Cultivating community by removing the walls that divide us and building bridges that connect us as one human family, each person created in the image of God.

A Letter From Pastor Stacy – July 30, 2021

Friends,
What a year and a half it has been! And what a gift to experience for ourselves the faithfulness of God, even in the midst trial and fear. I know that for many of us it has also been a season of re-evaluation – what we value most, how we use our time, and the role relationships play in making life meaningful.
Your ministers here at First Baptist have been reevaluating what parts of “church” matter most too: what must stay the same, what can change, and what things actually draw us closer to God and shape us more into his image. As such, I want to introduce you to Bridge Groups, First Baptist’s new small group ministry, which begin this fall.
Bridge Groups are designed to lean into the vision of “cultivating community by removing the walls that divide us and building bridges that connect us as one human family, each person created in the image of God.” If Covid has taught us anything, it is that relationships matter. More specifically, relationships with God and with one another are what make this life beautiful.
As we move into the new landscape that is church post-2020, we want to reinvigorate the goal of cultivating community. In particular, Bridge Groups aim at cultivating community across the generations. Whereas Sunday School tends to cluster us based on “age and stage,” Bridge Groups are intentionally intergenerational, for the benefit of all.
You’ll hear more from the Youth Search Team at a special meeting they have planned Sunday, Aug. 22, but let me just say we’re learning that student connection with the larger church body and caring adults is critical to developing lifelong faith. Further, sharing one’s life and faith with the generations which follow has proven to be both a source of meaning and faith development for those who are further on the journey. So, as it turns out, and as God has told us all along, we really need each other.
A few of the details follow, but let me emphasize that this is a learning year for us. No doubt we’ll like some of the things we try and want to revise others. The good news is that we’ve freshly learned God is always faithful, and He can accomplish quite a lot, even when we’re not sure what we’re doing.
1. Groups begin the week of Sept. 12/15 and meet approximately 10 weeks in the fall and 10 weeks in the spring.
2. Groups include students (youth grades 6-12) and adults.
3. Groups will meet either on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. or Sundays at 4:30 p.m.
4. Groups will meet on the church campus, at least for this year.
5. Traditional children’s programming, at least for this year, will continue on Wednesdays from 6-7:30 p.m., which doubles as childcare for those adults wishing to join a Bridge Group.
6. Groups will initially begin their Bible study around the television drama “The Chosen,” about the life of Jesus. However, the groups are intended to be multi-sensory, and service projects and other hands-on experiences will be included.

I know you don’t need “one more thing” on your calendar, but I also know that the “right things” on our calendars are what make for an abundant life. I hope that you’ll choose to add a Bridge Group to your calendar this year. One, because I believe you will be blessed by it. Two, because I believe God wants to bless someone else through you.
It is my hope and prayer that through Bridge Groups, we will connect more deeply for “real relationship with God and with one another.” Here’s to a fantastic year.

In Christ,
Pastor Stacy