Verdery Counseling Center Atlanta

Vol. XXXIV • No. 2 • January 23, 2009

“Among Friends” Adventures in Missing the Point It was a friendly meeting. Six of us gathered in my office on a Wednesday afternoon early in January: Robert White, Executive Director of the Georgia Baptist Convention; Danny Watters from the GBC Church-Minister Relations office; Gerald Harris, Editor of the Georgia Baptist Index; and three of us from FBC Decatur: Bob Woodson, John Hamrick and myself. This was the first conversation between FBC and the GBC since the Convention voted in November not to receive money from our church. After we visited for a few minutes Robert asked if he might articulate his understanding of where we are and made the following four points: 1. 2.

3.

4.

As an autonomous church FBC Decatur is free to choose its leadership. As an autonomous convention the GBC is free to determine the parameters of its membership and is free to disagree with FBC’s choice of leadership. The vote by the GBC not to receive our money (and thereby not to allow FBC a voice at convention meetings) stopped short of the more drastic action of “withdrawing fellowship” from our church. The vote in November did not satisfy some individuals and a proposal to withdraw fellowship from FBC Decatur is likely to come later this year at the annual meeting.

That’s when I posed a question that’s been puzzling me since November. “What’s the difference,” I asked, “between the GBC’s decision not to receive our money and a formal ‘withdrawal of fellowship’ from our church?” The response was a watershed moment for me. They replied: “As it stands now, even though we won’t accept your money, FBC Decatur is eligible to receive help from the GBC. We can still provide materials and services for your church such as the training of Sunday School or Vacation Bible School leaders, or help with evangelism and things like that. If we withdraw fellowship then you wouldn’t be eligible to receive those services.” Not sure I’d heard correctly, I pressed a little. “Do you mean that if I called you up one day and said—‘The Spirit is doing something amazing at First Baptist Decatur! Waves of men, women and teenagers are responding to God and are being baptized and we could use some additional help in giving them a "Most denominational organizations are good foundation. Could stuck in bureaucratic systems that have you send a team over to forgotten why they exist in the first meet with our folks?’— place." are you telling me that the GBC wouldn’t want to help us with that?” To his credit, Robert rushed to assure me that he would be willing to come over and help us “personally—just not as a representative of the GBC.” Friends, in that hour-long conversation it became crystal clear to me why people are abandoning denominational structures in droves and why denominationalism as it exists today is doomed: It is largely missing the point. The denominational leaders in my office that day love people and care deeply about the gospel—I’m certain about that. But the sad reality is, most denominational organizations are stuck in bureaucratic systems that have forgotten why they exist in the first place.

This column is not about naming the splinter in someone else’s eye. The truth is, First Baptist Decatur will miss the point, too, if we ever forget why we exist. May God save us from the deadly notion that this church exists to "May God save us from the deadly provide goods and services notion that this church exists to for eligible “members.” If provide goods and services for eligible anything, the witness of 'members.'” Scripture shows us that the church exists for the sake of the world. We exist to worship God and to invest ourselves in bringing Christ’s kingdom on earth. We exist to discern and to do God’s will in an ever-changing world. We exist to follow Jesus into gospel adventures of all kinds in collaboration with all God’s people, whatever their denominational preferences or doctrinal stances. (The missional networks with whom we currently partner—Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Willow Creek Association, Baptist World Alliance, Atlanta Metro Baptist Association, etc.—are committed to this kingdom-focused way of operating in the world.) One of the many reasons why I love being your pastor is that you get it in so many beautiful ways! We’re not a perfect church. We’ve got plenty of room to grow as disciples of Jesus. But more and more around here I see FBC folks with a gospel gleam in their eye. God is good, friends. And the Spirit is at work in our midst. I can’t wait to see what kingdom adventures await us in 2009. Blessings,

The Verdery Counseling Center Team has been diligently working to continue this ministry in our church. The expectation is that within a month or so the center will be up and running in a partnership arrangement with The Care And Counseling Center of Georgia. CCCG is one of the premier Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy training programs in the U.S. and is based in Decatur. The partnership will provide us with one or two primary chaplains that will staff our counseling center and it will also give us the advantage of being able to choose from 20 different counselors, with varying areas of expertise, and 22 interns. There will be options available to meet the specific needs for almost any counseling circumstance or preference. Our hope is that our center will be renovated and running within the next 30 to 60 days and that prior to that we will be able to have a dedication/rededication of the Verdery Counseling Center and ministry. The Team members are: co-chairs Fred Cavalli and Larry Connelly, Judy Neal, Judy Powell, Roger Ozaki, Mac Bowers, Eleanor Verdery, Katherine Dean, Jenny McCurdy, Julie PenningtonRussell, and Bob Williamson. Ron Stephenson has been involved and supportive of the work of this group and has provided invaluable insight. Please pray for this team and the future for our Verdery Counseling Ministry.

Congregational Life Walk Thru the Bible at First Methodist First Methodist Church of Decatur has invited us to Walk Thru the Bible seminars they are sponsoring on Saturday, January 24 from 9am-4pm These seminars focus on the Old Testament and at the end of the day participants will be able to talk through the whole Old Testament story using the fun, interactive memory aids taught by the Walk Thru the Bible teachers. There are separate seminars for adults, children, and youth. The cost is $30 per person for adults, $25 per youth and $20 per child with a family maximum of $100. The prices include lunch and childcare for kindergarten and younger. REGISTER ahead of time at www.decaturfirst.org and pay at the door. Free Informational Care Fair and Lunch for Caregivers If you are caregiver, plan to attend a free informational care fair and lunch at Shallowford Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, January 27, 2009. Industry representatives will be on hand to address all of your questions. The fair will be held from 11:30am.-1:30pm in the Education Building. Lunch will be provided at no charge, so please RSVP to 770-496-5651 or email [email protected] if you plan to attend. New Baptist Covenant Regional Event Birmingham will host the first regional gathering of the New Baptist Covenant on Sat., January 31, from 8am-4pm. The event will be held at 16th Street Baptist Church, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Special interest sessions will focus on poverty, healthcare, and hunger. For more information or to register, see www.newbaptistcovenant.org. Young at Heart Trip Opportunity—A cruise of the Greek Isles The Young at Heart will take a cruise of the Greek Isles leaving November 7, 2009 for 8 days and 7 nights on Caribbean Cruise Lines. If you are interested in going on this cruise we need a deposit of $350/person for double occupancy or $700/person for single occupancy by February 15, 2009. For more information or to sign up contact Bob Williamson in the church office, 404-373-1653. AARP Driver Safety Driving Class Offered Feb. 16-17 There will be an AARP Driver Safety Driving class on Feb. 16 and 17 from 9:30-1:30 here at FBC Decatur. If you are interested in signing up please call the church office (404-373-1653) to get on the class list. The cost is $14 and you get a discount with an AARP membership card. FBC Facility Use Our church facilities are used extensively each week and it takes our maintenance staff many hours to have them ready for Bible study and worship on Sundays. This year we will be working to limit the number of events that happen in our facilities on Fridays and Saturdays to help us be ready for Sunday mornings. Please keep this in mind as you try to schedule meetings and other events at the church in 2009. Volunteers Needed for Nursery Duty We are currently developing the 2009 Nursery Duty Schedule for both the Fresh Start Service and Sanctuary Service. With a fresh crop of babies in the infant room and all the wonderful new children in our congregation...we need a few more volunteers!! If you are interested in volunteering in the nursery for either service contact Emily Herndon (678-431-3130 or [email protected]).

Go...Be...Do! Missions Corner Your 2009 Special Missions Offering envelope is different this year. Instead of sending special offerings to SBC general funds (Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong), we will be sending money directly to the accounts of the missionaries associated with First Baptist. Here’s how the special offering will be divided: First, we will complete the collection of $9,000 for continuing education for the staff of the Upland Holistic Development Project in Thailand. After that, 15% of the Special Missions Offering will go directly to our FBC missionaries on the field, 15% will go to special needs here in Decatur, and the rest will go to the CBF Global Missions Offering. Our goal for 2009 is $30,000. Thank you for your generosity!

Prayer Concerns as of January 21, 2008 In the Hospital: James Williamson, father of Bob W. Sympathy To: •The family of Nelle Sine. •Evelyn Jackson on the death of her sister, Betty Patterson. •The family of Bernice Strain. •Steve and Nicki Salcedo on the death of Steve’s dad in California.

Weekend Emergency Pastoral Care—Pastor On Call Jan. 23-25 ................... Debbie Britt Jan. 30-Feb. 1.............Kurt Varney Call the church office for the number

Tithes & Offerings A Generous People 2009 Ministry Action Plan Weekly Need:.......................$ 29,126 Received on Jan. 4 ...............$ 25,188 Received on Jan. 11 .............$ 18,076 YTD Budget:........................$ 58,252 YTD Received: ....................$ 43,264 YTD Spending Deficit ................N/A “Years of Opportunity 2007-09” Campaign Given to Date .....................$ 358,847 Bank Loan Balance ............$ 235,184 Owed to FBC Foundation ..$ 180,000 Missions Offering YTD........$ 1,615

Wednesday Dinner Menus January 28 Pick one of the following menus: Blue Plate Menu Grilled Ham Steak, Creamed Corn, Green Beans, Salad Bar, Yeast Rolls, Brownies w/ Peanut Butter Icing “Lighter Side” Menu Chicken Noodle Soup, Baked Potato/ Salad Bar, Sliced Turkey Breast, Pepperoni Pizza, Jello February 4 Pick one of the following menus: Blue Plate Menu Oven Fried Chicken, Potato Salad, Green Beans, Salad Bar, Yeast Rolls, Fruit Cocktail Cake “Lighter Side” Menu Vegetable Soup, Baked Potato/Salad Bar, Grilled Chicken Strips, The “Works” Pizza, Fruit Bowl

Youth Sp•t On Sunday evening, February 1, the youth ministry will host a Super Bowl party for youth and youth families in the Fellowship Hall at 6:00. This is a great time to get together with other youth families and talk, eat, play games and watch the game in HD. The church will provide the drinks and paper goods and families are asked to bring along a few food items to share. Chili, chips, snacks, cookies, and candy are great things to bring. The youth will be heading to Newnan for March Mission Madness on March 20th. This is a really great time to be with youth from all across the state for worship and community service. We will leave the church on Friday evening (March 20) and return on Sunday afternoon (March 22). Look for more information coming soon! -If you have not had a chance to mark the big youth dates for 2009 on your calendar please take a moment and do so now! Spring Break Retreat at the Beach Sunday, April 5 through Saturday, April 11 Yard Sale Yard Sale Week is Saturday, May 23 through Saturday, May 30 Opening Day is Thursday, May 28 at 7:00 AM Junior/Senior Trip Tuesday, June 9 through Wednesday, June 17 Intown Mission Week Friday, June 26 through Wednesday, July 1 Out of Town Mission Week to Hurley, Virginia Saturday, July 11 through Saturday, July 18 Beach Retreat August 2 through 7 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—[email protected]

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

Kid’s Zone

3 year olds (since Sept. 1, 2008) - 5th grade: Activities include: singing, crafts for younger children, handbells and Orff instruments for older children, opportunities for worship leadership, music education, and more! Melody Makers - 3 year olds Music Friends - 4 & 5 year olds Music Makers - grades 1 & 2 Young Musicians - grades 3—5 Upcoming Extended Session Volunteers Jan. 25 Morris Fisher Madden

Feb. 1 Hinkle Carter Salcedo Hamrick

Feb. 8 Castleberry Kennedy Jones

Feb. 15 Stanford Hayes Fewell

Children’s Ministry Big Summer Dates Children’s Beach Retreat; Jekyll Island May 31-June 6 Dogwood Children’s Camp; Chattanooga TN July 6-10 Vacation Bible School; Rome...Where the Bible Comes to Life! July 20-24