June 2013 Broadcaster by Bethany Baptist Church

Bethany Baptist Church exists to glorify God by proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and preparing His people to worship Him forever.

ODIO DIGNISSIM QUI BLANDIT ILDELENIT ISSUE

Retiring For the Glory of God Are you planning for retirement? One ING commercial presses customers to find the answer to the question, “What’s your number?” ING suggests that knowing the exact number of dollars we will need in order to retire will help us to “retire the way we want.” While financial planning is wise, it really is the minor issue regarding our plans for retirement. Retirement years are much more than living comfortably in our remaining time on earth without the danger of running out of money. The reason that the financial issue is comparatively insignificant is that it deals only with our brief time here in a world that is passing away. It is relevant to our lives only for a short period of time. The far greater issue relates to eternity. Much more of our joy rests upon how we are living our lives in faithfulness to God so that He receives glory for all eternity. Retirement years are years full of potential to enjoy God and to fulfill the work He has prepared for us to accomplish in this brief life of ours. With the average life expectancy in the US reaching 78 years and the average retirement age sitting at 67 years, one can expect nearly a decade or more of opportunity for full-time service to God. But someone may protest, “I want to relax in my retirement years!” I know that it sounds great to get up in the morning and have no stressful obligations, no appointments to make, no time constraints . . . to live the rest of our years with freedom to decide each day what we want to do. But is this kind of life really that great? Will we be thankful for that decision when it is time for God to reward

His children for their faithfulness in this life? Is it really better to rust out than to burn out for Christ?

Dr. Ritch Boerckel

Senior Pastor

John Piper’s words ring like a morning alarm to awaken us out of our slumber: I will tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider a story from the February 1998 edition of Reader’s Digest, which tells about a couple who “took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball and collect shells.” At first, when I read it I thought it might be a joke. A spoof on the American Dream. But it wasn’t. Tragically, this was the dream: Come to the end of your life—your one and only precious, God-given life—and let the last great work of your life, before you give an account to your Creator, be this: playing softball and collecting shells. Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: ‘Look, Lord. See my shells.’ That is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. Over against that, I put my protest: Don’t buy it. Don’t waste your life. Those words set a fire in my heart to live for the glory of God all the way to my last fleeting breath. I realize that if I am Continued on page 2

In This Issue: 3

Over the Coffee Cup Women’s Ministries

Missions

Holy Land Trip

June Calendar

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Video Opportunity Small Group Leader Love Packages Update

Open Hearts, Open Homes Resolved To Singles

10 Children’s Ministry 11 Men’s Breakfast PrimeTime Fellowship Membership Class Legacy Five/Collingsworth The Gospel Institute 12 MusiCamp Vacation Bible School

“Retiring”

cont’d from page 1

to make the most of those retirement years, I need a plan. So again, I ask you, “Are you planning for retirement?”

His glory. Each of us are vital to the healthy functioning of the body of Christ.

Let me share with you seven considerations that may help motivate you to truly plan for your retirement.

Eph. 3:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Consider that we were created to know and glorify God and will find our greatest joy when we pursue His glory as our chief end. God knows far better than we do what will lead to our eternal joy. Phil. 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ The “Why” question is the most important one to ask and answer. Clarity regarding our life’s purpose will make many other decisions relatively easy to make. 2. Consider that God has given a specific work for you to finish. God gave this work for you to accomplish before He created the world. Furthermore, God has given you the exact number of days and the precise amount of energy for you to complete His work. Eph. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 2 Tim. 4:3-6 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be soberminded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 3. Consider that your life is God’s and not yours. God has purchased you with a price. While 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 addresses the sin of sexual immorality directly, the principle it teaches shapes the way we think about retirement. 1 Cor. 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

5. Consider that the world is broken and that God has placed His church in the world to bring healing to broken people. Matt. 9:35-37 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” 6. Consider that so few in the church are living for the glory of God. Rev. 3:1-6 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ 7. Consider the joy that those words, “Well done! Good and faithful servant!” will bring to you for all eternity. Matt. 25:21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

We rightly invest time and energy to plan for many temporal issues. I urge you to spend time in prayer asking God what significant work He has for you to complete with your life. 4. Consider that God has placed you in a spiritual family Do not settle for gathering sea shells along the beach. God (church) for the purpose of strengthening that family. has a much more joyful and significant work for you than Our life purpose is eternally connected to our active relationship with Jesus’ church. We are not loners, but we that! are part of a great company that God joins together for

As I drank my coffee today, God gave me this poem. I’ll share it with you in love.—Char This is the day that the Lord has made; Rejoice, and be glad, do not be afraid. For every moment He will be there, So start the day, bathed in comforting prayer. Pray for your family, each one by name, Whether far away, or address the same. Commit them to Him; He will walk by their side, Pray that they’ll know that He wants to abide, In hearts that are open, in hearts of love, The Father is there, so keep looking above! He loves and He wants those hearts that will give, Of self and of service of love and of joy, As you meet each adult, each girl or each boy.

Then also remember your heart to prepare, By reading His Word, and be daily in prayer Take time with your Father; He’ll always lead; He’ll take your hand, for He knows every need. Share the Good News as He leads the way, Ask of Him daily; you’ll know what to say. The love of your Father will shine anew. So serve Him with gladness in all that you do. Some day He will call us to Heaven’s shore, Our journey complete, and we’ll love Him more! Ever to know, and to be with the King, So rejoice and be happy, and let us all sing, “Thank You, my Jesus, for all that You do, So keep us faithful each day, loving You!”

Women’s Ministries Ladies Studies Beginning in June

Tuesday evenings 6:30pm beginning June 11: “To Live is Christ” by Beth Moore, Led by: Diane Johnson

Tuesday mornings at 9am beginning June 18: “True Woman 101” Led by: Kylie Betts “Nehemiah—A Heart That Can Break” by Kelly Minter, Led by: Julie Roth Registration information and sign-up sheets will be at our table in the lobby beginning June 2. You may also register online beginning June 1.

Kiera Hulsey Bridal Shower — Saturday, June 15 at 10am

Baby & Bridal Showers

Kiera is engaged to Alexander Boerckel. They will be married in July. Registered at: Target, Amazon.com, Pier One

Rachel Smith Baby Shower — Saturday, June 22 at 10am Josh & Rachel are expecting a baby girl in July. Registered at: Babies R Us and Target

Ana Huerta Bridal Shower — Saturday, June 29 at 10am

Ana is engaged to Michael Gonzales. They will be married infoAugust. date. bulletin r new ip sh or w ur Registered at: Bergner’s, Menards,Wand Bed, Bath & Beyond yo atch

Work Nights

Women Helping Women

Hats of Hope

June 17 at 7pm in Room 815 Contact: Nicole Pepper, 683-1181

June 18 at 6pm in Room 815 Contact: Holly Miller, 648-1693

Uganda Missions Trip Report God used you to send a team of 11 people from Bethany to Uganda to partner in ministry with our fulltime missionary Catharine Coon. If you have not yet visited the team blog, you can find it along with links to pictures at: http://2013ugandateam.wikispace s.com/. This trip gave the team great insight into Hope Aliveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ministry to children from fragile families in the area surrounding Gulu in the northern part of the country where the civil war was the worst. Catharineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hope Alive! ministry connects sponsors like you and me to children in Uganda that need help to stay in school. The ministry provides them with financial resources for basic health care, food when needed, a mentor from a nearby church for pastoral care, and the means to stay in school. In Uganda, each child must pay for books, uniforms and tuition. Our sponsorship makes it possible for Hope Alive! to provide these resources for nearly 500 children. About 10% of Hope Alive! sponsors live in Central Illinois! Our team was given the opportunity to visit several public schools where Hope Alive! children attend, and we were able to share testimonies, practical application of school subjects, and career selection insight and advice. Catharine and her operations manager James assured the team that what we were sharing was valuable insight to the children, and much different than what they generally receive in school. The experience certainly opened our eyes to how much we take for granted in this country where that

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kind of instruction is generally common place. We also raised money to finance some physical projects for the ministry, and participated in the actual work to accomplish them. The Hope Alive! office in Gulu received an electrical power storage system to help them cope with frequent power outages. Our ladies also repainted the office which was badly needed. Another team of men from our team, mentors and vocational students worked on building two pavilions at the Hope Alive Center where Saturday clubs for students are held each week. These pavilions will provide protection for the students from sun and rain. The mentors and students were very excited to receive the additional resources, and they worked very hard to make the needed progress. The team was not able to complete either pavilion, but one of them has been completed by the Ugandans since our team returned to the US. Our team did spend one excellent Saturday worshipping with the Hope Alive! students, and we were able to deliver packages that were sent by their sponsors. The children appreciate the gifts very much, but the greatest treasures for them are the pictures and letters that you send. It is also readily apparent how much they appreciated the privilege of going to school. Thank you for your support that made this trip possible. We bring you greetings from all the staff, mentors and students of Hope Alive! They appreciate you all very much!

Steve Hornbrook

MISSIONARY UPDATES Bill and Gloria Bagley planted a new church called Grace Fellowship in Preston, Idaho in April 2003. God has grown the church through the years and the Bagley’s have invested many hours to prepare them for independence. At the church’s recent annual meeting, God has led them to become a fully selfsupporting church by this November! This is the ultimate goal for a church plant, and a big step of faith for Grace Fellowship. Pray for them as they make this transition and for the Bagley’s as they transition off personal support and focus on the El Shaddai ministry. New Missionaries approved in April budget: We praise God for raising up new missionaries. As we gather their information and begin receiving prayer letters, we will see the addition of these missionaries to our prayer newsletter: Jeff and Brenda Thames (Rural Ministry), Ben and Day Hamilton (Camp Good News).

Amanda Knussman: Amanda recently shared that she will be able to return to Berlin, Germany this summer to help lead a team with Cru! Amanda recently served there for two years and will bring a lot of experience and connections for the team of 23. Pray for the team as they raise support. Marty and Denise Shaw: Beginning July 17, the Shaws will transition from their position of director for Asia missions to Vice President of International Ministries at WorldVenture. They will continue on with regular support through the end of 2013, but will only need limited support for travel starting in 2014 as they plan to visit each of the 4 regions once a year. Their work will be focused on developing missions emphasis and leading teams into the unengaged, unreached, and unchurched peoples of the world. They ask for your continued prayers during and after this transition.

Walking In the Footsteps of Jesus 10-Day Biblical Tour of Israel with Peoria Charter Coach October 28-November 6, 2013 Hosted by: Pastor Ritch & Kimberly Boerckel, Pastor Jerry & Karen Sanderson, and Rachel West Kramer (Hands of Love Ministry) Complete Package: $4100 Includes: transportation from Peoria, airfare, hotel, 2 meals daily, tips, taxes, insurance. Deposit of $600 is required to hold your spot. (There is a $30 package discount if your deposit is received by June 30.) $1500 payment due 7/12/13, balance due 8/13/13.

This is an active tour requiring heavy walking, standing, and many stairs. Sites include: Caesarea Megiddo, Mt. Carmel, Cana, Jordan River, Galilee, Tabga, Mt. of Beattitudes, Capernaum, Jerusalm, Temple Mount, Mt. of Olives, Pool of Bethesda, Bethlehem, Garden of Gethsemane, Antonia Fortress, Caiaphas’ House, Church of the Nativity, and more. Complete details are available at: www.peoriachartercoach.com

June 2013 Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1 4:30pm Children’s Ministry Picnic 4:30pm RESOLVEDto Park Day (off-site)

8:15 & 11:00am Worship Services 9:45am Sunday School Membership Class

6:00-8:30pm MusiCamp

6:00-8:30pm MusiCamp 6:15pm GriefShare 6:00pm Youth at Mt. Hawley

6:00-8:30pm MusiCamp

3:00pm Dremann/Watson Wedding at Heinz Lane 3:00pm Haupt/Talbot Wedding at Knoxville

8:15 & 11:00am Worship Services 9:45am Sunday School Membership Class 12:30pm Summer Camp Lunch 6:00pm Children’s Musical

7:00pm Men’s Basketball

6:30pm Ladies Bible Study Begins

6:15pm GriefShare

7:15pm RESOLVEDto Friday Night Event (off-site)

7:30am Men’s Breakfast

8:15 & 11:00am Worship Services 9:45am Sunday School Membership Class

7:00pm Women Helping Women 7:00pm Men’s Basketball

9:00am Ladies Bible Studies Begin 6:00pm Hats of Hope 6:30pm Ladies Bible Study

6:15pm GriefShare 6:15pm Youth Summer Camp Celebration

6:00pm Legacy Five & Collingsworth Family Concert to benefit the Midwest Food Bank (tickets required)

10:00am Baby Shower for Rachel Smith

2:00pm Sr. High Ultimate Frisbee

10:00am Bridal Shower for Ana Huerta

8:15 & 11:00am Worship Services 9:45am Sunday School

11:00am PrimeTime Fellowship Hymn Sing & Cookout

9:00am & 6:30pm Ladies Bible Studies

6:15pm GriefShare 6:15pm Youth Group

7:00pm Men’s Basketball

8:15 & 11:00am Worship Services 9:45am Sunday School 12:30 Newcomer’s Lunch

10:00am Bridal Shower for Kiera Hulsey

Youth at Summer Camp

6:30pm Ladies Bible Study

RESOLVEDto Event with Grace Church (off-site)

RESOLVEDto Camping Event (off-site)

10pm to 7am - Jr. High Lock-In

Small Group Leaders Would you like to be more involved in the church? Are you praying for God to use you in greater ways? Is God calling you to be a small group leader at Bethany? Please contact kevin@bethanycentral.org or 6921755 to learn more. We’d love to share with you about how God could bring you joy as a small group leader!

Love Packages Update

Lights, Camera Action Do you have video production and/or editing skills? We are seeking help with various special and ongoing projects. If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Kari Rabenhorst at kari@bethanycentral.org for additional details.

Since February 24, Bethany Baptist Church has become a drop-off location for anyone interested in donating their unused Christian material to the Love Packages Program. In just three short months, our church has donated nearly ONE TON of Christian books, Bibles, pamphlets, audio cassettes and children’s Sunday school materials to this ministry! We encourage you to stay mindful of the Love Package Ministry when you are moving, organizing, or doing your spring cleaning. The drop off location is located in the Resource Center (the first bookshelf by the computer desk). Our excess material is reaching the unsaved, establishing church libraries, and providing free material to those who want a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. So keep on recycling! Whether we’re giving of self or of things for the purpose of sharing Christ with others, we are empowered by God’s love. For more information contact Deb Kreeger (309)696-7915 or neybr1@aol.com Visit the Love Packages website at www.lovepackages.org

Open Hearts Open Homes We have often heard our leaders talking about our church being a house of prayer. Those who are serving the Lord as foster and/or adoptive parents also know the need to cover their families in prayer as often the situations they are in are unique. The Open Hearts, Open Homes ministry has a weekly email prayer list that is sent out to those who desire to commit to praying for families in these unique and sometimes difficult situations. Just as the list was sent out this week I was reminded of what a blessing it is to have our church family involved in this ministry of prayer and how these families so need the support of the church body. If you would like to join in praying regularly for the BFC families that are involved in orphan care ministry please go to your myBethany site and sign up for the Orphan Care Prayer Ministry List. What a blessing you will be to the families that are answering the call to follow the Lord in this way! Follow OHOH on the ministry blog: openheartsopenhomesministry.blogspot.com ** Check the blog for upcoming dates including the OHOH Family Picnic!

RESOLVEDto singles ministry events are open to singles of all ages.

June 1

June 14

Park Day at Bieldfeldt Park — 4:30pm

Friday Night with The Morgans — 7:15pm

Join us for yard games, kickball, food, and fellowship. We will eat at 5:30pm. Drinks, hot dogs and buns will be provided. Bring a side or dessert to share and any other meat you would like grilled. Contact Jena at jenalhamm@hotmail.com.

June 22 Grill Out with Grace Church (Morton) More details to follow. Watch the worship bulletin for details.

Hang out with Matt & Amy Morgan and family at their home and engage in some great biblical and doctrinal discussion. We will wrap up the night as the Morgans do on a typical Friday night: with a kids’ movie!

June 28 Campout at Jubilee Park More details to follow. For information on this event, or any other RESOLVEDto Singles activity, email Alex at aneukomm@gmail.com.

Children’s Ministry Wendy Kirkpatrick

wendy@bethanycentral.org

Sunday School & Children’s Church In May we will be concluding our time studying Kings and will begin a series on Daniel and Jonah during the Sunday School hour. Our K-6th graders will complete Unit 9: The Judges, and begin Unit 10: Hints of Christ, in our new Gospel Project curriculum during Children’s Church this month. The Gospel Project will launch in our younger grades at the end of August 2013. We encourage you, as parents, to go through these Scriptures with your children that will be taught each week: Sunday School 06/02 2 Kings 21-25 God Punishes Judah

Children’s Church Judges 6-8 Gideon

06/09 Jonah 1-4 God Shows Mercy to Jonah and Nineveh

Judges 13-16 Samson

06/16 Daniel 2 God Uses Daniel to Interpret the King’s Dream

Ruth 1-4 Ruth & Boaz

06/23 Daniel 3 God Protects Daniel’s Friends

I Samuel 1-3 Eli and Boy Samuel

06/30 Daniel 4 God Humbles Nebuchadnezzar

I Samuel 4-5 The Ark Was Captured

The Gospel Project App: The Gospel Project is a new curriculum that we are using for our Children's Church hour. If you have an iPad or iPhone, you can download the Gospel Project app from the App Store for a small quarterly fee: It has games, music, videos, and ideas to help parents expand what the children are learning in Children's Church.

Opportunities to serve: Are you interested in teaching in our Children’s Ministry next year? Please email wendy@bethanycentral.org if you believe God is calling you to joyfully serve Him in this way. Opportunities exist in both our Sunday School and Children’s Church ministries. Promotion Sunday: All students 6th grade and older in our youth ministries will promote up to their new grades on the first Sunday after Summer Camp (June 16). All younger grades will promote on Sunday, August 25.

VBS: Vacation Bible School will be held July 8-12. This year’s theme is “The Kingdom Chronicles – Standing Strong in the Battle for Truth.” Come and be a part of this great adventure into God’s Word! VBS is for children who are going into Kindergarten through 6th grade. If you are a youth going into 7th grade or older you are invited to help. Adults, what are you doing July 8-12 from 9am until 11:30am? We are actively seeking Table Leaders, Table Helpers, Kitchen and Nursery help. To register for VBS or to sign up to help visit our website at www.bethanycentral.org. Please contact Wendy Kirkpatrick if you have any questions.

Discovering Church Membership Sunday Mornings at 9:45am June 2, 9 & 16 in the Conference Room

Saturday, June 15 at 7:30am

If you are interested in joining the church or just learning more about Bethany, plan to attend this class. Please call the church office (692-1755) to sign up.

PrimeTime Fellowship Hymn Sing & Cookout

Men’s Breakfast All men are invited for a morning of great food and fellowship. Jerry Sanderson will be sharing on “Cultivating a Heart of Compassion.”

Legacy Five/Collingsworth Family

Monday, June 24 at 11:00am

In concert to benefit the Midwest Food Bank Friday, June 21 at 6:00pm

Join us for this special time as we sing the hymns of the faith. Food will be provided. Call the church office (692-1755) to sign up.

Tickets are available in the church office. Cost: $20 (Kids 15 and under free with paid adult.)

The Gospel Institute Classes for The Gospel Institute start on Monday, June 10! Classes meet Monday nights from 6-9pm at the Bethany Community Center at 7729 N. Knoxville in Peoria. The summer semester goes through August 26. For more information, visit peoriagospelinstitute.org.

A Legacy of Faith: An Introduction to Church History

Taught by Dr. Daniel J. Bennett This course provides an overview of church history. It covers major periods and events in the history of the church, such as: the apostolic church and church fathers, the “middle ages,” the rise of humanism, the European and English reformations, and the modern and postmodern church.

Contrasting Religions and Foundational Thinking: Worldviews that Shape our Walk and Witness Taught by Jerry Sanderson and JJ Miller

This course will provide students with a basic contrast between Christianity and other major world religions. With the essential elements of the gospel as a baseline, each student will be equipped to understand key differences between other religious beliefs and learn to compassionately engage those who hold them.

Bethany Baptist Church 7422 N. Heinz Lane Edwards, IL 61528

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE P A I D PEORIA, ILLINOIS PERMIT NO. 917

Return Service Requested

MusiCamp 2013 June 3-7  6:00-8:30pm

Live It All For Jesus All kids who have finished Kindergarten through 6th Grade are invited! We will work on the musical “Let’s Rock — Live It All For Jesus” scheduled for Sunday, June 9 at 6pm.

Vacation Bible School July 9-13  9:00-11:30am

Cost: $10 per child (t-shirt and one family CD)

Open to kids entering Kindergarten through Sixth Grade.