Newspaper Page Text
August 20, 2008
PAGE 7C
^Reporter
Rocky Creek kids attend music camp
Rocky Creek Baptist Church held its first annual music camp, July 21-25 with a presentation on
July 27 "Livin Inside Out in an Upside Down World." Children who participated in musical: included
Michelle Bittick, Rachel Crider, Chloe Crownover, Nikki Dean, Adam Dupre, Joshua Harrell, Lydia
Harrell, Sarah Harrell, Gabriel Jones, Bailey Niblett, Matthew Padgett, Natalie Pippin, Michael
Skinner, Jared Williams, Anthony Ransondyar and Skylar Smith. The program was directed by
Lynn Dean.
Forsyth UMC to kick off
year with youth rally
Teens enjoy last year’s lake party luau.
What do Mexican night, the
Olympics, a luau, a massive slip-
n-slide and live music have in
common? It’s all part of the sec
ond annual Youth Rally at
Forsyth United Methodist
Church. Food, fun, fellowship,
contemporary music, special
speaker, games and more! That’s
what you will find at Forsyth
United Methodist Church Aug.
21-23.
This year’s theme is “Ever Met
a Superhero?” and will focus on
the Hero Hall of Fame from the
Old Testament (Hebrews chapter
11). The guest speaker will be
Kyle Smith, Pastor at Lifesprings
UMC in Pike County. Smith
spent many years in youth min
istry before becoming a senior pastor.
Each night will begin with a dinner at
6 p.m: Thursday is Mexican night,
Friday is Chinese night and Saturday
night is a Hawaiian luau. There will
also be a lake party from 1- 4 p.m.
Saturday.
Music each evening will be led by the
Forsyth UMC Youth Praise Band, which
includes Caleb Dunn, David Houle, John
Stevick, Andrew Stevick, Matt
McClellan, Megan Watson and Sam
Watson.
All youth in grades 6-12 are enthusias
tically invited to come be a part of this
fantastic three-day event.
WEDNESDAY ACTIVITIES resume
at Forsyth UMC on Aug. 27. Mid-week
Recharge is for students in grades 6-12
and meets from 4 to 6 p.m.; Kids Under
Construction is for children in 4k-5th
grade, also meets from 4 to 6 pm, and
includes crafts, games, Bible story and
choir.
Family night supper is for the whole
family, with good food at a good price,
and no dishes to wash; dinner is served
from 6 to 6:30 pm.
SUNDAY WORSHIP includes “New
Traditions at 9:05,” an early morning
contemporary service. The traditional
morning worship begins at 11 a.m.
Forsyth UMC is located at 68 W.
Johnston St. Go to www.forsythumc.org
for more details or call 994-5706.
Grant to speak at First Baptist Sunday
Barrett Grant, son of Dr. J. Ray and
Leigh Grant, will be the guest speak
er for the 11 a.m. worship service at
Forsyth First Baptist Church on
Sunday, Aug. 24. Grant went on a
mission trip with Campus Crusade
for Christ to Durban, South Africa
this summer. He spent six weeks
there ministering to residents in var
ious ways, from serving meals and
building houses to setting up a hos
pice shelter for those with HIV/AIDS.
Grant will give a powerpoint presen
tation on Sunday about these experi
ences and follow with a sermon.
Rock Springs Church pays off
$2.7 million mortgage 23 years early
Dr. Benny Tate, senior pastor of Rock Springs Church joyfully
burned the bank note in celebration of the debt being paid in full.
Sunday, Aug. 10 Rock
Springs Church cele
brated the elimination of
its $2.7 million debt on
the 1,300-seat sanctuary
that was completed in
2004 with a note-burn
ing ceremony. Dr. Benny
Tate, senior pastor
brought the message at
the 11 a.m. worship
service. Several special
visitors were in atten
dance to witness the
burning of the bank
note, including Sen.
Saxby Chambliss and
his wife, Julianne; and
Congressman Lynn
Westmoreland and his
wife, Joan. The original
new sanctuary building
committee was also pres
ent with its chairman,
Phillip Cook praying the
dedication prayer.
The note was supposed
to take 27 years to pay
off, but because of the
church members’ perse
verance and God’s faith
fulness, it was satisfied in
less than four years, sav
ing over $3 million in
interest. Rock Springs
would also like to thank
McIntosh State Bank of
Jackson for supporting
the church in this endeav
or.
Pastor’s Column
Jesus loves me, this I know
L ast Christmas our daugh
ter Casey and son-in-law
Casey announced that they
Lvere going to have a baby.
Twelve days later on
Epiphany day our son Justin and
daughter-in-law Myranda announced
that they were going to have a baby
as well. This has been a year of
excitement and discoveiy for both
couples: doctors visits, birthing
classes, turning bedrooms into
nurseries, baby showers, etc.
As they progressed both found out the
gender of the babies. Casey would have a
girl and Myranda would have a boy. At
this point we asked them what their
names would be. Casey and Casey’s little
girl would be named Elena and Justin
and Myranda’s son would be named
Hank.
On Thursday morning, July 24 Gail and
I became grandparents. Elena was born at
10:10 a.m. weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces
and was 19 inches long. We look forward
to Hank’s arrival in early September.
I have a cousin who once told me after
her first grandchild was born, “Kenneth
you will never know the blessing you will
get until you hold the infant in your arms
and realize that you had something
to do with the birth of this baby,
yet you had nothing to do with it.”
She was right. As I held Elena in
my arms I began to realize the
great Love that God has for all of
us. The children’s hymn “Jesus
Loves Me,” based on Proverbs 8:17
comes to mind. “I love them
that love Me, and those who
seek Me early shall find
Me.”
“Jesus loves me! This I
know, For the Bible tells me so; Little
ones to Him belong, They are weak but
He is strong. Jesus loves me! He who
died Heaven’s gate to open wide; He will
wash away my sin, Let His little child
come in. Jesus, take this heart of mine,
Make it pure and wholly Thine; On the
cross You died for me, I will try to live for
thee. Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus
loves me! Yes Jesus loves me! The Bible
tells me so.”
Ken Stephens is pastor of Forsyth United
Methodist church and a member of the
Monroe County Ministerial Association,
which sponsors the pastor’s column each
week.
Monroe County’s Church Calendar
Aug. 26
New Providence to hold
women’s Bible study
New Providence Baptist Church will
begin a seven week women’s Bible study
on “Walking by Faith” Tuesday, Aug. 26 at
7 p.m. All women in the community are
welcome to participate. The group will
meet each Tuesday at 7 p.m. Please call
the church office at 478-994-2545 to make
a reservation.
Aug. 28
Philadelphia Baptist Church
offers financial course
Philadelphia Baptist Church in Forsyth
will be offering Dave Ramsey's "Financial
Peace University" starting Aug. 28 at 7
p.m. The course will last 13 weeks. For
more information call 478-992-9350 or
email pastor@philadelphiabc.com
Aug
Cot
31
r oach Worthy to speak at
St. Paul youth day
St. Paul Baptist Church will hold a
youth day at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31.
The guest speaker will be Mary Persons
basketball coach Robert Worthy. Everyone
is welcome. St. Paul Baptist is located at
591 Elbert Jackson Rd. For more informa
tion call 478-994-1023.
Ushers Association to meet
Monroe County Ushers' Association will
meet at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31 at
the Mt. Gilead Baptist Church. Pastor
Antonio D. Proctor & the Wrights Grove
Baptist Church will lead worship service.
Rocky Creek Baptist presents
summer concert
Join Rocky Creek Baptist on Sunday,
Aug. 31 for a summer concert at 11 a.m.
with The Jordans from Griffin.
Sharron Kay King in concert
at Forsyth Apostolic Church
The Forsyth Apostolic Church invites
everyone to a live concert with southern
gospel artist Sharron Kay King. King was
recently named the 2008 SGM Fan Fair
favorite soloist of the year. The concert
will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31.
For more information call 478-994-3456 or
visit www.buildingstronglives.com.
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