The Heritage/History Team is looking for Veterans who served in World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, the 2 Gulf Wars, and also who served or is serving in the Afghanistan War that are or were members of First Baptist Church. If you know of a veteran who served in any of these wars and conflicts, please contact Gary Frye and give him the information. Some of the information could include: Name, rank, year(s) served, and type of service they were in. Also, if you wanted to add a little story about that veteran, we would appreciate it very much. We would like this information for our Archives.
Mission Moment
"An amazing thing happened. One of our newest students, Ben, from the mainland of China, had only attended our Tues./Thurs. English conversation classes a few times. in July he joined the Wednesday Bible Reading class for the first time. As soon as he walked in the classroom, he went straight to the table where the Bibles were laid out ready for class. Picking up one of the Bibles and excitingly thumbing through it he said under his breath, 'My first time to see a Bible.' I asked, 'Ben, did you say it's your first time to see a Bible?' He confirmed: 'Yes!' That moment was so special to witness. He fully participated in our class, and afterward, I gave him a Chinese-English New Testament and encouraged him to start reading it so we could talk more about it. This experience has challenged us to read the Bible with enthusiasm as if it were the first time seeing God's written word."
- Sarah Ballew, CBF field personnel in Macau, China
Youth Arts Festival 2017
The Eclipse We All Needed
Our region experienced a total eclipse on Monday. Perhaps you heard.
Hopefully, you had the chance to catch the spectacular event that took place in the heavens and here on earth. To (most) everyone’s delight, the sky cover cooperated and we were able to experience a total eclipse of the sun.
Most people’s reflections on Monday’s ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ phenomenon seemed to match my own. People noted that they got warm staring up at the sun for a couple of hours. Others remarked that the light before and after totality was eerie—as though one was looking at the world with sunglasses. You told me that the temperature dropped anywhere from 10-20 F at your locations. Many of you remarked that totality didn’t last as long as you had anticipated, and wasn’t as dark as you had expected. A few folk mentioned that the four or five minutes before totality was the most dramatic element of the event as darkness rapidly swept over the land. And many of us would see a couple of planets appear, though there was great disagreement as to what we were looking at.
Yes, all of this is ripe for spiritual analysis, metaphor and sermonizing. The darkness spread over us but it didn’t last long. True. The presence of light enables life to exist and flourish. Of course. Even when we are immersed in darkness, there’s still light to be seen. Absolutely.
The Psalmist agrees with us: “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night, even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139:11-12
But there’s another observation that I’d like to make that doesn’t fit so nicely into astrological observation. For me, I was struck—and encouraged—by the unifying effect that the solar eclipse had on our community and upon our nation.
I know that I don’t have to tell you that our nation has experienced a terrible and divisive summer. Hate speech, violence, threat, and the dark and sinful shadow of racism has haunted us these past weeks and months. Fear and anger have become our sanctuaries and our reactions as a people have revealed a disdain for the Kingdom of God that Jesus heralds. Despair has become a common refrain.
That is, except for Monday. Eclipse Day found us eager to be with one another, eager to have a shared experienced, eager to look up. Momentarily cushioned from the realities of our world, we delighted in being a people together. Knowing that there was something that couldn’t be denied, spun, vilified, or argued over, most everyone in our nation was able to stop what we were doing and observe something so majestic that it took our breath away and stung our eyes with tears. Traffic was terrible. But people were kind and patient with one another. Resources were diminished and scaled back. But people were gracious with one another. Masses of people descended upon our small town representing more diversity than we could ever expect in Western North Carolina. Did that cause discord? Not one bit. Individuals who would never ordinarily associate with one another shared space on their blankets, passed around snacks and loaned protective glasses out. For a brief afternoon, I was reminded of the comradery, strength and hope that is present when we allow ourselves to focus our attention together.
Eclipse Day was a great day for us. But let’s not wait until May 11, 2078 before we experience that same unifying moment again.
There’s Kingdom Work to be done, y’all, to ensure that we won’t have to postpone shalom—peace—for 61 years. I’m ready. Who’s with me?
Sylva First Wednesdays
Sylva First Wednesdays will begin back on August 23rd with our Wednesday Night Supper and Bible Study!
Deep Creek Picnic
Our end-of-summer picnic will be at Deep Creek on August 27th from 4:00—8:00 PM! Please bring food for your family plus some to share for our pot-luck meal.
Nursing Home Visit
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH VISITS NURSING HOME
Sunday, August 27, our church will be visiting Mountain Trace. We will meet there a little before 2:00 pm for a devotion and music service. Come and show our shut-ins that they are still part of our church. Stop by the Loving Kindness Room and pick up a bag of magazines to take with you. For more information contact Sandra James, 828-736-3171.
Mission Moment
"Without a doubt, your gifts and contributions are touching and transforming lives for eternity. How Kormariayya met Christ is nothing but a miracle. Being a snake charmer all his life, he used to catch cobra snakes, put them around his neck and walk in the community to earn money from cobra snake worshipers. One day, a cobra snake bit Komariayya and he was taken to the nearest hospital for treatment. The doctor gave up hope and told the family he would die in about an hour's time, so they should take him home make plans for his funeral. Instead, his sons took Komariayya to church. The pastor and several church members joined Komariayya's family and prayed. God gave Komariayya a second chance! He accepted Christ, was baptized and joined the church where his sons are members. Because of God's miracle and Komariayya's second life, now many in that village are learning more about Christ and joining the church. Without a doubt, God is up to something in Chelpur and a lot of neat things are taking place."
Pastor Jonah in Chelpur, India, partner of CBF field personnel, Sam Bandela
Circles of Hope Dinner
Please join us for a Thank You dinner honoring Circles of Hope Volunteers
Tuesday, August 22, 6:00-7:00 PM
First Baptist Church of Sylva, Mission and Fellowship Center
669 W Main St.
RSVP by August 17th to Ron Robinson @ rrobinson@mountainprojects.org or 508-0951
Summer Explorers Camp Video
We had a great summer here at First Baptist Sylva! Check out this video made by Elise Parham that shows a few of the fun things our Summer Explorers Camp got to do this summer!