The Messenger for May 22, 2008 - First Baptist Church

Volume 60 Number 21
May 22, 2008
The Messenger
First Baptist Church
600 Governors Drive Huntsville, AL 35801
256-428-9400 www.fbchsv.org
David W. Hull, Pastor
Weekend Minister on Call: 256-428-9457 24-Hour Prayer Line: 428-9460
First
Thoughts
David Hull
Sunday, May 25
Sermon: Jud Reasons, Associate Pastor
“Poolside Reflections”
John 5:1-9
Youth Choir Mission Team Commissioning
First Fellowship
8:15 a.m. - Fellowship Hall
Music from Daybreak
Thank you for the wonderful Sabbatical Sendoff that you gave
to Jane and me on Sunday night. Your presence,
encouragement, and prayers were greatly appreciated. Our
leave has now begun, so this will be the last newsletter article
that I will write for a few weeks. As our Sabbatical Journey
begins, I ask the following:
‣ Pray – Please remember our family as we travel.
You can follow our trip by going to the Season of
Renewal section of the church web site at
www.fbchsv.org. We covet your prayers and we will
be praying for you as we are away.
Sanctuary Worship - 10:30 a.m.
Music:
Solo by Alicia Pettis
Sanctuary Choir Anthem:
Unto Thee, O Lord (Aulbach)
Featured youth soloists on anthem:
Amanda Anderson, Ashley Belk,
and Madison Broadway-Sheible
No evening worship or activities.
‣ Support – We have a wonderful church staff that will
be picking up some extra responsibilities during my
absence. Offer your support and encouragement for
them during these weeks. I am already grateful for
what they will be doing while I am away.
‣ Welcome – I know that you will offer warm hospitality
to all of our guest preachers. Look at the insert in the
newsletter this week to learn more about these
preachers. These are some of my favorite folks. I
have told them about how great you are, and I look
forward to my friends from out of town getting to
know my church family here in Huntsville. Enjoy
offering a warm welcome to them.
‣ Worship – We have planned a Season of Renewal
with wonderful guest preachers. However, as Larry
Moore pointed out on Sunday night, renewal does
not happen just by inviting some good speakers. It
happens in each heart. I hope that you will be a full
participant in these worship and learning
experiences.
With deep gratitude . . . and with hopeful expectancy, we say
so long – for now. See you in August as we begin what will be
a very significant year for our church!
Volunteers Needed for the Medical and Dental
Clinic at the Downtown Rescue Mission
You will recall that our church, under the leadership of
Dr. Jerry Graham, Charlene Graham, and Herb Batt, held
a clinic at the mission during Thanksgiving. This will be
offered again during the memorial weekend on Saturday,
May 24 from 8-4, Sunday, May 25 from 1-4, and Monday,
May 26 from 8-4. We will need four more nurse
assistants, two people to help with the reception area,
and four in witnessing and talking to clients.
If you can help with any of these times please call Herb
Batt at 651-7074

Ministry
Calendar
Sunday, May 25
First Fellowship/ FH
8:15 AM
Library Open
9:00-9:15 AM
Sunday School
9:15 AM
Library Open
10:15-10:30 AM
Sanctuary Worship
10:30 AM
Community Class Party/118 10:45 AM
Library Open
11:45 AM-12:00 PM
NO EVENING SERVICE OR ACTIVITIES
Monday, May 26 - MEMORIAL DAY
Offices and CLC Closed
Tuesday, May 27
Spiritual Formations Grp/Parlor 7:00 AM
Tuesday Morn. Intercess/242 7:00 AM
Ministers’ Mtg/Parlor
9:00 AM
Youth Choir Mission Tm/CR,
309-310 10:00 AM
Staff Mtg/Parlor
10:30 AM
Music Staff Mtg/Parlor
11:00 AM
Faith Dev. Staff/Library
11:00 AM
HAP Computer Class/333
4:00 PM
A2O Reh/FH
5:00 PM
Boy Scouts Trp 70/312
6:30 PM
Wednesday, May 28
Library Open
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Library Open
3:00 – 5:00 PM
Canada Missions Mtg/140
4:00 PM
Supper/FH
4:45 PM
Lift Off/309-310
5:30 PM
Prayer Meeting/FH
5:45 PM
FBC Orchestra Reh/Sanct/141/241 6:00 PM
The Matrix/309/310
7:00 PM
Sanctuary Choir/CR
7:00 PM
Leadership Council/Parlor
7:00 PM
Thursday, May 29
HAP Computer Class/333
“Daybreak” Reh/FH
Friday, May 30
Langley Golf Tournament/
Off-Site
Saturday, May 31
4:00 PM
5:30 PM
12:00 PM
SEEKING
VOLUNTEERS FOR
NEW MEMBER
PHOTO TEAM
We have a vacancy in the New Member
Photo Team for the second week of the
month. The photo team takes pictures of
our new members at 9:10 for the first
service and after the second service. You
would serve once a month and would
need to have your own digital camera. By
Monday morning you would email your
picture files to Susan Williams, ministry
assistant to our pastors. If you have
interest in helping in this ministry call or
email Mike Pearce. 428-9448 or
mike@fbchsv.org.
Music and Worship
Billy Orton, Minister of Music and Worship
Dear Friends,
The Youth Choir Mission trip to California is just
around the corner! Your spiritual, physical and financial support has meant so
much. Please continue to hold this endeavor in your prayers.
The large group of students (which has even grown in recent weeks!) has been hard
at work preparing for the various worship presentations which the trip will entail,
including one at Camp Pendleton which promises to be a highlight of the year for
our youth as they touch the lives of soldiers who will soon be on the battlefields
around the world. Our students will also lead services in several churches in the
Los Angeles area, presenting choral music, instrumental music and drama with
excellence and creativity. Additionally, the group will work in several “rescue
missions”, putting hands and feet to their Christian message as they assist with and
support the ministries to the truly needy.
FBC is blessed with wonderful students (and their families) who are willing to extend
themselves and the ministry of our church in significant fashion. We ask for your
prayerful support during these remaining days of preparation, travel and mission.
Jamie Mackey and Billy Orton
Music Ministry Staffing Updates…..
FBC welcomes Michael Moore as interim organist, Lisa Belk as interim rehearsal
accompanist (with occasional assistance from Cindy Boyd) and Suzanne Hefner as
interim children’s choir coordinator. We are grateful for these church members who
have agreed to help provide leadership in our Music Ministry during these interim
days, and we offer prayerful support not only to them but also to the search
committees in place for these staff positions.
We are also grateful for Lee Deutschendorf, our ministry intern, who has become
the music and worship coordinator for First Fellowship. Lee is providing leadership
for both adult praise bands as well as the youth band.
“STITCHES IN TIME” QUILT PROJECT
As a part of our Bicentennial Celebration in 2009 we have a quilt
project called “Stitches in Time.” If you would be interested in
volunteering to help with this project, please call Glenn Brown at
539-9196. No quilting skills are required but basic sewing skills
would be helpful. Please consider this unique way to play a part in
this historic event in the life of First Baptist Church.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Here is a list of some of the items that we need for VBS. If you
can help with any of these, please contact the Childhood
Ministries Office or just bring the items to us.
Decorating Needs:
Hoola hoops – these are needed ASAP
Pool noodles
Child’s microscope (for stage)
Plastic 55-gallon drums (for stage)
Rope lights, all colors, for staging and entrance
Classroom needs:
Lab Coats
Disposable shoe covers
Goggles (like you would need in a lab situation)
Craft Needs:
Empty, clean, label removed 16-oz. water bottles with caps
“Thank you” to the many who have volunteered to help with VBS! There are still limited
opportunities to serve. Pease call the Childhood Ministries Office at 428-9411.

Summer 2008
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,
and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith . . .”
Hebrews 12:1-2

A WORD OF GRATITUDE
David W. Hull
We all need seasons for renewal. The Bible builds this concept into the rhythm of life with the
commandment to keep the Sabbath. Jesus often went “up the mountain” to get away from the crush of the
crowds. There he was able to renew his spirit for the work that remained in the valley. If we never take
time to “sharpen the saw” then we end up with dull lives and empty hearts.
I am grateful that our church has a sabbatical policy which comes from this need for renewal. Each of our
ministers receives some time to be away after years of service to the church. My time has now come for a
season of renewal. After thirty years in ministry, this will be my first extended time away from the routine
responsibilities of ministry in the church. I probably will not know how to act. I do need to learn — for
the time away will be a blessing and will make me a better minister.
Not only I am grateful for a church that provides time away, but I am most appreciative of the Lilly
Endowment Clergy Renewal Program. Designed to fund sabbatical experiences by ministers, this program
is a vast resource to help pastors and churches experience what they never could do without the help of
additional funding. I am honored that our church is one of 120 that were awarded a sabbatical grant this
year. Funds have been provided that will allow me to study and travel. In addition, funds are provided to
bring excellent speakers to our church during my absence so that the entire congregation can have a time
of renewal. All of this will occur without a financial cost to the church.
My sabbatical will extend from May 19 until August 9. A few days of rest with family in North Carolina
and an anniversary visit to a former pastorate in South Carolina will allow us to rest up for a trip to
Europe. Jane, Emily, and Andrew will accompany me on this sabbatical journey. In fact, my grant
application was written with the concept of retracing the steps of my first sabbatical. When I was seven
years old, my family lived in Germany while my Dad was on a sabbatical leave. I have never returned to
Europe. Now I will take my family to some of the same places that I experienced as a boy.
Our journey begins in Oxford as I study Baptist history in the library of Regents Park College. From there
we move to Hungary where we visit missionary friends Glen and Clista Adkins. Two weeks will be spent
on the campus of the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague, where I will continue my study
of Baptist history. We then move to Germany and visit the places I remember as a boy. Our journey will
end in northern Italy with some days in the Tuscany area before we return home.
My studies in Baptist history will prepare me for our Bicentennial Celebration in 2009. During my absence
you will have wonderful opportunities for a similar preparation of your minds and hearts. The month of
June will provide excellent speakers who will help us to understand the heritage of our faith. Through
preaching on Sunday mornings and teaching later that afternoon, you will have a better understanding of
our family tree as Baptists. The month of July will help us to focus on the future. These preacher/teachers
will challenge us to think about new ways of ministry in the years to come.
The month of June will be people who have been my teachers. The month of July will be people who are
my peers and colleagues. I commend each one to you and encourage you to enter into a Season of Renewal
as I do the same. We all will have opportunities for rich blessings in the summer of 2008!

A SEASON OF RENEWAL
First Baptist Church
Huntsville, Alabama
The summer of 2008 is set aside as a special Season of Renewal for the First Baptist Church
in Huntsville, Alabama. As our Pastor is on a study leave, we are using this time to prepare
our minds and hearts for the significant Bicentennial Anniversary of First Baptist Church
in 2009. Our theme for the Anniversary is “The Footprints Continue.” The Scripture
passage from Hebrews 12:1-2 gives a shape to our Season of Renewal as we prepare for the
Bicentennial Anniversary.
Sunday Morning Worship
8:15 a.m. First Fellowship Worship in the Fellowship Hall
10:30 a.m. Sanctuary Worship
Evening Teaching Sessions
5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall unless otherwise noted
May 25
Jud Reasons
Associate Pastor
First Baptist Church
Huntsville, AL
No Evening Activities — Memorial Day Weekend
REMEMBERING THE PAST
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses . . .”
June 1
Dr. Timothy George
Dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, AL
Evening — Baptist Beginnings in Europe
Dr. George is the Founding Dean of the Beeson Divinity School at
Samford. He is celebrating his 20th anniversary at the school. Known
as a Reformation scholar, Dr. George will help us understand how
Baptists began in Europe.

June 8
Dr. Bill Leonard
Dean, Wake Forest Divinity School, Wake Forest University,
Winston-Salem, NC
Sunday lunch meeting — Baptist Beginnings in America
Lunch will be served in the Fellowship Hall ($5.50 per person) at
11:45 a.m. followed by Dr. Leonard’s teaching.
Dr. Leonard is the Founding Dean of the Wake Forest Divinity School
at Wake Forest University. His academic area is contemporary
American Christianity, so he will be well-suited to tell us the story of
Baptist beginnings in our own country.
5:00 p.m. in the Chapel — Student Ministry California Mission Trip Report
June 15
Dr. Catherine Allen
Author and Missions Advocate
Evening — The Role of Missions and Women in Baptist History
Dr. Allen worked for many years at the Woman’s Missionary Union
in Birmingham. A noted author and speaker, her experiences have
prepared her to teach us about the significant role of missions in our
history and the contributions that women have played in this heritage.
June 22
Dr. William Hull
Research Professor
Samford University
Birmingham, AL
Evening — Transitions in the Southern Baptist Convention
Dr. Hull observed the transitions in the Southern Baptist Convention
from the vantage point of being a Southern Baptist seminary professor
and administrator, a pastor, and a member of the Peace Committee
that was formed to respond to these changes in convention life. His
personal experiences and historical/theological reflections will help
the church to understand our denominational history over the last
thirty years.

June 29
Dr. Wayne Flynt
History Professor Emeritus
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
Evening — Alabama Baptist History
Dr. Flynt is often considered the leading historian of Alabama history.
Not only that, but he is an active Baptist and one who has written
extensively about the Baptist history of our state. He concludes our
Heritage Month will a look that brings us close to home as we
understand our Baptist roots in Alabama.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
“ . . . let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”
July 6
Dr. Ralph Langley
Pastor Emeritus
First Baptist Church
Huntsville, AL
No Evening Activities — Holiday Weekend
July 13
Dr. Ron Crawford
President
Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond
Dr. Crawford is completing his first year as a seminary President.
Prior to that he was a Pastor in Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Our church recently established the Ralph Langley Preaching
Scholarship at this seminary, and we welcome the President to lead us
in worship as we continue to develop ties between our church and this
fine school.
Evening — Children’s Music Camp Presentation in the Sanctuary

July 20
Dr. Mike Glenn
Pastor
Brentwood Baptist Church
Brentwood, TN
Evening — The Future of Outreach and Evangelism in the Church
This year, Outreach Magazine listed Brentwood Baptist Church as the
60th fastest growing church in America. Their pastor, Dr. Mike
Glenn, is an excellent resource to teach us about the future of
outreach and evangelism. A native of Huntsville, Mike understands
our culture and brings the practical experience to challenge us for
growth.
July 27
Dr. Bill Wilson
Pastor
First Baptist Church
Dalton, GA
Evening — The Future of Congregational Ministry in the Church
Dr. Bill Wilson has led his congregation to develop new models of
ministry that involve many of the members of the church. He will help
us to explore how we can mobilize more of our members for ministry
in the future.
August 3
Dr. David Crocker
Executive Director
Operation Inasmuch
Evening — The Future of Missions in the Church
After serving for many years as a Pastor, Dr. Crocker is now the
Executive Director of Operation Inasmuch. Our Serving the City
follows the model of this ministry that Dr. Crocker began while he
was a Pastor in North Carolina. He is now working to help churches
find mission opportunities in their communities and around the world.
Dr. Crocker has ties to our church through his son, daughter-in-law,
and grandson, Andy, Beth, and Drew Crocker.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT PROGRAM SCHEDULE
LIVING IN THE PRESENT
“. . . Looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith . . .”
Fellowship Supper— 4:45 p.m. Prayer Meeting—5:45 p.m.
May 21
Ralph Langley
May 28
Mark Seanor
June 4
Jud Reasons
June 11
Pam McDaniel
June 18
Spring Hill Baptist Church Youth Choir (Mobile, AL)
June 25
Local Missions Emphasis
July 2
God and Country Service
July 9
Billy Orton
July 16
Global Missions Emphasis
July 23
Future Missions Emphasis
July 30
Jamie Mackey
August 6
Lee Deutschendorf
August 13
Quarterly Business Meeting

David W. Hull, Pastor
First Baptist Church
600 Governors Drive
Huntsville, Alabama 35801
256-428-9400
www.fbchsv.org

Student Ministry Spotlight
Jamie Mackey, Minister to Students
Pre-Trip Prep Day – May 27
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Departure – Friday, May 30
(Times to arrive at the HSV airport)
Group 1: 5:30 AM
Group 2: 7:30 AM
Return – Saturday, June 7
Group 2: 4:30 PM
Group 1 : 9:15 PM
Home Concert & Report – Sunday, June 8,
@ 5:00 PM
Congratulations Class of 2008!
“You are educated.
Your certification is in
your degree. You may
think of it as the ticket
to the good life. Let me
ask you to think of an
alternative.
Think of it as your ticket
to change the world.”
Tom Brokaw
(emphasis added.)
The Class of 2008 with the Class of 2019
ATTENTION Students & Parents:
For the summer calendar check out the updated Student Ministry
website at www.eggbeateryouth.org.
FYI
Menu
Wednesday, May 28
Chicken Salad
Broccoli Salad
Pear Salad - Crackers
Lemon Pie
Salad
Grilled Chicken Salad
(Reservations for salad must be
turned in by noon on Wednesdays.)
STEWARDSHIP REPORT
Week # 33 – May 18, 2008
Year -to-Date Goal: $2,632,597.50
Offering:
This Week $41,406.28
YTD $2,833,693.78
Debt Retirement:
This Week $338.50
YTD $57,351.03
Facilities Expansion
YTD $19,675.00
ATTENDANCE - MAY 18, 2008
Sunday School
Preschool 88
Children 124
Students 158
Adults 628
Brookdale (Non-FBC Members) 12
New Members 1
Visitors 27
TOTAL 1038
Worship Services
First Fellowship 299
Sanctuary Worship 951
TOTAL 1250
Preschool Ministries
Joy Moore, Minister to Preschool
What is Your Play Teaching?
The way a family handles the truth is important. Although some teasing may involve
misrepresenting the truth and can be an acceptable part of play, it’s important to ask some
serious questions about where that play is leading. If you’re having a problem with lying in
your family you may want to cut out even playful teasing in this area to help children see
the issues more clearly.
One mom told us, “We have a problem with lying in our family. As I began developing a
plan to deal with it, I noticed that the way we play often encourages deception. If my fouryear-old
comes into the kitchen to ask, ‘What’s for dinner?’ I might jokingly reply, ‘Frog
Soup.’ Our family fun is not necessarily bad as we play small tricks and tease each other,
but I’m seeing now that we need to take a break from those kinds of activities for a while. It
may be that our fun is inadvertently encouraging our children to be dishonest.”
This mom is wrestling with an important issue. Sometimes the things you do or say aren’t
bad in and of themselves, but you may need to make adjustments because of the
particular needs of your family.
This parenting tip comes from the book Good and Angry: Exchanging Frustration for
Character in You and Your Kids by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
SEWING FOR:
Huntsville, Iraq,
Africa
Tuesday, June 3, 9:30 a.m.
Room 118
Come join the fun.
FOOD DRIVE FOR
HUNTSVILLE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
SUNDAY, JUNE 8
WATCH FOR MORE DETAILS

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED PERIODICAL
600 GOVERNORS DRIVE
HUNT SVILLE, AL 35801
The MESSENGER (USPS 591-280) is publish ed weekly except the week of Christmas by First Baptist Church, 600
Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801. Periodical postage paid at Huntsville, Alabama 31801-5178. POSTMASTER
send change of address to THE MESSENGER, 600 Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801
Early Adulthood Ministries
Pam McDaniel, Minister of Early Adulthood
Sign-up is open NOW for our
FBC Men’s Retreat
Who: FBC Men – all ages
When: Sept. 12-13, 2008
Where: Guntersville State Park
Cost: $75 – includes lodging,
program, Friday dinner,
Saturday breakfast and lunch
We have made initial reservations for 40 men.
We need to know as soon as possible if more
rooms are needed. Reserve your spot NOW
by signing up – along with the $75 payment –
in the Adult Ministry Office. Reservation deadline is August 8.
The retreat speaker is Bruce Martin. Bruce is the Founder and Executive Director of
Renown, a ministry to young adults in downtown Huntsville. He also serves as a
teaching pastor at Cove Church in Hampton Cove. Over the last few years, we have
been blessed by other occasions in which Bruce has spoken at some of our FBC
group gatherings.
The retreat topic is:
Identity Issues – Who am I? Who am I in Christ? Why does it matter?
For more information, contact Pam McDaniel (428-9414; pam@fbchs v.org).
Reservations are made by bringing your payment to the Adult Ministry Office. The
sooner we receive your reservation and payment, the better we can be sure we have
enough rooms reserved. We look forward to hearing from you!
FELLOWSHIP CLUB
Friday June 6, 10:00 a.m. - Fellowship Hall
Speaker: Kim Elder,
Coordinator of Volunteer Services, Huntsville Hospital
“Making a Difference”
Menu: Lasagna, Green Salad, Garlic Bread, Dessert
Call Betty Wright, 837-2114, for reservations.
Family Matters
CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY
Bo, Pat, and Allison Cassity and
Charles and Jane Davis in the loss
of their cousin Thomas L. Gentry
Greg and Kelli Ellison, in the loss of
his father, and Garrett and Lindsey
in the loss of their grandfather, Rev.
James Ellison
Elisa & Gayle Fairless in the loss of
her aunt, Frances Murff
Debbie and Allen Stephenson in the
loss of her father James Dailey
John Weaver in the loss of his sister
Mary Hile
THANKS
A thank you note has been received
from Ralph and Martha Edfeldt. It
has been placed on the bulletin board
across from the church office.
CANADA MISSION 2008 MEETING
Wednesday, May 28
4:00 p.m. - Room 140
“Meet and Eat”
Trip will be to Camp Kwasind,
North of Toronto
Topics: Transportation,
Accommodations,
Meals, Sightseeing, etc.
Call Don Newman, 881-6572
for information.
MINISTRY ASSISTANT
POSITION AT “THE VINE”
The Vine Pastoral Counseling Center
is hiring a Ministry Assistant to serve
as receptionist from 9-12, Monday
through Friday, at their office in
Madison. The position requires a high
school diploma or GED, some
business training and relationship
skills. The job particulars can be
viewed at www.vinepcc.com , at
bottom of STAFF. Interested persons
can send a resume to The Vine, 4257
Sullivan Street, Madison, AL 35758.
The Vine would like to fill this position
with a member of one of their
supporting churches. First Baptist is
one of these churches.