fruitland community

What a mission celebration this past weekend!!  It was a privilege to have Rolando and Alexandra Rivas from El Salvador in our church...and to share them in several other churches in our area.  It was awesome to see 46 Buckets of Hope given through FCC to Haiti and to skype with the Benesh family.  Sunday night at the Acts 1: 8 celebration, three people prayed about God's leadership in missions.  That was so exciting!  God continues to build a world fellowship right here at FCC...and he is sending us out!  There are two mission trips that are coming up real quick... El Salvador, May 24-31 .  We will be in schools, doing afternoon VBS, praying walking, going door-to-door, sharing in outreach events at two churches, and having a joint service between our  two mission churches.  Cost of the trip is approximately $1200.  A $100 deposit is due April 1 .  If you are interested, please let me know ASAP...

Dear FCC,   I'm grateful for all the money that has been collected so far for Haiti!  I don't have the official total, but I believe it is over $1400!  You can still give to Haiti, but I wanted to let you know about a new effort that we are going to participate in called Buckets of Hope.  Through this effort, you can be a part of packing a bucket of food for a family in Haiti.  Here is a description of the project:   http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.5768073/k.8D46/Buckets_of_Hope.htm    You can also watch a video that tells you how to pack your bucket.  The project requires that we buy specific things and pack them just so...here's the video if you have a few minutes to watch it.   http://www.essentials.tv/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=bqLKI1OKKtF&b=4672897&ct=7902887&tr=y&auid=5864370#bucketsofhope The buckets need to be to church by March 7 which will be a missions emphasis.  Rolando and Alexandra from El Salvador will be here and we hope to skype with the Benesh family during the service.  It will be a fun day...

I don't have to tell you that times are hard economically every where, even with the good folks at Fruitland Community Church.  Some are without jobs, most are watching every dollar.  So how are folks responding to the needs around them and how is God blessing?  And when God's people step out in faith to do God's work, does He provide?  1.  Last year we gave about 140 boxes to Operation Christmas Child , and even though the economy was tough, we set a goal for 200 boxes this year.  It is amazing.  As of today, there were 195 boxes turned in through our church!!  To God be the glory!  That is a signficant increase!  2.  In 2008 the scouts collected 3,151 cans for their annual can drive , and this year, despite the economy--or maybe because of the economy--they collected 3205 cans in the Fruitland area.   Wow!!  We were able, with the Cowboy Church, to add meat, apples, bread, instant potatoes, candy and a Gospel of John to 120 families.  It was amazing to see everyone working together, and yes.....

I was reflecting on what God is doing in our midst for the Kingdom and frankly, I was finding myself being thankful and a little overwhelmed!  If you are paying attention, God has been doing some amazing things... Just recently a small group went down to FBC, Chalmette , to work on some finishing details on the building.  We've had groups go down every year (as well as many from around the country) and they are finally in their building and reaching out to a community devatsted by Katrina.  They have been reaching and baptizing folks for the Kingdom!  What a privilege to be a part of helping rebuild that lighthouse! This week, Sean, Katie, Grant, Camden, and Seth Benesh left for Vancouver ...it was a privilege to commission them as a church last Sunday!!  Even though we hadn't budgeted for Vancouver, our church and invididuals gave $1300 for their Cobra Insurance, and $2093 for their moving expenses!  Wow!  Lord willing, I will be going up to a vision trip to Vancouver, January 18-20...

Wow...Saturday was fun!  There were over 40 volunteers that gathered for 6 service projects in the community.  Here is a brief report: 15 volunteers helped with Red Star's Food Pantry that gave out food to 140 plus families!  That's approximately 600 people! 6 volunteers cleaned a neighbors fence line and repaired a portion of her fence.  It looks great! 5 volunteers prepared (2 additional families donated food) and served a brunch for 29 firefighters and their families.  We gave out firefighter's New Testaments.  They want us to come back! There were 15 or so volunteers who did a beautification project for North Elementary.  The results looked great! We gave away 9 volt batteries for smoke detectors at Mulberry Acres.  We are still trying to determine how many were given out. You can view some of the pictures of the project at: http://picasaweb.google.com/fruitlandcommunitychurch/2009FallBlitz # It was fun and the projects were very well received!  Plans are already in the works for our 2010 Spring Blitz...

It's amazing to read about the story of First Baptist Church, FBC.  Shortly after Katrina, we entered into a partnership with this church that had it's building destroyed in the storm.  We have taken several mission trips to Chalmette...they have had a long, hard journey!  But they are coming upon a very important milestone.  Four years after Katrina, they are moving back into their rebuilt building.  The dedication of the new building is Sunday, September 20 at 10 am.  That is one Sunday after FCC's 10 year anniversary.  I am so excited for them!!!  If you would like to read more about the church you can go to their website at: http://www.fbcchalmette.org/templates/System/default.asp?id=21979   If you are a Facebook user, you can become a fan of First Baptist Church of Chalmette and get daily updates. We are taking a mission trip to Chalmette, October 11-17, with others from the Cape Girardeau Baptist Association.  It will be fun to see the progress of the building and to see what has been finished.....

That's an interesting title for this blog entry!  Hey FCC, I wanted to let you know about three mission opportunities that our folks are involved in: Turkey - Kim Roberts, one of our recent college graduates, is leaving for a mission trip to Turkey this Sunday and will be gone for two weeks.  Many of you have donated for her trip.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!   Now would you please pray for her and her team as they travel to Turkey and minister in Jesus' name! 30 Day Famine - Next weekend, May 22-23, the youth are fasting for 30 hours for world hunger!!  This is a huge spiritual step for our youth and they need our prayers and support!  You can support them through donating juice and water bottles at the church.  Also you can give money to the youth or to the church on behalf of the 30 hour famine.  All proceeds raised for this event will go to World Vision. Tori - My daughter has an interesting missions opportunity!  She and I will be traveling to El Salvador to visit our mission points and to work with the pastors, June 9-15.....

FCC, Today we got permission to do a Block Party in Mulberry Acres, June 7, from 4 to 7 pm.  This is such an answer to prayer...to have an open door of ministry to this community within our Jerusalem.  We need volunteers in these areas: Clowning Registration/door prize table BBQing hamburgers and hotdogs Serving food Manning games/booths Manning space jumps Face Painting This is a great opportunity to reach out to our neighbors and perhaps open the door to on-going ministry.  The manager of Mulberry has given permission for us to do a soccer camp, and we hope to do a Kid's Bible Club, and adult Bible study in Mulberry this summer! Please pray about this ministry...that we will have wisdom to know how to proceed and that the door will stay open for ministry.  Please pray about volunteering...first for the Block Party and then perhaps for serving on an outreach team to plan on going minstry in Mulberry.  Please e-mail me at pastormike@fruitlandcommunity.com if you want to help with the Block Party. For the Kingdom!! Mike

Hey FCC, Found this video on the web about our mission partner at FBC, Chalmette (New Orleans)...thought you would enjoy watching it: http://www.lbc.org/BaptistBuilders/Default.aspx?id=5756 Please pray for FBC, Chalmette that they will not grow weary!! Please pray for wisdom as we plan mission projects/trips for '09.  Here are some in the prayer works: June - I may be going to  El Salvador to lead a retreat for pastors. Summer - The launch of ministry in Mulberry Acres.  September - Fruitland Blitz October - Church wide trip to FBC, Chalmette November - Trip to El Salvador with FBC, Millersville.  I'm excited about this  trip, because in addition to evangelism projects, we will be needing some men for construction. It is exciting to dream for the Kingdom!  Let's seek His face together as we go into all the world! Blessings! Mike

I just recentely attended a 175th birthday celebration for the Missouri Baptist Convention.  It was held at the first Baptist church west of the Mississippi:  Old Bethel Baptist Church in Jackson, Missouri.  It was a great time of looking back at the history of missions in our area.  What struck me was the display of flags that represented the churches that Old Bethel started with their pioneer missionary spirit.  There were nine flags!  Nine churches that Old Bethel started!  Fruitland is in the process of starting our third church and the first challenge that came to me was:  "Could we start nine churches?  Could we eventually have nine or more flags representing our pioneer kingdom spirit?"   There was another flag...a black flag that represented the death of Old Bethel.  They lost their missionary zeal and died.  Wow...the final challenge left with was: " We can't lose our missionary spirit!  It would be the beginning of the end of FCC !"  FCC:  Let's plant more flags...that is churches.....