Fairmont Baptist Church

06/03/2026

05/24/2026

On Memorial Day the United States of America honors those who died in securing and defending the freedom that this great nation enjoys. This is an important annual event as a nation remembers the cost of what we should never take for granted. We are thankful for our freedom and the American system of government that recognizes the freedom of its citizens. Our government does not grant us freedom it recognizes the right to liberty as stated in our founding documents. Freedom is not a right granted by the government, it is a right recognized by the government.
We expect a lot from governing officials. Local, state and federal governance is a necessary part of society. Anarchy is not a good option. God has ordained government for the orderly function of society. The Bible teaches the individual to be responsible for themselves and to look for ways to help those in need. As individuals we are responsible for ourselves and accountable to God for our thoughts and actions. The problem with any form of government is that imperfect people are expected to do perfect things. We are living under flawed and imperfect governments. We live under leadership that has faults. This is only fitting as we too are flawed and imperfect. The Bible states it clearly. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23. “There is none righteous, no not one,” Romans 3:10. We should not be too hard on our leaders because they are very much like us and we are very much like them. When we complain about dysfunctional governments, we must accept the fact that we live in a dysfunctional world.
God alone brings order to this chaotic place. We hear much about the rule of law and often hear that no one is above the law. These are great statements and most people adhere to them until it affects them, their cause or their belief system. The rule of law usually applies to whichever political party is the other one. No one is above the law, but the fact remains that there are people who want exceptions made for their causes and beliefs, along with their friends and family.
There are many forms of governments and economic systems in the world. Every form of government has its faults. Capitalism enables economic opportunity and progress but struggles with greed and exploitation. Socialism is the halfway house of communism, that is the halfway point in progression between capitalism and communism. Communism offers equality and justice but brings poverty and death. Our nation is ruled by laws established by its citizens through a ratified constitution. America is governed by elected officials chosen by the people. In our system of government congress as the legislative branch establishes the laws, the judicial branch interprets the laws, and the executive branch enforces the laws. It is a good system, perhaps the best in the world. It is not a perfect system. There are problems and there will always be problems. No government can establish utopia. With all our faults and failures along the way this nation offers great opportunities. Perfection cannot and will not be achieved. We must learn from our mistakes and treat each other with dignity and respect.
The hope of man does not rest in government. Government will never come up with the answers that are so longed for. The hope of man is found in Jesus Christ for He alone has overcome this upset world. “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” John 16:33. Government will not solve our problems or meet our needs. Jesus has done all of that in His death, burial and resurrection and His promised return.
- Pastor Jerry Clark

05/09/2026

Moms are busy people. The demands are great and often the “thanks mom” gets neglected. Today we thank moms for all that they do. Moms are the ones who have that special way of getting things done. They even know where the missing sock is, where the mislaid homework is and how to get the kids out the door in time for school. There are a multitude of tasks that only a mother can do and do well. Usually, multi-tasking means not doing anything particularly well, moms are the exception to that as they are the experts of multi-tasking. Often successful people credit their mom for helping and encouraging them along the way. Most children when injured or sick will cry out for mom. The very presence of mom will calm a child. In the field of battle wounded or dying soldiers will often call for their mother. A mother’s comfort and care extend long beyond the few quick years of raising children. Responsibilities will change over time, but the heart of comfort and care remain. There is an amazing God given bond between mother and child.
One of the greatest abilities of a mother is to bring comfort when it is needed. A mother is able bring loving, tender and persistent care to her child. God even compares the comfort He gives to the comfort mothers give. “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you,” Isaiah 66:13. To comfort is to ease the stress or pain, to bring relief to cheer and to aid. Some things only a mother can do. God has placed comfort deep in the heart of mothers. It is natural for mothers to protect their children, to see to their needs and to see that they are comforted in times of sickness and fear.
God is the God of all comfort. The Bible helps us understand this comfort by comparing it to comfort from a mother. This is how God takes care of us. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God,” II Corinthians 1:3-4. In our distress and in our pain, God comforts us. In our doubts and fears God comforts us. When we face the known and the unknown God comforts us. There are times when facing the known is more difficult than facing the unknown. The word solace comes to mind, to comfort in distress. God comforts us and gives us opportunities to comfort others as He comforted us.
The beauty of the comfort that God gives is that He not only comforts us in our distress He strengthens and guides us as we face it. “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work,” II Thessalonians 2:16-17. God has given the born-again believer everlasting consolation. He gives us comfort now and forever. He has given us good hope through His grace. Hope is not chance; it is settled confidence in the word of God and the finished work of Jesus Christ upon the cross. This comfort that God gives to the believer allows the believer to be established in every good word and work. We are thankful for the comfort of mothers and the true and living God who is the God of all comfort.
- Pastor Jerry Clark

05/06/2026

Save the date! VBS will be June 22 - 25 from 6:00 - 8:00p.m.

04/30/2026

Our Family Night Wednesday Suppers and Bible Classes have ended for this school year. Thank you to all those that attended! We hope to resume again in September. Join us any Wednesday at 6:30 for Bible Study and Prayer Time.

04/25/2026

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard,” Psalm 19:1-3. The last few weeks have been a time of wonder and amazement as the astronauts circled the moon and returned home. The pictures were incredible and the accomplishment was truly amazing. The heavens clearly declare the glory of God. In the heavens there is vastness, beauty, mystery and awe. God is so powerful, He spoke and it was so. The true and living God who is the creator of all is worthy of praise. Mankind has a desire to push deeper into space. The next mission is already being planned, and it will go farther than the last mission. There is even talk about reaching Mars. God created Mars when he created the planets. Whatever is found on Mars is another statement to the glory of God as seen in the magnificence of creation.
The response toward God is one of thanksgiving and praise for His wonderful work. “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands,” Psalm 100:1. Praise is the natural outcome of knowing the true and living God. The whole of creation should be in continual praise of the Creator. “Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created,” Psalm 148:1-5. Praise fits Him, it is due Him and it is right. Celebrate the Lord God Almighty and boast in His power, magnificence and authority. We are to take great joy in Him and praise Him for His mighty acts.
When we consider the recent space mission our praise goes to the Creator who created man with such ability. Mankind is created in the image of God with dignity and great ability. In such a precise and accurate undertaking, we see order in the world and universe that can only come from the Creator God. Mankind can launch and return safely because there are rules of science. There is truth and it can be known and followed. The only way to take astronauts into space and bring them home again is because of the order that God has placed in this world. The space flight was not based on opinion, it was based on exact scientific truth, and it was successful. This great event was not a result of chance random happenings over time. The mission was brilliantly planned, organized and implemented based on irrefutable facts. Congratulations to all involved with the space program and the trip around the moon. Our prayer is that each new mission will be safe and successful. We also pray that people will come to know the true and living God who created it all. There is nothing greater in life than knowing God and being at peace with Him through Jesus Christ. The whole of creation is a miracle of God, and we praise Him for His marvelous work. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,” Genesis 1:1.
- Pastor Jerry Clark

04/11/2026

Bargaining and negotiating are normal activities in the lives of many people. Bargaining involves give and take in determining the terms or conditions of a transaction. To negotiate is to obtain or bring about by discussion. Bargaining and negotiating may work with people, but it will never work with God. There is no give and take, as if man and God somehow are equals. God is holy and without sin. God is right every time and cannot be wrong. We are sinners and have nothing with which to negotiate or bargain with when approaching God.
When Jesus was on the cross the top religious officials of the day were attempting to bargain and negotiate with him. This was a manifestation of their pride and self-righteousness. “Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him,” Matthew 27:41-42. Jesus loves us too much to have left the cross to prove a point to His critics. Even today there are people who tell God that if He does something for them, they will believe in Him. This is a fundamental ignorance as to the power, authority and position of the true and living God. It is disappointing to realize that many people have no interest in God because He will not do what they want Him to do. We do this at our peril. Faith is not the power to get God to do what we want Him to do. Faith is believing who God is and believing what He tells us about Himself in the Bible. Faith does not tell God that if He does something that you want done you will believe in Him. This is not faith, this is bargaining and negotiating. We are to believe God and worship Him because of who He is and not for what He does for us. Faith is trusting God and seeking His glory in every area of life. Faith is lovingly living in obedience to God, not bargaining and negotiating God’s obedience to us. “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased,” Psalm 115:1-3.
We have nothing to bargain with and there is nothing to negotiate. The good news is that God has provided the way for us to be at peace with Him. We can, by His grace and mercy, come to Him in humble repentance and saving faith. We are the ones with the need; God is the only one that can fill that need. We do not bargain and negotiate with God for a better life; we walk humbly with Him and trust Him in all things. He is seeking those who will come to Him for the forgiveness of sin and the peace that He brings. Jesus was not going to leave the cross for any reason, for this was His purpose in coming. Nothing would deter Him from fulfilling the work that He was sent to accomplish. Through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ there is peace with God and eternal victory over sin, death and hell. Jesus paid it all. This is available to all and forced upon none.
- Pastor Jerry Clark