FBNN Report, August 10, 2008
Newscaster: Good Morning, this is FBNN (First Baptist News Network) reporting from the First Baptist Church in the City of Williamsburg, KY. This network was formed for the purpose of sharing with the Church highlights of the 125th Anniversary Year.

Our Church has many programs and activities. Today, News Release #8 will emphasize the INREACH ministries of our Church. In a few weeks News Release #9 will emphasize the OUTREACH ministries of our Church. Our Church is a busy Church with many of you participating in programs and activities on a regular basis.

The Williamsburg Baptist Church was organized as a Church on September 19, 1883. For the first year the Church was a half-time Church, that is, there was preaching on two Sundays a month. The first pastor was Levi Jackson Steely, who died in the fourth month of his pastorate. The second pastor was William Henderson Brummett who preached only one Sunday a month. He resigned after nine months. The Church struggled in its early beginnings. In 1885 the Church called Robert Cummings Medaris as half-time pastor. Under his leadership the Church organized a "Sabbath-school." This school for Bible study began meeting every Sunday afternoon at 2:00 P.M. In 1887 during the second year of the pastorate of R. C. Medaris the Church became a full-time Church with preaching service every Sunday. At that time there were very few full-time churches in Southeastern Kentucky.

Sunday worship service with strong Bible centered preaching has been an emphasis of First Baptist Church from its beginning. The recent mission statement of First Baptist Church emphasizes this as the primary purpose of the Church. Part One: "BEING THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD BY CELEBRATING THE WORSHIP OF GOD." For 125 years the Sunday worship service is the gathering of the entire congregation to praise God and to share the Gospel with non-believers. Many members assist the pastor in making this service a meaningful religious experience. These groups include the music ministry [this includes the Music and Worship Committee, Minister of Music, organist, pianist, the adult choir, the handbell choir], the children's sermon, the children's church, the church ordinance committee, the media committee, the usher/greeter committee, the nursery committee, the decorations committee, and the Banner Ministry.

In addition to the worship of God, the Church has always placed a strong emphasis on prayer to God. The weekly Wednesday night prayer service was started in 1885 and continues to the present time. For more than thirty years the church has had an active prayer card ministry. This ministry includes intercessory prayer for sick and bereaved church members and also for many friends and relatives outside the Church. When there is an emergency, a prayer chain among many members is activated.

Bible study has been a vital part of the ministry of First Baptist Church beginning in 1885. The mission statement stresses in Part Two: "CONNECTING PEOPLE TO PEOPLE." The small group experiences of Sunday School classes, special Bible Study Groups, ne member classes, Vacation Bible School, youth ministries, college student ministries, senior adult ministries Sonshine Ministry and Upward Bound, WMU groups, and music & missions for children provide opportunities for all ages to learn about God's work and to "connect people to people."

There are other opportunities to share with one another on a continuing basis. The Deacons assist families through the Family Ministry Program. The Church library is an exceptionally good library for a Church our size and is open regularly. The Hospitality Committee and Bereavement Committee support the programs of the Church and special needs of its families. The Christian Life Center Committee directs the activities of the CLC.

Support groups enable the Church to provide all of these ministries. This includes the ministerial staff of Pastor and Associate Pastor, the custodian, and the office administrator. There are also the Building and Grounds Committee, the Finance Committee, the Personnel Committee, the Nominating Committee, and the Committee on Committees.

As this report illustrates, there are many of you who are vital participants in the INREACH MINISTRIES of this Church. If I should ask all leaders and committee members to stand, this would include almost everyone present. I close with the challenge to each of you to participate in more meaningful ways during this new year.

In a few weeks the last press release will focus on the OUTREACH MINISTRIES of our Church. Many of you are currently involved in these ministries. This News Release will be placed on the Church website this coming week. If you wish to see an early copy, please read it at your leisure whenever you contact the Church website.

Partial List of Inreach Ministries of FBC
Worship-Church Worship Services
Worship and Music Committee
Church Ordinance Committee
Usher/Greeter Committee
Decorations Committee
Banners Ministry
Prayer Ministry-Weekly Prayer Service
Prayer Card Ministry
Prayer Chain Ministry
Bible Study-Sunday School
Vacation Bible School
Women's Bible Study Groups
Annual (January) Bible Study
Training-- Discipleship Training (BYPU, BTU, Training Union)
New Member Orientation Class
Music Ministry-Sanctuary (Adult) Choir
Youth Choir
Children Choirs
Handbell Choir
Mission Education-
Baptist Women-Mission Action Group
Mission Study Group
Mission Prayer Group
Roundtable Group
Baptist Young Women (Young Women's Auxiliary)
Girls in Action (GA's/Girls Auxiliary)
Mission Friends (Sunbeams)
Royal Ambassadors (RA's)
Brotherhood
Children Ministries
Music and Missions Program
Children's Sermon
Children's Church
Summer Camps
Church Nursery
Youth Ministries
Sunday Evening Bible Study
Summer Camps & Mission Trips
College Student Ministries
Supper at Seven
College Intern Program
Senior Adult Ministries
SONSHINE Ministry (Homebound Department)
Upward Bound Program

Ministries Which Support All Age Groups Of The Church
Communications
Media Ministry (Audio & Video)
Church Website
Weekly Worship Folder
Chimes Newsletter
Western Recorder
Library Ministry
Deacon Family Ministry
Hospitality Committee Ministry
Bereavement Committee Ministry
Quilting Ministry
Christian Life Center Committee

Committees Which Support All Programs of the Church
Church Building & Grounds Committee
Church Finance Committee
Church Personnel Committee
Church Nominating Committee
Church Committee on Committees

The 125th Anniversary Committee is interested in any corrections to the news releases and additional information or stories. If you have corrections or additions, please contact George Ramey (email: gramey@ucumberlands.edu) or the church office (phone: (606) 549-0280, email: fbcwoffice@bellsouth.net).