This coming Sunday, November 23, is the Sunday before Thanksgiving. There are a couple of reasons why that should matter. Three events will happen on that Sunday.
First, we will be celebrating The Lord’s Supper. “He took the bread and He gave thanks”. What a great season to receive the Body and the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us take the bread and give thanks: thanks for Jesus, for our salvation, the presence of His Spirit, the love of our church family, and for “Friends-Giving”. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving on Thursday the 27th. We also hope you have a wonderful worship experience on The Lord’s Day, November 23.
Second, we will present our 2026 Mission and Ministry Budget. Our Budget represents the vision of the Ministry Team leaders. It reflects what they believe God is leading them to do as they work with Him to reach, redeem and restore a lost and broken world. Our process is to present the 2026 Mission and Ministry Budget. Then anyone can ask questions to any of our Budget Team members (names listed on the budget brochure). Then we will vote to approve the Budget on Sunday, December 28.
Third, it will be another Sunday for anyone who would like to donate a Christmas Gift, new or slightly used, for over 300 children in East Tennessee/Western North Carolina. One very creative family donated boxes of their puzzles. They we used only once, repackaged and look brand new! I love that idea. We probably have close to 200 gifts as of Monday, November 17!
ADVENT 2026 starts Sunday, November 30. This year we chose the theme : ALL HAIL KING JESUS. We will focus on what the Bible says about Jesus’ role as King…the One born King of the Jews! Advent will be designed to keep our worship and thoughts focused on the reason for the season. It also helps to encourage us to be generous givers as we support Children’s Christmas in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina; donate Jelly and Pancake Syrup for our neighbors and friends through James Island Outreach; and as we make a financial gift to International Missions. By the way, how would you like to provide firewood for the Gypsy Church for the entire winter and help put a need roof on to our church partner in Campulung, Romania? Why yes please, I think we can! We can accomplish both of those projects for $2,500. Let’s make it happen.
May He bless you with a great Thanksgiving and a holy and wonderful Advent Season!
Pastor Tom
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Friday, November 14, 2025
A Timely Prayer Request
A few Sundays ago, we had a timely prayer request turned in during the time of our offering. That is usually the time in the Sunday Worship Service when everyone is invited to “turn in” their prayer request. Back to the timely request. I loved the way this person turned in a prayer request concerning the need for a Bible Study for young single adults. The age group in college and into their early thirties. We currently do not have a Bible Study for that age group/demographic. They are just welcomed into the next available age group. I am asking, along with the person who put in the prayer request, that you would join us in prayer. In Matthew 9:37-38 Jesus invited us to “pray to the Lord of the Harvest that He will send out laborers into His Harvest. The Harvest is truly plentiful but the Laborers are few.” This is a wonderfully precious time of life. Let’s see if the Good Lord will send us laborers!
Christmas in Eastern Tennessee
We are working with our volunteer missionaries (See what I did there? Volunteer, The Tennessee Volunteers) Charles and Judy Dillon. They are working with the Hunger First Tri-County Mission seeking to provide Christmas to 300 Children. That sounds like a challenge that JIBC would take on. JIBC does something a little different during Advent. We incorporate Missions into the celebration of Christ’s coming. We will receive an offering for International Missions which always includes The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Jelly and pancake syrup for James Island Outreach and this year, 300 gifts for Eastern Tennessee Children affected by the extreme rainfall, terrible floods, landslides. If you would like to help and are able, they will receive any toys, even gently used ones, for ages birth to 14 and for Senior Adults. (We are sending 100 copies of The Good News According to John, the readable Bible Women’s Missionary Union Gift Edition.) Each of the 300 children will also receive a Christmas Stocking filled with candy courtesy of left over JIBC Fall Festival candy! Double blessing! If you do purchase or donate a gift, please bring it to the Worship Center or place it right outside the office.
Thank you for your prayers, your generous giving and your service to His Kingdom. God is good all the time and all the time….You got it!
Pastor Tom
Christmas in Eastern Tennessee
We are working with our volunteer missionaries (See what I did there? Volunteer, The Tennessee Volunteers) Charles and Judy Dillon. They are working with the Hunger First Tri-County Mission seeking to provide Christmas to 300 Children. That sounds like a challenge that JIBC would take on. JIBC does something a little different during Advent. We incorporate Missions into the celebration of Christ’s coming. We will receive an offering for International Missions which always includes The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Jelly and pancake syrup for James Island Outreach and this year, 300 gifts for Eastern Tennessee Children affected by the extreme rainfall, terrible floods, landslides. If you would like to help and are able, they will receive any toys, even gently used ones, for ages birth to 14 and for Senior Adults. (We are sending 100 copies of The Good News According to John, the readable Bible Women’s Missionary Union Gift Edition.) Each of the 300 children will also receive a Christmas Stocking filled with candy courtesy of left over JIBC Fall Festival candy! Double blessing! If you do purchase or donate a gift, please bring it to the Worship Center or place it right outside the office.
Thank you for your prayers, your generous giving and your service to His Kingdom. God is good all the time and all the time….You got it!
Pastor Tom
Friday, November 7, 2025
Advent Christmas Giving
One of my favorite parts about Thanksgiving and Christmas is getting ready for the Advent Season. The word advent means coming. Christmas is the celebration of the coming, the advent, of God’s Son into the world. It is so easy for me to be distracted by political news, family events and secular messaging. To help me stay focused I have some spiritual practices that I try to incorporate into my holidays. Starting December 1, I will re-read the Christmas stores and all related passages. There are times when I use an Advent Devotional. It usually includes a scripture reference, a short thought and a prayer for the season.
As a church family, one thing we do involves remembering why we give gifts. Following the example of the Wisemen/Magi/the Three Kings, we bring our gifts to celebrate our Lord’s birth. We still give family gifts and have wonderful days of family gathering with gift exchanges. Christmas is not the only time we give gifts but it is one time when we are most likely to share love and gifts!
Here is one tradition I love as much as any. Our church family for years has incorporated mission giving and mission support into the Advent Season. The gifts can vary from year to year. The intent is always the same: love someone in Jesus’ name and bless them however you can. This year, we are doing three gifts for Advent. The first one is by far the biggest challenge. We have been asked to provide Christmas for 300 children in Western North Carolina. These can be gently used toys or new toys. They can be for ages starting at birth and going through age 14. There can also be gifts for Senior Adults. Please join us in trying to provide 300+ toys for these children. I think we will have twice that number. By the way, you do not have to wrap them. They will have a special way to deliver the gifts to the families. No wrapping required. We will have at lease three Christmas trees around the church campus: the worship center, the atrium and the fellowship hall. You can drop them off any time. We will be taking the gifts to Greenville, Tennessee, the collection place. They will get them to their Ministry-Mission warehouse from there. So, the last date to receive toys at JIBC is Monday, December 8.
The other two Advent mission projects include our Jelly and pancake syrup for James Island Outreach. How sweet it is! Keep an eye out for the BOGO deals. Let us know where you find great deals and we will spread the word.
The last of the mission projects includes an offering for International Missions. This fund will be directed to mission efforts around the world. Among them will be the Lottie Moon Christmas offering.
Well, it is early, but the days are flying fast. Make plans now for how you will celebrate Advent.
Blessings,
Pastor Tom
As a church family, one thing we do involves remembering why we give gifts. Following the example of the Wisemen/Magi/the Three Kings, we bring our gifts to celebrate our Lord’s birth. We still give family gifts and have wonderful days of family gathering with gift exchanges. Christmas is not the only time we give gifts but it is one time when we are most likely to share love and gifts!
Here is one tradition I love as much as any. Our church family for years has incorporated mission giving and mission support into the Advent Season. The gifts can vary from year to year. The intent is always the same: love someone in Jesus’ name and bless them however you can. This year, we are doing three gifts for Advent. The first one is by far the biggest challenge. We have been asked to provide Christmas for 300 children in Western North Carolina. These can be gently used toys or new toys. They can be for ages starting at birth and going through age 14. There can also be gifts for Senior Adults. Please join us in trying to provide 300+ toys for these children. I think we will have twice that number. By the way, you do not have to wrap them. They will have a special way to deliver the gifts to the families. No wrapping required. We will have at lease three Christmas trees around the church campus: the worship center, the atrium and the fellowship hall. You can drop them off any time. We will be taking the gifts to Greenville, Tennessee, the collection place. They will get them to their Ministry-Mission warehouse from there. So, the last date to receive toys at JIBC is Monday, December 8.
The other two Advent mission projects include our Jelly and pancake syrup for James Island Outreach. How sweet it is! Keep an eye out for the BOGO deals. Let us know where you find great deals and we will spread the word.
The last of the mission projects includes an offering for International Missions. This fund will be directed to mission efforts around the world. Among them will be the Lottie Moon Christmas offering.
Well, it is early, but the days are flying fast. Make plans now for how you will celebrate Advent.
Blessings,
Pastor Tom
Thursday, October 23, 2025
I KNOW, I KNOW IT IS EARLY
I am writing this article about Christmas Missions and we have not even finished the Fall Festival or Thanksgiving! This is kind of a pre-Christmas announcement and alert. This past week I received a call from our missionaries Charles and Judy Dillon. They are currently living in a camp ground in Park City, Kentucky. He is serving as the volunteer Chaplain there. He is still in touch and working with the ministries from Greenville, Tennessee that are reaching out to Western North Carolina. The ministry Charles is working with is called “Hunger First Tri-Cities” Kingsport, Tennessee. They have a Facebook page if you want to see some of their mission work.
So, here is the BIG ASK. This ministry called Charles to see if he could help them provide Christmas for 300 children from Birth to Age 14 and for Elderly people. Three Hundred children! Sounds like a gigantic ASK doesn’t it? It is. But no more than 2000 pounds of Venison and 300 winter coats that God enabled us to donate to them. This sounds just like a JIBC Mission project. So, let me share the first details so we can start praying about how we can bless 300 Children and their families.
First, the 300 children live in Western North Carolina. Many will be the same families we blessed with food and winter coats. The toys can be “gently used” or new toys. We would include the toys as a part of our Advent Giving this year. Because of the volume, we would promote collecting toys for Western North Carolina, Jelly for James Island Outreach and a mission offering for International Missions. The hard date for having the toy to us would be December 7. We would pack them on Monday, December 8 and drive them to Greenville, Tennessee. They will distribute the toys collected on Friday, December 19. Now, that is the basics. What do you think? Can we do it?
You know me. I can’t leave that alone. I want to know if a couple of our JIBC folks could come up on December 19 and help distribute the toys. Is there a way we can come up and have a Christmas party with them? Those are my ideas not theirs so we will wait and see. By the way, Charles and Judy will dress up like Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. You know that Santa will be preaching the Gospel about Jesus.
I will start with the details in November so we can take advantage of Black Friday sales! Question: Does anyone have a real solid hook up for someone who sells footballs, basketballs and soccer balls? Let me know please.
See you Sunday for the conclusion to “The Scariest Words in the Bible”.
Love you all,
Pastor Tom
So, here is the BIG ASK. This ministry called Charles to see if he could help them provide Christmas for 300 children from Birth to Age 14 and for Elderly people. Three Hundred children! Sounds like a gigantic ASK doesn’t it? It is. But no more than 2000 pounds of Venison and 300 winter coats that God enabled us to donate to them. This sounds just like a JIBC Mission project. So, let me share the first details so we can start praying about how we can bless 300 Children and their families.
First, the 300 children live in Western North Carolina. Many will be the same families we blessed with food and winter coats. The toys can be “gently used” or new toys. We would include the toys as a part of our Advent Giving this year. Because of the volume, we would promote collecting toys for Western North Carolina, Jelly for James Island Outreach and a mission offering for International Missions. The hard date for having the toy to us would be December 7. We would pack them on Monday, December 8 and drive them to Greenville, Tennessee. They will distribute the toys collected on Friday, December 19. Now, that is the basics. What do you think? Can we do it?
You know me. I can’t leave that alone. I want to know if a couple of our JIBC folks could come up on December 19 and help distribute the toys. Is there a way we can come up and have a Christmas party with them? Those are my ideas not theirs so we will wait and see. By the way, Charles and Judy will dress up like Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. You know that Santa will be preaching the Gospel about Jesus.
I will start with the details in November so we can take advantage of Black Friday sales! Question: Does anyone have a real solid hook up for someone who sells footballs, basketballs and soccer balls? Let me know please.
See you Sunday for the conclusion to “The Scariest Words in the Bible”.
Love you all,
Pastor Tom
Friday, October 17, 2025
MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR
We are heading into my favorite time of the year. Once we have the Fall Festival Community Outreach behind us, we dive into November and December, my most favorite time of the year. Once we turn the calendar over to November, it is full on Thanksgiving Season. I am liking anything that helps me to take a pause to be thankful, be appreciative, and to give thanks to God from whom all blessings flow. I never want to fall into the pit of ingratitude. Gratitude can turn everyday into Thanksgiving and change everyday opportunities into blessings. He is the Giver of every good and perfect gift.
I usually do a sermon series on Thanksgiving. We will have four Sundays before Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27. Among the reasons I love this time of the year is my weddings anniversary. This year, November 29, Janie and I will celebrate 50 years of marriage. Thanksgiving Day with family and two days later we celebrate our marriage. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
It is not too early to at least mention the other reason why I love this time of the year…the entire Christmas Season. I look at lights, every song, every gift, every special meal as a part of celebrating Jesus’ birth. This year we will have opportunity to bless because we have been blessed, to give because much has been given, to be thankful for family and friends.
Question for you: What are your all-time two favorite Christmas songs? One can be a hymn and one not a hymn. I would like to put together a Christmas tunes play list. Text me or pm me on Facebook or drop it in the offering plate. Follow up question: would you mind if I shared your two songs? I think there are others who would love to see what your favorite is.
Ok, I will wait until the Fall Festival, October 31. After that…IT IS THANKSGIVING TIME!
See you Sunday, good Lord willing.
Pastor Tom
I usually do a sermon series on Thanksgiving. We will have four Sundays before Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27. Among the reasons I love this time of the year is my weddings anniversary. This year, November 29, Janie and I will celebrate 50 years of marriage. Thanksgiving Day with family and two days later we celebrate our marriage. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
It is not too early to at least mention the other reason why I love this time of the year…the entire Christmas Season. I look at lights, every song, every gift, every special meal as a part of celebrating Jesus’ birth. This year we will have opportunity to bless because we have been blessed, to give because much has been given, to be thankful for family and friends.
Question for you: What are your all-time two favorite Christmas songs? One can be a hymn and one not a hymn. I would like to put together a Christmas tunes play list. Text me or pm me on Facebook or drop it in the offering plate. Follow up question: would you mind if I shared your two songs? I think there are others who would love to see what your favorite is.
Ok, I will wait until the Fall Festival, October 31. After that…IT IS THANKSGIVING TIME!
See you Sunday, good Lord willing.
Pastor Tom
Thursday, October 9, 2025
THE FALL FESTIVAL 2025!
Over the years the Fall Festival has grown to encompass the entire side of our Plymouth Avenue parking areas. Although the Festival has grown, our purpose has remained the same. We want to go head-to-head with the traditional Halloween events and offer a safe, family friendly, fun event. Kids still get so much candy we should be sponsored by all local dentists! It is a free event…even the food. To get a free food voucher, all they have to do is register.
I especially love the Fall Festival when it gets dark and the lights are on. Now it looks like a party. The best band on James Island is playing all our favorite songs, people are laughing and enjoying themselves, are we are rubbing shoulders with people we might not get to meet otherwise. This is a BIG event and it shows a lot of love to our community. Did you know we added a “Prayer Booth”? Stop by and write down a prayer or ask for prayer right then and there. How about this…we offer a “Free Hug” booth. Just about everyone needs a good hug from a grandma or granddad figure! I am not sure if he will make it, but we also had Beauregard, the “pet me for some therapy” dog! He was a big hit and I am sure he was sore the next day from so many hugs. Mark Livengood has been great about having a booth, whether using science or drama, to share the Gospel.
Just a reminder about costumes. We absolutely love the creativity and the “good taste” shown by those who show up in costume. No bloody characters or sexy French Maids. Think “G” rated for families with preschoolers. There has even been a rumor that the “Punk Monk” may make a return this year. He was on special assignment the last few years.
Pray for the event. (Dear Jesus, may everyone who attends feel your love and be drawn to you. Bless us with safety as well as fun. Amen) Bring some candy. We will need a few thousand pieces to give away. Then, consider volunteering for one of the booths. Some are amazingly simple while others require more interaction with our guest. Your choice. (Big hint: Get 3 friends to sign up with you. Then 2 work the first half of the event, the other two work the next half. Winner winner) We have safety teams, registration tables, cooks, servers, booth hosts, etc. A place for everyone.
Here we go, Fall Festival number 40…OK, 39 because of Covid!
Love to all,
Pastor Tom
Friday, October 3, 2025
CHARLIE KIRK’S TRAGIC DEATH
The day before Janie and I went out of the county, Charlie Kirk was assassinated. He was and actually still is a strong voice for Biblical principles and conservative view points. Along with the evil in the murderer’s heart, Charlie Kirk was killed for his view points.
HOW DO WE RESOND TO SUCH A HORRIFIC EVENT? I suggest we do what we should always do and look to Jesus. What would/did Jesus say in such a time? We do not decide what to do or say based on the latest TV Preacher or radio personality. It is radical, but let’s do what Jesus did.
John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin. Jesus called him the greatest man ever born to a woman. He was the Elijah of Jesus’ day preparing the way of the Lord and calling us to repentance. He had his head cut off by Herod as though Herod was a member of modern day Hamas. Matthew 14 tells the story of Johns murder and Jesus’ response. WWJD?
First he grieved and mourned. He went away by himself to seek the comfort and perspective of His Father, Abba. Blessed are those who mourn, they will be comforted. He mourned. Second, when the crowds found Him, Jesus had compassion on them and healed the sick. He continued on with the very work God sent Him to do. Perhaps a mourning heart can be helped by meeting the needs of others. At least we know that is what Jesus did. Third, He had compassion on the large crowd and performed the miracle of feeding 5,000 men with 5 loaves and a few fishes. He was not ignoring or denying John’s death. He was continuing the very work John the Baptist announced Jesus was coming to do. Jesus’ agenda was not set by politics, fundamentalist preachers or emotions pushed to the brink. He prayed as he taught us to pray “Thy Kingdom come and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
SO WHAT DO YOU DO IN FACE OF SUCH HORRIFIC NEWS? I usually have three responses. First, PRAY MORE. We pray, seeking God’s perspective. Matthew 7:7 says “Ask and it will be given, Seek and you will find, Knock and the door will be opened”. So, let’s ask, seek and knock. Pray more and grumble less. Second, PRAISE MORE. Do not underestimate the power that comes from exalting and focusing on the Goodness of God vs the wickedness of man. Praise celebrates who God is, His nature, His character. It lifts our eyes to the Father and our Lord Jesus. Paul and Silas were in prison for preaching the Gospel. What did they do? Prayed and praised. What did God do? He opened the prison doors. Third, SERVE MORE. Jesus healed the sick and fed 5,000 immediately after learning of Johns death. He saw this tragic event as the occasion to do what God sent Him to do: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach Good News to the poor; He sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:16-19)
Charlie Kirk’s memorial, so far, has been seen by over 20 million people. Twenty Million hearing the clear Gospel of Jesus presented. The cowardly assassin unknowingly awakened a sleeping spiritual giant. Millions are rallying to pray, praise and carry on the Gospel work God has called us to. To God be the glory and our prayers and love to Erica Kirk and her two beloved children.
Pastor Tom
HOW DO WE RESOND TO SUCH A HORRIFIC EVENT? I suggest we do what we should always do and look to Jesus. What would/did Jesus say in such a time? We do not decide what to do or say based on the latest TV Preacher or radio personality. It is radical, but let’s do what Jesus did.
John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin. Jesus called him the greatest man ever born to a woman. He was the Elijah of Jesus’ day preparing the way of the Lord and calling us to repentance. He had his head cut off by Herod as though Herod was a member of modern day Hamas. Matthew 14 tells the story of Johns murder and Jesus’ response. WWJD?
First he grieved and mourned. He went away by himself to seek the comfort and perspective of His Father, Abba. Blessed are those who mourn, they will be comforted. He mourned. Second, when the crowds found Him, Jesus had compassion on them and healed the sick. He continued on with the very work God sent Him to do. Perhaps a mourning heart can be helped by meeting the needs of others. At least we know that is what Jesus did. Third, He had compassion on the large crowd and performed the miracle of feeding 5,000 men with 5 loaves and a few fishes. He was not ignoring or denying John’s death. He was continuing the very work John the Baptist announced Jesus was coming to do. Jesus’ agenda was not set by politics, fundamentalist preachers or emotions pushed to the brink. He prayed as he taught us to pray “Thy Kingdom come and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
SO WHAT DO YOU DO IN FACE OF SUCH HORRIFIC NEWS? I usually have three responses. First, PRAY MORE. We pray, seeking God’s perspective. Matthew 7:7 says “Ask and it will be given, Seek and you will find, Knock and the door will be opened”. So, let’s ask, seek and knock. Pray more and grumble less. Second, PRAISE MORE. Do not underestimate the power that comes from exalting and focusing on the Goodness of God vs the wickedness of man. Praise celebrates who God is, His nature, His character. It lifts our eyes to the Father and our Lord Jesus. Paul and Silas were in prison for preaching the Gospel. What did they do? Prayed and praised. What did God do? He opened the prison doors. Third, SERVE MORE. Jesus healed the sick and fed 5,000 immediately after learning of Johns death. He saw this tragic event as the occasion to do what God sent Him to do: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach Good News to the poor; He sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:16-19)
Charlie Kirk’s memorial, so far, has been seen by over 20 million people. Twenty Million hearing the clear Gospel of Jesus presented. The cowardly assassin unknowingly awakened a sleeping spiritual giant. Millions are rallying to pray, praise and carry on the Gospel work God has called us to. To God be the glory and our prayers and love to Erica Kirk and her two beloved children.
Pastor Tom
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