Mission Moment 3.27.24

Kirk and Suzie 

CBF field personnel, Southeast Asia 

These words were penned not by a saint of old, but by a young man who has come to be an incredible blessing to us. We first met Som almost 25 years ago, when we moved into a bamboo and thatch house across the street from his place in a village in the mountains of Southeast Asia. He was in high school then, and shyly came to our house to ask for help on his English homework—which turned out to be translating some heavy metal songs that contained many words we felt should not be translated!  

Som had a rough childhood. His father often fell into alcohol-fueled rages, beating his mother mercilessly before abandoning the family. The trauma of that and other abuse sometimes left his mother in a listless state, unable to care for herself or her son. By age seven, Som was doing the cooking and other domestic chores. Free public school in Som’s area only went through grade nine, but a CBF-connected Korean church in Houston made it possible for Som and several of his friends to continue their studies at an agricultural junior college and then university. On the weekends and during school breaks, Som and this group of friends began working with us to produce literacy materials in the local language and translate the New Testament and portions of the Old Testament.  

Working on the translation team for over 10 years gave Som the opportunity to become deeply acquainted with Scripture and the person of Jesus. Yet he could not quite come to a place of personal faith—saying that he would believe if only he could experience a miracle. When the New Testament was published, he went on to other employment. Several years later, Som called us on the phone, his voice full of excitement. The night before he had experienced something that felt more real than any ordinary dream. He saw a white bird coming down upon him and felt an overwhelming sense of peace and love. He woke with the sense that he had encountered Jesus. He felt that the miracle he had been praying for had indeed happened—not a miracle of healing or seeing water turned into wine, but a miracle of a changed heart. He asked to be baptized. 

Som, fearful of the social consequences that he knew would follow, asked that we not tell other villagers about his decision to follow Christ. But as time passed, villagers noticed a change—and Som felt emboldened to be open about his faith. Now, almost weekly, Som posts about his faith on Facebook. He even wrote a short book to share with friends, narrating his life from the early days of emotional trauma and poverty to the new life and hope he has found in Christ. His observations about Scripture and walking with Jesus are profound and inspiring to us. 

Sunday School and Childcare is Available!

Easter Egg Hunt

Children up to age 12 are invited to participate in an Easter egg hunt on Sunday, March 31, following worship service. Please bring an Easter basket for each child participating. 

A hospitality table will be provided for all by Beth & Chris Moore and Nancy & Scott McConnell.

Join Us for Worship!

Join us for worship on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary! Also join us for Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. for all ages!

The CDC recommends that you wear a mask indoors.
Maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others.

Our worship service will be streamed online at firstbaptistsylva.com.

Easter Story Cookies

This was published in HomeLife magazine many years ago and is credited to Cathy Strickland
from Florence, S.C.  It is a clever way to share the Easter story with children. 
This is great to do on the Saturday evening before Easter.

Ingredients
1 cup pecan halves, to be broken
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
Pinch of salt 
1 cup sugar

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly grease a cookie sheet.

Place pecans in a plastic resealable bag.  Let children pound the pecans into small pieces with wooden spoons.  Set aside.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by soldiers. (Read John 19:1-3)

Let everyone smell the vinegar then measure 1 teaspoon into a mixing bowl.  Explain that while dying on the cross, Jesus was thirsty and soldiers gave Him vinegar to drink.  (Read John 19:28-30)

Separate eggs.  Add whites to the vinegar.  Eggs represent life.  Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.  (Read John 10:10-11, 28)

Sprinkle a little salt into each person’s palm and let each one brush it off into the mixture.  Have them taste their salty palms.  This is a reminder of salty tears shed by those saddened by Jesus’ death.  (Read Luke 23:27)

Add the sugar, trusting that this will give the mixture a pleasant result.  The sweetest part of the Easter story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He makes it possible to know Him and belong to Him.  (Read Psalm 34:8; John 3:16)

Beat with electric mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks form.  Point out the pearly white color, the color of purity in God’s eyes for those who have been cleansed from sin by Jesus’ death.  (Read Isaiah 1:18; 1 John 3:1-3)

Fold in nuts.  Drop rounded teaspoons of the mixture on the cookie sheet.  Explain that each mound resembles the rocky tomb like the one in which Jesus’ body was placed.  (Read Matthew 27:57-60)

Put cookie sheet in preheated oven, close the door, and turn the oven completely off.  Give each person a piece of tape to secure the oven door.  Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.  (Read Matthew 27:65-66)

Time for bed!  Explain that they may feel sad and discouraged leaving the cookies in the oven with the door closed.  Jesus’ death seemed final to His followers, and they were in despair when the tomb was sealed.  (Read John 16:20, 22)

On Easter morning, open the oven door and give everyone a cookie.  Point out the cracked surface of the cookies, and then take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!  On the first Easter morning, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find His tomb opened and empty.  He had risen!  (Read Matthew 28:1-9)

Easter Story Cookies

Click here to download a printable version.

Flowers for Sanctuary

If you would like to provide flowers in the sanctuary for Sunday morning services, please contact Gwen Messer at  828-506-8370, or Janice in the church office to be placed on the calendar.

Hurray for Our Nursery Workers of the Week!

Thank you to Ally Lima, a 1st Explorers staff member for working
in the nursery on March 24 and for participating in the

Palm Sunday Processional with the children. We are so glad you could help!
On Easter Sunday, Janelle and Cody Messer will work in the nursery. 
Thank you for your willingness to serve!

There is still room on the schedule to serve “the least of these”
on Sunday mornings.  It is a blessing to see their smiles and enthusiasm as you spend
time with our infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. 
Please contact Cheryl Beck (cabeck@ncsu.edu) if you would like to help.

Please Join Dining for Jackson and Support Equinox Ranch

Tuesday, April 2 at 11:30 at the Mission & Fellowship Center

Margo Capparelli had four college degrees in Sociology and Counseling Psychology including a Ph.D.  but more than that she had a vision and a heart for the men and women who had served our country in terrible situations that had left them wounded and suffering – veterans who had invisible war wounds – veterans who suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or military sexual trauma – a place that provided suicide prevention – a place that would allow the veterans to get help outside the confines of a hospital and immerse them in a positive environment surrounded by nature.

Margo had taught Sociology on military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Djibouti. She had served as a responder on the National Veterans Crisis Line. She had done many things in an effort to help our veterans but it never felt like it was enough. And then her parents passed and left her with enough money to begin to fulfill her dream – to have a place where wounded veterans could come and find peace, comfort, and healing. She wanted a place removed from the sights and sounds of our busy, noisy civilian world. She searched several states until she found just what she was looking for in Cullowhee. Twenty-three acres that the Tuckasegee River wrapped around on three sides. A place where wounded warriors could fish, go tubing or rafting, hike, experience the music of the mountains, or sit around campfires and just be. This peaceful tranquil place is called Equinox Ranch. The name comes from the two seasonal markers to help bring veterans from the dark to the light. For many the ranch is a mission of urgency.

The program focuses on building the skills that help veterans readjust to the civilian world and their work, relationships and communities. For many returning combat veterans their homecoming was not the celebration that they or their loved ones dreamed about while they were deployed. These veterans often cope with invisible wounds that lead to emotional numbness, anger, depression, anxiety, isolation and hypervigilance. Attempting to distance themselves from their pain and its effects, they try to repress the intrusive thoughts, flashbacks and nightmares. Their military training, fear of psychiatric labels, lack of trust makes it difficult to ask for help. If they do summon the courage to ask, the treatment is often cursory, capricious, involves long waiting periods and sometimes confinement to a hospital. Locked in the past, feeling alone and in agony, some veterans seek the antidote in suicide. The conservative estimate calculated by the Veterans Administration report, is that at least 20 veterans end their lives every day and many more attempt suicide.” But Margo’s plan is to help alleviate such suffering.

What is so special is that the veterans who come for a week can return again. When they leave, the ranch will aid the veterans in connecting to the Veterans Administration or civilian follow up care to ensure they have the social support to continue their recovery when they return home. And the best part is that this program is free to combat veterans.

Many of us have a dream of helping others. Too many only dream but Margo Capparelli made her dream a reality. Please join us on April 2 at 11:30 at the Mission & Fellowship Center of Sylva First Baptist and let’s support Equinox Ranch and the many veterans who have served our county and now need our help – veterans who have put their lives on the line in protecting our American way of life.

Giving the Jesus Way

United Christian Ministries is in need of  pasta sauce, Ramen, pancake syrup, applesauce (6-pack individual cups), and laundry detergent. To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive. Thank you!

Baptist Student Fellowship to Join Us

Baptist Student Fellowship students at WCU of which our intern, Kaitlyn Cabaniss, is a member, have been invited to join us each first Wednesday evening of the month during spring semester. 

On Wednesday, April 3, they will share our delicious potluck (5:15 – 6:00 p.m.), rich fellowship, and enlightening evening. We have a special treat for everyone—we will play Bible Trivia (6:00-6:45 p.m.) with a chance to win prizes for the most correct answers. So ... when preparing your best foods, bring extra for our guests! Spending time dining together around our tables will give us the opportunity to engage in conversation as we begin showing our love and support for these our young fellow Christians who are living and learning away from home. Let’s welcome them in a BIG way with open hearts and the warmth of Christian love.”