First Word December 12 & 13, 2009

Living Christmas Trees

There are only 2 shows left so
purchase your tickets now.
Sunday, December 13th at
4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Lottie Moon Christmas

Offering 2009

See middle of book for

removeable handout.
 A Green Christmas
Christmas particularly,
is identified with
colors, especially red
and green. We love
the gold of glittering
ornaments and the
silver on tinsel of
the trees. For most,
Christmas has a large percentage which goes to various
uniquely green quality about it, and I am
not talking about environmental tree-
hugging or our favorite Christmas
trees. Retailers see Christmas
as the pot of gold (er, green) at
the end of their yearly retaining
rainbow.
In 2006 the National Retail
Federation estimated that
holiday sales would total
$457.4 billion dollars with 2007
spending patterns being similar.
Their survey of 7,623 shoppers revealed
spending an average of $451.34 on family,
$85.60 friends, $22.40 on co-workers,
$99.22 on themselves. Giving to Christian
causes did not even make the charts. I am
certain that the recession changed that
trend. Unfortunately, the average American
Christian gives about 2.44% of his income
to Christian or charitable causes each
year, well below a 10% “tithe” to the Lord
through the local church and giving to
mission causes as “offerings.” Let’s buck the
trend.
Guest Reception
There is a guest reception in the Commons immediately following the
Saturday night and the 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning service. Come and meet
Dr. Wicker.
I encourage you to give as we always do
to those who need the gospel through the
Southern Baptist Lottie Moon Christmas
offering for international missions. This
provides a huge chunk of all monies needed
to fulfill the Great Commission. Continue
to give to missions and ministry by giving
to our church through the budget, a
missions. If you are involved in the Great
Commission Connection, keep putting
those coins in your “piggybank”
and turn in your “Change the World”
offering to further the cause of
missions.
We certainly need your continued
gifts to reduce our building
indebtedness of about $13.2 million
dollars. Doesn’t God’s work in a lost
world deserve more money than
your friends or co-workers? Isn’t
the family of God also important to you?
Our Baptist missionaries are desperately
in need of these funds and are praying for
you from points all around the world. I do
not demean the generous giving to others
which marks the Christmas season. I thank
God that Jesus’ entrance into the world is
called “the gift of God” (John 4:10) and that
we can receive eternal life as “the gift of
God” (Romans 6:23) through Christ’s fully-
paid redemption. All who love bargains can
say, “Such a deal already!”
 Take note of these Christmas Events

There will be Christmas Eve Candlight Services

on Dec. 24th at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
(see back page for more info).

There will be no Wednesday activities on

December 23 and December 30th.

Church offices will be closed on December 24, 25, 31, and January 1.

Volunteers are needed to take the Living Christmas Trees down

on Monday, Dec. 14th, starting at 8:00 a.m.
Lunch will be provided.
Volunteers are also needed for the rebuilding of the choir loft on
Tuesday, Dec. 15, starting at 8:00 a.m.

2009 Tax Information

To ensure your contributions qualify for 2009, checks must be
delivered or mailed (post-marked) on or before December 31,
2009. Checks placed in the church offering in 2010 will not
qualify for 2009, even if the check is pre-dated to 2009. For
your convenience, the church finance office will be open
Thursday, December 31, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00
p.m. Please do not file your 2009 tax return until you have
received your 2009 contribution statement from the church.

2009 Stock Contributions

Stock contributions in certificate form must be recieved in
the finance office no later than noon on December 30, 2009.
Stock contributions in transfer form must be received into the
church’s account no later than December 30, 2009. Please
contact Conard Wrightsman at 596-8600 x257 for more
information.
 Holding Onto H.O.P.E.
(Helping Others through Pregnancy
Encouragement)
This ministry offers Christ-centered support
and encouragement to married women who are
struggling with the pain of infertility challenges, including primary and secondary
infertility, pregnancy loss, early infant death, and adoption loss. This group of women
will meet monthly for a time of prayer, discussion, and encouragement from God’s
Word and other Christian supplemental materials. For more information, please contact
Sue Gonzalez at sgonzalez@fbalions.org or call the Women’s Ministry office at 596-
8600 x241. The next meeting is November 19th at 6:30 p.m. in DC108.

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the
weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of
civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to
reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our
fellow citizens, believers, and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These
truths are:

1. the sanctity of human life

2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.
www.ManhattanDeclaration.org
 Avoiding
the
Great Wednesday
American at 6:25 PM
Worship Center
Fairy (Commons’ Entrance)
Teacher,
Tale Rev. Greg Davidson

A Ministry for Men of All Ages

Men’s Ministry airs Saturdays on 91.5 FM at 11 AM & 9 PM

Jail Ministry
Would you like to see women have another
chance? Volunteer one Sunday a month
Avoiding
at the jail. If you are willing to learn how
the
to teach a women’s Bible study, please call
Great Wednesday
Rosemary atat430-7911.
6:25 PM
American Worship Center
Fairy (Commons’ Entrance)
DECEMBER
Teacher,
Tale Rev. Greg Davidson
BIBLE SALE
Choose
"Therefore the LORD from
Himself shall give you
A Ministry for Men of All Ages
a sign; Behold, a virgin
NASB
Men’s Ministry airs Saturdays on 91.5
shall FM at 11and
conceive, AM & 9 PM NIV
bear a Son, and shall ESV
call His Name
Immanuel"
HCSB
Isaiah 7:14. NKJV
 Women’s Ministry of First Baptist Church Naples
announces our Winter 2010 RefresHer Bible Study.

Knowing God by Name

by. . .Mary Kassian

Mary Kassian

God is too big, too magnificent

for a single name.

Consider this: the God whose

many names include Creator, Provider, Ruler,
and Redeemer wants you to know Him
better. Mary Kassian’s new study -
Knowing God by Name - examines
35 of His names. This is more than a Bible study;
it’s a personal encounter with an awesome God.

Our teacher will be our Senior Pastors’ wife, Janet Wicker.

Beginning. . . Tuesday, January 5th, at 9 a.m.

& Wednesday, January 6th, at 6:30 p.m. in the
Worship Center. Please enter through the commons.
 LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS
OFFERING 2009
2009 Week of Prayer Guide
False religions, political oppression,
multiple languages, harsh living
conditions, and religious persecution
are some of the barriers to sharing
Christ with unreached people groups.
Still, that doesn’t override the Great
Commission that Scripture gives to all
who follow Him.
It is this challenge that compels
Southern Baptists to go into difficult
places and preach the Gospel.
DAY 1
Peoples of Northern India
At 17, Moses suffered from debilitating
arthritis. Like many Orthodox
Hindus, he petitioned various gods
and goddesses seeking help. As his
condition worsened, he began to lose
hope. One day a stranger handed
him a Gospel tract, and Moses began
reading about the Great Physician. He
started attending church and soon
put his faith in Jesus Christ. Fifteen
days later, his arthritis was gone. Years
passed and Moses became a successful
businessman, but God convicted him
that he needed to do more. Leaving
his wealthy lifestyle, Moses journeyed
with his wife and children to remote
Himalayan villages in northern India to
share the Gospel. But following Jesus
is hard. Indian people are willing to
“add” Christ as one of their gods, but
if they believe in Christ alone, they
are persecuted. Many believers are
burned alive, raped, mutilated, killed,
or chased into the surrounding jungles.
Moses and his family have been thrown
out of their home numerous times
after landlords learned of their faith.
Despite the hardships, Moses works
alongside International Mission Board
missionaries supported by the Lottie
Moon Christmas Offering. Together,
Moses and the missionaries share the
Gospel, disciple believers, and start
house churches.
Pray
Pray that God will give boldness and
protection to Moses and other believers
in northern India as they share their
faith. “Time is short,” Moses says. “I must
go, pray, and preach the Gospel.
DAY 2
Peoples of Ethiopia
As the sun rises in Ethiopia, thousands
of people make their way to church.
They worship, sing, and hear sermons
delivered by priests in an ancient
language they do not understand. The
people place their faith in a religion with
many roots in the Bible — Christianity
and Old Testament traditions. This
religion, however, has lost touch with
biblical truth through the years. Many
worship saints and demons.
They believe there are more than a dozen paths
to heaven. They do not have any assurance of
salvation and lack understanding of who Jesus
Christ is. Most put their trust in Saint Mary. More
than 42 million people in the Horn of Africa
claim this religion as “truth.” Christian workers
Renee and Ed (names changed), have dedicated
their lives to sharing the Good News with the
people of Ethiopia. More than 90 percent are
illiterate and unable to read the Bible in their
own language.
Pray
Pray for Renee and Ed as they build relationships
with them and share that the only way to heaven
is through God’s Son, Jesus. Pray that the people
Renee and Ed meet in Ethiopia will be open and
receptive to the friendship and message of hope
they offer. Pray that more workers will be called
to help spread the Gospel message.
DAY 3
Lezghi people of the Caucasuses
Fear of the supernatural is part of daily life for
the Lezghi people, who make their homes in the
Caucasus Mountains of Central Asia and Eastern
Europe. Though they profess to be Muslim,
nearly all Lezghi wear amulets or charms to ward
off evil spirits; broken teapots hung from homes
and thorns hung from vehicles’ rearview mirrors
serve the same purpose. Holy places called pirs
(pronounced peers) provide Lezghis a place
to offer sacrifices and consult witch doctors to
garner favor with spirits. Most of the more than
650,000 Lezghis have never heard the Gospel.
Southern Baptist workers Carl and Amy Stroller
(names changed), from Wake Forest, N.C., are
working to change that. But progress is slow
and there are few workers. Carl and Amy have
served among the Lezghi for more than 10 years
and seen little results. But that doesn’t stop
them from sharing. Today the Strollers are busy
nurturing a Lezghi church they helped start and
are looking for new opportunities to tell others
about Jesus. Despite the challenges they face,
they remain faithful to the task. “The biggest
hardship working with the Lezghi is their overall
resistance to the Gospel,” Carl says. “We thought
these people only needed to hear about Jesus
and they would start coming to faith. Their eyes
have truly been blinded.”
Pray
Pray that God will open the hearts of the Lezghi
and protect the Strollers from discouragement.
DAY 4
Berber people of North Africa
Keith Jones (name changed) often stopped in at
the small shop across the street from his home
in a North African city. Sometimes it was just to
pick up bread or fruit, but Keith always tried to
share Gospel truths with the Berber shop owner,
practicing the Berber language he was learning.
He and his wife, Susan (name changed), both
from South Carolina, say the shop owner
viewed Keith as a “person of God” because of
his conversations. One day the shopkeeper told
Keith that he should be an imam, a spiritual
leader in a mosque. The Berber man explained:
“We live up here and we speak [the Berber
language], and these imams come here and
they preach to us in Arabic … and we don’t
understand a word that they are saying. “But
you come and talk to us about God and you’re
doing it in our own language.” “It was as if, for
the first time, he realized that God could speak
his own language, too,” Susan recalls. Keith and
Susan are Bible translators, working to complete
a translation of the New Testament into the
Berber heart language — something the Berber
people have never had. Southern Baptists play
a vital role in getting the Gospel to the Berbers
through their gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas
Offering.
Pray
Pray for Keith and Susan’s team to develop
relationships with more Berber men and women
with whom they can test these vital materials.
Pray that they and other translators will be
able to quickly complete their New Testament
project, communicating in language that is
clear, natural, and accurate.
 DAY 5
Vietnamese of Cambodia
Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in
Southeast Asia, is dotted with numerous
floating villages occupied by much of
Cambodia’s Vietnamese population.
Because so many Vietnamese are
fishermen and find it difficult to gain land
rights in Cambodia, they prefer to live on
the water in tight-knit communities. They
take care of each other — from sharing
generated electrical power to caring for
one another’s children. Most residents
in the floating village of Kbal Taol had
never heard the name of Jesus — but
that changed in March 2008. A Christian
worker named David* visited the villagers
to tell them about the One who is a fisher
of men. During one of David’s many visits,
a Vietnamese man named Tim* became
especially interested, so David gave him a
Bible. On one of David’s subsequent visits,
Tim invited David to his home for dinner.
After dinner, the talk turned to spiritual
things. Tim had begun reading the Bible
David gave him and had many questions.
Around 3 a.m., Tim accepted Christ. “That is
the longest visitation I’ve ever had,” David
said with a smile. Tim is the first believer in
Kbal Taol. By God’s grace, he will not be the
last.
Pray
Pray that other Vietnamese in Kbal Taol
and surrounding villages will be open to
the Gospel and will put their faith in Jesus
Christ.
DAY 6
Peoples of Iran
Tucking away a JESUS film and a few
Bibles in her belongings, Zahra* boards
a bus in the capital city of Tehran to share
the Gospel with relatives in the Iranian
countryside. Zahra is taking a risk by
carrying evangelistic material in the Islamic
Republic of Iran. Publishing and distributing
Bibles is illegal. Converting to Christianity
and sharing the Gospel can be punishable
by prison or death. Despite the risks, Zahra
felt burdened to act after seeing her tribe
— the Bakhtiari — listed as an unreached
people group in International Mission Board
material her house church pastor had given
her. While it is safer to share the Gospel in
small home groups to escape notice, the
Lord gave Zahra boldness when the movie
being shown on the bus malfunctioned.
She handed the JESUS film to the driver,
who played it all the way through. Eight
of the 40 people on the bus told her they
were interested in becoming Christians.
During home visits, Zahra led the driver, his
wife, and their three grown children to the
Lord — as well as her own sister. Though
there are restrictions against Christian
workers living in Iran, giving through the
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the
Cooperative Program enables personnel
to share the Gospel with Iranians living in
various parts of the world, disciple Christian
refugees, and train house church leaders
when they can travel outside their country.
Pray
Pray for Christians who risk their lives
to share the Gospel in Iran. Pray for the
peoples of Iran to be able to hear and read
God’s Word. Uplift workers as they find
ways to help Iranians know Jesus as Lord
and Savior.
 DAY 7
Lost cities of China
During the past two decades, central
China’s urbanization has grown at full-
throttle. Workers migrating from the
countryside to new urban centers have
transformed 223 towns into cities, each
counting more than 1 million people.
The lure? Money. A city job pays three
to four times the salary possible in
villages. But in the past, moving to find
that job put rural people at risk because
government policies denied them the
documentation they needed to work
in the cities. Last year, thousands of
Chinese took to the streets to protest
their dire economic situation. The
government responded by allowing
20 percent of them to move into cities
— cities with insufficient housing,
factories, and roads. And little Christian
witness. As these metropolitan areas
continue to sprawl, there’s a growing
concentration of people who don’t
know Jesus and have little opportunity
to meet Him. In essence, they are a
collection of lost cities. Finding a way
to share Christ’s love, developing a plan
to reach these urban centers is critical.
Now is the most opportune time as
workers arrive and struggle to find their
way. They — and the relatives they left
behind — need the stability found only
in Jesus.
Pray
Pray that God will call more Christian
workers to take the Gospel to these
unreached peoples.
DAY 8
Peoples of the Canary Islands
Pepe and Shari Lopez (names changed)
rely heavily on relationship-building to
enhance their ministry opportunities
in Fuerteventura, one of seven Canary
Islands located off the west coast of
Africa. Many islanders are immigrants
from northwest Africa who have come
looking for a better life in the European
Union. Some enter the country legally,
while others go a more dangerous
route on rickety boats or makeshift
rafts. Earning these people’s trust is
a lengthy process, but the Lopezes
have found that providing free, no-
strings-attached services — such as
teaching — help tremendously. Shari
leads multilingual children’s camps,
and Pepe teaches a free Spanish class.
Omar, a Muslim, is one of Pepe’s most
dependable students. Because of
Pepe’s dedication and free teaching,
the trust level among his students has
skyrocketed — especially with Omar.
The friendships built during the classes
and camps have helped Pepe and Shari
reach areas of the community that
previously would have been nearly
impossible.
Pray
Pray that Pepe and Shari will continue
building deep relationships with fellow
islanders.
 
January Bible Conference
with Ray Vanderlaan
“Walk as Jesus Walked”
January 15-16, 2010






Conference led by:

Dr. Gary Chapman
Best Selling Author of
The Five Love Languages





Conference led by:


Dr.
Gary Chapman

Best Selling Author of
The Five Love Languages





Tickets are on SALE now



in the Lighthouse Bookstore.
 First Baptist Academy
announces the

7th Annual
Friends of the Lion
Banquet
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Campus Tours
6:00 p.m.
Reception
6:30 p.m.
Dinner and Program
7:00 p.m.

First Baptist Academy

Our guest speaker is:
3000 Orange Blossom Drive Dr. Gary Chapman
Naples, FL 34109
Best Selling Author
Phone: 239-597-2233
Web: www.fbalions.org
“The Five Love Languages”
For more information or to host a table,
please call (239) 596-8600, ext. 619.

Kids Each week at KidzTown, our children in K through 4th grades

orner

have the opportunity to worship the Lord “Kid Style”. We have a

great time studying His Word, singing His praises, and seeking His
will. With puppetry, skits, and games the lessons learned each day are
enforced. We will be continuing our Christmas theme by looking at
how John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry.
Your child will not want to miss this week’s KidzTown

First Baptist Academy

Worship which meets Saturday at 6:00 p.m. or Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in
DC120. Afterwards your child will be brought to a BLG class where
they will further learn God’s Word and experience the love of God in
announces the
a relational small group atmosphere.
7th Annual
New Arrival
Miss Friends
Teagan Nicole ofCastlethe was Lion
born on
Banquet Castle.
December 3, 2009 to John and Tiffany
Teagan weighed 6 pounds and 5 ounces, and
measured 19”. She hasMarch
Thursday, an older brother
11, 2010named
Gregory. Congratulations to the family!
Campus Tours
6:00 p.m.
Reception
Upcoming Events
Saturday, December 12
6:00 p.m. Worship Service/Worship Center
6:00 p.m. KidzTown Children’s Worship/DC120
6:00 p.m. Hispanic Worship Service/Chapel
7:30 p.m. Bible and Life Groups/Various Rooms on Campus
Sunday, December 13
8:15 a.m. Bible and Life Group for 60+/DC107
9:30 a.m. Worship Service/Worship Center
9:30 a.m. Bible and Life Groups/Various Rooms on Campus
9:30 a.m. KidzTown Children’s Worship/DC120
10:00 a.m. Vietnamese Bible Study and Worship/DC220
11:00 a.m. Worship Service/Worship Center
11:00 a.m. Bible and Life Groups/Various Rooms on Campus
12:30 p.m. Hispanic Worship Service/Student Center
4:00 p.m. Living Christmas Trees Presentation/Worship Center
5:00 p.m. Romanian Baptist Mission/Modulars 3 & 4
7:00 p.m. Living Christmas Trees Presentation/Worship Center
Tuesday, December 15
6:00 p.m. CBOP Meeting/DC108
6:30 p.m. Dave Ramsey’s Series/DC121
7:00 p.m. The Vine College & Career Service/Student Center
Wednesday, December 16
6:20 p.m. AWANA
6:30 p.m. RefresHer/Chapel
6:30 p.m. Men’s Ministry/Fellowship Recreation
Thursday, December 17
9:15 a.m. MOPS/WC117
6:00 p.m. Celebrate Recovery/SC100
6:00 p.m. Divorce Care/DC107
Free Christmas Gift Wrapping
6:30 p.m. H.O.P.E./DC108
Friday, December 18
For Lighthouse Bookstore purchases
7:00 p.m. Singles Christmas Party/CM100

Free Christmas
Donations Gift
will be accepted for Wrapping
Missions Offering
For Lighthouse Bookstore purchases
Donations will be accepted for Missions Offering
"Every good thing
given and every
perfect gift is
"Every
fromgood thing
above…”
given and 1:17
James every
perfect gift is
from above…”
James 1:17
Last Weekend
Decisions For Christ Worship Attendance
Profession of Faith December 5 & 6
Ronald S. Henderson Saturday Night Total 954
Sunday Morning 9:30 1,496
Membership by Sunday Morning 11:00 959
Statement of Faith Total 3,409
Leslie Johns
Melanie Johns
Bible & Life Attendance
December 5 & 6
Saturday Night 818
Financial Stewardship Sunday 8:15 38
Sunday 9:30 346
2009-2010 Operating Revenues Sunday 11:00 726
July 1, 2009 - December 6, 2009
Home Groups 155
Budget Actual Variance Total 2,083
$2,765,973 $2,688,584 -$77,389

Next Week
Deacon of the Week Dr. Wicker on the Radio
December 14-December 20 You can hear Dr. Wicker every day at
Ron Howard and Gene Hoff 1:00 p.m. on 91.5 Kingdom FM WJYO.
If you need assistance, please call the church Dr. Wicker is also on WSOR 90.9 FM
at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday evenings, and
deacon hotline at 800-732-9573. on Praise FM 89.5 at 1:30 p.m. Sunday
For Spanish, call 601-6051. afternoons.
Wednesday Family Meal
Bar-B-Q Chicken, Baked Beans, Potato Salad, Dinner Roll, Dessert
Tickets may be purchased at the Lighthouse Cafe during regular business hours or at the
door for $5.50 each or $22.00 for a family (please, immediate family residing in home).
Alternate choices include grilled chicken breast, hamburger, pizza, or a grilled foot long hot dog.

Bookstore Hours
Monday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday Closed
Saturday 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Cafe Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Friday Closed
Saturday 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Sermon Notes
 Candlelight Christmas
Eve Services
December 24th
There will be two candlelight services. The
first one will begin at 4:00 p.m. and the second
one will begin at 6:00 p.m. Childcare will not
be provided.
If you would like to be baptized at either one
of these services, please contact Linda at
239-596-8600 x280.

Pastoral Staff
Dr. Hayes Wicker....................................................................................................... Senior Pastor
Miguel Cruz.....................................................................................Hispanic Congregation Pastor
Greg Davidson....................................................... ......Associate Pastor/Evangelism & Discipleship
Beverly Day................................................................................... Director of Preschool Ministry
Nathan Dooley.......................................................................Associate Pastor/High School Ministry
Dr. Roy Fisher................................................................................ Associate Pastor/Pastoral Care
Nathan Gaddis............................................................................. Worship/Creative Arts Associate
Steve Hayes....................................................................... Associate Pastor/Single Adult Ministry
Forrest Head...............................................................................................Senior Associate Pastor
Jim Hill........................................................................ Director of Single Parent Family Ministry
Lewis Howard......................................................................................Associate Pastor/Education
Shannon Moore............................................................................... Director of Women’s Ministry
Doug Pigg...................................................................Associate Pastor of Church Administration
Tom Rider..........................................................................Associate Pastor/School Administrator
Larry Rigley......................................................................... Associate Pastor/Children’s Ministry
Dr. Todd F. Stearns................................................................Associate Pastor/Worship and Music
Kevin Van Duser........................................................... Associate Pastor/Middle School Ministry

Church Office
3000 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples, FL 34109
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Church Receptionist.......................................................................................................... 597-6057
Enter ext. # for direct connection...................................................................................... 596-8600
Lighthouse Bookstore....................................................................................................... 449-4488
First Baptist Academy Naples.......................................................................................... 597-2233
24-Hour Prayer Line........................................................................................... 597-PRAY (7729)
Church Email........................................................................................................ FBCN@fbcn.org
Church Website..........................................................................................................www.fbcn.org