We still have t-shirts, history books, and cookbooks left from the 100th Anniversary celebration. So if you or someone you know would enjoy one, let the church staff know. T-shirts are $12, cookbooks are $15, and history books are $15 (plus any postage if you would like us to ship it somewhere). And if you purchase any one of those, you can get a First Baptist Church Weaverville mug for free! (Mugs by themselves are $2 each.) Hurry while supplies last!
Mission Trip Report & Lessons
We had a special guest in our Wednesday Bible Study time this week. Sara Lamkin recently returned from a two-week mission trip to Italy, where she worked with and learned from Italian Baptists who are truly on the frontlines of ministering to refugees. She tells us about the people she met who are doing great ministry, as well as some of the refugees who had arrived by boat from Africa. Her report will challenge us to extend our hearts, love, and compassion to all refugees there and here who could be truly blessed by welcoming arms of support.
To open or download the Prayer Guide that was mentioned at the end, click HERE.
The New Pictorial Directory Is Ready for You to Update
The first draft of our new directory is available online for our folks to look over and edit. If you have not already, go to www.instantchurchdirectory.com to check it out. You will need to create your own sign-in and can do that by clicking here. If you are unable to create a sign-in, please let Regina know and she will make sure your email is registered. We had several different lists at the church of contact information, and not all of them matched. Hopefully, by using this new system, we can fill in the blanks and have one complete list for everyone to use.
If you need help using the directory for the first time you can set up an appointment with Regina, who will be happy to sit down with you and walk you through using it. It will take us a little while to get all the information finalized, but will be worth it when the directory is complete. Once it is complete, we will print out hard copies for those who are interested.
The 100th Anniversary Is Here!
Friday evening, July 15, 7:00 pm – Appalachian Consort performance
To kick off our Centennial Celebration weekend, this event is free and open to the community. Appalachian Consort is a group of four accomplished musicians who specialize in mountain roots music. They regularly perform at a variety of events and venues, including the Mountain Music Festival, Shindig on the Green, and the Mountain Dance & Folk Festival. You can hear some of their most popular songs on their latest CD, The Mills River Sessions.
Saturday, July 16, 4:30-7:00 pm – Family Picnic, Cookout, and Games
We will have a bouncy slide for the children, yard games for everyone, and a caricature artist to draw fun pictures for us. The menu is hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, baked beans, and cookies. Also, as a special treat, we have popcorn and sno-cone machines to make the day extra special. Feel free to bring your own lawn chair to use or grab a folding metal chair from the Fellowship Hall when you arrive. We will be using part of the parking lot for activities so please park along the tree line away from the church in both halves of the back parking lot. We will be keeping the row closest to the church as open as possible. Contact Regina (828-748-9034) with any questions.
Sunday, July 17 – Open House starting at 9:30 am, Centennial Worship Service at 11:00 am
More Incredible Work from Baptist Churches in and around Ukraine
The latest report from the European Baptist Federation (EBF) notes that needs continue to mount, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that more than 6.2 million people have fled Ukraine, most of those being women, children, and the elderly.
The tragedies caused by Russia’s invasion have been met head-on by Baptists throughout the region. In Romania, which borders Ukraine, Mănăștur Baptist Church has assisted hundreds of refugees with food, medical supplies, housing, transportation, jobs, and emotional support. A Ukrainian passing through there on the way to Italy said the congregation’s support was life-altering: “I never experienced so much love in all my life. We want to be part of such a church, so please help us find one like yours in Italy.”
A group of churches in neighboring Slovakia have started a ministry that sends truckloads of humanitarian aid into Ukraine, and back in Slovakia it helps with doctors’ visits, finding jobs, getting food, and school placement for refugees. The Slovak Baptist Union has also obtained 5,000 Ukrainian children’s Bibles to distribute.
Baptists within Ukraine also have developed and grown comprehensive wartime ministries to aid those trapped in the invasion, often while maintaining the services they provided before—like support for the blind and drug addiction recovery. Irpin Bible Church is housing a team of up to 70 volunteers. They spend each day repairing damaged homes, delivering hot food to the armed forces, and welcoming people into the church to wash clothes, charge phones, and collect basic necessities. Pastors and deacons are on hand to provide pastoral care.
Let us be inspired by all of the incredible work that is going on. Inspired to pray, help, and support.
Tuesday Talks is now “Big Questions”
...and we’re starting back up with a great new book: Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians by Lee C. Camp. We’ll think about questions like: What exactly is Christianity? When Martin Luther King Jr. said that the moral arc of the universe bends toward justice, how could he make such a claim, and do we really think it’s true? And what do we mean when we say that Christianity is necessarily political?
If any of that sparks an interest for you, our first meeting is July 26th at 5:30 pm at Yellow Mug Coffee Lounge on Main St. See you then!
Scan and Give
It’s now easier than ever to give to the church electronically. Just let your phone scan this code with its camera, and it will take you to our online giving page, where you can use any card payment or Venmo. You can give to certain funds specifically, or support all our ministries and missionaries around the world by giving to the General Fund budget. Your gifts make a difference in Weaverville and the ends of the earth!
How to Talk with Children about Difficult Issues
With mass shootings happening so frequently in our country, and a tragic war going on over-seas, it’s hard to know how to talk with children about such difficult topics. The links below will open online guides that offer guidance on what kids might be thinking and feeling, and what you can do to help them:
More Good Missionary Work around Ukraine
Ralph Stocks is a retired missionary to Hungary and Romania. For nearly 25 years, Ralph and his wife Tammy were missionaries with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF), so our tithes and offerings were able to support them in their work. But before he served in Eastern Europe, Ralph was also a part of our church!
Tammy & Ralph Stocks
Sensing a new call to serve after Russia invaded Ukraine, Ralph reached out to the folks at Project Ruth, a CBF missionary-run school in Romania, who were already helping refugees from the Ukraine-Romania border get to safety, medical care, and food. Knowing he could really make a difference in their work, Ralph flew to Romania to help. He sat down for an interview to talk about what he is seeing, hearing, and experiencing as he works with people on the Romania-Ukraine border. Listen to Ralph's interview here.
One of the special things that Project Ruth is doing to help Ukrainian families is assembling and distributing food care boxes. Each box contains enough food to feed a family of four for seven days. You can learn about what’s packed in them here, which even includes devotionals in Ukrainian for much-needed encouragement. The cost to pack and transport one of the Food Care Boxes is $44. Anyone can donate money online to help provide them for Ukrainian families by supporting Project Ruth’s food box program here.
Baptist Aid Work in Ukraine
It is inspiring to see how people and churches work together to help those who are suffering in Ukraine:
Small churches are involved in extraordinary efforts. Take the Philadelphia Church in Ternopil, a city in western Ukraine. Despite having only 40 members, every day it receives around 100 people, many with pets, who are evacuating. It gives them food, rest and shelter in its building. In total it has helped 7,000 people, with the help of friends and partners.
The Church of the Transfiguration in Severodonetsk continues to be active, evacuating families, hosting the homeless and distributing food kits to sick and elderly people in the city. The church was only established in 2016 and had previously focused its ministry on people struggling with addictions. Their activities in the war mean that former alcoholics and drug addicts have become true heroes of the faith, preaching the gospel and hope in the Lord.
In the Cherkasy region, more than a thousand displaced people are housed safely in church buildings every night. In Lviv, one local church held a baby shower for three mothers-to-be who had fled the fighting, bringing hope in the midst of suffering. To read more stories of churches in Ukraine helping in inspiring ways, read this article.
North Carolina Baptists have also been helping with disaster relief on the ground near Ukraine and working with local Baptist organizations tirelessly since the Russian began its invasion. They say:
We ask you to join us in prayer for families who have been separated, those who have lost loved ones, and those who are fleeing the violence in their country. Lift up those who are selflessly providing transportation, shelter, counseling, and needed supplies to the refugees—sometimes at great personal risk.
NC Baptists on Mission has committed to assist people in the region, with funds being used to purchase food, medicines, medical supplies, hygiene items, baby food, and other items to assist displaced Ukrainians. We have established ways of getting these items into Ukraine and to the local churches who are caring for refugees. One way is through ready-to-eat meals, as many have no easy way to prepare food themselves. Tons of flour, yeast, and salt are being purchased and sent to local bakeries in the Ukraine, where it is made into loaves of bread. Individuals then receive a loaf of bread, a jar of sausage spread (a local favorite), and part of a cake, which will feed them for a day. We can provide this meal for just $2.
The impact of Russia’s invasion will be felt for a long time. NC Baptists will be there to minister and serve. To make a contribution, make a check payable to Baptists On Mission, designated for Ukraine Crisis, and mailed to: Baptists on Mission, Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, P.O. Box 1107, Cary, NC 27512. You may also give online HERE. To read more updates on what North Carolina Baptists are doing there, click here.
Life and Death Ministry in Ukraine and Beyond
We continue to pray for the people of Ukraine, who have suffered overwhelming devastation after a month of Russia’s invasion. Here are updates from some of the Baptist ministry work going on in and around the area:
To read stories of relief work that local Baptist churches are doing for Ukrainian refugees in neighboring Romania and Moldova, click to here.
Click here to read the first-hand account of a Ukrainian Baptist who helped a group of families escape the bombing in the city of Mariupol.
There are Baptist missionaries we support who are working all around Eastern Europe. Click here for updates about what they are doing in multiple countries to serve Ukrainians.
New Pictorial Directory!
We are getting a new church directory! But this new resource will be a little different than the ones we've had in the past. This directory will be available in booklet form and online as well. Over the next few weeks, Regina will be inputting everyone's information. At some point you will receive an email that will allow you to sign in and update your own information and upload your preferred photo. If you do not have a good recent photo you would like to use in the directory, or if you would rather the staff input all your information, just let Regina know. We can schedule a photo session prior to or following worship one Sunday with a volunteer, and we can input all the information for those who do not have access to a computer. Once the directory is complete we will print copies for anyone who would like a booklet, and you can sign in online anytime to view the information or update your entries.
Serving and Supporting the Kingdom of God in Ukraine
Fyodor Raychynets is a Ukrainian pastor and theology professor at the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary in Kyiv. Some days he serves the Lord’s Supper to Ukraine’s military. Many days he serves bread to the elderly who are hiding in bomb shelters. He says, “I have to remind myself on a daily basis that we are humans. It is so crucial in the midst of this hell, not to lose our humanity, but to preserve it, and to show it, and to demonstrate it. Because that’s what the people need the most at this moment.” When the Russian invasion began, Raychynets formed a group of volunteers who would serve the people that suffered the most from the war: the elderly. “They are in the basements. They have no idea what’s going on outside the world. They’re just there. Blocked. They are scared to death. They are there hungry, without electricity, without water. So we provide for them.” To read more about Pastor Raychynets’s difficult but truly inspiring work, click here.
The Ukrainian city of Mariupol has been heavily bombed by Russian forces. A Baptist leader there said, “The city is simply wiped off the face of the earth. It is completely destroyed. There is no electricity, all the wires are on the ground. There is no gas, as the gas pipeline is blown up. We have a well in the church, but there is salty water in it, so we drink salty water. There are lots of people in the streets, and they are hungry.” For more reports from Baptist churches in Ukraine and the surrounding countries, read the European Baptist Federation’s Ukraine update by clicking here.
Two weeks ago, a missionary with the Assemblies of God World Mission (AGWM) who lives in Kyiv was asked, “What do you want to say to churches in America?” He said there are huge physical needs due to all the Russian bombing, and because of the despair there are deep spiritual needs too. To watch his 3 minute response, click here.
The Baptists missionaries in Ukraine that we have supported over the years, Mina and Gennady Podgaisky, pleaded for our church to “pray, pray and pray some more, especially during the night in Ukraine. They are 7 hours ahead. In the night is when the bombing, rockets, and plane attacks intensify.” The greatest needs right now are food and water. To give money directly to the Podgaiskys, who will immediately pass it on to their church leaders in Kyiv, click HERE.
God’s Work in Ukraine
One of the missionary projects that our offerings support is Project Ruth in Romania. For decades they have provided a school for hundreds of children from preschool to 8th grade who live in poverty and have been overlooked. They also provide food and support to families, counseling for women, and training for ministers. But recently they have also started to directly serve refugees from neighboring Ukraine who have fled the Russian invasion. So it now includes a shelter that provides three meals a day, a place to shower, and access to nearby embassies. “This is not our ministry in terms of vision or strategy planning. This is all very new to us,” explained Mihail Ciopasiu, executive director of Project Ruth. “This is just a situation where we thought that if we had a building to host refugees, then we should do that. We should do it to show them that we love them just as God loves us.” Sadly, Romania has the highest rate of sex trafficking in all of Europe. Given how vulnerable the refugee women and children are after the long journey into Romania, there is a pressing need for immediate help and protection to avoid the potential of being kidnapped. It is another huge crisis that is unfolding as a side effect from the invasion. Ciopasiu begs, “Pray for the protection of these mothers and children.” To read more about this story and Project Ruth’s work now, click here.
Tragically, the dean of the Slavic Evangelical Seminary in Kyiv was among those shot dead by invading Russian troops. His body was left in the street for days, after he was trying to reach a ministry center for shelter. Read more about the life and ministry of Vitaly Vinogradov here.
This story does not necessarily have a religious connection, but perhaps it does. In the Bible, the first instructions God gave to humans were to tend the garden and care for the animals. To read touching stories about what it's been like for animals in Ukraine’s zoos and the people who care for them, click here and also here.
Administrative Assistant job opening
First Baptist Church Weaverville, NC seeks an Administrative Assistant. This position is the key non-ministerial position in our organization. We offer a warm and welcoming workplace in the heart of downtown Weaverville, a full-time position (currently about 35 hrs./wk.), flexible schedule, and great benefits. The key areas of responsibility include: 1) Communication and Connection in-person, by phone, and through correspondence, emails and newsletters, 2) Office Management and Clerical Work, and 3) Records and Resource Management (i.e., handling funds, facility scheduling, supplies).
Educational requirements: HS Diploma and 5 yrs. office exp, OR Associate’s Degree in office/technology related field and 2 yrs. office experience. Church or non-profit experience preferred.
Required knowledge skills and abilities:
Basic understanding of how churches operate.
Integrity, confidentiality, and honesty, ability to work with organization’s resources and assets. (Background check required.)
Excellent written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills; effective human relations skills with all types of individuals, and in a variety of circumstances; experience and demonstrated commitment to teamwork and collaboration.
Competent computer skills to include word processing, database, presentation software, and use of email, including delivery systems (i.e., MailChimp). Experience using social media as well as posting to websites for linking, updating material, with some design skills desired.
General knowledge and skills in financial management, accountability, and recordkeeping.
Management of and effective operation of office equipment.
Outstanding organizational skills, time management.
Ability and willingness to develop knowledge of resources to meet human needs within the Weaverville and surrounding communities.
For a full two-page job description, click here.
(To download, print, or share this announcement as a .pdf document, click HERE.)
Application deadline is April 27, 2022. To apply, send your letter of interest and resume including names and contact information for 3-5 professional references to First Baptist Church, PO Box 547, Weaverville, NC 28787 or by email to: position@fbcwvl.org
Supporting Missionary & Recovery Work in Ukraine
Mina & Gennady Podgaisky are Cooperative Baptist missionaries in Ukraine that we support through our missions offerings. For 20 years, the Podgaiskys have served in Kyiv and beyond, running a ministry center for youth and foster families called Village of Hope. They provide counseling services, Bible studies, and family support.
Fortunately, the Podgaiskys had traveled to North Carolina to connect with local churches right before Russia invaded Ukraine, so they are safe. But sadly, the Village of Hope ministry center was bombed this week by the Russian military. Thankfully, everyone had been evacuated, so no one was there at the time of the attack. The families are sheltering in the basement of the local church, along with 50 other people.
We reached out to the Podgaiskys to ask how we can support them, their ministry, and the people of Ukraine during this terrible time. Here is their response:
1). Pray, pray and pray some more, especially during the night in Ukraine. They are 7 hours ahead. In the night is when the bombing, rockets, and plane attacks intensify.
2.) Pray for us and for the children at Village of Hope. We continue ministering every day for long hours via telephone and messages. We are giving encouragement, support, counseling, and coordinating all kinds of help for those staying and those fleeing. Pray for strength, wisdom, and rest.
3.) Share updates on social media, in your church, and with friends so that others can also pray. We need an army of prayer warriors to protect Ukraine, especially Kyiv, the president, and his family.
4.) Donate money. We are constantly sending funds to people in Kyiv. The greatest needs right now are food and water. When someone donates money to us, we can transfer it to our church leaders there and they can withdraw it from an ATM within 15 minutes. So people’s donations make an immediate difference on the ground.
To read more about the Podgaiskys and their ministry, click here. (And read an inspiring article about more ways Baptist churches in and around Ukraine are helping people in incredible ways here.)
To donate directly to the Podgaiskys, who will pass it on to the people of Kyiv, click HERE.
Love Offering for Afghan Refugee Family
First Baptist Black Mountain has recently welcomed a refuge family from Afghanistan into their community. This family of six is expecting another baby and has many needs ahead of them as they set up their new lives. As a gesture of love and welcome, we will collect an offering for them during March. Each week in the Friday newsletter we will share information about the family, as you pray about how you can help. Then, on Sunday March 27 during worship, we will take up an offering for them and pass it on to FBC Black Mountain. If you would like to give before then, you can do so at any time by giving in your normal way and designating it toward Refugee Family Ministry.
We cannot use pictures or last names of the family since doing so could put any remaining family they have in Afghanistan at risk. However, the names of the parents are Sha & Mali; they have 6-year-old twins, a 5-year-old, a 14-month-old, and a baby due in June. If you would like to meet them in person, FBCBM is hosting an ice cream fellowship this Sunday, March 13 from 3-4 pm and has invited us to join. May we be good neighbors to the refugees coming into our community, keeping them and all displaced people in our daily prayers.
Centennial Celebration Preparations
Did you know we’ll be putting out a book about the hundred year history of our church? If you have any stories or input you can share, we would love to have them. And if you have good pictures to offer, those are welcome too. Everyone who has been a part of this church for the last hundred years is important to our story.
Memorabilia would be especially helpful as we prepare to set up a History Room that displays our story. Do you have anything from the church “back in the day”? We’re interested in big things (furniture, decorations, banners) and also little things (mementos, programs, documents). You can loan it until after the Centennial, and any donations of large items can be tax deductible as well. Call or e-mail the church office to let us know. And if it would be easier to just make a donation to help with centennial celebrations, that would also be very welcome, since we want to have a grand celebration worthy of our grand story.
By now you should’ve received a Save the Date card. There are more available, so if you know people that can be invited, either let us know where to send them or stop by the office to get some (stamps are provided!). And look at the Sign-Up Shack to see our 100 Books for 100 Years. It’s a wishlist of 100 new good books that we want to get so that our church library’s is full of helpful resources.
Health & Safety Guidelines Update
The church’s Health & Safety Team met to update our Covid guidelines now that the infection numbers from the Omicron surge are decreasing. Since things are moving in a good direction again, here are the current rules for inside the church:
Always be respectful of others and their health needs. (If they want to practice social distancing, be mindful of their personal space, etc.)
Anyone who is not vaccinated must wear a mask inside the building (ages 2 and up).
If you would like to sing during the worship hymns, you must wear a mask then, since singing spreads air particles farther.
If anyone develops Covid symptoms or tests positive after being in the church, please contact the staff.
At least this transition is heading in a good direction. But transition times can still be a little awkward, so we recognize that some folks might have different health risks and comfort levels. As the pandemic has encouraged us, we will give extra grace to others as well as ourselves. And in everything we do, we strive to follow Jesus’ command for us to love our neighbors.
The Personnel Committee Announces Interim Minister of Music
After prayers, advertisement, interviews, more prayers, meetings, and discussion, the Personnel Committee is pleased to announce the selection of Janice C. Ballard as the Interim Minister of Music. Ms. Ballard holds masters degrees in both Divinity and in Church Music with choral emphasis, with concentrations in children and community ministries. With over 25 years of experience in music direction both locally and internationally, Ms. Ballard is imminently qualified for this interim position. In addition, Ms. Ballard lives in Weaverville, has been serving and loving this church for the past 3 years as organist, has felt God’s leading to use more of her gifts, and is eager to serve in this expanded role during the interim period. Please join us in welcoming Janice into this new role.