First Notes: Greetings from Croatia

Dear First Baptist Family,

About three years ago, we re-established our partnership with the Croatian Baptist Union to assist with a school in Căkovec. Outside of that school, there is a granite marker that communicates the purpose of the school: “TRG VJERE” (a place of faith).

The First Baptist Knoxville/Croatian mission connection now spans over 20 years and has impacted many lives as we have invested both time and money to see the gospel in Croatia. Just as our Croatian partners are creating a place of faith for the next generation, we are doing the same thing in Knoxville, Tennessee. We want more and more children and adults to have a vibrant, growing faith.

I’m writing this from Croatia. For a few days, church member Matthew Evans and I have been met with various partners and potential partners in Germany who also share in the Croatian work. Now we are in Zagreb and Caăkovec, Croatia for another meeting. Tomorrow I head down to the Croatian coast (where church member Micky Roberts will meet me) to lead the Croatian pastors conference with the content of my book Prayer Power. 

Thank you for your prayers for travel safety, but also for discernment about future ways our church can serve. I am thankful for the mission-minded focus of the FBCK family!

In the meantime, I wanted to make you aware of several upcoming community, learning, and outreach opportunities that can enhance your faith.  New Coffee Ministry Launches August 17 Thanks to a generous donation of a coffee machine, we are creating a little café nook in the library that will be open from 9:30-10:30 on Sunday mornings. We will offer speciality drinks like lattes along with regular coffee. If you love coffee and would be willing to be trained in using this new equipment, then serve once a month, contact Ministry Assistant Kerra Mueller (kmueller@fbcknox.org). Vision Sunday Also on August 17th, I plan to use some of my sermon time to cast vision for the future. I will especially focus on what our mission statement “We Help People and Follow Jesus” can propel us to be and do in the coming decades. We need everyone committed, growing, and serving to fulfill God’s calling. On that Sunday, we will have a special time of fellowship before and after Sunday School to celebrate our new coffee ministry and Vision Sunday. Wednesday Night “Pause” Resumes We will kickoff our Fall Wednesday evening programming August 13th with dinner starting at 5:00. While we plan to raise the meal cost from $6 to $7 for adults, kids up to 5th grade will eat free. There will still be a family maximum of $20. On August 13th we will debut a new website and app for our church, while also describing the three small group discipleship opportunities for adults in the Fall. If you haven’t joined us before for Wednesday evenings, give it a try. The food is excellent and the fellowship is even better!  Outreach Ministry The biggest difference between stagnant, declining churches and growing, thriving churches is intentional and strategic outreach. If you are feeling led to do more to reach your neighbors, co-workers, family, and friends with the gospel, then join us with our new Outreach Team. We will be working on publicity and church mobilization this Fall to invite others to check out our ministries and fellowship. Our next team meeting will be a lunch gathering immediately following 11:00 worship on August 10th. Please email me (bmcdougal@fbcknox.org) if you would like to attend. I’m excited for the future. Meeting with our Croatian partners has reminded me that God is still up to something — not only through our church in Knoxville, but around the world. We’re part of something big. May we have the faith to meet this new day of ministry! Much love to you and I’ll see you soon. Pastor Brent McDougal