Ready, Set, Action
Are you interested in using your spiritual gifts but not sure where to serve? Or maybe you would like to know more about a particular team. March and April will be Spotlight Months. Each of the Ministry Com-mittee’s action teams will have a special table in the foyer during Sundays in March and April (except Easter). They will have information available about the team, their purpose, and volunteer opportunities.
- March 3rd Bible Study and the Brotherhood Ministry
- March 10th Evangelism & Missions and the Fellowship Events Team
- March 17th Floral Team and the Food for the Hungry Team
- March 24th Food Services Team and Greeters
- April 7th Library and Membership Team
- April 14th Nursery and Prayer Team
- April 21st Senior Adults Ministry and Sewing Sisters
- April 28th Sisterhood Ministry and Student Ministries
The following pages will give a brief synopsis to spotlight each of the March ministries.
Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.
1st Peter 4:10 CSB
Spotlight on The Bible Study Ministry
Bible Study is essential for spiritual growth. Bible study that allows each person to not only study the Word but to interact with fellow believers. This interaction provides opportunities for discussion to develop a deeper understanding of the Bible and Christian principles. Bible Study classes also provides a vehicle for prayer for our church family, personal family, com-munity, and nation.
We are blessed at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church to have Bi-ble Study classes for everyone provided by qualified teachers that teach the Word of God. The following classes are available:
- Senior Adult Women
- Senior Adult Men
- Senior Adult Couples
- Median Couples
- Pastor’s Class
- Young Adult Class with Zoom Participation
- Grades 9th-12th
- Grades 6th-8th
- Grades 3rd-5th
- Grades PreK-2nd
The Bible Study Committee will have a table set up on March 3 that will showcase Bible Study opportunities available at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. We will have someone at the table to answer any questions that you may have.
In Christian Love and God’s Amazing Grace,
Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Bible Study Committee
Jim McElveen (Liaison)
Dennis Vinson, Action Team Leader
The Floral Ministry Spotlight
The Floral Team seeks to enhance the corporate worship experience with flowers, decorations, and visual art. We deco-rate the church seasonally and for special occasions and holidays.
As the seasons change and special occasions approach, we brainstorm ideas that will best contribute to the season or event. Then we make sure we have the supplies needed, either in storage or go shopping for them. For the big holidays, we send a shout out to anyone who would like to help deco-rate, and again when it is time to take it all down. Special thanks to all of those who come when we call, and also to the Brotherhood adding some rods and shelves to our storage room recently!
Jennifer Taylor, Action Team Leader
Welcome Desk & Greeters Spotlight
Greetings from the Welcome Desk/Greeters Action Team! We are here to serve you the moment you step through the doors of PGBC. The Action Team Members (currently comprised of volunteers and Bible Study members) rotate monthly at the Welcome Desk and church doors to provide guests and mem-bers with directions to locations, Bible Study recommendations, etc. You will find information including how to sign up for Flock notes, maps of the church and contact information forms as well as hot tea, coffee, water and mints at the Welcome Desk.
We are always looking for volunteers to help on our team. Stop by, grab a mint and volunteer!
Rhonda Sanford, Action Team Leader
Brotherhood Ministry Spotlight
Brotherhood is a wonderful group of men that meets the 2nd Saturday of each month for breakfast. During their meeting, a speaker equips, encourages, and empowers men for the cause of Christ. Outreach has included collecting good for the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes, litter pickup, and group work on the church grounds. Come join these men of God.
David Taffin, Liaison and Sam Burrell, Action Team Leader
The Evangelism/Missions Team Spotlight
This action team meets the 2nd Saturday of each month. The team coordinates with the Student Ministries Team, the Bible Study Team, and other church teams in reaching the lost for Christ. The team members always empower one another for evangelistic work. Come join the team. There is always room for volunteers and team members.
Jay Cannon, Action Team Leader
Fellowship Events Action Team
The Fellowship Event Action Team plans church-wide social events and activities on a regular basis. We provide opportunities for fun, fellowship, encouragement, and discipleship with other believers of all ages. We want to help build up the Body of Christ from children to senior adults and encourage Chris-tian relationships among our brothers and sisters here at Pleasant Grove. Some events we have hosted this past year include an Ice Cream Social and Game Night, the Talent Show and Apple Bake-Off, Christmas Caroling Party, and the Love for God Banquet.
The Fellowship Event Action Team (FEAT) also works with other ministry action teams to help facilitate social events specifically for those action teams. Some events we helped host this past year are the Ladies’ Brunch and Wreath Making Workshop, a church-wide Thanksgiving Dinner, and a Birth-day Party for Jesus.
We have a lot of fun and so much joy by serving the Lord in this way, but there is also a lot of work that’s involved. We meet as an action team every month to pray for and plan these events. The Fellowship Event Action Team consists of only three team members and four regular volunteers, but we have had so many others to come along beside us and help us with these special events.
We are looking forward to the Ministry Fair this month and will have a table setup March 10th. Please stop by and see what activities are coming up and let us know if you’re interested in helping us out. We each have gifts and talents that God has blessed us with, and it’s beautiful to see the body of Christ coming together to serve Him.
Blessings, Dusty Armstrong, Fellowship Events Action Team Leader
Food for the Hungry Ministry Team Spotlight
The purpose of Food for the Hungry Action Team is to strive to lead others to Christ by sharing the love of Christ and the Gospel through testimony while praying for their needs and encouraging them to attend church. This purpose is enhanced by providing small supplies of basic foods and non-food items
such as clothing.
We are partners with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank which is the source for distribution. The action team leader has the responsibility of insuring that the policies and requirements for participation in the Chattanooga Area Food Bank are met.
For the past seven years the Ministry has been managed by Jim McElveen, in the position of action team leader, while being supported by action team members and volunteers. The volunteers include administration who occupy the welcome table and complete the required paperwork.
Once the paperwork is complete the recipients are offered an opportunity to receive counseling concerning their spiritual life. Counseling is provided by Pastor Dan, Pastor Jeff, and other volunteers.
After counseling the recipients are directed to the distribution location to receive boxes of food based upon the number of family members in the household. As an example of the distribution volume provided in support of our community during the month of February, 42 households were provided food. This included 77 adults, 50 children and 6 new recipients.
The coats collected during our coat drive in the first three months of the year were also distributed. A total of 110 coats were given to those in need.
If you would like to become a volunteer and support this ministry please contact Jim McElveen or simply show up at 8:30am on our distribution day which is the second Wednesday of each month. The service is from 9:00-11:00 am.
Food Services Ministry Spotlight
The Food Services Ministry at Pleasant Grove Baptist is here to serve others through preparation and service of food for special events, holidays, and every Wednesday evening. We minister to Pleasant Grove by sharing the love of Christ to the fellowship by our care and dedication to providing flavorful meals to the people attending every event.
There is a full kitchen in the fellowship hall of the main church and also in the pavilion. Wednesday night dinners are in the fellowship hall in the cooler months and then move to the pavilion for the warmer months.
This ministry involves a great deal of planning and preparation. We shop for the food and supplies needed and then schedule time to prepare foods often in advance. Many members volunteer to help prepare and serve during events.
We always are in need of helping hands. There is setup, food preparation, service of the food, and cleanup. Each area needs a helping hand or two. We are blessed in this congregation to have several loyal volunteers but we always need more even if you cannot stay for an entire event.
If you would like to help this ministry in any way, please jump in during any event. Or, call the Action Team Leaders Barb & Carl Eckelberry.
Library Spotlight
Welcome to your library. We are committed to having materials for your reading and studying needs. We have two locations to the right of the sanctuary. On the right of the hall is the main library. This will include books for adults, teens and preteens. We are at this time working to find the space for moving the teens and preteens (chapter readers) over to this room. Our other room is across the hall and will include our children’s books. We will also move all music and videos for all ages over there. We also have the listing of books connected to the church website and you can place a hold on the book from there and we will get it for you and contact you when it is ready.
As you can see, we listed working towards – this means a work in progress. We presently have a small team that works not only on Sundays but on Thursday mornings 10-12 to get this accomplished. As well as doing this we also have other things that we do. We have to cover books, especially paper jacket books, decorate displays, buy books, write newsletter articles and what we call accessioning books. This means the book information is written in and accession book, given it on personal number then added to the library program with all the necessary information. Also after the books are on the shelf in proper order we have to check books in and out of the computer system and card system. We also periodically do inventory and check out the overdues to be sure the necessary contacts are made.
Our materials cover a variety of topics. We have lots of Christian Fiction for causal reading. If your desire leans to learning new items or need help on various items we range from biographies to Christian topics on family, financial and social issues. We can help with apologetics and commentaries and carry a large amount of study helps and instructions on various needs. We also have some study books to be used for classes although these are not to be written in. We also have movies, and teaching items on DVD’s for all ages and some music.
We take donations items but do reserve the right on what we use due to our space or the type of items. We pass the extras on to other locations that will be used to the advantage in our local communities. Also if you have a book you are interested in let us know what that is and we will make every effort to have that book purchased for the library.
All members and visitors are welcome to check out books, we only need your contact information if you are visiting or new to the church. If you would like to join our busy team we would love to have you. Please contact us and let us know your desire, I am sure we can fine the right fit for you.
Linda Valentine
Nancy Quarles
Nursery Ministry Spotlight
Our Nursery / Preschool (birth to 3 years) is fun here at
Pleasant Grove Baptist. We provide a loving and safe environment where our children can play, learn and thrive in God’s love. We offer care for all Sunday morning services. Our nursery staff and everyone who works with our children (of any age) has completed a nationwide criminal background screening. We do not consider it as childcare, but rather a ministry that teaches children the love of God. If you feel led to serve in the PGBC Nursery please see Jeff or Anna Phillips.
Student Ministries Spotlight
Welcome to SMAT! We are the Student Ministry Action Team. Our team plans and prepares for all the Bible led, fun-filled children and youth activities in our church. These include: Wednesday night Bible Study, Fall Festival, Christmas Play, Winter Youth Extreme, D-NOW, Easter Egg Hunt, VBS, and several other summer activities. We would love to tell you more!
If you found that you have spiritual gifts which align with our exciting group and would love to learn more about students of all ages, please come see us. Contact Sharon Hindmarsh, Action Team Leader
Senior Adults Ministry Spotlight
Our senior adults have several activities planned each year and there are two church busses to help make trips easier. We have a luncheon every other month and they are usually in a local restaurant . We meet for lunch and it is Dutch treat. If we do go out of town to have lunch a bus will be used to transport those who wish to ride. Then every other month a trip is planned with a lunch as part of the days activities. We visit museums, various antique shops or parks that offer tours and beautiful buildings. Shopping trips are planned about every quarter to help seniors go out of town to shop, visit and have a great lunch. Lynn Weav-er is the Team Leader for Seniors and we have several bus drivers who help us. Jeff and Anna Phillips, Cindy Patterson, Cathy Manning and Lynn Weaver are some of the drivers who help us get where we are going. The bus ride is free except when we go shopping, then it is $5.00. Most trips don’t have much walking and there are always seats to rest. Hope you plan to join us and have fun with others in the church!
Lynn Weaver, Action Team Leader
The Floral Ministry Spotlight
The Floral Team seeks to enhance the corporate worship experience with flowers, decorations, and visual art. We decorate the church seasonally and for special occasions and holidays.
As the seasons change and special occasions approach, we brainstorm ideas that will best contribute to the season or event. Then we make sure we have the supplies needed, either in storage or go shopping for them. For the big holidays, we send a shout out to anyone who would like to help decorate, and again when it is time to take it all down. Special thanks to all of those who come when we call, and also to the Brotherhood adding some rods and shelves to our storage room recently!
Jennifer Taylor, Action Team Leader