Darla Shupick, Randy Slides Off and Nicole Arnoldbik put together a semi-spontaneous carwash yesterday in the Lakota Thrifty Mart parking lot. The day was rainy and overcast, but that didn't seem to matter too much to the fun-loving work force! The kids did a great job scrubbing away at all the South Dakota bug splatters on windshields and hoods, etc. Plus they had fun to boot! Throughout the course of the afternoon, ten kids armed with squeegies and water buckets could be seen splashing around the parking lot and occasionally taking a break or two to feast on donuts, peaches, pretzels and beef jerky. All in all, it was a fairly productive day and the FBC youth group collected $175 in donations for youth activities and for Windswept Academy, the new Christian school that will be using First Baptist's facilities for the '09-'10 school year. Here's a little video clip with snippets of our achievement!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Summertime: So Far, So Good
Watch this video to get a glimpse of some of the ministry & hard work (and good, bapticostal fun) that's been going on around Eagle Butte. So many visitors have put smiles on our faces and encouraged us through their projects and support. We have been blessed by their dedicated efforts and by the gift of their friendship. This goes out to all you folks from around the country: THANK YOU FOR CARING & FOR PRAYING!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
From the Pastor's Desk
Dear Family and Friends,
The Lord is blessing us with a very busy and productive summer. Thanks to Fred and Betty Igert and also eight men from First Baptist Church of Rolling Hills, Catoosa, OK., our church has new floors, windows, an added classroom, new bathrooms with showers, new storage cabinets, a new janitor's closet and more. It is beautiful! These men worked 12-16 hours each day. We also had a great revival service with Brother Fred and a Cherokee group from Stilwell, OK. led by Brother Don Sanders. One of our men from Eagle Butte, Tyson LaPlante, prayed to receive Christ. Please pray for him.
After all this, our friends from Hamilton Baptist Church, Hamilton, VA., came and conducted our VBS, this being their 11th year. We averaged over 90 children each night with 15 children and youth praying to receive Christ. We had 12 of our adults help in various ways. This group from Hamilton also labored many hours each day preparing for each night of VBS.
After VBS our church family met and unanimously agreed to restructure our Sunday School beginning August 9th in order to reach at least 50 or 60 children and youth every Sunday. So far we have 16 adults who will be working in this ministry. We will even be cooking breakfast for the children. (I have requested two extra sausage and biscuits for me.)
We have two more building projects that we are hoping to do in September or October which will probably cost us about $2,500.00. We used all of the $9,000.00 from our building fund and are already in great need of classroom, fellowship hall and sanctuary space. We have enough property for a 40x60 addition. We would need at least five teams and probably $200,000.00 for this to happen. If God continues to add to our church family and our children and youth ministry we are praying and believing that He will give us the extra space that we need. With God's help we could be pouring concrete in May of 2010. Even though Eagle Butte is said to be one of the poorest places in the U.S. we are choosing to believe that there is nothing too hard for God!
Please pray for us and also for Windswept Academy, which will begin operating in our church building this August. We love you and thank God for you.
God's grace and peace to you all.
Pastor Phil Lawrence
The Lord is blessing us with a very busy and productive summer. Thanks to Fred and Betty Igert and also eight men from First Baptist Church of Rolling Hills, Catoosa, OK., our church has new floors, windows, an added classroom, new bathrooms with showers, new storage cabinets, a new janitor's closet and more. It is beautiful! These men worked 12-16 hours each day. We also had a great revival service with Brother Fred and a Cherokee group from Stilwell, OK. led by Brother Don Sanders. One of our men from Eagle Butte, Tyson LaPlante, prayed to receive Christ. Please pray for him.
After all this, our friends from Hamilton Baptist Church, Hamilton, VA., came and conducted our VBS, this being their 11th year. We averaged over 90 children each night with 15 children and youth praying to receive Christ. We had 12 of our adults help in various ways. This group from Hamilton also labored many hours each day preparing for each night of VBS.
After VBS our church family met and unanimously agreed to restructure our Sunday School beginning August 9th in order to reach at least 50 or 60 children and youth every Sunday. So far we have 16 adults who will be working in this ministry. We will even be cooking breakfast for the children. (I have requested two extra sausage and biscuits for me.)
We have two more building projects that we are hoping to do in September or October which will probably cost us about $2,500.00. We used all of the $9,000.00 from our building fund and are already in great need of classroom, fellowship hall and sanctuary space. We have enough property for a 40x60 addition. We would need at least five teams and probably $200,000.00 for this to happen. If God continues to add to our church family and our children and youth ministry we are praying and believing that He will give us the extra space that we need. With God's help we could be pouring concrete in May of 2010. Even though Eagle Butte is said to be one of the poorest places in the U.S. we are choosing to believe that there is nothing too hard for God!
Please pray for us and also for Windswept Academy, which will begin operating in our church building this August. We love you and thank God for you.
God's grace and peace to you all.
Pastor Phil Lawrence
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Divine Appointment (Letter from a sister in Christ at Hamilton Baptist)
Dear First Baptist of Eagle Butte,
God has the most wonderful way of setting events in motion so that the salvation of Jesus can be received and spread. The Lord is full of surprises, and divine appointments must be one of His favorites. Here’s what happened: Marjorie Waggy and I were on our way back to Virginia after visiting FBC of Eagle Butte and receiving so many blessings at the Native American Women’s Conference in the Black Hills in May. Just before we got on the plane, Randy Slides Off handed us several copies of his testimony, which had been published in the West River Eagle newspaper in Eagle Butte, SD.* In the articles Randy clearly explains how God saved him from depression, suicide, alcohol, and gambling, all testifying to the reality of evil in the world.
Marjorie and I settled into our seats to read Randy’s testimony, when the third person in our row arrived for his seat. He was a young African man named Haili, and he asked where we had been and where we were going. With a loaded question like that, how could I not witness to him of God’s goodness?! He knew so little about Jesus that I gave him all the basic information the Holy Spirit led me to give. But, there in Randy’s testimony were the steps leading to receiving Jesus as Savior, including the sinner’s prayer.
After explaining what it would be like to have his sins forgiven by the price Jesus paid, and how he could reap the results of peace and joy and eternal life, I asked Haili if he would like to pray that prayer in Randy’s article. He said yes! Praise the Lord! We were flying high in the sky in more ways than one.
Marjorie was praying in the seat next to me as I talked to Haili, another step in God’s plan. I gave him the copy of Randy’s testimony to take to his home land. We found out the he was from East Africa, probably Ethiopia, and we both prayed that God would use Haili mightily there with his new found relationship with Jesus Christ. Will you pray for him also?
Kay Tisdale
Hamilton Baptist Church, Hamilton, VA.
*Randy's article is copied below:
I AM A SINNER
(Editorial published in the West River Eagle)
For God so loved the world that He gave His begotten Son (Jesus) that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life, says John 3:16.
As it is written, "There is non righteous, no, not one," says Romans 3:10. "We all sin and fall short of the glory of God," says Romans 3:23. "There is no fear of God before their eyes," says Romans 3:18.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," says Romans 6:23. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and dine with him, and he with me," says Revelation 3:20.
Today if you hear Him calling, do not harden your hearts. Now is the time of salvation. We are not gauranteed tomorrow! To begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, pray this out loud: Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I have sinned against you. I believe you died for my sins and your blood pays for my sins. Jesus, forgive me, come into my heart and into my life. Save me and thank you for your gift of salvation in Jesus' name. Amen.
Now let me guide you: Tell a believer what happened to you. Pray every day, start with the Lord's Prayer. Go to church. You are welcome to any Christian church. Read your Bible. Start with the book of John.
God bless you!
Sincerely,
Randy Slides Off
God has the most wonderful way of setting events in motion so that the salvation of Jesus can be received and spread. The Lord is full of surprises, and divine appointments must be one of His favorites. Here’s what happened: Marjorie Waggy and I were on our way back to Virginia after visiting FBC of Eagle Butte and receiving so many blessings at the Native American Women’s Conference in the Black Hills in May. Just before we got on the plane, Randy Slides Off handed us several copies of his testimony, which had been published in the West River Eagle newspaper in Eagle Butte, SD.* In the articles Randy clearly explains how God saved him from depression, suicide, alcohol, and gambling, all testifying to the reality of evil in the world.
Marjorie and I settled into our seats to read Randy’s testimony, when the third person in our row arrived for his seat. He was a young African man named Haili, and he asked where we had been and where we were going. With a loaded question like that, how could I not witness to him of God’s goodness?! He knew so little about Jesus that I gave him all the basic information the Holy Spirit led me to give. But, there in Randy’s testimony were the steps leading to receiving Jesus as Savior, including the sinner’s prayer.
After explaining what it would be like to have his sins forgiven by the price Jesus paid, and how he could reap the results of peace and joy and eternal life, I asked Haili if he would like to pray that prayer in Randy’s article. He said yes! Praise the Lord! We were flying high in the sky in more ways than one.
Marjorie was praying in the seat next to me as I talked to Haili, another step in God’s plan. I gave him the copy of Randy’s testimony to take to his home land. We found out the he was from East Africa, probably Ethiopia, and we both prayed that God would use Haili mightily there with his new found relationship with Jesus Christ. Will you pray for him also?
Kay Tisdale
Hamilton Baptist Church, Hamilton, VA.
*Randy's article is copied below:
I AM A SINNER
(Editorial published in the West River Eagle)
For God so loved the world that He gave His begotten Son (Jesus) that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life, says John 3:16.
As it is written, "There is non righteous, no, not one," says Romans 3:10. "We all sin and fall short of the glory of God," says Romans 3:23. "There is no fear of God before their eyes," says Romans 3:18.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord," says Romans 6:23. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and dine with him, and he with me," says Revelation 3:20.
Today if you hear Him calling, do not harden your hearts. Now is the time of salvation. We are not gauranteed tomorrow! To begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, pray this out loud: Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I have sinned against you. I believe you died for my sins and your blood pays for my sins. Jesus, forgive me, come into my heart and into my life. Save me and thank you for your gift of salvation in Jesus' name. Amen.
Now let me guide you: Tell a believer what happened to you. Pray every day, start with the Lord's Prayer. Go to church. You are welcome to any Christian church. Read your Bible. Start with the book of John.
God bless you!
Sincerely,
Randy Slides Off
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
From the Pastor's Desk
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
Today is a very beautiful, cool day. After living in the Dakotas for many years, I would have to agree with the fellow who said, "The Dakotas have but only two seasons: winter and road construction."
Even though I'm not fond of the long months of cold, snow and ice, I am very excited about the climate among our church folks at First Baptist Church of Eagle Butte, SD. In the past nine months as interim pastor we have seen at least 13 adults join our church. Two weeks ago the congregation asked me to be their full-time pastor and I accepted.
There is much work to be done in and through our church. Some of our people have stepped up and accepted leadership positions. We are trusting the Lord for many more leaders in order for us to be more effective in every area of ministry.
I am reminded of the words found in 2 Corinthians 5:14, "For the love of Christ constrains us." In all that we are, and in all that we do for Christ's sake, may it be motivated by our love for Christ, knowing that He first loved us and paid the supreme sacrifice for our sins, offering eternal life to all who will trust and obey Him.
Have a great week and always remember this: God loves you very much and so do we!
Phil Lawrence
Pastor of FBC, Eagle Butte
(Psalm 16:11)
Today is a very beautiful, cool day. After living in the Dakotas for many years, I would have to agree with the fellow who said, "The Dakotas have but only two seasons: winter and road construction."
Even though I'm not fond of the long months of cold, snow and ice, I am very excited about the climate among our church folks at First Baptist Church of Eagle Butte, SD. In the past nine months as interim pastor we have seen at least 13 adults join our church. Two weeks ago the congregation asked me to be their full-time pastor and I accepted.
There is much work to be done in and through our church. Some of our people have stepped up and accepted leadership positions. We are trusting the Lord for many more leaders in order for us to be more effective in every area of ministry.
I am reminded of the words found in 2 Corinthians 5:14, "For the love of Christ constrains us." In all that we are, and in all that we do for Christ's sake, may it be motivated by our love for Christ, knowing that He first loved us and paid the supreme sacrifice for our sins, offering eternal life to all who will trust and obey Him.
Have a great week and always remember this: God loves you very much and so do we!
Phil Lawrence
Pastor of FBC, Eagle Butte
(Psalm 16:11)
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