fbc-prattville

SENT ON MISSIONS

joy.quinn@fbcprattville.org (Joy Quinn) — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 16:40:06 GMT

Missions in Alaska

At First Baptist Prattville, one of our core values is that we are Sent on Mission. One way that we live this statement out is by praying for, giving to, and going to serve alongside churches and ministry partners.

One of our partners is Liberty Church in Craig, Alaska and each Summer we have had the opportunity to send a team to serve alongside them. This year our team helped host sports camps and a disciple now weekend.

Lela Barnett’s first time serving on the Alaska trip was in 2022 when she was FBCP’s mission intern. Since then, she has returned each Summer. While reflecting on this summer’s trip, Barnett said “I really made connections with some of the local students in Craig and was able to share experiences with many of them while helping conduct a kids sports camp and teach them through a disciple now weekend.” Barnett continues, “During Dnow, and even the Kids camp, I feel like God was tugging at strings in these students’ hearts as they asked questions about the messages and their faith.”

There is a desperate need for the gospel to be shared in southeast Alaska as the area does not have many churches. Kendall Pierce served on this mission both in 2023 and 2024. While reflecting upon why he decided to return to Alaska, Pierce shared something that Pastor Cody Schwegel (Liberty Church) told him in 2023. Pastor Schwegel said, “majority of the people you meet in Craig have never heard the gospel before, they have no knowledge of who Jesus is.” Pierce went on to say, “that comment resonated with me over the past year and compelled me to come again this year. We live in a place like Prattville where it is hard to go a mile without seeing a church. In Alaska, you may go several miles without ever seeing one. Knowing that my encounter with someone might be the first, or even only time they ever hear the gospel, placed a desire on my heart to join this team and go.”

At the end of the mission trip, the team had the opportunity to visit Liberty Church's future camp site. The church will begin development of the site soon and once completed will is it for youth outreach events for many years to come.

Give

In addition to volunteering on site with Liberty Church, First Baptist Prattville gave to support missions throughout Alaska financially via our annual VBS missions offering. Breaker Rock Beach was the theme of this year’s VBS and as students learned about the rock-solid truth of God’s word they also learned about the needs in southeast Alaska. which paired perfectly with our mission's focus located in Southeast Alaska.

During the five-day VBS, students had the opportunity to bring money to support the “Sponsor a Village” project through the Alaska Baptist Association. These villages are without the gospel witness of a local church and these funds would be used to purchase the equipment needed for them to livestream Liberty Church’s weekly worship services.

For every $1,000 dollars raised, Anna Stockman, FBCP’s children's ministry director, promised to have an ice bucket poured on her. In the end, she had four ice buckets poured on her as over $4,600 was raised for this offering!

How will you be involved?

You are invited to be a part of this important work in Alaska. First, please join us in prayer for Liberty Church, especially the prayer requests listed below. Second, please give to FBCP’s general offering as 20% of our budget goes to support missions and ministries outside of our church, including Liberty Church. And last, but not least, prayerfully consider going on a trip. Barnett encouraged others to go, saying, “If you or anyone else have ever had the thought of doing mission work, especially for your first trip, I highly encourage this mission trip.”

Pray

1. Pray for the gathering of materials and funds needed to open Liberty Church's future youth campsite. This site will be a place where youth will hear the Gospel, and lives will be changed for the glory of God!

2. Pray that God would use the work that Liberty Church is doing to change the lives of the residents in Craig, AK. Pray that those ministering would be a light in a community that does not have many churches.

3. Pray for the economic conditions within this area. Many who are involved within the church’s ministry are having to leave Craig due to the cost of living. Pray that the Lord would bring people to help Liberty Church carry on their ministry.

The Senior Adults Ministry at First Baptist Prattville

joy.quinn@fbcprattville.org (Joy Quinn) — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 23:46:25 GMT

Senior Adults Summer Gathering

As Fall begins, we reflect on how God worked through First Baptist Senior Adults Ministry during the Summer. We are also excited for all that God will continue to do this Fall. In July, the Senior Adults of FBCP came together for games, laughter, fellowship, worship, food and encouragement! The Fellowship Hall was fully decorated with sand buckets, shovels and checkered table clothes. The first activity was bingo with 23 winners receiving mini-Bundt cakes. Next, the attendees enjoyed a picnic themed spread including sandwiches, sides and desserts and were treated to a variety of gospel songs and hymns performed by Wes Cahoon. Many were brought to tears as they listened to the songs that have had an impact on them throughout the years. Overall, the Senior Adults Summer Gathering was a huge success!

This gathering was work of Mike Durham, Senior Adult Pastor, and Donna Wilson, Senior Adult Associate. Although they meet for PrimeTimers each month from September to May, the Senior Adults don’t typically meet during the summer months. Durham and Wilson, however, heard many senior adults mention the need for a summer gathering to honor and saw having one as an opportunity to honor the “in home” seniors that are not often able to attend events at the church or PrimeTimers gatherings.

Wilson shared the goals for the event: “One, to have a mid-summer gathering for all seniors. Two, to include the “at home” population of our church. Three, to HAVE FUN!” All these goals were accomplished, and the impact was large. 120 senior adults attended, including 11 of our “in home” seniors with their caregivers or drivers. Wilson said, “we were overwhelmed to the point of tears. The response to the music and fellowship was fantastic. All comments were positive and encouraging.” She went on to say, “One dear lady, Annie, told me that it was one of 4-5 times in many years she had been able to come inside the walls of our church and participate.” Others shared similar statements repeated.

Wilson shares,

“Our hope as the ministerial team is that we can build on the excitement and vision of SAM (Senior Adult Ministry) as we move forward into the coming year. [We hope] that we will build bridges for our entire senior population to be more involved and identify with the FBC church body, that SAM is a vital part of FBCP and that there is a place for service in the senior years of life to impact our city and world with the gospel of Christ. They are loved, honored and respected for the legacy that they have passed down.”

The Senior Adults Ministry at First Baptist Prattville is a blossoming ministry with many fellowship and service opportunities. If you are interested in learning more, join the Senior Adults Facebook group @First Baptist Prattville Senior Adults.

Steeple Reconstruction

joy.quinn@fbcprattville.org (Joy Quinn) — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 14:46:37 GMT

Here is the church and here is the steeple...

You’re probably familiar with this children’s rhyme, but we were thankful last week that a steeple does not make a church. On August 29, 2024,
our staff and a few church members gathered outside our church building to witness the removal of our 31-year-old steeple. The steeple, along with parts of our roof, had sustained hail damage and will be receiving a

needed repair. It was loaded onto a trailer to be transported to Kentucky where it will be restored by the company that originally constructed it
in 1993. It is estimated that the steeple will be returned in early December. Although it may be gone temporarily, we are grateful that our church remains strong!

Sing & Serve 2024

lauren.matson@fbcprattville.org (Lauren Matson) — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 17:19:03 GMT

Students spend week in St. Louis singing and ministering

When First Baptist Church Prattville (FBCP) students travel on choir tour every summer, they do more than sing and lead in worship services. Students spend a large amount of the week serving. Thus, choir tour received a new name this year to capture the essence of the week – “Sing & Serve 2024.” This year the junior high and high school group ministered in St. Louis, Missouri.

“What attracted us to St. Louis was the connection we had with a local pastor,” Josiah Pruett, FBCP Worship Associate, said. “St. Louis is also a city people know of but may not have visited before.”

Sing & Serve 2024 worked with two main ministries, Church at Bevo and Urban Reach STL. Church at Bevo is a small church started in the past 10 years with a focus on the large refugee community in St. Louis. The St. Louis refugee and immigrant population reaches over 135,000, which is about 5% of the population according to the U.S. census.

“The nations are coming to St. Louis,” said Pruett. “We canvassed a large area with Church at Bevo promoting their Bevo Bible Club and community picnic.”

The community picnic is ministry work FBCP senior Anna Messick won’t soon forget.

“Church at Bevo is in a highly populated refugee area, so many of the people we were interacting with were of different religions and spoke different languages,” said Messick. “At the picnic, we met new people, played games and shared the Word through song with St. Louis locals. Many people in the community were not aware that Church at Bevo existed.”

Sing & Serve 2024 also partnered with Urban Reach STL, a ministry working in public housing communities in St. Louis to fight against systemic poverty and crime. Urban Reach engages community kids during the summer with activities, games and the hope of reaching kids with the gospel.

“One of my favorite memories is being the first choir to sing on the chapel steps of the abandoned church that Urban Reach is restoring,” Messick said. “This church building was once one of the largest drug houses in the state, but after being donated to Urban Reach, it is now getting a second chance to be a place of worship.”

Students and leaders are often spiritually stretched on mission weeks like Sing & Serve 2024. Michael Thomas, an FBCP member, joined his daughter on the trip to serve and further God’s kingdom together.

“I learned that no matter what your spiritual gifts are,” said Thomas, “God will put you where he needs you to work his plan. He put us in St. Louis this year and provided everything we needed to reach this community.”

Thomas also noticed the desire of students to serve and show the love of Christ.

“Students love well and want to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Thomas. “Whether the task was organizing an apartment, playing games and loving children, canvassing a community with door hangers or cooking and feeding 200 people at the Church at Bevo picnic, these students served and loved well.”

Pruett added it’s important to offer this mission trip each year to open the eyes of students.

“These ministries are just regular people who have heard God’s call to go and make disciples,” said Pruett. “My prayer is that these students will be obedient to whatever God calls them to, whether easy or tough.”

Messick and Thomas encourage students and leaders to commit to Sing & Serve 2025 (destination unknown at this time) so they can be part of the deep impact singing and ministering has on a community.

“It is such a rewarding experience to see what God can and will do through you and the students when you allow yourself to be the hands and feet of Jesus,” said Thomas.

Sing & Serve 2024 also offered students fun experiences including visiting the Gateway Arch, St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Aquarium and St. Louis Cardinals baseball game. Students receive financial assistance for Sing & Serve through the FBCP Send Offering. Student choir will return in August for all junior high and high school students. If you are interested in student choir or Sing & Serve 2025, contact Candyce DeKruyff in the FBCP worship ministry office.

Serving in the Gap

lauren.matson@fbcprattville.org (Lauren Matson) — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 00:56:45 GMT

FBCP student spends gap year on mission

When Bri DeKruyff was a junior in high school, she couldn’t quite figure out what her next steps after graduation would be. Starting college didn’t feel right to her, so she began exploring a gap year of mission work.

“When I heard about the opportunity to take a gap year to serve in missions, I felt the Lord calling me to that,” said DeKruyff. “I have always loved being abroad, whether it was on vacation or mission trips. I enjoy seeing new places and exploring the world.”

DeKruyff started mission work at 11 years old with her first family mission trip to Doraville, Georgia. She completed her first international mission trip to Honduras when she was 13 years old.

“From early on, my parents always told us about missions and wanted us to be involved,” added DeKruyff. “Even if it was just helping at the church or going on a trip, they were always very encouraging when it came to me wanting to move overseas.”

DeKruyff was accepted into the International Mission Board’s (IMB) Semester Hands On program. Hands On offers missions opportunities for students and young adults to work alongside a missionary mentor to share the gospel with unreached people. The projects range from four months to one year. DeKruyff matched with IMB missionaries in Scotland, for a 9-month project. DeKruyff had just celebrated her 18 ^th birthday when she boarded the plane to Scotland.

“Standing in the airport saying goodbye to my family was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” said DeKruyff. “I had to trust the Lord and know his plans are greater than mine.”

DeKruyff partnered with Dennistoun Baptist Church (DBC) led by IMB missionaries TJ and Dena Odom. She assisted with English as a Second Language classes and led two missionary teams visiting from the United States. She also met basic needs of the church by caring for children and even cleaning bathrooms. DeKruyff says she spiritually grew the most in her prayer life.

“DBC is so devoted to prayer that it led me to step up in my own prayer life,” DeKruyff said. “We have at least 4 to 5 specific times for prayer as a church throughout the week. It is extremely encouraging. I have been stretched in the area of listening to the Lord and trusting the Lord’s plan more than I could ever imagine.”

Peyton Hill, First Baptist Church Prattville’s Lead Pastor, is a champion for missions and reaching the lost. Hill had several conversations with DeKruyff as she was making her decision and was encouraged by her willingness to be sent on mission.

“I’ve always been encouraged by our giving toward global missions,” said Hill. “When one of our own actually goes globally, it automatically increases our commitment.”

Hill stated that young people make up the most eager and least tied-down demographic in most churches. He said it is up to the church to get out of the way when God is mobilizing young people to missions.

“If God’s glory is our goal,” said Hill, “and if his Great Commission is the pathway, then why wouldn’t we encourage young people to reorient their lives to accomplish this?”

DeKruyff returned to the United States at the end of May. She is spending the summer as a leader at CentriFuge camps. She will then move to the University of South Alabama in Mobile, to study nursing. She is eager to find a church and plug into ministry. Her gap-year experience, though, is one she highly encourages for other high school graduates.

“If anyone is on the edge about taking a gap year to do missions or interning at a local church, I would say do it,” DeKruyff said. “Let the Lord stretch you in ways you could have never imagined.”

VBS to Tackle Cultural Half-Truths

lauren.matson@fbcprattville.org (Lauren Matson) — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 02:35:11 GMT

Vacation Bible School (VBS) brings five days of energy and excitement that is a catalyst for salvation decisions and spiritual growth. The discipleship-intensive week encompasses worship rallies, small group Bible studies, missions involvement and of course, snacks and friendly competition.

First Baptist Church Prattville (FBCP) will host kids ages four years old through sixth grade June 24-28. This year’s theme is “Breaker Rock Beach” with the goal of teaching God’s rock-solid truth in a world of shifting sands.

“Every day, children will hear about the good news of Jesus, and how the truth found in scripture is rock solid,” said Anna Stockman, FBCP’s Children’s Ministry Director. “Children will also have the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned and live out the messages they are hearing.”

This year’s biblical content tackles cultural half-truths. In an age-appropriate way, the ideas of “truth can be different for different people,” “do what makes you happy” and “if you don’t agree with me, you don’t love me” will be addressed. Leaders will use Scripture to demonstrate how these mindsets do not line up with God’s Word, and kids will learn how to lovingly respond to these beliefs.

“My prayer is that the counter-cultural Bible content of Breaker Rock Beach will be a catalyst for conversation between children and parents,” Julie Parmer, FBCP Preschool Ministry Director, said. “I pray parents and children will learn to recognize the difference between what the world says is true and what God says is true.”

According to Lifeway Research , 69% of American parents will encourage their child to participate in VBS at a church they don’t attend if invited by a friend. Every year, FBCP welcomes a significant number of guests. VBS is FBCP’s largest, evangelical outreach each year with an average attendance of 764 kids and leaders.

“As long as children are coming, we must share the life changing message of Jesus with them,” added Parmer. “VBS is a super opportunity for Christ followers to serve together with fellow church members with the common goal of leading boys and girls to a heart-transforming relationship with Jesus. What could be more rewarding?”

VBS as a local mission trip

An important piece of the discipleship plan with VBS is the focus on missions. Teaching kids we are sent on mission takes priority each day. Not only will kids participate in a missions rotation, but a friendly competition between boys and girls on raising money for a specific mission is a highlight of the week.

“This year our VBS offering will go to Liberty Church in Craig, Alaska so that we can join them in a project called ‘Adopt a Village,’” said Larry Jenkins, FBCP Missions Pastor. “This project is a way to livestream worship and Bible study to towns and villages that don’t have a church.”

The money raised will provide the livestream equipment, specifically one year of internet service and a large screen television, to a village Liberty Church selects.

“We want our children and families to remember that through prayer and our missions giving, we are part of God’s kingdom in places both near and far,” said Jenkins. “We look forward to someday working alongside Pastor Cody Schwegel of Liberty Baptist Church as they plant a church in the village they adopt.”

The 2023 VBS missions offering raised $5,144. Livestream equipment could be provided for three villages if the same amount is contributed this year. Kids in first through sixth grade give each day during the morning worship rally. Preschool children bring their offering to their classrooms. The day’s total giving is announced at the closing worship rally.

Serving at VBS

Whether assisting with a small group Bible study, greeting kids in the mornings or volunteering at Wednesday’s Family Fun Night, serving at VBS is rewarding! If you want to be part of this large evangelism event, reach out to Stockman or Parmer to find the best volunteer role for you.

FBCP’s Lead Pastor to Depart in June

lauren.matson@fbcprattville.org (Lauren Matson) — Mon, 20 May 2024 02:32:40 GMT

Pastor Peyton Hill leaving for Florida to start church planting process

First Baptist Church Prattville’s (FBCP) Lead Pastor Peyton Hill announced May 19 his plans to transition to City Church in Tallahassee, Florida, in June. Hill, his wife Jordan Lee and their five children will join City Church to start the church planting process.

“God has given Jordan Lee and me an intense desire to plant a church,” Hill said. “We will prepare over the next 18-24 months to be sent out to plant a church at some point in the fall of 2026,” Hill said.

City Church will educate and train Hill on becoming a church planter. This time will also be spent raising a team from City Church that will assist Hill in church planting. Hill will partner with the North American Mission Board and the Salt Network to plant the church in a strategic city with a college campus. The Salt Network is connected to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). It is a network of SBC churches that are seeking to start a new, gospel-centered church in every one of the 400 major American cities with a college campus.

“We are excited about what God may do to move our family to make a strategic impact in a city and campus of great importance,” Hill added.

Hill cited Lifeway Research that states 4,000 protestant churches close their doors every year in the United States. Of the 4,000, somewhere between 800-1,000 are SBC churches.

“We believe faithful, Bible-based churches are needed now more than ever,” said Hill. “We want to model what I’ve preached for years. Over the last 5 years specifically, I’ve challenged our church [FBCP] to live faithfully sent on mission.”

Hill expressed his love for FBCP and his gratefulness for the impact the church has made on him and his family.

Hill previously served as a senior pastor in Columbus, Ohio, before coming to FBCP in August 2019. His last Sunday to preach is June 23.

Living for Something Bigger

lauren.matson@fbcprattville.org (Lauren Matson) — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 02:24:25 GMT

Junior high students sent on mission to Texas

When you desire to live for something bigger, it’s easy to say “yes” to a spring break mission trip. At the start of spring break this past March, 15 junior high students and six leaders loaded a church bus and drove 672 miles to North Central Texas. The purpose was simple: work alongside First Baptist Church Prattville’s (FBCP) church plant partner, Redemption City Church (RCC), and serve the community of Fort Worth. While simple in purpose, the mission made a lasting impact on FBCP’s students.

“While we were serving at a homeless shelter, I told a lady that I liked her fur coat,” eighth grade team member Katie Cone said. “She began to tell me that I needed to read Psalm 150. When I got back on the bus, I read it. I realized that while serving at the homeless shelter or food pantry didn’t seem like our typical way of praising God, we were praising God during all parts of the mission trip.”

Redemption City Church (RCC) was planted in Fort Worth because of the city’s rapid growth. Fort Worth is the 13th largest city in the United States and fifth largest in Texas. More than 8.1 million people now call the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex home. Furthermore, the Metroplex experienced the largest population growth of any metropolitan area in the United States in 2023, according to the U.S. Census.

The surge in the Metroplex’s population contributed to FBCP’s decision to financially partner with RCC in 2022. FBCP took it one step further when Justin Hall, FBCP Student Pastor, saw this as a terrific entry-level mission for seventh and eighth grade students.

“Our students are able to see and learn how a church plant is formed, as well as work alongside Redemption City to grow their ministry,” said Hall. “Our students are also able to see the need to help the homeless, the hungry and the abused, as well as the importance of going door to door telling a community there is a new church plant in town.”

The days are long when you are on mission, but the work is worth it. Oliver Osbourn is an eighth grader at Prattville Junior High School. This was his first mission trip.

“One truth God taught me during this trip is that serving brings not just joy to others, but also brings me great joy,” said Osbourn. “We did a lot by volunteering at a food bank and homeless shelter and doing a car wash. We also went to a nearby park and engaged a few people with the gospel. If you’re truly going to serve a community, it takes a lot of work.”

Serving takes all types of work, especially for a church plant on Sunday mornings. FBCP’s team prepared materials for guests, greeted worshippers and met with students during the small group time.

“This generation of students desires to be involved in something bigger than themselves,” said Hall. “They want to have the opportunities to serve, grow and step out of their comfort zones. We, as a church, must give them the opportunities, and I believe they will rise to the call every time.”

Texas certainly will not be Cone or Osbourn’s last mission, as both look forward to more opportunities.

“This was my second time to serve with Redemption City Church in Texas,” said Cone. “After my first trip, I saw on social media how they were growing, and I knew we had been a small part of that. It encouraged me to go back, and maybe next time, it’ll be an international mission that God leads me to.”

Osbourn added, “I’ll take any opportunity for the next mission. Whether in the United States or out of country, I want to go.”

Thus, it will likely be a “yes” the next time God calls Cone and Osbourn to a mission. It’s simply what happens when you live for something bigger than yourself.

FBCP offers national and international mission opportunities for junior high and high school students. The Student Mission Pathway launched in 2021 from a desire to see students surrender to the gospel. The Pathway starts with seventh graders and continues to build in intensity and responsibility. The current mission locations through the Pathway are Texas (seventh-eighth grades), Guatemala (ninth-11th grades) and Puerto Rico (12th grade). The goal is to have six destination opportunities.