SERVICE: SUNDAYS AT 8:00AM & 11:30AM

PASTOR’S WEEKLY UPDATE JANUARY 27, 2023

Greetings Friendship Family!

Happy Friday to each of you, my Father’s children!

Guess what? We are at the end of the month. Yes, this Sunday is the fifth and final Sunday of January, and Tuesday is the last day of the month! Wow! Time moves ever so quickly!

Now, look, planning is essential! Do not panic because I mentioned that January is about over. Instead, look at your time and consider what you want to accomplish this year, and plan for your success! Yes, I am encouraging you to set some goals for 2023! Goal setting is making life plans, and it’s a God-thing.

Throughout the Word of God, there is evidence of God setting goals and life plans for His children and effectively working out those plans in their lives. So today, it’s no different. God has life plans for you and me and wants to work with us to accomplish them.

Here are some reasons why you and I should set goals and work to make them happen:

  1. Goals set the course of your life. If you choose not to plan, then you live by default to everyone else’s suggestions and plans. You react rather than respond to life because you have no life plan to keep you from wandering through life aimlessly and diverting you away from your primary goals.

  1. Goal setting is faith-based. Yes, goal setting and faith go together. When you set goals, you are making statements of faith. You are saying that you have faith in God to accomplish a specific thing by a specific time frame or period. Remember, God’s word says, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NLT). And faith pleases God.

  1. Goals focus your energy. When you have goals, they keep you from wasting time, money, or energy. When you have focus, you have a more effective life. Like Paul, you are driven by “this one thing I do.” The more you focus your life, the more powerful and effective it will be. 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 states, “You know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. So run to win! All those who compete in the games use self-control so they can win a crown. That crown is an earthly thing that lasts only a short time, but our crown will never be destroyed. So I do not run without a goal. I fight like a boxer who is hitting something—not just the air.” 

  1. Goals keep you active and persistent. Having goals fills you with hope and gives you something to look forward to. They make you persistent even when the going gets tough. You can see past the pain and aim at the prize. This is just what Jesus did – “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV)

  1. Goals build your character. The most significant benefit of setting and working on your goals is what happens to you in the process. It’s not necessarily the achievement of the goals. Success is said to be a journey that starts with you and produces a better you as you work with God and allow God to work in you. And know this; God is more interested in your character than your accomplishments.

  1. Goals will be rewarded. The beauty of goal setting for Christians is that you have the advantage of doing it with God and being guided by the Holy Spirit daily. This unique advantage is often taken for granted or not recognized. As you set your goals and work toward them, you will be rewarded on earth by people and by God in heaven. The key to success depends solely on God, the CEO of your life, guiding you and helping you every step of the journey. “Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” -Proverbs 16:3 (NLT)

So as you set your 2023 goals! Commit all your plans to the Lord. Take one day at a time and one step at a time, and let Him work through you and with you to bring your heart’s desire into reality. AMEN!

Here are a few announcements for this week…

THANK YOU FRIENDSHIP
Friendship, thank you for your tremendous support of the State of the Church Address I delivered Sunday! We are currently working on getting the message framework up on our website so you can go back and read it and review it for yourselves! We will also post our FUTURE NOW Initiative with Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), so you can support our building campaign in your own way! Just know that I APPRECIATE YOU GREATLY!

21- DAY CORPORATE FAST
We are in the final stretch of our 21 days of fasting and consecration! Just three more days! You can do this! God’s got you! For clarity, the last day is Sunday, January 29th, at MIDNIGHT. You can resume normal activities on Monday, January 30th. We will have our FINAL PRAYER session on Monday, January 30th. I will be sure to lead that, as I have missed the last two Mondays due to activities, events, and funerals.  

Here is the prayer line information one last time. Remember we are gathering at 12p. To connect with our prayer services, please follow this link HERE or dial in at +1 (413) 418-4274 and use the PIN 287683504#. Here are our remaining scheduled prayer sessions and leaders:

  • Friday: Deacon James Shelby 
  • Saturday: Rev. Terry Abercrombie
  • Sunday: Sister Melanie Porter
  • Monday: Pastor Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.

Please note Bible studies are back! Amen! Check out the church website or check in with your Bible Study Teacher for more information.

NEW BEGINNINGS CONFERENCE
All Friendship Teachers are invited to attend the New Beginnings Bible Teaching Conference on Saturday, January 28th, from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Gateway Seminary in Ontario. The conference theme is: Making a Fresh Start in Ministry Post-Covid. As a reminder, there is NO COST to you; registration for Friendship Baptist Church has already been secured. We pray you can join us as we start the new year being enriched and equipped to serve in Christian Education Ministry in this post-pandemic environment.

NEW MEMBERS CLASS:
On January 29th, we will begin a new eight-week New Members Class session.  If you have joined Friendship but have not completed the New Members Class, we invite you to this eight-week course introducing you to Friendship’s foundational beliefs, biblical doctrine, and operations.  This course takes place in person on Sunday mornings at 10:00 am. Register HERE.

NEW WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY CLASS
The Wednesday Night Women’s Bible Study class will embark on a new study beginning Wednesday, February 1st, at 7:30 p.m. This is a virtual class! All ladies are invited and encouraged to join us for a new study based on the book, ‘Elijah, Faith & Fire,’ by Priscilla Shirer. In this study, we’ll journey through the life and times of the prophet Elijah, who emerged as the voice of unapologetic truth during a time of national crisis and moral decline. His ministry was marked by unwavering faith and holy fire- the same kind we need to remain steadfast in the current culture.  We’ll take a fresh look at Elijah and the difficult choices of obedience that kept him anchored, sharpened his faith, broadened his impact and invited heaven’s fire to fall. Books for this study are in and available for purchase for $15. To register, go HERE. Teachers: Rev. Belinda Wright & Rev. Fredia Travis

TRANSFORMATION MINISTRIES CONFERENCE 2023
Beloved, we will host the 2023 Transformation Ministries Conference here at Friendship on February 2nd and 3rd, and I am happy to serve as a speaker again this year. I speak on Thursday evening, February 2nd, and would love to see your face in the place!

If you would like to attend, it is FREE to attend. We need you to register, however. To register, go to tmchurches.org/tmc-2023 and select “I need to add my name to my church’s registration,” then follow the prompts. Then enter Friendship Baptist Church for the church name and enter our church address which is 17145 Bastanchury Road, Yorba Linda, CA 92886. Then enter your contact information under Attendee Information. If the link/registration is closed, just show up! It will be fine!

Also, this is the last call for volunteers. If you are available, please contact Sharon Preston in the church office HERE ASAP.

EVANGELISM CLASS
Are you among the many Christians who find sharing the Gospel difficult, daunting, stressful, and adversarial? Join us for this exciting class called “Live Ready: Sharing Jesus As you Go.” This class will start in February. This class is an opportunity to build resilience as we faithfully move forward in our call to share the Gospel. For more info and to register, click HERE.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH DEVOTIONAL
Our Daily Bread is offering a 10-day Reading Plan/Devotional for Black History Month entitled Voices of Faith which includes readings that inspire unshakable hope in times of uncertainty and suffering. These devotionals are designed to bring light to African voices from around the world. This is a free resource; you just need to sign up to receive it. Once your sign up, you’ll receive reflections sent to your email every morning beginning Wednesday, February 1st. Sign up HERE.

2023 SILVER EAGLES’ BLACK HISTORY CONTEST
This year’s theme is “Incite Hope, Not Violence.” The contest is open to all children and youth from 1st through 12th grade.  You are to choose an African American or another person of color from the past or present who inspires you because they have made or are making their life count to incite hope, not violence. Submissions are to be video presentations that are 2 minutes or less.  Students should email their submissions to [email protected] by Sunday, February 12th.  For more info, go to wearefriendship.church/silvereagles. There, you can also see the video from last year’s winners.

HEALTH SURVEY:
I am excited to announce that our church is a part of a Health Equity and Advocacy Collective known as HEAAL (Health Equity for African Americans League). Our goal at HEAAL is to identify the social determinants of health outcomes within the Black American community in Orange County. Here is a like to the HEAAL website.

The Orange County Heath Offices has granted HEAAL, a collective of churches and community organizations, $200K to do this work. Additionally, several of our collective members have received $10K in participation grants. Yes, Friendship has received a participation grant. 

To do this, we aim to survey 3500 Black American Orange County residents and individuals who work or worship in Orange County. We aim to hit our goal of 3500 participants by the end of February 2023. Beloved, we want to equip the black community in OC with information, services, and tools to remove adverse effects on our health which sets us up for poor outcomes when significant illnesses/pandemics (like COVID-19) occur.

Here is the LINK to the survey. Please complete the survey ASAP.  

In addition to the survey, which we will deliver in various ways (electronic/digital) and pen and paper surveys, we will also seek to have forums, town halls, and other community events designed to gain the most complete and comprehensive picture possible. Thanks in advance for your participation! Don’t delay taking the survey TODAY.

HEALTH SEMINAR
Second Baptist Church, in partnership with The Association of Black Cardiologists, Friendship
Baptist, Johnson Chapel A.M.E., and Christ Our Redeemer A.M.E. churches are hosting a series
of ten community-based heart health educational sessions designed to provide the African
American community with tools and resources to reduce cardiovascular disease and improve
health outcomes by reducing disparities in cardiovascular disease.

The first zoom session will take place on Tuesday, January 24th, from 7pm until 8pm and will cover “KnowingYour Risk for Heart Disease.” Participants will learn about risk factors for heart disease. Specifically, the ten sessions will cover the following:

  • How to control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes
  • How to prepare healthy food, particularly African American dishes
  • How to be more physically active, have a healthy weight, and quit smoking

The free sessions are for anyone who wants to learn more about protecting their heart. Future sessions will occur monthly every 4th Tuesday from 7pm until 8pm. To attend the session, go HERE.

FRIENDSHIP CHOIR @ DISNEYLAND
Please note our Friendship Choir will sing at this year’s Disney Celebrate Gospel on Saturday, February 18th. More information is coming soon!

MEN NEEDED @ FOOD PANTRY
Attention, Men of Friendship. We need you! We need men to help us pick up donated food from area stores and other sources to serve those with food insecurity. There has been an increase in pick-ups from stores and other sources. We need pick-up drivers on Mondays and Fridays between 8:00am and 10:00am. This does require some mild lifting. If you can assist during these times, please get in touch with Gloria Banks or Rev. Felton Christian at the church. You can reach Rev. Felton Christian HERE.

BEREAVEMENT COMMITTEE
We also need individuals to serve on our Bereavement Committee, assisting bereaved families at funerals during the repast. Losing a family member can be one of the most difficult and painful experiences a person will go through. Having a solid support system of friends and other family members is essential during such devastating times. If you are interested in serving, please contact the church office.  

CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT
If you need to request your 2022 CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT, you may do so HERE.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Make sure to follow us on our social media pages for upcoming content. For Facebook, that’s Friendship Baptist Church. For Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, it’s @wearefriendshipchurch.

General Church things to remember:
  • 2023 CHURCH THEME:
      Resilient Faith
      Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV

  • JANUARY PRAYER FOCUS:
      Surrender to the Sovereignty of Christ
      Romans 12:1; James 4:7-8: Rom 12:2; James 4:10; 2 Cor 5:17

  • BIBLE READING
     We invite everyone to consider reading God’s Word this year! As of today, you have  340 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. These 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)

  • 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 two adult classes meeting in person on campus and a Young Adult Class. They meet as follows:
    • Adult Class One (Sanctuary): The team teaching in the Sanctuary includes Lady Karima Curry, Pamela Jones, Deacon Demetrius Linebarger, Melanie Porter, Vivian Randolph, & Deacon James Shelby
    • Adult Class Two (Carrington Building Room 217): The team teaching in the Carrington Building Room 217 includes Le Shon Archer, Deacon Rick Archer, Karen Ammons, Gwen Matthews, and Rev. Phil Yoder
    • Young Adults Class (Carrington Building Rooms 207-208): This class is designed for those aged 18-35.

  • EX HOUR: Virtual Ex-Hour meets weekly on Sundays via ZOOM. Join us for class at 10am via this link HERE.

  • YOUTH EX HOUR: Our in-person youth Ex Hour takes place during our designated EX Hour time in the Multipurpose Building. Parents, please encourage your students to join youth teachers for this biblically fun opportunity to learn God’s Word, connect with others, and grow.

  • CHILDREN’S EX-HOUR: As stated in previous weeks, our Children’s ExHour is back and meets on Sundays at 10am in the Multipurpose Building. Parents, please note you must sign your children in weekly for Ex-hour.  

  • MOMMIES WITH BABIES: We have our Mommies with Babies class simultaneously during EX-Hour in the Multipurpose Building. Mommies with two years old and younger children are invited to this EX-HOUR class and are encouraged to bring their children with them! Come for encouragement, community, and growth! Amen!

  • WEDNESDAY Prayer Day: Join us each Wednesday for Prayer. We pray at 6:30am, 12pm, and 6:30pm. To connect with our prayer services, please follow this link HERE or dial in at +1 (413) 418-4274 and use the PIN 287683504#.

  • FBC FOOD BANK OPEN: The FBC 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, 2:30pm-4:30pm.  

  • COVID Recovery Kits:
    We still have COVID Recovery Kits through Providence Health and the Yorba Linda Rotary Club. These kits help individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are recovering at home. Each kit includes a pulse oximeter to monitor breathing, a thermometer, a box of masks, and a package of sanitizing wipes in a small canvas bag. If you or someone in your family could benefit from one of these kits, please call the church office and arrange to get one.

  • COVID Membership Assistance Fund: We are STILL accepting COVID Membership Assistance Grant applications. If you are experiencing financial distress due to COVID-19, we invite you to apply for one of our $500 assistance grants. The guidelines are available HERE, and the application is available HERE.

Well, that’s all I have this week. Continue to Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Stay Connected!

God loves you, and so do I!

In His Service,
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lK6ri-mjKfB2sIhmcqg2Hi5NyudCSRNzgARr3Mf2K6eUJbquKsJKTjRH8bwIsoC_hqMxDcBGgvz_iM-bLMT8GRoG7ZyW8HAgJwXEgcNgXaSzgCXTwPnItGvBjZf7eqWKVIIalN7w
Rev. Kenneth C. Curry, Jr.
Your Pastor