will be offered
 

 8:30am-1pm.

More info will be in the bulletin with sign up in the lobby after the first of the year.

Contact Jeff West or Beth Cobb in the church office for more details or 

for updates!

            As we begin a new year I think it is helpful to remind ourselves of the many blessings and joys that we experienced as a church body in 2011. I know that the year will be remembered by many as a year of financial challenges in our nation, demonstrations in our parks, high unemployment in our economy and political rancor in Washington. Philippians 4:8-9, however, says, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." (Philippians 4:8, NIV) So, let's look back at the praiseworthy things God has brought to us this past year. 

At Family Church we have seen dozens of men and women, boys and girls come forward to profess their trust and faith in Jesus Christ. What a wonderful blessing it is to see lives changing in this way.

            Almost 60 people followed the Lord in water baptism in 2011.

            A 15% increase in Sunday morning worship attendance; significant weekly growth in our children's and youth ministry programs

Scripture - "As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! "When He saw them, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they were going, they were cleansed." (Luke 17:12-14)

Observation - Healing came in unsuspecting ways. On one occasion, Jesus would lay hands on the sick, and in another, He would make clay. In still another, Jesus simply spoke a word. But here he tells the lepers to stick plan to "A," to keep going forward, to go and show themselves to the priests.

You see, in those days the priests doubled as the health department of the state as well as the religion department. They were to continue with what was normal. Go to the priests and act as if they were already healed, to live as if they were kosher, cleansed, and restored ... even though there were yet symptoms of leprosy still poking out everywhere. So they complied, unsteady I'm sure at first, unsure of how they might be received by the

Priests when their disease was still obvious on their skin. And now the phrase: "And as they were going, they were cleansed."

Frank Stanton, born before the civil war in 1857, wrote a few stanzas that remind me to keep moving forward regardless of how it looks:

Happy New Year! 

We are so blessed and excited about what God will continue to do in 2012! We have multiple places for you to share your time and talent. Our 1st Touch ministries consist of Greeters, Ushers and the Welcome Desk. Our tech teams are made up of volunteers with great eyes and ears for video, sound, lighting, media shout and producing. We also have room for worship vocals, musicians, chorus, dance and the sign team...please let me know where we can plug you in? I look forward to having you on board...

Come join us as we grow, Larry

Happy New Year! The month of December was eventful as usual. The two weeks before Christmas, we had the opportunity to apply both the message of the children's Christmas play and Pastor Max's sermon on the Advent Conspiracy. Operation Jesus GIFT (Giving International Friends the Truth) was designed to help you impact the lives of others by giving a gift to someone in need. Free DVDs of the Jesus Film in MANY different languages is an important way to have a global impact from right here in Gainesville.

Christmas Mission Teams - In addition to the opportunities here in our own back yard, we had a small, four-member, short-term mission team travel to Brazil to minister to the boys at the New Horizons Youth Ranch. Another eight people from TFC went to Haiti to do medical ministry in partnership with "Hope on the Move." Lord willing, Rod Ingram will have a Family Church organized team to go to Haiti in the coming weeks to ministry with our partners "Mission Possible" in the village of La Hatte, to drill a well and engage in agricultural development. 

 
CLICK HERE TO READ ON

But made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.         -Philippians 2:7

The waiter breezed from table to table with graceful movements. He dropped off some bread here, picked up some plates there and snatched up a young child's fallen spoon from the carpeting.

"Need another napkin, Ma'am?" "Sir, is your food satisfactory?" "Let me refill that glass for you." No request was too menial or too demanding. He was completely focused on providing the best service he could. His eyes constantly surveyed the tables to see if anyone needed anything.

His sole purpose was to serve others. Their wants and needs were constantly on his mind. His personal desires were unimportant. 

The nature of a servant is to put others ahead of himself, and to humbly attend to their needs. Jesus showed us how to serve by becoming a servant himself. As servants of God, we are to gladly serve Him, and to serve those around us with His love.

  CLICK HERE FOR MEN'S UPCOMING EVENTS

One of the most powerful statements that I ever heard concerning my role as a father with daughters was, "my daughter's view of who her heavenly father is directly related to her view of her earthly father." WOW! Dad's we are putting together the first annual Daddy Daughter Dance to offer to you, a fantastic evening of fun and connection with your little girl(s). Whether they are toddlers, teens or middle-aged women providing you grandchildren, "Daddy" is a role that you will always have and that will always be important. The student ministry of TFC would like to invite all fathers with daughters to our first annual Daddy Daughter Dance on January 27th from 6:30-9pm. There will be a formal dinner, dancing, prizes and irreplaceable memories of an evening that you both will cherish. We hope that we will see you there...your princess is waiting.

-Pastor Mark

**FOR TICKETS-Call the church office at 332-6459 to purchase. Cost is $40/couple, $50/Dad + 2 daughters, $60 cap. Includes formal dinner, dancing, and PRIZES galore!!

CLICK HERE TO READ ON FOR MORE UPDATES