First Baptist Church of New Carlisle, Ohio has a rich and unique history in our community. Since 1955 we've been establishing ourselves as a lighthouse for Jesus Christ in our hometown of New Carlisle, Ohio.

We have Bible Study at 9:15 am and Worship Service at 10:30 am every Sunday. Childcare/nursery provided for all services. Wednesdays we have Prayer Meeting at 7:00 pm and Revive Student Ministries for youth at 7:00 pm

Saturday, June 7, 2014

A Dawning New Era - By TJ Sigler

Life seems to be entering a new chapter for me. Sixteen years of work, of life, has led up to that big moment: college graduation. It’s all we hear for years. In elementary school they prepare you for middle school, which prepares you for high school, which prepares you for college. But then what? What is next? Well, that’s the point where I find myself tonight. And I think, if were honest with ourselves, that’s where a lot of us find ourselves. It’s like we’re on the brink of a new era but we can’t seem to take that next step.
    
I have to confess, one of my all time favorite movies is Shawshank Redemption. I only watch it on TV because it edits all of the poor language out. There is a scene where Brooks, a man with a life sentence since 1905 (the film is set in the 40’s and on), is let out on parole. He was a very old man at this point. He was entering a new chapter and didn’t know how to handle it. In fact, well, I’ll let you watch the movie and not spoil it. Just catch it the next time it comes on the TV.
    
We’re all facing a new chapter whether we’re ready or not. We’re looking at a generation that is all about change. You can change the way people see you with something as easy as the click of a button on Facebook. You can constantly be plugged in and tweeting at any moment. There’s free wi-fi in almost every building you go in to. The bottom line is this: the millennial generation is not complacent. They want change; even crave it. As a church, as the Church, we need to ask ourselves if we’re ready. Better yet, we need to ask ourselves if we are willing.

That’s where I come in.

As I said, I recently graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Youth Ministry. This summer I am working with the student ministry at the church. It, just like the rest of us, is on the brink of a brand new era. I’m here to usher the student ministry into that era. I look at this generation, my generation, and realize that things are going to need to change to reach them. We are going to have to reevaluate the traditional way of doing ministry and introduce a new way to reach the greatest number of youth. I am excited about this. I’m looking for others who are ready to see God move in such a way that I know He will. Are you ready for this adventure, because, to quote the movie Up (and every decorated graduation cap) “adventure is out there.”

If you wish to serve in the student ministry, please let me know. Send me an email at tjsigler@liberty.edu, give me a call, or stop by the office and we’ll chat. 

The Last Days - By Ken Lawler

The study of what will happen when all things are consummated at the end of history is called eschatology.  That word comes from two Greek words, eschatos (last) and logos (the expression of thought).  So eschatology is the expression of thought of last things.

The Biblical discussion of the last days begins in Joel 2:28-29 where he's predicting the coming of the Holy Spirit and he says it will come to pass "afterward."  That Hebrew word means "the hind part."  Joel is saying the Holy Spirit will come in the last days.  Peter verifies this in his sermon at Pentecost.  Acts 2:16-17a says, "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh……"  These "last days" are spoken of numerous times in the New Testament, for example see I Timothy 4:1, I Peter 1:20, & I John 2:18.
Most people seem to think of the last days as the time in history just before the rapture of the church, or the period of the great Tribulation just before the 1,000-year Kingdom-Age begins.

Actually, it appears that the "last days" began officially at Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus was crucified, when the prophecy of Joel was fulfilled.  Paul warns Timothy (2 Timothy 3:1), "in the last days perilous times shall come."  He goes on with a list of perverse human behavior that will be prevalent in the last days.  The word perilous is chalepos (khal-ep-os') and it means hard to do or deal with, difficult, fierce, perilous.  This word is used only twice in the Bible, once describing the devils in the Gadarene man (Matthew 8:28) and of the last times (2 Timothy 3:1)

So we've been in the last days for almost 2,000 years, and if you read what Paul told Timothy to expect (2 Timothy 3:2-8), just as most things deteriorate over time, the last days have too.  In our day it's hard to imagine any last day prophecy that isn't happening on a routine basis.  We've concentrated on "wars and rumors of wars," but all the other predictions are common happenings in our 21st Century world.  I think we can safely say we're nearing the end of the last days.

Dr. Schofield makes a distinction between the last days as they relate to the church and the last days as they relate to Israel.  For the church the last days began at Pentecost and will end when The Lord physically returns to The Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem at the end of the Tribulation.  For Israel, he says the last days refer to Israel's exaltation and blessing during the 1,000-year Kingdom-Age, when all of the unconditional promises made to   Abraham will be fulfilled. 

Kitchen Korner - By Dolly Lawler

I must be on a "sweet" kick; here's another dessert for you.  I got this recipe from Sharon Brookey years ago when our boys were teenagers.  Sharon bested me in some kind of pie contest with this recipe.  I grudgingly had to admit it definitely topped whatever pie I entered.  Needless to say, I had to have the recipe.  Frank especially liked this pie, so I tried to make it when I knew he and Jud would be home from college.  If you have a sweet tooth, you'll certainly want to try it.  Don't forget, it's a "pie contest winner."

PEANUT BUTTER CREAM PIE

1  8 oz.    Cream Cheese
2  Cups    Powdered Sugar
1  Cup    Crunchy or Smooth Peanut Butter
2  8 oz.    Container of Cool Whip

Instructions:
Mix the first three ingredients together with mixer.  Add one 8 oz. container of cool whip to the mixture.  Mix well and spoon into baked 10 inch pie shell or graham cracker pie crust.  Top with 4 to 8 oz. of cool whip.  (Use your own discretion regarding how much cool whip you use to top your pie.  Some like lots - 8 oz.; others like minimal - 4 oz.)

Submit a favorite recipe to: lawlers@windstream.net

Transitional Moment - By Pastor Tim Binns

The first month as your transitional pastor has been a great experience.  I have been observing the church as well as praying to seek the Lord’s directions in preparing you for God’s man to be your next pastor.  I have learned many names, but I have a long way to go with this endeavor.  I mix up my children’s names while I only have 3 of them,  so be patient with me on this.

I want to assure you that any changes we implement will be done through much prayer and discussion.  I did not come into this position with any set plans.  I have been seeking God’s guidance and wisdom.  One assurance I want to make is that we will not be changing the style of worship in either service.  I feel that our church has a good    handle on both services, and we need to keep them the way they are to reach this community.
      
We are so blessed with many   talented people.  God has really gifted this church in worship.
During this process,  continue to pray for more workers in the harvest, because the harvest is ready.  Pray for a unity in the church like you have never seen.   And pray for the lost in the   community that we will be found faithful to bring them to Jesus.

Monday, June 2, 2014

Remembering Rick Shoemaker - By Pastor Jeff Christmas

Since at least the age of 17, Rick Shoemaker has found a way to be in church, worshipping his Lord nearly every Sunday. Much to his disappointment, his recent bout with cancer and pneumonia kept him from being where he most wanted to be. This past Sunday morning at just after 4 AM, Rick found a way to attend Sunday worship when he went home to be with the Lord. His family, friends, community, and congregation will never be the same. How does one encapsulate such a life of ministry and loving service in a single news article? My conclusion is that it cannot be done. I can speak of my experience and hope that in some small way the readers of this article identify and get a sense of his impact.
In 1979, although unaware at the time, my life changed forever when a young preacher and his family came to the First Baptist Church of New Carlisle to become our pastor. Having grown up in the church since birth, I had seen a few pastors come and move on to other assignments. But at the age of 14, I soon realized that this pastor would be unique. He immediately took an interest in providing opportunities for young people to have fun and serve in the church. It was as though he believed that we were not only the future of the church, but the present, as well. I found myself more than ever before wanting to be there every time the doors were open. I gained a love for serving and for the creative arts, as well, when Rick penned plays for us to perform. They always contained a great message that led people to Jesus Christ. In fact, it was after the performance of one of those plays that I found myself coming forward to the altar to surrender my life to full-time Christian service. I have had the privilege of serving with Rick in one capacity or another for the last 32 years and vocationally as his associate pastor for nearly the last 16 years. I have grown closer in my walk with Christ and learned so much from this great man. My life was forever changed because of Rick Shoemaker.
Were we to gather ourselves in a single room to share what a difference Rick has made in this world, the stories would never end. I had the honor of seeing the impact he had on his family. Rick’s wife Elizabeth was right at his side during his entire ministry. Rick married his teenage sweetheart and I can remember her involvement in his ministry from the very beginning. Most notably she tried her best to keep us kids in line as we went on mission trips to serve. It was evident that God had placed this special couple in our lives to change us forever. Their influence extended to their 2 wonderful daughters who grew up with us, served with us, and honor the Lord with their lives to this day. Rick’s grandchildren find themselves serving in the church even at their young ages. Rick and Elizabeth are the best “Bampa” and “Gugug” in the world to them. Rick’s influence is also easily seen in the lives of his extended family. His parents raised some wonderful children. Over the years Rick has been able to serve in ministry with his brother, sister, mom, and dad.
                Rick was a great friend. He was always there for you when you needed him, sometimes at all hours of the night. Many times he received phone calls that awakened him with the tears of a friend in need. In my life, Rick has presided over the funerals of my grandfather, brother, father, and son. I was on vacation over 7 hours away when I got the call that my son Joe was struck by a car on his way to work. It was Rick who made that call and rushed over to the hospital as my son went on to be with Jesus. Right then and there, Rick Shoemaker was the father to my son that I couldn’t be. A myriad of people can relate similar stories of how Rick went above and beyond the call of duty when it came to his friends. Many of you reading this tribute right now can attest to Rick’s faithfulness in loving his fellow man.
Rick made a difference in his community. For years he has been the announcer for field day at New Carlisle Elementary School. He has judged speech contests, hosted community dinner theaters, and constantly looked for ways in which he could serve. You could find Rick praying the invocation at city council meetings and, most notably, writing a weekly column for this very newspaper. He has counseled hundreds of couples as they have tied the knot in marriage. He has presided over countless funerals and made a difference in the lives of many who did not have a church home. He was always ready to serve when asked and often looked for ways to help even before he might be called upon.
Finally, Rick forever changed the path of a small church in the country just outside of New Carlisle. Of the many things we could discuss in how Rick influenced First Baptist Church, it can be said that he had a heart for kids. In the early 1990’s, Rick presided over the construction of our gymnasium and child care center. He had to convince us that it was a step of faith for which God had called us. Construction was completed and the note was paid off in under 10 years under his direction. Today, our Wee Care Child Care center serves our community and congregation by providing daycare for children in a loving, Christian environment, Monday through Friday. That step of faith has provided jobs for people in our congregation as well as for those in our community. We are able to offer Upward basketball and cheerleading in our gymnasium for over 150 kids each year because of Rick. Many church and community events are hosted here because of the leadership and faithfulness of Rick Shoemaker.
In closing, the world is now a lesser place as we say goodbye to one of New Carlisle’s heroes. I will never be the same and I know that readers of this tribute will say a loud and collective amen to a life well-lived. Our loss is heaven’s gain. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that for the Christian who has trusted Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior, there is a longing to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. Right now, Rick Shoemaker is living that dream.