1. Phone (985) 839-3427
Fax (985) 839-3572
E-mail:
fbc.natasha@gmail.com
Website
www.fbcfranklinton.org
Wednesday Evening Worship
5:00 p.m. Family Supper
6:00 p.m. Activities
Sunday Bible Study
9:15 a.m.
Sunday Morning Worship
8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Sunday Evening Worship
6:00 p.m.
The Bridge November 2014
Monthly Newsletter of
First Baptist Church Franklinton

2. Paul Watts, Pastor
fbc.paulwatts@gmail.com
Therapeutic thanksgiving
The spiritual disciplines are important in the life of the growing dis-
ciples of Jesus Christ. Prayer, Bible study, corporate and private
worship, fasting, meditation, evangelism, and many others hold the
potential to be used of the Holy Spirit to help us grow in holiness
and usefulness to our Lord Jesus and His work. We should prac-
tice the disciplines to the glory of Jesus, but there are benefits that
we reap as we walk with the Lord and the fullness of His Spirit
that are seen in our own personality, relationships, and emotional
state. One such benefit is seen in the practice of thanksgiving as a
regular part of prayer and worship. Taking time to pause and re-
flect on God’s goodness and grace gives glory and honor to God and
has emotional and spiritual, even mental health benefits for the
follower of Christ. This principle is seen repeatedly in the Psalms
as the psalmist lays injustice, sickness, weariness, and complaints
before the Lord. This may go on at great length, but finally there is
a turning point. The psalmist will finally turn and look to God. He
will reaffirm his hope in the Lord and begin to thank the Lord for
His help and sustaining power in times past and in days to come.
Oh, that we might learn this lesson and apply it faithfully in our
lives! Psalm 69 is a perfect illustration of this process.
Psalm 69:1-2 (HCSB) states: Save me, God, for the water has risen
to my neck, I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing; I have
come into deep waters, and a flood sweeps over me. David is cry-
ing out to God in desperation as one who is overwhelmed. Sound
familiar? He does not stop there. David continues to lay his com-
plaint before the Lord for 29 verses. He complains because of the
hatred of others toward him, his own sin, disgrace and shame he
has borne, injustice he has been forced to endure, and his own
emotional pain and despair. David holds nothing back, but finally
there is a turning point. Verse 30 states: I will praise God’s name
with song and exalt Him with thanksgiving. There needs to be a
point in our prayer when we stop and realign ourselves in our rela-
tionship with God. He is God. He is good and merciful. He is wor-
thy of our praise. Thanksgiving helps us do this. It takes the focus
off of us and places it on the Lord. How do people spiral into a place
of depression? It begins with the inability or unwillingness to take
their focus off of the issue(s) or problem(s) that plague them. When
David begins to thank and praise the Lord he is reminded that his
actions are to please the Lord, and to positively affect others. He
states: That will please Yahweh more than an ox, more than a bull
with horns and hooves. The humble will see it and rejoice. You who
seek God, take heart! (vs. 31-32).
I want to encourage our congregation to practice some therapeutic
thanksgiving this November! We will find it will honor the Lord,
help our own walk with the Lord, and encourage those around us.
Take some time and list some of the reasons you have to give God
thanks, take these things to Him in prayer and worship daily, and
then share them with someone else. I want to give you an oppor-
tunity to share a testimony with our congregation this November.
Use your smartphone, (or your grandkids’) to video yourself shar-
ing your thanksgiving testimony. It should be no longer than 30
seconds. Send your video testimony to my email, fbc.paulwatts@
gmail.com. We will use these videos on our church Facebook and
in our worship services to praise the Lord and encourage each oth-
er. It’s not about putting ourselves on display, but about giving
glory and honor to God.
A Cup with Pastor Paul
http://acupwiththepastor.blogspot.com
2
Remember to
submit your video of your
thankful testimony!
It shouldn’t be more than 30
seconds long.
Send the video to
fbc.paulwatts@gmail.com.

3. Dale Parker,
Minister to Senior
Adults
& Discipleship Training
fbc.daleparker@gmail.com
3
One of the marks of a mature Christian is
an attitude of thankfulness. At Thanksgiving
families and friends will gather around a ta-
ble somewhere. Maybe they share a tradition
like we do in our family where we each have
an opportunity to say what we’re thankful
for. Or, someone will maybe ask the blessing
and give thanks for the meal. But how thank-
ful are we really? And what are we really
thankful for?
Several years ago I started to list in my
journal some of the things I’m thankful for,
and I’d like to share some thoughts for this
year with you in hope that you might be in-
spired to make your own list of things you
thank God for.
First of all, I’m thankful for Jesus Christ
who gave His life for mine on the cross, and
for my salvation and the assurance of eternal
life. (I was saved Thanksgiving Day, Novem-
ber 25, 1995.)
I’m thankful for my wife, Margie, who
loves me and appreciates my sense of humor.
I’m thankful for love. I’m thankful that my
parents are still living and that I can call each
one and tell them that I love them. I’m thank-
ful for my step-mom who loves my dad and
puts up with our nutty family. I’m thankful
for my brothers and my sister and their fami-
lies. I’m thankful for my children and my
grand children, my step-children and grand-
children, and our two great-grandsons, all of
whom bring great joy to my heart.
I’m thankful for the calling God has placed
on my life. I’m thankful for His mercy and
grace and patience with me when I get things
wrong. I’m thankful for His love and His di-
rection. I’m thankful for the vision He has
given me for the people of Honduras. I’m
thankful for Pastor David and Nellie and
their family and for their ministry to the
villages of Buena Vista and Guayabo. I’m
thankful for Sam and Peggy Feazel and their
ministry in Honduras.
I’m thankful for prayer and my times of
prayer-walking my neighborhood and re-
membering the people I know there. I’m
thankful that people pray for me and care
about me and my family. I’m thankful that
God does hear our prayers and answers
them according to His knowledge and will.
I’m thankful that I’m part of the body of
Christ at FBC Franklinton. I’m thankful for
my ministry to our senior adults and the awe-
some blessing that each one is to me. I’m so
thankful that I’ve had the privilege to know
some senior saints who have gone on to be
with the Lord and for the lasting impression
they have made in my heart. I’m thankful for
the ministry of caring for my sweet mother-
in-law whom I miss.
I’m thankful for my friends on staff, for our
comradery, our love for each other, and for
the privilege of praying for them daily.
The list could go on and on. Did you no-
tice that there’s nothing material in here?
God has richly blessed each of us beyond the
material to the things that really matter. So
grab a pen or pencil and a piece of paper and
make your own list. Then share it with your
family and friends.
Happy Thanksgiving,
and as always, God bless,
Brother Dale
I am thankful for........
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Save the Date
An Ignite Missions Fundraiser will be on
Thursday, November 13th at 6:00 P.M. here in our fellowship hall.
Dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. Please RSVP to the office so we will
have a head count for the meal, it will be catered by Sugar Shack.
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
and Your faithfulness every night, on an instru-
ment of ten strings, on the lute, and on the harp,
with harmonious sound.
For You, Lord, have made me glad
through Your work; I will triumph in the works of
Your hands. O Lord, how great are Your works!
Your thoughts are very deep. A senseless man
does not know, nor does a fool understand this.
When the wicked spring up like grass,
and when all the works of iniquity flourish, it
is that they may be destroyed forever. But You,
Lord, are on high forevermore. For behold, Your
enemies, O Lord, shall perish; and all the work-
ers of iniquity shall be scattered.
But my horn You have exalted like a
wild ox; I have been annointed with fresh oil. My
eye also has seen my desire on my enemies; my
ears hear my desire on the wicked who rise up
against me. The righteous shall flourish like a
palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar of Lebanon.
Those who are planted in the house of
the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall
be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord
is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrigh-
teousness in Him.”
Psalm 921:1-15 On December 7th there will be a Honduras Mission Team Interest meeting at 5 PM in
the Senior Adult Center. Dates for the trip are June 29th - July 5th, 2015.

4. Cody Thomas,
Student Pastor
fbc.codythomas@gmail.com
Recently on a Sunday night
the church was challenged to con-
sider the worth of the Kingdom of
God. Bro. Paul encouraged us to
consider the worth of the Kingdom
by exegeting the words of Jesus in
Matthew 13:44-46, “The kingdom
of heaven is like treasure hidden
in a field, which a man found and
covered up. Then in his joy he goes
and sells all that he has and buys
that field. Again, the kingdom of
heaven is like a merchant in search
of fine pearls, who, on finding one
pearl of great value, went and sold
all that he had and bought it.” Ac-
cording to Jesus, the Kingdom of
Heaven is worth more than any-
thing on this earth. The Kingdom of
Heaven is worthy of our complete
surrender because the Kingdom
of Heaven is the greatest treasure.
This challenged me to examine my
life and the things I consider to be
of worth. Whatever I consider to be
of worth, the Kingdom of Heaven
is infinitely more worthy, which
means my heart’s focus should be
on the Kingdom of Heaven, and the
other areas of my life should be af-
fected by it.
Likewise, on Wednesday
nights with the Student Ministry
we have been studying the Lord’s
Prayer and the implications for life
application. A few weeks ago we
studied the phrase, “thy Kingdom
come, thy will be done on earth as
it is heaven.” When Jesus told His
disciples to pray that phrase, He
was telling them to pray in line
with the heart of God. The more
time we spend with God, the more
our desires are in line with His de-
sires. The more time we spend with
God, the more we start to look like
Christ and act like Christ. The more
time we spend with God the more
likely His Kingdom will truly come
in our lives and His will will be
done in our lives as it is in heaven.
How do these two passages relate?
The Kingdom of Heaven
is worth more than anything this
world has to offer. When we seek
God with all of our heart and seek
to know Him and experience Him
through prayer and Bible study,
His Kingdom comes in our lives.
When we seek to spend time with
God, His Kingdom which is worth
more than anything this world has
to offer, will come in our lives and
we will glorify Him and His King-
dom. In order for this to happen,
we must be the church that is King-
dom-minded; we must be follow-
ers of Christ that consider the King-
dom worth more than anything in
this world. When we surrender to
God, His Kingdom will come in us
and be seen through us.
This month there are two
Student Ministry events that you
need to know about. The first is
Saturday, November 8th from 8:00
a.m. to noon. Dr. Johnny Deroun
will come to our church to speak
about Student Ministry. Every
adult involved in the Student Min-
istry is encouraged to attend. The
second is Sunday, November 23rd
– 24th … The Youth Evangelism
Celebration will be in Lafayette,
La. This is an overnight trip. Each
student desiring to attend needs to
pay $60 and bring spending money
for the trip. For more information
on the forum or YEC, please feel
free to contact me.
- Brother Cody
REACHING In & REACHING Out
Student
Ministry Events
Sunday, November 8th
Youth Ministry Forum
Wednesday, November 12th
Youth Bible Study lead by
East Fork Baptist Church
Student Ministry
November 23rd - 24th
Youth Evangelism
Conference
Cajundome in
Lafayette, LA
Cost is $60
4
Youth Evangelism Celebration
November 23rd and 24th
Youth Evangelism Celebration is a state-wide conference specifically catering to Jr. High and High School
students. Loud music, dynamic speakers, top notch entertainers that love Jesus, and thought-provoking drama
are all present at YEC. The cost of YEC is $60. Please come by the church office if you would like to sign-up and
pay or if you need more information.
Our church has reserved a limited number of spots, so it is important for students to sign-up and pay early.

5. Butch Reviere
Minister of
Music
fbc.butch@gmail.com
Note from Brother Butch
5
As most of you know, October
has been designated for many years
as Pastor / Staff Appreciation Month
among Southern Baptists (and others).
A couple of weeks ago in the morning
worship services, you (the First Baptist
family) gifted your ministerial staff
with a token of your appreciation and
offered generous comments about our
service among you. The words “thank
you” are inadequate, at best, but do
serve to at least begin to express my
personal gratitude, not only for the
gift, but also for the great privilege
of serving with you here at FBC. But
folks, know this: THE GRATITUDE
FOR FAITHFUL SERVICE GOES
BOTH WAYS.
While we genuinely are grate-
ful for all your expressions of support
for your pastor and staff, each of us…
Butch, Cody, Dale, Kelly, Leslie, Nata-
sha, Paul, and Ted…want you to know
how much we are blessed to be your
“staff”; we want all of you to know that
we are aware and appreciative of all of
you as you faithfully invest yourselves
in the life of God’s Church here at the
corner of Cleveland and Self! Each
of you has a calling to ministry, and
yours is as vital as ours for the Body to
function as our Lord intends. After all,
it is really about Him anyway and not
about any of us. Apart from His Life at
work in us, we would all be useless for
Kingdom purposes.
I am reminded of a story about
how to graciously receive praise from
others. If memory serves correctly,
what I am about to share was told by
missionary Corrie Ten Boom, known
for having survived Nazi prison camps
during World War II. In a context of
being praised for her faithful service
to the Lord, she related how difficult
it was to accept praise, knowing that
the strength to survive the difficulties
of her life and remain faithful to Jesus
all came from the indwelling of the
Holy Spirit. Besides that, it was a great
privilege to serve the King of Kings.
So she began a simple and private rou-
tine in those kinds of situations. When
praised or thanked or in any way rec-
ognized for her service, she would
with sincere humility and gratitude
acknowledge the gracious expres-
sions of others to her…and then…she
would immediately pass those words
of praise along to her Lord, reflecting
deeply upon the agony of His cross,
His example of humility, and the pre-
ciousness of His blood shed just for
her and for all humanity. Hers was a
simple practice which we all would do
well to embrace, don’t you think?
Well, this month’s Bridge is
filled with events, dates, and times, so
here are a few which relate to our wor-
ship ministry:
November 27th – THANKSGIVING
Giving thanks to God for His manifold
blessings in our lives is always a part
of our worship, but this day offers a
special opportunity to be grateful and
to remind others to do the same. We
are so blessed!!!
November 30th – KEYBOARD PRAISE
This will be my first opportunity to ex-
perience this very unique opportunity
to worship. You can see by the extra
keyboards in and near the sanctuary
that rehearsals have already begun,
and we look forward to sharing this
event with our entire community.
December 7th – CHILDREN SINGING
Our children’s choirs are prepar-
ing Christmas music to share with us
on that day (details in the December
Bridge).
December 14th – SANCTUARY
CHOIR PRESENTATION
The choir will present the
Christmas musical entitled THREE
GIFTS, Our Christmas Offering.
My life, my heart, and my praise are
my Christmas offering to Jesus. You
will want to invite friends and family
to join us.
Once again, as we offer each
other various expressions of gratitude
and encouragement, may our hearts
hastily forward those sentiments to
the One from Whom all blessings flow!
May you and your family have a Hap-
py and Blessed Thanksgiving season.

6. Is everyone as glad as I am that October is over? As much
as I always look forward to all the fun times that October
brings, I am certainly always thankful for the calmness
that follows...if you can call Thanksgiving and Christmas
holidays calm!
I am so proud of our children for stepping out and sharing
their faith during the month of October! We had two spe-
cial opportunities during the month, and they fully took
advantage of them! I love seeing our children being bold
with their faith!
In case you missed it, 4th-6th graders had the opportu-
nity to pass out water during the Fair at the Baptist Asso-
ciation water booth in the Commercial Building. Thirteen
children took part, and I’m confident we would have had
more if we had more time and space!
Also, FBC hosted a “Trunk-or-Treat” on Wednesday, Octo-
ber 29th. Going into it, the children were told that this was
another opportunity to bring their friends to church. We
talked about how it would only be promoted by their own
word of mouth. At this time, the event is still a week away,
but I know for certain that the kids are telling others based
on the questions that are directed back to me. So exciting!!
Our November time of fellowship is planned for Saturday,
November 15th from 2 - 4 p.m. for 3rd - 6th graders. Only
40 Spots are available, so be sure to let me know if you are
planning to come! The cost is $5 to cover supplies. It will
be an evening of art and devotion called “How Great Thou
ART.” I will be leading the devotion time, but definitely not
the art portion of it!
Also, mark your calendars for two other important dates.
On the evening of December 21st, the Preschool and
Children’s Departments will be traveling to Columbia, MS,
to board the Columbia Christmas Train. The cost is $12,
and the money is due by Sunday, November 23rd. For
more information, feel free to give me a call or check out
the website at www.columbiachristmastrain.com.
6
FBC Kids shirts are in!
Choose between apple green & turquoise blue with
contrasting print. The front of both shirts has the icthus
fish with the word “Follower” printed above it, and the
back of both has Matthew 4:19.
Cost is $10 each color
Kelly McElveen
Director of Preschool/
Children’s Ministries
fbc.playschool@gmail.com
Happy Birthday!
3rd - Kaylan Seal
4th - Dawson Bell
9th - Will Turner
Are you in 6th grade or below?
Let me know so I can add
you to my list!

7. 7
PlaySchool News
Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the
Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love
endures forever! Psalm 106:1

8. Leslie Westmoreland
WINGS Coordinator
lwestmoreland.ees@wpsb.org
WINGS
Ministry
8
Ladie’s Night Out!
Painting Party with
Ashlee Thomas
November 20th, Thursday night,
6:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall.
Cost: $30
We will be painting a cross on a cabinet door that can be placed on
an easel or used as a door hanger. You pick the cross design, paint
colors, scripture, and size of cabinet door (square or rectangle).
Please sign up on the WINGS board and check
which door size you would like.
Rooted in Christ,
Wednesday Night Ladies Class
will start
“The Family of Jesus” Bible Study
by Karen Kingsbury
on December 3rd in the
Senior Adult Center at 6:00 p.m.
Books Cost $15.00
Save The Date:
Pine FBS Women’s Conference February
27th & 28th, 2015
Speaker: Julie Woodruff
Worship Leader: Lara Landon.

9. Children’s
Church
Month of
November
Leslie Varnado
for ages 3
to
Kindergarten
We will be meeting in
Mrs. Cindy’s Kindergarten
Sunday school room in the
Preschool Department
Sunday Night
Supper
11/2
Knight, Branch, Wales, Rester,
Kirby, Varnado & Fortenberry
11/9
McVea, Phelps, Knight, Stokes,
Knight, Brown, Knight & Gill
11/16
Waskom, Thomas, String-
field, Taber, Burris, Driskill, &
Kennedy
11/23
No Evening Fellowship Supper
11/30
Fifth Sunday Pot Luck
11/2
Joe
Sandifer
& Lance
Schilling
11/9
Tommy
Wood &
Richard
McElveen
11/16
Richard
Knight
& Matt
Westmoreland
11/23
Howard
Gibson
& Mike
Hickman
11/30
Dennis
Wager &
George
Cowart
Sound Schedule
(Please note schedule changes)
11/2
Darren Schilling
11/9
Johnny Burris
11/16
Matt Westmoreland
11/23
Mack McElveen
11/30
Stephen McElveen
Wednesday Night
Supper
11/5
Group A - Pulled Pork
11/12
Group B - Fried Chicken
11/19
Men’s Group
Chicken & Sausage Jambalya
11/26
Thanksgiving Holidays
No Supper
9
Our
November VOLUNTEERS
Nursery Schedule
11/2
Jenniffer Walle &
Carolyn Knight
11/9
Ann Hingle &
Velma Crowe
11/16
Pauline Bankston &
Hazel Varnado
11/23
Brenda Allen &
Diane Cruce
11/30
Tana Burris &
Leslie Westmoreland

10. Individuals and Families...
Continue to bless more chil-
dren by packing additional
boxes. Teach children the art of
giving and showing God’s love
by taking them shopping to
fill Operation Christmas Child
boxes.
How to Pack a Shoebox
1. SHOEBOX
Use an empty cardboard or plastic shoebox
(average size). You can wrap the box, lid
separately, but wrapping is not required.
2. BOY OR GIRL
Decide whether your gift will be for a boy
or a girl, and the age category: 2-4, 5-9, or
10-14. Download and print the appropriate
boy/girl label. Mark the correct age catego-
ry and tape the label to the top of your box.
3. FILL WITH GIFTS
Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will
bring delight to a child.
4. INCLUDE $7 DONATION PER
ShoeBOX
Help cover shipping and other costs related
to delivering your shoeboxes to children
overseas by donating $7 for each gift you
prepare. You can give online to discover
the destination of your box. Or, you can
write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note
“OCC” on the memo line) and place it in
an envelope on top of the items inside your
shoebox. If you are preparing multiple
gifts, please make one combined donation.
Note: Follow Your Box is only available
through online giving.
Remember to Pray for the children who
will receive your shoebox gifts.
5. DROP OFF
Place a rubber band around each closed
shoebox and bring it to FBC sanctuary after
October 1st.
National Collection
Week,
November 17 to 24, 2014.
Announcements
Operation Christmas Child
Packing party: Sunday November 9th
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Be a foreign missionary without ever leaving
Franklinton. Prepare shoebox gifts to show
children around the world the love of God!
Everyone is urged to participate in this fun event. We are
hoping to pack 500 boxes.
Sunday School collections of Operation Christmas Child
materials should be completed by November 2nd so the Packing
Party can be set-up.
Volunteers will be needed for:
Packing Party set-up Sunday, November 9th at 2:00 p.m.
Relay Center collections
November 17th - 24th
Hours are:
Monday, Tuesday, Thurday & Friday 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Monday (11/24) 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
(Sign-up sheet will be posted on the Missions Board)
10

11. 11
Newman Graham Clint Galloway
The Help Center of
Churches
is asking FBC Franklinton
to collect Spaghetti sauce.
Monique Wortman
Save the Date
for the
Keyboard Praise
Sunday, November 30th.
Two performances
2:00 & 6:00 p.m.
FBC Franklinton
Sanctuary
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to
Your name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in
the morning, and Your faithfulness every night, on an
instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on the harp, with
harmonious sound.”
Psalm 92:1-3
Welcome
Our New Members

12. PRSRT STD
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION
US POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 27
November 2014
950 Self Street
Franklinton, LA 70438
www.fbcfranklinton.org
First Baptist Church
Franklinton