Milestones
Milestones is a discipleship ministry that provides a way for us, as a congregation, to:
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Mark some of the important moments of our spiritual journey,
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Stop and notice God at work in ourselves and in one another,
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Provide tangible ways, in the form of stones, to remember what God has done for us,
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Celebrate and journey together in our life with God.
Why Milestones?
Old Testament scholar, Walter Brueggemann, has said, “Hope is grounded in memory.”
At First Baptist, we believe that. We realize the hope that is ours - for today, and for tomorrow, - when we remember who God is and the many ways God has provided for us and cared for us all along the way.
Throughout Scripture we hear the call to remember. The Israelites were called to remember… God brought you out of slavery – God parted the sea… and made a way for you on dry land. Jesus calls us to come to the communion table and remember… that you are loved with an everlasting love. Remember, because life moves quickly and it is so easy to forget the hope of the power and presence and possibilities of our God.
Milestone Bowls
When someone becomes a member of First Baptist Church, they get to pick out a handmade bowl for their household. Our prayer is, as it sits out on their coffee table or on a bookshelf, it will remind them that they are a part of something bigger; they are part of this congregation and of God’s work in the world.
The bowl itself is a symbol of the ways that God holds their lives in the palm of his hands. Over time, like each of us, they will receive Milestones – clay stones with symbols – marking different moments in their spiritual journey.
The Stones
The following stones are currently a part of our Milestones ministry. Others may be added along the way as Milestones is an ever-evolving ministry that will grow with us as a congregation for years to come.
When someone receives their bowl for the first time, there are already four Milestones in the bowl that are stamped with the words – Beloved, Tethered, Forgiven, Whole. We have come to believe that these four core truths are foundational to experiencing the freedom and hope that is ours in Christ. These four stones are not milestones that we earn. They are gifts from God that we must receive, and remember, again and again. They remind us that we are,
BELOVED
You are made in the image of God. You are loved unconditionally by the God who knows everything about you. No matter how much you think you have messed up or fallen short – there is NOTHING that can separate you from the love of God.
TETHERED
The psalmist talks about deep calling out to deep. You are anchored to God at the very core of your soul. No matter how disconnected you may feel at times, There is always a way back. Nothing can sever that connection.
FORGIVEN
When we live out of the Forgiveness that Jesus has already provided, we understand what it means to be set free. And to have the capacity to offer that forgiveness to others.
WHOLE
You are enough, just as you are. Scripture says we are all cracked pots made of earth and clay. Our broken places do not make us less than in God’s eyes; they are simply places for God’s light to shine through us.
Parental Dedication
Parental dedication is a public expression of the personal commitment of parents to raise their child in the grace and knowledge of God’s love. The Parental Dedication milestone marks this moment and this memory in the life of a family. How do you receive the Parental Dedication milestone? A Parental Dedication milestone is presented to parents during the worship service when they bring their child forward.
Baptism
Baptism is an outward profession of an inner decision to follow in the way of Jesus. The Baptism milestone calls us to remember that moment when we recognized and publicly responded to God’s love for us. How do you receive the Baptism milestone? A Baptism stone is received during the worship service when someone is baptized.
Loss
When a member of the congregation dies, a Loss milestone is presented to their family as a reminder that their loved one has been loved by God from before they were born, and is held by God even now. How do you receive the Loss milestone? A Loss milestone is presented during the All Saints Day worship service.
Holy Ground
There are moments in congregational life when we experience God’s Presence in a deep and unique way that changes us or how we understand life and the mystery of faith. It may be on a retreat, a mission trip, a Bible study or other setting. How do you receive the Holy Ground milestone? A Holy Ground milestone can be requested using the Milestones form, where you’re invited to tell the story of your experience and what God shown you that has impacted you.
Care
We don’t walk our faith journey alone. A Care milestone is given from one member to another who has been Christ for them in a moment or season of need. How do you receive the Care milestone? A Care milestone can be requested using the Milestones form, inviting you to tell the story of how another person in the congregation has been Christ for you. You will receive the Care milestone to give to that person.
Servant Leadership
We are all called to follow Jesus’ example of servanthood. Sometimes someone goes above and beyond in the call to service and truly models Jesus for us. How do you receive the Servant Leadership milestone? You can request a Servant Leadership milestone to give to another person in the congregation using the Milestones form. In two or three sentences we invite you to tell the story of how that person demonstrated servanthood in a way that has been faith shaping for you.
Transitions
Transitions in our lives often spark a crossroads in our faith journey. Moving, changing jobs, retirement, getting married or divorced, becoming a parent, etc. A Transitions milestone is a reminder of how God met you in the midst of that experience. How do you receive the Transitions milestone? A Transitions milestone can be requested using the Milestones form, inviting you to tell the story of how this transition challenged you and how God met you in it.
Graduation
Graduation is a significant milestone. It is a transition into adulthood and the starting out on a new vocational path in life. How do you receive the Graduation milestone? Milestones for high school graduation are given during the Senior Sunday worship service. A Milestone for graduation from college or graduate studies can be requested using the Milestones form, inviting you to tell the story of what God is showing you as you embark on this new stage in your life.
Our Prayer for Milestones
Our prayer for Milestones is that these bowls and these stones remind us that we journey together as a congregation and that God is at work in our midst. By paying attention to, and marking the important moments along the way, the Milestones in our bowl will be a catalyst for reflection and gratitude and a prompt for conversation, about the things that God has done, in us and among us. May it be so.
The Milestones Story
As you can imagine, launching a ministry of this size for the entire congregation has been quite an adventure! AND it has been amazing to watch God’s hand at work. First we had to Find potters to make all of these bowls. There are over 450 out for you to choose from this morning! We think we will need 600 bowls by the end of the year.– that’s a lot! After weeks of searching and asking we had only found one potter, Shannon, who was willing to make 200 bowls for us. But everyone else turned us down. We thought we were sunk. We could have ordered bowls online, but we felt there was something meaningful and appropriate that the bowls be handmade – each one unique, and that someone who was a part of our local community could use the gifts and talents God gave them to create something special. Then one day at the end of Tuesday Noon Church, Sue Whitmore stopped me and said, “Did you know that George Miars is a potter?” I had NO IDEA. George is a member of our congregation who had taught himself how to make pottery over COVID. Amazing! Some of George’s bowls are on the communion table. They are gorgeous. That was a game changer. Through George we got connected to Fat Cat Pottery Studio and to two CFCC students – Aubrey and Lily. Not only have these talented ladies made over 200 bowls for us, but Aubrey, who works at Fat Cat – has been an invaluable help and encourager in figuring out the next stage of our project – the Stones. We were so excited we had found the potters… and then we realized we now needed to make hundreds and hundreds of milestones! It’s really thousands, but it’s less overwhelming in my head to say hundreds and hundreds. 😊 But here as well, God has raised up so many helpers. •We have a wonderful team on Wednesday nights rolling clay stones, stamping them •Savannah, on our staff, has figured out how to use a 3-D printer to make all of our stamps that we use to imprint the stones – the concept of a 3-D printer still blows my mind •Caitlin Tuttle, one of our members, has helped us to design many of the symbols we will use on the stones. Whenever there has been a need, God has provided. We will begin introducing these individual milestones over time – stones for things like the Birth of a child, or baptism, or a Significant leadership role.
Rev. Jayne Davis
Associate Pastor Discipleship
Before joining the FBC staff in 2001, I was the Executive Director for the New Hanover County Partnership for Children (Smart Start), Good Shepherd House Administrative Director and Coalition for the Homeless (NYC) Assistant Director. I am married to Wes Davis. We have four children, Kayla, Christian, Meredith, and Annie.
