Author: fbcpoteau

Dear Church Family, Jesus Christ has risen from the dead! Everything—including eternity—hangs on Easter. If Christ has not risen, Christianity is a sham. If Christ has not risen, we are still in our sins. If Christ has not risen, we will not be resurrected either. But thanks be to God that He has risen so … Continue reading Easter, Adopting a Family, and Service Time Change (Newsletter 04.10.19)

Dear Church Family, First, on a personal note, Levi Turner Hill was born on March 11th at 10:01 a.m. He was 9 pounds and 1 ounce and 21 ¼ inches long. We were able to bring him home the next day around 1:00 p.m. Alli is feeling well and to no one’s surprise received comments … Continue reading Four Announcements (Newsletter 03.13.19)

Dear Church Family, During my “State of the Church” address on January 27th, I told you about the children who regularly attend on Wednesday nights but are not connected with our church. There are 43 children in that category. They represent 14 different addresses. Here is the breakdown of those addresses: There is one home … Continue reading Adopt a Family (Newsletter 02.13.19)

Dear Church Family, I want to make you aware of two important meetings in the life of our church. The first is next Sunday night (1/27). During this service, I will be giving a “State of the Church” address. As is the case in the annual “State of the Union” address, the contents of this … Continue reading Two Upcoming Meetings (Newsletter 01.16.19)

Dear Church Family, With the start of a new year rapidly approaching, I would like to ask every member of this church to make two commitments for 2019. Here they are: 1) Read through the entire Bible using the Bible reading plan on the table in the foyer. 2) Pray through our entire membership every … Continue reading Two Commitments for 2019 (Newsletter 12.12.18)

Dear Church Family, Yesterday (11/27) was Giving Tuesday. If you’re like me, you probably received several forms of communication asking you to give in support of different organizations. The last month of the year is full of opportunities to give. The tradition of giving gifts during the Christmas season reminds us of the greatest gift … Continue reading Two Opportunities to Give (Newsletter 11.28.18)

Dear Church Family, This past Sunday night (11/4) during family time, Cal Ray spoke on behalf of the Stewardship Committee to call our church to action. As he and the other members of that committee have begun preparing the 2019 budget it has become clear there need to be changes starting in 2018. Our current … Continue reading A Call to Pray (Newsletter 11.07.18)

Dear Church Family, Today, October 24th, marks the 134th anniversary of the covenanting of our church back in 1884. Sadly, comparatively speaking we know very little about those first members that assembled together. However, we do know there weren’t many of them and they met in a shared log cabin. But most importantly, we know … Continue reading Live Today (Newsletter 10.24.18)

Dear Church Family, Last week we thought about church membership using the metaphor of a team. This week we’ll look at church membership using the metaphor of a company. I am not suggesting the church is a business any more than I am suggesting it is a football team. However, as an organization, I hope … Continue reading The Corporation-Employee Relationship (Newsletter 10.03.18)

Dear Church Family, Are we spectators or starters? We’re about a month into the college football season and depending on your team, you may be looking forward to the beginning of January or the end of next August. If you’re in need of a new team, I just checked the current rankings as I am … Continue reading Are You a Spectator or Starter? (Newsletter 09.26.18)

Dear Church Family, Are you lonely even though you’re not alone? In a newsletter a few weeks ago we talked about loneliness brought on from isolating ourselves, but here I want to qualify that isolation. Maybe the most common way we think about isolation is deciding to be alone. But it is also possible to … Continue reading Are You Lonely Even though You’re Not Alone? (Newsletter 09.12.18)

Dear Church Family, Are you lonely? Study after study suggests a growing number of Americans are. The clear consensus is that humans weren’t made to live in isolation. M.I.T. neuroscientists even found mice were impacted by being separated from other mice for only 24 hours. This finding was cited in the same New York Times … Continue reading Are You Lonely? (Newsletter 08.22.18)

Dear Church Family, What does it mean to be humble? For most of my life, my default definition pretty well agreed with a common dictionary’s definition: “having a low estimate of one’s own importance.” Maybe that’s the way you think of what it means to be humble—not thinking you’re very important. Well, it is true … Continue reading What Is True Humility? (Newsletter 08.08.18)

Dear Church Family, Over the past four months, our body has made over 250 visits in the neighborhoods surrounding where we meet. At least twenty-five members have participated by going to different homes or by writing letters to those we’ve visited. Many more of you have participated in our efforts by praying for the ones … Continue reading Visitation Update (Newsletter 08.01.18)

Dear Church Family, Last week’s newsletter focused on 2 Corinthians 12 and Paul’s thorn in the flesh. Almost at the end of his article, Nathan wrote about our weaknesses and areas of helplessness encouraging us, “God has put these in your life for his own purposes, and that is our joy in life, to be … Continue reading God’s Love and Our Suffering (Newsletter 07.25.18)

Dear Church Family, Are you ever overcome with nostalgia? As you get older, does it happen more or less frequently? Nostalgia is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past.” Does that definition pretty well match up with your life’s disposition? Apparently, the word “nostalgia” was formed in … Continue reading Your Glory Days (Newsletter 05.23.18)

Dear Church Family, Have you ever heard someone say, “Find out where God is working and then join Him there”? Several people, including Henry Blackaby in his study Experiencing God, have made statements like this one along the way. My intention for this newsletter is not to comment on the usefulness of this directive, but … Continue reading The Miracle of Motherhood (Newsletter 05.09.18)

Dear Church Family, In the life of our church, the past two Sunday nights have been particularly meaningful. This has certainly been true for me personally, but in conversations I’ve had with other members, I think this has been true for all of us. I’d like to take this newsletter to talk about why. As … Continue reading Use Your Words Wisely (Newsletter 05.02.18)

Dear Church Family, The thirteenth and final section of our newly adopted church covenant reads: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.” As we’ve worked our way through the previous twelve sections of our church covenant over … Continue reading Church Covenant, Section Thirteen (Newsletter 04.25.18)

Dear Church Family, The twelfth section of our newly adopted church covenant reads: “We will submit to the authority of the Scriptures as the final word on all matters of life and doctrine.” To this point our church covenant has hit on the major requirements for every Christian in the context of meaningful membership in … Continue reading Church Covenant, Section 12 (Newsletter 04.04.18)

Dear Church Family, The eleventh section of our newly adopted church covenant reads: “We will, if the Spirit leads us to move from this place, unite with some other church as soon as possible, keeping ourselves under the oversight and discipline of the church. At such a time we will continue to carry out the … Continue reading Church Covenant, Section 11 (Newsletter 03.07.18)

Dear Church Family, The tenth section of our newly adopted church covenant reads: “We will serve one another, using the gifts God has granted us. And in doing so, we will strive always to rely on the power of His Holy Spirit that all glory may be given to Him.” All Christians are called to … Continue reading Church Covenant, Section 10 (Newsletter 02.28.18)

Dear Church Family, The ninth section of our newly adopted church covenant reads: “We will contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the relief of the poor and those in need, and the spread of the Gospel throughout all the nations.” All Christians are called by God to be generous givers. Why? … Continue reading Church Covenant, Section 9 (Newsletter 02.14.18)

Dear Church Family, The eighth section of our newly adopted church covenant reads: “We will uphold and defend the doctrines of the faith against all who would come against them and, consequently, against the Word of God.” Before we can really unpack this statement we need to define a few terms. In this context, to … Continue reading Church Covenant, Section 8 (01.24.18)

Dear Church Family, We believe every person is created in the image of God. We believe personhood begins with life. We believe life begins at conception. Therefore, we believe because of the image of God inherit in all human life, each life has worth and dignity and should be treated accordingly. In other words, it … Continue reading The Dignity of All Human Life (01.17.18)

Dear Church Family, The seventh section of our newly adopted church covenant reads: “We will submit ourselves to the discipline of this church as a testimony of our desire to always walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. And for our brothers and sisters, we will seek their spiritual advancement as dearly as our … Continue reading Church Covenant, Section 7 (01.03.18)

Dear Church Family, The sixth section of our newly adopted church covenant reads: “We will seek, by His grace, to live in a manner striving for holiness in the world, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. We will constantly renew our minds to the truth, leading a new and holy life glorifying our Father in heaven.” … Continue reading Church Covenant, Section 6 (Newsletter 12.06.17)