First Baptist
Church
of Anacortes
2717 “J” Avenue
Anacortes, WA
98221
August 2010
Phone: 360-293-5300
Fax: 360-293-8434
Email: fbcoffice@fidalgo.net
Regular
Sunday Schedule
\
9:00 Service
9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
Children & Adult
Sunday Classes
10:15 – 10:45 a.m.
Fellowship
10:45 Service
www.anacortesfbc.com
NEWSLETTER
SUBMISSIONS
If you would like
something included in
our monthly newsletter, please submit
items on or before the
published deadline of
each month.
Thank you.
Fran Bohall
FBC Staff
Eric Malamma
Senior Pastor
Kevin Olivarez
Associate Pastor
Dick Ottoson
Ministry to Seniors
Fran Bohall
Admin. Assistant
Our new Associate Pastor, Kevin Olivarez, and his family have recently joined
us at FBC Anacortes. Here’s a little background information to help you get to know
them better.
Kevin and his wife Kate both grew up in the great state of Texas. Kevin comes
from a town called Mission, affectionately known as “Northern Mexico” and Kate is
from San Antonio. Both graduated from Texas A&M University, both majoring in Ag
Economics, which prepared them for their future professions of ministry and
counseling. Well, not really! They moved to Colorado Springs soon after their
marriage in 2001.
Kevin was in sales for a couple of years after college, until making a leap of faith
to become a part-time assistant youth pastor at his local church. He was in youth
ministry for 13 years, most recently as Youth Pastor at a non-denominational church
in Colorado Springs. In September, he will finish work on his Masters in Theology
from Fuller Seminary. He loves to run, bike, hike, read, and listen to all kinds of
music.
Kate worked in banking and accounting for several years after college, but felt
God’s call to pursue a degree in counseling several years ago. Two children later,
Kate finished her master’s in counseling in the Spring of 2009. Today she is a stay
at home mom, waiting to see where God will have her use her counseling skills.
Kate likes running, biking, reading, cooking, and coffee dates.
The Olivarez kids keep Kevin and Kate busy and entertained. Claire, 4, is a
sweet, sometimes-shy, non-girly girl. Forget the dolls, she enjoys playing with cars,
horses, and stuffed animals. She loves preschool and can’t wait for it to start in the
fall. Daniel, 2, is a fun loving little guy whose greatest joy is bugging his big sister.
He also enjoys playing with cars, trucks, animals, and anything that makes noise.
If you haven’t met Kevin and Kate yet, don’t forget to introduce yourself so they
can get to know YOU too! They are thrilled to be a part of God’s work here at FBC.
Summer is here and it is time for vacation. By the time
you read this, Monique, Rebecca and I will be in
California, helping Rachael and our soon to be son-inlaw, Todd get ready for their new lives together. This
includes cleaning and painting their new apartment as
well as getting ready for their wedding.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Children’s Church
Adult Sunday Classes
(Both Services are held
in the Sanctuary)
Watch for
details on a fun
children’s event
happening on
September 11!
Just a Reminder
The next
NEWSLETTER
DEADLINE is Noon
on Friday, August27
Newsletters will be in
mailboxes by
Sunday, September 5.
I believe that this time of year is an important time in the life of our
church. It is one of those times when we have the opportunity to take a
collective breath, slow down and spend more time with friends and
family.
It is also an in-between time. It is after the events of spring and before
the upcoming events of the fall. Spring events included a full and
exciting Vacation Bible School and the arrival of Kevin, Kate, Claire and
Daniel.
Looking forward to the fall, we can anticipate more extensive children
and youth ministries and our small group kick-off. This time of year is
important for another reason. It is when we begin planning. Plans are
being made for a back-to-school event for children, and we are planning
to kick off our small group ministries with a study called Five Things
God Uses to Grow Your Faith. Five Things God Uses to Grow Your
Faith is a little different than what we have done the last two years, but I
believe it will be an exciting study.
So, during the next few weeks as you slow down and take some time
with friends and family, please do something else – take a little extra
time with your Heavenly Father. Spend some time growing and
renewing your relationship with Him. Pray for the leadership of your
church. Pray that we will experience the presence and direction of God
in our lives. Pray that He will direct you to where you might serve Him.
There will be many opportunities to serve, whether it is with our children
and youth or as a small group leader.
Finally, please pray for me that I can stay dry-eyed through Rachael’s
wedding.
The Weekly Bulletin
Deadline is
Wednesday, 4 p.m.
Pastor Eric
Care
o Please hold
r the following
n persons
in your
e prayers.
r
At Home:
Earl Cooley, Kamiyo Culbertson,
Carol Kyle, Lorraine Love, Betty
Morgan, John Munday, Glenda
Norton, Darla Simpson, Dave Tweten
At a Care Facility:
Yvonne Cote , Floyd & Bea Eaton,
Ray Jones, Carol Laws, Gladys Nicol,
Ora Vernon
Shut – Ins:
Lona Manning, Betsy Stenger,
Don & Donna Sehlin, Elwin Vernon
We Would Like to Visit &
Pray for You
If you (or someone you know in the
church family) are admitted to a
hospital or care center, please notify
the church office at 293-5300. With
new regulations, it is increasingly
difficult to find people in these
facilities, so we need your help!
Dave Stalsbroten Joins AMOS
First Baptist Family!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH, for making us feel so welcome!! Kate, Claire, Daniel
and I have felt so loved by y’all! The greetings, the food basket, and the grace
when we don’t remember names is an incredible blessing. We are so excited
to be here in Anacortes and to minister alongside you to advance the Kingdom
of God. In the short time that we have been here, we are encouraged by the
conversations we’ve had with many of you about your readiness to go where
God is calling us as a church.
John 10:10 is one of my favorite passages in the scriptures, “The thief
comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,
and have it to the full.” In the first part of this verse Jesus reminds us that
there is an enemy whose desire is to destroy us. A friend of mine once said
that the verse might read: The thief comes to steal our perspective, to kill our
hopes and to destroy our purpose. It’s really easy to get distracted by all the
things that compete for our time: work, sports, vacation, TV shows, that guy or
that girl, sickness, too much money, not enough money, power, and the list
goes on and on.
Thank God the verse doesn’t end there; Jesus came that we may have a full
life in him! I believe that full life is joining God in the redeeming work that he is
already doing here on earth. A little later in the book of John Jesus was
comforting his friends’ doubts and fears when he said this to them, “I tell you
the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and
even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” (John 14:12)
That is an incredible promise; did you catch that, we will do GREATER works
than Jesus! That’s what I call a full life!
Friends, this is an exciting time to be part of FBC and the family of God. God
has a heart for the poor and the needy, the prisoner and the oppressed, the
widow and the orphan, the sick and the lame, and for everyone else in and
around Anacortes. Will you join me in praying for God’s divine appointments
and opportunities to help others experience this fullness of life? Bless you
friends; it’s an honor and a privilege to be one of your pastors.
Last June, Dave told about his last 3 years of full-time vocational ministry in
Seattle. It was satisfying to hear how God has so clearly provided the right
people to continue what started there. Dave also told about his call to
Nicaragua. He writes,
“The incarnation is messy. It is painful. And it may be the most meaningful
way we can engage the world. For me, the past three years of youth ministry at
Rainier Beach have been a crash course on what the incarnation is all about. If
I were to attempt a summary, it would be: draw close to people, listen humbly,
discover needs, and try to offer a creative response that honors everyone
involved.
Through long months of listening to young people at Rainier Beach High
School, I found something simple – that youth need adults in their lives who
love and care about them. Not just one youth worker, not just one outreach
day, but a sustained presence from a group of adults who love Jesus.
Accordingly, I set out to create a place where adults and youth could
develop strong relationships through shared experiences in the hope of
creating opportunities to share the Gospel. That place became RHF CrossFit, a
gym with the mission of cultivating “Christ-centered mentorship through
fitness.”
God used the process of starting the gym to reveal much about my own
heart and character. I realized that I love initiating things; I enjoy asking big
questions about pervasive problems and trying to find creative solutions that
are meaningful and lasting. And I love working with motivated people who are
hopeful for change.
In essence, this is what the next chapter in Nicaragua represents. As I
faced a transitional moment in my own life with many students graduating, I
was offered a position as a delegations coordinator with AMOS. I will be
planning and coordinating short-term mission trips for groups from the US,
while also engaging these teams in conversations about the heartbeat of God.
It’s as though everything up to this point has led to this.
It is my dream that our work as the family of God will be thoughtful,
sustainable, reproducible, and honoring toward everyone involved. Hopefully,
the work in Rainier Valley has approached this goal, and hopefully our work in
Nicaragua will continue it.
Worry?!?
Worry never climbed a hill,
Worry never paid a bill,
Worry never dried a tear,
Worry never calmed a fear,
Worry never darned a heel
Worry never cooked a meal,
It never led a horse to water,
Nor ever did a thing it “oughter.”
-Anonymous
It shouldn't be surprising that God does amazing things, yet we are so often
surprised. This is one of those times. Our own Dave Stalsbroten will be joining
missionaries we help support in Nicaragua in the AMOS ministry (which we
also help support). AMOS (A Ministry Of Sharing) is a public health ministry
developed by Christian doctors in one of the poorest areas in the Americas. It
seeks to find and develop local community health promoters who are able to
run a small clinic stocked with essential medications, as well as implement
health projects in their communities such as the construction of wells, latrines,
family vegetable gardens, and health education campaigns. Several teams
from here have visited Nicaragua to help AMOS expand to new villages.
I feel incredibly blessed to have grown up in a church family that sought to
“be the living presence of Christ in the community.” Now, almost a decade later,
I have the opportunity to see what this looks like overseas. I’d love it if you
could join me, either in person or in spirit, as we dream about what it looks like
for the Kingdom of God to take root here on earth.”
One Hour of Prayer
There are many dear souls praying
regularly, caring for the needs that
touch this congregation. Perhaps you
need someone to pray for you or
someone you care about. Please
place your prayer requests in the
offering plate. Your requests will be
prayed for at the Wednesday night
Hour of Prayer meeting, or you may
access the prayer chain by calling the
church office.
Anacortes
Christian
Women’s Club…
All women are invited to a lunch at
the home of Lee Bermingham, at
noon on Thursday, August 12.
Suggested donation is $8. Reservations are required. Call Lorraine at
293-9325 or Anita at 293-7957 to
make your reservation and obtain
Lee’s address.
Come enjoy a special feature and
inspirational speaker, Linda Wozniak
of Olympia.
Here’s your answer for Just for KIDS:
“I am the bread of life. He who comes
to me will never go hungry, and he who
believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35, NIV
Meets on Tuesday at 7 PM
Page 2
August 2010
Page 7
August 2010
HOW ABOUT THOSE GRANDKIDS?
Dick Ottoson, Ministry to Seniors
When I was a lad, my dad wanted me to become a doctor. My mother
hoped I would serve God as a missionary. In my teen years I was
interested in Architectural Engineering. My college degree was a B.S. in
Microbiology/Public Health. This circuitous path ultimately took me into
pastoral ministry.
Beverage Gift Certificates
for FBC’s Bistro Bar
Looking for a fun birthday or thank
you gift for someone special?
Search no further…our Holy
Grounds Bistro Bar now has gift
certificates for sale
at the Bistro counter! Beverages
offered range from specialty java
creations (e.g., lattes, cappuccinos)
to delicious hot and cold chocolate
drinks (e.g., steaming hot chocolates). Gift certificates are sold in
$10 and $20 denominations and
make a great gift for all ages.
PNB American Baptist Girls
On August 20-22 there will be a
regional gathering of American
Baptist Girls at Mount Zion
Baptist Church in Seattle.
3rd
If you are a girl who will be in
through 12th grade this fall, you
are invited to attend. The cost is
$30 and there are scholarship
funds available if needed.
If you are interested in going, see
Betsy Mosley to pre-register. If
you have any questions, call
Betsy at 293-9328.
Like my dad and mom, we all have dreams for our children. But rare is
the home where the offspring walk step-by-step in the direction the
parents had designed or hoped. Nevertheless, while our kids may make
their own decisions, in most cases we as parents play a critical role in
shaping their character and values.
When it comes to grandkids, that’s another story; of the eight
grandchildren Nita and I claim, one lives nearby, in Seattle; two live in
Maryland and five in Austria. We have only occasional and minimal input
into the shaping of their lives. It is up to their parents to do the major
rearing of those children.
Yet I recall hearing years ago the proposition that THE CRITICAL
TEST OF EFFECTIVE PARENTING LIES NOT IN THE OUTCOME OF
OUR CHILDREN, BUT RATHER IN THE EVALUATION OF OUR
GRANDCHILDREN. What kind of adults have they become?
In our case, this story is far from complete. Our grandchildren now
range in age from six months to fourteen years.
However, as this article goes to press, we are in the midst of hosting
Christina Ottoson, age 14, our oldest grandchild. From her home in
Salzburg, Austria, she has flown here on her own, at our invitation. Every
indication is that she is sweet, intelligent, gifted, disciplined, an excellent
role-model to her younger siblings. But even if you may think these
evaluations are somewhat embellished by a proud old grandfather, she
is still just one of eight. What about the other seven? Who knows? Time
will tell!
As believing Christians, parents and grandparents, we do have a
biblical mandate. Here is one of multiple passages dealing with our
calling as parents:
He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our forefathers
to teach their children,
so that the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds
but keep his commands.
Psalm 78:5-7 (NIV)
Continued on page 5
Page 4
August 2010
-Continued from page 4
One of my Maryland grandsons, Drew Garbrick, age 11, has hands
just like mine. They are big and boney, the third finger is far longer than
the index finger, and there is the same peculiar bend at the last knuckle
of the second finger on each hand. “Drew, you poor kid! You have
hands just like mine! But they’re strong hands and they have served me
well. They may not look great, but they really work!” More fundamental,
however, is not the shape of Drew’s hands, but the shape of his
character. This is what matters most.
My prayer is that Christina and Drew and all of the other grandkids
will embrace the Christian truths and lifestyle that I hold dear. TO A
MARKED DEGREE, THIS IS THE ACID TEST OF MY PARENTING.
For now, I am praying and watching, with occasional input into the
formation of their lives.
PrimeTimer Travel Event
Monday, August 16, the PrimeTimers are going to Lynden’s
Northwest Washington Fair. The FBC bus leaves for Lynden
at 9:30 a.m. Please bring $8 for the bus and driver cost.
Also, you will need to bring money for admission, lunch and
other goodies. You are welcome to join us for a fun-filled day;
just sign up on the Lynden Fair sheet on the table in the
foyer. If you have questions, contact Dick Ottoson at 5881505 or Jan Anderson at 873-8293.
Plants Free for the Asking!
FREE FOR THE ASKING ─ Call Mary Bajema 299-0462
Orange Day Lilies
Lycin
Tall creeping lavender asters
White Campanula
Tall Knickinick
Ajuga
Strawberry plants
Anise
Shasta and Marguente daisies
Jupiter Beard, pink
Jacobs Ladder
Sedums
Columbine
Lilac starts, lavender
Lily of the Valley
Raspberry plants: order and will dig in the fall
Tall Lavender Phlox,: order and I will dig in the fall when it goes dormant
“A” for August
“A” for “A Lot of Tuna”
You’ll find our Salvation
Army Food Bank
Basket ready to collect your
items
in the Foyer!
Conversational Dinners
Resume in September!
We hear a lot of good testimonies
from many of us who have been
blessed by being part of a conversational dinner, either as a host or as a
guest. Conversational dinners have
provided us with an opportunity to
share how we came to know the
Lord and encourage one another by
sharing how the Lord is working in
our lives.
If you want to experience this kind of
joy, please be a part of FBC’s
Conversational Dinners. Schedules
will be flexible – could be done at
either lunch or dinner, wherever and
whenever the group decides to do it.
Signup sheet is in the foyer
last Sunday to sign up is
August 8!
NEED A RIDE TO
CHURCH?
WE HAVE WHEELS!
Call group coordinator
There may be other stuff in my yard that, if you like, I may be able to give
you a start.
Page 5
Nancy Stannert, 293-2968.
August 2010
“Connecting Women with God and with Each Other”
We hope that you are enjoying the summer and have many fond memories.
It's hard to believe that there is only a month before summer is over and school
will be starting. It's time to begin thinking about the fall and fall activities, so
the Women's Ministries leadership is planning for our fall Bible studies and
special events.
One special event coming up is the “Women of Faith - Imagine” conference
being held in Seattle at the Key Arena on October 29-30. The cost is $89,
and that includes your lunch for both days. Some of the highlighted presenters
are Michelle Aguilar, Lisa Harper, Karen James, Luci Swindoll, and Sheila
Walsh. You can get full details at the Women of Faith website:
http://www.womenoffaith.com/seattle/. If you are interested in attending, Mount
Vernon First Baptist Church has a pack of 50 tickets, and they would love to
connect with women from other churches for this event. You may contact
Wendy Duranceau at Mount Vernon First Baptist church office (360-336-9725)
or e-mail at fbc2@fbc-mvbur.org. The deadline for payment is August 7, but
she may be able to give few extra days.
If you are looking for something new this fall, why not consider becoming
involved in Women's Ministries. There are varieties of ways to be involved:
 attend a Bible study
 help with various special events
 help organize social events just to connect with and get to know other
women
 help in the Wednesday morning children's program
 help the Bible study facilitators or be a co-facilitator
 help with service projects
 help with the newsletter and/or event publicity
The answer can be found on page 7
Perhaps you have been involved with Women's Ministries in the past or see
needs that currently are not being met; why not share your ideas and
concerns. We are always open to new ideas and welcome new women into
the ministry. If you would like to participate or just want more information,
contact Simone Caracciolo at 293-8927, Alba Stevens at 708-8121 or
Mary Bajema at 299-0462.
My Turn in the Nursery
Last Sunday was my turn in the nursery to work.
My heart wasn’t in it; my feelings were hurt.
A child from its mother did not want to part
And it cried a lot with its broken heart.
I prayed that soon the hour would end
Then I could relax – no more children to tend.
Soon the hour was over; it felt so good to be free
I said, “Once a month is too much for me!”
That very Sunday as I sat in the pew
A very good sermon, but visitors were few.
But down came a woman and her soul was saved.
She was the mother of that crying babe!
More nursery helpers
Are seriously needed!
If you can help
once a month
or once in a while,
call Sheryl Bjerk
at 360-770-2495.
Then it dawned on me that I had been a part
Of her being saved – of giving God her heart.
From that day on I would never dread
Working in the nursery while souls are fed.
Page 6
August 2010
Tentative dates for the beginning of the fall programs:
Fall Kickoff.......................................mid September
Bible Studies.....................................end of September
Serenity Seekers................................mid September
Moms Coffee Break .........................September 22 or 29 (They will meet twice
a month this year.)
Our study focus this fall will be to complement and coordinate with our
Pastor’s all-church program, "Five Things God Uses to Grow Faith." Watch
the bulletin and the Women's Ministries bulletin board for more details, which
will be coming soon.
Page 3
Birthdays
8/2
8/3
8/5
8/7
8/7
8/8
8/9
8/12
8/13
8/13
8/14
8/19
8/20
8/22
8/23
8/24
8/25
8/25
8/25
8/26
8/26
8/28
8/28
8/29
8/30
8/30
8/30
Leah Morrow
Rosie Gallatin
Evelyn Forster
Beth Cleland
Don Sehlin
George Khtaian
Ray Smith
Heather Holmes
Teddy Mann
Donna Murray
Ron Havenstein
Andrew Stalsbroten
Bob Doop
Marlene Mihelich
Margaret Oehlman
Kylee Berlin
Myrna Eastman
Ann Huston
Marvin Shoultz
Tilly Culbertson
Norm Johnston
Cynthia Hill
Jeri Strom
Alba Stevens
Andy Culbertson
Lona Manning
Emily Rider
Anniversaries
8/7
8/8
8/9
8/11
8/11
8/12
8/14
8/22
Curtis & Nicoline Payne
Mickey & Phyllis Miron
Oliver & Val Stalsbroten
Bob & Sheryl Bjerk
Mike & Susan Gallatin
Steve & Julie Winters
Michael & Sharon Lewis
Earl & Nancy Cooley
August 2010