FBC Family!

We are witnessing the Lord continue to move at FBC. Change is part of growth as humans and once again we are experiencing both. Find below a letter from our student pastor Nick Walker. Following his letter I (Kris) have a few more thoughts to add.

Dear Family Bible Church, 

This week, I’ve had conversations with students and leaders that I knew would come someday, but I’ve never looked forward to. My season in youth ministry is coming to an end, as it is time to step into something different. This summer, I will be transitioning out of the Youth Pastor role and into an Associate Pastor role here at Family Bible Church. 

During my time as a middle & high school student, I went through 4 different youth pastors. When I took this job as Youth Pastor, I wanted to really commit to being here for a few years, even 3-4 years to see a class through. Well, it’s now been 7 years, and our graduating senior class this year consists of my very first 6th graders! 

Elsie and I have been through a lot of changes in the last few years as we’ve expanded our family, and youth ministry is becoming more and more difficult. I love my time with the students but at the same time, it’s a big sacrifice being away from my wife and kids so many evenings during the week. 

There have also been a lot of changes around the church that have demanded my time and skills in different ways. I feel like I have been doing 2 jobs at 50% for a while, and that hasn’t been fair to myself or to our students. Our students truly deserve the best, and I don’t feel that I’ve been able to give it. 

After much prayer, thought, and conversation, the time has come for change. It is time for someone new to step in and take our students further than I ever could. I truly believe that there is more in store for our students, and I’m excited to see a new youth pastor pour into them and make them more like Jesus. 

We are beginning the search process for someone to replace me. Please be praying with me that God provides the right person in His timing. I do not plan to vacate the Youth Pastor position and move into my new role until I have someone to replace me, and I would love to have our new youth pastor come on the mission trip with me and our students this summer! 

I am so grateful for each of you, especially you parents and students. The hardest part about leaving this position is knowing that I won’t get so much quality time with our amazing students. But I’m thankful that this is not goodbye, that I’m not leaving. I will still continue to see you all around on Sunday mornings and throughout the week. 

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement throughout the years. Elsie and I could not have done it without you! God is faithful and we are so grateful He has brought us to this place for such a time as this. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. 

Blessings and Love, 

Nick

Kris continues: When the conversation began about this change I (Kris) asked Nick two questions. 1) Are you still called to ministry? 2) Are you still called to FBC? Much to my pleasure Nick replied “yes” to both.

Nick has been an amazing pastor on our staff and I am thankful he will continue on. In Nick’s new role he will come alongside me and take on many projects and ministries that need care, attention, and development so we continue to DEVELOP, SERVE, and REACH around us.

We are also excited as Nick has been taking steps toward ordination through FBC and also desires to return to school for further education.

We will indeed focus our efforts upon the Student Ministry and finding our next student pastor. We will continue to pour into our students as we have historically. Please pray for us and our next student pastor. Good things are ahead!

Thank you for your love, support, and prayer!

Kris Tarkiewicz, Lead Pastor FBC

Join us at 8:30am (traditional worship) or 10:30am (modern worship). Come as you are dress wise. When you enter the building from the north or south parking lot you will be greeted and welcomed. Stop by the cafe for coffee/tea and a snack. Join a conversation or relax at a table or couch seating area or around the open space. Feel free to stop by the New Here or Next Steps tables if you want to connect. When you are ready, make your way into the sanctuary/worship center. We gather for 60-75 minutes. You can expect to sing songs together, reflect in prayer, and hear an applicable sermon from the Bible. We hope to see you on a future Sunday!

This Sunday is Mother’s Day and we continue our series in Romans. This week we focus upon Romans 7:1-25 and the topic of a rule dominated life. In Paul’s letter he reminds us of the freedom we have in Jesus from sin. This Sunday, FBC member David Smith, will share and invite us to walk closer with Jesus through the instruction from Paul in Romans. Join us at 8:30 (traditional worship) or 10:30 (modern worship).

Attendance (5.5.24)

8:30

• Sanctuary – 101
• Online Avg. – 18 households
• Children – 14
• Nursery – 4

10:30

• Sanctuary – 180
• Online Avg. – 10 households
• Children – 48
• Nursery – 18

Finances (5.5.24)

Description coming soon.

This playground will be installed in the HUB this summer and we are looking for people who will love it, care for it, and help us use it to its fullest extent! Is that you?

We are now forming a team who will be tasked with helping form and set…

• Rules and guidelines for use
• Open hours and volunteer staff for public use
• Cleaning procedures
• General care
• Special event use
• So much more!

This is an exciting time to be a part of something great at FBC.

If you are interested please contact Kris@familybible.church ASAP.

Contact Joan Chapman with questions at mustardseedsusuganda@gmail.com

Brew the self serve coffee and have it ready by 8:15AM. Be part of a regular rotation serving 1-2 times per month. If you are interested please contact mary@familybible.church.

Tech/Worship Teams (8:30 & 10:30AM Services) 

We’re looking for more volunteers to serve on our tech and worship teams for Sunday morning services!

Worship roles include

vocals
piano
drums
acoustic
electric
bass and more!

Tech positions include:

running the computer slides
soundboard
cameras for the livestream
broadcast audio for our livestream

You will be trained for whichever position you choose. Please contact Chris Forystek at chris@familybible.church if you are interested.

Ushers (8:30 & 10:30AM Services)

Be a friendly face as people enter the sanctuary. Assist people in finding a seat or other needs as they arise. Please contact Patti Hudson (patti.hudson@yahoo.com) or Mary Pike (mary@familybible.church) to serve.

Third Saturday of the month. If you are serving please arrive between 9 and 9:30AM. Distribution is from 9:30-11:30.

Lori Peck is in need for help on Lighthouse Prep day (the Monday before Lighthouse) to help sort and hang clothes. 10am at the annex.

Our Sunday morning prayer team invites you to be a part of the ministry through prayer! We are expanding our prayer care during and after service. We seek people who desire to pray for and with others. Join this team and rotation each month. If interested please contact Pastor Gerten (richardgerten@gmail.com).

Love your city each and every day. We will see you at our next large project in September.

Mobile Meals of Marshall is Looking for New Drivers

Looking to volunteer? Enjoy people? Enjoy driving?

Deliver meals to shut ins and those recovering from surgery or illnesses.

Contact Judi Saari at 517-554-1459 or Harriet Carroll at 269-781-4506

First service at 8:30 is fully up and running! We would love for your babies, toddlers, preschoolers and elementary kids to join us in the kids wing if you are up early.

In April, we are talking about patience – waiting until later for what you want know. We can lean on God’s Holy Spirit to give us the strength we need to trust God and show patience with the difficult circumstances in our lives.

April memory verse: “Wait for the Lord. Be strong and don’t lose hope. Wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

One more month of Awana! We cannot believe we are at our last month of the Awana year. We have a fun-filled month planned. Keep working on those books!

4/23: Awana Store
4/30: Awards Ceremony!

PARKING & ENTRY/EXIT

Which doors should I use to enter/exit? Please use the 1) new north entry doors from the new north parking lot OR the 2) new south doors underneath the new overhang. Look for the A-Frame signs by these doors with “Welcome to Family Bible Church”.

May I enter/exit the old south doors outside entry doors? No. On Sundays, please use new entry/exit points. You will not be able to move through the ARK space on Sundays from the parking lot or sanctuary (only through the HUB).

Where should I park? Most people will park in the south lot. Others may park in the new north lot. Part of the new north lot is reserved for seniors and mobility limited people. Please look for the sign to indicate. STAFF & VOLUNTEERS: If possible please park at Kempf Funeral Home. There is a wood-chipped path between the properties.

What if the parking lot is full? Look for a parking team member for assistance. They will direct you to overflow parking. If the ground is solid you may park on the grass near Old 27 or elsewhere.

Handicapped Parking. Please only park in these spaces if your license plate or placard are clearly displayed. This applies everyday and every hour of the week (not just Sundays).

INSIDE THE BUILDING

Which restrooms should I use? You may use the new restrooms in the HUB or the old restrooms in the hallway just south of the sanctuary.

May I use the HUB during services? Yes. Feel free to spend your time at a table, couch or chair.

Will the worship services be broadcasts into the HUB? As soon as it is possible, we will broadcast the service to the tv’s near the cafe and New? Start Here area.

What if I have a question, who should I ask? FBC volunteers will wear a black badge and lanyard. Ask any of them for help.

Will there be snacks and drinks at the cafe? Yes. We will continue to offer drip coffee. There will also be water bottles and juice along with snacks most weeks. Donations are optional. All donations will go toward building out the cafe with more drink options including espresso drinks.

What about seating in the sanctuary? Please make space for others who are looking for seats. Also, let ushers know if you have room near or around you. If you are a regular here, consider moving forward to fill seats closer to the front so we save room for guests. At the 3/17 10:30AM service we had the largest attendance of 2024 so far. It felt full and some people could not find seats. However, there were still 119 seats open. 

ARK (CHILDREN’S WING)

How do I enter the ARK? From the HUB. All doors leading into the ARK remain locked before, during and after service

Who may enter the ARK on Sundays? Only children,  teachers/leaders, and parents/guardians with tags will be able to enter.

What do I need to pick up or check on my child? Your parent tag. A children’s ministry volunteer or safety team member will check your tag before you may enter.

Do I need to show my tag to pick up my child from their classroom? Yes. Show your tag to the classroom teacher who will dismiss your child to you.

What do I do if I lose my tag? Please stop at the NEW? START HERE desk where Corrie or Emily will assist you.

If I am in the ARK, where may I exit? You may exit the ARK from the south doors (to the parking lot) or the doors by the men’s bathroom.

May I reenter the ARK from these doors? No. You must go around to the HUB to reenter. Please do not make this awkward for yourself, the volunteer, or safety team member by knocking on the doors.

Where is the nursing room? Families who need access to a nursing room are invited to use the “living room” space (near the drinking fountain by the sanctuary). This space offers a comfortable seating area and a bathroom with changing table. Families with little ones who need to wiggle and move are welcome to use our new space!

Thank you, parents, for helping ensure our building remains secure and our children are kept safe!

Which door should I use Monday through Thursday during regular office hours (8AM-4PM)? The north entry. Ring the doorbell and someone will buzz you in.

Which door should I use for my group or event? Contact your group or event leader. They should coordinate with the office to determine which entrance is best to use.

Handicapped Parking. Please only park in these spaces if your license plate or placard are clearly displayed. This applies everyday and every hour of the week (not just Sundays).

May I come and use the HUB during the week to work, study, have a conversation with another person or just come and be where others are? Yes. At least one of the seating areas should be available. Call ahead to confirm hours we are open and/or check in with the office when you arrive.

May I reserve a space in the church for a special event, group or gathering? Check with Mary in the office by calling 269-781-8400 or email mary@familybible.church.

When will the playground and kitchen be installed and complete? We hope by the summer of 2024 both will be complete.

I’m interested in helping with the new playground, what needs are there? We are seeking a team of volunteers to run and maintain this space. We need someone to champion and oversee it, volunteers to run it, to clean it, and to help us develop policy. If you are interested please contact Kris@familybible.church.

How many square feet is the new addition? Between 10,000-11,000 square feet.

What is happening the in the “courtyard” between the buildings? We hope to have some people develop it into a nice outdoor seating area for people to enjoy. If you are interested in being a part please contact the office.

What should I do if I have another question? Contact the office at 781-8400 or mary@familybible.church

This group of men meets weekly on Tuesdays at 7AM for Bible Study and fellowship over breakfast at Free Range in Marshall. Questions? Contact richardgerten@gmail.com

A Woman’s Heart Bible Study meets on Wednesdays at 9:00 AM. We are in a study called Encouraging One Another. This is a book from the Women of Faith Bible Studies series. Order your book, bring your Bible and meet with other women to be encouraged and encourage others. Hope to see you then!

Let Kathy Tarkiewicz know if you’ll be attending and/or if you have questions. Email Kathy at kathytarkiewicz22@gmail.com.

Contact FBC Communities (familybiblechurchcommunity@gmail.com) or Carla Edgell (c.edgell73@gmail.com) if you have questions or would like to lead or participate in a community.

TO PLEDGE ONLINE, CLICK HERE: www.familybible.church/forward

Thank you for your commitment, giving, and most importantly PRAYER toward this amazing project!

We are working together. After one year of the Forward Campaign, we had new pledges and also some reductions/cancellations (which is okay as we know life situation change). The updated pledge total is $757,690 for the first phase of this process (phase two is debt reduction).

Our savings and the Forward Campaign has given us more than half the total cost for the building. We are still trusting God for the remaining balance of the long term debt.

Every donation matters and moves us closer to our completion.

The short answer is…we are not sure yet.

Let’s look at what we know.

• We have temporary occupancy which means we can start to “stock” the space with items that we will use once it is open. It also means we can use the north entrance on Sundays for services.
• Final occupancy should be coming in the coming two to four weeks.
• We are waiting on a two outdoor heating units and the final gas line to be connected.
• This month and early next we are working on the install of security system, wifi, audio, and video.
• You will also notice work begin on the kitchen soon as it has been ordered.
• Shortly, the playground will be ordered as well and we hope to have it installed before summer.

The staff and deacons are discussing and eagerly anticipating the opening of this new space as you are as well. We will keep you up to date as we move forward.

It was a joy to celebrate the groundbreaking together!

• Family Bible Church
  • Deacon Vice Chairperson-Dennis Craft (Craftphoto@aol.com, 269-209-2252)
  • Building Committee Chairperson-Doug Kiessling (dkiessling5@gmail.com, 269-579-0960)
  • Owner Representative-David Mead (meaddavid00@gmail.com, 269-275-5902)
• FED Design/Builders
  • Project Manager-Gary Rea
  • Project Superintendent-Dan Henry

Why Build?

As we shared when we first launched the FORWARD Campaign in May 2022, together we will continue to be a church who develops followers of Jesus who serve to reach ONE more. We will expand our facility in order for you, your ONE, and many others to encounter Jesus in a loving community.  Our fully built out building will have space in the large hub/gathering lobby where we will see the formation of community and healing conversations before and after services over coffee from the coffee shop. We will build a kitchen where meals will be prepared and fellowship, laughter and stories will be shared. We will build a large indoor playground, open to the community during the week, year-round, where children make new friends and so do mom, dad or grandma and grandpa with others who come together. Where these small conversations lead to big conversations of faith.

We will build a space for our middle and high school students in Marshall and the surrounding communities, who in recent years have met in lobbies, the sanctuary, and various rooms, to have a dedicated place of their own. It will be a building where they can welcome their friends from their neighborhood or school to encounter Jesus for the first time. This building will create a dedicated space where children of all ages have a warm, welcoming, secure, dedicated space to learn about Jesus and develop new friendships on Sunday mornings, at Awana and each summer at VBS.  We envision ministries and groups of all ages from the church and community gathering in this new building during the week in our warm and welcoming spaces where strangers become friends and ultimately family as we follow Jesus together.

What Are We Building Now & Later?

Today as we construct, the vision of this project has not changed, and it is the intention of the leadership to complete the project in its entirety.  

The construction industry, like most industries, has seen increases in both labor and material costs.  In addition, inflation continues to impact prices.  The Building Committee has reviewed the bids based on professional discipline and has reached out to local contractors.  Based on this detailed review, they were confident that the bids are appropriate for the current market.  It is anticipated that a delay in the project would result in higher costs in the future.

When the FORWARD campaign began we described the process that the building committee and Deacon board would follow if the FORWARD commitments fell short of our $750,000 goal.  When the bids were received we went through the same process to “right size” the project to fit the budget.  There are certain building components that cannot be delayed or modified, like the size of the building which is needed to link the children wing to the sanctuary.  

Some items, at this time, will be delayed including the completion of the cafe, kitchen, playground (however the planned electric and plumbing for these items would be stubbed now) and/or lengthening the amount of time the debt is paid. 

The board, building committee and finance committee will continue to review, work and plan toward the completion of this entire project.

You will also be able to be part of the solution by your continued or first time involvement with the FORWARD campaign. We invite you to join us in this step of faith. We are excited for the future, trusting God in each step.  

Discover more about the project and campaign HERE

You can learn more below in the FORWARD campaign link and update. CLICK HERE: www.familybible.church/forward

May 2023 marked one year since we began our campaign.

We invite you to be part of the pledge campaign however, if you choose not to pledge, you may still give to the building campaign weekly, biweekly, monthly or give a one time gift.

Thank you for your commitment, giving, and most importantly PRAYER toward this amazing project!