Update From Pastor Shane 3/31/2020

Good Afternoon Church Family,

I've got several important things to share with you so please read to the end. I know it's a long email.

First I would like to thank you all for your amazing responses to our 24 hour prayer vigil! Thank you also for your amazing responses to our encouragement to begin conference calls/video chats etc for your Lifegroups and also for your dedication to the Livestream services. It has been overwhelming to say the least to hear your feedback and most of all to see your living room pictures with your families worshiping the Lord Jesus!  The Gospel is still being preached, ministry is still happening and we are still a very active and VERY busy congregation. If you have not connected with your Lifegroup through one of the above methods, please contact your Lifegroup leader and do so. If you are a Lifegroup leader and have not made these available to your class, I encourage you to do so. Communication and fellowship is critical. If you need help setting that up, we have resources and WE WILL HELP YOU. We have already done this for others. If you need a conference line please let us know by filling out the contact us form located here: https://tbc.breezechms.com/form/tbccontact

I am spending many many hours per day with administrative tasks to the point that my study time will need to be done during the nighttime hours so I want to reiterate, if you text me and I don't get back with you soon, it is not intentional. If I have not contacted you back within 6 hours, please try again. Sometimes I read a text with the intention of answering shortly and 20-30 come in and the opened text gets pushed down and I forget to respond. If you have an emergency and you can't reach me, call the church office or one of our deacons. I'm trying to answer them all but there comes a point when I simply have to redirect focus, study, pray and prepare to teach Sunday School and preach the A.M and P.M services.

Some of you have asked about future services. Upon the recommendation of our medical pros, prayer and simply utilizing wisdom, we have decided to postpone in-person services through April 30th. Again, this was a very difficult decision. Considering the new information we have, it is the most prudent at this time. Things can certainly change but this is where we are at. I also realize "Easter" is April 12th. The question has been, "what about "Easter" or "Resurrection Sunday" as I prefer to call it. We will be celebrating the Resurrection that day, but online. Cancellation of online services does not equate to cancelling worship. During this unprecedented time, social distancing does not equate to spiritual distancing. Most of us at Temple are still very much connected! If you aren't, it's not due to lack of opportunity.

We are planning to have a special service/celebration when this is over but I would like to encourage you with the fact that while we love Resurrection Sunday services, sunrise, breakfasts etc,  the date is more traditional rather than Biblical. Technically we have services on Sunday, the first day of every week to celebrate the resurrection every 7 days! We can certainly have a specific "Resurrection Sunday" service at a later date (planning May) without being disobedient to the Scriptures so take heart! Calculating the date for Easter has been a very involved and difficult process and has risen in debate for centuries. Much like communion, we have the liberty, as long as we do it, to celebrate it as we see fit.

Please take time to check out the website, www.tbcmoultrie.com. This is a hub of information. Also please make sure you continue to give (https://www.tbcmoultrie.com/give). The church simply cannot maintain her ministries without your contributions and giving is part of worship.  Many easy ways to give are on the website. 

Finally, pray for one another, pray for your leadership, pray for me and keep doing the work of the Kingdom! I can't stress enough, this is an amazing and exciting time in the life of the church. Don't disconnect from it and miss out on what the Lord is doing and what He has planned for the future!

Love you all,

Pastor Shane

Temple Baptist Church
229-890-1156
https://www.tbcmoultrie.com/

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