We will have our first Congregational Meeting of the year Wednesday evening, February 8, at 6:30 PM. We have four meetings each year for the purpose of providing accountability, making decisions which only the Congregation can make, and providing important information to the congregation.

If possible, we need you to be present.

Here are two important decisions which the congregation must make:

First, we will hear a recommendation from the Personnel Ministry Team to call Maggie Fredericks as our Children’s Minister effective immediately or as soon as feasible.

Second, we will hear a recommendation from the Strategy Planning Team concerning usage of funds from our Forward Capital Campaign. To date, we have received commitments of $4,503,000.

The SPT requests authorization to use $2,400,000 on six broad categories: landscaping, a new plan for the Steeple Foyer, interior, exterior, and monumental signage, furniture and fixtures, choir seating, and renovation of preschool and children’s classrooms for use by adults. The remaining $2 million will be kept in reserve for the time being.

Here is an item of time sensitive information for the congregation:

The fifteen acres adjacent to our property to the west has been bought by a company with the intention of building a facility for assisted and independent living. The facility will be tailored for our church family to provide a home for our members and their families in close proximity to FBC. The facility will be “Baptist friendly.”

We believe this holds great promise for our families. For this reason, we will make a brief introduction of the company and their intentions at the meeting.

Thank you for loving our church and serving Christ and our community. We look forward to seeing you Wednesday night.

Each weekend I write a column for my local church called Lagniappe. I’ve done this without fail for the last 27 years. It is my attempt to give the church “a little extra” information about the church.