Wow!!! What a Summer!

Summer is drawing to a close and local schools have returned to session. I hoping for a little time for blogging once again. The time is right to reflect back on all of the happenings from the summer and share my reflections with you. I hope that you will check back often over the next few weeks in order to read and reflect on the happenings with the youth at First Baptist.

I have updated the schedule link on the right. I am also beginning to add some photos from the summer. Click on the links to the right to check these out.

Remember that youth choir and discipleship training starts again at 5:00 PM on September 7th. I hope to see you here!

Brinkley to swim for ECU

It has always been a dream for (FBC)New Bern senior Jessica Brinkley to swim in college. When it came down to choosing a college to swim for, it was an easy decision.

Brinkley agreed to swim for a school that she was quite familiar with - East Carolina University, where she plans on studying to become a nurse. Brinkley has one brother, Justin, who swam for ECU, while her other older brother, Jared, is currently a member of the Pirates' swim team.

"My older brothers swam there, so the coach (Rick Kobe) knew them and knew their work ethic and my parents mentioned to the coach that I was looking at the school," Brinkley said. "He told my parents that if I was interested, then I had a spot on the team."

Jared, who swims the 100-breastroke and 200-breastroke at East Carolina, and Justin have offered their advice to Jessica on what to expect swimming against division I caliber opponents.

"They tell me that I am going to improve no matter what," Brinkley said. "They also said that it takes a lot of work. It is not easy, it's hard and that if I wanted to do it, I could do it."

To prepare for ECU, Brinkley's training is going to be harder and more intense.

Not only is she training for the ECU swim team, but she is also getting ready for the national meet in Maryland at the end of July, as part of the Twin Rivers YMCA team.

"I am just going to be practicing a lot more," Brinkley said. "Instead of doing just afternoon workouts, I am going to be doing morning practices and afternoon practices. I will be doing eight practices a week."

Brinkley will compete in her best event, the breaststroke, at the national meet. Her best time in the 100 breaststroke is 1:09.47 for the YMCA team.

"When I go on to nationals, all that competition is going to be so much faster than what I am used to," Brinkley said. "It will give me a taste of what I am going to be racing against in college."

Brinkley passed on swimming for Gardner-Webb, because she wanted to swim closer to home.

"Gardner-Webb was really far away and I really felt like I needed to be at East Carolina," she said. "Gardner-Webb was nice and small but I felt like I needed to go somewhere bigger."

This past season at New Bern, Brinkley was named the Coastal Conference swimmer of the year. She finished 10th in the state in the 100-yard breaststroke, which is an event she hopes to swim at ECU.

She owns the New Bern school record in the 100-yard breaststroke.

She may also compete in the 200-breastroke and various freestyle events at ECU.

The only time Brinkley competed at the Minges Aquatic Center, the home pool for the East Carolina swim team, was during her freshman year in high school, in the conference meet.

"It is a really fast pool, it is a great pool," Brinkley said. "When you walk into that pool area, the adrenaline just starts rushing for me."

So when Brinkley dives off the starters block at the Minges Aquatic Center in October against other college swimmers, it will be show just how far she has come.

"It will be like I'm finally swimming where I've always seen myself swimming," she said. "It is just going to be nerve-racking for me at first."

Adam Thompson
Sun Journal

The People of This City

Chris Tomlin is a fantastic singer and song writer. I found this song and video today while surfing around on the web. The song has an important message for The Church.

Wherever you are, there are people in your city who need assistance, who need to hear a kind word, or receive a plate of food, a handshake or have someone take the time to listen to their story.

This song gives us encouragement to continue to volunteer our time and gifts to those in our cities who are in desperate need. I hope it will compel you to do your part to ease the suffering that you encounter. May we all have eyes to see the needs, ears to hear the cries and arms to embrace the people of our cities.

Thanks Mom

Judith Viorst once wrote an essay based on interviews she had with children. The subject was “What’s a good mother like?”

Viorst reports that the children expected their mother to get angry from time to time. “She has to,” said Ted, “or she’ll faint from holding it in.”

“But it’s best to remember,” said Randy, “that when your mother starts to act real weird, you have to look scared and serious. Don’t giggle. When mommies are mad, they get madder if you giggle.”

“My mommy got so mad,” said Megan, “that she yanked the plate off the table and all the mashed potatoes flew into the air.”

“And why,” Viorst asked, pretending she’d never heard of such shocking behavior, “why would a mother do a thing like that?”

“Well,” said Megan, “she told my older brother, Mike-‑he’s 11 years old-‑to eat the potatoes on his plate and he said ‘Later.’ And then she told him again to eat the potatoes and Mike said ‘Soon.’ And then she told him he had better eat those potatoes right now and he said, ‘In a minute.’ And then she stood up and Mike finally took a bite and told her, ‘How can I eat them? They’re cold!’” (2)

It’s not easy being a Mom.

A stay-at-home Mom went to a PTA meeting and her husband and her oldest daughter got together and decided they would clean up the kitchen for her. So they did. They put up all the food, wiped all the counters, washed all the pots and put them away, put the dishes in the dishwasher and ran it. They swept and mopped the floors and then sat down, and overcome by their own nobility, they awaited her arrival.

Two hours later she returned from the meeting, took off her coat, hung it up, walked through the kitchen into the den, grabbed the remote control, and began watching television. They followed her over to her chair and stood by her side. Finally she felt them looking over her shoulder and looked up at them and said, “What?”

Her husband said, “The kitchen.”

“The kitchen. What?”

“The kitchen. We cleaned up the kitchen. Didn’t you notice? It’s sparkling clean. We cleaned it for you.”

The woman replied, “Yes, I noticed. Thankless job, isn’t it?”

Well, sometimes being a Mom is a thankless job. That’s why we honor them with a special day. Mother’s Day is our opportunity to say a much deserved, “Thank you.”

Coach Jerry Moore is an Inspiration

Jerry Moore is an inspiration. This is his story of how listening to God turned his life around, and everyone he comes in contact with is a tesimony to his faith. Coach Moore is from Bonham, TX and currently the head football coach for the Appalachian State Mountaineers.



"I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." Ecclesiastes 9:11

Check Out the New Appalachian Outreach Video

Training for our trip to Appalachian Outreach begins on June 1 at 6:00 PM.

Jessica named Girls Swimmer of the Year

For as long as she can remember, Jessica has been swimming in the fast-lane. The New Bern High School senior competes all year round, hoping to be one of the top swimmers in the state.

In February, represented New Bern in the North Carolina State Swimming Championships in Chapel Hill, where she placed 10th in the 100-yard breaststroke. Brinkley also competed in the state meet her sophomore season.

With her accomplishments this season, Brinkley has been named the 2007-2008 Sun Journal Girls Swimmer of the Year.

She was also named the Coastal 8 Conference Girls Swimmer of the Year for the second consecutive season.

To prepare her for the future, Brinkley is currently participating on the Twin Rivers YMCA team. And, at the end of July, she will compete for the YMCA team in the national meet in Maryland.

"This will be my first national meet, so I don't really know what to expect," Brinkley said. I am nervous even though I have never been there. I just want my time to hang in there with the rest of the competition. I want to hang in there with the other top girls in the nation and just improve on my times."

She will compete in her best event, the breaststroke. Her best time in the 100 breaststroke is 1:09.47 for the YMCA team.

Brinkley also owns the New Bern school record in the event.

"It is one of the hardest strokes, but I enjoy it because I have more leg power than upper-body power," she said.

Her favorite event is the 50 freestyle, where she can swim the event in 25.94. She also competes in the 100 freestyle and 200 individual medley, as well as several relays.

During the high school season, New Bern won the Coastal 8 Conference regular season title with an undefeated record, but the Bears were edged out by J.H. Rose in the conference championship meet on Jan. 23.

In that meet, Brinkley placed first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:11.45, while placing second in the 50 and fifth in the 200 freestyle.

"This season was the best of my four years," Brinkley said. "I've worked harder and gave it my best."

As a senior, Brinkley said one of her goals was to build a stronger team bond. During the conference meet, many of Brinkley's teammates were waiting by the starting blocks cheering her on.

"I get a lot of motivation from my team, especially my relay (teammates)," she said following the Coastal 8 Conference meet. "If I have fun, and I'm enjoying what I'm doing, I don't think about it. I just go out there and do it."

Brinkley will graduate from New Bern in June, but is still undecided about her future plans.

"That's the million dollar question," she said.

Brinkley wants to swim in college, but has yet to make a decision. Among her choices, Brinkley is considering swimming for East Carolina or Gardner-Webb.

But right now, Brinkley is just weighing her options.

written by Adam Thompson of New Bern Sun Journal

Jason from American Idol

If you are an American Idol fan you might recognize Jason. Evidently he spends time leading contemporary worship music.

Appalachian Outreach Registration

Christians Join Hands to Help People in Need. Appalachian Outreach began in 1984 as a home repair ministry for poverty level people, by the Campus Ministries Department of Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tennessee. Since then Appalachian Outreach has expanded its ministries to include a homeless shelter called Samaritan House, a food distribution ministry, a used clothing and furniture ministry, a computer and GED educational program, a ministry to Hispanic people, the Second Source Thrift Store, a recycling program, Christian nurturing and counseling. The Appalachian Outreach Ministries Center is located at 190 Old Andrew Johnson Highway, across from the city park.

Partnership Principle. Appalachian Outreach connects people in need with those who have resources in order to help the less fortunate. Many people are able to give personal time by actually working on the project sites while others can only support the ministry in a monetary way. The amount of support is directly equivalent to the amount of work that can be completed. Therefore, AO strives to meet as many needs as possible. Most of the clients have been waiting for someone to help them for many years. As one elderly neighbor of one whose home was being repaired said, with tears of gratitude in her eyes, "I've been praying for years for someone to come and help my dear friend." Many of our clients have been living in sad circumstances for years, just struggling to put food on the table and to keep warm in the winter. As the homes are improved physically, AO shares the encouragement and witness of Jesus Christ. The hard work and love of Christ help build a firm foundation and structure for their homes.

Home Improvement In Jesus Name! Appalachian Outreach ministers to families from a five county area, who need home repair. They are recommended by churches, community organizations, Department of Human Services, home health care services, and by individuals. College students, faculty, community volunteers, church youth & adult groups join together as partners in volunteering their time, talent and resources to provide a helping hand. The repair ministry is supervised by Foreman, Randy Mellon. Each year many homes are repaired as tangible expressions of the love of Jesus Christ. Funding for this program is provided by individuals, church and civic organizations.

Would you like to go with our youth group? We will be in Tennessee for June 15-21. The total cost of the trip will be $25.00. In order to register, please pay this amount to Richard.

Super Bowl

I had a great time last night. It was great that so many of you could come over to the house. When it's all said and done, who will remember who won the game or who played? Who will remember the commercials? I can't tell you anything about the 2007 Super Bowl! I have already forgotten...and I'm trying to forget New England's loss this year. But I can tell you that we were together last year too. And I can tell you that Jessica B refused to eat pigs feet at the party. I remember the fun and the closeness of friendship, the same will be true agian this year. You are important people, loved by one another and by God. That's something to celebrate and give thanks for!!!

By the way, this was my favorite commerical this year. Don't ask me why, I don't remember. But I know we all laughed hard.

We're Back...

...from Winter Retreat at Universal Studios. Check out the photos by clicking on the link. FBC New Bern Universal Pics.

More photos added today!!!

The Golden Fish

Before the start of the Bosnian war, the Malkoc family lived next to a small lake in the northwestern village of Jezero. One day in 1990, Smajo Malkoc returned from a trip to Austria with an unusual gift for his teenage sons, Dzevad and Catib: an aquarium with two goldfish.

Two years passed before Bosnian Serb forces advanced on Jezero. The women and children fled, and the men stayed back to resist the attacking soldiers. Smajo Malkoc was killed. When his wife, Fehima, sneaked back into the destroyed village to bury her husband and rescue what remained of their belongings, she took pity on the fish in the aquarium. She let them out into the nearby lake, saying to herself, "This way, they might be more fortunate than us."

Fast-forward to 1995. Fehima Malkoc returned with her sons to Jezero. Nothing but ruins remained of their home and their village. Through misty eyes she looked toward the lake. Glimpsing something strange, she walked over to the shore.

"The whole lake was shining from the thousands of golden fish in it," she said. "It made me immediately think of my husband. This was something he left me that I never hoped for."

During the years of killing all around the lake, life underwater had flourished. After their return, Fehima Malkoc and her sons started caring for and selling the goldfish.

By 1998, homes, stores, and coffee shops all over the region feature aquariums containing fish from Jezero. The Malkoc house, rebuilt on its original site, is one of the biggest in the village. Two new cars are parked in front, and the family says it has enough money to quit worrying about the future.

"It was a special kind of gift from our father," Dzevad Malkoc said.

One can never underestimate what a gift of love or an act of kindness might produce. Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you" (Luke 6:38). Whenever you give, no matter how small and insignificant your gift might be, God blesses it and uses it to accomplish great things. Jesus took a young boy's lunch and fed a multitude. Have no doubt that he can take whatever we offer to him and turn it into something magnificent.

The Malkoc's story is also a parable of God's relentless grace at work even in the midst of chaos and trouble. While the war in Bosnia was raging, life below the surface of a small lake flourished. We can rest assured that God's will is being done--that his kingdom is flourishing--even when life on the surface is full of trouble and strife. That is the message of the gospel--the ultimate fairy tale that comes true.

Cowgirl Up!!!

Congratulations to Jennifer and Taylor who both won awards at the Turkey Quarter Farm awards banquet. Taylor was awarded the 2007 Horsemanship award. Jennifer was awarded 2007 Rider of the Year!!! On to the bull riding in 2008!

This Sunday

I wanted to remind you of several important meetings happening this Sunday.

First, the youth/youth committee is cooking supper for the January Bible Study. Youth should be in the FLC at 4:30 PM. You will go to choir at 5:00. We will serve supper at approximately 6:00.

Valentine Banquet rehearsal will begin immediately following supper in the FLC. We will begin dividing up youth responsibilities.

Parent Meeting We will have a meeting for all youth and parents beginning at 7:00 PM in the FLC. This meeting will serve as a pre-trip meeting for Orlando/Universal. At the end of the meeting, all wishing to learn more about the summer trip to Germany will be presented with very important information. Do not miss this meeting if you plan to go to Germany. You will be asked to commit to the trip in approximately 2 weeks. This trip is for those youth who will be 13 and above this summer (rising 9th grade and older).