TBC testimony: Paul Avila

New church member Paul Avila shares how he ended up at Third Baptist Church.

I found out about Third Baptist via a couple of different people in the past but never quite knew where it was. Then one evening, as I was standing in line to see the Phantom of the Opera at the Fox Theater, I glanced across the street and saw the huge neon sign that read "Third Baptist" on the side of the building and I laughed out loud.

People around me probably thought I had lost my mind or something. So after the show I walked over to the building and saw the times posted and then decided that I would go there.

I then remembered who I had talked to in the past and it was Vicki Swyers, so I called her up and she told me about the Food Pantry thingy they do and I went to that. Ever since then I have had a great time praising God and helping out where I can. I love Third Baptist!!

Prayers for Haiti

After a major earthquake and significant aftershocks, the Haitian government is reporting more than 111,000 people dead. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is reporting more than 600,000 people ahve been left homeless in and around Port-au-Prince. The numbers are overwhelming. In such a situation, it can be hard to know how to help or even how to pray. Here are some specific concerns you can focus on this week:

* Steve and Nancy James -- CBF/ABC  medical mission- aries in Haiti. The James are collecting medical supplies to meet the immediate physical needs of the people of Haiti.

* The three Church World Service trauma counselors and psycho-social care specialists who are providing services -- especially to children and aid workers.

* Gospel School Garden of Learning of Ti Peligre - a primary school partnership between churches in Haiti and the U.S. that is attempting to continue educating students

* Francisco Litardo -- a Central Baptist Theological Seminary student who is in Haiti working at a videographer with a Methodist relief team. Francisco's work will be used to help communicate the Methodist relief efforts and give churches an inside look at what is going on.

* Melissa Hatfield and the First Baptist Church, Jefferson City team. They are currently in the Dominican Republic and are spending time working in Haitian communities there. Melissa will likely soon be on a trip to Haiti.

* The family of Rev. Venel Dessiere, a Baptist pastor in Haiti. He died as a result of the earthquake, leaving behind a wife and four children aged 7-17.


This is an excerpt from the TBC Haiti Update e-mail. If you would like to be added to the weekly list, post your e-mail address or send an e-mail to Jennifer Harris.
(Photos by Francisco Litardo)

Upward season begins

Upward Basketball launched its third season at TBC on Jan. 16. Eager young athletes and their cohort of family and friends gathered in the 5th floor Ayers Gymnasium for Saturday's games. Games begin at 9 a.m. and conclude around 2 p.m.

An MLK remembrance: seeing the staircase

(By Vicki Swyers)
"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

We saw the whole staircase - and painted it - at Dunbar Elementary near our church, in honor of the birthday of Dr. King. About 10 from Third joined at least 100 volunteers at the school as part of the United Way's "Live the Dream - Live United" day of service on Monday.

Volunteers painted hallways, too, and the office, cafeteria, bathrooms and more. People from all walks of life - pupils at Dunbar, college students, young adults, active and retired teachers - picked up rollers and brushes and literally transformed the school with a fresh coat of bright yellow paint.

While there, I believe we acted as the "beloved community" envisioned by Dr. King: A completely integrated society, a community of love and justice wherein brotherhood would be an actuality in all of social life. In his mind, such a community would be the ideal corporate expression of the Christian faith.

I painted alongside and talked with students whose parents immigrated from India about the challenges of honoring their family culture while navigating a new one. Our group from Third included four students from China who are studying at St. Louis University and embracing a life of service while in the United States. Other volunteers included Americorp staffers, high school students from service organizations, student groups from nearby universities, and two ladies in their 70s and 80s - all giving life to the dream of Dr. King.

Faith does call us to take a step, even when we don't see the whole staircase. Sometimes, though, God shows us the staircase, and we need to pick up the paintbrush.

Death of Bob Sorgenfrei

I am sad to let you know that Bob Sorgenfrei passed away this morning at approximately 9 a.m. He was under hospice care and did well until the past week. He was 90 years old.

Arrangements are with Bopp Chapel, 10610 Manchester Road in Kirkwood, MO.
Visitation is 3-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13.
Funeral is 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14, at Bopp Chapel.

Bob Canning obituary

Robert Calvin Canning died Jan. 2 after a battle with cancer. Services were held Friday, Jan. 8 at Third Baptist Church.

Bob was born March 16, 1931 on a farm west of Hale, Mo; in Livingston County. He was the third of five children born to Carmel C. and Anna Maude (Fullerton) Canning.

After graduating from Hale High School in 1948, he attended the Chillicothe Business College. In 1951 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served for four years. He spent time in Hawaii, Okinawa and Moffet Field. After discharge from the Navy, he attended the University of Missouri for two years before transferring to the University of Denver where he received a bachelor's degree in business administration. While in Colorado, he developed a love for the ski slopes. He lived in Denver until 1967 when he moved to St. Louis, where he was employed by the U.S. government with a position in the U.S. Army Aviation Systems Command as a computer programmer/specialist. He retired in 1993.

In 1968, Bob joined Third Baptist Church, where he met Delilah Jones. They were married in 1970 at TBC by Nelson Reagan.

Through the years Bob has actively served the church in many positions, i.e. deacon, secretary of trustees, nominating committee and chancel choir member.

Since his retirement, he has kept busy with his hobbies, meticulous wood projects, working in the food pantry at Third Baptist and volunteering at Missouri Baptist Medical Center where he signed the surgical pillows -- up to 7,000 a year. He volunteered in the Foundation Office at MBMC for several years. He served on the hospital auxiliary board as treasurer for several years until May 2009. Bob has always been generous with his time, talents and means.

Bob loved to sing. He told of his Grandfather Fullerton who sang -- with quite a loud voice -- the hymns at church. He especially remembered his grandfather singing "When the Roll is Called Up Yonder." He enjoyed the hymns in his Sunday School class led by Mary Bonney.

Bob is survived by his wife, Delilah; his sister, Louise Barlow, Hale; brothers Charles and wife, Bertie, of Powder Springs, Ga., and Loyd and wife, Judy, of Kearney; seven nieces and nephews, eight great nieces and nephews, ten great greats and many cousins.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Carmel and Maude Canning, and his brother, Harold Ross Canning.

First Night

Happy New Year! Third Baptist Church hosted 7 shows with about 4000 guests, used 50 volunteers and raised around $500 for the benevolent fund. Check out the front page story at StLToday.