As a church God has opened the doors to serve those who have fallen on hard times in our community. Numerous people have been asking questions, both within the church and outside the church. Over the decades many churches have attempted several ways to engage or not engage the homeless in their community. It seems that all too often the response is to ignore the homeless and go about a persons normal day. Other churches have spent time and money meeting the immediate needs without addressing the longer term needs. Then there are churches who have dedicated time, resources, and property to rehabilitating and supporting people in need and watched them flourish back to self sustainability. Where is FBC Ferguson on this issue? A book that has been highly helpful in thinking through the topic of helping the hurting is entitled, “When Helping Hurts” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. This book lays out that most of the time churches address immediate relief needs without ever going behind that step. Immediate relief is food when there is a national emergency. It is shelter when the power has been knocked out. It is meeting the need in the midst of crisis. This step is meant to be temporary and provided during the time that people are unable help themselves. The second phase this book proposes is rehabilitation. To put it simply relief stops the bleeding and rehabilitation is working with people to help return them to their precrisis conditions. There is more beyond this but for now it is best to contemplate where FBC Ferguson is at. The Staff prepared a meal for the homeless that have been around the property. The staff took time to hear stories and circumstances that led to these men and women being in the situation that currently find themselves in. On thing is certain, we cannot turn a blind eye. Helping those who are hurting will be for many in our church uncharted territory. Rejoice that God has and continues to open pathways to relationship and actionable ways to help those in need. The elders and staff will be processing on where we go from here but for now, we will do what we can to aid these sweet people in moving forward to regain what they all once had. One thing has become clear, there is not quick fix and life on life ministry is messy. Pray for the church, and pray about your involvement in restoring lives to their precrisis state. To clarify, the homeless around the property know what we ask of them. We have asked that they not ask for money. Drug use will constitute an immediate removal from the property with the police notified. Each morning the gazebo is to be cleaned up and their bedding placed in the small alcove by the office door. If there are any concerns please reach out to the staff and elders as we continue to walk through and develop a plan.

We are planning a trip to see the Noah’s Ark exhibit in KY over the President’s day weekend (Feb 17-18 ) but only have limited seating available. We will leave Sunday right after the church service. It is a six hour drive but you will find it worth it. The admission prices are as follows: Adults (18-59) $48 , Seniors (60+) $38 , Youth (13-17) $25 , Child (5-12) $15 , and younger are free . We will be staying at the Big Bone Baptist Church on Sunday evening and visiting the Ark Monday, returning that evening. We will be sleeping on the floor of the church’s Sunday school rooms so you will need to bring your own sleeping bags and perhaps an air mattress if you have one. You will need money for snacks, souvenirs, and lunch/ dinner on Monday. Please bring a sack lunch and drink for the trip on Sunday. We will provide snacks and dinner on Sunday night, and breakfast on Monday morning. We would love to fill two vans and to include as many teens/children as possible but we will need some parents and other adults to come along too. Please let Ruth Kotlarczyk know if you plan to come and be prepared for an adventure! Ruth Kotlarczyk: ruth@fbcferguson.org

Each and every Thursday morning a group of North County pastors gather to pray over our city and the work of the gospel that needs to be done all over St. Louis. We have been praying specifically for an awakening in North County. We know that what we are asking for is not something that can be done in human power. As pastors this group knows and believes that God must awaken lost and dying people so that they might be made alive in Christ. We have been praying for closed ears to be opened, blind eyes to gain sight, and stone hearts to be made into hearts of flesh. Out of this prayer time has come the idea of a prayer chain. This prayer chain is a challenge to all the churches involved. It would require everyone willing and able to pray for 15 minutes once a day or once a week depending on your schedule. The prayer guide that will be provided will walk each person through what to pray for specifically for North County and the movement of God we desire to see. We, as the church, need to join together to seek God's face. I, Pastor Joe, am challenging us to spend the month of January praying for God to move. To sign up for a specific time, click here . More information will be coming. The simple question is can you personally commit to pray for 15 minutes once a week for the month. Could you do the same time slot each day Monday through Friday? Could you prayer everyday at the same time for God to do something mighty? Please join the prayer chain as we beg God to revive our city.

Joe Costephens – First Baptist Church of Ferguson

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So far Joe Costephens has created 38 blog entries.

May 2019

Questions from May 5th Family Meeting

Questions from May 5th Family Meeting

Joe Costephens2019-05-16T14:15:44-05:00

The staff and elders received great feedback and questions from the Family Meeting a few weeks ago. I, Pastor Joe, [...]

Questions from May 5th Family MeetingJoe Costephens2019-05-16T14:15:44-05:00

May 5th, 2019 Family Meeting Recap

May 5th, 2019 Family Meeting Recap

Joe Costephens2019-05-09T15:05:36-05:00

On Sunday May 5th, the church gathered to pray and begin the process of hearing from God concerning the direction [...]

May 5th, 2019 Family Meeting RecapJoe Costephens2019-05-09T15:05:36-05:00

April 2019

Moving Forward with the Homeless

Joe Costephens2019-04-25T14:38:38-05:00

This past week on social media our church was implicated in aiding in vagrant activity by caring for the homeless. [...]

Moving Forward with the HomelessJoe Costephens2019-04-25T14:38:38-05:00

Serving the Homeless

Serving the Homeless

Joe Costephens2019-04-11T16:01:46-05:00

As a church God has opened the doors to serve those who have fallen on hard times in our community. [...]

Serving the HomelessJoe Costephens2019-04-11T16:01:46-05:00

January 2019

The More I Reflect On Philippians…

Joe Costephens2019-01-24T16:34:50-06:00

Philippians and prepping a sermon each week has brought a consistent theme before my eyes and I want it to [...]

The More I Reflect On Philippians…Joe Costephens2019-01-24T16:34:50-06:00

Introduction to Philippians…a Reminder

Introduction to Philippians…a Reminder

Joe Costephens2019-01-17T16:08:16-06:00

The foundation of the church at Philippi was the gospel clearly taking root through the ministry of a few people. [...]

Introduction to Philippians…a ReminderJoe Costephens2019-01-17T16:08:16-06:00

Creation Museum Trip

Creation Museum Trip

Joe Costephens2019-01-17T15:33:09-06:00

We are planning a trip to see the Noah’s Ark exhibit in KY over the President’s day weekend (Feb 17-18) [...]

Creation Museum TripJoe Costephens2019-01-17T15:33:09-06:00

December 2018

A Call To Pray

Joe Costephens2018-12-13T15:46:24-06:00

Each and every Thursday morning a group of North County pastors gather to pray over our city and the work [...]

A Call To PrayJoe Costephens2018-12-13T15:46:24-06:00

2011 Advent Sermon on Peace

Joe Costephens2018-12-06T16:13:48-06:00

How many of us this morning would say that our weeks could be summarized by the word peace? Has the [...]

2011 Advent Sermon on PeaceJoe Costephens2018-12-06T16:13:48-06:00

November 2018

Thankful During Thanksgiving

Joe Costephens2018-11-15T14:26:16-06:00

Thanksgiving is a particularly favorite time of year for me, Pastor Joe. It is a time to be intentionally thankful [...]

Thankful During ThanksgivingJoe Costephens2018-11-15T14:26:16-06:00

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