Please join us for a Valentine’s bruch benefing the DJ Scharfenstein College Scholarship Fund, the scholarship fund recently created by the church to benefit our graduating seniors who are going on to college. There is a suggested donation of $10 per adult and $5 per child.

He refused to believe it. After all, he had been a pastor for 20 years, but as he looked at 1 John 3:9–No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God–the Holy Spirit spoke to Hal’s heart telling him that he needed to be saved. You see, Hal had a deep, dark secret, a double life. Concurrent with his 20 years of ministry and 12 years of marriage to his wonderful wife Lisa, Hal had been involved in homosexuality.

Shortly after the Lord revealed his need to be born again, Hal gave his heart and life to Jesus Christ, but now what was he to do? He knew he needed to confess to his wife and start the healing that the Lord wanted to give them, but would she forgive him?

That was 12 years ago. Now, Hal and Lisa Selby are serving the Lord through Refuge 461 Ministries.

Refuge 461 is a Christian discipleship ministry providing biblically based help and encouragement for those individuals, couples, and parents whose lives are impacted by homosexuality. This is done through individual support, weekly Life Transformation Groups, and by helping churches respond redemptively to those impacted by homosexuality.

Come and hear Hal and Lisa’s story of redemption as they share with us how God heals those who are impacted by sexual brokeness through Jesus Christ.

Sunday, January 29

• 9:45 a.m. Hal and Lisa will share along with a question and answer session.
• 11:00 a.m. Hal will preach in our worship service.

Please come ready for God to speak to you about how we as Christians can minsiter God’s mercy and truth to those who struggle with this issue.

For more information about Refuge 461 Ministries go to www.refuge461.org and check out the their great testamony at http://www.refuge461.org/content/media.

On Saturday, December 17, over 20 church members gathered to assemble and delivered 31 turkeys with “fixin’s” to families in need. It was a great time of cooperation and giving. Many of our new members and our youth were there in strong numbers, and one of our newest members Anne Badeaux did a great job working with Sam’s and purchasing the groceries. Thank you to all who gave money and time.

During the entire month of December we collected the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. Joanne Hilton, Shannon Dale, and Anne Badeaux gave excellent talks that ranged from Lottie Moon to dear missionary friends overseas today to sewing machines and even Tim Tebow! Thank you to all who gave to the mission offering. We raised $435, all of which goes to the gospel spreading and church planting work of our 5,000 missionaries of the International Mission Board, SBC.

Grace reminds me of what Paul said about the Macedonians who gave at a time when it was difficult to give:

They gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

(2 Corinthians 8:5, ESV)

Keep giving yourself to the Lord, Grace Church, and your giving will continue to overflow as it impacts our world.

For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)

We’re excited to come together with our church family on Christmas Day for a great time of Scripture reading, carol singing, and fellowship. All are invited to come celebrate the Prince of Peace with us.

Reminder: There will be no Sunday School on Christmas Day, just the worship service at 11:00.

Also, all of our Wednesday night programs are suspended until January 4th.

Merry Christmas, everybody!

One of our former church members has sent us a very generous donation, and we’re using it to give away turkeys to families that could use some extra help this Chrismas season.

We need volunteers to come to the fellowship hall at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. We’ll assemble gift baskets, each containing a turkey  and other items, then we’ll go deliever them in our vehicles. Anne Badeaux is directing the effort. You can contact her or me if you need more information. If you know of a family that could use a turkey, please send me their information at Charlie@GraceForNewOrleans.com.

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

-John 13:35 (ESV)

Many of our church family have gotten to know our newest members, two very special ladies Anne Badeaux and Darrian Shelby. If not, I’d like to introduce them to you here.

After much thought and prayer, Darrian gave her heart to the Lord Jesus Christ this summer, and I had the privilege of baptizing her a few weeks ago. She is a senior in high school and has been attending our church with her grandmother Jackie for about two years now. I had the pleasure of getting to know Darrian last November as she went with our youth to the Youth Evangelism Celebration. She seems to be a fun person, but someone who’s very serious about her future.

Anne has been life long friends with another new member Dreux Summers. Dreux actually credits Anne with leading him to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Anne came to us ready to serve and has already been elected to the Women’s Ministry Leadership Team. She also has experience in women’s prison ministry.

Take some time to get to know Anne and Darrian and let them know how much they mean to our church family.

-Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night, but then join us Sunday morning for what’s sure to be a great time.

9:45 a.m. Sunday School

11:00 a.m. Worship

Noon Fellowship Lunch

The following is written by NOBA’s new Executive Director of Missions Jack Hunter.

The focus of this meeting will be NOBA’s compassion ministries. Dr. Rick Donlon will be our featured speaker.  He is a native New Orleanian, and a graduate of Ben Franklin High School and LSU Medical School. He is a founder of Christ Community Health Services.  Rick and Laurie, his wife, have seven children.  They live in the Binghampton community of Memphis, an inner-city neighborhood where Rick also works.

15 years ago, Memphis was the most medically under-served urban community in the country.  Rick and three classmates moved there to open an inner-city clinic.  Last year Christ Community Health Services had 130,000 patient visits, and operated five clinics, three dental offices, three pharmacies, and a mobile unit that provided care to the homeless.

Plan to attend and invite your church members to join you. Rick’s narrative will help us better see how our Baptist community, working together, can advance the Kingdom of Christ in the under-resourced communities of greater New Orleans. You will also meet Dr. Steven Euler who has moved into the Ninth Ward to be the founding doctor of CCHS-NOLA.

Dinner will be served in the Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Gymnasium/Fellowship Hall before the meeting.  The doors will open at 5:45.  The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, LBC, NOBTS, Baptist Friendship House, Global Maritime, CampLiving Waters, Louisiana College, and other partners and ministries will have booths set up around the gym.  Come early and learn more about these important works.

Dinner will be served at 6:00.  The serving line will close at 6:40.  The Franklin Avenue choir will kick-off our program at 7:00 sharp. We will be called into business session at 8:00, and our business should be concluded by 8:15.

Your witness and service to your church and community are the greatest evidences of God’s amazing grace in our metropolitan area.  Your staff at NOBA loves and highly esteems you. We look forward to seeing you at our Fall Meeting on Monday evening, October 24.

Until then, may the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.

Jack Hunter

Galatians 2:16 (ESV)