Vol. XXXVIII • No.

1 • January 18, 2007

NEW BAPTIST COVENANT
January 30-Febuary 1
Atlanta, GA; Georgia World Congress Center

Plenary Session Schedule and Speakers

Wednesday, January 30; 7:00-9:30 pm
William Shaw and Jimmy Carter
Thursday, January 31; 9:00-11:30 am
Tony Campolo and Marian Wright Edleman
Thursday, January 31; 7:00-9:30 pm
Julie Pennington-Russell and John Grisham
Friday, February 1; 9:00-11:30 am
Joel Gregory and Lindsey Graham
Friday, February 1; 7:00-9:30 pm
Charles G. Adams and Bill Clinton

Wednesday Night at the NBC

On Wednesday night, January 30, we’re taking a break
from our regular activities so that as many FBC folks as
possible can attend the opening night session at the GA
World Congress Center. Childcare will be available at the
church that night by reservation.

*On Friday February 1, our own David Gushee will lead

two break-out sessions on peacemaking at 2:30 & 3:45 pm
 Musical “Note” from Ryan ♫ This does bring up the question, “How is worship music
chosen?” I strive to choose music that is:
Julie shared some letters (Qs and As) in the last issue
of The Outlook. Here are a few I received concerning · Biblically and Theologically Sound
music in 11:00am worship. · Liturgically Appropriate (suitable for the time, activity, and/
or focus)
Q. Dear Ryan: · Congregationally Appropriate
What’s wrong with our hymnal? Why in the world do · Musically Sound
we sing new, unfamiliar words to familiar tunes in worship? What’s
wrong with the original words? And shouldn’t new words be sung Peace,
to new tunes? Confused on Clairemont

A. Dear Confused:
In addition to the wonderful hymn texts included in our hymnal,
great new hymn texts continue to be written. Also, one hymnal will
never be able to exhaust all areas of theology and prayer; so, from
time to time we sing a new hymn. Now, to sing a new hymn text is
not an attack on the familiar; it is an attempt to broaden our ways of
response to God in worship. Singing new words to a familiar tune
can allow us to give greater attention to the meaning of the
hymn. What we sing is more important than the melody we sing.

Q. Dear Music Guy:

I like the hymns in the front of the hymnal and I’m sure that
everyone else does too! So, why do we have to sing any hymn
beyond number 126? Also, why do we have to sing those little
We need your support...
praise songs? Musically Frustrated on the Front Pew
It will take our Team 2 1/2 days of travel to actually get to the
Q. Dear Song Leader:
UHDP. Along the way they will pick up at least 2 and possibly 4
Why do we have to sing those hymns in the front of the
translators that will be working with the team all during the
hymnal? There’s nothing like a good ole’ gospel hymn and I’m sure
week. These translators are Christian Thai friends that have
everyone agrees with me. Also, why do we have to sing those
worked with us over the years in the mission effort. Each day the
choruses anyway? Bound for Heaven on the Back Pew
team will setup a medical screening site and mini pharmacy. Our
Q. Dear Worship Leader:
doctors, Mike Norman and Phil Holt, last year examined over 400
I just love praise choruses. Everyone likes them. Can we sing more
people in 4 days at 8 sites. Begin now to pray for this major
of them? Praising God from the Balcony
mission effort, for our team, for the missionaries, for the
translators, and for the Palaung People we will be working with.
A. Dear Musically Frustrated, Bound for Heaven, and Praising God:
Serving in the music ministry can feel a bit like being responsible for
Also...
the temperature in the sanctuary. No one temperature will please
Our team needs bottles of Tylenol (any count size) to take with
everyone. (Did I hear an “Amen” from Tom Borgo?) But that’s not
them as part of their pharmaceutical supply list. If you would like
the point of worship music! We are a congregation of diversity, and
to help, please bring new, boxed and sealed, bottles of Tylenol to
musical taste is no exception. I truly believe that “cooperating
the church office. We will have a collection box available and
together” is an extremely essential attitude for healthy
designated for Thailand Mission Assignment supplies.
worship. Believe me, there are times when I don’t particularly
“like” a song or hymn in worship. The next time you don’t
particularly care for a song, try singing it for or with those who do Rob Nash Preaching January 27
like it. Join them in their praise as a support for them in their
worship. We are to share one another’s burdens. Why not share one Rob Nash, Global Missions Coordinator for
another’s musical tastes? Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and former interim
pastor at First Baptist Decatur, will bring the
Q. Dear Worship Music Minister: message in both worship services on Sunday
I recently joined First Baptist and I want to express my appreciation morning, January 27. Continuing our current
for the worship music. I love the songs we sing, but why don’t we sermon series, Rob’s message is titled Upside
sing “Will You Come and Follow Me” every Sunday? Refugee from Down Church: Turn the Great Commission on its Ear. Rob is
Texas passionate about the gospel and about helping churches to be part
of God’s worldwide enterprise. "The engagement of local
A. Dear Julie P-R, congregations in global missions is one of the great seismic shifts
Good try, “Refugee from Texas,” but you always use the same among evangelicals in the last decade," he says.
“papyrus” font in your print outs. Before you came to FBC Decatur, Rob is married to Guyeth and they have two children, Lindsay
Randall (Music Worship Leader at Calvary) warned me about this. I and Douglas. They are members of First Baptist Church in Rome,
like “Will You Come and Follow Me” too, but…every Sunday? GA.
Congregational Life Prayer Concerns as of
January 15, 2008
Mission Ministry Retreat
The Mission Ministry Team will have a retreat February 9 from 9:00 am—1:00 pm. The meeting Sympathy To:
will be here at the church. ▪ The family of George Hibbert
▪ Eleanor Wilson on the death of
Women on Mission her 9 month old great-
Our next meeting of Women on Mission is February 12. Leadership will meet at 10:00 am, granddaughter, Charlotte
groups will meet at 10:30 am and the program will be at 11:00 am. Carolyn Bishop will be our Humphrey.
speaker. Thanks be to God!
▪ Jackson Lee Adair has gone
Fitness Boot Camp to start Monday, January 21 home from the hospital. He is the
Our classes are specifically designed to boost your metabolism, improve your mood and energy son of John and Anita Adair.
levels, and help you look great in 2008. Our camp incorporates cutting edge fitness concepts ▪Nathan Connelly is home safely
including plyometrics, variable heart rate training, and back protecting core training to ensure fast from service in Iraq.
results and lasting success. Our first session will start on Monday morning, January 21, at 6:30 am
and last for about one hour. Bootcamp will meet four times a week (M, T, Th, F) for four
weeks. The cost for the bootcamp is only $200.00 and you can register online at
www.thedecaturbootcamp.com. You can also contact Kurt Varney in the church office with your Tithes & Offerings
questions or to register.
A Celebration of Gifts
Ash Wednesday, Feb. 6 2007 Ministry Action Plan
On Feb. 6, we will have a supper for everyone at 5:30pm in the Fellowship Hall We are still in the process of
and an Ash Wednesday Worship Gathering (for children grade 4 – adults) in the compiling our final numbers for
sanctuary beginning at 6:45pm. In addition, an Ash Wednesday experience for 2007. As soon as these are
children (up through grade 3) will be held in the chapel at 6:45pm. available we will publish them in
“The Outlook.” Below are our
Upcoming Wednesday Night Series— preliminary numbers.
“The Six Hottest Moral Issues of Our Time”
Dr. David Gushee, the Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Preliminary Offerings:
McAfee School of Theology, will be leading our Wednesday Night discussions December 2007:...............$210,686
starting February 27 through April 9. Issues to be discussed are war, marriage and 2007 YTD:....................$1,214,788
divorce, ecology, euthanasia, reproductive technologies and terrorism and torture.
Don’t miss this exciting new series starting at 6:30pm each Wednesday! “Years of Opportunity 2007-09”
Campaign
Thank you, Cindy! Given to Date:..............$ 7,896,526
Cindy Marshall, who has been our Business and Finance Manager for over 4 years, has accepted a Bank Loan Balance:........$ 325,299
new position elsewhere. Her last day on staff was December 31. We are grateful for Cindy’s FBC Fndtn. Balance: ......$ 180,000
work and ministry at our church and wish her the best. As we adjust to this change we are
fortunate that Beth Thompson, who has been working on a part time basis in the Finance office,
and Nancy Norman, who has agreed to help on an interim basis, are available to manage the Wednesday Dinner Menus
accounting, budget, check book, and record keeping for the church. Our church Personnel
Committee is already in the process of searching for the right person to fill this staff vacancy. January 23
Fried Chicken, Potato Salad,
Last Call for Alaska! Italian Cut Green Beans, Salad
Young at Heart is sponsoring a cruise to Alaska in August (leaving August 10) and we would love Bar, Yeast Rolls and Apple Pie
to have you go! We have 30 folks signed up already. If you are interested, please see Bill Neal as Kid’s Menu
soon as possible. Information about the trip is available in the Church Office. Chicken Nuggets, Mashed
Potatoes, Green Beans, Yeast Rolls
The Senior Care Ministry Team needs you! and Cookies
The Senior Care Ministry Team makes social visits, assists with transportation, remembers people January 30
with cards and gifts, takes communion to shut-ins, and does a host of other things to let those who Meat Loaf, Mashed Potatoes w/
can no longer come to church know that they are still a valuable member of the FBC Brown Gravy, Sweet Peas, Salad
family. We can always use more volunteers and would welcome those who want to attend one of Bar, Buttermilk Biscuits and Peach
our meetings to find out more. The team meets the second Wednesday of each month, 4:30 P.M. Cobbler
in the First Floor Conference Room. For more information contact Bill Neal at 404-213-5445. Kid’s Menu
Sloppy Joes, French Fries, Corn
Soldier Boxes to Iraq and Fruit Cocktail
We are happy to report that 76 gift boxes were sent to our soldiers. Thanks to all of you who gave
money, items, postage, and/or time to support our soldiers in combat with FBC Decatur love at
Christmas!
Youth Sp•t
The annual youth yard sale is less than six months away. It is a really big undertaking for the youth and the entire church. I continue to be
amazed at how God has blessed us through this sale. Not only with great receipts but also by allowing us to meet members of the
community, learn the value of team work, get to know the church body better, and also by allowing us to be involved in numerous mission
initiatives each year. As we prepare for this year’s sale I want to encourage you all to keep us in your prayers and keep the donations
coming. We need donations of all kinds from cars to china. We are happy to come to your house and pick
your items up when you are ready. Please call Kurt Varney in the church office with your questions or to
schedule a pickup. (404)373-1653

The youth group meets each week for prayer, study, song, worship, and fun. Our weekly schedule is:

Sundays: Fresh Start Worship at 9:00 am in Fellowship Hall

Breakfast and Sunday School at 10:00 am in the Activities Center
Sanctuary Worship at 11:00 am in the Sanctuary
Youth Ensemble at 5:30 pm in the Choir Suite
Rotisserie at 6:00 pm in the Activities Center
Wednesdays: Half-Time for Youth at 6:30 pm in the Activities Center

Kid’s Zone
Cross Roads Kids (1st-5th grade) - February Bible Study is titled Isaiah: Fulfilling the Prophecy. This will be lead by Julia Bryant,
Shellie Johnson and Lisa Wilson.
On Sunday afternoons in February from 12:30-2:00 pm, Nu Thang, a class for children who are new Christians will begin. Please call
the church office to sign-up.

Noah’s Knowers (birth-K) - Extended Session Schedule:

Odd Months (Jan., March, May, July, Sept. and Nov.) Even Months (Feb., April, June, Aug., Oct. and Dec.)
1st Sunday 2nd Sunday 3rd Sunday 4th Sunday 1st Sunday 2nd Sunday 3rd Sunday 4th Sunday
Herndon Bigbie Turk Anand Hinkle Castleberry Stanford Eargle
Williams Kennedy Smith Fisher Carter Clay Hayes Perry
Minor Palmer Mwangura Parker Salcedo Warshauer Fewell R. Leeth
Visser Milton Edmonds Madden Hamrick Jones Duke Henderson

*Thanks to the Verdery Class for volunteering to be our 5th Sunday Team.
If you are interested in serving on one of these teams or being a sub please give Debbie a call (404-373-1653) or email her at
dbritt@fbcdecatur.com.

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
Counseling Center ...........................404-874-8909
Debbie Britt ............................. cell: 678-414-0399
Ryan Forbes.............................cell: 404-273-6678
Julie Pennington-Russell.................404-370-7684
Kurt Varney.............................. cell: 404-219-3920
Bob Williamson ....................... cell: 770-633-4651

Computer Connections:
Website—http://www.fbcdecatur.com
E-Mail—fbcd@fbcdecatur.com

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