Meet Our Interim Pastor – Rick Watson

Pastor Watson has been married to his wife, Nancy Lee, for 53 years
He has three adult children, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren (one great granddaughter just born recently named Violet Pearl)
He is a retired Air Force veteran where he served for 24 years.
He surrendered to full-time ministry in 1992
He has served three churches as pastor; most recently at Union Baptist in Milton, WV where he served for eight years.
His education includes: Bachelors and Masters in Administration from Central Michigan University and Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C.
He has been on 20 overseas mission trips to Moldova, Turkey and Puerto Rico.
He has worked 10 years with Child Evangelism Fellowship.
Pastor Watson will preach his first sermon here on Sunday, January 9, 2022.

We are looking forward with great anticipation to see what God has in store for FBC this year.

Update from the Pulpit Committee

The Pulpit Committee has had two meetings so far and has begun the task of finding who God wants to be our new pastor.  Please pray for them as they seek God’s guidance in this task.

The FBC Blessing Box

Our blessing box has been up and running for a while now thanks to your generosity.  We never know who takes items from this and hope that it gets to the people who really need it.  We are continuing to collect non-cooking food items and water and place these items in our box daily and appreciate any items that you wish to donate.   These items can be placed in the blue box outside the pastor’s office.

Christmas Greetings, One Day at a Time

by Rev Robert A Wendel

“Pray about everything. You will experience Christ’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.” Philippians 4:6-7 (The Living Bible)

O how I love Christmas mail! Familiar names, often with updated photos. Many dear familiar faces come to mind, coming from faraway places, each stirring up memories stretched over a lifetime.

Each year it’s so nice to respond to friends who remembered me and then to put their cards on my mantle. It’s a pleasant surprise to realize how many places I’ve been and the friends I have made. I must admit, however, that the annual effort of mailing Christmas cards becomes more of a burden as the US postage rates continue to rise. I guess that such an effort serves to remind me of the tracks my life has taken over the years. The cards also remind me of the blessings I have exchanged with family and friends as time has passed. It’s not for me to know what the recipients of my cards think of me, only that “the tie that binds” still exists between the two of us.

Everybody knows that the Advent season has two parts: the spiritual and the secular. Ever since we observe the events of the secular side of Christmas, it’s hard to realize that the reason for the season is really the birth of Christ and not the merriment we try to squeeze into the holiday.

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know, where the treetops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow. . . . “ Irving Berlin

Final Report on Operation Christmas Child 2021

This was another awesome year for our shoebox program. Our final number of shoeboxes collected from the Beckley and Raleigh County area groups, churches and individuals was 2,111. Just think that over 2000 blessings will reach children around the world from right here in Beckley, West Virginia.

If you packed a shoebox, helped in our collection center or loaded our truck, I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for the hard work that you did. Without volunteers, this program would never get off the ground and for this again I am truly grateful. So sit, back and relax for December. We will start collecting again in January. God bless you all.

A Huge Thank You from Helping Hands

Thank you so, so much for the tremendous support you gave to Helping Hands in the donations of winter coats and blankets.  This will truly come in very handy as we serve the people of Beckley and Raleigh County through the winter.    We are always in need of non-perishable food items, toilet paper and bar soap.  Donations can be placed in the large black container outside the church office.  We are also still collecting winter clothing on Tuesday’s from 9:00 AM until noon.  Thank you again for your generous support of this ministry and please keep us in your prayers.

FBC’s Backpack Program Helps in a Special Way

Volunteers are busy shopping for our Backpack Children’s Christmas gifts. Each child has a wish list for the gifts they would like. Of course we can’t purchase everything they want but we try to get the most practical items we can afford. Often we buy clothing, coats or shoes for them. We will deliver the gifts to the school on December 13th for the parents or guardians to pick up before Christmas.

Thanks to anyone who has donated food, cash or prayed for our Backpack Children. May God Bless You.

For the month of December please donate applesauce cups.

A Message from the Executive Director of ABW Ministries

As we approach the Advent Season, let us continue to count on God, prepare inwardly, and share actions of grace and generosity. Let us stay united in ABWM’s mission, vision, purpose, and core values. Our ministries are adaptive and relevant, allowing us to sustain our core programming and proactively and reactively initiate new programming. Generous donors like you have supported our mission and ministry. You recognized that we urgently and thoughtfully address issues that weaken our communities and disproportionately render women and girls despair. May the peace of God be within you!

Rev. Dr. Gina Jacobs-Strain
Executive Director, ABW Ministries

A Note from Our Choir Director

Dear Brothers and Sisters In Christ:

I realize that the world and the things of the world are changing, but it saddens me when God starts losing his praise warriors. In the year 2020 the Lord had nine courageous warriors who brought hope to the lost and forgotten through their wonderful singing voices that he has allowed them to have. In the year 2021 his warriors started with eleven, dropped to seven and God brought a warrior back home which made eight. Due to what’s continuing to occur in the world I received an e-mail asking me to remove them from the special music rotation. So, in the year 2022 God’s warriors will be down to four. It seems to me that we are forgetting what God has already promised us. God said: “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Well, my plan is to continue working for the Lord and I pray that he will continue to strengthen and lead his warriors singing and praising him. If you love singing for the Lord and would like to be added to the special music list let me know. May we continue to allow God to be our leader and not the situations of this world.

Love ya and God Bless,
Cathy Broughman

The Season of Winter

by Pastor Doc Adkins

Song of Songs 2:11-12 “See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. New International Version

Winter has always held a magical place in my heart. I enjoy winter most of the time. Oh, I know the hardship of slick roads, winter illnesses from being “cooped up” most of the time. Yet in don’t mind the snow. I do mind the cold but not the snow. Have you ever noticed how much quieter and cleaner the world looks after snow.

Again, I am reminded of the farm house and those early days of my life. It doesn’t snow as much in Hinton as it does here in Beckley, but when it does it can be a “doosey”. Yet the farm was always picturesque. Everything was white and beautiful, and the whole of nature seems to be in deep peace.

Changes comes suddenly in the snow. I knew what the garden looked like a few weeks prior, and I knew that the white flakes have covered fallen brown leaves, withered grass and plants. It’s was all there, but it wouldn’t be seen now as long as winter lasts.

The winter may seem unpleasant to many, but frost and snow in our country are an indispensable part of life. Without winter, spring and summer wouldn’t be what they are.

There are seasons in our lives too. And we often have difficulties in understanding why they are there. Why do we have to pass through winters with barren branches and frozen ground, times without flowers and fruit, without singing and joy? Why?

It’s good to learn from the way nature works, because He who created us also created nature, and through His works we can better understand Him, and His ways.

Winter may seem a time of death, but in reality it’s a time of rest. When harvest is over, trees aren’t ready to bear new fruit immediately. They need a rest, and winter gives them time to do that.

Many of us get so easily caught up in a treadmill of producing all the time. ‘God can’t be satisfied with me if I don’t produce anything for Him, can He?’ is the way we think. But in His grace God allows a winter season in our lives, to give us rest. He doesn’t expect us to bear fruit when it’s winter, and we would do well if we could learn not to expect fruit when we should be having a rest.

At the same time winter is preparation for new flowers and new fruit. Under the snow, in the unseen depths something is going on. It’s only on the surface that it looks like death. Under the surface life is active and stirring! Roots are filling up with nourishment, and buds are bracing themselves for spring. In late winter it only takes a sunny day, and you see how the buds begin to break forth! They were ready for it.

When you inwardly go through a time of winter, you may well withdraw from many expressions of life, but that doesn’t mean your spirit is dying. It only means that for a time you are resting, and preparing for a new season, a season of flowers and growth. God takes you aside to prepare you for what is to come, and without that thorough preparation, you won’t be ready for a new season!

So, if you’re in a winter season in your life right now, it’s not the end! After winter, comes spring. All part of God’s plans for His children. Be prepared, one day you’ll suddenly become aware of an irresistible pull in your spirit that tells you winter is past, and the time for singing is upon you again.