Newspaper Page Text
September 28, 2022
Page 7C
lEeporter
Spotlight on Local Churches
PASTOR S CORNER by Rev. Matthew Bishop
God calls us to go all in
"V" A "^hen I was a kid growing up
% / in south Mississippi, I had a
\l pretty amazing tree house.
T T This was not your everyday
treehouse. It was three-story with a tin
roof, built in a large oak tree
next to a pond. Like all great
treehouses, there was a rope
swing. Everyone who came
to play would take a running
swing off of the ground onto the
rope. That is how kids should
play on a rope swing.
If that wasn’t good enough
for you, about 6 feet off of the
ground was a branch where you
could walk out while holding
the rope and get crazy high
swings. Not every friend that
came over was up for it AND
THEN.... There was the branch a few feet
further back, that was about 8 feet off of
the ground. You didn’t really have a sturdy
branch to hold on to as you climbed out,
and you couldn’t reach the rope either.
You had to climb out and then get a friend
to sling the rope toward you. Timing was
everything for this thrill ride! At some
point you had to let go of the little twig
that you were holding to balance and jump
for the rope coming in your direction. If
you timed it just right and caught the rope
in mid-air... what an awesome ride! Only
a handful of friends ever attempted this
one. Looking back, it is crazy that none of
us were ever seriously hurt.
Have you ever looked around and
thought that there were people living out
different levels of their faith? Just like that
swing, there are some who are playing
it safe, some who are taking it to new
heights, and then a select few who are
abandoning everything and just going all
in. Have you ever looked at those who are
living a radical faith for Jesus and wished
you could too? Those people seem to have
something that others could only dream
of. Have you ever wondered, “what do
they have that I don’t?” I’d venture to say
some may have even thought, “they’re new
to this... give them some time and they’ll
come down and act like the rest of the
Christians I know’’
What if God’s Word was calling all who
repent and believe in the name of Jesus to
the same radical abandonment with "go-
all-in" faith?
Scripture teaches us to recognize that
our sins have separated us from God. We
do not have the ability to make it right.
God sacrificed His son Jesus on the cross
as payment for our sins, so that when we
confess Jesus as Lord and believe in our
hearts God raised him from the dead...
we will be saved. If this is true, then we
have been saved from something and for
something.
Romans 12:2 says, “I appeal to you
therefore, brothers, by the mercies of
God, to present your bodies as
a living sacrifice, holy and ac
ceptable to God, which is your
spiritual worship. Do not be
conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewal of
your mind, that by testing you
may discern what is the will of
God, what is good and accept
able and perfect." (ESV)
Paul is begging believers to
present their lives as set apart
from this world. We have not
Rev. Matthew Bishop been called to live in agree
ment with the things that are
in contrast to God’s standards. The Bible
tells us that we have been made new cre
ations when we are saved through Jesus.
So why do so many people claim to be
Christians but live like, and defend, moral
principles that are contrary to the Bible?
There are many reasons why one might
defend something contrary to the Bible. A
few reasons could be: they may not know
what the Bible actually says, they don’t
believe the Bible to be the final authority,
or they are worried about what people
might think.
Regardless of the reason, God’s Word is
either the final authority- or it's not. And
if it is, then what it says is more important
than anyone else’s opinion. Galatians 1:10
says, “For am I now seeking the approval
of man, or of God? Or am I trying to
please man? If I were still trying to please
God man, I would not be a servant of
Christ.”
God has called us to live differently than
this world. All who have surrendered their
lives at the foot of the blood stained cross
have been called to die to themselves and
go all in! What areas in your life need to
be brought under the Lordship of Jesus?
What would your life look like if you were
to climb out on that branch and abandon
all for Jesus? I pray that we will consider
what that might look like in our daily lives.
(Romans 8:5-8)
Rev. Matthew Bishop is pastor of Maynard
Baptist Church, 1195 Juliette Road, For
syth. Visit reconciliationhouse.orgfor more
information. The Pastors Corner is sponsored
by the Monroe County Ministerial Associa
tion. The Ministerial Association will meet
on Thursdays Oct. 20 and Dec. 1 at 9 a.m. at
Christ UMC, 417 N. Frontage Road, Forsyth.
(HURCH CALENDAR
Email church calendar news to Diane Glidewell at news'-mymcr.net by Mon
day at 10 a.m. Church information is published free of charge as space
permits.
Until Sept. 28
Bethany Bapt. hosts
Womens Bible Study
Bethany Baptist Church, 365
Pea Ridge Road, Juliette will
host a 7-session Women’s Bible
Study entitled "Elijah: Faith
and Fire" by Priscilla Shirer
on Wednesday nights from
6:30-7:30 p.m. beginning Aug,
17, The study will be led by
Karen Wilson and is for young
adult to senior women. There
will be a nursery and children’s
ministries available. Cost of the
study guide is $17.
Oct. 2
Shiloh Baptist
celebrates 196th
Homecoming
Shiloh Baptist Church, 1530
Highway 41, Barnesville will
celebrate its 196th Homecom
ing on Sunday, Oct. 2. Worship
Service will begin at 10:30
a.m. followed by covered dish
dinner and fellowship. All are
invited. Nursery and Children's
Church provided.
Oct. 2
St. Peters Rock Baptist
celebrates 155th
anniversary
St Peters Rock Baptist Church,
10496 Highway 87 Juliette
will celebrate its 155th Church
Anniversary on Sunday, Oct.
2 at 11a.m. Rev. Tremaine
Johnson will deliver the mes
sage. For more information
contact Ruth Middlebrook at
478 986-5269.
Oct. 12
Food Distribution at
Christ UMC
The Circle of Care Mobile
Food Distribution at Christ
United Methodist Church, 417
N. Frontage Road, Forsyth will
be on Wednesday, Oct. 12,
10 am-12 noon.
Oct. 20, Dec.l
Monroe Co. Ministerial
Association
The Monroe County Ministe
rial Association meets monthly
at Christ United Methodist
Church, 417 N. Frontage
Road, Forsyth. There are two
meetings scheduled for the
remainder of 2022. The Minis
terial Association will meet at 9
a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20 and
at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1
(combining the November and
December meetings). Ministers
at all churches in the Monroe
County area are welcome.
The Ministerial Association
meetings are an opportunity
for ministers to share informa
tion about opportunities in
the community and to work
together on projects that ben
efit the community, like aiding
travelers who need assistance,
sponsoring the Mary Persons
baccalaureate, organizing the
annual National Day of Prayer
program, contributing weekly
articles to the Reporters Pas
tor’s Corner and working with
Kingdom Builders to assist with
home repairs.
Oct. 25
St. James Baptist hosts
Food Distribution
St. James Baptist Church, 110
James Street, Forsyth will host
a Mobile Food Distribution on
Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m.
Ongoing
First Baptist Forsyth has
Lunch & Learn
First Baptist Forsyth, 95 West
Morse Street will begin a
Lunch & Learn program on
Thursday, Sept. 1 that will meet
in the Fellowship Hall every 1st
& 3rd Thursday. All ages are
welcome. Pastor Dr. Hambric
Brooks will lead Bible Study.
Gather for coffee and fellow
ship at 11:30 a.m. Bible study
and lunch will begin at 12
noon. Participants are encour
aged to bring a sack lunch.
It will be an interactive study
where dialogue is encouraged,
and discussion and questions
are welcomed. Bring your
Bible.
Bread & Blessings
food pantry is open at
Bethany Baptist
The Bread & Blessing food
pantry is open at the fellowship
hall of Bethany Baptist Church,
365 Pea Ridge Road, Boling-
broke every Monday from
10 a.m.-12 noon. There are
a variety of shelf stable items
available for families who need
them. For more information, cal
478-974-0002.
Rocky Creek Bapt.
Church Motorcycle
Ministry Community
Breakfast
The Rocky Creek Motorcycle
Ministry hosts a Men's break
fast every 2nd Saturday of the
month, and all men are invited
to attend. Rocky Creek Baptist
Church 225 Rocky Creek Rd„
Forsyth.
Rock Springs Clinic
The Rock Springs Church
Health Clinic in Forsyth is
open every Wednesday from
8:30 a.m.-noon. New patient
consultations are available at
1 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th
Wednesday of each month.
The clinic is near Monroe
County Hospital at 100 MLK
Jr. Drive; the phone number is
478-992-9581.
MONROE IN COLLEGE
Valdosta State
University announces
the members of its
graduating class of Sum
mer 2022. This includes
Mckenzi Lyons of
Forsyth, who earned the
Bachelor of Science in
Psychology, and Me
gan Smallwood of
Forsyth, who earned the
Master of Education in
Elementary Education
Georgia State
University announces
students named to its
summer 2022 Dean’s List,
including students from
Monroe County: Kend
all Brantley of Forsyth,
GraceAnne Pixley
of Forsyth and Laurel
Sparks of Forsyth. To
be eligible for the Dean's
List during the summer
semester, degree-seeking
students with a minimum
Georgia State cumula
tive GPA of 2.00 must
earn a 3.50 GPA for the
semester and complete at
least six semester hours of
academic credit with no
incompletes. Georgia State
University, an urban public
research university, is a
national leader in graduat
ing students from widely
diverse backgrounds. Its
student body numbers
nearly 52,000.
CALENDAR
Continued from Page 1C
chard, lettuce, kale and cab
bage. There will also be
chrysanthemums for $12 and
assorted house plants for $5
and $10.
Oct. 7-9, Oct. 14-16
Nightfall with Edgar Al
lan Poe' is at The Rose
The Backlot Players will pres
ent “Nightfall with Edgar Allan
Poe" at The Rose Theater on
the square on Fridays and
Saturdays, Oct. 8-9 and Oct.
14-15 at 7:30 p.m. and on
Sundays Oct. 9 and Oct. 16
at 2:30 p.m. The approach of
Halloween is the perfect time
to visit the macabre world of
Poe in this play by Eric Cable
directed by Matt Robichaux.
Come experience four works
often considered Poe’s best.
Tickets are available at Tickets
to the City or at the box office
two hours before perfor
mances.
Oct. 8
High Falls Triathlon
The High Falls Triathlon spon
sored by the Friends of High
Falls State Park will return this
year on Oct. 8. It will be a
three-mile run, 12-mile bike
ride and a 1.5 mile kayak
paddle to reach the finish line.
The event is limited to 100
competitors and benefits High
Falls State Park. The last High
Falls Triathlon was in May
2019. Sign up at ultrasignup.
com/register.aspx?eid= 15162
Oct. 10
Anchor of Hope
Golf Tournament
The Anchor of Hope Golf
Tournament will be Monday,
Oct. 10 (Columbus Day) at
The Club at River Forest. Tee
Off at 12 noon. Cash prizes
to the top three teams and for
longest drive and closest to
pin. RSVP 478-994-0438 or
golf@anchorofhopefoundation.
org.
Oct 14-15
Kingdom Builders
project weekend
The annual dates for Monroe
County Kingdom Builders to
work on the houses of elderly
and needy homeowners will
be Friday and Saturday,
Oct. 14-15, to coincide with
Monroe County Schools Fall
Break. Those who need as
sistance, those who would like
to volunteer and those who
are able to donate materials
or support the project in other
ways should pick up informa
tion and applications as soon
as possible at Circle of Care,
Monroe County Reporter
(478-994-2358), Forsyth
United Methodist Church
(478-994-5706) or other
participating churches.
Oct. 15
Butterfly Release at the
Pregnancy Center
The Pregnancy Center of
Monroe County will have a
Butterfly Release: Pregnancy
& Infant Loss Awareness Event
on Saturday, Oct. 15 from
10:30-11:30 a.m. at 562 N.
Lee St. All who have expe
rienced miscarriage, ectopic
pregnancy, stillbirth or infant
loss are especially invited.
Oct. 22
Boy Scout Troop 51 Ham
burger Plate Fundraiser
Monroe County Boy Scout
Troop 51 will have a Ham
burger Plate Fundraiser on
Saturday, Oct. 22 from 4-7
p.m. at Old Mill Market, 94
East Adams Street, Forsyth.
Plates are $10 and include
Sleepy Creek Farms beef
hamburger and fixings, chips,
and an Old Mill Market cook
ie. Tickets must be purchased
in advance. Call 478-258-
1453 to purchase tickets.
Oct. 30
Trunk or Treat at the
Sheriffs Office
Monroe County Sheriff's
Office, 145 L. Cary Bittick
Dr., Forsyth will host a free
and safe Trunk-or-Treat for
the whole family on Sunday,
Oct. 30 from 2-4 p.m. Wear
costumes, bring trick-or-treat
bags and collect goodies from
decorated trunks. Those who
would like to participate in
giving out treats should contact
478-957-3795.
Nov. 5
3rd Annual Celebration
of Angels on Earth recog
nizes caregivers
Wings and Words of Hope will
recognize caregivers at its 3rd
Annual Celebration of Angels
on Earth on Saturday, Nov. 5
at The Pond Restaurant, 2407
Moody Road, Warner Robins.
Nominations for caregivers to
be recognized are now being
accepted by the Joseph A.
Finney Sr. Foundation, which
is based in Monroe County.
For more information, contact
Cheryl Finney at 478-394-
3831.
Nov. 12
1st Annual Fall Back Folk
Festival
The 1st Annual Fall Back Folk
Festival will be Saturday, Nov.
12 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at 5047
High Falls State Park Rd. In
High Falls. There will be folk
art, food and friends.
Dec. 11
Wings and Words of
Hope holds benefit dinner
Wings and Words of Hope
will have a benefit dinner on
Sunday, Dec. 11 from 5-9
p.m. at the Harriet Tubman
Museum in Macon to raise
money to help caregivers and
their loved ones. The benefit
will also honor the founder,
the late Joseph A. Finney Sr of
Juliette. There will be resources
to help other foundations
continue their work in blessing
others. The formal event will
feature a live band, stand-up
comedian and a catered meal.
All proceeds benefit the foun
dation. Tickets are available
on-line. For more information,
contact Cheryl Finney at 478-
394-3831.
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Freeman Funeral home
A name that can be trusted for funeral and burial arrangements
26 Brentwood Place • Forsyth
994-6483 • 994-6576
“Servicing Each Family With Equal Respect”
Lee’s Haircutting
Lee Smith
994-1666
Mon - Fri 10 to 7
...Unless Playing Golf
WBIB-FM 89.1
Forsyth-based Christian Radio
Believers in Broadcasting
478-957-9164
www.wbibfm.com
We are here to serve the
local church and community.
Sunday morning local sermon schedule:
9 a.m. Dayspring Presbyterian Church
10 a.m. Rock Springs Church
11 a.m. New Providence Baptist Church
facebook.com/believersinbroadcasting
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MEDICAL
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Ready to Meet
Your Pet Needs
• Boarding • Bathing
• Medical Management
• Wellness & Preventive
• After Hrs. & Emergency
60 S. Jackson St, * Forsyth, GA ♦ 478-994-4986
Voted 2014 Best Veterinarian by readers of the Reporter
RAFF, INC.
Better Built By Raff
Jerry Raff contractors
jerraff@bellsouth.net 478-256-0253
www.facebook.com/raffinc
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