To: FBCF Church Family
From: Pastor Bill
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Hi Folks!
I want to take just a minute to comment on this past Sunday’s service. I know that many that were in attendance and many that watched the Facebook Live stream were trying to evaluate what the service was like. The staff and I believe that it was a really good Sunday, all things considered. No one liked the masks, or being spaced out, or the restriction on handshakes and hugs, etc., etc., but we do think everyone loved simply being back in the auditorium together, worshiping together, hearing testimonies of what God is doing, etc., etc.
As I stated on Sunday, I was not expecting as many as we did have. I had talked with several people about the turnout that churches experienced on May 3, and knew that it was going to be much lower than usual. Of the three churches that I heard about that met on May 3, the attendance was 33%, 25%, and 10% of their normal attendance. We had 122 in attendance, which is about 45% of our normal attendance, so I believe that is a pretty good start. Hopefully it will increase a little this Sunday, and then the Sunday after that, and so on. (By the way, Ms. Eva Baker, who is 87 and won the Ms. Methuselah award on Sunday, said that she enjoyed being back at church and that she felt safe being there with the way things were set up and laid out.)
While some in our church family are obviously not yet ready to come back, there are certainly unchurched people around us that are ready to attend a worship service, so let me encourage you to be on the lookout among your extended family, neighbors, workmates and schoolmates to see where God is at work. I cannot see the Lord not using this situation to draw people to Himself.
As always, if you have a need that the staff can help with, please contact the church office and let us know.
Take care. Be safe. See ya Sunday, Lord willing.
Love you folks,
Pastor Bill
Bill Gowder
Lead Pastor
First Baptist Church Friendsville
bill@fbcfriendsville.com
(865)995-2130
