EASTMONT BAPTIST CHURCH 

// DECEMBER 26, 2021 // VOLUME 30 // NUMBER 26

From Your College & Missions Pastor GENE KIM

GKIM@EASTMONT.ORG

“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning…” -Matthew 2:18

Overshadowed by the miracle of the virgin birth and the greetings by shepherds and the Magi is a tragic account of loss and
suffering. Matthew 2:16-18 says that Herod, in a fit of vengeful rage, orders the massacre of all boys in Bethlehem ages two
years old and under. He had been outwitted by the Magi of the newborn king’s location, so he decided to dispose of this
“challenger” the best way he knew how. This is the occasion upon which Matthew quotes Jeremiah’s words of weeping and
great mourning.
I’ve often been puzzled by this account. None of the other Gospels mentions it. It just doesn’t seem to fit within the context
of glad tidings and the coming of the Messiah. Most of the time we do not mention it at all, even within our churches. But
we must be careful not to gloss over it. We can ignore ugliness, perhaps even try our best to forget about it, but the truth is,
it’s still there.
I believe this story is in the Bible because, despite its tragic elements, it points to hope. When Jeremiah uttered these
words, Israel was about to be overtaken by the Babylonians. They would weep for the loss of their nation. But later God tells
them to dry their tears because he would restore what was lost (31:16). Matthew uses these words in the same way. Weep
today but hope in the fact that God will bring about an even greater salvation.
Perhaps your Christmas isn’t quite so merry or bright this year. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one or suffered a broken
relationship. Whatever the case, my prayer is that you cling to the hope that Jesus provides. Certainly, there are days we
weep. Life has a way of bringing us to tears. But we never weep without hope. Just as God promises their weeping will not
last forever, neither will ours. We can always hope in Him.
 OUR CHURCH
FAMILY
SYMPATHY TO
Mary Wilson in the loss of her
brother, Ernest Goodson, who
passed away on December 6, 2021,
and her brother, Clarence Goodson,
who passed away on December 7,
2021.
The family of Carolyn Jones who
passed away on December 18, 2021.
Holiday Schedule
12/22 No evening activities
12/26 LifeGroups @ 9:45 am
Combined worship @ 11 am
12/29 No evening activities
12/24 – 1/2 Office closed for
Christmas holidays
1/2 LifeGroups @ 9:45 am
Combined worship @ 11 am
*You will be able to drop off year
end contributions 12/27-12/31
from 9:00 -11:00 am
DEACON NOMINATIONS
Nominations for the office of
Deacon will be accepted during the
month of January. Ballots and ballot
boxes will be located in the
Sanctuary foyer and at the Welcome
Center near room 205.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
FELLOWSHIP MEAL
December 29
No Fellowship Meal
January 5
Chicken Tenders, Mac & Cheese,
Green Beans, Salad, Roll & Dessert
PANCAKES
&
Christmas Lights
Thank you so much to everyone who was able to come out and enjoy our pancake dinner
and trip to the zoo to look at Christmas lights! A special thanks to the Short Sunday
School class for cooking! Being able to walk into the Fellowship Hall Sunday night and
see it filled with people excited to come together and fellowship is something that
brought me so much joy. It was an incredible time for the families in our Children’s
Ministry to come together and celebrate the birth of our Savior. When I was going
through the process of being called as the Children’s Pastor, I would have never
imagined just a month in there would be an event that felt so much like a family reunion.
I am so excited that we get to continue to partner together to build the Children’s
Ministry program at Eastmont. The support that the Eastmont family has given me is
like nothing I have ever experienced! I cannot wait for us to build on this momentum
next year and to see God do amazing things in the life of our church! - Ty Logan
On Monday, January 3rd, we begin a year-long,
chronological Bible reading plan. A scripture reading
companion binder and other resources will be available to
pick up beginning Sunday, January 2nd. The reading plan
will be made available in several ways, including website,
social media, and printed publications.
Ministry Happenings
Visit our website or social media for details
Senior Adults Music & Worship
bdickey@eastmont.org lmaddox@eastmont.org
Forever Young- January 18th @ 10:00 am in room
205. Special guest will be Teman Knight Christmas Eve by
Jr/Sr Banquet – Feb 14th in Fellowship Hall. Candlelight
$10.00 per person. Details coming in January. Dec. 24th @ 5:00 pm
College Children
gkim@eastmont.org tlogan@eastmont.org
Mission Friends, RAs,
Sunday Night home & GAs mission groups
groups will resume resume January 5th
January 9th
on Wednesdays @ 6
Pursue Conference -
February 25-26. More Students
details to come cmallory@eastmont.org
Winter Retreat - January 14-17 at Strength to
Stand in Pigeon Forge. Informational meeting
and Medical Release completion on Wednesday,
January 5th @ 7:15 pm in Fellowship Hall.

 The following article is from the International Mission Board's

2020 Global Impact Guide. You can access the Guide by visiting
BY THE NUMBERS
https://www.imb.org/lottie-moon-christmas-offering-resources WEEKLY GIVING
DECEMBER 5
The global need for missions is more urgent than ever.
GENERAL FUND $47,905.70
C154,937
leve PEOPLE ARE DYING DAILY WITHOUT CHRIST. EMERGENCY FUND $3,122.50
Mallory
Lottie Moon—the namesake of Southern Baptists’ international DECEMBER 12
missions offering—has become a legend.
GENERAL FUND $18,475.51
But in her time, Lottie was anything but an untouchable hero. In fact, she was like today's EMERGENCY FUND $1,622.50
missionaries. She labored tirelessly so her people group could know Jesus.
Well over 100 years ago, a single missionary named Lottie Moon, while serving in China, LOTTIE MOON OFFERING
began writing letters challenging the American church to send and support more workers
GIVEN TO DATE: $25, 337.34
to go there. After her death on the field, her challenge was heeded in the formalization of
an offering in her name. Even if you’re not a Southern Baptist who has given to the Lottie
Moon Christmas Offering, her life is a reminder of why we must give to send and support
LIFEGROUP TOTALS
missionaries serving among unreached peoples in unreached places.
Born Charlotte Digges Moon, December 12, 1840, in Albemarle County, Virginia, Lottie DEC. 12 DEC. 19
rebelled against Christianity until she was in college. In December 1858, she dedicated her PRESCHOOL 19 23
life to Christ and was baptized at First Baptist Church, Charlottesville, Virginia. CHILDREN 49 57
Lottie attended Albemarle Female Institute, female counterpart to the University of STUDENTS 40 51
Virginia. In 1861, she was one of the first women in the South to receive a master’s degree. ADULTS 374 378
She stayed close to home during the Civil War but eventually taught school in Kentucky, TOTAL 491 509
Georgia and Virginia.
When she set sail for China, Lottie was 32 years old. She had turned down a marriage
proposal and left her job, home and family to follow God’s lead. Her path wasn’t typical for
an educated woman from a wealthy family. God had gripped her with the Chinese peoples’
need for a Savior.
For 39 years Lottie labored, chiefly in Tengchow and P’ingtu. People feared and rejected
Upcoming
WEEKLY Events
her, but she refused to leave. The aroma of fresh-baked cookies drew people to her house.
She adopted traditional Chinese dress, and she learned China’s language and customs.
Lottie didn’t just serve the people of China; she identified with them. Many eventually SCHEDULE
accepted her. And some accepted her Savior. Sunday
In 1918, Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) named the annual Christmas offering for 8:30 am Worship Service
international missions after the woman who had urged them to start it. Today, IMB 9:45 am LifeGroups
continues Lottie's legacy by promoting the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® in churches
11:00 am Worship Service
throughout the U.S. to support global missions.
(Live Stream

Available)
4:00 pm Student Choir
Upcoming Events 5:00 pm Handbell Choir
Wednesday
5:00 pm Fellowship Meal
6:00 pm Prayer Meeting &
Bible Studies
Choir / Orchestra
Rehearsal
Timeout
(Student Worship)
Mission Friends, RAs
& GAs (Kids Missions)
 Periodicals Postage
THE ENCOURAGER Paid
Montgomery, AL
EASTMONT BAPTIST CHURCH
4505 ATLANTA HIGHWAY
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36109
The Encourager USPS No. 018-816 is published and mailed
bi-weekly by Eastmont Baptist Church, 4505 Atlanta Highway,
Montgomery, AL 36109. Postmaster: Send address changes to
Encourager, 4505 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36109.

IN THIS ISSUE
From your College &
Missions Pastor
Eastmont
Pancakes & Christmas
Goal:
Lights
$50,000
Know the Word: Year-Long
Chronological Bible
Reading Plan Information

Lottie Moon

Upcoming Events

CONTACT US
Office: (334) 277-6300 Careline: (334)277-6384 Prayer Room: (334) 277-8876
Email: ebc@eastmont.org Website: eastmont.org
Facebook: facebook.com/eastmont Twitter: @eastmontbaptist
OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm; Friday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm