Broadcaster The Head, Heart and Hands of a Spiritual Leader Leadership in Jesus’ church can take many forms. Some spiritual leaders become elders, some deacons, some missionaries, some ministry directors, some women’s ministry leaders, some evangelists, etc. … While there are many expressions of spiritual leadership in the church, there are specific qualities that all true spiritual leaders possess. Many of these biblical qualities have some overlap with secular leadership qualities. Yet we are not surprised that there are some major differences between those traits that the world esteems for leadership and the traits that God esteems for leadership. Jesus told us that His followers do not lead like the Gentile rulers who exercise their authority by lording over others. Spiritual leadership in the local church represents the loving heart of a serving God.
As we consider how our church might develop future spiritual leaders, we have adopted the metaphors of head, heart and hands to help us think how members can move toward a place of spiritual leadership in the church. The Head of a Spiritual Leader A spiritual leader is one who loves God with all their mind (cf. Matt. 22:37). The primary tool of a spiritual leader is God’s truth. So the spiritual leader works hard to establish his/her life in sound doctrine and God’s wisdom. God’s truth drives the thinking of a spiritual leader. Without sound thinking, the spiritual leader will not be able to make wise decisions or take right actions. The spiritual leader must be equipped with the truth in order to identify and confront false teachers who would harm God’s people and to contend for the faith that has been once for all delivered to us (cf. Jude 3, Acts 20). A head filled Continued on page 2.
Dr. Ritch Boerckel
Senior Pastor 3
Open Hearts Open Homes April Calendar Highlights
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Children’s Ministry Global Outreach
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RESOLVEDto College Care Packages The Broadcaster’s 1000th Issue
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Loving In Deed and In Truth Seasoned Singles 35+
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Women’s Ministries Summer Golf League Engage Competition Discovering Church Membership Annual Meeting Bus Trip to Fireside
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Easter at Bethany
Continued from page 1 with God’s truth enables the spiritual leader to teach, reprove, correct and train others in godly living (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Heart of a Spiritual Leader. A spiritual leader is one who loves God with all their heart (cf. Matthew 22:37). Such a heart love for God is manifest first through obedience to all the commandments God gives to us. A person who is enslaved to sin habits cannot spiritually lead others. A heart love for God is also manifest in a deep willingness to love the people of God’s church with a sacrificial love. The spiritual leader in a local church follows Jesus by loving the local church with a willingness to sacrifice for her (cf. Ephesians 5:26-27). A casual commitment to Jesus’ church by a spiritual leader reflects a low view of God’s precious family and work. A high commitment to Jesus’ church reflects the heart of God Himself in His commitment and love for His own people. The passionate heart of the spiritual leader is not motivated by joyless duty through striving effort, but such a heart is motivated by joyful pursuit of God’s glory through love. The Hands of the Spiritual Leader A spiritual leader is one who loves God by becoming equipped to use their strength, spiritual gifts and talents in service to Him (cf. Mark 12:30, 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:12). Each spiritual ministry requires specific skills, gifts and talents in order to be fruitful. A spiritual leader’s skills and gifts that are given by the Lord and
“The spiritual leader in a local church follows Jesus by loving the local church with a willingness to sacrifice for her.”
developed through the church are a vital part of fruitful ministry. Just as we would not want an unskilled surgeon to operate upon us, we do not want an unskilled shepherd to lead the church. This is the reason why God instructs us that an elder in the church must manage his own family well. God tells us the reason for this requirement: “If someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” The idea is that the skills required to shepherd the church are greater than the skills required to shepherd children in one’s home. And these skills are essential for the spiritual leadership of an elder. David is a great example of one who possesses the head, heart and hands required of a spiritual leader. The Holy Spirit says, “He (God) chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds . . . he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people. ... With upright heart, he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.” Psalm 78:70-72 God designs for every follower of Jesus to grow to become mature in Christ (cf. Colossians 1:28). Nothing is more exciting than a growing soul that is becoming more and more like Jesus. While not all are called to be spiritual leaders in Jesus’ church, God would have each one of us to be conformed to the head, heart and hands of Jesus. In this way, love and joy will thrive in God’s spiritual family and in our hearts as we each discover the spiritual ministry that God has purposed for us to complete. To God be the glory as we pursue a greater likeness to Jesus.
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April 2015 Calendar Highlights April 1
No Family Meal or Awana or Youth Group
April 3
Office Closed Good Friday Service, 6:30pm
April 4
Saturday Night Service, 6:00pm
April 5
Easter Services, 8:15 and 11am No ABCs/Sunday School
April 8
Family Meal, 5:00pm Awana, 6:15pm Engage Competition, 6:15pm
April 11
Membership Class, 8am Saturday Night Service, 6:00pm
April 12
Worship Services, 8:15 & 11:00am ABCs/Sunday School, 9:45am Newcomer Lunch, 12:30pm Children’s Choir, 4pm
April 15
Family Meal, 5:00pm Awana, Youth Group, 6:15pm
April 17
Jr. High Bowling, 7-9pm
April 18
Safe Families Host Family Training, 9am Laura Talbot Baby Shower, 10am Saturday Night Service, 6:00pm
April 19
Worship Services, 8:15 & 11:00am ABCs/Sunday School, 9:45am Children’s Choir, 4pm
April 20
PrimeTime Fellowship, 11am Women Helping Women, 7pm
April 21
Hats of Hope, 6pm
April 22
Final Family Meal, 5:00pm Awana, Youth Group, 6:15pm
April 24
Ladies Come As Your Are Coffee House, 7pm
April 25
Saturday Night Service, 6:00pm
April 26
Worship Services, 8:15 & 11:00am Annual Meeting, 9:45am Children’s Choir, 4pm
by Amy Park We'd like to introduce you to Safe Families for Children. Safe Families is a safety net for families that are in crisis. This safety net happens through screened and approved volunteers from the local church that provide a temporary home for children whose parents are in some form of crisis, or support for those involved with Safe Families. The average length of stay is 45 days, with the goal being family reunification. Safe Families is truly the local church in action and a great opportunity to share the love of Christ and the truth of the Gospel with families in our community. There are many ways to be a part of Safe Families. On March 21 Bethany hosted a Safe Families Core Training for those with any interest in learning more about this opportunity. Host Training is coming in April. Host Training is required for all Host Families, Respite Families, and Family Coaches. Topics to be covered include: intake and hosting processes, caring and connecting with children and families hosted, and self-care for host families.
Safe Families for Children Host Family Training Saturday, April 18, 2015 | 9:00-11:00am Bethany Baptist Church 7422 N. Heinz Lane Edwards, IL 61528 Sign up for the training is greatly encouraged: www.eventbrite.come/e/safe-families-forchildren-host-family-training-tickets-15746491179 To learn more about Safe Families for Children visit: www.safe-families.org Open Hearts, Open Homes Ministry: openheartsopenhomesministry.blogspot.com
View the full calendar at bethanycentral.org! Hover over the “Connect” tab, then click the “View Calendar” button. Use the pull-down menu to select the view of your choice (day, month, week, etc.). The Birthday & Anniversary list is now available at the Welcome Center.
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C h i l d r e n ’s M i n i s t r y Ginny Smith
ginny@bethanycentral.org
He is risen from the dead! He’s alive! He’s alive! I cannot even imagine the joy and the wonder Jesus’ disciples experienced on the first Easter morning. It must have seemed all but impossible, rather unreal, and so absolutely marvelous! What hope rests in Christ rising from the grave! It shows that His payment for our sins on the cross was accepted in full by the Father. Now, we can have eternal life by accepting Christ as our Savior and Lord. Our children (now ages 27, 23 and married, and 21) still love to find Easter eggs—we had an Easter egg hunt just last Easter. The competition was fierce! May I suggest Easter egg hunting become a tradition for your family? Yes, it has pagan roots, but we can use this tradition in a positive way. There are special sets of Easter eggs, called Resurrection Eggs, which contain miniature symbols that correspond to the Easter story. These can be purchased through a number of sources on line or you can easily make your own. It’s a wonderful way to share the Easter story with your children through a fun, different, memory-creating medium. Have a blessed Easter! AWANA April 1—No Club (Spring Break) April 22—Last Family Meal April 29—Celebration May 6—Awards Night
VBS July 13-17 Join us for “A Journey Off the Map!”
Sunday School (SS) and Children’s Church (CC) Lessons for April 2015: 4-5 SS: No Sunday School—Easter Break CC: Mt. 26:36-28:10; Jn. 18:1-20:18 Jesus’ Crucifixion & Resurrection 4-12 SS: Ex. 14-15 God Parts the Red Sea CC: Mt. 26:6-13; Mk. 14:3-9; Jn. 12:1-8 Jesus was Anointed 4-19 SS: Ex. 15:22-17:7 God Preserves Israel CC: Mt. 21:12-17; Mk. 11:15-19; Lk. 19:45-48 Jesus Cleansed the Temple 4:26 SS: Review—Congregational Meeting CC: Mk. 12:41-44; Lk. 21:1-4 The Widow’s Gift
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by Steve Hornbrook Pastor Ritch has been challenging us from 1 Corinthians 13 to live a life of love for our brothers and sisters in Christ for God’s glory. One way we do this is by training and sending our own to minister in churches in other places of the world. John and Lori Havenga and their family are an excellent example of accomplishing this. They will be returning in April to a remote island in the Solomon Islands to translate the Bible for use in local churches. We have the opportunity to love them by interceding in prayer for them regularly, as well as encouraging them by communicating through various technology means. Shannon H. is another example of loving God’s family outside of our own local vicinity as she serves on a church planting team in a restricted-access country that is called Asia Minor in the New Testament. She will be on home assignment beginning in May for about 10 months. This is our opportunity to show love for her by showing her hospitality and taking interest in her ministry. Yet another way in which our love for Christ’s church worldwide is put into practice is through participation in shortterm GO-trips. We have an objective that every adult at Bethany participates in at least one cross-cultural GO-trip in a tenyear period of time. Each one of us has the opportunity to do this through personal participation as a team member, or as a prayer and financial partner to others on the teams. Financial giving is also an important part of this, and it can be done by responding to a support letter, or by giving to the short-term support fund. Watch for the opportunity in May to give toward a special offering for the benefit of short-term teams.
College Care Packages
2015 Retreat Our 3rd annual RESOLVEDto retreat will be held May 1-3 at Great Oaks Camp in Lacon, IL. The theme is God's Mosaic. Cost: $60 Please contact Susan Weldon at 309-370-0304 or littleweldon@gmail.com to sign up.
Did you know that our church has over 100 college students? In April we will be sending them care packages from our church body. We are collecting miscellaneous food, snack, and fun items to send in boxes to our college students. Donations can be dropped off at the Welcome Center now through April 12. For more information, contact Kari in the church office at kari@bethanycentral.org.
Thursday Night Bible Study The RESOLVEDto Thursday Night Bible Study is studying 1 Peter. Join Rodney & Katie Harms and the RESOLVEDto group at the Harms’ home (3318 S. Hilton Lane, Bartonville, IL 61607) as they look at 1 Peter. The study meets weekly on Thursday evenings. Dinner is at 6:30pm and the study begins at 7:30pm. Contact Rodney Harms (rdharms@gmail.com) with any questions.
If you have a student who is currently at college, please contact the church office with their address.
Our RESOLVEDto Singles ministry at Bethany seeks to compel our members to become “resolved to” Bless our Church, Build our Community, and Reach our City — all for the glory of God!
Timeline | This month marks the 1000th issue of The Broadcaster! We’re celebrating with a look back at 56 years of history.
Issue 1 —July 15, 1959 Distributed bi-monthly
1959
1963
Issue 100 Dec. 16, 1963
1969
Issue 384—Sep 2, 1969 “Over the Coffee Cup” first appears
1980
Issue 769 Jan. 1993
1993
Issue 947 July 2010
2010
Issue 626—Nov. 1980 Monthly distribution begins
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Loving In Deed and In Truth
Pastor Kevin Sauder
The “apostle of love” urges us in 1 John 3:18, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” To love “in word” just means to talk about loving others but never take action. To love “in talk” refers to insincere and empty promises of the tongue rather than genuine sincerity from the heart. Some might think that if they just talk about loving others, or even pray for them, they have done all that love requires. But love puts words into action. Love is eager to not just pray, but also be part of the answer to the prayer! God’s children must love in sacrificial action and in genuine sincerity – in deed and in truth. This kind of love is only possible for those who have first received God’s love. You can only love in deed and in truth if you are living in Christ by the power of His Spirit! 1 John 4:7-12 summarizes this truth well, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. So, have you been born of God? Can you say that you genuinely know God? Are you seeking now to live every day through Him, so that every person you interact with would come to have a better opinion of your God? Is God abiding in your heart today? If not, then today can be the day in which you come to know true and abiding love! God’s Word invites you to turn from trusting in yourself – to turn from your fear and your control – and to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to take away your sin and your guilt and shame. Sinless Jesus took your sins and paid the price on the cross for you. By putting your faith in Christ, you will be able to truly love again. Is God calling you today? There is no better time to surrender yourself to God’s love than right now. If 1 John 4 describes your reality, then it is our joy at Bethany to help you grow in sincere and authentic love. Please consider the following questions this month and let us know how we might be able to help you intentionally excel yet more in God’s love: How can you intentionally seek to grow your understanding of God’s love for you this month? What relationship is God calling you to first pursue with greater demonstrations of love? Which expression of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is God calling you to prayerfully focus on first? Whom can you ask to specifically pray for you in these regards and keep you intentional about change? The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5
Bethany’s Seasoned Singles 35+ Ministry Informational Luncheon on Sunday, April 26 at 12:30pm in the Sr. High Room Bethany singles over the age of 35 are invited to attend this informal lunch to discuss starting a new ministry for more seasoned single adults in our church family. The proposed purpose of this Seasoned Singles 35+ group is to provide a place for single parents, divorced, and never married adults to mature in their relationship with Jesus, provide a place where they know they belong, and to give them an avenue where they can together use their spiritual gifts and God given talents to serve others. If you are interested in learning more about this, please plan to attend and RSVP to Molly Virden soldbymolly@gmail.com.
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Women’s Ministries Baby Shower for Laura Talbot Saturday, April 18 at 10am Kyle & Laura are expecting a baby boy. They are registered at Target, Babies R Us, and Amazon.com.
Wednesday, April 8 6:15pm in the Sanctuary Our Jr. and Sr. High youth will be competing in this BFC Biblical Ethics & Bible Teaching Event on Wednesday, April 8. Encourage our youth and attend this event to hear their sermons and presentations. You will be blessed!
Women Helping Women Monday, April 20 at 7pm
Discovering Church Membership
Women Helping Women serves those experiencing miscarriage, still birth, early infant death, and infertility. On work nights we prepare products and kits for keepsake boxes that will help parents through the difficulty of losing a child. Sewing skills are not required. Contact: Nicole Pepper at 683-1181
If you are interested in joining the church or learning more about Bethany, plan to attend this class. Sign up by calling the office at 692-1755 or emailing Melody at melody@bethanycentral.org.
PrimeTime Fellowship
Hats of Hope Tuesday, April 21 at 6pm
Saturday, April 11 from 8-11am
Monday, April 20 at 11:00am
Work
Work nights provide an opportunity to Nights meet cancer survivors, use your gifts and talents in sewing and knitting, or simply to cut fabric and make fabric flowers for hats for cancer patients. Yarn and materials are supplied for you if you desire to make hats at home. Contact: Holly Miller at 648-1693 or hlm112770@aol.com
Come As You Are Coffee House Friday, April 24 from 7-9pm Pastor Fred will be sharing his testimony and teaching on the true meaning of worship.
Summer Golf League Men you are invited to join us for a Wednesday Morning Christian Golf League JuneAugust 2015. The schedule includes breakfast, Bible study, and 9 holes of golf on Peoria courses. We’ll play various formats: play own ball, scramble, alternating shot, etc. Interested men please contact Dee Benway at 258-3663 or dbenway51@gmail.com.
All those age 50 and up are invited to join us! Roger & Terri Krikke will be sharing about their trip to Israel. Lunch will be provided. To sign up, call the church office at 692-1755.
Bethany Baptist Church Annual Meeting Sunday, April 26 at 9:45am Our Annual Meeting will be held at 9:45am in the sanctuary on April 26. Join us for this special time of reflecting upon God’s gracious work among us in the past year and praying over God’s vision for us in the coming year. Adult Bible Communities will not meet.
Bus Trip to Fireside Theater Gold City Concert Tuesday, May 5 7:15am—8:00pm Cost: $45 includes concert, buffet lunch, gratuity, transportation For over 30 years Gold City has delivered a sincere and genuine music ministry. Their mission is to reach people through the greatest music on earth and follow His lead every step of the way. Join Tim Riley, Daniel Riley, Chip Pullen, Robert Fulton and Bryan Elliot for a superb inspirational event! RSVP to the church office by April 5. 7
NON-PROFIT ORG.
Bethany Baptist Church
U.S. POSTAGE
7422 N. Heinz Lane
P A I D PEORIA, ILLINOIS
Edwards, IL 61528
PERMIT NO. 917 Return Service Requested
Celebrate Easter At Bethany Good Friday—April 3 at 6:30pm A Service of Hope & Celebration with Communion and Baptism Nursery provided through age 3.
Saturday, April 4 at 6:00pm Saturday Night Service Nursery provided through age 3.
Easter Sunday, April 5 8:15am—Nursery through age 3 11am—Childcare through K No Sunday School/ABCs.