Just a thought...

Hey there gang...as I stated a couple of weeks ago, our small group is going through Crazy Love by Francis Chan. This past week was a cool chapter. Here is a pretty cool exercise that I want to challenge you to do. Go to 1 Corinthians 13:4 - 7. Yes, that is the passage about "Love". Take out the word "love" and replace it with YOUR name. Below is what mine looks like:

⁴Keith is patient, Keith is kind. He does not envy, he does not boast, he is not proud. ⁵He is not rude, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered, he keeps no record of wrongs.⁶Keith does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

WOW...if God is love, and we are to be more like Him...and here is our definition of what love is. Sad to say though, that I fall short of that goal! This week...think about it...where do you measure up?

Small Group Retreat

Hey there everyone...I know that some of you may be thinking, "Gee, does Keith head up small groups or children's ministry" due to my constant promotion of small groups...but I have to tell you guys what a great weekend we had. It seems like forever ago, Matt Medlin suggested that we go to Murphy, NC to a cabin for the weekend. Well, it finally came, and let me tell you what a great deal it was. First of all, the price was less than $120 per night for a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom cabin with flatscreen tv, wireless internet, and a hot tub!!! We ended up getting both cabins (they are identical) and were literally right off the Hiawassee River. The weekend was full of relaxation, tubing down the river, great meals, and great company. Also, we went to the "No Name Ice Cream Parlor" and it was INCREDIBLE!!! Lastly, it wasn't "that" far away...it took about 2 hours and 15 minutes to get there! Check out the link if you are interested in a great inexpensive getaway for your small group, or even your family!

http://hiwasseerivercabins.com/home.htm

Since I was not here on Sunday...a big THANK YOU to Beth and Scott Dihigo for heading up Children's Church; Nikki and Cameron Franklin for teaching the Word segment during Children's Church; and Malia Whitley for getting all the props together for me! These great workers made it possible for me and my wife to enjoy a mini-vacation and not worry about what was going on here while we were gone! YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!

Keith Wages

Children's Pastor

Long Weekend and GREAT workers!!!

Hey there everyone...I am sure that you all enjoyed the long weekend as much as I did! I know with the weather, football, the grill...man, it was a great weekend! But enough about that...I wanted to take a minute to brag about some of our great workers: the Tapia's. Vincent and Joy Tapia have been teaching Sunday school for the children's ministry for the past year and a half. The only problem that I know about the Tapia's is the fact that they are Yellow Jacket fans...but that is quickly overlooked thanks to a great love for the iPhone and all things Mac related! :)

At any rate, I put out a challenge our workers to go out and visit each and every student in the class outside of church. One day last week I saw an update on Facebook that was talking about his 3rd grade class! I thought it was spectacular! They went and saw 2 of the girls in their class cheer on a Saturday a couple of weeks ago. I can tell you that it made those girls' day when they saw their SS teachers there. So, GREAT JOB Vincent and Joy! You guys Rock!!!!!

Keith Wages

Children's Pastor

PS - If any of you out there see any of the workers doing something great...how about shooting me an email at kwages@fbcloganville.org so that I can brag on them too! THANKS!

Weekly Update

Hello everyone...I hope you had a great and relaxing weekend. I don't know about you, but I long for the Fall weather to get here. This morning was 71 outside and it felt incredible!!! And if you walk into Kroger, you will smell those wonderful cinnamon broom things that just SCREAM for the Fall. I actually bought one to put in my office! :)

At any rate, I wanted to take just a moment of your time to update you on a couple of things.

First of all, I want to encourage all of you to get plugged into a Life Group. It's an incredible way to grow closer to Jesus while at the same time build community and friendships that will last forever. In my small group, the guys were talking a few weeks ago about how difficult it is to keep a steady quiet time during the summer with such a lack of routine. We thought about it and said we needed more accountability. The problem is that none of us had the extra 20 - 30 minutes a day to call each other and just make sure that we were having our quiet times. SO....we decided to use technology and our phones and begin sending a text message to the other guys in the group saying "Yes" or "No". It has been amazing how much more accountability was built into just 2 - 3 minutes sending a text! So much so, that now the women in our group are doing the same things with each other. God is really working in our Life Group and I want to encourage all of you to get plugged into one of your own. I promise you this...you will not be disappointed!!!

The second thing that I want to update you about is a new curriculum that we will be using in Rootz, our Wednesday night program. It is called Tru and is put out by David C. Cook. We are very fortunate and excited about partnering with Cook as a Beta test church for this new curriculum that will not be available until next year to the public. I have spent many hours on the phone, emailing, and actually in training with Cook as they develop Tru. I can tell you that it is really cool stuff and it does a great job of making the Bible come to life!!! If you have any questions or want to know more about it, please just email me at kwages@fbcloganville.org and I will be more than happy to sit down with you and show you in detail what we are doing.

As I close, I just wanted to praise God for the wonderful workers that we have. Several of the new workers are already making a bond with kids and saying that they feel blessed to be serving. If you are interested in serving, we still need a few small group leaders for Rootz, as well as a Sunday School teacher at 11:10 for 2nd grade, and we can always use some Crowd Control help during the 9:50 hour for our Kidz Inc. Theater. Have a great week!!!

Praises within the Children's Ministry

Hey there everyone...I wanted to take just a few minutes to go over a few praises with you that are happening in the life of the children's ministry here at FBCL.

1. Thanks to those Facebook people who have heard my cry and given generously to help purchase rugs. It was about 2 months ago that I began trying to find 30 people to give $30 each and help purchase rugs for the Kidz Inc. Theater. Thankfully, the Lord has provided and we have 5 sets (colors) of 6 rugs each. It has been a huge success in keeping the grades separated during both Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. We still need to raise approximately $600 to pay for the binding of the rugs. Please join us in praying that this happens soon.

2. Thanks to Jeff Baumgartner and Dan Buck for their countless hours they volunteered in making our cabinets that we will use for check-in. All that is remaining for completion is to be painted!

3. Thanks to the person who donated $500 to replace the water fountain outside of the Kidz Inc. Theater Lobby. The old one was broken, rusted, and wouldn't cool the water. The new one should be in sometime this week!!!

4. Thank you to the guys who are volunteering their time to rework some electrical stuff in the lobby as well as installing some new can lights inside the check-in area.

It is evident that God is moving in this place and there are many more areas that He is providing both the funds and the resources in a time where things are really tight. Praise God for all that He has done and for His continued blessings on this church, as well as the families within it.

Keith Wages

Children's Pastor

Updates in Children's Ministry

Hey there everyone! I just wanted to touch base and give you a few updates about what's going on in the Children's Ministry here at FBCL.

With school starting back for everyone by now, we are excited to get back into the routine of everyday life. That means that sleeping in, playing outside for eight hours a day, lounging by the pool, and eating sweets all day go out the window. It also means that here at church we see Kids Choirs and Rootz starting back up on Wednesday nights and that on Sunday mornings we say 'goodbye' to the video curriculum for the summer and a big 'HELLO' to our actors and live skits again!

We’re also welcoming many new workers to the Children's minsitry...Ashley & Alan Bradford, Courtney Henderson, TJ & Cindy Jordan, Victoria Bailey, Jennifer Chastain, Marney King, Christy & Jeff Segars, Daniel & Ginger Godfree, Melvin & Melissa Music, JT & Traci Wood, Melia Whitley, OJ Soto, Kendall Cook, Julie Bene, Jimmy Barge, Jodi York, Clint & Collette Polk, Victoria Johnston, Matt Wolthoff, and Kerrie Waters.

Also, we couldn't forget to thank the returning workers - even if they have switched roles...they are: Mattie Wages, Harvey Young, Matt & Jenny Medlin, Chad Myers, Amie Rabeneck, Dana Miller, Cathy Spooner, Becca Barnett, Beth & Scott Dihigo, Cameron & Nikki Franklin, Mary Ellen Haller, Jeffrey Henderson, Mike & Mary Williams, Connie Buck, Clint Myers, Anna Harrelson, D'Anne & Mic McMIllan, Dawn & John Ackerman, Cam & Scott Westbrooks, Chuck & Sandy Owens, Joy & Vincent Tapia, Ed Still, David & Traci Britt, and Amy & Chanch Edwards.

Despite the wonderful list of people mentioned above, we are still short some workers for Rootz (our Wednesday night program) as well as a 2nd grade class during the 11:10 service. If you are interested in helping fill these needs, please contact me at kwages@fbcloganville.org.

Last, but not least...I wanted to let you know that this month we are studying the virtue of Love - choosing to give someone your time and friendship no matter what. Our memory verse is Matthew 22:37-39 "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Blessings,

Keith Wages
Children's Pastor

Promotion Commotion

Greetings everyone...well, here we are a mere 27 hours past the big "Promotion Commotion" as one person put it...and despite a few bumps (possible boulders) in the road, we have survived. I wanted to take a moment to apologize for the lack of communication on my part as it pertains to closing off the hallways as we transition the kids. If you were one of those inconvenienced by that, I am sincerely sorry. However, we do feel it is a necessary thing for us to continue closing off the hallways from 11:05 - 11:10 each Sunday in order to provide a safe and secure environment for all of the kids. If you are a parent of current 1st - 5th grader, you will be receiving a letter this week explaining things further. In the letter will be a map showing you the areas that will be closed. If you have any questions, comments, thoughts, or criticism, please let me know either on here or by email at kwages@fbcloganville.org. Thanks again! Have a great week!!!