As noted in the most recent Soundings, the Transition Team is meeting weekly to formulate a plan to get input from the congregation as we work toward building a Church Profile and a Senior Pastor Profile. The profiles will be presented to the congregation for approval and will be the primary guide for the Pastor Search Committee. The work we do as a congregation over the coming weeks and months will be instrumental in choosing the right pastor for First Baptist Waynesboro.

Many of you have been asking a very reasonable question about what is being done to search for a new pastor. In truth, the Church Council and church moderator have been working behind the scenes for some months now to prepare us for a smooth transition and to find the individual who will lead us in the senior pastor role.

The process calls for four general phases of transition between senior pastors. Listed below are the approaches for each phase of the transition.

We are excited to welcome Jaime Coulling as our new Ministry Coordinator! In her role as Ministry Coordinator, Jaime will have her feet in both the ministry and administrative sides of our staff. Her responsibilities will include the planning, recruiting, executing, and evaluating of church events and programs, supporting our teams and committees with any needed administration, assist in weekly communications with our children and youth ministries, support the administrative staff as needed, and work with the ministry staff in the big picture planning and visioning for our church.

The Valley Program for Aging Services, with support from the FBW Senior Saints, will be offering a caregiver support circle for 5 weeks this fall. This group will run from on Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00am, beginning October 18th and ending November 15th.

We are excited to share the news that Dr. Jim White, our current Pastor for Senior Adults, has officially agreed to serve as our interim pastor beginning July 1. Jim has been a member of our staff since January 2022 and he and his wife, Connie, have been church members at FBW for almost 5 years.

Dr. Loyd Allen, church historian, will offer eleven summer sessions on "The Story of the Christian Church." He will be leading a look at everything from how we came to have the New Testament books we have, to the varieties of Christian prayer, to the differences between various Christian denominations, to how the Pope became the Pope, to speaking in tongues, and much more. These presentations are free and open to all. Bring a friend!

Join us on Sunday, June 5th as we celebrate Pentecost- the birthday of the Church!

We will have a combined worship service at 10:30 in the Sanctuary. Sunday school classes will meet at 9:30. After worship we will have a church-wide potluck. The church will provide the entree and we are asking each family unit to bring a side or dessert to share. You are also welcome to bring blankets or lawn chairs so you can sit outside. We will have tables and chairs set up in the Fellowship Hall.

We are also asking that you wear red that day. We are hoping to take a church family photo following the service before lunch!

We hope you will join us for this wonderful day of worship and fellowship!

Join the Senior Saints for an evening with the Faithful Men gospel group!

You are invited to join the Senior Adult Ministry of the Augusta Baptist Association for a trip to the Bible Museum in Washington DC!

Please support our preschool by participating in our Basket Raffle! Click the heading to find out ways you can donate items or purchase tickets!

One of the parts of Pastor Kristen’s job description is to help visitors and new members feel welcomed at FBW and to help them find ways to get involved in the life of our church. Starting Sunday, March 6 we will take the first step in creating a new, welcoming space to welcome folx to FBW.

We are bringing back a popular fundraiser from our past! The Children’s Ministry will be raising funds by selling homemade food items you may purchase for the Easter weekend (April 16-17). The funds raised will go toward their summer church camp experience.