By David Richardson on 2/24/2010 2:25 PM

A lot goes into the operation of our Upward Basketball and Cheerleading league.  Countless volunteers work each week to ensure that the teams are coached, the bathrooms are kept clean and the families of Upward are ministered to.  This year we have 204 children involved in either basketball or cheerleading - we even have a couple that do both!  Over 800 people come to our campus each Saturday to partake in the games and cheer on the children.  More than 350 volunteer hours are logged each week to manage and organize the league. Pretty impressive numbers by anyone's standards.  However, one of the most important numbers happened just a couple of weeks ago.  The number one....one who came to Christ.  A young basketball player accepted Christ during the practice time devotion.  It is amazing when you get to see results of a program and the work of volunteers come together for the greatest reward.

So I say all of this to point out one thing - no matter the stress on the building, all of the long hours and...

Read More »

By David Richardson on 1/26/2010 10:27 PM

I am in Asheboro tonight to attend the Baptist State Convention of NC Board of Directors' meeting.  I have had the honor of working with this group for the last three years.  One of the great things about it is that I get to see first hand how we as NC Baptists partner together for the cause of Christ.

I chair the Business Service group and as we were meeting we heard a report on the NC Hunger fund.  Did you know that FBCC received money from that fund to support our Food and Clothes ministry?  Also tonight, we heard that four teams have been engaged in on the ground work in Haiti assisting in disaster relief efforts.  Again, FBCC is a part of that because we are sending donations to the NC Baptist Men to help cover the cost of that project.

I could go on and on showing you how our church is partnering with others to spread the good news of Christ not only here but to the nations.  I hope that when you see the newscasters' reel of the yellow-hatted Baptist Men your heart fills with pride because you are part of that team.  I hope that as we minister to those in need in Creedmoor at the Mission building each Wednesday morning you remember that 4,000 churches are behind our ministry.

...

Read More »

By David Richardson on 1/18/2010 5:50 PM

Yesterday we as the First Family took another step during our transition process.  Dr. Gerald Goodwin was called to become the Interim Pastor.  As I have had the opportunity to spend time with Dr. Goodwin I feel that we will learn much from him and his ministry.

I ask for you to begin to pray for Dr. Goodwin and his wife Ann as they begin their ministry among us.  Also, continue to pray for the Pastor Search Committee in their work.

By David Richardson on 1/12/2010 5:37 AM

I am amazed to see how God worked around and through the First Family over the past weekend.  Saturday we hosted hundreds on campus for the first of eight Upward weekends.  The games were exciting and the cheers were precious.  I am deeply indebted to those who helped us get this year's game off the ground and onto a running start. I invite you to come and watch one of the games and take part in the fun - we have games running from 9am until 5pm each Saturday through the beginning of March (with the exception of Valentine's weekend).

Sunday we saw a movement of God during the morning worship service.  Based upon text in 1 Kings 11 we discussed how we must avoid the slow fade of sin in our lives.  We must stand on the truth of God and be about the work He has for us.  We had numerous rededication and will be celebrating a baptism soon!  Praise God that He can still move His people to follow after Him.

 

...

Read More »

By David Richardson on 1/6/2010 9:57 PM

We are right around the corner for the start of the 2010 Upward season.  I am excited, nervous and reenergized all at the same time.  This Saturday we expect well over 800 people to visit our campus for one of the eight games that will go on here.  There will be lots of traffic, lots of people and lots of smiling children.  All of the preparation, planning and prayer comes to a head once the coin is dropped for the first game.

I invite you to come and be a part of what Upward is all about - point children and their families to Christ through sports.  Our first game will start at 9am and we will have another one every hour until 4pm.  Hope to see you there!

David Richardson

By Tom Jenkins on 10/29/2009 8:49 PM

I’m sitting in my church office looking at bare walls and empty shelves. The books, pictures, and other personal items were moved to my home study several days ago. Honestly, the office looks a little depressing. Making a move evokes competing emotions. You feel joy when you know that you’re doing the right thing in regards to God’s will for your life. Thinking about starting a new work creates feelings of excitement. But there are also feelings of sadness about leaving people you love and work you’ve enjoyed. Cheryl and I will be grateful for the rest of our lives for your support of us and the generous love you poured out on us. We will be different people because of our sojourn with you. Let me give you a few parting words. Pray without ceasing for FBCC in this time of transition. God is at work to bring a senior pastor in his own timing. Don’t get ahead of him. Let him work and deny yourself the temptation to manipulate the process he controls.

 

Remember that we have bylaws, policies and procedures...

Read More »

By Tom Jenkins on 10/29/2009 8:49 PM

I’m sitting in my church office looking at bare walls and empty shelves. The books, pictures, and other personal items were moved to my home study several days ago. Honestly, the office looks a little depressing. Making a move evokes competing emotions. You feel joy when you know that you’re doing the right thing in regards to God’s will for your life. Thinking about starting a new work creates feelings of excitement. But there are also feelings of sadness about leaving people you love and work you’ve enjoyed. Cheryl and I will be grateful for the rest of our lives for your support of us and the generous love you poured out on us. We will be different people because of our sojourn with you. Let me give you a few parting words. Pray without ceasing for FBCC in this time of transition. God is at work to bring a senior pastor in his own timing. Don’t get ahead of him. Let him work and deny yourself the temptation to manipulate the process he controls.

 

Remember that we have bylaws, policies and procedures...

Read More »

By Tom Jenkins on 8/30/2009 8:44 PM

   One of the traditions at FBCC is Sunday School Growth and Promotion Sunday. All of our Sunday School classes assemble in the sanctuary. Toni Anne Wheeler, our Sunday School director, leads us through a time of celebrating the closing year of Sunday School and anticipating the new year. Children promoted to the middle school department receive Bibles.    Persons who have attained perfect attendance in Sunday School are recognized. We had four this year. Ruby Joe Brown received a pen for 2 years of perfect attendance, Kenneth Woodlief for 12 years, Neal Woodlief for 32 years and Sue Woodlief for 56 years. The Woodliefs have accumlated a century of perfect attendance among them. In a time when Sunday School is becoming less important for some people and when commitment to almost anything is waning it is comforting to know that some people still take seriously the commitments they made to church and Sunday School attendance. The bottom line is, we do what we really want to do.

...

Read More »

By Tom Jenkins on 8/10/2009 4:55 PM

Dr. Henry Estes, my best friend for twenty-five years, died last week. I was privileged to officiate at his memorial service on Sunday. Henry was an Old Testament Scholar. He wrote his doctoral dissertation on the Book of Ecclesiastes, an accomplishment that revealed the depth and complexity of his mind. He knew at the deepest possible level the capacity of Holy Scripture to speak to the needs of our lives and to shine light where there is darkness lest we despair and become hopeless.

He was a loving family man, father, husband, son, brother, brother-in-law, and member of a large and ever growing extended family. He was an Old Testament scholar, a Christian minister who brought good news and hope, a linguist, computer expert, keeper of arcane information--you didn’t want to play Trivial Pursuit with Henry--a train enthusiast, a caring family member and a friend. He leaves behind his wife of thirty-six years and their adult son.

Henry and I were best friends for over 25 years. We met while both of...

Read More »

By Tom Jenkins on 7/29/2009 5:43 PM

 

     The children in our Summer Camp program led the chapel service for the Academy this week. They wrote a script based on some of the concepts of “Boomerang Express”, our theme for Vacation Bible School this year. They used puppets as the “characters” for the script. The boys and girls in the Academy were delighted with the puppets. They laughed and giggled so loudly that the Summer Camp children had to present the play twice to be sure that they had been heard. They ended by leading us in the pledges to the flags and the Bible. We sang a song from my ancient past in Bible School, “The B-I-B-L-E.” I am pleased that our Summer Camp workers use the Bible as part of their teaching. After all, Summer Camp, including the Academy, is part of our church and we must teach eternal values to be true to our identity as the Church of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the workers in Summer Camp and the Academy that see their work connected with the eternal purposes of Jesus Christ for his church. We are following the Great Commandment that tells us to love God with our “heart, mind and soul” and the Great Commission that tells us to “teach the Gospel.” There is no higher purpose for us in our work with children than this. Pray for all of our children’s workers and ask God to bless them as they faithfully teach our boys and girls about Jesus Christ.            

...

Read More »