March 2015 - Mount Olive Baptist Church

March 2015
Reach – Nurture – Serve - Pray
5043 Mt. Olive Church Rd.
Pittsboro, NC 27312
Office (336) 376-3788
Staff Email:
David Crowther, Pastor
Mark Etheridge, Youth Pastor
Tina Vaughn, Secretary
davidcrowther@mtolivebaptist.com
mark@mtolivebaptist.com
tina@mtolivebaptist.com
From the Pastor:
March is going to be a
busy month as we plan and
prepare for several major
events. First, we will be having
our Outdoor Banquet on
Saturday, March 28th from
11:00am–2pm. The Banquet
will begin with the meal,
followed by a turkey calling
seminar by Marshall Collette of
Quaker Boy Calls and Mossy
Oak. After Marshall Collette’s
calling seminar, I will take the
opportunity to share briefly
about Mt. Olive as well as give
a Gospel presentation. Finally,
there will be a free shotgun
giveaway. During the meal
there will be several tables set
up with additional outdoor
information (NC Wildlife, etc.)
and afterward Eddie Vaughn
will
be
doing a
bow
NIGHT
demonstration. I hope everyone
in the church will support this
day by bringing food, inviting
friends and neighbors, and
praying for that the Holy Spirit
will be at work!
Also, during the month
of March I ask that you all be
praying and preparing for our
‘Back to Church’ Sunday on
Easter, April 5th. I want to
challenge you to invite your
unchurched
friends
and
neighbors to church on that
Sunday. I would suggest
mentioning it to them well
before
Easter
and
then
following up with your friend as
the time gets nearer. On
Sunday, March 1st commitment
cards will be distributed; we’re
asking you to consider writing
the names of one to three people
you will invite to church and
pray for between now and April
5th. Of course, do not take this
commitment lightly and only
fill out the card if you will
follow through on your
commitment to the Lord.
Remember, we have an
attendance goal of 200. I
believe that if we are fervent in
our prayer and witness that God
will use the Day of our Lord’s
Resurrection to bring new
spiritual life into our church as
well.
Let’s continue seeking
to make Jesus’ name famous in
our community and around the
world!
In Christ,
David
Wednesday, March 4 at 6:45 pm
This month, dinner is provided by WMU Group #1. Bring the whole family and enjoy a meal together. This
month, the adults will stay together after the meal to learn more about North American missions. The
children and youth will still break out into their missions groups, and a nursery is provided for the little ones.
Student Ministry
Awake and Alive Lock-In
Friday-Saturday, March 6-7: 8 pm-8 am
Students are asked to bring a side item or 2 liter drink
Winter Jam Tour Spectacular
Friday, March 13: 3-11:30 pm
PNC Arena, Raleigh NC
It’s time to think about summer camp!
Student Life Camp; Ridgecrest, NC
$50 deposit (Due Sunday, March 1st)
Student Gatherings….
Wednesday Nights 7:00-8:00 pm…..Sunday Nights 6:30-8:00 pm
Sunday Morning Nursery Schedule:
Mar 1:
Brian and Tina Vaughn
Mar 8:
Will and Ashley Thomas
Mar 15:
Ruth Ann Jones and Evangeline Andrews
Mar 22:
Keith and Tracey Marshall
Mar 29:
Diane Foushee and Casey Allred
March Nursery Mother: Suzanne Jones
Wednesday Evening Nursery Schedule:
Mar 4:
Mar 18:
Ashley Thomas
We need a volunteer! Find sign-up sheet in east entrance.
Children’s Church Schedule:
Mar 1:
Mar 8:
Mar 15:
Mar 22:
Mar 29:
Christy Morris, Teresa Garner; Alternate: Robbie Morris
Tina Vaughn, Diane Foushee, Alternate: Christy Morris
Denise Doss, Dorian James, Alternate: Dawn Lloyd
Ashley Thomas, Rhonda Thomas; Alternate: Amy Foushee
Kristina Zachary, Amber Vaughn, Alternate: Suzanne Jones
MARCH REACH MINISTRY
The visitation schedule for the Reach Ministry is posted on the bulletin board beside the Pastor’s Study.
Mar 1:
Member B:
Preparation:
Mar 8: Guest C
Preparation:
Mar 15: Nursing Home C
Mar 22: Shut- in C
Mar 29:
David Crowther, Bryan Foushee, Marie Andrews
Christy Morris
Joe & Renee Godfrey
Dawn Glosson Wells
Joan Snyder, Toni Brazington
Evangeline Andrews, Maria Wilske
5th Sunday Testimony Service
Notes from
My “Prayer Closet”
Giving, Fasting, and Praying
Jesus Christ devoted significant time to instruction of His disciples during His three-year earthly ministry.
Matthew 6 chronicles the essential ideals Christ taught on the principle of the Kingdom of God. They included:
giving, fasting, and praying; these are timeless principles and apply to all believers, in all situations, for all times.
Christ taught His disciples that the life of a believer was to be lived differently from the unsaved in the world.
Followers of Christ are sanctified. Paul wrote, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may
your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thess. 5:23). The
holy lives believer must live often conflict with worldly values.
Jesus explained there are two ways to conduct charitable giving. With the first way, the giver makes certain
people are aware of the contribution. The giver looks to man for approval. Conversely, the second way seeks only to
fulfill the needs of the poor. No accolades are expected. Matthew wrote, “Take heed that you do not do your
charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. But
when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed
may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly” (6:1; 3-4).
I cannot think of a greater role model than Jesus Christ. He prayed some of the most powerful prayers for
disciples. And He took the time to provide an exemplary prayer. Christ knew the importance prayer would play in the
life of the believer once He went home to be with the Father. Christ emphasized prayer being a personal
communication between the believer and God. God does not want superfluous words, but words spoken sincerely
from the heart. He already knows the desires of your heart. Jesus said, “when you pray, go into your room, and when
you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place;… and your Father who sees in secret will
reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be
heard for their many words… For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. For if you
forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matt 6:6-8; 14).
Finally, Jesus instructed the disciples on the importance of fasting. Now the disciples did not fast until after
Christ was ascended to heaven. However, Christ knew the disciples would need the spiritual power that only coming
through fasting and prayer. Last week we discussed the father whose son was demon-possessed. The disciples were
unable to cast out the demon, but Jesus was able. The problem was the lack of faith of the disciples. In addition, Jesus
pointed out the need to fast and pray to cast out some demons.
“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure
their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you,
when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to
your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (6:16-18).
Jentezen Franklin asserted, “[W]hen giving, praying, and fasting are practiced together in the life of a believer,
it creates a type a threefold cord that is not easily broken.” The reference Franklin made to a ‘threefold cord’ relates to
Solomon and his writings on wisdom; “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a
threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Eccl. 4:12).
I hope you have found this useful. I would ask everyone who expressed interest in partnering in the Ministry
of Prayer to recommit by signing one of the sheets that will be available in the church entrances. I need all the
information filled out. The Lord has laid several things on my heart that He wants to see come to fortuitous at Mt.
Olive Baptist Church. I can begin with you making an important decision right now. We are in the season of Lent.
Will you consider strengthening your threefold cords? Increase your giving (financial or time); fast for repentance, to
break a stronghold, and most importantly to deepen your relationship with our God; and finally praying. It is my
prayer that the Lord God will richly bless each and every one of your sacrifices and obedience.
Your Sister in Christ Jesus,
Debbie Henry
(443) 415-7421 mobile (336) 376-0563 home dahenry1@msn.com
Easter Hope Boxes
Help send the love of Jesus to Kentucky
school children by packing a plastic
shoebox with toiletries and school supplies.
Deadline is March 22.
Email tina@mtolivebaptist.com for details.
Visit www.hopeforappalachia.com for more
info about the project.
March 1:
March 4:
March 28:
March 29:
Church Conference @ 6:30 pm
Family Night (Meal @ 6:45pm; North American Mission Study @ 7:30 pm)
Outdoor Banquet @ 11:00 am
Palm Sunday – Children singing during Morning Worship
April 3:
April 4:
April 5:
April 12:
April 19:
April 24-25:
Good Friday Service @ 7:00 pm
Easter Egg Hunt @ 2:00 pm
Easter Sunday- “Back to Church Sunday”
Cake and Pie Auction for Relay for Life
VBS PreviewMeeting
Student Ministry Spring Retreat