We are prepping for the first round of Connect Dinners for 2026! If you are newer to FBC, you may not be aware of what Connect Dinners are. They are a series of dinners that are designed to help families/individuals who have been visiting FBC learn more about the church and how to get plugged in, while connecting with other families. This is also a great resource for newer members. However, anyone at all can attend!

Each dinner has a specific focus and lasts between an hour and an hour and a half. While not required, it is encouraged that you attend all four of the dinners.

Dates: February 22, March 1st, March 8th, and March 22nd. Dinners will start at 5 PM. Please reach out to me if you are interested in participating!

As most of you know, EDGE student ministry exists to train and equip a generation of teenagers to follow Christ by living lives of worship and sacrifice as they glorify God and love one another.

We began 2026 pushing toward that goal by taking our students on our annual winter retreat. This year we split the retreat up between Middle and High school trips. This allowed us to focus in on the specific spiritual needs of each age group. The Lord blessed both retreats with great teaching, worship, and fellowship.

I want to thank all those volunteers who made this retreat possible for our students. I also want to thank all those who are so faithful to support our ministry with prayer and gifts. We are looking forward to “Disciple Now” coming up in March. Please continue to remember our ministry in your prayers. Thank you for all your love and support.

Happy New Year! FBC Kids is excited for 2026 and we have settled into the Education Building! The kids are loving having one space and so are the volunteers! Thank you to everyone for the support and understanding during this transition. Please still be patient with us as the volunteers are still getting used to a new building and new routines.

One new safety update: we are locking the doors while classes/church service is happening. Please ring the doorbell if the doors are locked and someone will let you in.

Each month on Sunday mornings, we will have different themes to help focus our lives on Jesus. Wednesday nights, we are walking through the Bible and reading stories about how God is a Promise Keeper and how every story we read points to Jesus and God's promises that we can rely on.

We're excited about what God has in store for 2026! We closed out 2025 with many campus improvements, including the restoration of the Glenn Fellowship Hall, the addition of handicap parking, and new Sunday School classrooms.

As we look ahead to an even more productive year, we'll be inviting the church family to participate in four campus-wide work days. More details about these quarterly work days will be shared soon. Please be in prayer about how you might participate and serve.

— Greg Ford

Christmas Eve Service

EDGE Retreat

Madisyn Savadge signs soccer scholarship with Roane State

M & M's Senior Adult Ministry

The M & M's (Sr. Adult Ministry) is sponsoring a lunch date with a local comedy artist. Big Rich Brock will be with us on Thursday, February 12 at 11:30 a.m. Rich is a Chickamauga boy, a former Student leader at FBC and former Pastor. Make plans to join us!

Lunch will be provided. A $5.00 love gift will be collected, and RSVP is kindly requested. Please text Debbie at 423-903-5168 or email sewdeb@comcast.net if you want a seat at the Big Rich Brock Show.

Jesse Tree Ornament Exchange

In November, we had 24 ladies participate in our first ever Jesse Tree Ornament Exchange led by Katie Warren.

A ramp was built for a lady who could not get out of her house. She received a power wheelchair and now is so thankful to God that she's able to get out and visit her family.

In another project, a young man with ALS was needing to move in with his mother, but had no way to get in the home. We removed a window and added a door and a ramp.

On December 13, 75 hoodies and wrapped toboggans stuffed with a pair of socks and warm gloves were given out to the homeless.

On December 20, 75 food bags, along with hygiene bags and cookie tins, were given out. Thanks to everyone who helped with this ministry!

Primetime SS class will have a luncheon on Feb. 9 @ 11:30 at Park Place.

Looking for a Ladies class? The Dorcas Class meets in the parlor of the gym, and we would love for you to join us. This is a sweet group of prayer warriors, faithful servants, and loving friends to one another. Try us — you will fit right in!

Our contemporary worship ministry continues to grow, and we are thankful for new musicians who have joined the band. We're excited to see how the Lord will work through our worship as we serve and lead the church together.

Some exciting new opportunities are coming for the music ministry in the 11:00 service! First, if you've ever wanted to join the choir but couldn't make it on Wednesday nights, for January and February, choir rehearsal has moved to Sundays at 4:00 p.m. Come check it out!

Second, in the next few weeks, the choir will begin working on music for Holy Week (March 29–April 2). We'll be preparing a communion service for Maundy Thursday, April 2, and of course choir music to celebrate Christ's resurrection Easter Sunday morning, April 5.

Lastly, if you play an instrument or sing and would like to provide special music for the 11:00 service, please reach out to me. We're looking for soloists, duets, and ensembles, and would love to get you on the schedule. Email me at joymays1@gmail.com or call/text 423-463-1380. Thanks so much!

— Joy Mays