When We Look into the Manger…We Have to Smile!

By Tony Tench What is the usual reaction when someone sees a baby? We smile! We just can’t help it. If you see a baby coming in a stroller, or bundled up in a parent’s hug, you look and you smile. No one ever stops to look at a baby with a frown or a […]

When It’s a “Blue” Christmas

ur FBC Faith and Health Ministry Team would like for our church family to be aware of the signs and concerns about depression.  It is real and it has an impact on the lives of our friends and neighbors as well as family members and even ourselves! Sometimes depression is on us before we know […]

“Need to Know” about Treasures

By Tony Tench The church where our daughter and her family serve the Lord have a phrase they use each week in the children’s classes. They point the kids to the day’s “need to know” — it’s the focal point of the daily lesson from the Bible. So, over these few years we have often […]

Revival Reflections: What Have You Heard God Saying?

First Baptist Church Shelby steeples

Re·viv·al – improvement, activation, reawakening, restoration! All of these words live in the definitions of what “revival” is all about when it is underway.  They are words that characterize the movement of God to speak to our hearts about the life of faith before us as a congregation and as individual Christ Followers: The “improvement” of […]

Sweeeeeet….

…..Potatoes! And, white potatoes too! Regardless of the type and the time of year they are harvested, the ministry of the Cleveland County Potato Project has been a sweeeeet blessing to the people of our community. Co-founded by Doug Sharp, Bill Horn and the Holy Spirit, the Cleveland County Potato Project came into being in […]

Vespucia, Vespucia — God shed His grace on Thee….Wait what?

By Tony Tench on July 4, 2019 On the birthday of our nation we proudly sing, “Vespucia, Vespucia, God shed his grace on Thee…” Wait, what? Of course that’s not right, we sing of “America!” But, it could have been Vespucia. Either way, I am glad our continent carries this name! Two hundred and forty-three […]

“What is it? — a VBS Reflection

By Tony Tench Community Vacation Bible School has been a great time of learning for children, as well as a timely reminder for all of us as we have served together. This year’s theme has brought us to an African game preserve where being in the presence of “wild life” has taught us to “roar” […]

Revival is Coming!

Sermon Synopsis: Eduardo Steibel, preaching on May 26, 2019 Consider “Revival” this morning! Revival comes when we surrender ourselves to the Holy Spirit. Revival is our commitment to seek God’s Kingdom in the very, very first place of our lives. Think about the rooms of a house being listed for sale. If the house’s owner […]

“Blessing” in Any Language– ESL Celebration 2019

Though we have missed our Director, Cindy Canoy, due to illness this semester, our faithful team of teachers and encouragers have met each Monday since January to teach English to our Cleveland County neighbors who have come from around the world. Flavored by wonderful international foods prepared by our students and featuring their grateful words […]