Big Changes for the Bene's & GroupLink

This has been a very emotional week for Julie & I – this past Tuesday we celebrated 25 years of marriage and then on Wednesday we moved our baby girl into college! Talk about a roller-coaster week! One day I am crying tears of joy because of the blessings of a godly wife for 25 years and the next day I am crying tears of sadness because my last child has gone off to college! What’s a guy like me to do? Julie and I also had aspirations of going on a really great anniversary trip, but with two kids in college, well, let me just say our plans have been readjusted! Funny how life works at times!

I am going through the book of Joshua and really enjoying it. I was in chapter seven the other day, the narrative of Achan’s sin. It reminded me that as a dad, I am so responsible to live a life of obedience before my children. Satan lies to us by telling us that our sins, our secret sins, they only effect us. There are no secret sins before an all-knowing, holy God! My sins affect others – especially my wife & children. This is why I am so thankful to be a part of a small group at church. The other men encourage me and hold me accountable to walk with the Lord.

Speaking of small groups, we will be having Group Link on Sunday, August 30^th and Wednesday, September 2^nd. GroupLink is an eight week course designed to help assimilate you into a small group. If you are not currently plugged into a Life Group (Sunday School or Small Group), I would encourage you to check it out. GroupLink is a great way for you to learn more about small groups and will help you find just the right one for you. If I can help answer any questions about GroupLink, email me at rbene@fbcloganville.org.

Have a great week – God Bless

- Rick Bene

Wayne's Weekly Weblog

Dear Fellow Bloggies,
Student ministry is back with the start of a new school year. We're excited about the opening of our Cafe' on Wednesdays from 5:00 - 7:00 and 8:15 - 9:00 p.m. This includes b-ball, pool, air hockey, fooseball, ping pong, milk shakes, smoothies and real food (not that kids will eat it...). We are excited to see how God is going to work in student ministry this year.
In my QT, I've been reading through I Kings. In I Kings 11:6-10, Solomon makes a decision not to follow God with all his heart and God is angry with because He appealed to him twice to warn him to follow God. It made me ask myself What has God told me to do that I haven't? How angry does God get when we don't follow with all our heart? Just a thought.
-Wayne Naugle

Praise from the Kitchen

On Monday, Buddy and Darlene Lail (in case you don't know them, they run the kitchen here at the church) poked their heads in the communications office and were smiling ear-to-ear. They had just counted up the money raised from sales for the August 23rd lunch and the total reached about $1,124.

Yes, they were smiling because that is a lot of money for the kitchen. But they were really happy because the staff had been praying that God would provide enough revenue to allow them to purchase some much-needed kitchen equipment that will cost... $1,100!

Staff Change at FBCL

Most people know Penny Lowery if you've had a preschooler at the church. For many years, Penny has been the Preschool Ministry Assistant here and has always been known as someone with a wonderful work ethic and a real heart for service.

Because of a need for administrative support for our Family Ministry Team (Rick Bene, Wayne Naugle, Keith Wages and Michele Yarbrough), Penny has been tasked with keeping them planned and organized and, effective earlier this month, was brought on as the Family Ministry Assistant. This is a crucial position as it supports the Preschool-, Children- Students and Life Group Ministries.

Please keep Penny and the entire Family Ministry Team in your prayers as this transition takes place. And congrats to Penny!

Children's Ministry

Hey there everyone...I wanted to take just a few minutes to go over a few praises with you that are happening in the life of the children's ministry here at FBCL.

1. Thanks to those Facebook people who have heard my cry and given generously to help purchase rugs. It was about 2 months ago that I began trying to find 30 people to give $30 each and help purchase rugs for the Kidz Inc. Theater. Thankfully, the Lord has provided and we have 5 sets (colors) of 6 rugs each. It has been a huge success in keeping the grades separated during both Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. We still need to raise approximately $600 to pay for the binding of the rugs. Please join us in praying that this happens soon.

2. Thanks to Jeff Baumgartner and Dan Buck for their countless hours they volunteered in making our cabinets that we will use for check-in. All that is remaining for completion is to be painted!

3. Thanks to the person who donated $500 to replace the water fountain outside of the Kidz Inc. Theater Lobby. The old one was broken, rusted, and wouldn't cool the water. The new one should be in sometime this week!!!

4. Thank you to the guys who are volunteering their time to rework some electrical stuff in the lobby as well as installing some new can lights inside the check-in area.

It is evident that God is moving in this place and there are many more areas that He is providing both the funds and the resources in a time where things are really tight. Praise God for all that He has done and for His continued blessings on this church, as well as the families within it.

Keith Wages

Children's Pastor

Updates in Children's Ministry

Hey there everyone! I just wanted to touch base and give you a few updates about what's going on in the Children's Ministry here at FBCL.

With school starting back for everyone by now, we are excited to get back into the routine of everyday life. That means that sleeping in, playing outside for eight hours a day, lounging by the pool, and eating sweets all day go out the window. It also means that here at church we see Kids Choirs and Rootz starting back up on Wednesday nights and that on Sunday mornings we say 'goodbye' to the video curriculum for the summer and a big 'HELLO' to our actors and live skits again!

We’re also welcoming many new workers to the Children's minsitry...Ashley & Alan Bradford, Courtney Henderson, TJ & Cindy Jordan, Victoria Bailey, Jennifer Chastain, Marney King, Christy & Jeff Segars, Daniel & Ginger Godfree, Melvin & Melissa Music, JT & Traci Wood, Melia Whitley, OJ Soto, Kendall Cook, Julie Bene, Jimmy Barge, Jodi York, Clint & Collette Polk, Victoria Johnston, Matt Wolthoff, and Kerrie Waters.

Also, we couldn't forget to thank the returning workers - even if they have switched roles...they are: Mattie Wages, Harvey Young, Matt & Jenny Medlin, Chad Myers, Amie Rabeneck, Dana Miller, Cathy Spooner, Becca Barnett, Beth & Scott Dihigo, Cameron & Nikki Franklin, Mary Ellen Haller, Jeffrey Henderson, Mike & Mary Williams, Connie Buck, Clint Myers, Anna Harrelson, D'Anne & Mic McMIllan, Dawn & John Ackerman, Cam & Scott Westbrooks, Chuck & Sandy Owens, Joy & Vincent Tapia, Ed Still, David & Traci Britt, and Amy & Chanch Edwards.

Despite the wonderful list of people mentioned above, we are still short some workers for Rootz (our Wednesday night program) as well as a 2nd grade class during the 11:10 service. If you are interested in helping fill these needs, please contact me at kwages@fbcloganville.org.

Last, but not least...I wanted to let you know that this month we are studying the virtue of Love - choosing to give someone your time and friendship no matter what. Our memory verse is Matthew 22:37-39 "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Blessings,

Keith Wages
Children's Pastor

Breaking Ground

Well, it happened today - Ground was broken behind the gym for the new building! Exciting times for our church!

With the addition of this building, we will have more seats and more space for those in our community who have a desire to discover God's will for their lives, connect with others in the community who are also seeking God's will and grow spiritually. Here are some photos of the progress from Day One: