THE DISCIPLE

The Newsletter of Franklinton Baptist Church

102 West Mason Street

Franklinton, North Carolina 27525

Volume Sixty-One, Issue Eleven

November, 2025

Welcome to our church newsletter! We’re glad you’re here. Our goal is to inspire and encourage you in your walk with Christ, fostering a deeper connection in prayer, Bible study, spiritual growth, and our faith community. May the content of this newsletter motivate and stimulate you to draw closer to the Lord Jesus Christ!



Dear Franklinton Baptist Church Family,

I recently attended a seminar on conflict resolution, where I received a handout with excerpts from Margaret Wheatley's book, "Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope in the Future." One quote resonated deeply with me: "As we work together to restore hope in the future, we need to include a new and strange ally, our willingness to be disturbed."

As I reflected on this quote, I realized that being willing to be disturbed is not just about huge life-changing moments. It’s about the little things, the everyday interactions at home, work, and church. Can we be pushed, jogged, nudged, or challenged without reacting like five-year-olds? Can we listen, learn, and grow together?

Personally, I'm committed to being informed and disturbed. I'm committed to being open to new ideas, perspectives, and experiences. And I believe that's where our relationships are truly tested, in the everyday moments, not just the big ones.

In Proverbs 18:2, we're reminded that "Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions." As followers of Christ, we're called to a different standard, one that values humility, empathy, and a willingness to learn. I want us to be a church that is characterized by these qualities. I want us to be a community of faith that is joined at the heart, rather than just the head.

As your pastor, I promise to strive for this kind of community. I promise to listen with curiosity and empathy, to seek wisdom from Scripture, and to lead with humility. I want to be a pastor who is willing to be disturbed, who is open to new ideas and perspectives, and who seeks to understand and serve others.

I love you all, and I'm honored to be your pastor. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve and to journey with you through the ups and downs of life. May God grant us the wisdom and humility to approach life with open hearts and minds.

My prayer for us: Heavenly Father, help us to be a community of faith that is willing to be disturbed, to listen with humility, and to seek Your guidance in all things. May we be open to new ideas and perspectives, and may we be shaped by Your love and wisdom. In Jesus's name, Amen.

In the eternal fellowship,

Dr. Richard Childress



Franklinton Baptist Church Joins the Raleigh Baptist Association Family

The Raleigh Baptist Association (RBA) is a remarkable organization with a rich history, being the second-largest Baptist association in the nation and the third-oldest Baptist association in the country. The RBA follows in the footsteps of two historic associations: the Philadelphia Baptist Association, established in 1707 as the first Baptist association in the nation, and the Sandy Creek Baptist Association, which is the second oldest. With its own legacy, the RBA will soon mark its 200th anniversary, a testament to its enduring commitment to spreading the Gospel.

On 10/28, Tuesday night, 14 members of FBC attended the semi-annual RBA meeting held at The Fountain of Raleigh Church, and we were proud to have the largest representation of any church in attendance. We were blessed by the church's praise team, who led us in worship. The business conference was conducted smoothly, and we were encouraged by a powerful presentation from Habitat for Humanity. During the meeting, we also learned about the RBA's ministry at the State Fair, where gospel conversations took place and lives were changed through the efforts of RBA members.

We are overjoyed to share that Franklinton Baptist Church has been approved for membership under watch care by the Church Relations and Credentials Committee of the RBA. This milestone marks a significant step in our journey as a church, and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the RBA in fulfilling the Great Commission.

We are excited to be joining the RBA family and look forward to collaborating with other churches in our association to advance the kingdom of God. This affiliation will provide us with opportunities for growth, fellowship, and service, enabling us to be a more effective witness for Christ in our community.

A Call to Action: Disaster Relief for Jamaica and Cuba

During the meeting, we were challenged to engage our church family in collecting a disaster relief offering for the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and Cuba. We are reminded that we, too, have experienced devastation in Western North Carolina, and it was the generosity of other churches and organizations that came to the rescue. Now, it's our turn to return the kindness and show the love of Christ to those in need.

We encourage everyone to prayerfully consider what God would have you give to support this effort. Your generosity will help bring hope and relief to those affected by the hurricane. We will be collecting offerings specifically for this purpose, and we invite you to join hands with us in supporting our brothers and sisters in Jamaica and Cuba.

We give thanks to God for this new chapter in our church's journey and pray that He will continue to guide and empower us as we seek to serve Him. We look forward to this new season of ministry and partnership with the RBA.



Frankenfest: A Blessing to Our Community

The church family at Franklinton Baptist Church would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Missions Committee for their hard work and dedication in making Frankenfest a success! Your efforts helped create a welcoming atmosphere where our community could come together and experience the love of Christ.

We are thankful for the beautiful weather, the families who joined us, and the opportunities we had to share the gospel with those around us. It was a blessing to see so many smiling faces and to connect with our community by engaging in gospel conversations. We gave out over 580 bags of candy and 200 flyers promoting our church ministries and services.

Your love and commitment to our community are a testament to the body of Christ at work.

Thank you to everyone who played a part in making Frankenfest a huge success!

Operation Christmas Child and Christmas Giveaway

We are spreading Christmas love through Operation Christmas Child and our Christmas Giveaway.

We humbly thank God for the 400+ shoeboxes we are sending to Samaritan's Purse, and we are grateful for the opportunity to use these boxes to tell others of the love of Jesus. Contact for Operation Christmas Child is Tillie Pickard at 919-495-8287.

We are also showing Christmas love to our community through the collection of new or gently used unwrapped toys and coats for local children in need. We will be collecting these items through November 22. And our Christmas Giveaway is November 29. Contact for our Christmas Giveaway is Phil DiFrancesco at 919-724-3304.

Seekers Sunday School Fellowship: A Night to Remember!

On Sunday afternoon, October 19, the newly created Seekers Sunday School class gathered at the Childress' home for an unforgettable afternoon of food, fellowship, and fun! The menu was absolutely delicious, featuring a charcuterie board, ribeye steaks, chicken, Brussels sprouts, Mexican corn, mac & cheese, rolls, pumpkin cake, and chocolate éclair. It was a spread that brought smiles to everyone's faces!

The food was just the beginning. As we sat around the table, sharing stories and laughter, it was clear that the true highlight of the evening was the time spent together as brothers and sisters in Christ. The group had a blast getting to know one another better, and the evening was filled with even more fun. We enjoyed making S'mores around the fire pit and friendly games with yard darts and corn-hole!

The kids had an absolute blast too! They had a great time playing together, enjoying the yard, and making memories. Seeing them laugh and have so much fun was a joy to behold.

We're so grateful to the Childress family for opening up their home to host this gathering. Their hospitality and generosity are a blessing to our church family and we're thankful for the opportunity to connect with one another in a more relaxed setting.

If you missed this Seekers Sunday School Fellowship, don't worry! There will be more opportunities to connect and build relationships in the future. 

We are also encouraging other Sunday school classes in our church to build relationships and community by joining together for a time of fellowship and togetherness - and a chance to get to know each other better.

Upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas Events and Activities:

On November 16, we will enjoy a time of Thanksgiving fellowship around the table following our morning worship hour. We will provide the meats and ask attendees to bring a vegetable or a dessert. You need to sign up or call Cheryl in the church office if you plan to attend as we need a final count for the meal.

On November 22, we will be helping New Life Outreach Ministry with their turkey giveaway. Our church contact is Evelyn Goswick at 252-617-2512.

Our Hanging of the Greens service is November 30 at 7:00 P.M.

Our Children's Christmas Play is December 7 at 11:00 A.M.

Our Christmas Cantata "Hope in a Manger" will be presented on December 14 at

7:00 P.M.

We hope you will join us for these special services and events.



Dr. Richard Childress, Pastor

Patrick Woods, Music Director

Cheryl Hollar, Secretary

Anita Fuller, Handbell Director/Worship Leader

Danny Fuller, Custodian

Kay Mendenhall, Nursery Attendant