terry will also be leading a special service for the wider community on Sunday night, September 29 based on his awesome book, “The Presence Based Church.” I’ve read this book and was so deeply moved that I can’t wait to hear him teach it!
So, if you’re in need of prayer or know someone who is. Or want to learn more about prayer. Or finding your heart strangely warmed by the Holy Spirit to seek the Lord more passionately. Or finding that life isn’t working for you and need divine help. Or any of the thousand other reasons people are driven to their knees crying out to God, you should set aside this weekend for the sole purpose of accepting the Holy Spirit’s invitation to prayer. I believe with all my heart you’ll be blessed because of it.
See you Sunday!Pastor Mike
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From the Pastor
Mike TurnerSenior Pastor
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SEPTEMBER 29!
Sunday, September 29, guest speaker Dr. Terry Teykl will speak in both morning
services on “Welcoming the Holy Spirit, Acts 29” as part of our annual
Prayer Focus Sunday! There will also be a Community Outreach Service that
evening at 6:00pm in the Worship Center.
PRAYER COMMITMENT CARDS
On Sunday, September 22 we’ll be handing out our annual Prayer Commitment Cards.
Take the week of September 22 to pray about serving in our Prayer Ministry. If any of these areas interest you, please fill out the card and place it on the altar at the designated time during worship on September 29.
To learn more about our Prayer Ministry, visit lexingtonbaptist.org/prayer.
2019 PRAYER MINISTRY COMMITMENT CARD
I make a one-year commitment to serve in the following ministries:
GLOBAL MISSIONS PRAYER MINISTRY__ One hour __ 1/2 hour per week in the Global Missions Prayer Room Day: _________ Hour: __________ Receive secure email alerts
INTERCESSORY PRAYER MINISTRY__ One hour per week in the Intercessory Prayer Room Day: _____________ Hour: _______________ Substitute for IPM Room Intercessor Days/Times: ____________________________ One hour per week in my home as a Night Watch Intercessor (hours are between 12 and 5am)
MINISTER’S PRAYER PARTNERS__ Pray with a team once per month during a worship service choose time: __ 9am __ 10:30am__ Pray for a designated minister on a daily basis from home
MEN’S PRAYER GROUP__ Meets Sundays at 3:30pm in AEB 404
CHILDREN’S PRAYER MINISTRY__ Receive weekly updates for prayer__ Prayerwalk the Children’s Building Weekly__ Prayerwalk the Children’s Building Monthly
PRAYERWALKING MINISTRY__ Prayerwalk our community__ Prayerwalk our schools__ Prayerwalk on a mission fi eld
Along with a commitment to involvement in the Prayer Ministry, a commitment to absolute confi dentiality concerning any
information or prayer request must be made. Your signature below signifi es your desire to make BOTH of these commitments.
Name: ________________________________________
Signature: _____________________________________
Primary Phone: (_______)_________________________
Email: _______________________________________(Please print)
2019 PRAYER MINISTRY COMMITMENT CARD
I make a one-year commitment to serve in the following ministries:
GLOBAL MISSIONS PRAYER MINISTRY__ One hour __ 1/2 hour per week in the Global Missions Prayer Room Day: _________ Hour: __________ Receive secure email alerts
INTERCESSORY PRAYER MINISTRY__ One hour per week in the Intercessory Prayer Room Day: _____________ Hour: _______________ Substitute for IPM Room Intercessor Days/Times: ____________________________ One hour per week in my home as a Night Watch Intercessor (hours are between 12 and 5am)
MINISTER’S PRAYER PARTNERS__ Pray with a team once per month during a worship service choose time: __ 9am __ 10:30am__ Pray for a designated minister on a daily basis from home
MEN’S PRAYER GROUP__ Meets Sundays at 3:30pm in AEB 404
CHILDREN’S PRAYER MINISTRY__ Receive weekly updates for prayer__ Prayerwalk the Children’s Building Weekly__ Prayerwalk the Children’s Building Monthly
PRAYERWALKING MINISTRY__ Prayerwalk our community__ Prayerwalk our schools__ Prayerwalk on a mission fi eld
Along with a commitment to involvement in the Prayer Ministry, a commitment to absolute confi dentiality concerning any
information or prayer request must be made. Your signature below signifi es your desire to make BOTH of these commitments.
Name: ________________________________________
Signature: _____________________________________
Primary Phone: (_______)_________________________
Email: _______________________________________(Please print)
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLDWhen is the last time you took the time to really look at everything God made? Taking a moment to take a walk outside or look up the wonders of the world online will totally change the way you share this month’s Bible stories with preschoolers. We need that WONDER dial turned way up! ALL the way up! And the best way to do that is to experience some of that wonder!When we take the time to look at this amazing world God made, we are fi lled with awe and wonder. It’s that feeling of wonder we want our preschoolers to have as they learn about God’s creation. We are going to do a lot of counting together this month – one, two, three, four, fi ve, six, seven – pausing to learn what God made on each day of creation. Through our fun and exciting activities and stories we want our preschoolers to learn God made everything, and IT IS GOOD!
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Sabrina HookerPreschool Ministry Director
FOR PRESCHOOLERSWeek 1: Light and Dark; Sky and Water
Genesis 1:3-8On days one and two, God made the light
and dark and sky and water.*NO SUNDAY SCHOOL SEPT. 1
FOR KICKOFF SUNDAY!*Wee Care for 2 and under @ 10:30am
Week 2: Land, Plants, and SeaGenesis 1:9-13
On day three, God made the land, plants, and sea.
Week 3: Sun, Moon, and Stars Genesis 1:14-19
On day four, God made the sun, moon, and stars.
Week 4: Birds, Fish, and AnimalsGenesis 1:20-25
On days fi ve and six, God made the birds, fi sh, and animals.
Week 5: People; God RestedGenesis 1:26-2:25
On day seven, God made the most special thing: people. Then He rested.
As kids begin a new school year, we want to create a space for our kids to process the idea of trust – trust is putting your confi dence in someone you depend on. Kids trust things and people every day…they trust their bus driver will get them safely to school…they trust the chairs they sit on in their classrooms…they trust their parents will have food on the table for dinner each night…they trust us as their church leaders to teach them about the Bible in a fun environment. But, the reality is we’re human, and we live in a broken world. We mess up. We fail. We don’t show up. We hurt feelings. We forget. We’ve chosen Proverbs 3:5 as our memory verse for the month which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” There is an equally true reality that God never fails. He is faithful and constant. He will never lead us astray. The Bible is full of men and women who trust God no matter what, and in September, we are focusing on two of them. We will be learning from the examples of Jacob and his son, Joseph, as we help kids to understand that God is trustworthy.
Just like a trek through the wilderness, life takes trust! So, don’t hit the trail alone. Put your confi dence in someone you can depend on - God.
Our largest outreach event of the year is coming up soon! On Thursday, October 24th, we are thrilled to host thousands of people on our campus once again for our annual Light Up the Night. This year, this event will cover our entire campus with more rides, food trucks, candy, games, and music and will be ready to welcome even more people onto our little corner of Main Street! Join us from 6 – 9pm for a whole lot of fun as we light up our community with the light of Jesus.
In order to make this happen, though, we’ll need your help. Specifi cally, we need candy donations (our goal is 2,000 bags and collection points are located throughout the church and in each adult Sunday School class), trunk-or-treat volunteers (you can sign up in the Children’s lobby at the large display beginning September 15th) and volunteers to serve in a wide variety of ways. Contact our Children’s Ministry at [email protected] for more information on how you can be a part of it all!
Maegan BoldingChildren’s Ministry Director
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September is here and that means one thing when it comes to our recreation ministry...UPWARD! We are thrilled to begin another season of Upward basketball and cheerleading in the coming weeks. Upward is a phenomenal opportunity for boys and girls, grades 5k-6th grade, to learn basketball and cheerleading in a uplifting, Christ-centered environment. Registration opens September 1 and runs through October 12, and the cost is $89 per participant. However, you want to sign up now because our spots will fill rapidly.
Also, we are in need of coaches, referees, scorekeepers, team parents, prayer partners, and so many other positions to serve for the upcoming season. We have a place for everyone! To volunteer or register your child, visit lexingtonbaptist.org/recreation. If you have any questions, please contact Katelyn Foxworth at [email protected].
Hamilton MathisMiddle School & Recreation
Ministries [email protected]
UPWARD IS UPON US!
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After a great summer, school is finally here! Some students may welcome the idea of seeing their friends, but not so much the schoolwork. Summer has been filled with doing things at your own schedule, maybe a summer job, but at least there has been no schoolwork! Now, getting back into the rhythm of doing homework and classwork may seem difficult.
When I was in high school, I had basketball and football workouts all summer. I didn’t have to worry about schoolwork, but sometimes that seemed a little better than the drills we did for two hours straight at basketball practice! The only schoolwork that I had to worry about was the book the teachers gave us for summer reading. I always seemed to push it to the side until the week before school started…but I’m sure you never did that.
We are humans. We love routines. But what happens when we take a break spiritually? I know a lot of times, we get into a “summer season” with our faith and just relax, doing the things that we want to do and putting God aside until we need Him. But is that the kind of relationship that God wants with His children? I don’t think so. The best way to get back in the routine is with help from others! Don’t start this fall season doing things by yourself. If you don’t have an accountability partner, get one! If you are thinking whether or not to join that Small Group, join it! I know you will see God do something awesome!
Jake JenkinsHigh School Ministry [email protected]
BACK TO SCHOOL
I’ve learned in my fifteen years of being married that we have different seasons in the family life. We have weeks that things are calm in the McNeill house, and then we have the weeks where everything moves at a torrential pace. This faster pace can look different for all of us, but here is the one thing in all of this that must be set in stone, and that is a date night. I don’t care if you have been married two months or 50 years, never stop dating your spouse. One of the things I have been terrible at, is dating my wife each week. I make excuses of how busy we are with both kids being so active in things, but they are just excuses. What example am I showing my kids by never dating their mom? I’m called first to love Jesus, and then my wife….I must make that a priority.
I recently saw an article that said women view date night as a night of romance. They view it as a way of getting back on the same page with their spouse. They see it as a night to dress up. Guys, what a win for us! Make this a priority. Never stop dating, no matter the season of life.
Stephen McNeillAssociate Pastor, Next Gen
DATING YOUR SPOUSE
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Well, another summer here at LBC is in the books. Kids, students and parents are beginning to settle into the new routine of a new school year and everyone is excited about football and things to come. As we look back, what a great summer of worship, fun and exhaustion! We watched God challenge our kids and students to live strong, persevere and live on mission everywhere they go. Especially here in Lexington, South Carolina!
We had many opportunities throughout the summer that were full of energy, teaching, playing, worshipping and loving on all of our kids and students. We hope and pray, here in the NextGen Ministry, that this summer has been a wonderful time for all kids, students and adults to get away from the distractions of the world and hear from God. My prayer for families this summer was, “be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:9). I believe God uses summer times in ministry to literally change the direction of many of these kids, students and parents. I have seen just this summer how God has moved in a mighty way to change the direction of many. We hope and pray that they will be able to impact their friends and family by loving unconditionally as Jesus has loved us.
Big thanks to our LBC college summer staffers; Corey, Tyler, Gracyn, Anna, Ginny and Ashleigh, who loved on our families in so many ways. Thank you for shining a light for all to see.
God was surely glorifi ed, and lives were impacted with the gospel this summer. Pray for our kids, students and their families as they do this thing called life. Pray that we will look back on the summer of 2019 as the launching pad into bigger and greater things for Jesus here at LBC and in this community. Stephen McNeill
Associate Pastor, Next [email protected]
SUMMER REWIND 2019
For so many people the month of September is the beginning of a new season. School is back in and routines have begun to normalize again. For me, September means something different. This September will be the ninth anniversary of my daughter’s homecoming. Nine whole years that she has been with Jesus. I can tell you there are moments when nine years feels like a lifetime and others when it feels like a day. That’s the way grief operates. Grief is unpredictable and often irrational, it never really goes away - it changes but never disappears. I can tell you that our lives will never be the same as they were before September 24, 2010. So many of you never had the privilege to meet Lina. Evangeline, or as we called her Lina, experienced more joy and love in her short years than many will their whole lives. Her laugh was contagious and so often she would laugh so hard that tears would stream down her face. She loved playing with her sisters and often, as we hung out in the kitchen, she would push her favorite barbie around in her favorite pink barbie VW bug. She loved the band Cold Play and was a big fan of Rhythm and Blues. She loved the rain and would sit with her face turned upward just letting the rain fall on her face as she would just smile. Every child should be able to play in the rain and that’s something we never took for granted. Her life was never easy, her 6 years and 318 days here on this side of eternity was filled with 46 surgeries and hundreds of hospitalizations, but we counted every minute as a gift and treasured life to the fullest. Lina’s life, and even her death, has taught me so much about the Lord’s love. I learned that every experience we have, the good, the bad and the ugly, are ALL opportunities to show people who
Jesus is and to glorify Him. I learned to not worry about the small things and to laugh as much as possible, because something magical happens in our hearts when laughter fills our voices.
I learned that my Lord cares deeply about not only the big things in my life but also the little things as well. And I learned that I may not ever understand why some things happen, but I can always trust fully in the One who saved me.
I can honestly say that my greatest pain has become my greatest ministry. For the rest of my years I will al-ways sing the Lord’s praises and will allow Lina’s life and legacy to reflect the Lord’s love and goodness. I’m so thankful for the Lord’s promises and the assurance that I will see her again.
Crystal RaySpecial Needs Ministry Director
LINA’S LIFE LESSON
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Dan WilliamsAssociate Pastor
Sr. Adults & Congregational [email protected]
Sign up now for the Annual Fall Retreat!Triple: $175 | Double: $250 | Single: $350
Charter Bus TravelAlabama Theater Show
Beach Cove Resort Hotel on the beachEmail [email protected] to sign up!
The Sr. Adult Revival was such a blessing last month! The music and preaching were all directed at helping our Sr. Adults to “Fuel
up, so you don’t run out!” That was accomplished in our lives and we are so
grateful to the Lord for the strong ties He has placed within the hearts of His
children here at LBC.
A new season is upon us for Sr. Adult ministry here at LBC! It all begins with the fi rst Cornerstone Luncheon on the
September 5 at 11:00am in the Fellowship Hall. Make your reservation by Friday, August 30 since Monday will be Labor
Day and the church offi ce will be closed.
Lunch at Shealy’s in Leesville
September 24 LBC Bus leaves at
10:30am
Apple PickingHendersonville Stepps
September 19LBC Bus leaves at 7am
Legacy Choir Starting September 8 at 4:30pm
in the Choir Room12
Having just returned from Panama last month, I can’t help but still refl ect on my time there. In particular, the last night of our trip we were meeting in a woman’s yard for church in the neighborhood where a church plant will hopefully develop. It was very hot, and the mosquitos were everywhere, but people came. As it grew dark, I took notice of the stars and how crystal clear the sky was for me to be able to see them all. Having never been to Panama, the perspective of that view was new to me. I tried to soak it all in and quickly realized I had been with the stars all week. As we walked through towns prayer walking and inviting people not just to church but to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, we saw and walked through lots of darkness: unbelief, emotional and physical scars, fi nancial distress to name a few. The team that went down did not shy away from any of those situations. The darker the situation, the more brightly each person let the light of Jesus shine through them. On this night, our collection of stars had church without a church building, without air conditioning, without sound and lighting, without dressy clothes but we did have what was important. God was with us and we were willing to be obedient and worship Him in the time we had at that house and through all the work that we did while we were in Panama. Our relationship with God and our purpose (to glorify Him) was simplifi ed……and it was beautiful and pure.
As we return home we are faced with a challenging transition. How does that experience with God in Panama change the way we are in Lexington? Truthfully, we should act the same exact way here, but will we? We have plenty of darkness here too. My prayer for our team (and all of LBC) is that we are intentional and bold when it comes to our relationships with others and with Jesus. How can we marvel at what God does if we don’t give Him the opportunity to use us?
Sean AbramsFinance and HR Director
ONLY IN THE DARKNESS CAN YOU SEE THE STARS
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We took a big step forward this month at FBC West Columbia. We moved all of our kids Sunday School rooms from the Burriss Building (closest to State Street) to the Chapel and newly renovated area under the sanctuary. Our Senior Adult Sunday School classes moved to the second fl oor of the Snyder Building (directly behind the sanctuary).
We made this move so that we could provide a safe, secure, clean and welcoming environment for families and their kids. The space we renovated during the Community Clean Out will now be a welcome area as well as a kids’ check-in area. It provides families easy access to their children should they be needed as well. There is still more work to be done in this area in the coming weeks, but now our kids have a space that is close in proximity and brings a new wave of fun to their environment.
Our Senior Adults made the move so that all adult classes could be on the same fl oor. This move for the adults moves everyone into closer proximity to each other and allows for growth moving forward. Their fl exibility and embracing of change for the sake of reaching West Columbia with the gospel has been refreshing. This group wants their church to have a lasting legacy and they embrace that change has to happen in order to reach that goal.
I also started a college small group there. It’s small right now, but the two guys involved are hungry for God and are digging into His word and embracing accountability and growth. Please be in prayer for this group, particularly as USC’s move-in day is August 21 and they start classes on August 26. Pray that God uses this fall to connect many college students to what He is doing through FBCWC.
NEXT STEPSWe’ve been working hard to create a more welcoming physical space for people who come to FBCWC, but a shift is happening that is even more crucial. We have to shift from our facility to the world around it. There are hundreds of men, women, students and kids right around that church building that need Jesus. We are shifting to reach those people. This isn’t a shift of the mind or of physical buildings; it’s a shift of the heart. It’s a shift of intentionality when we are out and about in the community. It’s realizing that we are Christ’s Ambassadors and we need to shine the light of the Gospel everywhere we go, with every person we meet, with every interaction we have. Why? Because the fi elds are ripe for harvest and the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few.
Below are two pictures of new apartments that are fi lling up with 20 and 30-year-olds who are married with and without kids and singles. The third picture is the foundation of another apartment building that has been built and almost completed in the few months that I’ve been here at LBC. That area is growing fast and we have the opportunity to have a great kingdom impact there! The fi elds are ripe for harvest!
Seth StoddardMissions Associate for Church Planting
MOVING FOR A CHANGE
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We all can use a mid-week pick-me-up every now and again to get us through the daily grind called life. As the long, hot days of summer come to an end and life gets a little closer to normal, let me encourage you to make Wednesday nights at Lexington Baptist a priority for you and your family. We have so much for you and your family to enjoy. We will provide dinner (at a small cost) and plenty of activities for families, parents and individuals. Dinner is served starting at 5:00pm and all our adult Bible studies, as well as options for students, children and preschool, begin at 6:30pm. I hope you will come join us as we study God’s word in a variety of ways. Below you will find several Bible study options we will offer this fall, starting September 4!
HOW DID WE GET HERE?Led by Dr. Don Howell | Fellowship Hall | Refresh Bible StudyHave you ever wanted to take a look back at where it all began? Have you ever wondered how did we get here from the days of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection? In this study we will discover the history of Christianity through the centuries.
LIVING A PRAYING LIFELed by Kay Coker | CHB 201 | All AgesThis classic 13-week interactive workbook takes readers on a journey to the biblical heart of prayer, clearing up many widely held misconceptions along the way. Jennifer Kennedy Dean shows readers how to have a powerful, ongoing connection to God that will invigorate every aspect of their lives. It’s not about having a prayer life; it’s about living a praying life. The study takes a detailed look at prayer’s purpose, process, promise and practice.
YOU & ME FOREVER (FRANCIS CHAN)Led by John & Susan Wright | CHB 202 | MarriedThis seven session Bible study series, based on the book You and Me Forever from best-selling authorsFrancis and Lisa Chan, will challenge you to view your marriage like never before. It’s until death do us part. Then comes eternal rewards or regrets depending on how we spent our lives. While we cannot allow lesser things to destroy our marriages, we also cannot allow marriage to distract us from greater things. The way to have a great marriage is by not focusing on marriage.
IN THE DUST OF THE RABBILed by Dan Williams | CHB 203 | All AgesDo you ever feel like you are a follower of Jesus, but from a distance? “Follow a Rabbi, drink in his words, and be covered with the dust of his feet,” says the ancient Jewish proverb. In Jesus’ day, disciples followed their Rabbi so closely that they would be covered with the dust kicked up by the Rabbi’s feet. Come, discover how you can get dusty and be closer to your Rabbi, Jesus, by doing what he does. Learn how to truly follow Jesus.
OVERCOMERLed by Sean Abrams | CHB 207 | All AgesThis Bible study is designed to help you firmly establish your value and worth in Christ. You’ll encounter a variety of Old and New Testament giants who either demonstrated an identity firmly rooted in God’s truth or warn you of the danger of choosing alternative identities. Along the way you’ll have opportunities to determine whether your identity may be ill-defined and to be drawn back to the only source of meaning in life, ever closer to Christ.
EQUIPPING MINISTRYHelping you to become fully-devoted disciples of Jesus
NEW LIFEDESIGN STARTS THIS MONTH!
Mark OwensExecutive Pastor
There are times in your life when you realize just how much you are blessed to be a part of the things God is doing. There are so many highlights in Missions locally, nationally and internationally that could fi t that bill of being blessed to be a part of them. There are so many amazing opportunities to be involved in missions. Last month I had one of those wonderful experiences. I was able to go to one of the prisons and preach at one of their worship services. We have LBC folks who go to several of the prisons each week and into Lexington County jails. Many of them have been a part of our Prison Ministry for years. As I said, I went last month and had the privilege to preach. I don’t get to often, but it was a real treat. They have a praise team and band that lead in the worship service. They led us in songs asking the Holy Spirit to be present and songs that declared the wonder of God. They led us in songs committing ourselves to be an instrument of God. I have been before, but that night there was something different. It was very evident the Holy Spirit had blessed us with His presence. I shared the word of God and the men were espe-cially receptive and attentive to it. When I gave the invitation, there were four men who prayed
GOD IS AT WORKto receive Jesus as their Savior. Again, I have been before and this had not happened, but that night was different. One of the young men shared with me that he prayed the prayer to receive Jesus when I gave the oppor-tunity. With a smile on his face, he said, “I feel different inside now.” Another of the men came forward and talked with one of our LBC volunteers and prayed to receive Christ and the volunteer told me this guy had come often but had always appeared to be very hard-hearted and never responsive. He was weeping, he was so broken as he gave his heart to Jesus. Another young man came to me and shared how he gave his heart to Jesus during the service. As he was sharing this with me, I called to an older man who had become a be-liever years ago in prison and now works in the Bible studies throughout the prison and helps prisoners get connected in Bible studies. The older man was standing nearby. He stepped forward to get one of these guys started in a Bible Study for the same week. I am telling you, it was an opportunity to see the Hand of God at work and to acknowledge it was a blessing to be a part of it. As I left the prison, I was reminded of several things. One was how
blessed I was in that I got to go home to my wife. I was remind-ed how they, per choices they have made, could not leave. I was reminded to pray for them. I was also reminded that God was at work in and through our LBC Prison Ministry and that God is at work in the prisons on Broad River. Lastly, I was reminded that God has people strategically located within the prison who have come to faith in Christ and who use their time to share faith with others and to disciple them. All of us have a journey that brings us to Jesus. I had one, and you had one as well. For these men, their jour-neys are quite different. Often it is because of their bad choices within their journey that landed them in prison which brought them to the point of realizing their need for Jesus. I have had prisoners tell me the best thing that ever happened to them was being put in prison because it was there, they realized their need for Jesus.
Please know this is just one of the many local ministries we have here at LBC. There are opportunities to reach out locally in so many areas. There is something for everyone. If by chance you have never ventured out to be a part of one of the local ministries we provide here
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Mark HathcoxAssociate Pastor, Missions
at LBC, I would strongly encourage you to consider being a part of one. What better time than to begin with the new church year having just started. If you have questions about other mission outreach opportunities, please stop by the Mission’s Kiosk located in the Worship Center foyer or come by the Mission’s Office and we would be happy to share with you all that is available. I don’t want you to miss out on an opportunity to be a part of something amazing God is up to!
Remember as always – everyone has a right to hear. Thanks for letting me lead Missions at LBC.
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“No Other Gods” Women’s Study
Join women of all ages this Sep-tember for Kelly Minter’s revised in-depth Bible study “No Other Gods.” Often, idols are obvious—money, power, fame. But subtler idols can sometimes take the form of sweet loved ones, Instagramable interiors, and busy seasons of ministry. But if your heart is prioritizing any of those pursuits before God, they are taking up space meant for Him
alone. In this study, learn to identify the functional gods you are serving daily and the lies they tell. Only when you learn to dethrone modern-day idols can you pursue a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Jesus.
This eight-session study will meet on Tuesday mornings beginning September 10 in room CHB 201 at 10:00am. Workbooks will be available for purchase in class for $14.00. Wee Care is available. For more information or to register, please contact Heidi Hoffman at [email protected].
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LBC NEWSCONDOLENCES
Our deepest sympathy for Sylvia Miller in the loss of her husband, Wayne Miller, on July 16, 2019.
All meals include rolls & butter, assorted desserts, salad bar, tea or
lemonade and coffee.
SUPPER IS SERVED FROM 5:00 TO 6:15 P.M. IN THE
FELLOWSHIP HALL
Adults: $6 | Children (5 - 12): $4Children 4 & Under Eat Free!
(Family Maximum: $15)
Payable at the door. Reservations Required. Deadline for Reservations and
Cancellations: Sunday at 5 p.m. Make Weekly/Permanent Reservations at
lexingtonbaptist.org/wednesday-supper or by calling 803.359.4146.
WHAT’S FOR DINNER?
September 4Chopped BBQ
Chicken Cordon BleuWild Rice
Southwest Corn
September 11Meat Loaf
Italian SausageRice Pilaf
Baby Lima Beans
September 18Fried/Baked ChickenCornbread Dressing
Green Beans
September 25Fried Shrimp
BBQ RibsPotato Salad
Corn on the CobBaked Beans
Women’s Bible Study
Begins10am in CHB 201
Oil Change Ministry for Single Moms and Widows9am - 12pm
Prayer Focus Sunday
Community Prayer Service
6pm
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
SEPTEMBER 2019
19
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
SUNDAY
8am Adult Sunday School9am Worship Adult, Student & Children’s Sunday School (All Ages)10:30am Worship Adult Sunday School 3pm Men’s Prayer Group (AEB 404)5pm Praying for Prodigals (Prayer Room)
TUESDAY 8:30am Women’s Bible Study (RH) 10am Women’s Bible Study (CHB 201)6:30pm Men’s Bible Study (CHB 201)
WEDNESDAY
5pm Supper (until 6:15pm)(FH)6pm WIRED for Children (CMB) Breakout for Students (FLC)6:30pm Refresh Bible Study (FH) LifeDesign for Adults (CHB) Adult Choir Rehearsal7:30pm Orchestra Rehearsal
AEB: Adult Education BuildingCHB: Chapel BuildingCMB: Children’s Ministry BuildingFH: Fellowship HallFLC: Family Life CenterRH: Reception Hall
8 9 10 12 13
15 16 17 19 20 21
22 23 24 26 27 28
30
1 2 7
14
Church Offi ce and FLC Closed
for Labor Day
Wednesday Night Kickoff
29
6543
25
18
11
Kickoff Sunday
*no Sunday School*
Breakfast 9amOne Service
10:30am
Senior AdultCornerstone
Lunch11am in theFellowship
Hall
Light Up the Night Candy
Collection Begins
(2,000 bags needed!)
308 East Main Street | Lexington, SC 29072-3699803.359.4146 | LEXINGTONBAPTIST.ORG
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Non-Profi t Org.U.S. Postage
PAIDPermit No. 50
Lexington, SC 29072
