Salt Shakers Sermon Series

When you hear someone say, “They are just salt-of-the-earth kinda people” you know exactly what they are saying. They’re talking about genuine people. Good as gold. Tried and true. The real deal.

Beginning this Sunday we’ll spend 5-weeks walking through exactly what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:13 when he said we are to be the salt of the earth. We’ll also dig into some practical application for how to live the life He intends for us.

Salt Shakers :: September 13 – October 11 :: Sunday mornings @ 8:30 am, 9:50 am & 11:10 am

Francis Chan

Some of you may have heard of this guy, but others of you have not. I wanted to take a minute this week and just plug this great pastor named Francis Chan. He is the pastor of a church out in California...but he wrote a book a little over a year ago called Crazy Love. Our small group is going through this book and it is incredible. If you want to feel good about yourself and walk away with a smile on your face...then don't read this book. However, if you want to be challenged, humbled, and pushed to know Jesus more...I strongly encourage you to read it. Just be warned...it can cause major shifts in the way you think and the things you place priority on. Have a blessed week!

Keith Wages

Children's Pastor

We just wrapped up our monthly staff meeting and I am overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude for the privilege to serve on a team that is so earnestly seeking direction from God. Daniel Godfree (our Executive Pastor) challenged us to begin praying for humble and submissive spirits as we (as a church) pursue God and His plans rather than our own. He reminded us that His plans are always immeasurably more than we can ask. . .or than we can even imagine.

We'd like to ask you to also pray for us. Pray that we will be open to whatever God calls us to and that, as a staff, we will truly live lives worthy of that calling. I think I can confidently speak on behalf of the entire staff when I say Thank You for the chance to serve God here. It is so exciting and humbling to see Him at work daily. . .and to anticipate what He will do in the days to come.

-Stephanie Cannon

Communications Director

(By the way, the photos are also from this morning. Before staff meeting, Darlene & Buddy Lail cooked a delicious breakfast for the entire staff. The food was amazing and it was just a great time to sit and laugh together. The Lail's even made a special breakfast just for Keith, as you can see below.)

Student Cafe' Update

Here's an update on the Student Cafe':

After many hours of work by our fantastic Facilities Team - especially Wayne Yancey, Doug Jarrett, Susan Jordan, Larry and Marie Hergenroder and Joseph Manu - and others such as Rick Bene, Stephanie Cannon, Emily Meade and Student Pastor Wayne Naugle, the new Student Cafe' is shaping up not just to be a functional space to accommodate a big crowd of students, but a very nice looking one, as well.

If you pass any of these people at church or out in the community, let them know that you appreciate their hard work on this. The truth is, these folks didn't just want to remodel a room just for the sake of remodeling it - they wanted to create a space that would encourage our students to come and grow closer to the Lord and each other. They also wanted a space that would be not only welcoming to newcomers, but one that would get them excited about being there and hopefully encourage them to want to return.

Here are a few photos of the almost-complete Student Cafe':

Leaving A Legacy

This year in Preschool Ministry our theme is “Leaving A Legacy,” which is based on the song by Nichole Nordeman. The words of this song are perfect for what we are trying to accomplish in Preschool Ministry.

It’s exciting to see the little ones learning about Jesus at such a young age. The Bible stories, music, activities, and crafts are carefully planned to reinforce the lesson. When you drop your child off in Preschool, you can be sure that we strive to keep your child safe and that they are learning about Jesus the whole time they are in our care.

What about in your home? What are you doing to leave a legacy for your kids? Do you have certain traditions, a special time of devotion, family trips? We can be sure whatever it is that little eyes are watching! Deuteronomy 6:6 -7

If you want to leave a legacy to your kids, read the following excerpt from Nichole Nordeman's song and ask yourself the questions she poses:

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed Your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

Submitted by Michele Yarbrough

GroupLink

I am really excited about our Group Link that is coming up this Sunday and next Wednesday. Group Link is the next step for people to take to get into a Small Group. Why is getting into a Small Group so important? I believe with all my heart that it is within a small community of believers – whether this be a Sunday School class or Small Group – disciples are grown. It is here they get to ask questions, share their hearts, study Scriptures, apply Scripture, and be encouraged in their faith.

Someone from my Small Group made this interesting observation last week while we were studying and discussing 1 Peter 5:8 “Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”. The comment was, “Lions in the wild look for the weak ones – those that are sick, young, or by themselves – separate from the herd. In the same way, Satan goes after young, immature Christians; Christians who are sick – that are living in the flesh; or Christians who feel that they don’t need others – they can survive without the fellowship, accountability, or encouragement of other believers.” What a great observation. That is why being connected to a Life Group – a Sunday School class or a Small Group – is so vital.

Why am I excited about Group Link? Because this will connect people to God and each other. It will also shut the mouth of the lion and send him away hungry! For more information about Group Link, go to the church web site or email me at rbene@fbcloganville.org. Have a great week. Maybe I will see you at Group Link!

Submitted by Rick Bene

Updates in Children's Ministry

Hello everyone...I hope you had a great and relaxing weekend. I don't know about you, but I long for the Fall weather to get here. This morning was 71 outside and it felt incredible!!! And if you walk into Kroger, you will smell those wonderful cinnamon broom things that just SCREAM for the Fall. I actually bought one to put in my office! :)

At any rate, I wanted to take just a moment of your time to update you on a couple of things.

First of all, I want to encourage all of you to get plugged into a Life Group. It's an incredible way to grow closer to Jesus while at the same time build community and friendships that will last forever. In my small group, the guys were talking a few weeks ago about how difficult it is to keep a steady quiet time during the summer with such a lack of routine. We thought about it and said we needed more accountability. The problem is that none of us had the extra 20 - 30 minutes a day to call each other and just make sure that we were having our quiet times. SO....we decided to use technology and our phones and begin sending a text message to the other guys in the group saying "Yes" or "No". It has been amazing how much more accountability was built into just 2 - 3 minutes sending a text! So much so, that now the women in our group are doing the same things with each other. God is really working in our Life Group and I want to encourage all of you to get plugged into one of your own. I promise you this...you will not be disappointed!!!

The second thing that I want to update you about is a new curriculum that we will be using in Rootz, our Wednesday night program. It is called Tru and is put out by David C. Cook. We are very fortunate and excited about partnering with Cook as a Beta test church for this new curriculum that will not be available until next year to the public. I have spent many hours on the phone, emailing, and actually in training with Cook as they develop Tru. I can tell you that it is really cool stuff and it does a great job of making the Bible come to life!!! If you have any questions or want to know more about it, please just email me at kwages@fbcloganville.org and I will be more than happy to sit down with you and show you in detail what we are doing.

As I close, I just wanted to praise God for the wonderful workers that we have. Several of the new workers are already making a bond with kids and saying that they feel blessed to be serving. If you are interested in serving, we still need a few small group leaders for Rootz, as well as a Sunday School teacher at 11:10 for 2nd grade, and we can always use some Crowd Control help during the 9:50 hour for our Kidz Inc. Theater. Have a great week!!!

Keith Wages

Children's Pastor