monthly guide - mountain brook baptist church
TRANSCRIPT
Monthly Guide
Mountain Brook Baptist Church
FEBRUARY 2020
“The Most Powerful Medicine that Cures All Ills”
A MESSAGE FROM DR. DORTCH
Some years ago, medical doctor Bernie Siegel offered an insight on the relationship between the patient and the healing process that I find compelling, both in terms of my physical health and my spiritual health. “I am convinced,” Siegel wrote, “that unconditional love is the powerful stimulant of the immune system. If I tell my patients to raise their blood levels of immune globulins or killer T cells, no one would know how. But if I can teach them to love themselves and others fully, the same changes happen automatically. The truth is, love heals” (Love, Medicine and Miracles, p. 181).
We all know this observation to be true, at least in our minds. However, the ability to love others or even to love ourselves seems at times frankly unnatural. This challenge seems especially difficult for Christians who have been taught that this fallen world holds little that is innately lovely. Consequently, we tend to see the bad in everything and everyone and never bother to expand our horizons. Little wonder that there is so much sickness in our souls. We neither love enough nor are loved enough.
How then might we go beyond what seems natural and perform such an unnatural act? The best place to begin is by spending sufficient time with God, whose very nature is love. How did John put it in his first letter to those believers under his watchcare? “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7). The closer we are to God, the better able we are to love ourselves and to love others. This proximity to God does not minimize or ignore the sinfulness in ourselves and others; it simply understands it in the context of the love that moved God to give His Only Begotten Son ( John 3:16).
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Dr. Doug DortchSENIOR MINISTER
February is of course the month in the year when we emphasize love. There will be cards sent and gifts exchanged and words expressed, all of which are supposed to convey our deep feelings for one another. These actions are important to be sure. However, most of them will focus purely on the emotional side of the love equation, with the expectation that our offerings will be met by similar ones from others in our direction. What will be missing in the exchange is the purely unconditional type of love that derives from God, a love that knows no bounds, presumes no gain, and comes to no end. It is a love that accepts us as we are and in spite of who we are.
In the practice of medicine, physicians dispense medications that intend to lead ill patients back to health. When they find a medication that performs better than the rest, they stick with it, at least until the body becomes immune to it or a better medication comes along.
In the practice of faith we do well to follow the formula of our life-giving God, who has structured life and faith in such a way that such unconditional love might “bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things, because (it) never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:7-8). Perhaps then as the body of Christ, by doing so we might emulate the Great Physician whose love transformed everyone He met, and through us still may do so today.
Churchwide Events
Ash Wednesday Worship ServiceWednesday, February 26 | 6 p.m. | Sanctuary Ash Wednesday marks the start of the 40-day period of the Christian Year season of Lent in preparation for Easter. This 40-day season is an allusion to the time when Jesus entered the desert to fast and pray just before the start of His public ministry. While not specifically instituted in the Bible, the 40-day period of repentance for Christians is also analogous to the 40 days during which Moses repented and fasted in response to Israel’s construction of the golden calf in the wilderness.
We will have our Ash Wednesday service on February 26 at 6 p.m. in the Sanctuary. As in past years, we will focus on repentance and will use the small pieces of flash paper as part of the service. This service is interesting for children ages five and up (childcare will be offered for birth through 4K). We invite families to participate together. The service should last no more than one hour. Missions and Music groups will not meet that night. Dinner will be served at 5 p.m. at the regular Wednesday night prices ($7 adults, $3 children, $20 max per family)
Project 119 Bible Reading Plan This year, we challenge you to consider reading Scripture alongside your church family at Mountain Brook Baptist Church. The reading plan on the next page is for the month of February, and it provides readings for five days during the week, giving you the opportunity to catch up and reflect during the weekend. This winter and spring, we will read the gospel of John, 1 Corinthians, and Psalms. Many of our Growth Groups are also following this same reading plan. We will print the list of monthly readings in each monthly guide; you can also download the entire plan for the winter/spring by visiting mbbc.org/project119.
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February 2-29 Reading Plan Week 1 | February 2-8 John 1:1-28, Psalm 1, 2 John 1:29 - end, Psalm 3, 4 John 2, Psalm 5, 6 John 3:1-21, Psalm 7 John 3:22 - end, Psalm 8,11
Week 2 | February 9-15 John 4:1-26, Psalm 10 John 4:27 - end, Psalm 12, 13, 14 John 5:1-24, Psalm 15, 16 John 5:25 - end, Psalm 17 John 6:1-21, Psalm 18
Week 3 | February 16-22 John 6:22-40, Psalm 19 John 6:41 - end, Psalm 20, 21 John 7:1-24, Psalm 22 John 7:25-52, Psalm 23, 24 John 7:53-8:30, Psalm 25
Week 4 | February 23-29 John 8:31 - end, Psalm 27 John 9, Psalm 26, 28 John 10:1-21, Psalm 29, 30 John 10:22-end, Psalm 31 John 11:1-44, Psalm 34
Churchwide Events (continued)
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Discipleship
“Let Those Who Boast…” We are currently working through a twelve-week sermon series in the book of Jeremiah on Sunday mornings. As you might imagine, I have spent a great deal of time reading the book of Jeremiah while preparing sermons. Even though we are spending a considerable amount of time in Jeremiah, we will not be able to cover every chapter and verse over the course of this current sermon series. I recently came across a passage we will not have time to cover in our sermon series that the Lord used to speak to me. The passage is Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV), which reads: 23 Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” I was struck by the fact that some things never change. We are still tempted to boast in our wisdom, strength, and riches. There is something inside our hearts that tends to find our self-worth through intelligence, power, and money. However, through Jeremiah, the Lord shows us the foolishness of such boasting. We might be proud of how we have been able to win the praise of others by excelling in these worldly categories, but the Lord is not impressed. What would the Lord deem an appropriate reason to boast? Jeremiah’s answer is that the one who boasts should boast in the fact that he or she understands and knows the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. In what are you tempted to boast? Are you someone who knows the Lord and seeks to live a life characterized by steadfast love and justice? Do you have a desire to leverage the wisdom, power, and money God
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Discipleship (continued)
has entrusted to you to advance God’s kingdom on this earth instead of your own reputation or agenda? I have been helped by reflecting on my own answers to these questions in recent days. My hope is that I will be more focused on growing in my understanding of the Lord and living according to His ways than in my attempts to acquire or accomplish things that would win the praise of other people. After all, it would be a tragedy to arrive at the end of my life only to find out that I had gained the whole world but lost my soul in the process (Matthew 16:26). I hope you will make a commitment to participate in worship, a Sunday Morning Bible class, and a Growth Group, and to read Scripture and pray daily. These are means of grace through which the Lord allows us to develop a deeper understanding of the Lord and how He calls each of us to live. Chances are, you will not win any worldly acclaim as you patiently and persistently grow in your knowledge of the Lord, but you will be pursuing a life that honors the Lord.
Dr. Wayne SplawnASSOCIATE MINISTER
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Ministry Partner Update: Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary (ABGTS)Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary (www.agbts.com) is actually a consortium of nine campuses spread throughout Asia, which is a fast-growing region for Christianity. ABGTS provides a high level of quality education for students who will teach in colleges, seminaries, and Bible colleges across the region. ABGTS was founded in 1959 by Southern Baptist Missionaries who were appointees of Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board. These seminaries were to serve the Pacific Rim of Southeast Asia. After the International Mission Board ceased their funding, these schools were able to stay afloat through an association with Mercer University and generous support from Candler Park Baptist Church and Mountain Brook Baptist Church. MBBC has been a sponsor of ABGTS for many years. Our strong connection to the consortium was through Lilian Liam who served as President for many years. There are many people in our congregation who counted Lilian as a dear friend. Perhaps her most loyal friend was Dr. William Hull, who had been her professor at Southern Seminary in Louisville. Their friendship remained strong until her untimely death. Lilian had a dream to have an “e-learning center.” Approximately ten years ago there was a meeting at Samford University to explore this distance learning project. At that meeting were Catherine Allen, Ed Landers (Director of Samford Media), Dr. Jeanne Box (Head of Samford’s School of Education), and Dr. Graham Walker (President of ABGTS). MBBC, in cooperation with the Media Center and Education Department, launched an exploration of the possibilities to create this center and subsequently visited several of ABGTS’s conglomerates; no one was interested. Later Ed visited the Philippine campus. They were excited about the project though they did not understand what was involved. They had no equipment or internet. They immediately recognized Lilian’s dream of training students
Missions
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in their home country. These were students who could not afford to invest time and money to leave homes and jobs to acquire a seminary education. The process had begun. Through the years, MBBC, through its Missions Initiative Budget, has supplied funds for this learning center. Now there is the Mountain Brook classroom that is available for guest professors to broadcast class lectures to students enrolled at Philipine Baptist Theological Seminary (PBTS). This gives the students the opportunity to hear quality religious professors from around the world. Ed Landers coordinates this effort: he installed the equipment and taught the professors how to use it. Today a new level of Lilian’s dream is in the works. The school plans to offer online classes. In order to do this, the seminary must be accredited. Dr. MHac Janapin will chair this project. He is coming to Birmingham to train with Ed Landers and others at Samford. While here, Dr. Janapin will stay in one of MBBC’s missionary houses. Dr. Doug Dortch and Dr. Wayne Splawn have been visiting professors at PBTS campus. They have given reports on how well the schools use their funding. Another testimonial of the school’s success is Naughman Javed, who is a graduate of PBTS. He returned to Pakistan, where he is working deep into Muslim territory. He teaches a music school and directs a choir. He is teaching Christianity through music. It is through the generosity of faithful members of MBBC that the Missions Committee can continue supporting the efforts of extended education for fellow Christians in Asia. The faculty, staff, and students are so grateful for this opportunity to obtain a quality Christian education.
Missions (continued)
Living Hope 20th Anniversary Celebration Living Hope (www.livinghope.co.za) is one of our strategic international mission partners that is seeking to make the love of Jesus Christ known in word and deed to people living in the greater metropolitan area of Cape Town, South Africa. Living Hope began as a small ministry of King of Kings Baptist Church. Today, the many staff of Living Hope
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Bible Championship Series - BCS Sundays, February 2, 9, 16, 23 | 5-6 p.m. | 4th Floor We will divide 1st-3rd grade and 4th-6th grade to work on Bible skills through games and activities. Older children will sharpen their Bible skills by actually participating in a drill. Preteen Growth Group - FORGED Sundays, February 2-May 3 | 7-8 p.m. | PT’s Diner In January, preteens began a study of the Bible to answer the questions “Who Defines Truth?” and “Why Should I Trust the Bible?” The material is written to meet weekly with five days of quiet time material to do on your own. Parents are given a parent guide to discuss with your preteen during the week. This group will meet at 6 p.m. on February 2. Children’s Ministry Summer Save-The-Dates May 27-28 • Preteen Mystery Trip June 20-27 • Family Mission Trip | Brunswick, Maine July 6-10 • Vacation Bible School | Theme Concrete & Cranes July 19-23 • Children’s Camp
Children’s Ministry
offer healthcare services, substance abuse recovery, life skills training, and agricultural training. Each of these ministries seeks to help people embrace the living hope that is found through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Since 2010, MBBC has sent a Youth and College Mission team to partner with Living Hope. Our church will again send a Youth and College Mission team to Cape Town, South Africa on June 23-July 5. Living Hope is celebrating its 20th year of ministry in 2020 and to commemorate this ministry milestone, they are holding a celebration in Birmingham on Tuesday, March 3 at 6 p.m. at the Vestavia Hills Country Club. We hope that many of our members who have seen firsthand the impact of Living Hope on a mission trip to Cape Town will make plans to attend this event to learn more about all that God continues to do through their work. To make a reservation for the celebration, please email Nancy Martin ([email protected]) by February 21. Dress for the event is business casual. For more information, contact Wayne Splawn ([email protected]).
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Student Ministry
Sunday Morning Bible Study Sundays | 9:15-10:15 a.m. | Student Ministry Area We’re continuing our series “Out of Step” in which we are considering the many facets of our lives in which we who are following the Way of Jesus are called to be out of step with the world around us.
Student Growth Groups Wednesdays, February 5, 12, & 19 | 7-8 p.m. | Student Ministry Area Join us each week as we dive deeper into relational discipleship by reading and memorizing Scripture and being community for one another. This semester our focus is 1 Corinthians; each week we’re reading one chapter of the epistle and memorizing one verse of chapter 13. Remember, we ask students to be present, prepared, and participate to help Growth Groups be all they can be.
The Brook Sundays, February 9 & 23 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Student Ministry Area This gathering provides a relaxed, fun atmosphere for worship, teaching, and fellowship aimed to meet students where they are. We have The Brook twice in February.
South Africa Mission Team Training Sunday, February 2 | 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Student Ministry Area This is our first mandatory training for our team as we prepare for our trip to work with Living Hope in Cape Town, South Africa on June 23-July 5, 2020.
Galentine’s Sweet SwapThursday, February 13 | 6-8 p.m. | The Winder’sJoin us for this girls’ fellowship at the Winder’s. Bring a dozen of your favorite sweets to share and enjoy this fun time together.
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Pizza & PopsSunday, February 16 | 6-7:30 p.m. | The SummitWe’ll celebrate Presidents’ Day Weekend with Pizza & Pops. We’ll meet at the Pieology Pizzeria––you’ll pick and pay for your pizza. Then we’ll walk over to Steel City Pops at the Summit and the Student Ministry will treat you to a popsicle for dessert!
Church League Basketball We have three Student Ministry teams playing church-league basketball this year. Below are the regular season games scheduled for February. There will also be tournament games this month––times TBD.
Student Ministry Summer Save-the-DatesSouth Africa Mission Trip • June 23-July 5LifeWeek 2020 • July 12-15Beach Retreat • July 24-27
Middle School GuysMondays at Dawson Baptist Church, South CourtFebruary 3 - 7 p.m.February 10 - 6 p.m.February 17 - 9 p.m.February 24 - TBD
Girls - Mondays at Shade Crest Baptist ChurchFebruary 3 - 7 p.m.February 10 - 8 p.m.February 17 - 6 p.m.February 24 - TBD
High School Guys Tuesdays at Mountain Brook Baptist ChurchFebruary 4 - 9 p.m.February 11 - TBDFebruary 18 - TBD
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Women’s Ministry
Men’s Ministry
Women’s Monday Bible StudyMondays | 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Conference RoomThis group is for women of all ages who want to learn more about the Bible and grow in fellowship with others. We are studying Contentment by Melissa Kruger. For more information, contact Mary Splawn ([email protected]).
Women’s Life GroupWednesdays | 6-7 p.m. | Conference RoomCome join women of all ages as we get to know one another, study Scripture together (using the Project 119 plan), and pray together. For more information, contact Mary Splawn ([email protected]).
Sharpen UpTuesday, February 18 | 6:30-7:15 a.m. | Heritage Hall Guys of all ages, don’t miss our first Sharpen Up Breakfast of 2020! Join us for a hearty breakfast, opportunities for fellowship, and an encouraging message from God’s word before heading to work or school. This month, Keith Thompson from Canterbury United Methodist Church will lead our devotion.
Our Sharpen Up Breakfasts provide guys of all ages the opportunity to enjoy a hearty breakfast, fellowship around the tables, and a devotion led by a staff member or guest speaker. We meet on select Tuesday mornings from 6:15-7:30. To access a schedule of upcoming meetings, visit www.mbbc.org/sharpenup.
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ACTIVE Christian Living
ACTIVE Christian Living (Ministry for Adults 55+) Contact Kely Hatley ([email protected] or 205-803-3458) for more information about our ACTIVE Christian Living ministry.
ACTIVE Christian Living Luncheon “Showstoppers” Senior Tap Dance Troupe Thursday, February 13 | 11:30 a.m. | Heritage Hall | $7 per person We look forward to hosting members of the senior tap dance troupe “Showstoppers” for our entertainment at our monthly luncheon. This group has performed at the Ms. Senior America Pageant in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada. They have also been featured at the Ms. Senior Alabama Pageant for the past 15 years. Come and have a great time with us!
ACTIVE Christian Living Day Trip Tigers for Tomorrow & Bama Bucks Restaurant Friday, February 7 | 8:45 a.m. | $40 per person plus lunch money Tigers for Tomorrow at Untamed Mountain is a wild animal preserve and environmental educational center home to over 160 animals including tigers, mountain lions, African lions, bears, wolves, black leopards, and more. After visiting Tigers for Tomorrow, we will have lunch together at Turk’s Bama Bucks located in Sardis, Alabama. We will dine in a cabin restaurant and enjoy food cooked by renowned chef John Salmon while gazing at the wildlife outside through floor-to-ceiling glass walls.
Meet Our New MembersWe are so excited to welcome our new members to Mountain Brook Baptist Church. In the following pages, you are going meet our new members and find out more about their faith journey.
FELLOWSHIP
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What led you to MBBC? My family led me to MBBC. My great-grandparents, Lynn and Theo Strickland, were charter members of MBBC.
What have you enjoyed the most about MBBC? Children’s Camp at Camp Chandler, being with friends, Vacation Bible School, Sunday Morning Bible Study
Tell us about your faith. I have grown more confident in my faith over the last year which led me to where I am today––I still have so many questions, but Mrs. Sharon, Dr. Wayne, and Dr. Kely have been helpful. I am hoping to continue to learn more.
Where were you born and raised?I was born in Montgomery, Alabama (location of my mother’s doctor) but I have lived my entire life here in Birmingham.
Where do you go to school? I am a fifth grade student at Mountain Brook Elementary School.
My hobbies and interests are … tennis, basketball, and golf, hanging out with my family, running and working out some, reading at night, technology, and building things.
My favorite restaurant is … The Grill at The Club.
FELLOWSHIP
Hamilton “Hammer” Strickland
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My favorite Bible Story is … Tale of the Three Trees is one of my favorite books because it tells the story of the different stages of Jesus’ life.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our church family? I want to guide my brother to follow my lead and grow as a Christian and accept Jesus Christ as his Savior and hopefully join the church too one day.
Hamilton “Hammer” Strickland
Joined MBBC January 19, 2020
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Hamby, tell us about your faith. I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior because I have sinned and need His help in leading my life.
Hamby and Ingram, where did you go to school? We are in the fourth grade at Brookwood Forest Elementary.
Hamby’s hobbies and interests are … I am in Boy Scouts and Boys’ Bible Club, and I have just started playing 10U lacrosse.
Hamby’s favorite Bible verse is ... Proverbs 3:5-6. Ingram, what have you enjoyed the most about MBBC? Going to Camp Chandler with MBBC for the first time in 2019 was one of the best experiences of my life.
Ingram, tell us about your faith. I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior because I want my life to focus on following Jesus. Ingram’s hobbies and interests are … I participate in Girls’ Bible Club and play 10U softball for Mountain Brook. Ingram’s favorite Bible verse is … Psalm 119:105.
Hamby & Ingram Davis
Joined MBBC November 29, 2019
Hamby Davis Ingram Davis
MBBC Staff
Dr. Doug DortchSENIOR MINISTER
Mr. Vince BlackerbyDIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Mr. Joel BurksCONTEMPORARY WORSHIP LEADER
Dr. Kely HatleyMINISTER OF MUSIC AND ACTIVE
CHRISTIAN LIVING
Mrs. Sharon HowardMINISTER TO CHILDREN AND
FAMILY MINISTRIES
Mrs. Amy HirschFAMILY MINISTRIES ASSOCIATE
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Dr. Paul MostellerAAGO, ORGANIST
Mr. Joseph MendumACTIVE CHRISTIAN LIVING ANDMUSIC MINISTRIES ASSOCIATE
Ms. Cathy SpencePIANIST
Mr. Tim SanderlinASSOCIATE MINISTER TO
STUDENTS
Dr. Wayne SplawnASSOCIATE MINISTER
Mrs. Mary SplawnMINISTER OF CONNECTIONS
Want to find out more about MBBC and our staff? Visit mbbc.org/staff
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Mr. Ben WinderMINISTER TO STUDENTS
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Generosity Scorecard as of January 26, 2020
2019 Ministries Budget $3,469,150.00
Weekly Receipts $28,141.88
YTD Receipts, includes prepays $348,890.51
Average Weekly Budget $66,714.42
YTD Budget $266,857.68
Weekly Net -$38,572.54
YTD Net $82,032.83
Remaining receipts required to achieve annual budget: $3,120,259.49
Ways to Give
To give online,
visit mbbc.org/give.Text STOREHOUSE
to 73256.
22
Love God. Live with Grace and Generosity.
/mountainbrookbaptistchurch
mbbc.org
/mtnbrookbaptist
MBBC Guest (password 803-3452)
205.871.0331