First Baptist Church of Lyman: ‘Our Jerusalem ... Our Judea’

Members of First Baptist Church of Lyman believe in reaching out to the community.

“Our mission here at FBC Lyman is taking the next step and helping others to take the next step toward Christ, together,” said the Rev. Robby Rikard, who celebrated his first anniversary on Jan. 5 as pastor of FBC Lyman.

FBC Lyman members believe so strongly in reaching out to the community that they’ve begun a visitation program called “Our Jerusalem ... Our Judea.”

Through the program, which takes its name from Acts 1:8 -- “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: And ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the Earth” -- church members plan to visit more than 1,000 homes in the surrounding area.

The church also offers a breakfast on the first Sunday of every month at 8:30 a.m. Guests are encouraged to attend the meal at no cost.

On Wednesday nights at 5:30 p.m., the church serves another meal that accepts donations as payment.

Feb. 11 has been designated Children’s Ministry Day at FBC Lyman, and children’s ministry director, Robby Rikard’s wife, Jennifer, will take church children to a local nursing home where they will sing and share lunch with the residents.

The Women’s Enrichment Ministry has a program known as “backpack buddies” that provides meals to needy children.

The children receive their backpack of food each Friday at school and take it home for the weekend. The backpacks are then returned on Mondays and repacked for the next weekend.

The seniors who attend FBC Lyman are well traveled and are in the midst of planning their next trip this summer.

Any senior citizen wishing to learn more about the group or their travels may contact the church office.

FBC Lyman partners with Gateway United Methodist to offer a food and clothing pantry for needy people in the area, and FBC Lyman is part of the Southern Baptist Convention and will send representatives from the church to the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans in July.