Be Encouraged FBC

The following is a letter to our church from one of our international college students who is moving to the Montgomery area to start teaching.  This letter is a reminder to FBC of why we do what we do! For all of those college lunches served… Be encouraged!!

Dear First Baptist Church family,

Hello, this is John Kim. If you don’t remember me clearly, I’m the Korean student from UNA with short hair and glasses.

I want to sincerely thank you all for the past year. This church has been a place of warmth and care for me. When I first came to the U.S. in January 2025, the first few weeks were really difficult. I struggled to communicate, and Florence felt very unfamiliar to me.
During that time, this church welcomed me with warm meals, kindness, and a loving community, helping me adjust to life here.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about salvation and faith. John 3:16 says, “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.” This verse reminds us that salvation comes through faith in Jesus. But I realized that simply knowing about His sacrifice and resurrection is not enough.

For example, we all know what money is and how it works. But just knowing it doesn’t mean we trust it. Only when we actually rely on it in important moments can we truly say we believe in it. Similarly, believing in Jesus means trusting Him in our daily lives and trying to live according to His teachings.

First Baptist Church has been a place where I could learn and experience this kind of faith. Your warmth and care have helped me go beyond knowledge and start living with trust in Jesus.

Finally, I want to thank all of you for welcoming me with love. The time I’ve spent with this church family has been a true blessing, and I will always cherish these memories.

Thank you.
John Kim