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FBC’s Backpack Program: The Month of Love

February is thought of as the month of Love since Valentine’s Day is on the 14th. I want to thank each one of you that has supported our Backpack Ministry so that we may show love and kindness to all of our Backpack Children. You are so appreciated for your donations of food, money and prayers for these children.

I love every one of you for your generosity. May God Bless You!

For the month of February please donate tomato or chicken noodle soup.
Reminder – You can get soup at ALDI’S Store for about 50 cents a can.

Operation Christmas Child 2022

by Debbie Vanaman

First off, thank you so much for your continued support of Operation Christmas Child. You will never know how many lives have been changed through your shoeboxes.

This year will bring a change to shoeboxes here at FBC. After 20 years of being the drop off leader here at FBC, I am stepping down from this role. It has become increasingly difficult to do this job as well as do my duties as church secretary. But never fear, I will still be actively involved in shoeboxes but not be in charge. I prayed for guidance in making this decision after collection week last year and God has placed another person to fill this position and it is our own Tracy Salango. Tracy will be starting her training soon to step into this role and in a month or two, she will be up to full speed. Tracy and I will be working together on shoeboxes this year and I will still be asking for donations each month and hopefully have a packing party in November to fill the boxes with what we have collected.

Speaking of collecting boxes, God has put on my heart to raise our number to 125 boxes. This means 25 more blessings from FBC to children around the world. So keep on shopping, even if it’s not what we’re collecting each month. For the month of February, we will be collecting bar soap and washcloths. A large box is in Fellowship Hall for your donations. As always, I thank you for your prayers and support of OCC.

ABW Ministries at FBC

Our ladies are continuing their two mission projects even though they are not meeting. They are collecting used postage stamps for one project. There is a container on the counter in the church office for these. The other project involves collecting quarters for Weirton Christian Center for their Quarters for Grades program. This program helps the Weirton Christian Center award their children for good grades which motivates the children to keep on the right track. These donations can be dropped off at the church office.

Helping Through These Cold Winter Days

We here at Helping Hands continue to help those in need through these cold winter months with food and clothing. We thank you for your donations of both money and food and ask that you keep us in your prayers. We are always in need of volunteers to work both the front desk and the clothing room as well as what we call our pick up people that go to the various grocery stores during the week and pick up donations. If you can help in any way, please contact Edna Nasby.

We are also collecting bar soap and toilet tissue that we give out as part of our donation box. These can be left in the large black container outside the church office. We take winter clothing donations at Helping Hands on Tuesday’s only from 9AM until noon. Thanks again for your support.

Everything Has Its Time

by Pastor Rick Watson

Ecclesiastes 3 tells us:” To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” We, at First Baptist, are in a new season; Pastor Donald “Doc” Adkins has retired and the Pulpit Committee is actively pursuing our new pastor. So, what are we to do during this time?

Pray – Pray for our Pulpit Committee! Prayer is always the next important part of our church life and it is especially true during this transition time.

Attend – attend church regularly, whether on-line or in person be with us! The old devil, our adversary, would really like to scatter the sheep while the new shepherd is being chosen. There is strength in numbers and as we read in Joshua the first chapter we are to be “strong and courageous.”
Participate in our church ministries such as our Backpack Ministry, Helping Hands or Sunday School. Sunday School is our greatest opportunity for both fellowship and spiritual growth. If you are a Sunday School teacher, know your class and stay in contact with them. (A phone call, a card or a personal visit.)

Sadly, many churches have lost members when the pastor has left – they did too!

“To everything there is a season”, our church is in a new season. This is not the first time we have had to search for a new pastor and it won’t be the last. But, when the new pastor arrives, he should be encouraged to find that our church is busy doing what this church has been called to do: … “to maintain public services for the worship of God and for the teaching and preaching of the Gospel and to promote the Kingdom of God according to the teachings of Christ.” (Taken from the Constitution of First Baptist Church of Beckley, West Virginia).

As the interim pastor, I know that my time with you is very temporary but my purpose is the same as if I were called to a full-time position; I am to preach the Word, pray for our congregation and to present myself in an exemplary manner. With your help, we can prepare our church to receive our “God-called shepherd” for this next season of ministry.

God planted and has maintained First Baptist in this location for a reason “to be the guiding light” for this community. Join me as we accomplish God’s will purpose and plan for Beckley First Baptist Church.

Hope to see you Sunday!!!

Pastor Rick

The First Baptist Church Baptistry – A Bit of Church History

by Agnes Keatley

Six baptisms in November have given me reason to reflect more closely on the lovely painting in our baptistery. When I actually focus on the painting I never cease to be amazed, and to conjure up remembrances, thoughts and, questions.

Surely you will agree that the painting in our baptistery is lovely; it is so peaceful, so serene and calming; just as we would want and expect it to be. I am sure that many of you know the origin of this painting, but it occurs to me that many of you may not. Allow me to tell you what I know about this painting, not only FYI, but perhaps for . . . POSTERITY. I believe that these stories NEED to be known . . . preserved. And also, because the history of this painting involves a very favorite person from my past.

Mr. Glenn Sallack (1901 –1985)

Glenn Sallack was Director of Music at Woodrow Wilson High School from1924 thru 1966. He was Choir Director at First Baptist in the 30’s thru 40’s.It is impossible to describe the musical abilities of this man, or his many accomplishments during his 44 year reign over the highly acclaimed Woodrow Wilson Flying Eagle Band, the WWHS Orchestras, Jazz Bands, Glee Clubs and other musical offerings.

Glenn Sallack graduated from New York’s Syracuse University School of Electrical Engineering, where in his early 20’s his natural abilities and interest in music involved him greatly in the universities musical programs. He was a gifted cellist. His love of music overcame his education and abilities in electrical engineering. However, as a second job he worked as an electrician evenings, weekends and in the summer months. He also taught electrical engineering.

Wanda Pearl Lowe attended FBC, and following their 1931 marriage Glenn Sallack and Wanda (Lowe) Sallack attended Beckley First Baptist along with, subsequently, their two daughters. Betty Anne Sallack Wilson (George) of Beckley was born in 1936 and Barbara Ruth Sallack Southern-Stoops (Darrell) of Scott Depot, WV was born 1939.

As a little something to do in his spare time (☺) Glenn Sallack directed the choir at FBC in the 30’s thru the 40’s. He was known to be a very benevolent man, a helpmate in times of trouble.

Some 80 or so years ago, Glenn Sallack met an out of work artist; a street person. It is said that the man was merely a tramp, a drifter or vagabond, “down on his luck” and in need of work. Glenn Sallack was able to arrange for the man to paint the backdrops for the stage at the old WWHS.

He then arranged for this same man to paint The Baptistery in the First Baptist Church, Neville Street, Beckley, WV.

A vagabond. A hobo. A street person. Would we welcome him into the church today? This unknown, out of work, down on his luck artist was commissioned to paint the serene, tranquil, calm, peace filled picture that you see when you sit in the nave of our church today.

Folks, this painting has stood the “test of time” for over 80 years. We are not sure what year of Mr.Sallack’s 44 year tenure at WWHS or his 10-20 year span as choir director at FBC he arranged to have the painting done. His daughter Barbara recalls “day dreaming” about the painting when she was young, pretending that she was climbing over the rocks, hiding in the trees, splashing in the water.

Jacqueline (Lowe) Kelder is Mrs. Sallack’s 90-year-old niece. She relates that as a young girl, elementary school or younger, she would attend evening choir practices with her parents, and sitting in the church pews would ”playact” or pretend about being in the painting, the same as Barbara Sallack did. Was the scene the same when I was baptized in this baptistery as a nine-year-old, in 1945? Apparently it was.

Who was this artist? This vagabond. This street person? We do not know his name.

How much could he, would he have been paid to do this painting? Did the monies help him to “get back on his feet?” Did he perhaps become famous; is there a wonderful artistic work that bears his name hanging in some famous gallery somewhere? We just do not know. And, can you imagine what it would cost to have this painting done today!

What wonderful, amazing materials did this drifter choose, that would have held the beauty, precision and clarity as they have throughout these many years? Where did he get the materials, and who paid for them? How long did it take him to paint this scene, and where did he live while he painted it?

Was the scene something that he copied from another painting or print, a postcard perhaps? Or, was it something that came from his own imagination, his character, or spirit? His artistic soul?

I rather believe that the painting in the baptistery at FBC is simply “one of those things.” Something that we don’t fully understand, can’t fully explain, may simply “take for granted.”

One of those things that God, in His great and marvelous way just sort of . . . put together. One of those things that we don’t pay a lot of attention to, spend a lot of time or thought on, but it’s there . . . something. . . “out of the ordinary” . . . special. One of those wonderful things that… just happens. “A God thing!”

Hebrews 13:2 “Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.”

Lots of Great Christmas Gifts – Thank You!

Christmas has come and gone but I am sure our Backpack Children received lots of great Christmas gifts. We shopped foChristmas has come and gone but I am sure our Backpack Children received lots of great Christmas gifts. We shopped for 24 children this year and purchased clothing and toys for each one. I want to thank everyone who shopped for our children: Linda Ramsey, Jane Smith, Mary Gregory, Tracy Salango, Verna Andrews, Sharon Volpe, Debbie Vanaman, Connie Neil, Nancy Hall, Katie Cook and Jennifer Stump. You all did an awesome job! Thanks to everyone who has donated food, cash or prayed for our Backpack Children. May God bless each of you.

For the month of January please donate cans of pork and beans.

ABW Update

Keeping Our Community Warm

We had a great Christmas toy giveaway last month and many children received toys from your generous donations. Many of these little ones probably would not have had a Christmas if these toys had not been donated. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity.

Now that it’s officially winter – or at least that’s what the calendar says – we turn our focus to keeping people warm as well as fed. We are always in need of blankets, coats and sleeping bags. These sometimes go out as fast as we receive them.

OCC: Winding-Up 2021 and Focusing on 2022

Let’s start with winding-up 2021. With the help of modern technology, we are able to track where our shoeboxes went that we packed last November. They went to a small country in Africa called Cote d’Ivoire. Here’s something about that country. Located in West Africa, Cote d’Ivoire is a significant exporter of cocoa beans. Otherwise known as Ivory Coast, the nation’s tropical rainforests include African mahogany and teak. Samaritan’s Purse began delivering Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts to children here in 2000 and a year later, we began offering The Greatest Journey, our follow-up discipleship program, to these shoebox recipients.

Now let’s focus on 2022. With this ministry still going strong after 20 years, we are going to switch things up a bit. I usually start with collecting a bar of soap and a washcloth. With it still being winter time, this year I would like to start with collecting gloves and toboggans for the month of January. Hopefully you can still find some around – maybe even on sale. There will be a box located in the Welcome Center for your donations.

Please keep this ministry in your prayers as shoeboxes are being distributed around the world as we speak to help spread the name of Jesus to countries, towns and cities around the world. Remember – a shoeboxes can change a child’s life.