THE BLOG HAS MOVED

The church's blog is now on our snazzy new website (thanks to hundreds of hours of work by Stephanie Cannon and Chase Adams), so please "bookmark" the following link (or add it to your "Favorites") in your web browser so that you can continue to follow along! Here's the link:

http://www.fbcloganville.org/fbcl-blog/

My Pops, Francis Chan, Christmas, and a Birthday

Hi everyone...I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything, but I wanted to take a minute and share something that happened this year at Christmas. Many of you know my father, Rick Wages (a.k.a. Pops). Here he is:For those of you who don't know him, you might have seen him and thought to yourself, "hmmm, that guy sure looks like Santa Clause!" and you would be right! :) Some of you may even have pictures of him with your kids who go to Bright Beginnings and not realize who he is...but, that's my Pops!

At any rate, the middle of December my entire family went to Disney World for a couple of days.

While this, of course, was our Christmas gift, my Pops decided we just had to have "something" to open as a gift. Well, when my brother and 2 sisters and myself opened up our gifts from Pops on Christmas Eve, we all received the same thing...a photo album along with our normal yearly silver dollar with Santa on it. But when you opened it up, it was a lot of pictures and stories typed out from my Pops. It started when he was a child. There were pictures of the houses he lived in, street signs, schools he attended, places of employment, places he hung out at when he was a teenager, etc. It was one of the coolest things I have ever received!

Last night my small group finished Crazy Love by Francis Chan. The end of up asked us this question: what legacy are you going to leave? While my Pops is far from perfect, as are we all, he helped us this past Christmas know him all the more and know who he was, what he did, and where he came from. One day, when I have kids, I hope to do the same thing. And I'll hand them my Pops as well...so that they are not to forget about who their Pops was either! I love ya Pops! You're the best. Happy Birthday!!!

Keith Wages

Children's Pastor

kwages@fbcloganville.org

770.466.4250 ext. 246

Here is a video on First Baptist Church Loganville's first all-ladies mission trip to South Asia in November of '09.

Latest View of the New Building:

Traditions and A Christmas Carol

I absolutely LOVE this time of year! The weather is getting colder, basketball season is here, and Christmas is just around the corner!!! Now, I know my family is strange in many ways, but one of the things that makes us so close is the fact that we have many family traditions that we do this time of year. I want to share with you one of the many...simply because it is so special to me personally.

About 9 - 10 years ago (depends on who you ask) my family began going to see A Christmas Carol live at the Alliance Theater downtown at Christmas. If you have never gone, it is truly one of the best plays you will ever see!!! For years we have taken many people with us to share in this family tradition. However, 4 years ago it was even more special. December 3rd, 2005 was the day that I asked Mattie to be my wife. I did it after an incredible steak dinner at a nice restaurant. On the way to the play Mattie said, "I really thought you were going to propose at dinner tonight!" With my heart beating out of my chest, I simply replied, "I told you...just wait, I have a plan of when I want to do it!" Little did she know that the others who went with us that year ALL knew what was about to happen (that year we took 48 people total!!!).

At any rate, here we are 4 years later (she did say "Yes") and this past weekend we went to see the play again. It was awesome as usual. But it made me wonder...part of the reason it is so special is because of the tradition. I just tagged onto it to make it a more memorable evening. But every year, we go back down memory lane and remember that day 4 years ago. It's a great memory!

My Pops always says, "Let's make a memory"...what are some of your traditions that your family does that helps make memories for your kids? As we enter into the holiday season...have you considered starting another tradition for your family this year? I love stories and I love traditions...share with me some of yours!

Keith Wages

Children's Pastor

770.466.4250 ext. 246

kwages@fbcloganville.org

Update from South Asia

An Update from Suzanne Roberts, one of our members who just returned from an all-ladies mission trip to one of the world's most densely populated Muslim countries:

I just wanted to say that I am thankful that God allowed me and my daughter, Myla, to go and experience South Asia.. .WOW... what an experience!!!

Although, we'll never see all the GLORY that HE received .. because of our obedience to Go... I know that we, nor the people that we shared with, will NEVER be the same again.. There is just no way to GO on a mission trip and not come back changed..

It has been said.. that God does his most stunning work where things seem hopeless. Wherever there is pain, suffering, and desperation, Jesus is. And that's where his people(a group of 10 women) belong (in South Asia) --- among those who are vulnerable, who think nobody cares. What better place for the brilliance of Christ to shine?

Before we left.. I was told by two different prayer warriors... that our main goal was to ENCOURAGE the full-time missionaries that God has put into place in Bangladesh.. And I feel that our team did just that.. The prayers we prayed for them, and over them... will do much more than we could ever accomplish "in our own strength" in one week.

Upon our return home, Myla was still overwhelmed with tears as she laid her head down in her beautiful room, on a clean bed (where only she sleeps) that we are SO BLESSED.. that we have SO MUCH.. and they have SO little.. I know that the trip made an impact on her little life.. and she will never be the same again.

Thank you ...Jesus.

Suzanne Roberts

Blessing Baskets

Blessing Baskets was a great thing to be a part of this year. Many were served and hopefully many felt the love of Christ through this annual ministry. Here are a few photos from the event: