In late 1997 and early '98, the Lord was working in the hearts of some people at FBC to begin a local missions program; at that particular time, we had no further direction from the Lord. A meeting was called on a Sunday evening, and anyone with an interest in local missions was invited.
Between fifteen or twenty people attended that first meeting ; our purpose for the evening was to see what interest, if any, our people had and to pray for God’s direction. Not too many months later, we were led to organize a local missions committee, and the Lord was faithful to raise up seven men who were willing to serve in that capacity.
The first official local missions meeting was called in late '98. We came together for the purpose of presenting ourselves for His use and to pray for His plan. By the next meeting, the committee had a half-dozen or so potential ministries to prayerfully consider. Today that number has expanded to fourteen with involvement in eleven.
In 2 Cor. 4:5 we read; "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Christ’s sake." As we bring this into focus with FBC’s mission statement: "To prepare and deploy dependent disciples who are changing their world for Christ, as they are being changed by Christ", it is the desire of the local missions committee to see every person who calls FBC their church home, prepared (growing in grace, molded into the image of Christ, abiding in Christ) and deployed to proclaim not themselves, but Christ Jesus.
This then is the purpose of FBC regarding local missions: to "Proclaim Christ" in Winchester and Frederick County. By God’s grace, we will continue to prepare and deploy dependent disciples who are motivated by Him to be involved in the Jail Ministry, the Rescue Mission, Abba, Obadiah, Witz End, Medical Missions, the Shelter for Abused Women, the Hispanic Ministry, The Gate, and the Salvation Army, etc.
Our desire today is no different from that very first meeting in '97. We continue to desire God’s will and direction, as well as the involvement of all who attend FBC.
In 2003 as Abba Pregnancy Center celebrates 15 years of service to those experiencing unexpected pregnancies and the challenges that accompany them, we look back at the many ways we have grown and forward to even more changes. [more >]
The Gate is a serving group with a burden for the poor. We supply our missionaries with things they need in order to meet the extreme physical needs of the people they minister too. [more >]
The medical missions team at FBC was “born” in the fall of 2000. Accordingly, we may still be considered infants in the grand scheme of things! It was as obvious then as it is now, that God was providing the power. [more >]
Our Local Missions Jail Ministry continues to involve Harry Pugh filling in for two different Bible studies. One study is in the Protective Custody section with 4-5 attending. [more >]
The Obadiah Ministry is dedicated to serving our Lord by helping those in need in our local church and community. Single moms, shut-ins, the elderly and local parachurch ministeries are some of the people we are geared to. [more >]
The Mission averages 35-50 men on any given day and our Lord has been faithful to provide for their needs. We have been praying that God would lead us into a more structured program directed at developing men to trust Christ more and teach them Biblical principles in order to prepare them to make it on their own. [more >]
For some time, the Winchester Shelter for Abused Women had been on the hearts of many at FBC, including leadership and some individuals who went through training as Shelter volunteers. [more >]
The Salvation Army (SA) ministry is one of prayer, Bible study, discussion, listening, and sharing with a diversified audience. Some have been in prison; some can barely read; some can barely speak English. [more >]
FBC volunteers spend an hour or two with the female inmates at CFW Regional Jail here in Winchester each week. Our goal is to help them, both believers and nonbelievers, to begin reading and studying scripture. [more >]