The Food Co-op leadership team invites all First Baptist gardeners to plant an extra row in their garden for the Food Co-op families. First Baptist’s Food Co-op has been meeting since November and
has 14 families involved. Second Harvest Food Bank, who supplies our food, rarely has fresh produce. Research indicates that low-income households tend to eat less nutritious diets than others and on
average, they do not meet federal recommendations for consumption of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Because of these alarming statistics, we are asking our First Baptist gardners to help provide our Food Co-op participants with fresh produce. Our Food Co-op has been meeting since last November and currently has 14 families participating. Contact Carol McEntyre at cmcentyre@fbcknox.org or 246-4661.

On the First Sunday of Each Month–Peanut Butter Only in 16 to 18 oz. jars. 

Please bring peanut butter  on the first Sunday of each month to help reduce the budget expenditure for the FISH pantry. Thank you for helping!

Are you asking questions like, “What is available?”, “Where can I help?”   Please click on the “Preview the Opportunities for Service” above to find your niche.

Kids Hope USA–What can YOU do to change a child’s life?  First Baptist is partnered with South Knoxville Elementary School to offer one-to-one relationships with at-risk public elementary school children. This volunteer position requires only 32 hours a year.  We will be offering a training session very soon before the new school year begins.  Please contact Glenna Atchley or Carol McEntyre for more information immediately so you can be trained and ready to begin in September.

A group of 6 from FBC were in Nashville the week of July 4-9 to assist in replacing flood damaged flooring with ceramic tile in a house church.

Mission Trip to the Rio Grande Valley

Mark your calendar and make plans to be a part of the mission trip to the Rio Grande Valley on the Texas-Mexico border from April 24 through May 1, 2010. Both the needs and the ministry opportunities are great in this part of the United States.  A construction team will be a central focus of the trip and other ministry options are being explored. For further information contact Julie Blakeley at 584-0589 or jsblakeley@bellsouth.net or Carol McEntyre at 246-4661 or cmcentyre@fbcknox.org.  Please submit your application as soon as possible.  Click here to download application.
 

On Saturday, December 12, we will host the fifth annual Christmas Brunch.  The Brunch is an opportunity for us to open wide the doors of the church and invite low income and homeless families to come in and eat a hearty breakfast, hear local choirs sing Christmas music and pose for a family portrait in front of the Christmas tree.  
How can you help now?
• Purchase gifts to be given out during the Brunch. You can bring gift items to the church beginning Sunday, November 1 and place them in the baskets in the welcome center and at the elevators. This year’s gifts are:
• New sweatshirts for adults (large sizes are especially needed)
• New and gently-used adjustable baseball caps for men
• Socks for children and adults
• Monetary donations for the Brunch meal and food bags (placed in an envelope labeled “Christmas Brunch” and added to the offering plate)
• Sign up to volunteer at the Brunch

My name is Shireena Weston. I am currently a senior at the University
of Tennessee, Knoxville in the College of Social Work. I am originally from Morristown, TN. After I graduate in May with my Bachelors of Science in Social Work (BSSW), I plan to continue in my social work education and go to graduate school at the University of Tennessee and attain my Masters of Science in Social Work (MSSW). I am looking forward to continuing interning here at First Baptist and I thank you for allowing me to be a part of this ministry.

Caritas Felices means smiling faces. The Peru team spent most of the week ministering at Caritas Felices, a home for girls ages four to seventeen who have been sexually abused. It is a fitting name for the home because the girls were so happy to see us.  Since they come from such difficult circumstances, I expected them to be distant. Yet, each day, they greeted us with hugs, kisses on the cheek and “Hola.”  
 
Sister Rita, the Catholic nun who began the home is the only round-the-clock caregiver for nearly 40 girls.  She raises support for the home from the local community, but the home is often in need.  The girls don’t have many items that we would consider essential, like toilet paper.  When we handed out the toiletry bags to the girls, one of them asked, “Is this shampoo?”  When we confirmed that it was, she responded, “Hallelujah, I didn’t have any.”  Despite this lack of necessities, the home was filled with hope and even a little joy.  Giugliana Mendoza, Buckner staff in Peru said, “Love is just as important as food.  Groups need to come to show these girls that people love them.”  This is exactly what we tried to do the week we were at Caritas Felices.
 
From the Team
Most of my prior mission experience has been with construction projects.  Usually, I came home with pictures to share with the family and tell them, “Look what we did.” This week, as we looked at the photos of these little faces and I shared stories about each one, I caught myself saying, “Look what God did.”  That sums up the trip for me. ~ Steve Bowman

I think the best part of this trip was feeling the love of the girls.  They shared hugs, kisses, and tears with people they had just met, having faith that it would be reciprocated.  God really impressed upon me that we are all meant to have faith like a child.  These girls, who have lost so much, still have faith…it was truly inspirational!  ~ LeEllen Phillips

During the week, one mother visited her two daughters who live at Caritas.  I was saddened by her circumstances, but I also recognized what a sacrifice this mother made….giving up her beautiful daughters to save them from the possibility of sexual abuse.  I can’t imagine having to face the decision to give up either of my children, but looking at Jimena and Fiorella, God spoke to me and said that’s exactly what I did for you.  I gave up my Son for you.
~ Jane Phillips

More photos are available at fbcknox.org/missions/peru.
 

Volunteers gathered to put ribbon around the necks of teddy’s bears that will be distributed by the Peru team.

First Baptist Knitting Club donated hats
for the Peru team to give away.