June, 2013

Dear Church Member,

It is hard to believe that summer is here! Where did the Spring go? Is it me, or does time seem to be flying by? I think Easter Sunday, beginning two services, and our Bible Conference really made things speed up lately. Speaking of our 8:30 Worship Service, we had our highest attendance this past week on Memorial Day weekend! We broke the one hundred mark with 101 in attendance. Praise the Lord! We averaged 301 for both services in the month of May. Rowina Turner also did an outstanding job with her testimony. You can truly see the hand of God on her throughout her recovery and she totally gives God the credit for sparing her life and being beside her all of the time. We pray that God will help us maintain our Sunday School and Worship attendance in both services throughout the summer months.

We will be starting a new Sunday School class this Sunday, June 2. It will be a couples class for people 60 or over. Bro. James Kirkpatrick has agreed to be the teacher and Joyce is going to help him. We have had several new couples ask us about an older couples class, so this will help meet that need. They will meet behind the Sunday School office at 9:45am. We hope that if you are in this age group and not attending Sunday School that you will prayerfully consider coming to this newly formed class. We are very excited about it.

Our Children’s Ministry is sponsoring a cook out and swim party at the Alma Water Park, on Saturday June 22^nd, from 5:00-9:00 p.m. We will begin with a picnic of hamburgers and hot dogs then have the water park all to ourselves from 6- 9:00p.m. If you just want to eat, then that is ok. Those that want to swim, we are asking everyone to wear a shirt over their swimsuit. Modesty is a must in fellowships like these. There will be a sign-up sheet out front for those who will be eating with us. This will help us with how many to prepare for and what you can bring. Hope you will join us for this first ever Children’s Ministry sponsored all church fellowship.

Our Mission Trip to Nicaragua is less than a month away. They have been working hard trying to raise enough money to go. With passports, shots, and other items, it costs them around $500.00 to go. Because we have 19 going this year, they are about $5,000.00 short of the needed money for everyone to go. It seems like a lot but they already have $24,026.83. This Sunday, June 2^nd, we will have love offering envelopes out to try to raise the rest of the money needed for everyone going to Nicaragua. Would you please pray about what God might lead you to do in Missions giving? It is truly for a great cause and a great investment in a wonderful ministry. Last year we saw several saved and this year we plan to do even more for our Lord and Savior. Thank you so much for your support and consideration.

Speaking of giving, we appreciate all you do to support the ministries of our church. God has used you to help meet some huge needs in our church these past few months. Because of your generosity, we have been able to pay for a new roof, on the flat part of our building and have had the parking lot stripped without having to borrow money. As of Sunday, our general budget is still above $100,000.00 which is such a blessing. From the bottom of our heart “thank you” so much for being so faithful in giving to the work of God! Our future growth fund is over $186,000.00. Hallelujah! To God be the glory, great things He has done.

Please continue to pray for your church staff and our busy summer schedule. Specifically pray a hedge of protection around our church and our people. We do not want to give the devil any opportunity to slip into the wonderful things God is doing at Rye Hill Baptist Church. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer and in your attendance! You are what makes our church so special. May God bless you and your family. We hope to see you this Sunday. We love each and everyone of you!

In Christ,
Michael Franklin