Homeland Park Baptist Church

I was shocked to see some of the latest statistics taken by Barna Research Group.  They were evaluating the ability for a church to maintain an “online only” ministry model.  These numbers were compiled from April 28th - May 11th, 2020.  During this time we were doing online Bible studies and parking lot preaching services.  Look at how interaction dropped among the age ranges. Boomers (Ages 57-75) 26% Stopped Attending   11% Switched Churches 40% Stayed at Same Church Gen X (Ages 41-56) 35% Stopped Attending   17% Switched Churches 31% Stayed at Same Church Millennials (Ages 25-40) 50% Stopped Attending   8% Switched Churches 30% Stayed at Same Church Stopped Attending - They saw no value in continuing to attend. Switched Churches - They found more value in attending somewhere else. Stayed at Same Church - They still see value in their current church. What these statistics show is that there has been a significant drop in younger adults and families attending church.  Less than 50%

  Youth Ministry Bonfire SUNDAY AT 5:30 PM EST – 7:30 PM EST Our youth, parents, youth leadership team and their children are invited to attend this launch event for our youth ministry. Food and fun will be available at this bonfire. Thank you to Weldon and Sandi Sellers for hosting us.

  I found this picture today in our church library.  I have heard many stories about the famed bus ministry of our church many years ago.  Many in the church would drive multiple buses like this one pictured and others would keep them running all for the glory of God.  They had the desire to see people come to church to hear the gospel and the commitment to go get them. We are standing on the shoulders of so many faithful men and women. I pray others will be able to stand on ours. -  Pastor James

 Mission News Mission Action Our Mission Action Project for the month of January is for The Anderson Pregnancy Care Clinic. They can use: Diapers (size 3, 4, 5, and 6), Wipes, Baby Shampoo, Baby Lotion, Baby Blankets, Sleepers, Onesies, Baby Socks, Baby Bottles, Toys (infant through 3 years), Bathroom Tissue, Paper Towels, and Copy Paper for office use. Please leave any of the above items in the HPBC Bible Study Office.                     WMU Prayer Emphasis for January North American Mission Board: Kewon Foster - Atlanta, GA International Mission Board: Sheri Norris - European Peoples   Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes We ended up with 37 Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes this year. Thanks to each one that had any part of making this a success. Many children will have a happier Christmas because of the love that you extended by helping with these shoeboxes.

Birthdays Robert Hanks    1/8 Aaron Sellers     1/12 Sandra Martin    1/15 Crystal Williams 1/16 Clair Stamps      1/19 Amy Fortner      1/26 Thomas Keaton 1/30 Marian Keys      1/31 Sherry Partain    1/31 Anniversaries Johnny & Janiece White 1/27

  “Pushing Forward and Looking Ahead in 2021”   I have often heard that God has His reasons for giving us two eyes in the front of our head and not in the back. Sure, we can look around and even walk backwards but that doesn't come naturel. God has given us vision to face forward while we focus on Him and trust Him for each step. To live or dwell on our past keeps us from enjoying the present and being hopeful for the future. Paul gives us great insight into this in God’s word . . .,   12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. - Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT)