-
THE TIDINGSGOD’S MISSION FOR TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH IS TO LOVE
HIM FULLY AND FOLLOW HIM FAITHFULLY.
THE TIDINGS (USPS #020005), Published Weekly except Christmas
by:Temple Baptist Church, Periodical Postage Paid, Ruston, LA
71270
Postmaster send address changes to:Temple Baptist Church, 1515
South Service Road West, Ruston, LA 71270
Phone: (318) 255-3745 • Fax: (318) 255-0134Website:
temple.life
THE TIDINGSDecember 2, 2020
Vol. 73 No. 49
“We will never cease to be thankful for the members of Temple
and for all they have meant and still mean to us. If you have not
heard, we have received funds from the Lottie Moon Christmas
Offering so we can begin building a hospital in Jibla. We are in
the process of making the plans and hope to start building this
spring or summer. Not yet on hand are funds to equip the hospital,
and we want to apply the $500 gift toward this—as a matter of fact
toward an anesthesia machine for one of our two proposed operating
rooms.” This paragraph opened a letter from Dr. James M. and June
Young to our former pastor, Dr. Robert Magee, on February 2, 1966.
The Youngs had transitioned from their mission work in Gaza to the
country of Yemen, where they hoped to establish a gospel witness
that would resonate throughout the land. And how they did that!
Even to this day, I receive reports of the Lord’s faithfulness to
what the Youngs began there in Jibla. People continue to come to
faith through the gospel seeds that were planted there years ago.
And what’s more? You as a church made it possible through your
generous, even sacrificial, giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas
Offering (LMCO) over fifty years ago. I’m convinced that is why the
Youngs were such champions of that offering when they returned
home. I remember sitting in their living room and sharing with them
how our LMCO goal had been met. Mrs. June’s infectious, sweet smile
would break across her face. Now that she has finished her race on
earth, the baton of faithfulness falls to us. We must issue the
clarion call of support for missions around the globe.
I give thanks daily to be a part of our church that embraces
missions and supports it through praying, giving, and going. For
example, this month is an opportunity for us to rally around
international missionaries in prayer and financial support. I hope
that we have specifically committed time to lift up our brothers
and sisters in
Christ who serve areas overseas. Many are in cultures that are
openly hostile to the gospel, yet we believe that the Holy Spirit
is powerful enough to convict and transform rebellious hearts. I
say we should pray in faith to that end! And don’t stop there. Pray
for God to grant safety, physical strength, wisdom, and spiritual
empowerment to those missionaries. In addition, consider how you
can give sacrificially to support our international missionaries
and their ministries. This coming Sunday morning, we will be
challenged by our former Minister of Missions, John King, who
served in Central Asia as well as other areas here in the States,
and we will be asked to participate in our March for Missions,
where we visibly affirm our support by bringing our mission
offerings to baskets around the Sanctuary and Gathering Space.
Every dollar that we give to this LMCO goes to assist the field
missionaries of the International Mission Board of the Southern
Baptist Convention. Through our selfless giving, we will not only
reach our $160,000 church goal, but we will far surpass it. And
even greater than that, we will advance the gospel to the
nations!
James M. once remarked, “How grateful I am for a Cooperative
Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions
that make it possible for any church to have apart in making our
entire missionary program around the world a reality. And how
especially thankful June and I are for having had a church to grow
up in which nurtured us in its activities, which challenged us to
do God’s will. We have indeed been blessed.” No doubt, we at Temple
have been blessed with a spiritual heritage! For that, I say
thanks! But we must not simply memorialize that history; rather, we
ought to allow it to motivate us to greater heights! And we can!
Let’s seize the opportunities that God gives us as we pray, give,
and go! See you Sunday!
The Pastor’s PerspectiveDr. Reggie Bridges
-
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the
government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:6, NIV)
What a joy to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ,
during this Christmas season! While ministry looks a little
different right now, we still want you to experience the sounds and
the music of the season. In place of our regular Christmas cantata,
our Worship Ministry will present Christmas music on the Sundays of
December 13 and 20, Christmas Celebration Sundays. Our orchestra
and vocal ensemble will be leading in worship and presenting
several “Christmas favorites” during those Sundays. I hope your
heart will be encouraged and strengthened as we sing together songs
of expectation, joy, hope, and peace. And the only reason that we
can have those attitudes is because Jesus has come. And He will
come again! This Christmas, my prayer is that the sons and
daughters of The King of Kings will keep our eyes focused on Him,
His work, and His Word. He is faithful through every season, and we
have so many reasons to rejoice. Let’s sing and celebrate together
Christ the Lord!
Congratulations to:Brian and Carole Aston on the birth of their
grandson,
Tucker Wayne Hogan. Proud great-grandparents are Ed and Margaret
Aston; Jacob and Tori Davis on
the birth of their daughter, Julia Kate. Proud grandparents are
Bill and Laura Davis.
The flowers in the Sanctuary are poinsettias purchased by
members of the Temple family in
memory of or in honor of loved ones.
Basketball & Cheerleading!
Volunteers Needed: Coaches, Referees, Greeters, and Half-time
Devotion Leaders
Contact: Family Life Center (255-6184) or Emma
([email protected])
Music MinistryMusic MinistryJeremy Asher
UPCOMING SCHEDULE OF EVENTSDecember 24, 25, & 28
Church Offices Closed for Christmas Holidays Wednesday, December
23, activities are canceled.
December 279 a.m. Combined Worship | Lord’s Supper
Sunday School is canceled.January 1
Church Offices Closed for New Year’s Day Wednesday, December 30,
activities are canceled.
The Life Tree Project(to benefit Life Choices of North Central
Louisiana)
Month of DecemberLife Trees are located by Guest Services,
across from Missions Hub & the Gathering Space foyer.To
Participate: choose an ornament, purchase item listed on back, and
then return item and ornament to the box located by the Church
Office or donate to Life Choices at
loveliferuston.com.
In accordance with IRS regulations, contributions for 2020 must
physically be in the church’s possession OR postmarked by Thursday,
December 31.ALL contributions submitted on Friday, January 1,
2021,
will appear on 2021 contribution statements.
-
This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love when people
are still basking in the goodness of Thanksgiving and looking
forward with excitement to Christmas. It’s an amazing thing to be
eating Thanksgiving leftovers and listening to Christmas music –
especially when those leftovers include Vickie Nugent’s crawfish
dressing!
As I’ve thought about what I’m thankful for in this strange
year, there are lots of easy answers when I think of my family.
When I think of my church family, I’m always thankful for the
amazing Sunday School teachers who volunteer their time and energy
to minister to teenagers. Our youth Sunday School teachers really
are the best. They genuinely love students and eagerly lead them
closer to God every chance they get. If you know a teenager who
needs to experience genuine and Godly community, send them to one
of our Sunday School classes.
Thanksgiving reminds me of what I’ve received, and Christmas
makes me think of what I can give. One thing I’m determined to give
to students this year is our Princess & Warrior Weekend. Covid
has ruined lots of things, but we’re going to find a way to have
our most impactful event of the year. Right now we’re planning on
using Southland Christian Camp to host our retreat, but we’re
constantly monitoring all the circumstances and have some other
plans in place if we need to change things up. We’ve got amazing
leaders ready to come in and teach teenagers what the Bible has to
say about things like absolute truth, relationships, God’s will,
mental health, racism, relationships with parents, and much more.
Teenagers need Biblical answers for these tough questions, and I’m
looking forward to giving them the opportunity to see what God has
to say to them through Princess & Warrior Weekend. You can sign
up and get more info about Princess & Warrior Weekend at
PWW.templebcstudents.org.
the family of June Young, mother of Kay (Gene) Lueg, grandmother
of Carmen Lueg;
the family of Linda Echols, mother of Amy (Shannon) Allen and
Shane (Carmen) Echols,
grandmother of Katie and Jack Echols.
Temple’s Newest Membership Candidate
Brooklynn Bissell
Youth MinistryYouth MinistryJohn Nugent
-
THE TIDINGSGOD’S MISSION FOR TEMPLE BAPTIST CHURCH IS TO LOVE
HIM FULLY AND FOLLOW HIM FAITHFULLY.
THE TIDINGS (USPS #020005), Published Weekly except Christmas
by:Temple Baptist Church, Periodical Postage Paid, Ruston, LA
71270
Postmaster send address changes to:Temple Baptist Church, 1515
South Service Road West, Ruston, LA 71270
Phone: (318) 255-3745 • Fax: (318) 255-0134Website:
temple.life
THE TIDINGSLabel here
Core Values: Authoritative Truth • Strengthening Worship
Authentic Community • Intentional TransformationHands-On
Missions • Relational Evangelism
Compassionate Servanthood
Vision: To become authentic, loving followers of Jesus,
who are experiencing life transformation through God’s Word, For
the purpose of impacting our world.
Week-at-a-GlanceSouth LA Church Rebuild Mission Trip ~ December
9-12
Sunday, December 6 (March for Missions/Lottie Moon Offering)9
a.m. - Blended Worship (Sanctuary); livestream at live.temple.life
(Blended Worship); the gathering Worship (GS); Sunday School for
all ages10:30 a.m. - the gathering Worship | Baptism (Sanctuary);
livestream at live.temple.life (the gathering Worship); Sunday
School for all ages4 p.m. - Christmas Program Rehearsal
(Sanctuary)5 p.m. - The Springs Worship (Outside at The
Springs)
Tuesday, December 810 a.m. - Senior Adult Bible Study
(Sanctuary)6 p.m. - Women’s Cookie Decorating Fellowship (FH)7:30
p.m. - Upward Coaches Meeting (FLC)
Wednesday, December 95:45 p.m. - Children’s M3 (Missions)
Christmas Party (JP); Junior High Worship (Youth Rm)6 p.m. - Prayer
Meeting/Bible Study (Sanctuary); livestream at live.temple.life;
The Springs Bible Study (Springs Sanctuary); livestream at
live.thesprings.life (The Springs Worship); 6:30 p.m. - Temple
College Freshman Bible Study (GS)7 p.m. - Senior High Worship
(Youth Rm)8 p.m. - Midweek (Sanctuary)
Thursday, December 1012 p.m. - Myrtle King Lunch Bunch (FH -
Speaker: Chelsea Cole, HISET)2 p.m. - GriefShare (Rm 76)
How can we help? Our staff is here to serve. You can
contact them by calling the Church Office (255-3745)!
We are navigating unprecedented times, but we believe our God is
still in control and can use us to share the Gospel in creative and
powerful ways!
Church family, we LOVE you and are here to serve you!
Broadcast Hours: Sundays: 9 a.m. Channel 11 (KAQY); 9 and 10:30
a.m. livestream (live.temple.life)Family Life Center Hours: Monday,
Tuesday, & Thursday: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Wednesday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.;
Friday: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.