October 2006 Scroll

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The Weer’s After One Year

From The Desk of Pastor Matthews

Hightower Highlights

YOUTH NEWS

Super Slop Night

Missions Conference/Homecoming

Missions Conference from a Youth’s Perspective

Why go to church?

What's New in our Library

Friend Night    

The Weer’s After One Year

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From The Desk of Pastor Matthews . . .- Pastor Frankie Matthews

I remember when I first came to Sheets that I learned there was a Thursday night visitations. As I got involved in the ministry I began to attend these Thursday night visitation. I remember that the staff was always in attendance but beyond these men there was very little participation. 

Now, there is nothing wrong with having visitation on Thursday nights. It has been a part of Baptist history for years.

Now, there is still much to do. Remember Frank Hartwig’s Homecoming message? There is still a final presentation that needs to be made to many of our visitors. You have prayed and picked, invited and now, you need to follow-up with your “friend,” and make sure that they get a personal presentation of the gospel. Are you ready? Get a tract if you need to and make an appointment to share the gospel with that friend. What an adventure the Lord has ahead for us!

 Hightower Highlights . . .- Principal Dan Hightower,

As a little boy I always enjoyed watching and helping my “Granny” cook.  When I came to Sheets, as we started having different events and cooking for them, it was a lot of fun.  Then we started the cooking ministry!  What hard work but OH!, what fun we have.  If you notice, we don’t eat a lot after we serve, well “we have to TEST everything while we cook.”  I want to say a special “THANK YOU” for all who help on the cooking team on a regular basis and Thank you to all who help each time we have an event.

At the fish fry we were expecting 175 to 200.  We had right at 300.  We gave out 40 visitor bags to different families visiting.  In case  you haven’t heard all the fish were caught and donated by the men of our church.  The Bar-B-Que was killed and cooked by Roger Comer.  The hot dogs, well we did buy them.

You may be asking what’s coming up next from the cook team, well we’re talking about trying out our new griddle and having a pancake supper or a chicken stew.  Until then save a few calories up so you can eat up.

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YOUTH NEWS - Ethan Woodward 

What a summer! Yesterday Vacation Bible School came and went, then Super Slop Night, (see adjoining article) bible camp in Pennsylvania, volunteering at the Winston Salem Rescue Mission, whitewater rafting in West Virginia, and school is here. Combined with weekly youth meetings this summer proved to be a James 4:14 attestation. There is a great deal that goes through my mind as I try to think ahead and plan for the youth department in the next few months. I am constantly asking God for wisdom and guidance as I know that I can not do this weighty task on my own. Often I pray for the following things and I am wondering if you would be willing to join me. Would you pray:

• * That God would bless as we seek to reach out to surrounding neighborhoods

• * For perseverance in youth members as they seek to continue growing in their relationship with Christ.

• * For safety in the many activities that the youth are involved in.

• * That God would give wisdom, and discernment to leaders helping in the Youth Department

• * That God would help each young person to make decisions that will honor him.

• * That God would prompt somebody to consider teaching/leading a College Age Class.

  James 5:16

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Super Slop Night   By: Jacob Laws

	On Friday, June 30, 2006, a group of youth met out at the soccer field.  Part of them came with thoughts of socializing in mind, and the other part with the actual activity.  Plans changed real fast when Ethan started explaining what was going on and Josh Koontz bombarded everyone with a bucket of mud.  That is when everyone knew that they would get dirty in one way or another. Next, they moved on to the Strongest Lungs competition which involved two people, a flexi-tube, and a raw egg yolk.  Not very many people stepped up for this event which I can't blame them because it involved a raw egg. After this they all moved on to the gauntlet which was boys against girls.
This is where you run down a straight line to grab a cone but while you did so you were bombarded with things like stewed tomatoes, beanie-weenies, and the main thing - mud. The girls threw stuff at the guys and the guys threw stuff at the girls.  But hard as they tried the guys lost the event by two seconds. Finally, they moved on to the chamber.  The chamber was basically a bunch of 2X4's and plastic put together.  This only involved two people at a time.  Participating youth had twenty seconds to throw ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, flour, and eggs at each other, hoping that you would come out not as dirty as the other.  But nine times out of ten this did not happen - you were always just as messy as the other person.
After all activities were done they threw some hot dogs on the grill, cut a watermelon, and compared who was dirtier.  Although that was never decided, all in all I'd say that we had a pretty good time out on the field.  Although it does leave me wondering why would a bunch of teens have so much fun playing out in the mud? Maybe, just maybe, because it is the one time they can get as dirty as possible and their parents not say a word.

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Missions Conference/Homecoming - By:  Ethan Woodward

“It’s the most exciting time of year” – Dan Hightower.

For Sheets Memorial Baptist Church it is hard to argue that there is a more exciting time of year than the week of mission’s conference and homecoming Sunday. Special speakers, fabulous banquets, challenging lessons, golf/fishing/bowling during the day: - all of this and more combines to make for a very busy, yet rewarding week around Sheets Memorial.  If you attended, you would surely agree that we had an incredible combination of missionaries this year! The Ramseys (Costa Rica), Fish Family (Vancouver, BC) Vinokurovs (Uzbekistan), and the Webers (Thailand) all participated in this year’s conference. Our theme for the missions conference this year was “Some gave All, All gave some, Are you giving your All?” These missionaries, without exception, repeatedly challenged us to consider serving the Lord with our all and throughout the week those that attended saw the love that these missionaries have for what they do. Although mission’s conference has come and gone, may the Lord continue to work on hearts, convicting them to give Him all.

This special week closed, as it always does, with our special homecoming Sunday. Find your seat quick! -  the auditorium fills up fast and Frank Hartwig is about ready to challenge us from God’s Word about winning one soul for Christ. What if every member of Sheets Memorial witnessed to one person in this next week? The call to “Take One Soul” still rings in my ears as I trust it does yours. Another highlight from the homecoming service stemmed from the way that God answered prayer in regards to the special homecoming offering. Our goal for this year was $12,000 dollars and before the service finished, the report arrived: - over $16,000! – To God be the glory Great things he hath done! – He provided for us and we are thankful to give back to Him. This offering will allow Sheets Memorial to continue supporting missionaries around the world and doing the work of the Lord here in Lexington.

Don’t leave yet, head to the gym, it is time to eat! Now it is understandable why it is called “the most exciting time of the year”. Fresh squeezed lemonade perfectly sweetened to perfection, crispy fried chicken, BBQ, (of course) casseroles of every kind (including mystery), exquisite desserts. What a great time of fellowship at which the past and present family of Sheets Memorial could come together and glorify the Lord. We truly thank the Lord for blessing the week. We pray that He will be honored in everything we do, both now and in the future.

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Missions Conference from a Youth’s Perspective - Jacob Laws

Missions Conference 2006, kicked off with the Missions Banquet with special speaker, Dale Loftis.  He spoke about how there is plenty of fruit, but few laborers who are willing to go.  He said, “Our youth of today are our Pastors and Missionaries and workers of tomorrow.”

From Tuesday to Friday you could go and meet at one of four classrooms, in which one of the four Missionaries were set up to tell a little about their ministry in a foreign country and the four missionaries were:  Ed & Darlene Weber missionaries to Thailand, The Fish Family going to British Columbia Canada, The Vinokurov Family going to Uzbekistan, and Andy & Dianne Ramsey ministering to Costa Rica.

Each night the youth met over at the youth center and heard from a different missionary.  On Tuesday we heard from Mr. Ed Weber, who shared about his childhood, and the teacher who first started taking him to church.  He also told how God convicted him to be a missionary in Thailand after visiting his family there.

On Wednesday night we heard from Randy Fish about their past ministry in Togo, West Africa. and how they are in the process of moving their ministry to British Columbia Canada.  Randy said he and his family are moving their ministry to British Columbia because enough of the Togolese people understand enough of the gospel to take over where he and his family left them.

On Thursday we heard from Tony Vinkurov.  This night was the most different of all the nights because Tony's oldest son, Daniel, translated to English while Tony talked in Russian.  From this, we learned about their ministry in Uzbekistan and about how the people live over there.  Tony also mentioned how he would like to be in Uzbekistan before the country completely closes to Christianity. As of now it is only partially closed.

Friday, Andy and Dianne Ramsey talked to us about their ministry in Costa Rica.  From this message you could tell that these two really cared about the people in Costa Rica, and how they love God.

Sunday was the biggest day of the week because of the homecoming meal after the 11:00 am service.  We met for Sunday School and Mr. Dale Loftis spoke to us about going into the ministry full time for Jesus Christ.  He also shared with us about all his past ministry work, mission fields, and where he is currently  working. (Salem Baptist Church).

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Why go to church? 

Courtesy of:  Cheryl Lomax

If you’re spiritually alive, you’re going to love this!

If you’re spiritually dead, you won’t want to read it.

If you’re spiritually curious, there is still hope!

Why Go To Church?

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained

That it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.

I’ve gone for 30 years now, “he wrote,” and in that time I have heard

Something like 3,000 sermons.

 But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them.

So, I think I’m wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by

Giving sermons at all.

This started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column,

Much to the delight of the editor.

It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

“I’ve been married for 30 years now.

 In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals.

But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single

One of those meals.

But I do know this.  They all nourished me and gave me the strength I

Needed to do my work.

If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.

 Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be

Spiritually dead today!”

When you are DOWN to nothing…. God is UP to something!

 Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!

Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment.

All right, now that you’re done reading, send it on.

I think everyone should read this.  When Satan is knocking at your door,

Simply say, “Jesus, could you get that for me?”

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What's New in our Library

May we express our deepest appreciation for each gift of books, money, supplies and assistance.  We are proud of our library filled with thousands of great books to meet your reading needs.  Come by and pick up a book.

- Lee Wrenn, Librarian

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Friend Night - Ethan Woodward

 Advertised as “Lexington’s Biggest Fish Fry”, Friend Night at Sheets Memorial Baptist Church proved to be a successful out reach ministry. Preparation for this distinct night started weeks in advance as skilled anglers from the church plied local waters diligently searching for fish to feed the flock and their friends. On the day of Friend Night, workers filtered into the church around 4:00 pm and began preparing the meal (by the way,  I can’t be the only one who thinks the S.M.B.C. cooking team is amazing can I?) Succulent fish, golden hush puppies, zesty tartar sauce and cole slaw – all chased by a scrumptious homemade dessert - what more could you ask for? Well, enough of the peripheral side details. Although the food tasted great, the main focus of the night was our guests and friends, many of whom knew not our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our speaker, Dr. Tim White, gave a clear presentation of the gospel and told the gathering how they can spend eternity in heaven with their best friend, Jesus Christ. We pray that the seeds planted in many hearts (approximately 75 guests) this night will germinate and grow.

Whether it truly was “Lexington’s Biggest Fish Fry” is open for debate but what is certain is that many people heard the gospel on this special night and that is what is most important. Furthermore, although this night has come and gone, may we continue to show ourselves friendly to all those around us especially when it comes to sharing Christ with those who do not know him.

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