Thoughts from the Staff - First Baptist Church Mossy Head

Open once again

4/29/2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Wonderful news! Our church will reopen this Sunday May 3rd! We will have Sunday morning worship ONLY. In consultation with Brother Jefferson Sweet, Sunday School classes will meet as the individual classes see fit. We’re not quite out of the woods yet, so some classes may continue to meet via telephone, Zoom, or other ways. Please contact your Sunday School teacher to find out what your class is doing. If you don’t know how to reach your teacher, call the church office at 850 – 892 – 3525. The church office is already open.

If you are in music ministry, Brother Lew Dolan will be in touch regarding plans for orchestra and eventually, choir. However, respecting social distancing guidelines (which are still in place), the choir will not resume this Sunday. Likewise, there’s no prayer meeting for this Wednesday night (that’s April 29th) because the governor’s executive order doesn’t expire until Thursday at midnight. Our first prayer meeting will be the church business meeting on Wednesday May 6th. That means that we will have church council Sunday night at 7:00 pm our usual room. However, if any are concerned about social distancing please contact the church office so we can arrange to include you via telephone. All council members are encouraged to provide any reports to the church office via email before the meeting (by Thursday) the so that Ginnie can include them in the council agenda. If you have any questions, please call the church office.

I hope that you are looking forward to resuming fellowship as much as I am! That said, I understand if anyone feel the need to continue social distancing. Therefore, we will continue to provide video of the worship services and prayer meetings. Don’t be shy if you choose to continue to wear a mask when attending church in person. We all understand. As continue to pray for one another and for our country as we emerge from this experience.

Yours in Christ,
Brother Bill

Update for the church

3/27/2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yes the church is still open on Sundays! While many are practicing social distancing, we will hold worship services, Sunday School, and small groups. Many of these groups and classes are meeting via group calling. Last week, I hosted a group call for my Sunday School class which was about half in attendance and half on the phone. We actually did a little better by doing this. I hope you’ll plan this Sunday to be by your phone if you won’t be coming to join your class. For small group leaders and teachers, you can obtain a list of phone numbers from the church office.

Yes we will hold worship services this Sunday and Sunday night! If your concerns for your health motivate you to stay away, know that you will be missed. However, you can still participate by going online to our website where a video recording of our worship service will be posted shortly after the usual time at this link: https://www.fbcmossyhead.org/photos-and-videos.html

Sadly, social distancing has made some decisions unwelcome yet necessary. One is the suspension of Wednesday night activities for three (one down, two to go) weeks. Additionally, the blood drive is canceled for this Sunday as well as the usual lunch afterwards. I will be meeting with the deacons to determine other hard decisions we may be facing. This meeting will likewise be in-person or by group call. Please pray for our leaders since the drop in giving may force other decisions on us.

On that note, may I remind everyone that you can give online on our website at this link: https://www.fbcmossyhead.org/giving.html

Otherwise, the U.S. Postal service is still running and you can mail your giving to the church the old-fashioned way, or drop it off at the church office anytime Monday through Thursday between 8am and 3:30pm and Ginnie Patrick, our church secretary will be happy to take care of it for you.

Wednesday night prayer groups are still forming! Perhaps your Sunday School class can form one or even more than one! Prayer is urgently needed to get us through these difficult days. I’m confident that God will get us through victoriously!

Yours in Christ,
Bro. Bill

The state of things

3/20/2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I apologize for any misunderstanding from my earlier letter [posted below for reference.]

"We will [attempt] streaming our prayer meeting via the internet from our website. If successful, we will stream our other worship services as well to meet the needs of those who are self-isolating. I hope that you will participate online and provide feedback to the church office regarding the quality of your experiences or any problems that you might experience. This will allow us to address problems and improve things for Sunday and beyond as long as necessary."

We most certainly will meet together for worship and Sunday School at the usual times (8:45am Sunday School, 10am worship, etc.) However, for those individuals who feel the need to remain in self-quarantine, social distancing, or whatever, we will attempt to provide an online service to the best of our ability. Last night, our first effort was found wanting. We hope to improve and implement LIVE streaming as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we will also provide a link on our website for giving. Last night we approved in an emergency business meeting to use a service through LIFEWAY to make electronic giving possible.

This has been a week of rapid changes and it’s hard to keep up. Our Walton County Baptist Association has canceled our April Executive Committee meeting and closed the office in town. On the brighter side, our North American Mission Board held a webinar to help churches prepare to provide online services as quickly as possible in light of our circumstances.

I hope you’ll join me in prayer in the days ahead that God will be glorified and draw people to Himself in these times.

Yours in Christ,

Bro. Bill

God invites you to become involved with Him in His work

8/20/2015

Some examples from the Scriptures:

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Gen 12:1-3)

God called Abraham to move from where he was to where God wanted him to be.

Abraham answered and went to a land he knew not where and became the Father of faith.

Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. (Exo 3:9-10)

God called Moses to deliver His people from their oppressors.

Moses answered and stood before Pharoah.

And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? (Jdg 6:14)

God called Gideon to lead God's army against the enemies of Israel.

Gideon answered and led God's people to victory.

Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. (Amo 7:14-15)

God called a farmer to speak His Word to His people.

Amos answered and prophesied Truth.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. (Act 9:10-12)

God called a disciple to disciple a new believer.

Ananias answered and taught Saul, who would become Paul, the apostle to the gentiles.

Some things to think on:
    Has God ever invited you to become involved with Him in His work?
        What work (Not necessarily "work" at church)?
        How do you know it was God?

    If it has been a while, what has changed?
        All who are His by faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary and repentance of their sins are saints of God.
        His saints have work to do, not to gain any favor, but because of who He is and because of His love for us.

        God is not done with His saints until He takes us Home to be with Him. His retirement is out of this world.
        Are you a castaway of the faith once delivered to the saints.

    If not, why do you suppose God has never invited you?

        Are you deaf, not hearing the words of God because you are not His?
        He is calling you to His great Salvation, that you may repent and receive Him by faith.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:10)

God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal

8/13/2015

And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. (Joh 17:3)

In light of the realities of experiencing God, we are encouraging you to consider your relationship with the living God:
Meditate on this: Is your relationship with God and your Salvation testimony abstract, remote, impersonal?

According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Eph 1:4-6)

Are you in the beloved, have you been adopted, has God accepted you because of your repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary?

If you pass from this life, will we "See ya later"?

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the promises;
(Rom 8:15, 23, 9:4)

Is there a deep affection between you and God? Are you under God's rules, because of His love for you, as dear children, or are you living "your" life?

To redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Gal 4:5-7)

Are you a child of God, having been born again by His Spirit because of your faith in Him and your repentance of your sIns?
What is God doing around you?, in you?, through you? Have you surrendered to Him on His terms and received Him?

We encourage you to join us in our journey as we experience God together as His church.

The staff of First Baptist Mossy Head

Realities of Experiencing GOD

8/6/2015

1. God is always at work around you.
2. God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal.
3. God invites you to become involved with Him in His work.
4. God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways.
5. God’s invitation for you to work with Him always leads you to a crisis of belief that requires faith and action.
6. You must make major adjustments in your life to join God in what He is doing.
7. You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you

Some thoughts to consider as we approach the Experiencing GOD Together study:

Do you believe that GOD is always at work around you? If so, think about what you see GOD doing...

How would you describe your answer: Is it personal life support (as any person who is alive and fairly healthy would ascribe)? Is it personal spirituality (Worship, blessings, as any spiritually minded person might claim)? What is GOD doing, that can only be ascribed to Him?

Think about specifics, what do you see GOD doing around you, that only He can do?

Are we comfortable with what we are doing with and for GOD?
What can He do through us if we are surrendered and obedient to Him?
If we are not surrendered and obedient to Him and His Word, why not?
What is in the way of our being meet for the Masters use?

There are no answers from us today, as we prepare our hearts for our Experiencing GOD Together weekend and study, only thoughts. But the Bible does have answers, and we encourage you to get deeper into GOD's Word, and in communication with Him to find them.
But if you don't know GOD, and can't answer these questions because you have never put your faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, we encourage you to seek Him and His great Salvation that you might be born again and have new life in Him. Then you can hear from Him and His Word, and know not only eternal life, but forgiveness and reconciliation with GOD through repentance from your sins and faith in Christ.

The staff of First Baptist Mossy Head

A meditation for Revival

7/30/2015

The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them. (Psa 145:17-19)

Why does revival tarry for GOD's Church? Think on these things:
Why is it that GOD is with us and within us, yet so many of us live our lives with little awareness of His presence?
If an unbeliever were to ask you, "what's it like to be filled with, or lead or guided by, the Holy Spirit?", what would you tell them?
Do you really want to have a daily dependence upon Him? Or are you simply looking for instant help from the immediate problem of the day?
Do you wish to partake in a rich and full relationship with the King of all kings? Or are you concerned that He might interfere with the way you want to run your life?

Only when we finally come to a sincere desire for Him, as Psalm 145 indicated, will we discover what He has wanted us to have all along. And we can only receive that which He has for us if we know Him, and have His great Salvation, by faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary.

Edited for web publication from Dr. Bill Ferrand's Wednesday night devotion, Feb 25, 2015, by Jefferson Sweet.

Where is the witness?

7/16/2015

And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. And when He went forth to land, there met Him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of GOD most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. (For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. And they besought Him that He would not command them to go out into the deep. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought Him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And He suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked. When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought Him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and He went up into the ship, and returned back again. Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought Him that He might be with Him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things GOD hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him. And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received Him: for they were all waiting for Him. (Luk 8:26-40)

    It's been a while since our revival meetings, and we want to share the teaching from our prayer meeting devotion:

There were several points from this passage that were brought out:
    The best part of the demon-possessed man's life while he was tormented and possessed was the end of it. During that time, he was in bonds, he lived in the tombs and couldn't keep himself in clothes or his right mind. He was the living dead, just as many today, bound by their sIn, caught in cycles of corruption, and unable to save themselves.
    The possessed man reacted in opposition to his encounter with Jesus. He falsely accused Jesus and His agenda. Many we encounter as we witness will be hostile and even falsely accuse us, even as they continue to make false statements about our Lord.
    The community reacted in fear and loathing of all Jesus had done for this man. They didn't want him delivered from his bondage, nor in his right mind, and they certainly wanted their pigs back (though as Jews they should not have been involved with them). They asked Jesus to leave. Many today do not want to hear about Jesus, they react in fear and loathing toward Him and us, and wish us to leave.
    Jesus left in response to the widespread rejection of His actions and message. He didn't force Himself on anybody. We should leave in as good a relationship as they will let us, but when faced with hostility, we leave and pray, not for good, but for the moment.
    This response and strategy worked, because the delivered man testified of all that GOD had done, and those that heard and were waiting for Jesus rejoiced and were glad to see Him when He returned to them. We must not give up on people that or lost, but trust lost people to GOD, and return when the Spirit prompts us, that they who hear may be glad and receive Him.

    So the question then is, what great things about Jesus have you experienced, and what have you published, as this man did, and to whom?
    Have you experienced the new birth that Jesus came to give all who will repent of their sins and believe in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary? Have you been delivered from the power and presence of sIn and redeemed? Has GOD saved you and given you a brand new life in Him that you can share with others?
    If so, what provision and guidance has GOD done in and through you lately? What is He telling you to do for Him? Have you shared Jesus with your neighbors, your friends, your coworkers, or your family?

Church: where is the witness in your community? in your neighborhood? in your county? in your state? in your country? in our world?

Dr. William Ferrand, Pastor
and Rev. Jefferson Sweet, Associate Pastor

(From Bill Ferrand's Wednesday devotion and teaching, 15 July 2015, edited for web publication by Jefferson Sweet.)

Pray for Revival

5/7/2015

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints

2/12/2015

The First Baptist Church of Mossy Head is saddened to announce the passing of our Pastor Emeritus; Bro. Robert LaFavre, who went Home to the arms of His Lord, Weds Morning, Feb 11, 2015.

We rejoice in the assurance that he is Home, and forevermore with Jesus Christ, but are saddened by His passing. We will miss our Brother in the Lord, our pastor (Emeritus for some), our mentor and fellow labourer, and our friend.

The staff and congregation of FBCMH.

Dr. Bill Ferrand
Rev. Jefferson Sweet
Dr. Lew Dolan
Mrs. Ginnie Patrick

In memory of Bro. Robert LaFavre, 1934-2015