First Baptist Church of Lovejoy

Thanksgiving Week

2012-11-19T09:14:00.000-05:00

Tuesday Night, November 2, 5:45 PM

Soup and Sandwich Fellowship Meal

We know that many people are traveling the day before Thanksgiving, so we've moved our mid-week service to Tuesday night. We will meet in the fellowship hall for prayer, a brief devotional, and a fellowship meal. Please bring your favorite soup, cornbread, desert or side dish. If you can't be there, but need to share a prayer need, please email us!

Disaster Relief: Where to give?

2011-04-29T09:07:00.002-04:00

Dear Prayer Partners:

As you know, the Southeast was hit hard by tornadoes Wednesday night and Thursday morning. At least one of those hit very close to home, in Sunnyside. Thank goodness none of our members who live in the area were injured or suffered significant property damage. But many others have lost everything. I had the opportunity to tour the Sunnyside area yesterday afternoon as I drove out to check on some of our members who could not be reached by telephone. It looks like a war zone. The destruction is terrible.

I am proud to say that Georgia Baptist are already responding. We have disaster relief teams on the ground at First Baptist Church of Sunnyside, and also in Rome. Although these teams are not waiting for funds to pour in before they begin to help, there is a great need for funds. If you would like to give over and above your regular tithe to help victims of these tragedies, please write a separate check for this purpose and write "Disaster Relief" in the memo field of your check. We will forward these funds to the Georgia Baptist Convention and direct that they be used for this purpose.

Please continue to keep the victims of this tragedy in your prayers.

Rev. Mike Hardin, Pastor

'Our Katrina': death toll tops 200 in Ala., nears 300 in U.S. -

The Cross Ministry featured in Christian Index

2011-02-24T14:08:00.005-05:00

Published with permission of

Jimmy Livingston's answer to the removal of crosses

By J. Gerald Harris, Editor

Published: February 24, 2011

LOVEJOY — Religion News Service recently reported that the British branch of the YWCA has dropped “Christian” from its official name because according to the charity’s officials “it no longer stood for what we are or what we do.”

The YWCA leadership said, “The Young Women’s Christian Association will now be known as Platform 51.” The new name is based on the reality that 51 percent of the people in the organization are female and the women and girls involved use it as a platform to express their views.

Cross Ministry

Jimmy Livingston prepares to cut in creating crosses.

A secular worldview seems to be exerting its influence to denigrate the word “Christian” and also remove the Christian cross from public life. The Bible speaks of “the offense of the cross” in Galatians 5:11.

In Spring Lake, Mich., Christ Community Church decided to remove the cross from its church and change its name to C3Exchange. The pastor, Ian Lawton, explained that the move was designed to reflect the church’s diverse membership.

Lawton added, “Our community has been a really open-minded community for some years now. We had a number of Muslim people, Jewish people, Buddhists, atheists … We’re catching up [to] ourselves.”

When Lloyd Clarke, former board member of the American Civil Liberties Union who professes to be an atheist, spotted two little crosses on the Cass River Bridge in Frankenmuth, Mich., he decided to try to have them removed. He registered his complaint and the city manager removed them.

The residents decided they had been subjected to the complaints of atheists long enough and expressed their convictions by placing small crosses in their front yards. When Clarke saw the response he withdrew his complaint, but the small white crosses remain in the front yards of many of Frankenmuth’s citizens today.

On Jan. 4, a three-judge panel of the United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals filed its long-awaited opinion in what has been popularly called the Mount Soledad Cross Case. In effect, it held that because the cross is a Christian symbol it must be removed from a war memorial.

The Cross has stood on Mount Soledad since 1913, but these three judges have decided after all these years that the Cross is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and agreed that it has to go.

Jimmy Livingston, a member of First Baptist Church of Lovejoy, has taken the demeaning of the cross personally and like the citizens of Frankenmuth decided to do something about it. In fact, Livingston has launched a ministry to counteract the efforts of those who would like to remove the cross from the public’s view.

He is making small white crosses and encouraging individuals and churches to strategically place the crosses on their lawns.

Livingston has been a member of the church since 1962 and serves as a deacon, a member of the finance committee, and the audio/visual technician. He has always been interested in making an impact for the cause of Christ.

Livingston stated, “I was reading an email sent to me by fellow church member Martha Stone about the residents in Frankenmuth. The end of the article said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to see Christians across America with a small cross in their front yard?’

“I felt that not many people would actually go out and do this on their own. I thought this would be a great ministry for churches and individuals to take on as a witness for Christ. In August 2010 God planted in my heart to begin ‘The Cross Ministry’ to build, paint and distribute small white crosses to individuals and churches as a quiet, yet powerful message.”

Cross Ministry

First Baptist Lovejoy Pastor Mike Hardin, left, and church members Perry Livingston and Butch Lewis paint crosses, which are then placed on holders to dry, with Hardin.

The Lovejoy deacon added, “I also have a ‘cross garden’ in my yard where people can stop and get a cross and information about what we are doing. What has encouraged us most is receiving responses from people that echo the same desire that God has placed in our hearts to see ‘The Cross Ministry’ grow and expand. Our objective is to have small white crosses in yards all across America as a witness for Christ, our Lord.”

Livingston admitted that the response has been phenomenal. The crosses have been distributed to individuals and churches across Georgia and beyond. Pastor Mike Hardin recommended at October’s church business meeting that the church adopt Livingston’s spiritual enterprise as an official ministry of the church and the church voted in the affirmative.

Other churches, including one in Montgomery, Ala., and one in Canyon Lake, Texas, have also caught Livingston’s vision and started similar cross ministries.

Livingston added, “‘The Cross Ministry’ is not a political thing. It is not an individual, church or denominational thing. It is a God thing. God has inspired this ministry and it is designed solely for His glory.”

Cross Ministry

Butch Lewis, a volunteer with the Cross Ministry, stands at the ready at Oak Bower Baptist Church in Hartwell for those wanting a cross.

6405 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097

770-936-5590 / 877-424-6339

Ladie's Tea 2011

2011-02-01T12:35:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Marcia West for taking these pictures, and to Diane Atkinson for emailing them to the church. If you have more pictures please send them to fbclovejoy.pictures@picasaweb.com with the subject line "Ladies Tea 2011" (without the quotes).

You can view still pictures and download them here.

Until Sunday: The Most Important Part of the Day

2011-01-17T12:09:00.000-05:00

Please take time to read this article by my friend, Dr. John Waters, pastor of First Baptist Church in Statesboro, GA. I could not help but think of our challenge to our members to read through the Bible this year.

Until Sunday: The Most Important Part of the Day: "Developing the discipline and habit of daily devotions and time alone with God is not easy. Each new day presents itself full of activity..."

Cards for Prison Ministry

2011-01-15T23:48:00.000-05:00

We will be collecting old Christmas cards and other greeting cards for one more week. There is a basket on the table near the side door of the sanctuary you may place them in. These cards will be used by our Associational WMU in the prison ministry.

Ladies' Tea

2011-01-15T23:46:00.000-05:00

We will be having our ladies tea in the fellowship hall this Saturday at 11 AM. If you are hosting a table you may decorate your table anytime this week. Please have all tables decorated before Saturday morning.

WMU Day Group

2011-01-15T23:43:00.000-05:00

The Day group of the WMU will meet Tuesday morning, January 18, in the education building. Please join us and plan to dine out with us afterward.

Int'l Missionary to Moldova

2011-01-08T10:28:00.002-05:00

Mike Vandecar will be with us in the service Jan 9, 11AM.

Mike and his wife, Myra, serve in Moldova. They were supposed to be in our service live on December 26, but services were canceled due to weather. Mike is back in Moldova, while Myra is still in the states, but recovering from some surgery.

Men's Breakfast

2011-01-07T11:54:00.003-05:00

Please join the men of the church Wednesday morning, January 12 9AM at ~~Ryan's~~ IHOP in ~~Griffin~~ McDonough for a time of fellowship.

January events

2011-01-01T16:28:00.002-05:00

Wednesday Jan 5, 5:45 pm, pre-conference meal, sign up by Sun Jan 2.
Sunday, Jan 9: Lord's Supper observed in morning worship. Begin collecting Valentine cards for shut-ins and military personnel.
Tuesday Jan 11, Sunshine Bunch meets in fellowship hall, 11 AM.
Sunday, Jan 16, Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
Tuesday, Jan 18, 11 AM WMU Day group.
Saturday, Jan 22, 11 AM Ladies Tea. Reservations required by Wednesday, January 12.

Read Through The Bible in 2011

2010-12-26T23:27:00.002-05:00

As we pack away the Christmas decorations and get ready for a new year, our thoughts turn to those resolutions. Some we make every year like quitting a bad habit, losing weight, cleaning out the garage, or paying off debt. Some may be unique or new this year. Perhaps you want to travel to a place you've never been before, learn a new skill or hobby, or improve yourself in some other way.

Most of our resolutions will be individual and private matters. But one of our men, Brian Livingston, has challenged our church body to join him in a resolution to consistently, faithfully, and systematically read through the scriptures together. In our service on Sunday morning the 19th of December, Brian distributed a reading plan for January. Some of you have already started to read, others have placed the reading plan in your Bibles and are looking forward to beginning on January 1. Perhaps some want to read with us, but have misplaced your reading plans.

Reading the Bible together will be a blessing to us in several ways.

We experience God's love together. The Bible is God's revelation of himself to man. He reveals his love in creation, in redemption, and his hand of protection over the redeemed.
We gain a victory over sin. Psalm 119:11 says, "Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee." I believe with all my heart that either the Word of God will keep us from sin, or sin will keep us from the Word of God.
We become unified in purpose. Without the scriptures we are each guided by whatever forms of information overload pull at us, and those are different for each one. As we read through the scriptures together, we are all guided by the same Holy Spirit to fulfill God's purpose for our individual lives and for our church.
We will more effectively make disciples. In Romans 10:14 Paul says, "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" As we fill our hearts and minds with the scripture, sharing our faith will become a normal part of our relationships. What is in our hearts will proceed from our lips.
We will become more like Christ. It is through the prayerful reading and meditation upon the scriptures that we transform our minds from being conformed to the sinful world around us, to being conformed to the image of Christ. For many people we come in contact with, we are the only Bible they ever read, the only Christ they ever see.

I hope you will commit to read through the Bible with us in 2011. We will provide you with a printed schedule each month. Each day's readings will take 10-20 minutes, depending on how fast you read. If you aren't able to keep up with the printed schedule, you can find a reading plan on our website, in the column on the right. Clicking a link will take you to that day's reading. The readings will be in the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), but you can choose to change them to another translation if you prefer.

I'm would like to encourage our Sunday School teachers to remind their class each week of the reading assignments, and encourage questions about the previous week's reading. I'm excited that God has laid this challenge on Brian's heart, and I'm anxious to see what He is going to do in the life of our church as we commit to seeking him through his Word each day.

Merry Christmas from First Baptist Church of Lovejoy, GA

2010-12-24T15:09:00.002-05:00

Rev. & Mrs. Mike Hardin and the entire FBC Lovejoy family wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

First Baptist Lovejoy sends 20 Buckets of Hope to Haiti!

2010-03-08T12:10:00.001-05:00

Thanks to everyone who brought "buckets of hope" for Haiti! Thanks to Paul and Martha Stone, Virginia and Peggy Wallace, and LeAnn McClure (not pictured) for helping to load the truck.

Posted via email from First Baptist Lovejoy

The Romans Road

2008-10-11T11:00:00.001-04:00

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What We Believe

2006-01-01T03:06:00.001-05:00

We'd love to just tell you we believe the Bible and be done with it. However, we find that if 10 different people read the Bible we sometimes get 12 different opinions about what it means. With that in mind, some interpretation of the scriptures is necessary. Even within our local church, we don't agree on everything. We do believe that it is important to agree on some key things however.

Southern Baptist have agreed on a statement of faith, based on a holistic view of scripture, that explains the key areas that we agree on. That statement is called The Baptist Faith and Message. For a quick summary of what most Southern Baptist believe click here.

This statement also provides guidance to seminaries and mission agencies to make sure that our agencies are teaching is in line with those key items that most of us agree on. This statement is not a creed, because we do not believe the scriptures should be subjugated to other writings.

How to Receive Eternal Life

2006-01-01T03:05:00.000-05:00

How to Join Our Church

2006-01-01T03:04:00.000-05:00

First Baptist Church of Lovejoy accepts new members in one of three ways:

Baptism
Promise of Letter
Statement of Faith

Baptism

One of the distinctive characteristics of Baptists is that we practice baptism of believers by immersion. This is not unique to Baptists, but it does set us apart from many other groups. We do not baptize infants because we believe that the New Testament teaches that we are to baptize believers. Jesus told us to make disciples and baptize them (Matthew 28:19). The Bible says that if we confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved (Romans 10:9-10). If you are a believer in Jesus, and you publicly confess that he is Lord of your life, you may join our church by baptism.

Why do we baptize by immersion? There are several reasons. First, it is the biblical model. The Greek word baptizo means to dip or immerse. The gospels speak of Jesus coming up out of the water (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10). Baptism is not only a symbol of God cleansing us from our sin, but also a symbol that we have died to sin, and have hope in the resurrection of believers (Romans 6:1-10). Being raised from beneath the waters symbolizes our hope that we will one day be raised from the grave. Immersion is the only form of baptism that illustrates this death to sin and hope in eternal life.

Promise of Letter

If you are already a member of another Baptist church, you may transfer your membership to Lovejoy First Baptist. When you join our church we will get the name and address of the Baptist church where you are currently a member. Our church clerk will request a letter of recommendation from that church.

By Statement

Occasionally someone desires to become a member of our church, but the church where they were formerly a member is not able to send a letter of recommendation. Perhaps the church has disbanded, or membership records have been destroyed by fire or flood. Perhaps the church was not a Baptist church, and for whatever reasons does not grant letters of recommendation to Baptist churches. You may still join by stating that 1) you believe that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead and, 2) that you have been baptized by immersion after becoming a believer.

We hope that you will prayerfully consider becoming a part of the First Family at Lovejoy. If you are not already a believer, we would love to tell you how to become a Christian.

Church Calendar

2006-01-01T03:03:00.003-05:00

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Contact Us

2006-01-01T03:02:00.007-05:00

Mailing Addresss PO Box 579 Lovejoy, GA 30250	Email Pastor Mike Hardin
Street Address 2347 Talmadge Road Hampton, GA 30228	Map and Directions
Telephone 770.478.8795

Map and Directions

2006-01-01T03:01:00.002-05:00

Subscribe to our Newsletter

2005-08-28T12:55:00.003-04:00