We are in the midst of building a Habitat house for Hannah Abebe. She is so delightful and appreciative. It's not too late for you to be part of the build. Contact Mike White at whitex3@bellsouth.net.

There will be block parties in the Habitat neighborhood on the Saturdays of the build. If you would like to assist with one of those please contact Diane Parish at 664-6007 or
diane.parish@firstbaptistnashville.org.

A third service opportunity is in regards to disaster relief. We are having an orientation and information gathering meet-ing on October 7 at 4 P.M.

There will be a number of training opportunities upcoming at our place and elsewhere to help all of us be better pre-pared and to be available to help others in case of disaster. Be sure and get on the list to be kept informed. There will also be a link from the FBC website in the coming weeks regarding our disaster relief ministry.

Finally, FBC is working with the Church of the Messiah to hold a neighborhood medical clinic. It will be at their church at the corner of Lafayette and Charles Davis Blvd. from October 25 - 27. A meeting is scheduled for September 16 at 4:30 P.M. in the chapel to further the possibilities of our involvement. We already have several doctors, nurses, eyeglass specialists, counselors, and others on board. Child care, food and hospitality will be needed. Please come this Sunday if you are interested.

During the month of September, each member of First Baptist Nashville is encouraged to nominate fellow church members to serve as deacons beginning January 1, 2008. Church members with computer access may submit nomina-tions online by using the link sent to their email address on September 1. Online nominations will be accepted until
Saturday, September 22.

Nomination forms are also available in several locations around the church and should be completed and placed in a nomination box no later than Sunday noon, September 23. If you have questions about the nomination process, contact Kim Hester, 664-6010; questions about online nominations, contact Lacy Tite at 664-6006 or lacy.tite@firstbaptistnashville.org.

If you use the online nomination process, please do not submit a paper nomination.

In 1964 - 1965, I was serving in the Navy on a destroyer home-ported in Norfolk. My immediate supervisor was Jerry; he was Jewish and from New York. I was a Southern Baptist from East Tennessee. Needless to say, we had little in common, but we became friends and corresponded with each other after we left active duty.

Jerry came to Nashville a couple of times on business and visited in our home. He is now retired and living in West Virginia. Of all the people I was praying for, I have to confess I thought he was the least likely to become a Christian. About four years ago, he sent me an email to let me know that he had become a Christian and had joined a Methodist church. His son had become a Christian years earlier. Conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit, and my role in this process was minimal, but I kept praying for Jerry's salvation.

It may take 40 years, but don't stop praying and sharing! I encourage you to continue praying for family members, friends, co-workers and others who haven't yet come to faith in Christ. Keep them in prayer and stay in communication with them so opportunities may open for you to give a testimony or share a gospel presentation. In the paraphrased words of Sir Winston Churchill, "Never, never, never, never, give up!"

Editor's Note: You may have a similar testimony about the power of prayer, the power of sharing your faith, and how God is working or has worked in your life. Please share it! We like to share the good news about Impacting Lives for Christ in our world! Email us your story today--lori.towns@firstbaptistnashville.org.

Come join us for a Saturday morning stroll with your friends from First Baptist! What better way is there for fellowship than a nice relaxing walk.

This fall we'll be walking one of Nashville's best greenways, the Crockett Park/Concord Rd Greenway in Brentwood--it's a mostly flat, "there and back" trail of 5.2 miles (walk as much of this as you choose)

Bring the kids. Bring the dogs. Walk. Run. Bike. Have fun! Good for your heart, good for your soul!

We will meet at the trailhead adjoining the Brentwood YMCA parking lot at 9 A.M. on October 6.

First Walk, with First Baptist friends, on the first Saturday of October, first thing in the morning...First Walk!

Citizens in the Kingdom of God

Sundays, 5 – 7 P.M., Room 370
Tyler and Natalie Wigg-Stevenson, leaders

In this 10 week long course we will explore together the Kingdom of God. What is it? What does it mean to be a member of it? What do the Old and New Testaments have to say about the Kingdom? What does Jesus mean in all those mysterious parables about it? And how should our understanding of God’s Kingdom, and our citizenship in it, impact the way we live as disciples—culturally, politically, financially, spiritually, interpersonally—today? Each session will involve a presentation, discussion, personal sharing, reflection, and worship together.

Winter Grace

Sundays, 5 – 7 P.M., Fellowship Hall
Roger Thiele, leader

Winter Grace, a study of spirituality and aging led by Roger Thiele, will meet in Fellowship Hall. This wonderful consideration of a sense of possibility in the midst of limitations will be a great experience for all of us. The basis for the seminar is the book Winter Grace by Kathleen Fischer, published by Upper Room Books of Nashville.

Each fall, many new college students come to First Baptist Nashville in search of a church home away from home. These students always provide a fresh energy and perspective, and they offer an amazing connection to the Nashville community. We invite you to get to know these spectacular individuals by participating in our “Adopt-a-Student” program. We will help you get acquainted with a student and support you through an ongo-ing relationship that will be a blessing to both you and the student. To sign up, please contact Bonnie Holmes at 664-6008 or bonnie.holmes@firstbaptistnashville.org.

We are proud grandparents of five wonderful children. If you're a grandparent--whether of one or ten--you know the joys this title brings!

This is a monumental year in our family. Our oldest grandchild, Emily, is beginning her senior year; our youngest, Macy, is starting kindergarten.

The preschool years have been filled with many fun activities: making chocolate chip cookies, painting, making home-made playdough, music activities, observing many "shows" of music and dance, pretend play, going to the park, and reading tons of books! How delightful these experiences have been!

School has brought the joy of seeing them grow and develop physically (baseball, basketball, football, and soccer), socially (many friends), mentally (learning so many neat things--even computers), and above all spiritually. All our grandchildren except the youngest have become Christians. Joy!

Two years ago we took our two grandsons on a "heritage tour" to visit extended family and see where their grandfather grew up. They saw the farmland, the streams where Papa swam, the old school and church. They stood in awe watching their great aunt make biscuits from scratch--and then ate them! Wow! Learning about how things were when we grew up is an important part of their heritage.

Surely, grandchildren at every age are a great joy! They fill our hearts with love. Phone calls, letters, e-mails, and visits are important to keep connected and to assure them of our love for them. But nothing is as important as our prayers for them!

Last spring when Macy finished preschool, I said, "Macy, I'm really going to be sad when you start to kindergarten."

"I know," she replied, "but, Mimi, you've just got to give me a chance!"

Yes, Macy, I must give you the chance God would want you to have, and I must encourage and pray every step of the way for God's plan to be worked out in the lives of all five of my precious grandchildren.

Winter Grace—Fellowship Hall
Citizens of the Kingdom—Room 360
Servant Warriors—Rec Center
Financial Peace—Room 140
A Woman’s Heart—Room 360
ParentSmart—Room 360
SMART for Students—Choir Room
Preschool & Children’s Activities

For more information about any of these opportunities, please call 664-6001.