THE EVANGEL - January 2026
First Baptist Church
218 N. 34th Street, Billings MT 59101; Phone: 406-259-6546
Email: fbcblgs@gmail.com Website: http://www.fbcblgsmt.com Facebook: First Baptist Church Billings MT
"Leading people to be transformed and renewed by the Holy Spirit to become Christ centered servants."
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January Birthdays
Ron Hendricks Linda Sago Brian Osborn
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Part Time Custodian Needed
We are seeking a church custodian for 10-12 hours per week. Paid position. Hours are flexible. Contact the office or Pat Case-Threet if you are interested or know someone.
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A Staff Christmas "Thank You!"
On behalf of the staff, I want to thank you so much for the Christmas Staff Offering. Everyone who was compensated for working for FBC in 2025 received something. We appreciate it.
Pastor Ross Lieuallen
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RMMO (Retired Ministers & Missionaries Offering)
In January we will receive the Retired Ministers & Missionaries Offering. Last year’s cumulative giving supported 3,300 retired ministers and missionaries and surviving spouses. 43% of the amount was for direct emergency assistance, with the remainder distributed as thank-you checks. Contribute whatever you can, as you are led. Even small gifts make a difference! Envelopes will be in the pew backs, or indicate “RMMO” on your check memo line. Thank you for considering this offering.
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A Letter From Our Missionaries-
Jeff & Annie Dieselberg
Thank you for your amazing, ongoing, and faithful support and prayers. Here’s another great story from Annie –
"You Rescued Me!"
"You are my angel. You rescued me," the African woman exclaimed. "God rescued you," I
replied. She said, "Yes, but he used you." We had just sent the woman a copy of her ticket to
return home to her family after being stuck in Thailand for two years. At our first meeting, I had
prayed for her and hugged her. "I will never forget that hug," she told me.
The word "rescue" is controversial in the field of anti-trafficking. There is a lot of pushback
against frontline workers using the word, as it suggests superiority and can diminish the agency
of a victim in her role of escape. What do you say when a survivor uses the word to describe her
feeling of someone helping her out of a situation in which she felt powerless? We tell her we are
inspired by the courage it took for her to ask and accept help. We are not the rescuers, but she
is right that God does use us when we say yes to him. A hug for this survivor was a lifesaver
thrown into a sea of chaotic, deep waters. The lifesaver does not save alone. The one drowning
has to stop fighting and put on the lifesaver. Someone must pull it in. Someone waits with a
warm blanket and first aid. The survivor will need to make some difficult choices in the days to
come. So much depends on her choices and decisions—her courage and ability to trust us. We
stand by with hugs, prayers, shelter, and other wrap-around services. We don't think of it as
rescue. But sometimes, to the survivor, it feels like she has been rescued.
Jesus rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his Son.
The word rescue means to extract from harm. Firefighters rescue people from burning
buildings. Police rescue women from domestic violence. Lifesavers rescue swimmers from
ocean undercurrents that threaten to sweep them away. And frontline workers in the anti-
trafficking field rescue victims who feel trapped and unable to extract themselves from harm
and exploitation. Eliminating the word rescue from our vocabulary diminishes the reality of our
own need for rescue. It reduces the power of the gospel. When we think we don't need others
to give us a hand and "save" us, we are in danger of also thinking that we earn our way to
heaven, and we didn't need Jesus to save us. We all needed to be rescued. We could not do it on
our own.
Rescue doesn't have to be wrapped in shame. It takes courage to admit one's need for rescue. It
takes courage to reach out a hand to rescue people bound in darkness. There is beauty when
the two join hands, and a life is saved from destruction. Rescue can be a beautiful collaboration.
God rescued us, and He chooses to use us in rescuing others. God is at work, and our 'yes' to
God gives us the beautiful privilege of helping those whose 'yes' to rescue is a doorway to
freedom.
Thank you again for your prayers and support so that the rescuing can continue as we say
“yes” to God! ~ Blessings, Annie and Jeff
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A Letter From Our Missionairies -
Jae Stockton, Global Servant To Mexico
Winter 2025 Ministry Update
The Birth of Jesus Foretold - Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)
"In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a
town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a
descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said,
“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly
troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel
said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive
and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be
called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father
David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered,
“The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth, your relative
is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive
is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,”
Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her."
Dearest family, friends, and ministry partners,
Warm greetings in the name of our precious Lord, Jesus Christ! I feel very blessed each time I
read the story of Mary encountering the angel, Gabriel, announcing to her the birth of Jesus. It is
POWERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, and INSPIRING!!! I would like to share how the story spoke in my heart.
I believe that it is a story that contains an awesome, feel good greeting (vs 28), a startled reaction (vs
29), an exhortation not to fear, comfort, and favor (vs 30), the greatness and power of God, and love
from our heavenly Father to His people (vs 31-33), maybe confusion? and reassurance (vs 34), and
more detailed explanation of God's future plans (vs 35-36), faith, submission, and humility (vs 38).
So many emotions!
The story has full of great promises from the most High God! My heart is overwhelmed with His
goodness and faithfulness in my life! I feel loved. God loves YOU! "For God so loved the world that
He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." -
John 3:16 (NIV). Lastly, I loved, loved Mary’s response! “I am the Lord’s servant, May your word to
me be fulfilled (vs 38).” What a submission to the King of Kings!
May the story speak in your heart. May you submit and open your heart to Jesus and be filled
with love, healing, grace, gratitude, hope, peace, and joy, not only this Christmas season, but in
everyday of your lives.
My sincerest gratitude for your continued prayers and faithful financial support to the ministry.
Thank you! May our gracious God double your portions and abundantly bless you in every area of
your lives. Glory to God!
Shalom,
Jae
To Learn More About International Ministries, go to: Internationalmininistries.org Jae’s Email Address: jstockton@internationalministries.org Jae’s Mailing Address: P.O. Box 103 – Imperial Beach, CA 91933
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