volume 44 trumpet temple issue 1 - fbtministries.org

trumpetTEMPLE

A MINISTRY OF FAIRFAX BAPTIST TEMPLE JULY 2016

God Hath Power to HelpMissions HighlightsLeadership TransitionCan We Be God-Like?High Water! Road Closed!

Volume 44Issue 1

16-44-01 July Trumpet.indd 1 7/14/16 10:47 PM

2 • Te m p l e Tr u m p e t , Ju ly 2016

Christian” he only followed God partially and mechanically. This will ultimately lead to defeat.

Amaziah made a decision to flex his military muscle and go to battle against the Edomites. But because

of the flaw in his relationship with God he reasoned that he should hire unspiritual Israelites to fight for him. The story did not end well.

Isn’t that like many of us today? When problems and burdens enter our lives, we are prone to reason that we can work them out on our

own, forgetting three important qualities about our God:

First, we must realize that God has power to assist us in our time of need. Amaziah thought he could beat the Edomites by gathering an army that includied outside forces, but the prophet of God rebuked him, telling him that “God hath power to help” (II Chronicles 25:8). With

About 800 years before the birth of Christ, Amaziah ascended to

the throne of Judah where he would be greatly used of God. As king of the Southern tribes, Amaziah could train the people of Judah in the things of the Lord and help them to grow spiritually. But he had a flaw: the Bible tells us that Amaziah “did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart.” (II Chronicles 25:2) Amaziah’s sin was not following and trusting God with his whole heart.

Following God with a perfect heart is not synonymous with reaching a level of sinless perfec-tion. None of us will accomplish that while here on earth. However, we are expected to have a strong, heartfelt desire for the work of God. While Amaziah went through the motions of being a Christian, like a so-called “Sunday morning

god hath power to help

FOLLOWING GOD WITH A PERFECT HEART IS NOT SYNONOMOUS WITH REACHING A LEVEL OF SINLESS PERFECTION.


Te m p l e Tr u m p e t , Ju ly 2016 • 3

by Dr. Bud Calvert, Founder Fairfax Baptist Temple

God on our side, we don’t need to work things out our way. If we walk with God according to the precepts of the Bible we can be confident that God will help us. Christians can have victory over any besetting sin, or any other problem, by looking to God as the answer. “God hath power to help!”

Second, we must remember that God has “power to cast down. . .” (II Chronicles 25:8). The prophet warns Amaziah that God may quickly humble him. The Lord has promised to chasten his children when they stray (Hebrews 12:5-11). We must ask ourselves, “Do I want the help or the humbling of God?” He can enable us, or He can stop us when we are not yielding our lives to Jesus Christ.

Third, God has power to provide for us. Amaziah, having invested 100 talents of silver for the Israeli men of war, worried that he was going to lose his investment. The prophet assured him however: “the Lord is able to give thee much more than this” (II Chronicles 35:9).

People of little faith worry when God’s plan differs from their rea-soning. They think, “God cannot

provide for me if I give up this (money, job, habit, etc.).” But God can take care of you! God can take a small salary and increase it ten-fold, or He may choose to bless you spiritually. Some may say, “I don’t know if I want to go to the mission field – I can’t give up my house, my career, my security!” May I remind you, “the Lord is able to give thee much more than this.”

We need to say, “Lord, I’ll sacri-fice anything for you. I’ll do exactly as you want.” He may not want you to be a preacher or to go to a foreign field, but you ought to be willing to go. It’s a wonderful privilege to be a dedicated Christian involved in God’s work.

God has the power to help us, to humble us, and to provide for us. We must give Him His rightful place in our lives and honor Him by search-ing the Scriptures, praying, and following Biblical counsel. May the Lord help us to trust Him more completely and to walk in a way that is pleasing to Him.



Jim and Phyllis ChildressPanamaJim and Phyllis Childress have been missionaries to Panama since 1978 and are sent out of Southeast Baptist Church, Tulsa, OK. They last visited FBT for our 2002 Spring Missions Conference. Although located in Panama City, the Childress’ ministry is quite far reaching. They have helped start numerous churches in rural areas and in the jungles in the uttermost parts of Panama. Jim has participated in many medical missions teams both in Canada and beyond as the use of medical clinics has developed into an international ministry. Our FBT teens visited the Childress’ in Panama last summer where they were very much impacted by their time with them.

Joshua and jennifer morrisbolivia

Josh and Jennifer Morris have been missionaries to Bolivia since 2011. They are sent out of Troy Baptist Temple, Troy, OH. God led Josh to serve in Spanish-speaking missions through various Missions Conferences and trips, and an internship to Bolivia gave him a burden for its people. Since arriving on the field, the Morris’ have been involved in evangelism, discipleship, and Bible conferences as they work to establish their first church. They have also hosted a medical missions team as a means of meeting new contacts. The Morris’ were last here for our 2011 Spring Missions Conference. The Morris’ have three children: Rachel (7), Audrey (5), and Daniel James (2).

keith and lisa sampsonRussiaKeith and Lisa Sampson have been missionaries to Russia and the Gulf of Finland Region since 2001. They started their ministry in Saint Petersburg where they planted a church and turned it over to a Russian pastor. Due to visa law changes, in 2011 the Sampsons moved to the Russian-speaking city of Narva, Estonia, right across the Russian boarder. While in Narva, Estonia, God blessed with a soccer ministry, Bible studies, and street evangelism. They are currently endeavoring to get a healthy church planted in Narva. The Sampsons last visited FBT for our 2003 Missions Conference. They have three children: Candice who is 19, Corissa who is 17, and Phillip who is 14.

Missions Highlights



Devin and Amy FrostNew Zealand

Devon and Amy Frost are missionaries to New Zealand. The Frosts are on deputation and are sent out of Gulf Coast Baptist Church, Cantonment, FL. God called Devin to the field of New Zealand when an unexpected travel delay on the way home from a survey trip to New Guinea held them in New Zealand long enough to rekindle memories of a missions trip there several years prior. A subsequent visit confirmed their call. The Frosts have two children: Micah who is three and Faith who will turn one in August.

chris and becca reedthailand

Chris and Becca Reed are new missionaries to Thailand. They are sent out of Lancaster Baptist Church in Lancaster, CA, and have been on deputation since last May. The Reeds have two children: Ethan who is two and Selah who just turned one this month. God burdened Chris for missions during their church’s annual Missions Conference, and the Reeds answered God’s call to go to Thailand after spending some time there on a survey trip.

Matt and julianna smithNorth Africa

Matt and Julianna Smith are new missionaries to North Africa. They are sent out of Vision Baptist Church in Alpharetta, GA. God ignited a passion in Matt for reaching the North African people during a three month internship in that region during his senior year of college. The Smiths are nearing the end of deputation and hope to be able to leave for the field this fall. The Smiths have one son, Silas, who is about to turn two in June.

Pray for our missionaries!



After much prayer and discussion, Fairfax Baptist Temple voted to call Pastor Abbey as their new pastor.

With many obligations still on their schedule, the Abbeys will take the summer months to transition to the D.C. area, assuming their new responsibilities by mid-to-late July.

“I’m excited about what the Lord will do in the coming months and years as we follow His leading in our lives,” said Pastor Abbey. “He gives grace and strength when we need it, and He always knows what is best.”

Welcome Pastor Abbey, Rebecca, Reagan and Carson!

In January, 2016, Bud Calvert, Pastor Emeritus, was named as

interim pastor of Fairfax Baptist Temple, after Pastor Troy Calvert resigned due to a personal family situ-ation. As interim pastor, Dr. Calvert soon began praying and searching for the right man to become the pastor of FBT. His first choice was Pastor Todd Abbey, who had grown up attend-ing Fairfax Baptist Temple, and had felt God’s call to preach and pastor while he was still very young. After graduating from the Academy, he also completed an internship at FBT.

Pastor Abbey’s heart was strongly burdened for the families of FBT, and when he learned of Dr. Calvert’s interest, he immediately felt the Lord calling him back to Fairfax.

“FBT has always held a special place in my heart,” said Pastor Abbey. “This is the place where I was born, saved, baptized, called to preach, and trained. I am so thankful for Dr. Calvert’s influence and investment in my life, and I pray that FBT will be a shining example of a New Testament Church.”

leadership transition

Pastor Abbey was the guest speaker at the FBT staff banquet on May 24.



TAIn June of 2016, Pastor Abbey

began the transition back to Fairfax County to pastor the Fairfax Baptist Temple.

Pastor Abbey’s desire to see people surrender their lives to Christ extends to world evangelism and church plant-ing and has taken him throughout the United States and to over 25 foreign countries. One of the greatest joys of his ministry is co-laboring with young people from Central Baptist Church and Fairfax Baptist Temple who are now serving in church ministries and foreign missions.

Rebecca supports her husband as an effective minister to ladies in the areas of marriage, parenting, and personal discipleship. She also enjoys event planning, interior design and graphic design.

The Abbeys have two sons, Reagan and Carson. They enjoy playing soccer and watching ice hockey and are both involved in church ministries and activities including visitation, children’s church, choir, VBS, camp and mission trips.

Pastor Todd Abbey accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of five and

felt God’s call to preach soon after. As the years unfolded, he never wavered from the course so early set before him.

The first 21 years were spent at Fairfax Baptist Temple where his father was a member of the staff. Todd graduated from Fairfax Baptist Temple Academy in 1988 and com-pleted his church internship at FBT during the summer of 1989.

In 1992, he graduated from Bob Jones University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies. While attending the same university, Todd met Rebecca Mallonee. Rebecca grew up in the home of a pastor and was saved at the age of 10.

Todd and Rebecca were married in October 1992. They served on staff at Calvary Baptist Church in Florida where Todd was the Youth Pastor and also filled in as short-term missionar-ies in the Cayman Islands.

In May of 1994, Todd joined the staff of Central Baptist Church in Greeneville, TN, as Assistant Pastor and Youth Pastor. In 2002 he became the Senior Pastor. The ministry there has given birth to the Appalachian Baptist Church in South Greene (2007) and Spanish-speaking Iglesia Bautista Central (2008).

Meet Our Pastor:Todd Abbey



join us for vbs 2016!

teen crusadeCivil war broke out during this month’s Teen Crusade as teams Captain

America (blue) and Iron Man (red) battled for victory during a time of games and competitions that preceded a challenge from the Word of God. The battling teens created towering Ultimate Oreos, chugged Kool-Aid, played slip-n-slide dodgeball, threw cups of wet cornflakes and cold noodles at each other, and learned about the crucial spiritual civil war waging in every person’s life. With “Team Cap” emerging victorious at the end of the week, the civil war ended with a blast the teens won’t soon forget.



“At first, some of our personalities clashed and squeaked, very similar to what would happen when an orches-tra is learning to work together. Some of us have gotten ahead of (or behind) our Heavenly Director, but He has taught us that everything happens according to His timing.”

The graduating class was at last blended and tempered into a group playing together in harmony, moving together as a unit, under the instruc-tion of God as their Divine Director.

“As we continue to the next move-ment in our symphony of life, new orchestras will form with completely different sets of instruments as each classmate follows God’s plan. But as we follow the Lord, I pray that the song To God Be the Glory will continue to ring through our lives, no matter where we go.”

God as a Heavenly Composer was the unusual subject of Annie

Castilla’s recent commencement speech to her graduating class of 2016.

“Just like a composer writes a piece of music in order to perfectly suit the instruments available, so we were chosen by our Heavenly Composer to attend FBTA together for a purpose,” said Miss Castilla.

She likened individual students to instruments in an orchestra that have vastly different appearances and purposes.

“Some of us are more natural leaders, while others enjoy working to encourage and support the class. While some of us are more aestheti-cally minded, others are more logical in their thinking [and] all of us have completely unique personalities. Some of us are strong-willed and loud like a trumpet, while others of us are more soft-spoken like a flute or harp. Instead of being easy-going and mellow like a cello, some of us are energetic and excitable like a piccolo or violin. Others find their similarity in the percussion section’s seemingly chaotic nature, but all of us are instru-ments playing the same song.

a scholastic symphony

Annie Castilla, Senior Class Representative (pictured below)



The possibility of being like God has been misrepresented by

many who claim to be interpreters of Scripture. All the way back in the Garden of Eden we see Satan tempt-ing Eve with the allure of possessing divine attributes. But what does the Bible teach?

In order to understand what it means to be like God we must under-stand a little bit about the nature of God. Theologian Henry Thiessen categorizes the attributes of God as non-moral and moral. God’s non-moral attributes are those that define His existence as a divine being and they are unattainable by mankind. The Bible never teaches that man will receive the attributes of omniscience, omnipresence, or omnipotence.

On the other hand, God’s moral attributes are attainable, and indeed it is God’s will for humans to one day possess them. According to

Romans 8:29, God has predestined that all those who are saved will be “conformed to the image of His Son.” Throughout the New Testament we are presented with examples of what these moral attributes are (see the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23), so that we may know what it means to be conformed to the image of His Son.

However, it should be painfully obvious to all sincere followers of Jesus Christ that it is impossible to fully attain the moral likeness of God on this earth. Our sin nature prevents us from completely assimilating Jesus’ moral attributes. Yet according to Romans, God has determined that this will come to pass in our lives, so the obvious question is, “When?” The answer lies 1 John 3:2 where the Bible guarantees our future state of conformity to the moral attributes of God’s Son. We are told that “we shall

can we be god-like?


We praise God for the new members He sends to us each year and pray that

they will quickly find a place to be able to serve God with

their spiritual gifts.

Ryan Brooks

Wendy Burdette

Ana Gonzalez

Dustin and Dawn Harmon

Young and Rachel Lee

Daniel and Andrew Lee

Mark Peisch

Kimberly Shade

FBTMEMBERSNew

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be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” In other words, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.

This thought may in turn lead to speculation that if we will one day be just like Jesus there’s no point in struggling to be like Him now. God’s Word makes the answer obvious. We have been given clear expectations for our actions on this earth because God wants us to strive for conformity to Jesus’ image even while trapped in a corrupt body.

How is this possible? How can it be accomplished? The method by which God seeks to change His people in this life is no different to the method used for future change mentioned in 1 John 3:2. Believers must set their gaze upon Jesus. II Corinthians 3:18 reinforces this truth by identifying what takes place as believers expose themselves to God’s Son through His word. The statement that believers are “changed into the same image from glory to glory” illustrates the process of progressive sanctification as the believer allows the Spirit to conform him little by little into the image of Christ.


by Gary BoydMinister of Youth


ladies seminar


Amy Lampert, along with a team of volunteers from the singles’ department, organized, cleaned, and decorated the facilities with cheerful, serving hearts.



Fairfax Baptist Temple hosted their annual ladies’ seminar on

Saturday, April 9, where nearly 300 ladies gathered to study God’s Word, learning how to strengthen friend-ships for the purpose of sharing the love of Christ with their friends and neighbors. Drawing on the theme of “A Friend Like Jesus,” they attended sessions on “Qualities of a Great Friend,” “Feeling Alone When You Are Surrounded by People” and “God’s Friends and What We Can Learn From Them.”

The keynote speaker was Jodie Wendal from Valley Forge Baptist Temple in Collegeville, PA, plus FBT and TBF speakers, Mary Calvert, Alicia Boyd, and Norma Garcia. Along with a hilarious skit, dozens of door prizes, and a fun “Speed Friending” game, the ladies enjoyed uplifting special music, singing together, and special testimonies tai-lored to help them learn more about Jesus and His amazing friendship to us.

Several of the sessions were recorded and can be accessed through our website dropbox at

FBTministries.org/women.


by Mary Calvert


The “Road Closed” sign had caught me by surprise because I did not expect to find flooding on such a perfect day.

So it is in our lives as Christians. We may have our appointments or goals or ambitions all mapped out. Things may be going well for us, and we may be praising our Savior along the way. But “high water” (hospital bills, misunderstandings, loss of job or a loved one) happens when we least expect it, and our plans may be thwarted in a moment. When we’re caught by surprise like this, our reac-tion should not be to give up but to go on, praising the Lord. Trust God to help you deal with your unexpected circumstances because they are never unexpected to Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

“High water” is an opportunity to trust the Lord!

It was a gorgeous day. A bright blue sky provided the perfect backdrop

for the bright sun and trees that were casting dappled shadows along the ground with the promise of warmer weather to come.

Driving to an appointment, with only nine minutes to get there, I was praying and quietly singing praises to the Lord for allowing me to witness the glories of His handiwork.

When I approached the little knoll which winds downward to a familiar bridge, two signs abruptly caught my attention: “Road Closed” and “High Water.”

The gentle rain of the day before certainly didn’t seem enough to overflow the bridge and divert traffic, yet there was no option but to detour. This was easier said than done, how-ever, because I have very little sense of direction—it is almost all I can do to find my way to the kitchen every morning! The only way I knew to get where I was going was the route I had chosen. After a brief prayer, I turned the car around and went “all around Robin Hood’s barn” to my destina-tion. What a relief to finally recognize the street I was looking for!

high water, road closed!


Temple Trumpet StaffTodd Abbey, PastorJim Cornell, EditorDeanna Dyck, Assistant EditorEdward Thal, Copy EditorNate Calvert, Layout/DesignRebecca Abbey, Proofreader

July3 - I Love America Sunday

5 - Nursing Home Service

6 - Missionary Guest, Steve Myers

9 - Ladies’ Seminar

9 - Gospel Blitz

11–16 - Teen Camp at the WILDS

16 - Men’s Prayer Breakfast

18–22 - Junior Camp at Rapidan Baptist Camp

25–29 - Vacation Bible School

August3 - Missionary Guest, Russ Daniels

6 - Family Bike Hike

13 - Gospel Blitz

14 - Ice Cream Social

15–17 - Teen Revival


19–24 - Teacher In-Service Training

24 - FBT Academy Staff Training

25 - FBT Academy Opens

Upcoming Events 2 0 1 6

Sep

Know your sins are forgiven and you’re going to Heaven

Realize God loves you “... God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son ....” John 3:16

Everyone is a sinner “All have sinned ....” Rom. 3:23

Sin must be paid for “For the wages of sin is death ...” Rom 6:23

Christ paid for your sin “... while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom. 5:8

Repent from your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ “... none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

A T F A I R F A X B A P T I S T T E M P L E

September 6 - Nursing Home Service

7 - Missionary Guest, Brad Lowrie

7 - AWANA Begins

10 - Gospel Blitz

11 - Patriot Day

13 - Men’s Shooting Night


20 - Ladies’ Fellowship

2 0 1 6

July2 0 1 6

Aug

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

Pray and receive Christ by faith “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Rom. 10:13

If you are ever in the Washington, D.C., area, please stop by for one of our services or events. We would love the opportunity to meet you and encourage you in the Lord! If you do not yet have the assurance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we would be happy to show you how you can be saved and find new life in Christ.


A MINISTRY OF FAIRFAX BAPTIST TEMPLE6401 MISSIONARY LANE

FAIRFAX STATION, VA 22039703.323.8100

FBTMINISTRIES.ORGPlease notify us of any address changes at

[email protected]

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SundaysBible Study Fellowship ............. 9:00 a.m.Morning Service ........................ 10:00 a.m.Evening Service ............................ 5:00 p.m.

Wednesdaysawana (Sept – May) ..................... 6:45 p.m.Patch Club (Jun – Aug) ............. 6:45 p.m.Prayer Meeting .............................. 7:00 p.m.

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Watch live services each week atFBTministries.org

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volume 44 trumpet temple issue 1 - fbtministries.org

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