PASTOR'S UPDATE OCTOBER 3, 2025

Happy Friday, Friendship Family!

As I begin this update, I want to express heartfelt gratitude for the love you showed Karima and me during the 12th Pastoral Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, September 28th. Your prayers, encouragement, gifts, and presence were deeply appreciated. Thank you for being such a kind and faithful church family. We’re grateful to serve such a loving church family. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Now here we are in the final quarter of 2025. And it’s a significant stretch for us as a church. We’ll complete our Nehemiah series in November. We will begin our Advent preaching series in December.  Continue in our 90-Day Stewardship Challenge. And anticipate the completion of our new Fellowship Hall/Event Center by November.

Let’s continue in prayer and faithful participation. Our October prayer focus is: Walking in the Peace of God’s Glory. Let the peace of Christ dwell in you richly.

Here are this week's announcements:

MONTHLY FAMILY PRAYER SERVICE
This evening, Friday, September 5th, we begin with our Family Prayer Service at 7:30 PM.  Please join us on the prayer line tonight from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM.  The Link is the same as our Wednesday Prayer gatherings.  To join in at 7:30 PM tonight, click HERE.

CHURCH LEADERSHIP MEETING -THIS SATURDAY
We begin this weekend with an important time of connection. I would like to remind all ministry leaders that our Quarterly Leadership Meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, October 4th, at 10:00 AM. I look forward to connecting with each of you as we align and prepare for what’s ahead.

SALVATION ARMY DONATION DRIVE
As part of our 90-Day Stewardship Challenge, we invite you to give generously through our Salvation Army Donation Drive. The donation truck will be here tomorrow, Saturday, October 4th, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and again on Sunday, October 5th, from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

You may donate gently used clothing, shoes, small appliances, furniture, and more. All gifts are tax-deductible, and donors will receive a receipt and a coupon for a free breakfast burrito*, redeemable after first service on Sunday, October 5th.

COMMUNION SUNDAY & HIGH CHURCH SERVICE
Sunday, October 5, is First Sunday Worship. Join us and let’s partake in Holy Communion with reverence and purpose.

For those of you joining us for worship on line, check out the communion instructions so you can observe communion virtually HERE.

And remember: Communion is for believers. If you have not yet placed your trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, we ask that you refrain from partaking—this is a biblical instruction.

FLU SHOT CLINIC
We’re happy to offer a Flu Shot Clinic again this year. To serve you well, the Health Care Ministry is taking sign-ups this Sunday, October 5th. Visit the table in the quad to register. Supplies are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Flu Shot Clinic itself will take place on Sunday, October 12th, immediately following both the 8:00 AM and 11:30 AM worship services. Shots will be administered in the Healthcare Office inside the Multipurpose Building.

SCHOLARSHIP MINISTRY
Scholarship Ministry Kick-Off and Orientation.  Please check out the Scholarship Ministry page on our website,
On October 9 at 7:30 PM, Join the meeting by clicking HERE.

ATHERTON MEN'S CONFERENCE
Men of Friendship, I want to personally invite you to join me on Saturday, October 11th, at Atherton Baptist Church for their Annual Men’s Conference. The theme is “Kingdom Men: Making a Difference.” Breakfast is served at 7:15 a.m., and the conference begins immediately afterward. I will be one of the speakers, and I’d be honored to have your participation and encouragement. Atherton is requesting that you sign up ASAP so they can plan for your attendance. The cost is $40.

RHEMA MENS MONTHLY FELLOWSHIP
Brothers, the Men’s Fellowship resumes on Monday, October 13th, at 7:00 PM. We are back from Sabbath Rest and ready to dive into a new series: “God’s Uncommon Man.” Join the RHEMA Men’s Ministry as we close out the third quarter and leap into the fourth quarter with purpose. This powerful video series features James Brown and Tony Dungy, who will be helping us unpack what it means to be a man who follows God faithfully. Come grow with the Men of Friendship!

Kingdom Women, join us as we celebrate 33 Years of the W.O.R.D (Women of Radiant Design) Conference!  
Date:        Saturday, October 18, 2025
Time:        9:00 A.M.
Cost:        $100.00 (conference materials and lunch included)
Location:  Friendship Baptist Church

The theme for this year is EVERYTHING: What You Give And What You Gain To Become Like Jesus.  We are excited and waiting with tip-toe anticipation as our special guests, and beloved sisters in the ministry, join us at the W.O.R.D. Conference. 

Ladies, you don’t want to miss out on this Wonderful Women’s Weekend!  More information and updates can be found

And That's Not All!  Be sure to join us on Sunday, October 19th as we celebrate Women’s Day-Praise In Pink at Friendship.  Our guest speaker, Dr. Karen E. Stewart, will preach at our 8:00 and 11:30 a.m. services. We invite FBC members and our guests to wear something pink to honor all breast cancer survivors and also to honor the memory of those we have lost to the disease.

COLLEGE & CAREER PREP - OCTOBER 26
Hey FBC students and families!  Stop by the 4th Sunday College and Career Resource Hub in the quad between first and second services!

* Get  FBC Scholarship Ministry Information
* Gather  College Prep and Admissions Information and Resources
*Connect with FBC College Students and Graduates
* Meet FBC Members in STEM Careers including Engineers, Health Care , Technology and other Professions (Different Career Focus Each Month)

FINANCIAL BETTERMENT WORKSHOPS
Wholehearted: A Journey in Stewardship and Trust
Try God. Trust God. Track God.

Friendship Family, we invite you to attend our Estate Planning & Advanced Health Care Directives Seminar on Sunday, October 26th, shortly after the 11:30 AM Service ends, at 1:30 PM.  Refreshments will be provided. . This seminar is designed to help you prepare wisely for the future, for your family, and for the Kingdom.  Register today, HERE! 

GOSPEL THROUGH POETRY
Please mark your calendars for Friday, October 24th, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM for our inaugural Gospel in Poetry Event! Come witness a multi-generational lineup of Friendship’s spoken word artists as they creatively proclaim the Gospel through poetry. This is an evangelistic event, so please bring your unsaved and unchurched family and friends.

HARVEST FESTIVAL
As we conclude October, we invite you to join us for a fun-filled family event at our Annual Harvest Festival, taking place on Friday, October 31st, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. We will have games in the quad, a cake walk, cotton candy, and more. Don’t forget to decorate your trunk for Trunk-or-Treat! Prizes will be awarded for the most creative and best decorated trunks! Also, bring your best pot for the Chili Cook-Off, and don’t miss the new Sweet Potato Pie Contest!  Sign up for the Chili and Pie Cookoffs, HERE.

ANGEL TREE - SIGN UP NOW
We are excited to announce that sign-ups begin today for our Angel Tree Ministry, where we get the opportunity to serve families impacted by incarceration. Children are already being assigned, and we want to help as many as possible. If you’re interested in participating this year, please register through Planning Center. Please refer to the written update for additional registration information. Let’s share the love of Christ with these children and families.

BIBLE READING GROUPS 
Bible Reading groups began on October 1st!  Is it your goal to complete a Bible reading plan by the end of 2025? Or maybe you’ve already completed a reading plan and want to join in reading with others. In either case,  we invite you to join a Bible Reading Small Group! Starting in this week, we will once again offer several Bible Reading Groups. The.e groups are designed to encourage reading a Bible plan in community with others and to promote accountability. You may choose to read the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Pentateuch, the Gospels, or Psalms & Proverbs 3x.
For information on group meeting times and to sign up, click HERE.

2025 CHRISTMAS GALA
Greetings, Friendship, family, and friends—Have you purchased your 2025 Christmas Gala
tickets yet? Tickets can be purchased online on our church website, in the quad after each
service, or at the church office. Tickets are only $75. As a special bonus, the first 50 tickets
purchased in October will be entered into a $50 gift card drawing.

Please mark your calendars for Friday, December 12, 2025, at the Anaheim Hills Golf Club, 6501 E. Nohl Ranch Rd in Anaheim Hills, at 7:00 PM.
Join us for an evening full of joy, celebration, delicious food, and entertainment. Don't miss what promises to be an enjoyable night of fellowship, dancing, and fun! You can purchase your tickets right HERE.

FAITHFUL GIVING
We want to say thank you for your giving and partnership.  YOUR GIVING MATTERS! Your faithful giving allows us to increasingly do the work of ministry for our members AND to everyone the Lord sends to us and sends us to.  
2 Corinthians 9: 6-7 ESV
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  
Malachi 3:10 ESV
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
 You may give HERE.
Please make your checks payable to :
Friendship Baptist Church of Yorba Linda

• 2025 CHURCH THEME:

     Advancing and Expanding... for God's Glory Alone
     Fortifying the Faithful - Equipping the Elect
     Ephesians 4:11-14 ESV

• OCTOBER PRAYER FOCUS:

     Walking in the Peace of God’s Glory  
     2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 4:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Colossians 3:15

• BIBLE READING

We invite everyone to consider reading God’s Word this year! As of today, you have 89 days to complete a Bible reading plan, including today. At Friendship, we encourage every member to read one of six Bible reading plans in the year. Consider joining a Bible-reading small group that will be starting soon! The plans include:✔ The entire Bible,
✔ The Pentateuch (or the first five books of the Old Testament),
✔ The entire Old Testament,
✔ The Gospels (or the first four books of the New Testament),
✔ The entire New Testament, and
✔ Psalms and Proverbs (3 times)

• WEEKLY HEALTH WALK 

    Remember,  Health Care Ministry is sponsoring a weekly Health Walk every Saturday             from 7:00 am to 7:35 am led by Rev. Aubrey Craig and Sister Sandra Jones. This is a 30-       minute walk. The walking group will meet on the corner of Bastanchury Road and Rose         Drive.  If you want to participate, show up with water and energy snacks. Water and               snacks will not be provided. For more information, please call Sister Sandra Jones at            909-438-7217.

• IN-PERSON EX-HOUR: 

     We invite you to stay after the first service or come earlier for the second service to               attend EX-Hour in person. Remember, we have five adult classes meeting in person on        campus a Young Adult Class, a Youth Class and Children's Classes. 

• WEDNESDAY PRAYER DAY: Join us each Wednesday for Prayer. We pray at 6:30 am, 12:00 pm, and 6:30 pm. To connect with our prayer services, please follow this link HERE or dial in at +1 (413) 418-4274 and use the PIN 287683504#.
• FRIENDSHIP FOOD BANK OPEN: The Friendship Food Bank is OPEN with a new drive-thru system where our clients will receive a pre-packaged food box and a bag of groceries.  The Food Bank’s hours of operation are Tuesday - Thursday, 2:30 pm-4:30 pm.  

Friendship Family, as we move through October and look ahead, let’s remain faithful in prayer, service, giving, and worship.

We are STILL in our 90-Day Stewardship Challenge, and I encourage you to continue to: Try God. Trust God. Track God.

Let’s steward the life we’ve been given well. Remember, we have one life to live and one life to give, and it must ALL be done for His glory.

Remember, God loves you and so do I! Be encouraged!


Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor

*limit 300, first come, first served.