Your regular contribution to the budget (your tithe) makes ministries of First Baptist possible. We highlight these ministries once a month throughout the year.
Summer tomatoes straight off the vine are ripe with culinary potential. They have not endured the harsh transport through varying cold storage environments or the treatments with ethylene gas to preserve them until they reach your local market like winter tomatoes must experience. Under the farmer’s care, those summer tomatoes have developed into their destined deliciousness.
A summer tomato can teach us something about ourselves.
Jesus told us that we are to remain in him, connected to the vine through which our nutrients come. Our potential to grow and mature is found in Jesus. Apart from him, we inevitably have to keep applying artificial treatments to even look like the fruit we were made to be. We share the message of Jesus because we know that his way is that of life whereas the world’s way is that of death.
Did you know that you play a part in sharing that message every time you give to the regular budget? Your contribution ensures that ministries like our Children’s Ministry continue to thrive. In fact, over the past year and a half, we have celebrated the baptism of 6 children in our church. We have watched our younger ones learn to lead and serve within the church through scripture reading, worship, and greeting. We have ensured that our children hear the gospel message in discipleship classes and that they learn of the missionary work advancing the kingdom of God around the world. For two summers now, we have seen well over 80 children participate in FBC’s high energy week of Vacation Bible School, where they learn about God’s love for us.
Tami Craig is a parent of two children involved in our Children’s Ministry. When asked how she and her family think about giving in relation to the church, she responded, “We think that giving to the church is more of a blessing to us than to the church. We also feel that giving is more than monetary, but also talents, gifts, and time. We have never seen giving as a requirement from God, but as a way that God can allow His blessing to flow on us.”
She goes on to say, “The Children’s Ministry has been a very important part in the life of our family for the last 6 -7 years. From the moment we walked into the Weekday Hall to register Kate, we have always felt loved, accepted and welcomed. The Weekday Program brought us into the church but the amazing Children’s Ministry, Church Staff, and Church Family have kept us here. My children have made friends that will last them a lifetime. They have gained confidence to speak in public, lead, and grow in their relationships with God. My middle child accepted Jesus and was Baptized here in our Children’s Ministry. FBC is an amazing place to serve, worship, grow, love and be loved and give. Once you get planted in the church and its ministries you see the fruit of your giving and that is when God can truly bless you.”
Ultimately, you can choose any number of “gardens” to tend with your time and resources. We invite you to take a closer look at the fruit being produced in the Children’s Ministry at FBC and to pray about ways you may be able to support this ministry, its leaders and its participants, as they continue share the love of God with our most precious resources — our children. We also want to reassure you that your contributions to the regular budget are supporting this essential ministry in our church.