Don’t forget to sign your family up on the list posted on the Kids Connection floor for our Family Bowl at Down Under on Sunday, March 4 from 1:30-3:30pm. It’s free of charge and the entire family is welcome, but we do need to know if you plan to join us!

After a late start Mom’s Connection is off and running! We have scheduled our get togethers through next May and all moms are invited to come and be a part of this great group! We meet the second Friday of each month (unless otherwise noted) beginning with food and fellowship at 10:00 a.m. in the Blue Room. Childcare is provided by reservation to Susan Tatum. We have some exciting programs planned as well as some mission opportunities to participate in. Some months we will be doing some craft projects as well. For the month of March we will be talking about “Getting Ready for Spring.” We will end with a delicious lunch that day. You are encouraged to come and bring a friend as well. Again, please let Susan know if you need childcare. Watch for more details about this and the rest of our schedule! If you have questions about Mom’s Connection contact Holly McGee or Susan Tatum at statum@fbcknox.org.

Here is our schedule of dates and topics for the following months:

February 10 – Enriching Relationships with Our Spouse and Children

March 9 – Getting Ready for Spring

April 13  – Preparing for College

May 11 – Summer Safety Tips

Sunday Nights after Chapel Choir, 6:30-8:00pm

Our weekly High School Bible study, Breathe, dives into God’s Word and focuses on how it applies to our lives. We have great discussions, challenging lessons, and of course, food. This semester we are taking part in the “100 Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart” challenge. Every Sunday night students are given 5 verses to memorize throughout the next week. They are asked to choose 3-5 verses to recite the following Sunday. Lessons each week center on the truths presented in that week’s Scriptures. Memorization is not required, but there are some great “incentives” (we don’t want to use the word “bribes”) to encourage them to give it a shot. Come and find out why Sunday nights are one of our favorite nights of the week.

What do you get when you combine God’s Word with the best Middle Schoolers on the planet? The Gathering! We meet each week from 6:00- 7:30p.m. (doors open at 5:00pm). All students 6th-8th grade are welcome. This semester our MS and HS students will continue the “100 Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart” challenge. Each week student will receive 5 new verses to work through as we come together to “hide these words in our hearts.” Parents, this is a great place for your student to get to know other youth and to experience God’s love. We hope you will make Wednesday Nights a regular part of your schedule.

The University Class at First Baptist Knox is dedicated to openly and honestly discussing God’s truth, exploring our own faith, and working with each other to support, nurture, and develop ways of living according to Christ’s teachings.

We meet every Sunday in the University Suite (Room 1B), starting around 9:45 am  and going until around 10:45. We typically discuss a book or theme from the Bible. Currently, we are working through a series of Bible lessons featured in Baptist Today.

Snacks, drinks, fellowship, and fun are provided. We also have a Tuesday night meeting, where we fellow- ship and discuss a book, or whatever else might be on our minds. We start at 7, and we usually meet in a restaurant close to campus.

Starting Aug. 23, we will discuss Veritas- UT’s guest speaker Justin Barrett’s book, Why Would Any- one Believe in God?, before his visit September 21-22 (ref- reshments to be provided). Starting September 27, we will begin meeting at the Sunspot, on Cumberland.

If you have any questions, or would just like to make some new friends, please contact us; or better yet, give us a visit!

Court Lewis: court.lewis@gmail.com

Promotion Sunday for Sixth Grade – August 14

On Sunday August 14, we will welcome our sixth-grade students into the youth ministry. We will have a ceremony in both morning services to honor our new students’ transition into the youth ministry. We are asking students and family to attend both services. We are looking forward to an amazing year. If you have any questions please feel free to call or e-mail Michael McEntyre at 865-246-4663 or mmcentyre@fbcknox.org.

Thank you for your prayers and support for our youth mission trip to South Africa. 

We know that this trip would not have been possible without our church family. We look forward to sharing with you all the incredible ways God used our team while we were gone. Please plan to join us for our South Africa mission report Wednesday night, August 17.

Click photo for pictures from the South Africa Mission Trip

This has been a trip like none I have ever experienced. God is working around every corner. There have been so many incredible stories from our team each night. We are basically on 6 different mission trips at once. Our teams minister in different areas each day. I asked the team to share a few words. Internet is hard to come by here so I’m sorry we can’t update As much as we would like. I am sending a few pictures, so much more to come. Please keep us in your prayers.

- Michael

My team has been teaching at Sebetsa High School. I’m in a 9^th grade class and they are wonderful. The students are very receptive. At the 3end of class we had time for the students to ask us questions. They are interested in America and our traditions. One student asked me about how we celebrate Christmas. That opened the door for me to share the birth of Jesus and what He has done for us.

- Jan Johnson

Hey guys, this trip has been eye-opening, too much to explain. God is working every minute, every day. Love you.

 - Mark Coffield

Each day my team (Morgan, Anna Cate, and myself) have been teaching character development to middle school and high school students. As questions come from the students, we are able to tell about our faith and answer topics in a more personal way. God has allowed many opportunities to share our testimony to the students who are very eager to learn of Jesus. It is truly amazing to feel God’s presence working with us to touch these students.

- Mac Pickle

I am beyond blessed right now to have this experience here in South Africa. Going into this trip I was so excited, but really nervous at the same time. So far, I have seen God work more on this trip than any other before. I have experienced things on this trip that I never thought I would ever have to encounter. The people we have shared the Gospel with have been open and willing to listen to us and want to know more. I can just feel God working in me in amazing ways. I can’t wait to see what happens the rest of our time here.

 - Megan Turner

On the first day that we taught, I was worried that nobody would accept me as their teacher. When we arrived, we were welcomed with open arms. The past few days have been amazing and I have been blessed to see the Lord work in many ways.

- Kathryn Pickle

God has shown himself to me this week in more ways than one. Through the smiles of children, hospitality in the camp we stay at, and McDonalds chicken nuggets. This trip has been enlightening and an experience I will never forget. I hope to share the story of Christ to many more people for the rest of the week. God bless.

- Nicky Austin

I am so blessed to have this opportunity to be in South Africa this week. It truly is a God moment. This week I’m working in the schools teaching character traits. All of the kids are asking us if we know celebrities. One of the classes even surrounded us and asked us to sign autographs. I find that really humbling that they think highly of us. So much more is going on that I cannot put in this update, but please continue to keep us in you’re prayers. God is so good!

- Jess Maples

It is tough to summarize almost a week of amazing things that have happened, but I can for sure say that God is moving here in big ways. Some of these people have so little but are so happy and welcoming- It’s an eye-opening experience.

- Austin Tatum

It has been a very busy but great first few days. It is amazing to see some of the things God is doing in the schools we are working in. It has been a blessing getting to know several South African teenagers. Please continue to pray for our team.

- Johnathan Keaton

It has been a very busy and tiring week. I have met some very inspiring people this week. I’m glad God brought me here because my life has truly been changed. At first I was scared to walk along the city streets in Johannesburg, but after meeting some of the people, I enjoy doing it and spreading the gospel. I’m changing their lives and at the same time they are changing mine. I’m having an amaszing time but I really want some American food.

- Andy Tatum

Hey! Thank you for your contributions in bringing us to South Africa whether it be via prayer or monetary support. After 5 days, it is evident God won’t let them go to waste. We no longer feel in control. God’s intervention has been present each day, and it is a blessing to see how God’s working and fulfilling His will. My team has been working in the Berea suburb of Johannesburg. We are teaching nutrition referencing the story of creation in a girl’s preparatory school. Afterwards, we are working at a nearby high school doing sports evangelism. The relationships we are building there are special and carry the promise of lasting much longer. Please pray for God’s continued blessings.

- David Lethco

Entering True Love Waits this week, I was extremely nervous. I wasn’t necessarily nervous for the public speaking, but nervous I would forget the material because I wasn’t exactly prepared. On the ride to school the first morning, I prayed God would provide me with the words to share his message for the kids of Soweto who so desperately need it. I have never seen God answer a prayer of mine so fervently. I had the opportunity to answer questions regarding rape, divorce, AIDS, and heartbreak. God blessed me with the opportunity to share the Gospel through my answers. That was only day one. I can’t wait to see what else God will share with the kids through me as the week continues.

- Courtney Allen