Education Stipend applications are due by January 17th. Applications can be emailed to Sis. Morgan at the email address in the church directory. For any questions and concerns please see Sis. Morgan.

There are many, this Pastor included, that will characterize Friendship Baptist Church as a “good church.” The question then begs to be asked, what is a good church? There are those who will say facetiously, “Friendship gives a lot of money away in helping people pay rent, pay light bills,” etc., which then makes us a “good church” to the recipient of those funds. While Friendship does have a helpful benevolent program, that is a superficial answer.  What makes a “good church” is a profound question whose answer lies in the pages of the Holy writ.

 A good church is one where there is agape love. Love that is vertical and love that is horizontal. Love for God and love for His creation. Hear the words of Jesus; “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Mt. 22:37). Christians should live in perfect harmony. Paul calls it “perfectness” in Col. 3:14. This does not eliminate all differences in opinion, but loving Christians will work together despite their differences.

 A “good church” is one where there is unity. It is possible to believe in Christ, work hard for His Kingdom, and yet have broken relationships with others who are committed to the same cause. Example, Euodias and Syntyche, members of the Philippian church, (Phil. 4:2). These two women had been workers for Christ in the church.  Their broken relationship was no small matter because many had become believers through their efforts.

A “good church” is one where sound doctrine is taught and preached. Paul says, “…the gospel… is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” (Romans 1:16). To Titus, Paul says “speak thou the things which become sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1).  I submit that FMBC is a loving, unified church where sound doctrine is taught and preached.

Pastor J Amos Jones

New year, new you. It is the desire of this Pastor that none of you will buy into this meaningless phrase. If you are a born-again Christian, who is positionally in the Lord Jesus Christ, you ARE new. “Therefore if any man (person) be in Christ, he (or she) is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17) Christians are brand new on the inside. Year after year we enjoy the new life given to us by the Holy Spirit. We are not reformed, rehabilitated, or reeducated – we are new creations! What then, should be the position of the believer as we enter into a new year? Hear the Apostle Paul: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11) New year, stronger you.

Dear Ones, be strong in the new year 2024. Please note, the admonition is “be strong.” Which tells us we can do it. David approached his “be strong” this way: “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word” (Ps. 119:28). According unto thy word!

To be strong in 2024, appropriate God’s word into your life and rest in Him. The Lord, Jehovah, tells us in Zechariah 10:12: “And I will strengthen them (His people) in the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in His name, saith at the Lord.” Three words for 2024:

• Word one: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Ps. 119:11)
• Word two: “Thy testimonies also are my delight and my
  counsellors. (Ps. 119: 24)
• Word three : “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Ps. 119:105)

Happy New Year!
Pastor J Amos Jones

It is interesting how the gospel writers  in the books of  John and Luke speak to the advent of Jesus unto this people planet. John tells us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1). “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) John’s description shows clearly that he is speaking of Jesus, the creator of the universe, the ultimate revelation of God, the living picture of God’s holiness, the one by whom “all things consist”. (Colossians 1:17) John shows Jesus as fully human and fully God. Although Jesus took upon Himself full humanity and lived as a man, He never ceased to be the eternal God who has always existed, the creator and sustainer of all things, and the source of eternal life. Luke goes into great detail in pointing out the circumstances of the birth of Jesus. “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2: 4-7 ) In a summary fashion: “When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” (Galatians 4:4)

Merry Christmas!

Pastor J. Amos Jones

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church is the local church in the Four Corners Community.  Having said that, F.M.B.C. is also a part of the church, the Bride of Christ. We are members of the Body of Christ.  Paul says in Ephesians 1:22-23: “And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.”  Do you see it? Christ is the head, and we are the body of His church.  The image of the body shows the church’s unity.  Each member is involved with all the others as they go about doing Christ’s work on earth.  However, it is our relationship with Christ, the Head, that empowers every member as we continue our earthly so-journ.  “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ” (Romans 12:4-5a).

Here, Paul uses the concept of the human body to teach how Christians should live and work together.  Just as the parts of the body function under the direction of the brain, so Christians are to work together under the command and authority of Jesus Christ.  You are reminded by this Pastor quite often that “We are all in this together.”  Dear Ones, we are told that the fullness of Him fills and completes all things in all believers. That being said, we are totally complete in Him. The local church can do all things through Christ. Let’s focus on two things: Evangelism and Discipling of the believers. More to come.

Remember, we are the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit is the presence of Jesus in the earth realm and He will never leave us.

Pastor J. Amos Jones