December 2014 Volume 25 Issue 12

Story. We all have one, and at SBC we have been focusing on telling our stories, because they all lead back to HIS story. The greatest story ever told!

Christmas Dinner Celebration Friday, December 5th at 7pm and Saturday, December 6th at 6pm

Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for child. Join us for a musical celebration of the Christmas season, led by our Praise Choir and

various ensembles. The dinner will include a slow-roasted stuffed pork loin, country green beans, mashed

potatoes, baked apples, roll, dessert, and drink. The last day to buy tickets will be Sunday, November 30th, so make sure to purchase those

as soon as you can! Call 722-5246 for more details.

Jesus gave us the example of initiating and engaging Zacchaeus and the Woman at the Well in life-changing conversations. We have many guests coming to our church to hear the life-changing

message of Jesus. At a minimum, we can initiate and engage these guests in genuine friendship and care.

My heart is thankful and encouraged to see some of our family being welcoming, friendly, hospitable and kind to our guests. Con-versely, I'm saddened to see some guests sit in worship or Sunday School and few people reach out to them with the love of Christ. Jesus wants us to develop a heart and atmosphere of genuine care for our guests. We know that the love that Jesus showed us should be a pattern of every expression of love we have for one another.

We have experienced many new guests since beginning two worship services. Some have come because the early time allows them to worship and then go to work. I have received two notes and 2 comments in two weeks giving appreciation for us offering the early worship time.

Some guests have come as a result of your invitation. I am inspired when you host them by sitting with them and introducing them to your friends from church. I love it when you help them get acclimated to a new church, new people, new small groups, and new friends. What is our Christian responsibility to these guests? What does God expect of His church in discipling them? How can we prepare to take care of the people God wants us to minister to?

Pray that God will help us to worship Him in spirit and truth. Show genuine care and friendliness to our guests by inviting them to sit with us in worship and Sunday School. Invite new guests to our Sunday School classes and LifeGroups. Help their children get adjusted by encouraging involvement in children and youth ministries. Volunteer to help with outreach and care ministry in your Sunday School class. Help begin a new Sunday School class for 50's or 60's. Invite new guests out for lunch after church to get to know them. Volunteer to serve in ministry opportunities on Sunday mornings.

Each of us will have a preference to worship at either 8:30am or 11am. I encourage you to dedicate yourself to worship, ministry and fellowship in the worship service that you attend. Let's expect each worship service to be Spirit-filled. Let's work to insure our Sunday School classes and worship services are friendly and welcoming.

Most importantly, I want to thank you for your obedience in following our Lord's command to "tell the good news that Jesus saves sinners." It's doing our part, taking as many people with us to heaven that we can. Let's be obedient to God's call on our lives to make disciples who make disciples. We bring Him glory by reaching out and leading our family and friends to Jesus as Lord. Steve

Pastor’s Pen

Have you found yourself needing a handyman? … electrician?

… pet or baby sitter? Beginning in January we will list the are-

as of service which are offered by our church family. SBC is not

guaranteeing quality of service but is just offering a connection

point for you to make a contact and give you the opportunity to support your church family. Also,

please bear in mind that using our new Church Connections ministry does not mean that you will

receive free or reduced cost services. We invite you to participate by listing your name, area of

service, and contact information. You can contact Angie at 722-5246 ext.106 or by email at

angie@simpsonvillebaptist.com to be added to the Connections list which will be included in our

newsletters.

December Birthdays

1 Tim Renfro

2 Shana Crain, Brian Straub

4 Ben Griffin, Rhonda Jones

5 Karen Stumbo

6 Andrew Cline, Tony Sanford, Stanley Sheehan

7 Katya Manna, Peter Shin

10 Lillian Brewer

11 Violet Casey, Christy McEldowney

12 Al Poulter

13 Ruth Phillips, Taylor Royse

14 Amy Griggs, Ian Wyatt

15 Linda Kerr, Darlene Magallon

18 Abbe Henkel, Beverly Nash

19 Jeri Bunch, Emily Royse

20 Ryan Metcalf, Troy Phillips, Brad Renfro

21 Stanalee Gowin, Jamie McEldowney, Mary Shin

22 Zac Goldsmith, Denise Logue, John Metcalf,

Mike Waterman

24 J. Lowe, Ann Purnell

25 Cherissa Eden, Bob Gordon, Jody Jones

27 Darlene Noble, Ed Ragan

29 Jim Pruitt

31 Eusebio Barrera

Don’t see your name? Or your birthday is incorrectly listed? Let us know and we will add you. Contact angie@simpsonvillebaptist.com

or 722-5246 ext.18

Salvation Army Bell Ringing Saturday, December 13

Wal Mart RX side only

Sign up in the foyer to ring the bell for one-hour intervals. We need

2 people per time slot.

Address

Directories

We have placed

address directories in

the foyer of the FLC to

aide you in writing your

Christmas card list. Please note that these are not

pictorial directories as they only contain the

contact information for our church family.

If you prefer to have a directory emailed, please

contact Angie at angie@simpsonvillebaptist.com.

December 21 No afternoon activities

December 24 Church office closes at 12pm

December 25 Church office closed

December 28 No afternoon activities

December 31 Church office closes at 12pm

January 1 Church office closed

Wednesday, December 24 5pm

Homebound Evelyn Clark - 7105 Shelbyville Rd., Simpsonville 722-8885 Nellie Garrison - P.O. Box 152, Simpsonville 722-5248 Liddie Harper - 110 Cardinal Dr., Simpsonville Bea Magallon - Hometown Manor, 74 Mack Walters Rd Shelbyville Emma Lipman - 55 Iroquois, Shelbyville 633-2416 Bill McCubbins - 91 North Shelby House, Shelbyville

Libby Oldham - Masonic Home, 711 Frankfort Rd., Shelbyville

Lydia Phillips - 53 Iroquois Dr., Shelbyville 633-4413. Jimmy Carpenter - Amber Oaks 156 Haven Hill Rd Shelbyville

Remember

our

homebound

members this

Christmas

with a visit,

phone call or

card!

Did You Know? We have been greatly blessed to receive a

donation of 12 security cameras and their

installation from Phil Noble and Andy

Windhorst. They have been placed in

strategic areas both inside and outside of both buildings.

A security feed runs 24 hours a day in both the church office and

the Adventure Club office.

Phil Andy

On behalf of the properties team we would like to take a minute and

share with everyone all of the areas of the church that we have been able

to remodel in the last 3 years. Our church has been blessed with the

ability to remodel all of the following areas in the old building.

Renovation and updating of the youth area in the basement adding a college

and career class room.

A total transformation of the Chapel, including a restored wooden floor,

painting and carpeting.

Complete remodel of the restrooms in the hallway behind the Chapel.

Added the reception area, new flooring, a new door, and painting in the

entry foyer of the church offices. (Picture at right)

A new roof on the fellowship hall and the east side of the Chapel.

Added the new electronic sign.

Remodeled the restrooms in the staff hallway.

Applied tinting to windows in the staff foyer and Fellowship Hall.

Resealed and added visitor and handicap parking in the parking lot.

And last but not least, we will be replacing the flooring in the fellowship hall and kitchen and painting the area before the end of

the year.

So as you can see, we have had a very blessed few years that have allowed us to be good stewards of GOD’S buildings and keep them

looking nice and pleasing to our members and guests. We look forward to the upcoming year and the ability to maintain and update

other areas within our church. Ronnie Sowder, Team Leader

Three year

report

Several weeks ago Pastor Steve let me share with him the vision we have at th Ken-tucky Baptist Convention for Tell Your Story. He enthusiastically agreed to allow Simpsonville BC to be a part of it. I shared in the message the following simple out-line for writing out a personal testimony: My life before I encountered Jesus. How I encountered Jesus. My life since I encountered Jesus. As reminder, we're asking every member to write their story in one page or less and then challenging you to share your story with at least one person, every day for an entire year. After you write out your story, we encourage you to make an audible recording of it at www.tellyourstory.today. Once your story goes live, you will have your own unique URL which will allow you to share it in a variety of different ways. I have pro-vided a link to my story to show you how easy it is! http://bit.ly/andymky1

Andy McDonald

Goodtime Travelers Our Goodtime Travelers enjoyed

lunch at Huber’s in Indiana

recently. This Senior Adult group is

led by Bill and Alice Wells. Weather

permitting, the group meets

monthly for lunch

and short day trips.

We have a new logo!

Doulos is the greek word for "servant" and our vision statement for our Student Ministry is “Serve God. Serve the Church. Serve the World.” Our theme verse is Galatians 1:10.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Baptism

Celebration Sunday, December 7

in the Chapel

immediately

following the 11am

worship service.

Autumn Leppert,Ty Foree, Alexis Sailings,

Will Cline, Alex Cline, Elli Cline.

Parent

Discipleship Training Sunday, January 4

5-7pm

Guest Speaker

Roger Palmer

Crossings Center for Youth Ministry

God has called parents to be the primary spiritual leaders in their

children's lives in line with Deuteronomy 6. Our calling within the

Student Ministry is to equip parents to serve in this role and to

come alongside you all to encourage you and exhort you in this

monumental task of leading your children in the ways of the Lord.

Dinner is Provided! Please sign up in the FLC foyer.

Parents and their students are strongly encouraged to attend.

Parents of children are also invited and children will participate in a

special program.

X-Fuge on Mission in Charleston, SC

July 20-25th

$50 deposits are due January 4th.

Cost: $298 plus transportation and lodging.

UNASHAMED

January 16-18

Guest Speaker

Josh Holland

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 AT 5:30PM

Ugly Sweater Contest

Bring a white elephant gift under $10.

Discipleship begins on Sunday, January 11 at 5:30pm

Can We Really Trust The Bible?

What a joy it has been to be on board at SBC as Interim Children’s Minister this past month! I have enjoyed getting to meet many of you, and look forward to partnering in ministry with you in the days ahead. Please feel free to contact me anytime if I may help minister

to you or your children.

As we have transitioned to two worship services, I would like to say a special word of THANKS to Kari Jesse for her hard work and efforts in providing Elementary Children’s Church training for many of our leaders! SBC is blessed to have many volunteers leading our children in AWANA, Sunday school, Preschool and Elementary Children’s church, and on Wednesday nights! As we move forward, please watch for dates regarding a Preschool Children’s Church training and an Appreciation Lunch for all of our preschool and

children’s Sunday School Teachers. Carla Greenway

Wednesday, December 10 at 6:15pm Featuring Special Guest

Christian Magician “Mr. Bud” All children, Kindergarten-5th grade and their parents, and ALL preschool and children’s ministry leaders are

invited to this event! Come and celebrate the Christmas season with a night of fun, fellowship, and EXCITING Christian entertainment!

Kids Summer Camp

July 26-29th Cost: $265 per child

Non-refundable $75 deposits are due by Sunday, January 11.

Male and female chaperones will be needed!

Weather Related Cancellations

With winter upon us we would like to remind you of ways that

you can check for weather related service cancellations.

You may watch WHAS, WLKY, or WAVE 3 weather

cancellations.

You may check our website: simpsonvillebaptist.com.

If school is cancelled on Wednesday, we will cancel Wednesday evening ministries.

Would you like to share your blessings and provide Christmas dinner for a family in need?

Please sign up in the lobby of the FLC and indicate the size of the family you would like to help.

Boxes should include: 1 turkey or turkey breast or ham, 1 box instant potatoes 1 pkg dressing mix, 1/2 gal milk, 1 jar cranberry sauce 1 container of butter or margarine, 2 cans green beans, 2 cans corn 1 pkg/jar of gravy, 1 pkg 12 ct rolls, 1 ready-made pie (Optional: 1 turkey pan) Estimated cost: $35 During the weekend before Christmas each family will be asked to personally deliver their box.

Serving our Community

Friday, December 19

Saturday, December 20

The Live Nativity has become a

community event and will be held at

Metzger’s Country Store.

Discipleship

In a recent study, the Barna Research Group revealed a stunning statistic that continues to reverberate throughout the evangelical world. Only 9 percent of professing Christians have a biblical worldview.

Because of this, today's believers live very similarly to non-believers. A personal sense of significance is rarely experi-enced, we spend our money and time on things that fail to satisfy and we begin to wonder what life's ultimate pur-pose really is. We are, in short, losing our bearings as a people and a nation. To counter this slide within the body of Christ, Focus on the Family has launched one of the most ambitious and powerful projects in their ministry - The Truth Project.

The Truth Project is a DVD-based small group curriculum comprised of 13 one-hour lessons taught by Dr. Del Tackett. This study is the starting point for looking at life from a biblical perspective. Each lesson discusses in great detail the relevance and importance of living the Christian worldview in daily life.

We believe this one project represents the possibility for exponential change within the body of Christ; millions have been transformed by this curriculum. As it has been throughout history, God continues to call ordinary people to make an eternal difference in our world.

We invite you to be a part of this cultural change by participating in this new class.

Sign up in the foyer of the Family Life Center.

Begins Sunday, January 11

at 5:30pm

Facilitator: Israel Snider

Missions

“Youth at Risk" English Camp

July 15-28, 2015

Adults, including college students (minimum age is

18), are needed this summer in Ukraine to lead an English Camp for "Youth at Risk” and conduct a 2-

day Evangelistic Service Project to an unreached village with the gospel. Mike, Judy and Katya Manna

are leading this trip through a partnership with Ukraine Youth for Christ.

First, the team will lead an English evangelistic camp for the 40 “Youth at Risk” centers located in

churches throughout Ukraine. We will be providing a free camp for approximately fifty 14-18 year old

youth who would not be able to afford to go to any camp. Most of the students will be non-Christians.

We will use the Bible as our English textbook.

Following the English camp, we will conduct a second ministry. We will be leading a two-day Village

Evangelism Project to the village of Hornostaivka in the Northern region of Ukraine. There are no

churches within 30 miles of this village. This is the area where Katya Manna lived before she was

adopted. This will be a follow-up to 3 previous trips made to these villages for the past 3 summers. We

will also be working with Samaritans Purse Ukraine and the regional Baptist churches. The goal is that

through relationship building and evangelism we can help a Ukrainian couple start a weekly home

Bible study in Hornostaivka, which will eventually lead to a church.

The trip cost is $3,000 per person.

To download an application and

information packet for this

mission’s trip, go

to yfclouisville.com/world-link.

You can contact the trip leader

Mike Manna by phone at

502-424-7939 or

m.manna@yfclouisville.com with

any questions. Applications are

due with $150 deposit by

January 15th.

Service Opportunity at Victory Baptist Church Victory Baptist Church in Shelbyville has multiple weekly ministries that are carried out

for the community. These ministries allow us to serve the needy, low income, and homeless

individuals.

They are in a time of transition and are in need of more help. Recently, the leadership, for

both the Food Pantry and the Clothes Closet, has decided to step down at the end of the year. At

this time, they are seeking and praying for the Lord’s direction.

If you are interested in volunteering or possibly leading one of these two ministries, you can contact Victory

Baptist Church at vbcshelbyville@gmail.com or 502-232-5328. If you are contacting by email, please put in the subject

line Clothes Closet or Food Pantry.

As VBC enters into this new season, please be in prayer for these two ministries. But, even more importantly,

please pray for the people that they minister to. Many of them still do not have a saving relationship with Christ, and we

pray that their hearts would be open and receptive to God’s salvation.

The Nations Visited SBC

By: Ashley Boyd

If there is anything I love equally as spending every day with people from around the globe, it is introducing others

to the beauty of diversity. When my international students from Campbellsville University’s Louisville campus

repeatedly told me how much they enjoy practicing their English with native speakers and how interested they are in

American culture, I saw an opportunity. So on October 25, the nations came to Simpsonville Baptist Church.

Twelve international students and their family members

came to Shelby County for an afternoon of fellowship

and fall fun. Several SBC church members made home-

made American food, and we had a southern potluck

lunch together. This was the first homemade meal that

the students had had since moving here to study. The

church members got to know the students over lunch and

then helped them carve their first Jack O’Lanterns. To

complete the afternoon, we drove out to George and

Evelyn Harp’s beautiful farm where we went on a

hayride. The international students continue to talk

about that afternoon and the hospitality that they

received from the members of SBC.

These students are from Colombia, Venezuela, Vietnam,

South Korea, Jordan, and Jerusalem; they are Muslim, Christian, Catholic, Buddhist, and some students claim no

religion. I intentionally requested that this not be an evangelical event. Because there were so many firsts for the

students on this day, the goal was simply for the students to feel loved and welcomed. They felt that and since have

been initiating open religious dialogue in class. Students want to share what they believe and ask questions about

what they don’t understand in others’ beliefs.

God is definitely at work here. My hope after

this afternoon at SBC is that the international

students will be drawn to the love of Christ

through His church and that the church will

seek and minister to the people who are in a

foreign land. International students typically

stay at the same university for multiple se-

mesters or years, so there is potential to devel-

op and grow relationships with them. We can

be there when the Spirit leads them to the

truth of Jesus Christ.

By this everyone will know that you are my

disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35

A record-breaking $154 million was collected for the 2013 Lottie Moon

Christmas Offering, thanks to the gener-ous giving of Southern Baptists to inter-

national missions. The amount given was $4.8 million more than the previous

year. Let’s join with other churches across the nation to continue answering the call to give. Every dollar donated to the offering goes directly to help fund our missionaries who share the love of

Jesus all over the world. By giving to the

offering, each of us plays a key role in the work God is doing to expand His

kingdom.

CHURCH GOAL

$6,000

LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING

FOR NORTH AMERICAN MISSIONS

Thank you to everyone who supported Melissa Brendemuehl through our love offering and benefit meal. We raised $2,000 which will meet her needs for one month.

If you would like to help support Melissa on a monthly or quarterly basis, you can fill out a sponsorship form located in the Mission Cove and submit it to the Finance Office.

Due to our church privacy rules, the support team for Melissa does not know any of the names of the people who contributed on November 2nd - the banquet and celebration of Melissa's mission. We are NOT concerned about the amount, but we do want to include all of the supporters in our existing database so we can send you quarterly news from Melissa in Honduras and keep you advised of what she is specifically doing in service for the Lord.

We will not share this list with anyone, so if you want to be included, please e-mail Charlie Wallace or Amy Griggs and we promise not to overdo it! Thank you again especially for your prayers and monetary support! Charlie Wallace

Our Crafts for Christ group has been

working for all year to prepare some

really cute crafts for our recent Christ-

mas Craft Fair. In conjunction with the

chili supper they made $2,100 to help

support our 2015 missions opportunities. Thanks to everyone

that helped and donated chili and desserts.

December 2014 1 2 3

10am Prayer Group

6:15pm Choir

Children’s

Discipleship

Student Worship

4 5

7pm Christmas

Dinner Musical

6

6pm Christmas

Dinner Musical

7 Lord’s Supper

8:30am Worship

9:45am Sunday School

11am Worship

12pm Baptism

1pm Hispanic Worship

4pm Deacon Meeting

5:30pm AWANA

Student Discipleship

8 9 10

10am Prayer Group

6:15pm Children’s

Ministry Christmas

Celebration

Student Worship

11 12 13

8am Christmas

Village

9am–9pm

Salvation Army

Bell Ringing at

WalMart

14

8:30am Worship

9:45am Sunday School

11am Worship

1pm Hispanic Worship

5:30 pm AWANA

Student Christmas

Party

15 16 17

10am Prayer Group

18 19

Live Nativity

20

Live Nativity

21

8:30am Worship

9:45am Sunday School

11am Worship

1pm Hispanic Worship

& Christmas Party

No evening activities

22 23 24

12pm Church office

closed

5pm Christmas Eve

Service

25

Merry Christmas

Church office

closed

26 27

28

8:30am Worship

9:45am Sunday School

11am Worship

1pm Hispanic Worship

No evening activities

29 30 31

12pm Church office

closed

Simpsonville Baptist Church PO Box 56 Simpsonville, KY 40067

We will be sponsoring a Christmas Village Toy Store on December 13 where families can come by invitation only and shop for new toys at a discounted price. We will start the day out for the families by providing coffee and doughnuts and ending their shopping experience with gift wrapping their purchases. We are asking you to help provide a dignified Christmas shopping experience for the families by purchasing new toys for the Christmas Toy Store.

Saturday, December 13 8am-12pm

Toy donations can be taken to the Mission Cove.

Silent Auction This beautiful 7 piece outdoor dinette set

has been donated by Brown Jordon to help raise funds for the toy store. Bids will be accepted in the Mission Cove through the end of worship on Sunday, December 7

The winner will be contacted that afternoon.