Raising the Challenge

First Baptist Church of Fairburn has had a long history and tradition right here in this community. We started in the early 1800s, became First Baptist in the mid 1900s, and have shifted to reach an ever changing community into the 2000s. While we will learn more about our history in October during Homecoming, we can know at this point that each phase of our church’s existence has had its own share of challenges. From needing a place to meet to building larger buildings or from hiring a full time pastor for the first time to adding multiple full time staff members, this church has always sought God and stood firm to face the challenge.

In fact, challenges are what make us stronger. We see a need that must be filled, we seek God in order that it may be filled, and we respond in faith as it is filled. This cycle continues to be how God builds our relationship with Him and our relationships as the body of Christ. As we embrace challenges together we learn to trust one another and see that we are more capable of accomplishing more together than any of us could alone. I believe this is what Paul was drawing on with the church in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 9. Many believers saw the challenge of starting new churches in a society that was less than friendly to Christianity, but in order to embrace the challenge and see it through, they sought God, relied on one another, and were faithful to the end.

Church, we find ourselves in a similar spot of challenge in 2017. Some of you may wonder “How?”, after all the church just called new pastor, we have new faces most every week, and our staff is amazing! The challenge we face is financial. We have a HUGE mission to accomplish in order to reach Fairburn with the Gospel. I have a vision for a church that reflects the community where we are currently situated AND the surrounding areas of South Fulton, North Fayette, and Northeast Coweta counties. We have made a wonderful shift towards being a multi-ethnic and multi-generational church, but there is still much to be done as we reach out more.

Our challenge is to bring our best. In the coming weeks, I will outline this more and we will learn more about stewardship, but right now I want to unfold two aspects of the challenge for you to consider with prayer:

1. Consistent tithing. This is a great discipline, but often times a difficult habit. If you have not been in the habit of consistently tithing, please take these next few weeks and pray over how God would lead you to make this your practice. If you have already taken this as part of your life, thank you! I want to encourage you to continue as you worship God in giving.
2. Bring Your Best Sunday. This is a catch up day on Sunday, Oct 1. For the year, we are behind on budget needs as a church. I want to challenge each and every one of you to take some time to pray over what God would have you bring that day. This is above and beyond regular tithing. It is telling God, “Here is my best because You gave me Your best in Christ.”

This church has embraced challenge for nearly 200 years. As we step up to this challenge in prayer, we are preparing to reach for 200 more if the Lord allows. Please join me in prayer for our church and our city as we seek to raise the bar and bring our best. I am praying for you all!