MORE ABOUT BAPTIST WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD CHRISTMAS PARTY

In cities such as Calcutta, India, many young girls are forced into the slavery of the sex trade because of dire poverty. Puja, for example, was especially at risk because she had lost both parents by the time she was a teen. But because the ConneXions artisan group was working in her community she was able to avoid even entertaining the idea of looking for oppressive or shameful jobs. She and other young women now earn a fair wage and receive vocational training at ConneXions, freeing them and their families from the vicious cycle of poverty.

On Monday, November 5th, at the Baptist Women Around the World Christmas Party in the Mission and Fellowship Center, you can see an example of the handwork Puja and other women have learned to do through the work of Worldcrafts. That day there will be an exhibit of Worldcrafts items and a catalog to help you do some early Christmas shopping while helping others. Worldcrafts (a project of WMU) and its local partners develop fair-trade businesses that provide sustainable income and offer eternal hope for impoverished people throughout the world.

In addition to the Worldcrafts presentation, there will be a delicious lunch and a World Day of Prayer emphasis. The program will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with lunch being served around noon. Even if you can only come on your lunch hour, please come. Cost for lunch is $5.00 and you are asked to register with the church office at 586-2095 by November 1st.

Won't you join other Baptist women around the world in prayer and do some fair-trade holiday shopping on November 5th? You'll be glad you did!

A PARTY!

Ladies!  Underline, circle in red, and star Monday, November 5th on your calendar for the Baptist Women Around the World Christmas Party!  Join WMU for the annual World Day of Prayer, lunch, and Christmas shopping!  Time is 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (employed women, join us at your lunch hour) and the place is the Mission and Fellowship Center.  

More details to follow in upcoming Church Chimes.

FAN THE FLAMES EFFORT SUCCESSFUL

Thank you to everyone who helped in WMU's campaign to recognize and honor our graded missions leaders through contributing to the Heck-Jones Offering.  The "Fan the Flames" effort garnered $974.01 with a match from an anonymous donor bringing the total contributions to $2000.00.   The money will used for statewide WMU projects to help children, teens, and adults grow in God's love and discover their role in spreading the Gospel.  

Our offering will be sent in honor of:
     Beth Moore -- Mission Friends leader
     Linda Todd Phelps, Nell Cummins, Sandra James -- Mission Friends helpers
     Gaye Buchanan -- GAs leader
     Tonya Lloyd -- GA helper
     Chris Moore --  RA leader
     Kelly Brown -- RA leader
     Carol Cloer -- Youth on Mission
     1st Explorers Staff -- for helping with all groups

 Thank you First Baptist Church for your generous support!

Fan the Flame

Last Sunday many of you received a small fan to remind you of WMU's Heck-Jones Offering for 2018.  This year any contributions received will be given in honor of our graded missions leaders:  Beth Moore, Chris Moore, Gaye Buchanan, Kelly Brown, Carol Cloer, Linda Todd Phelps, and others who are helping "fan the flame" -- nurturing our children and youth in love for Christ, His people and for His mission. 

If you would like to help honor these dedicated workers, remember to put your money in your offering envelope, along with your tithe, and designate it for the "Heck-Jones Offering".

You can also stop by the church office with your contribution.  Please do this by September 24th.

Thank you for your part in helping to "fan the flame"!

Sylva FBC WMU

Fan the Flame

"I thank God whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.  Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.  I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.      2 Timothy 1:3-7 NIV

This scripture is the reference point for the 2018 Heck-Jones Offering theme, "Fan the Flame".  This year FBC's WMU wants to honor the leaders of Mission Friends, GA's, RA's, and Youth on Mission for their commitment to "fanning the flame"  -- passing on the faith to the younger generation. 

Help us recognize these important leaders with a contribution by September 23rd.  You may go by the church office with your donation or place it in your offering envelope along with your tithe.  Make checks out to "FBC" and designate it to "Heck-Jones Offering" on the memo line of your check.  On the offering envelope, be sure to indicate it is for this purpose.

Be sure to check out the bulletin board outside the choir room and watch for a special "Fan the Flame" reminder on Sunday!

Thank you.

WMU NC Missions Extravaganza Trip

Linda Phelps, Shirley Kool, Sandra James, and friend Marsha McQueen recently attended the WMU NC Missions Extravaganza at the Ardmore Baptist Church in Winston Salem.
 
Sandra described this event as a homecoming and a revival. It was a homecoming because we connected with ladies we had met in the past and look forward to seeing each year.  It was a revival because the services were very inspiring, the music joyful and emphasis put on many topics.  Former missionary and author, Rosalie Hunt, gave an uplifting history of our first missionary wife, Ann Judson.
 
All of this made us want to share Christ and help our neighbors around the world. Mark your calendar for the last weekend in April, 2019 and go with us.

WMU Events Coming Up!

Circle, highlight, and underline April 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th.  WMU has some exciting activities planned for the church on those days.

Hope you'll be in the MFC on Wednesday, April 4th, at 6:00 p.m., when Siv Ashley shares her inspiring story of faith and God's unrelenting love amidst the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia during her teen years.  Now living in the United States, she has a passion for missions both home and abroad.  Ms. Ashley will have copies of her book for sale that evening. 

On the next day, ladies of the church are invited to Ryan's Steakhouse, at 1:00 p.m., to have lunch with Siv and talk further about her life and ministry.  Lunch will be Dutch treat.  Please let Dee Grantham know if you plan to come by calling her at 828-507-9016 or emailing her at dgranthamsmhs@yahoo.com.

And, by the way, Siv Ashley is the mother of our own church secretary, Tia Ashley!

On Saturday, April 7th, ladies of the church are invited to a special brunch just for them!  The event will be held in the Mission and Fellowship Center beginning at 9:30 a.m.  The highlight of the morning will be guest speaker Phyllis Elvington.  Phyllis is a Christian wife, mother, daughter, speaker, teacher, writer, and coach.  She is a servant who loves the Lord and she has spoken at Sylva FBC before.  Her inspiring talk on Saturday morning may be just what we need to recharge and reconnect after a hectic week.  Please RSVP to the church office at 586-2095 by Wednesday, April 4th to let us know you are coming.

Sunday, April 8th, will be a special event, too.  Phyllis Elvington will bring the message (be sure to bring your Bible.  She will ask how many brought them!).  Our RAs, GAs, and Acteens will help lead the service along with the women of the church.  It is sure to be a good day.

Hope to see you there at any or all of these events!

CALLING ALL CHILDREN GRADES 1-6!

You are invited to participate in Children's Ministry Day sponsored by WMU on Saturday, February 24th.  Meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. and travel by van (or carpool with your parents) to visit HomeBase on the campus of Western Carolina University.  Learn about this special ministry to college students who have been in foster or children's home care.  While there you'll pack some goody bags for the students, tour the building, and have pizza!  You'll be back to church around 12:15.

Please register to attend by calling the church office by Thursday, February 22nd.  You will need to fill out a permission slip to participate.  Also, please bring any of these items that you can to help fill the goody bags:  hotel-size soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, non-perishable breakfast foods (granola bars, Pop-Tarts, instant oatmeal, etc.)

Don't miss out!  Have a part in missions right here in Jackson County!
 

CALLING ALL ADULTS!

Help our children in grades 1-6 have a meaningful Children's Ministry Day on February 24th (see preceding article).  While the children are at HomeBase that day, they will be packing small bags that Director Jim Dean says are needed by the students he works with.  Please bring items for Toiletry Bags -- hotel-size soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, combs, small tissue packets, hand sanitizer, etc.  Also needed are items for Breakfast Bags -- think non-perishable foods that would help start a student's day.  Please bring granola or breakfast bars, fruit cups, instant oatmeal packets, Pop Tarts, trail mix, dried fruit, etc.  A box will be earmarked in the Loving Kindness Room for this purpose and items should be brought by February 23rd.

Let's help make our children's hometown mission project a success! 

WMU Missions Extravaganza

 2018 Missions Extravaganza

The WMU of North Carolina Missions Extravaganza will be held Friday and Saturday, April 27-28, at Ardmore Baptist Church in Winston-Salem.

This is a wonderful event and opportunity to meet missionaries, choose from a wide variety of break-out sessions that are sure to encourage, challenge, and equip you for the mission field God has placed before you. 

To learn more about Missions Extravaganza, check out this website: http://www.wmunc.org/me2018

A group will be going to this event from First Baptist Sylva. We’d love to have you join us. We have reservations for Friday night in Winston Salem at the Comfort Suites-Hanes Mall. The Registration Fee for both Friday evening and Saturday is $55.00 per person if received by February 1, and $65.00 per person after February 1.

If you would like to go with us, please email Linda Phelps at linda.todd@wku.edu or text or phone Linda at 270.784.2547.