October 12, 2026

Church Family,

What a great Sunday at First Baptist!

I don't know about you, but I sure love looking around on Sunday mornings and seeing so many smiling faces, people visiting with one another, and new faces joining us for worship. There's just something special about being together as a church family, and I hope we never take that for granted.

And how about Tabitha's testimony Sunday! Video at the bottom of page..

I absolutely loved it! There's something powerful about hearing someone share their story and seeing how God has worked in their life. Tabitha, thank you for being willing to open your heart and share your journey with us. I know your story touched lives, and I believe God will continue to use it to encourage others.

We also continued our series, "Plot Twist," and talked about how God can take the unexpected turns in our lives and use them for something we never imagined.

Sometimes life doesn't go the way we planned. We experience disappointments, struggles, and moments when we wonder how anything good could possibly come from what we're going through.

But here's what I hope we're beginning to understand through this series:

Our story isn't over just because something didn't go the way we expected.

God is still working. He can take the broken pieces, the difficult chapters, and even the decisions we wish we could change and use them to write a story of grace, redemption, and hope.

And sometimes the very thing we thought would be the end of our story becomes the beginning of something beautiful.

I think Tabitha's testimony was such a wonderful reminder of that truth.

I also want to take a moment to say THANK YOU!

Thank you for the love and kindness you’ve shown Jule and me and for welcoming us into your lives. It truly means more than you know. 

I've said it before, but I want to say it again. I absolutely love being your Interim Pastor. You are such a loving, caring, and encouraging group of people, and I feel incredibly blessed to be part of this church family.

Now, let's talk about this coming Sunday!

I'm really looking forward to hearing Lane bring the message as we continue our Plot Twist series. I always enjoy hearing Lane share God's Word, and I hope you'll make plans to be there.

But Sunday doesn't end with our morning worship!

Lane will be ordained Sunday evening at 6:00 PM at Rosanky Baptist Church.

This is a special moment in Lane's life and ministry, and I would love to see First Baptist show up in a BIG way to support him.

Let's fill that place up!

What a wonderful opportunity to encourage Lane, pray over him, and let him know how much we love and appreciate him. I hope you'll make it a priority to be there.

And one more thing that's very close to my heart...

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD!

Don't forget about those shoeboxes!

If you've been around me very long, you probably already know how passionate I am about this ministry.

It's easy to look at a shoebox and see a few toys, school supplies, and personal items. But to a child somewhere around the world, that little box can mean so much more.

It can remind a child that someone cares about them, that they haven't been forgotten, and most importantly, it can help open the door for them to hear about the love of Jesus.

It's not just a shoebox. It's an opportunity to make an eternal difference in a child's life.

So I want to encourage you to participate. Pack a box. Pack several! Get your children and grandchildren involved. What a great way to teach the next generation that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Church family, I continue to be encouraged by what God is doing at First Baptist.

Let's keep loving people, encouraging one another, serving together, and inviting others to be part of our church family.

And remember that empty chair?

There's still a seat waiting.

Maybe this Sunday is the perfect opportunity to invite someone to fill it.

I love you guys, and I can't wait to see you Sunday!

Phillip