Harris-Dault Engagement

(By Allyn Dault, choir director -- with help from Jennifer)

For the three of you who didn't see this coming -- and you three won't read the blog anyway, so for those of you who are here -- it's official.


(By Jennifer Harris, Web site editor -- with help from Allyn)
In case you didn't understand Allyn's version, we are engaged. To be married. To each other. Yes, really.

We met at Third Baptist Church two and a half years ago when I (Jennifer) interviewed Allyn for a Word&Way story. He proposed today in the room where we met (Room 2).

A Lenten Challenge

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has issued a challenge to listen to the Bible during the season of Lent."We will be transformed by listening to God's Word, reflecting on it, discussing it, and sharing it with others," Daniel Vestal, CBF's executive coordinator, told the Associated Baptist Press. "It will create greater desire to study and share Scripture as we open ourselves to the Spirit by hearing the Word of God."

In partnership with Faith Comes By Hearing, CBF is offering free mp3 copies of the New Testament and a "Kidz Bible" for children. Visit the CBF site to listen to the audio files.

Listen to Daniel Vestal's description of the "You've Got the Time" challenge.

What's in a shoe?

Third Baptist is once again participating in a Lenten "Shoes for Orphan Souls" drive. We are looking for new shoes -- the variety that light up are particularly popular -- that would be appropriate for children from birth through high school. Our church has a goal of 500 pairs of shoes. The WMS is challenging groups to bring more pairs than they do. If you'd like to step up to their challenge, gather your Sunday School class, CDI group, ministry team or Sunday morning crew to set a goal. 

Below, you'll find a video that shows the journey of a shoe to learn a little bit more about the impact of a pair of shoes. You can also talk to one of the members of last year's Peru team to hear about their experience in giving these shoes to kids.

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.