March 19th, 2001
At First Baptist we believe we are called out to embody a distinct witness. We seek to be a community in which any participants will come to experience a connection with Jesus. A connection that will satisfy all spiritual hunger by providing meaning and purpose for life and all the difficulties and challenges we face in it. A connection that will allow each of us to begin to answer the question, "what do I experience and understand about Jesus that the world cannot live without," no matter where we are in our individual spiritual pilgrimage. As a result of this connection and the resulting commitment to Jesus and the subsequent gift of the Holy Spirit, we hope all participants will come to enjoy the fruits of the spirit, that is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
To say it another way. When we connect with Jesus and surrender to the God he made known and thus defined, the result is an inner serenity of spirit, a capacity for healthy and real relations with others and a creative concern for the world around us and for all neighbors, near and far.
This achieved we purposely seek to reach out in his name to encourage all in their individual spiritual pilgrimage and invite them into companionship with the Body of Jesus Christ.
At the same time, with our committed company of companions we each seek to deepen our individual faith and hope, grow in awareness of self and mission, and share love with all, including any complete strangers. For if we can with the guidance of the spirit bring abundant life to others, we too will then have abundant life.
If any of these are your goals, join us in a united journey of faith and service.
Past Weeks Thoughts: