What a great night of fun and fellowship at our 2016 church-wide Valentine Banquet!  I have been told that this was our largest banquet yet, with close to 400 people in attendance.  It was nice to see church family and friends, and to meet new friends as well.  The meal was great, the games and discussion were entertaining, and the annual edition of "Staff Infection" lived up to expectations!!   We will soon have a video to share with you and look forward to reliving these moments!   Congratulations to Rodney and Gail Hicks, our new King and Queen!

To read the rest of Pastor Marc's From the Heart click HERE

In case  of inclement weather, we will post information on our WEB SITE, on the RBC Facebook page, and send out an email to let you know if any activities on our campus have been cancelled.




Here are the Growth Intensives that will be offered this Sunday afternoon, February 21.  Join us if you can.

The First Bible - A Survey of the Older Testament( Al Huffman)
A look at the purposes and themes of the books of the Old Testament that reveal the "Red Thread" which leads to the Messiah.  This Intensive will help you have a better understanding of God's purposes as revealed through the Scriptures written prior to the first coming of Jesus.
 
How To Study the Bible (Jarrod Gunn)
This Intensive will ask and answer the following questions:
  • How can you choose between so many Bible translations?
  • What are the steps to understanding, interpreting, and applying any passage of Scripture?
The goal of this course will be to teach you how to approach a text of Scripture and understand not only what it meant when it was written but what it means for us today.
 
Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask - Part 2 (Will Murrell)
This Intensive is designed to give you a primer on Christian apologetics. The course tackles some of the toughest questions that a Christian could be asked. Some examples:
  • Doesn't evolution mean that we have no need for God to exist?
  • Why trust the Bible when it's a book based on myths and is full of contradictions and mistakes?
Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People (Shay Reyner)
This Intensive will look at practical ways that believers over the centuries have found helpful to draw close to God. We will explore such things as the disciplines of pondering, the discipline of "chewing the cud", and the discipline of slowing. This intensive will give you some very practical tools to help you abide in Christ.
 
Membership Matters (Marc Francis)
Interested in becoming a member at Ridgecrest or finding out more about who we are and what makes us tick? This Intensive is the first step you need to take if you desire to join our fellowship. You will learn among other things:
  • What does it mean to be Southern Baptist?
  • What are the distinctives of Ridgecrest?
  • Why does membership matter? 
Conversations With the King (Ben Cranford)
This Intensive will look at the purpose and power of prayer. We will look at the Lord's Prayer as an example to follow for our prayer life and we will explore some foundations to a personal prayer life. A few things we will deal with include:
  • How to listen as well as how to talk WITH (not to) the Father
  • How to use Scripture to guide your conversation
  • Tips on developing an intimate prayer life 
What's the Big Deal About the Bible( Stuart Corle)
This Intensive will deal with the following issues designed to help you have complete confidence that the Bible is indeed God's Holy Word:
  • Where did the Bible come from in the first place?
  • What do we mean when we talk about terms like inerrancy, inspiration, authority, transmission, and canon of Scripture?
  • Why is the Bible God's Word and not the Quran or the Book of Mormon

  • This Sunday 2/21 from 3:00-4:00 in the Sanctuary.
  • Future rehearsal dates: 3/6 @ 3:30, 4/3 @ 3:30 and 4/17 @ 3:00
Join us as we seek to glorify God in serving Him with our gifts and talents.

 
Many of our Connect Groups are involved in ministry with the Durham Rescue Mission. Click HERE for a an update on all that's been going on there over the past few months.

If you or your Connect Group is interested in getting involved with this great ministry, contact Janine Guadagno (stonehouserj@gmail.com) who serves as the Rescue Mission ambassador for Ridgecrest.




Our AWANA Clubs are partnering with Stop Hunger Now to help end hunger around the world. On Wednesday, March 23, the AWANA clubbers will participate in a Stop Hunger Now Event where they will package 10,150+ meals. Not only are we packaging the food, but we are also paying for all of the food and supplies. In order to reach our goal of 10,150+ meals, we have to raise $2,944.08. To learn more about Stop Hunger Now, our packaging event, or to donate toward our event, click HERE


If you are on Facebook and not yet a part of the Ridgecrest Baptist Church Group then you are missing out on a lot of good communication. You can go HERE and request membership.




Women's Ministry Discipleship Retreat
March 11-13, 2016
Myrtle Beach, SC

You can download a Registration Form HERE 
or pick one up in the Breezeway


Discipleship Challenges for 2016
  
1) Memorize Romans 8 - This is one of the greatest chapters in all of Scripture. Memorizing this chapter - about 1 verse per week - will help you combat sin, walk in the Spirit, pray more confidently, trust God's plan for your life, and help you abide in His love. Check out the Ridgecrest Facebook Group on Wednesdays for help with this and to stay on pace.

2) Read the Bible through in one year - We are using what is called the F260 Reading Plan - a plan that will take us through 260 of the most essential passages in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. it is a very manageable plan of about 2 chapters per day, 5 days per week. You can find it HERE. It's not too late to start.







*May 12-19 - Haiti (This trip is full)
*August 1-8 - Haiti

Contact Shay Reyner if you are interested and want more information (sreyner@Ridgecrest.cc). 




Dates on the Horizon
February 21 - RBC Institute Growth Intensives
February 28 - Laughter and Latte
March 11-13 - Women's Discipleship Retreat
March 20 - Laughter and Latte
April 17 - RBC Institute Growth Intensives
April 22-24 - Metamorphosis Weekend
April 24 - Laughter and Latte 
May 12-19 - Haiti Team 1
May 29 - Memorial Day Weekend Fellowship
June 5 - Durham Bull's Game
July 11-15 - Vacation Bible School
August 1 - Haiti Team 2



Memory Verse of the Week
Verse 6
"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace."

Click HERE to check out some of our discipleship opportunities such as Connect Groups, The RBC Institute, and Stuff to Ponder.
Pray for our missionaries!
Click HERE for the latest news and information about our friends serving overseas.

Click on one of the links below to get more info on what's new in each area... 
(red indicates a change since last week)

  • Click HERE to join the Ridgecrest Facebook Group
  • Click HERE if you would like a better understanding of our CONNECT > GROW > Serve > Go   strategy
  • Click HERE for a listing of our SS Connect Groups and when they meet