A Note from the Pastor
You’ve probably seen the Houston Chronicle report on sexual abuse within Southern Baptist Convention churches in the last two or three decades.  If not, I encourage you to go online and read it. It is heartbreaking and helpful—helpful in the way lancing a boil can lead to healing. Getting this stuff out of the darkness and into the light could provide a wake-up call to the SBC and to individual churches. This stuff can’t be swept under the rug. The victims need encouragement and support. The perpetrators need to be called into account.
 
We take seriously the potential for sexual abuse in the church.  Danny Bryson runs lead on this issue. Here are steps we’ve taken in the last few years: do background checks on all persons who work with children and teenagers; employ a uniformed police officer during meeting hours; installed cameras in every room birth through youth; have more than one adult in any room with children; office computers monitored with Covenant Eyes; children/preschool areas locked and secured with check-in protocols and door guards; if we discover a pedophile in our midst, we do not allow them to return. That may seem cold, but the recidivism rate for pedophiles is incredibly high, and we can’t take the risk. Somehow, we pull this off without the church feeling like a fortress. 
 
Also, we deal with any hint of potential abuse.  An example: a couple of years ago a man moved to Hot Springs and started visiting the church. A parent told me he was acting strange toward her teen. Another heard him say something questionable on the church van. We checked him out. Found out he had jumped bail on sexual assault from a neighboring state. We called him in to the office. The police came and arrested him.
 
We want to be a safe place for the youngest to the oldest.  So if you see something, say something. We also want to be a place where victims of sexual abuse know that their pain is taken seriously. If you have been a victim of sexual abuse recently or in years gone by, our ministers want to be here for you. Counseling resources are available.
 
Could sexual abuse happen at First Baptist, Hot Springs?  It could. But if it ever does, it won’t be because we’ve turned a blind eye to the problem. Sexual abuse is both a sin and a crime. We remain vigilant. 
 
Bill Newton will be preaching this Sunday.  I encourage you to be in your place to worship and to enjoy your Connect Group. It’s going to be a good day.
 
Your Pastor,
John
Sunday, March 3rd
4:00 pm in Room 133
FBC 101 is a great opportunity for new and prospective members to get to know us a little better. In this class, we’ll cover a bit of our history, our values and beliefs, our staff and day-to-day operations, and our vision for the future of our church. A tour will be given at the end. We hope you’ll join us! Please call the office, 624-3345, if you will need childcare. Please enter through the Fellowship Hall door under the blue awning.


Wednesday Night Supper January
Soup, salad and fries always served
13th: Chicken w/ Dumplings, Green Peas, Dressing, Corn Dog, Fries, Cake
20th: Spaghetti w/ Meatballs, Salad Bar, Pie
27th: Taco/Potato Bar, Cake
 BUDGET REPORT

Ministry Fund (2-10-19)
Weekly Receipts            $41,630
Online Giving                 $11,848
Total Given                    $53,478
 
GCF (Great Commission Fund)
Weekly Receipts: ( 2-10-19) $535
If you prefer to give your tithes and offerings on-line, go to our website, firsthotsprings.com , and follow the giving prompts. Please make sure the office has your current email address.
Fitness/Recreation Ministry
FBC Adults 3 on 3 Basketball League
Tuesdays, February 26-May 14
Separate men’s and women’s leagues; open to FBC members and prospects 18 and older. Men’s league limited to 6 teams, with a pair of co-captains per team. Players will play in at least one of the scheduled scrimmages. The co-captains will conduct a draft to create teams and increased fellowship. Women’s league will create different match-ups each week unless we get more than 15 players to enable a draft.
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UPPER LEVEL Basketball is on the horizon! Be watching for your opportunity to sign up to volunteer in our special-needs basketball league for children and adults!
·  Mon, Apr 8-May 13:
°  6:15 pm: Children’s division     (8-14 years old)
°  7:15 pm: Youth division (15-18 years old)
·  Thu, Apr 11-May 16: Adults (19 and older) games at either 6:15 or 7:15 pm
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Here is our current list of Children’s Summer Specialty Camps . We hope to add additional camps asap. Check back frequently. All camps will run Monday-Thursday,
 9 am-noon. Get additional information at www.fbcrecreation.com . Online registration will open April 1.
·  June 24-27: Mosaics camp led by Karen Hendrix; open to 10-12-year-old girls
·  July 22-25: Sewing camp led by Cheryl Nichols; open to coed 10 years old and older.
Until we all fall down, Wallace
Education / Outreach Ministry
Easter Prayer Cards
Thanks to Katy Wreyford we have some Easter cards. These are to remind us to be thinking and praying about who we will invite to three Easter Services on April 21. These are available at all welcome centers. Soon we will also have some invite cards to use. Who will you be thinking and praying about?

#StopSuicide Support Group
Wednesdays, at 6pm in room 126.
Jeffrey Bennett will be the facilitator.
This group is to provide support and encouragement for those who have attempted suicide or for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Please join us and invite someone who needs this.

Everyone needs to find a group and Connect!
Connect Groups help you:
Connect with God!
Connect with Each Other!
Connect with New People! 
Directories and Guides are available at Welcome Centers. Invite your friends or better yet, bring them Sunday at 9 or 10:30 and we will help them find a Connect Group! Make a resolution to join and bring your family to participate in a Connect Group!

Maybe use picture of vans and carts
Van Outreach Driver Needed
We need a Van Outreach Driver for the 3 rd Sunday on the North route. So, if you are interested in the possibility, please call me ASAP.

Most Fun Job in Church!
Can You Drive a Golf Cart?
Then this ministry may be for you! Some of our drivers have had to quit for medical and family reasons. We need a Golf Cart Driver for 4 th & 5 th Sundays. Our purpose is to give a friendly welcome and directions and provide transportation from remote parking areas to the church building. This will make it more convenient for our members to park further away, allowing more parking up close for new people. Contact me if you are interested.
 
Would anyone be interested in talking with me about the possibility of a starting a Gambling Addiction Support Group? This could be an important outreach and ministry much needed in our community. I have curriculum available to help.
Love, Danny