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| First Baptist seeks to make a difference in the lives of others
both near and far. As a church, we encourage and
support people in their efforts to make the love of God a living reality
in the local and global communities through faithful participation in a multitude of
organizations. |
The Local Outreach Commission coordinates our local community
support. We provide regular support, assistance, and leadership
to a number of local agencies such as:
• Christian Counseling Service
• Compassion Clinic
• Family Service Association of
Redlands
• Habitat for Humanity
• Holy Mackerels Softball Team
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InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at the University of Redlands
•
Mustard Seed Tutorial Center
• Parenting Your Parents Support Network
• Redlands Area Interfaith Council
• Salvation Army of Redlands
• Step By Step
to name a few.
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Our church’s National and World Missions Commission helps us cultivate
a growing partnership with Christians around the world. From medical, educational,
and technical support to evangelism, we work in partnership with other
organizations, ministries, and churches nationally and abroad. In
partnership with the American Baptist Churches, USA, we support mission
work in areas such as the Congo, China, and the Middle
East. Through these partnerships, we have also established a sister
relationship with Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in La Concepcion, Nicaragua
whereby we are able to become personally involved in the lives
of our fellow Christian brothers and sisters and see first hand the
needs and blessings that the love of Jesus offers in communities all
over the world.
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The First Baptist Church maintains a special Fellowship Fund to aid
individuals and families in the church with emergency needs.
As part of our commitment to national and world missions, four special
offerings are collected and 11% of our church general offering are designated for
mission work in our local community, country, and around the world. In
2007, The First Baptist Church of Redlands gave more than $18,000 for our four special mission offerings in addition to more than $96,500.00 towards
supporting local, national, and global mission outreach endeavors.
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In addition to our mission work, First Baptist offers support networks for specific needs, including one-on-one counseling and grief support through our Stephen Ministry, support for adults taking care of parents, and parenting classes.
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Stephen
Ministry is our congregation’s one-to-one caregiving ministry for
those in the church as well as in the community. There is never a charge
for this service. God works through Stephen ministers to plant a seed
of
hope and healing in a person whose life seems barren and forlorn because
of some crisis or tragedy. |
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 Listen
Explore
feelings
Pray
Share
Christ’s love
Maintain
confidentiality
Attend
to the caregiving process and leave the results to God
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Grieving
In a crisis
In need of long-term care
Dying
Hospitalized
Divorcing
Experiencing losses as they age
Going through a crisis of childbirth
The family and friends of people in crisis |
| * Stephen Ministers
are not certified counselors and/ or therapists. |
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We all know how important a listening ear and caring heart can be. Our
church wants to equip more people with the training that will enable
them to become better listeners for people who are grieving or experiencing
other stressful situations in their lives. Stephen Ministry offers those
called to serve in this ministry 50 hours of training (six months of
weekly classes), and upon completion of the training, the opportunity
to share one hour a week with a member of our church or community in
special need.
Our church knows that everyone at some time will
need extra support and care. Through Stephen Ministry we are able to make
an important contribution to the lives of others during critical times
in their lives.
To learn more about Stephen Ministry please contact the church office. |
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Encouraging people of all faiths
A Support Network for families and individuals caring for aging parents
or other adults. We will help you:
Understand the aging process
Get
access to help and resources
Develop friendships and share experiences |
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The First Baptist Church of Redlands is more than a meeting of individuals
- it is a community of care, concern, and love.
We seek to be a church that reaches out to the community.
You are not alone if you are becoming increasingly responsible for the
care of your parents or loved ones. To meet that need, we provide free
information and support to individuals and families caught in the dilemma
of caring for aging family members or other loved ones.
Discussions are facilitated by Doris R. Radford who co-founded the program
in 1994. Doris is a health insurance and advocacy counselor, a parent caregiver,
and is knowledgeable in current health care issues and other related care
giving matters.
Learn
how to care for yourself and your family during this difficult time.
Understand
the aging process.
Access
to care, housing, and financial resources.
Listening
and learning from the experiences of others.
Be supported and support others in a non-denominational environment.
Become knowledgeable about the illnesses or conditions your parent or loved
one is experiencing.
Understand your parents’ legal rights.
Never pay a fee for your involvement in the support network.
The group meets on the first Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Church
Lounge (no meeting in September). Please contact Doris R. Radford (909) 792-8376
or the church for further information [link to contact page]..
Sponsored by the Local Outreach Commission of The First Baptist Church of
Redlands.
Service initiated from the Omer E. Robins Endowment Fund |
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Mondays at 7:00 p.m. in the church Lounge.
Facilitated by Rev. Orville Chapman, Virginia Joyce, and our Stephen Ministers.
The First Baptist Church of Redlands’ Stephen Ministry facilitates
a series on grief recovery and support group for those who are suffering
from the loss of a loved one or those helping others who have suffered
a loss.
GriefShare meets weekly and consists of thirteen videos, which are self
contained, allowing participants to join at any time. The weekly video
seminar features some of the nation’s foremost experts on grief recovery
topics. Each seminar is combined with a grief support group discussion
to allow group participants to talk about the content of the videos and
about how to deal with issues of grief.
If you or someone you know in the congregation or community who is suffering
from grief, please take this opportunity to find support or refer them
to this support group. The series is offered at different times throughout
the year. For more information, please call the church
office.
Rev. Orville Chapman served for 33 years as a missionary in the Congo with the American Baptist Churches USA. During those years he witnessed much as the country experienced warfare, natural disasters, and turmoil that resulted in countless lives lost. He and his wife Virginia were at times the only listening presence in people’s lives as they journeyed with others through much pain and grief. Their ministry was primarily empowering pastors in rural churches and then training village pastors and their wives on how to be servant leaders, equipped with an understanding of scripture, and how to apply that knowledge to listen and love their people.
Virginia Joyce, one of First Baptist Redlands’ Stephen Leaders has over 35 years of counseling experience with junior high students through adults.
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1. Living With Grief
This session introduces participants to GriefShare. It also explains what living with grief is like, why participants shouldn’t be ashamed of their grief and why they shouldn’t rush their healing.
2. The Journey of Grief
This session prepares your group for what to expect along the journey of grief. At the same time, it emphasizes that everyone’s journey will be unique and warns against comparing grief experiences.
3. The Effects of Grief
Your group members are probably surprised at how debilitating grief is. This session explains that this is normal and suggests practical ways to find comfort.
4. When Your Spouse Dies
This session helps widows and widowers think through the critical issues involved in their healing. It also begins preparing your entire group to face the realities of life without their loved ones.
5. Your Family and Grief
This session shares how to keep a family afloat when its members are drowning in grief. It also presents some of the unique issues involved in grieving the death of a child.
6. Why?
Just because God doesn’t answer all of our questions doesn’t mean He won’t answer any of them. This session answers “Why” questions and encourages group members to begin asking other questions as well.
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7. The Uniqueness of Grief Part 1
This session explores how the causes of, and personal responses to, a loved one’s death affect one’s grief. Topics addressed include suicide, long-term illness, murder and false guilt
8. The Uniqueness of Grief Part 2
Relationships, past and present, affect one’s grief. This session helps participants address insensitive comforters and unresolved conflict with a deceased loved one.
9. God's Prescription of Grief
The bereaved are often overwhelmed by the advice they receive from others. And often, what goes unnoticed is what God says about healing. This session tells participants how to position themselves to experience God’s healing.
10. Stuck in Grief
It’s easy to get stuck along the journey of grief, This session explains how to keep moving on the path to healing.
11. Top 20 Lessons of Grief Part 1
In this session, those who’ve walked the journey of grief will share what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown from their grief experience.
12. Top 20 Lessons of Grief Part 2
In this session we unveil the most significant lessons that can be learned during grief.
13. Heaven
This session gives practical advice on how to tap into, and hold onto, the source of hope in this disappointing world.
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