Dining for Jackson to Help Full Spectrum Farms
Please join us on May 7, 11:30 a.m. in the Mission and Fellowship Center of Sylva First Baptist Church as Dining for Jackson County works to support Full Spectrum Farms. This organization was founded in 2002 by parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Full Spectrum Farms is a non-profit organization serving individuals with ASD in western North Carolina. Their programs are 100% supported by the generosity of donors and all donations directly support their client programs and core farm operations.
The farm has thirty-four acres where individuals with ASD can live, work, and explore in a safe and encouraging environment. Full Spectrum Farms provides a unique model for ASD services as a nurturing community where individuals with ASD can live and work with a focus on organic farming and natural crafts and art.
Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication. The disorder also includes limited and repetitive patterns of behavior. The term “spectrum” in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity.
The Farm helps individuals with autism spectrum disorder develop lifelong learning and living skills through projects such as woodworking, pottery, and weaving, as well as growing and selling organic produce and flowers. Their clients have access to a fully-functioning organic garden, chickens, and grounds to partake of a wide range of farm activities.
They also offer Neurodiverse Life Coaching for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and for parents/caregivers of people with ASD. In June they will offer two sessions of youth summer camp in cooperation with Southwestern Community College’s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. Applications for both programs are available now; email erin@fullspectrumfarms.org for a copy or more information or you may call Erin McManus, the director at 828-293-2521. Erin works tirelessly to coordinate weekly programs, plan special events, manage donations, and cultivate relationships in the local community.
We hope you will bring a covered dish and join us as we work to support Full Spectrum Farms. We promise a lunch filled with good food, warm fellowship, and an opportunity to learn more about Full Spectrum Farms.
Take Note of the Accompanying. . .
There is so much going on in the next month. We hope that you will download and print out the attached list of events so you can be sure not to miss all of the fun!
Baptist Children’s Homes of NC Food Roundup
Each year churches, businesses and other community members unite for the Annual Food Roundup which allows hundreds of boys and girls living at Baptist Children's Homes to have their bellies well-fed. The goal is to collect nonperishable food, supplies and gift cards. Gift cards are extremely helpful in purchasing perishable food items. Please see the list of needed items here. We have placed a box in the Loving Kindness Room to receive your gifts.
Joe's Window
By Dr. Joe Yelton
Interim Pastor
Having just celebrated our commitment and friendship with our sister congregation in Cuba, and having completed a wonderful time with Pastors Ernesto and Marisol, we can take a moment to be grateful for much. At the outset, let us give thanks to God for those gifted and giving members of our church who made this opportunity happen. To those who planned, housed, fed, arranged, transported, and a myriad of other necessary tasks and duties, please receive our gratitude. Your sacrifices did not go unnoticed.
For perspective, Cuba is just over 1,000 miles away or, approximately 500 miles closer to Sylva than Denver, Albuquerque, and Cheyenne.
One would think that proximity would translate into similarity. It doesn’t. Cuba is a struggling nation with a desperate economy, broken transportation system, and an overreaching government. A few years back while participating in a mission experience there, I saw their poverty first hand. I have no words to describe it. However, I do have words to describe other things I saw ... children playing outside all day long, much as I did when I was their age. I saw doting mothers and fathers lavishing love upon their children. I saw church families gathered in humble, block buildings, singing praises to their God, at an almost cathedral-like experience.
Whatever the Cuban government and our government might want us to believe, the people of Cuba I encountered do not loathe or fear us. They genuinely love us and hope that the ties that bind us will grow stronger and those things that separate us will fall away.
Thank God for our sister church in Cuba. Thank God for the camaraderie we share. Thank God that we are so much alike. And yes, thank God that the more we submit to the Lordship of Jesus, the less sway any differences we may have will carry.
1st Explorers After-School Ministry Update
A week full of a mixture of things that kept 1st Explorers busy! Earth Day was observed on Monday with the viewing of a documentary on penguins. On Tuesday, Lorie Meservey visited and shared the importance of Passover with the children. The children planted flowers in their decorated flower pots for the fundraiser for Greening Up the Mountains that day also. Generation Kids came on Thursday and used games and activities to teach about Jesus being the only foundation for building your life. The week ended with a visit from our Cuban friends who answered some questions about their country. And, of course, we enjoyed Mission Friends, GAs, and RAs on Wednesday!
Mission Moment 5.1.24
Brook and Mike
CBF Field Personnel, Southeast Asia
Esau is the youngest in his family. He is the third of four siblings to have come through our ministry for university students here in Southeast Asia. The others have graduated and Esau will soon. Although many times we are mentored by our mentors, sometimes, we are mentored by our mentees. We have looked at expanding our ministry team through the pandemic and we have been weighing individuals in our ministry. For two years, I have had my eyes set on Esau’s taking a leadership role.
He is not your typical leadership candidate. He is one of the younger members of our group and he is quiet. He’s not shy, but he is careful not to speak out of turn. He is slow to speak, but quick to listen. He waits for others to move into their own conversations and then he comes to me to ask questions, deep and profound questions, that the others do not expect from him.
For the last year, Esau had been applying for a job that he knew nothing about. We have seen his helpfulness, his willingness to work when others are happy to sit, his desire to learn new things and push past his comfort zone, and his courage to lead our men’s Bible study, men who are older than he. And, recently, he said yes to joining our team after graduation.
In our country, the pandemic is just now ending, and things are returning to normal. Esau will graduate in a month and the whole world is ahead of him. Esau is helping me to see the world and ministry potential with younger eyes. His faithfulness and his helpfulness remind me of our role as servants, not just teachers. Esau is encouraging me to be quick to listen, slow to speak and to ask difficult questions, even when I know I may not like the answers or that I would have to change. Most importantly, after a long pandemic with so many losses, Esau is reminding me of God’s impact even in dark times and the hope for the next generation of Christ’s servants in this country.
Pray. . .Give. . .Go.
Send Us Your Prayer List Updates
Add this email address to your contacts list on your devices so that our staff and Pastoral Care Team can learn of your prayer requests as quickly as possible. And yes, you may still contact the church office directly at 828-586-2095 to share your prayer concerns, as well.
Hurray for Our Nursery Workers of the Week!
Judy Henderson served in the church nursery
on April 28. Thank you Judy for volunteering your time.
Dana Ayers will be in charge of the nursery on May 5. Thank you!
The children and nursery workers are enjoying the newly renovated nursery. We appreciate everyone who transformed the nursery into such a lovely, inviting space.
More Details About the Passport Yard Sale
May 11 is the date for the yard sale to help our children raise funds to attend Passport. It will run from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The location will be the Mission and Fellowship Center.
People have been asking about good items to sell. Here is a list of some proven favorites:
“What-nots"
Garden Tools
Tools
Books
Camping Gear
Appliances
Games
Toys
Bicycles
Jewelry
Dishes
Casseroles
Working lamps
Exercise Equipment
Fishing gear
Furniture
Clothing (Children & Adult)
Also, just a reminder that only working items can be accepted. We would like to have some homemade cakes, pies, breads to sell that day. Can anyone help us with this?
Please bring your contributions to the Sunday School room beside the Choir Room.
If you have questions, please contact Cheryl Beck at 828-421-3820. Thank you for helping our children!
Left: A decorative fire screen and office chair have already been donated for the sale.