INSIDE: Fall Evangelism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5 Bible Drill Results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 3 Men’s Summit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 Women’s Missions & Ministries . . . . . . . Page 6 Press Toward The Mark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12
2 Day Coach Training P.4
For complete details about the 2013 Annual Meeting, please go to www.bpnews.net
PUBLICATION OF THE STATE CONVENTION OF BAPTISTS IN OHIO
Ohio Baptist Messenger AUGUST 2013 | VOLUME 61 NO. 4
November 6-7, 2013 Holiday Inn, Perrysburg French Quarter 1063 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg, OH 43551
SPEAKERS:
Every year the churches of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio join together for two days of worship, fellowship, and business to renew our vision and direction to reach the people of Ohio with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Come join us this year!
Bobby Welch Associate Executive Director/Church Growth, Tennessee Baptist Convention
Rick Williams Pastor, Violet Baptist Church
Mike Wilson Pastor, Lincoln Heights Baptist Church, State Convention of Baptists President
Jack Kwok Executive Director/ Treasurer State Convention of Baptists in Ohio
A Homegoing: Julie Elaine Seder Julie Elaine Seder, a 55-year old resident of Senecaville, Ohio, went home to be with her Lord May 27, 2013. Her family gathered around her as she left their emScott & Julie Seder brace for the embrace of the Lord Jesus. Born April 30, 1958 in Ashland, Kentucky, she was born again at the age of 8. Julie graduated from the Boyd County High School in 1976. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the Eastern Kentucky University.
Date/Time: September 10, 2013 9:30am - 3:30pm Location: SCBO Resource Center, 9000 Antares Ave., Columbus, OH You must register to attend. To register, contact Linnett Snodgrass at lsnodgrass@scbo.org
Julie married Scott Seder on Valentine’s Day February 14, 1981. She assisted Scott as he has served as Camp Manager for the Seneca Lake Baptist Assembly since 1983. Julie has contributed greatly to the ministry of Seneca Lake Camp of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio. She enjoyed sharing Jesus with others so they could experience God’s grace, love, and mercy through His wonderful salvation. Scott and Julie have two children. Their son Adam married Megan, and they live in New Bern, North Carolina. In April their daughter Paris married Jason Ogg, and they live in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to Scott and their children, Julie is survived by her parents Samuel and Barbara Renfroe
of Senecaville, Ohio; her brother Mark Renfroe and his wife Connie of Ashland, Kentucky; and a host of family and friends who loved her. Friends and family gathered for a memorial on June 1 for Julie. She requested the memorial service be held in the dining hall where she prepared thousands of meals for over 30 years. Only eternity will reveal the impact she made to Mission Ohio through Seneca Lake. Contributions may be made to the Julie Seder Memorial Fund to benefit Seneca Lake Baptist Assembly. These contributions may be sent to the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio at 9000 Antares Avenue Columbus, OH 43240.
New Pastor & Staff OrientatiOn
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Haiti, A Land of Contrast By Dwayne Lee Associate Team Leader, The Bible Teaching/ Leadership Resource Group I was privileged to be part of a Mission Team to Haiti the week of June 29 - July 6, 2013. Our team consisted of 14 members of North Fairfield Baptist Church in Fairfield Ohio, 11 members of Southside Baptist Church in Paris, Texas, and a family of four (4) from Boston, Massachusetts. The mission team was sponsored and led by Brent Gambrell Ministries (BGM) A Door to Hope. Our team stayed at the Bethel House in Thomassin, just outside of Port-auPrince. We arrived on Saturday, June 29th, settled in, and began preparations for the week ahead. Sunday morning we attended service at the church that we would be serving — Calebasse Baptist Church. It was a 45-minute drive up the rugged mountain road in an old and discarded bus, full of hot and sticky Americans anxious to worship with our Haitian brothers and sisters. Upon arrival we were awestruck by the sheer beauty of the mountain scenery. What a glorious sight of the beauty of God’s creation among the vast poverty. The church was a simple block building
1. Shelling beans w/Haitian family 2. Laying the floor to the new house being built 3. Group picture (mission team & Haitian family) 4. Preparing Dinner for mission team 5. One of our new friends
with wooden benches, but a sweet spirit filled the room. The service was in Creole (native Haitian language) but it was obvious they loved the Lord and were excited about their Savior. As a result, it made it easy for 29 Americans to hum along with songs we didn’t know, bow our heads and pray along with some of the sweetest prayers you will ever hear, and listen to a message that would cause you to pay attention. After service we went to a public park to eat our packed lunches and we toured the remains of the old Fort Jacques. Monday through Thursday were filled with service projects ranging from building a house for a family that lost their house during the 2010 earthquake; painting more than 100 student benches, classrooms, teacher desks and chairs, cabinets; and repairing tables and chairs for the Calebasse school. We also spent two days cleaning and organizing the crèche (Creole for “cradle”) orphanage at the Bethel House. During one afternoon, we spent half a day on a prayer walk in Calebasse.
The State Convention of Baptists in Ohio in partnership with
Keeping It Legal at Camp This Summer
Is your church affiliated with a camp? Churches that extend their outreach through camps do so much to assure the success of your camp’s ministry and, as a result, generations of campers and their families are blessed. And, with all that goes into it, it’s so important that copyright infringement doesn’t detract from your ministry’s mission. Copyright licensing isn’t just about the songs, but the venue in which you use them. When you project the lyrics to “Trading My Sorrows” on the screen at church, your trusty CCLI license has you covered. But when you start “Yes Lord”-ing around the campfire or during assembly time at camp this summer, you’ll need a different sort of license: a performance license. What’s the difference? CCLI is a reproduction license, covering the printing or projecting of copyrighted music, and your performance of copyrighted songs during worship services is covered by the Religious Service Exemption in U.S. Copyright The Ohio Baptist Messenger (ISSN 0472-7096) is published every other month by the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio; 9000 Antares Avenue; Columbus, Ohio 43240-2011. Periodicals Postage Paid at Columbus, Ohio. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Ohio Baptist Messenger; 9000 Antares Avenue; Columbus, Ohio 43240-2011.
Mountain range of Calebasse
Teams of 4 or 5 of us, accompanied by a translator, walked (or climbed as it may have been) to engage people in their homes to witness to them and pray for their specific needs. One of our teams was able to witness to the wife of a voodoo priest. WOW – what a blessing! During one afternoon we were blessed to engage in a new BGM initiative, “immersion”. This activity allowed us to become immersed into the Haitian culture and life of one of the church member families. Teams of 3 or 4 of us were invited into a family’s home. We washed clothes, cooked food, shared stories and built a relationship with this family for a brief period of time. We were able to leave
them with a gift of various donated supplies. We left their homes full of love and blessed to have made new friends. We spent Friday at the Baptist Mission, visited their zoo (that had more cages than it did animals), eating in the Mission restaurant, visiting the museum, and spending time with street vendors. We were also blessed with a private concert by a Haitian Christian group. What a wonderful blend of voices and spirit. The week consisted of many moments of tears and laughter, highs and lows, frustration and happiness; regardless, one thing remained true…you always ended the day by saying, “It was a GOOD day in Haiti”.
Law. But this performance exemption doesn’t apply outside of a congregational worship service. Playing or performing copyrighted music during any camp event requires performance licensing. “A group of campers singing praise songs during evening worship isn’t a performance!” you might protest. But just because you’re not standing on a stage and charging admission doesn’t mean it’s not a performance. The legal definition, in this case, is: an instance of music being performed “in a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered.” Most church and camp performances fit those criteria, and it applies whether you’re singing live or just playing a recording for that group of people. CCS’s PERFORMmusic License is the only church blanket license available in the U.S. It provides immediate coverage for more than 16 million songs, including Christian, secular, seasonal, and patriotic music from the catalogs of ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. Blessings for a successful camp season! Please call our Christian Copyright Solutions hotline number 1-855-5SOLVER (1-855-576-5837) to discuss your specific questions and licensing needs. This document provides information and not legal advice. For more information and resources, including fact sheets, videos and idea kits, visit our State Convention of Baptists in Ohio page at http://www.christiancopyrightsolutions.com/scbo. Jack Kwok, Ohio State Convention Executive Director-Treasurer, Editor; Linnett Snodgrass, Administrative Assistant; Spangler Production & Design, Publication Layout. Published every other month for members of Southern Baptist churches in Ohio. Subscriptions provided out of each church’s Cooperative Program gifts. Member of Baptist Press, news service of the Southern Baptist Convention.
August 2013 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | Page 3
Memorize T his!
2013 National Invitational Bible Drill Tournament By Ashley Stickel Bible Drill State Representative, Bible Teaching/Leadership, State Convention of Baptists in Ohio On June 21st the Georgia Baptist Convention hosted the National Invitational Tournament for Youth and High School Bible Drill and Youth Speakers. This year, Ohio had two representatives at the tournament. Elizabeth Kastelein from Parma Baptist Church represented Ohio in the Youth Drill while Stephanie Cavanaugh from Reynoldsburg Baptist Church represented Ohio in the High School Drill. The Georgia Baptist Convention hosted the National Invitational Tournament at their beautiful campus on a hot and humid Friday afternoon. The facilities were great for the event and I feel certain all participants and attendees from 11 different state conventions felt welcome at the event. Thank you to the Georgia Baptist Convention for being willing to host the event and the NIT team that organized the event. Beginning the tournament and also in between drills Youth Speakers gave their speeches in superb fashion. I even found myself wanting to shout “Amen!” during one young man’s speech. It is always a pleasure to hear the Youth Speakers during this event. After two speeches the Youth Drill began. Elizabeth Kastelein told me the day before the tournament at a special fellowship event at Stone Mountain Park outside of Atlanta, Georgia that she had been practicing for the next day with a friend and fellow Bible Driller who had accompanied her on the trip to lend support. All the practice paid off and Elizabeth was presented with a participation trophy at the awards ceremony. Elizabeth represented Ohio in a way that made those of us from Ohio that were watching proud. It is quite an accomplishment to participate
All National Invitational Tournament participants
L-R: Stephanie Cavanaugh, Ashley Stickel, and Elizabeth Kastelein in front of the fountain outside of the Georgia Baptist Convention building
Stephanie Cavanaugh receiving her High School Bible Drill First place trophy at the awards banquet
in the National Invitational Tournament and we congratulate Elizabeth for representing Ohio well. Next was the High School Drill. I spoke with Stephanie Cavanaugh during a break before the High School Drill and when I asked if she was nervous she told me no. She felt prepared and was ready to go. Stephanie told me her mother, who is also the Bible Drill Leader at her church, had helped her practice and prepare for the tournament. When the time came, Stephanie participated in the drill with cool and calm assurance. At the awards ceremony following all of the events of the day Stephanie was presented with three awards. She received a participation trophy, a perfect score medal, and to our great joy the first place trophy for the High School Drill. This will make the second year that an Ohio driller has won first place in a category at the National Invitational Tournament. We are so proud of Stephanie and her accomplishment. The National Invitational Tournament is always a
Elizabeth Kastelein receiving her participation trophy at the awards banquet
wonderful time to fellowship with other drillers from around the country and to celebrate the endeavor of memorizing God’s Word. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the Bible Drill program in the lives of the participants. It is amazing to see how God rewards those who are faithful in memorizing His Word. That reward may come in a heavy trophy or in the ability to minister to someone down the road with the knowledge of God’s Word captured in their hearts and minds. Luke 6:45 comes to mind where it says, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (KJV). The scripture that these participants learn will forever impact what they speak from the overflow of their hearts. Once again I would like to congratulate both Elizabeth Kastelein and Stephanie Cavanaugh for their hard work and dedication not only to the Bible Drill program, but also to learning the Word of God. May the things you have memorized and hidden in your hearts through Bible Drill continue to bless you and those around you as you grow into the women of God that He is preparing you to be. If you have questions or would like to know more about the Bible Drill program please visit scbo.org or contact Ashley Stickel at 614-827-1822 or at Ashley@ scbo.org.
Page 4 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | August 2013
Men’s Summit A man’s life is full of activity. Typically, at least a third of the day is devoted to work. Beyond that, there is family, health and fitness, television, home chores and any number of personal obligations. This leaves a few priceless hours for much needed rest and sleep. Truly men understand that chasing the so-called American dream can be a hard and tiring task. So why is it that Christian men feel so unfulfilled? We can feel like a car on wet pavement, spinning its tires, unable to move forward. It’s not surprising that when we get to this point many men begin to take stock of their lives. We seek the reason for why we feel so empty. If we are honest we often find that we have neglected the time we need to spend with God. Too often we fill our lives with things that we choose (or are chosen for us) and then try to work God into whatever time is left. Unfortunately, that time is not much, if any at all. Let me offer up a thought. In today’s society we hear the word ‘whatever’ used in a multitude of ways. Its casual use uncovers attitudes of anger, carelessness, frustration, laziness, disrespect, and even surrender. Now, let me ask you this: What if we were to stand before the Lord with a new attitude and shout, “Whatever, God…whatever You want!”? With truthfulness each of us could say, “I’ve tried it my way-- my joy and strength is gone. My walk with you is almost non-existent. So, whatever it takes, God…Whatever.” Undoubtedly, our life would be changed with a renewed sense of vitality and purpose. We invite you to join us for the Men’s Summit September 6-7th in Lebanon, Ohio. We urge you to join with us in an attitude of “Whatever, Lord.” Guest speakers include Joe T. Veal, Founder and Evangelist of You Turn Ministries, Joshua Lenon, Lead Pastor of Red Door Church, and Tom Pendergrass, Senior Pastor of Urbancrest Baptist Church. The cost for the Summit is $5.00, which includes Friday evening dinner and Saturday morning breakfast. The Men’s Summit partners with the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio (SCBO). This popular annual event continues to expand throughout the Tri-State area. To attend, register as a group or individual at www.urbancrest.org/mens-summit. The deadline for registration is September 3rd. Deaf interpretation is provided. If you need additional information, contact Mark Daubenmire at 513-932-4405 or mdaubenmire@urbancrest.org. ...to teach and portray biblical manhood and how it is to be lived out in today’s world.
2+2 Coach Training
October 22-25 Violet Baptist Church 8345 Blacklick Eastern NW SR 204, Pickerington, OH 43147 2-Day Coaching Skills Training Tuesday – Wednesday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Enhance your coaching as you master four skills and a simple coaching path. Those who attend the 2-Day training will: • Be introduced and trained to use the COACH model of coaching. • Enhance your skills of listening, expanding, focusing and empowering. • Gain increased ability to develop open questions and clarify outcomes. • Learn how to facilitate personal discovery. • Learn how to conduct breakthrough coaching and feedback. • Learn about three effective formats for delivering coaching. • Gain access to the Coach’s Resource Base Camp. Answer: What is coaching? How is it different from mentoring? What is unique about Breakthru Coaching? What are the keys to good listening? How do I expand the discussion? What makes for good questions? What is the role of the Holy Spirit? How can you pinpoint the real issue? How can we turn the corner and begin taking the next steps?
2-Day Coaching Certification Training Thursday – Friday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Become a certified, personal development coach, of leaders and their development. In addition to the 2-Day Coaching skills, the 2-Day Certification trains participants to: • Understand personal development and how-to recognize God’s shaping work in a leader’s life. • Coach individuals to navigate personal transition. • Help leaders gain clarity and focus in their life direction and unique contribution. • Access and use of the TRAC coaching packages and training modules in their coaching. • Four, post training tele-classes and supervised coaching of four leaders, feedback interview. Guest Speakers:
JOE VEAL, JOSHUA LENON TOM PENDERGRASS TICKETS: $5 Purchase: www.urbancrest.org/mens-summit FRIDAY: Dinner at 5:00 pm; Summit at 7:00 pm SATURDAY: Breakfast at 7:30 am; Summit at 9:00 am More Info: mdaubenmire@urbancrest.org or 513.932.4405
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Answer: What is leadership development? How do you make sure you are surfacing the core issues, the Jethro moment? How does breakthrough occur in a leader’s life? What are the major transitions a leader faces, and how do I help them make the transition? How do we build a coaching culture?e C.O.A.C.H. model provides a simple pathway for coaching. Coaching workshop provided by Bible Teaching/Leadership Resource Group State Convention of Baptists in Ohio – a Cooperative Program Ministry
August 2013 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | Page 5
By Josh Chasteen Super Summer is a Christian leadership camp for youth that has greatly impacted my life over the last 10 years, even after my time being a student. I was 16 years old when I had first attended Super Summer. I didn’t know anything about the camp, but my best friend Trey had attended the year before and he said that I had to go the next year. I decided to go and it ended up being one of the most life changing weeks of my life. Not only is it a week of intense bible study, but it is also where I
have met some of the most godly people I know. Since Super Summer is a Christian leadership camp where the students who attend are usually hand picked by their youth pastors and pastors, and they also have to fill out an application to attend. This creates an environment that isn’t your typical summer camp. Everyone who is there wants to be there and has the same purpose. That purpose is to grow in their walk with the Lord and to further His Kingdom. Over the next 4 summers, God used Super Summer to teach me about what it means
to live like Jesus, how to defend what I believe, and how to own my faith. Even after camp, a few of us from Super Summer would get together and put what we had learned into practice. I can remember one summer six of us got together, packed some lunches and went down to Cincinnati for a Reds game. We handed out the lunches and bottled waters to homeless people outside of the stadium. We also included a presentation of the gospel. We had all done some type of service projects before, but in the past adults had organized them. As
New VBS opportunities The Bible Teaching / Leadership Resource Group (BTL) is excited to announce a couple of new and thrilling opportunities. VBS 2013 Decoration contest. We are asking you to send us your best pictures with all of this year’s VBS decorations. BTL will select the best of the best. The winning church will win four tickets to an Ohio theme park of their choice. We are asking that you send all of your pictures to our VBS Ohio Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/VBSOhio?fref=ts Please post your pictures now until September 9, 2013. The winning church will be notified and highlighted in the October issue of the Ohio Baptist Messenger. VBS 2014 Directors Preview: The State Convention of Baptists in Ohio is EXCITED to announce a director’s preview for VBS 2014! All VBS directors are invited to a day of exciting instruction and interaction as we look at our theme for 2014. We will get a better look at how participants will become Agency D3 special agents. We will share how Agency D3 will uncover from 1 Peter 3:15 the truths of “Discover, Decide, Defend.” Date: November 9, 2013 Time: 10am - 2:30pm Cost: $5 to help cover lunch Registration: September 3 - October 14 at www.scbo.org/register Location: State Convention of Baptists in Ohio 9000 Antares Ave., Columbus OH 43240 In order to demonstrate the importance of this training we will be gifting each director present with a free VBS jump start kit courtesy of the Cooperative Program.
teenagers we were now doing it on our own. Super Summer was also equipping me with the tools I needed to be Jesus inside of my public school. I am such a believer in Super Summer and it’s impact for the Kingdom that I continue to come back even as an adult. I urge the students from my youth group to attend because I not only see the immediate impacts it has, but with being involved over the last 10 years I have also seen how it has influenced the lives of leaders who are now youth pastors, teachers, coaches, missionaries, etc.
My friend Trey that initially got me to attend Super Summer is now a missionary in Haiti. I believe that Super Summer equipped him for his calling to serve in Haiti, as well as helped him make some important connections in getting him there. I continue to help out with Super Summer because I love seeing God move in the lives of young people. God has used Super Summer to change my life and so many others in such a great way and I want to continue to help provide that opportunity for the youth of today.
FALL EVANGELISM IDEAS 1. GPS: God’s Plan for Sharing. Imagine your congregation intentionally praying for lost people, being equipped to share their personal testimony, continually sowing seeds of the gospel, and trusting God to bring a harvest of lost souls. For more information go to www.gps2020.net or contact your evangelism resource group at www.scbo.org 2. My Hope with Billy Graham. My Hope with Billy Graham is a massive effort to reach people across America and Canada with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Following a simple biblical model, My Hope with Billy Graham combines the reach and excitement of a nationwide media event with the power of personal relationships. This evangelism strategy will be centered around one week in November 2013, when Christians will invite family and friends into their homes, or another familiar location, to watch Billy Graham on television or to view him via video. They will then share their own story of how they met Jesus and will invite their friends and family to receive Christ. Information,resources, and training opportunities are available through our state convention offices or at www.MyHopeWithBillyGraham.org. Contact jackhelton@scbo.org or timbinns@scbo.org for more details. 3. Engage 24. Within the pages of Scripture and throughout the history of the world, God has been seeking people to engage Him, and then to engage the world with the gospel of Jesus. Engage24 is a 24-hour period focused on engaging the world with the good news of Christ. While Engage24 is intensely focused on a single day of evangelism (10-10 2013), our mission is to promote a 24/7 lifestyle of evangelism and engagement with the gospel. ENGAGE24 is a 24 hour period when college students (and Christians) will make a coordinated effort to engage their campuses (and communities) with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our desire is to see every believing college student (and Christian) share the Gospel with one person that day. We are engaging on 10-10 2013. Will you? For more information go to www.engage24.org.
Missions & Ministries
Page 6 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | August 2013
Women’s
Let Your Light Shine!
Kid’s Kamp I & II, Let Your Light Shine!, were two weeks filled with training campers to intentionally look for opportunities to share Christ with their friends. In that process during Bible Learning campers were challenged using principles from the beatitudes like being poor in spirit, being meek, and being pure in heart. Missions, using personal stories and Bible Storying, urged campers to be sensitive to others’ need and to use that need to share how to trust in God. The recreation experience focused on building relationships and teamwork. Crafts, designed to shine His light were practical and fun! The week one Camp Pastor laid out what it means to be marked by the cross, holiness, and to love being His mark for others. Second week chapel experienced an amazing outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Small groups of campers, some with chaperones and some on their own hugged, prayed, and just experienced the presence of Jesus
II Corinthians 4:6 – For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God. long after the Word was proclaimed. 2013 Kid’s Kamp, is all about sharing with campers how to trust Jesus and leading their friends to Christ. During these first two camps with a total of 416 registered, Jesus called 23 campers to salvation. Also, during the first two camps, 13 campers rededicated their lives to shine for Jesus! The camp t-shirt, designed by Amanda Mishne, is a unique witness shirt. The name JESUS on the front of the trendy lime
green shirt, uses a glow in the dark ink. Campers wear the shirt and share that Jesus literally lights up their life so they easily, Let Their Light Shine! Thursday night all campers and chaperones gathered on Vesper Hill wearing glow in the dark necklaces. Doug Morgan organized them to spell the name above all names, Jesus! Kid’s Kamp I staff: Camp Director Pastor Doug Morgan, Camp Pastor David Starry, Worship Leaders Lauren Par-
rish and Elijah Markins, Bible Learning Director Kathi Parish, Recreation Director Rich Carlson, Missionary Joanne
Hemingway, and Craft Director Alysha Lesch worked together using the 2013 theme, Let His Light Shine! Kid’s Kamp II staff: Camp Director Pastor Jeff Christmas, Camp Pastor Doug Morgan, Worship Leader Karrie Miller, Bible Learning Director BJ Bamburg, Recreation Director Rusty Johnson, Missionary Joanne Hemingway, and Craft Director Denise Christmas worked together using the 2013 theme, Let His Light Shine! Mark your calendar now for 2014, Kid’s Kamp I, June 16-20, Kid’s Kamp II June 2327, Kid’s Kamp III July 28 – August 1, or Missions Camp August 4-8.
August 17 Pray for the Nations Hundreds of Ohio Baptist participated in the 2013 Ohio Prayer Initiative that included a Ten-Day Pray and Fast Experience and a Two-Day Pray Around and Across Ohio Plan. August 17 is an action packed day with a challenge for Ohio Baptists to walk neighborhoods in seven cities where there are significant numbers of foreign born residents who now call Ohio home.
Prayerwalking directions, information about the targeted people groups, and individual prayer guides for each focus neighborhood may be downloaded at www.scbo.org and search Pray Ohio or August 17 Prayerwalking. To request hard copies of the guides or for more information contact Cathy Pound, cpound@scbo.org.
Missions & Ministries August 2013 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | Page 7
Women’s
riendship BC treat Director-F Kim Moore, Re
Coaster craft
Praise
REFOCUS
Seneca Lake Baptist Assembly Ladies Spring Retreat May 17-18, 2013
Ray Roberts Fundraiser
RETREAT
Ladies Spring Retreat, based on the Biblical principle of being grounded in love, Ephesians 3:17, “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,” was designed by Kim Moore and her planning team to reflect a coffee theme. All 105 women found time to enjoy coffees and smoothies. $130.40 was donated to the Ray Roberts State Mission offering. Anna Stickel hosted the Coffee/Smoothie Ray Robert’s State Missions Fundraiser. Breakout sessions gave opportunity for the women to interact, to be crafty while they created practical coasters, and to focus on where Jesus may desire to ground them in His love.
Ladies, save the dates May 16 and 17 for Ladies Spring Retreat at Seneca Lake 2014!
Interactive
Pray
REFRESH
Worship
Missions & Ministries
Page 8 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | August 2013
Women’s
T he Story Lives On
WMU Celebrating 125 Years
Jackie and Joanne
Ohio WMU Praying for Church Planters Joanne Hopkins, Ohio WMU president, challenged Associational WMU and Women’s Ministry Leaders to work with Church Planting Strategist to build prayer teams to pray daily for Ohio Church Planters. Joanne also serves as Associational WMU Leader for Southern Hills Baptist Association. Joanne contacted WMU church leaders requesting names of faithful prayer warriors for church planters in the Southern Hills Baptist Association. Martha Frost, WMU Leader for FBC Mt. Orab included Jackie Tucker, a former Navy nurse blinded from the effects of glaucoma and now residing in the VA Home in Georgetown, Ohio. On May 22 Joanne visited Jackie to ask her to pray for three church planters and their wives. Jackie was humbled and honored to be asked, she began praying for them immediately. Joanne left the list on Jackie’s night stand. Jackie quickly memorized the names because she asked anyone who came into her room to read the names to her so she might personally pray for each one. If you also feel humbled and honored to faithfully pray for Ohio church planters and their families, contact Charlotte Barbo, 614-827-1804 or cbarbo@scbo.org to request a list.
Ohio Churches like FBC of Mt. Orab, are celebrating WMU’s 125th Birthday 20132014. June 23, Joanne Hopkins, WMU Association Leader for the Southern Hills Association as well as Ohio WMU President was the keynote speaker for the FBC of Mt. Orab WMU. Their celebration included four monologue presentations to capture the historical progression of WMU through the leadership. Lottie Moon, 1840-1912, was represented by Julie Cline. Annie Armstrong, 1850-1938, was portrayed by Becky Rymer. Fannie Heck, 1862-1915, exemplified by Tammy Lucas. Alma Hunt, 1909-2008, played by Pam Baird. The purpose of WMU is to challenge all believ-
Joanne Hopkins, Tammy Lucas, Pam Baird, Julie Cline, Martha Frost, WMU Director FBC of Mt. Orab.
ers to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God. Joanne Hopkins showed the torch she accepted for Ohio during the national birth-
day celebration last month in Houston, Texas. The torch represents the challenge for all believers to carry on the mission of WMU. Ohio women, you are invited and encouraged to join together September 20-21 at Seneca Lake Baptist Assembly for the Ohio Birthday Party during Mission Celebration and the Ladies Fall Retreat! Make plans now to be a part of this historical celebration.
FBC Mt Orab WMU
Upcoming Women’s Ministry Events
Summer
Date Event July 29-August 2 Kids Kamp 3 August 5-9 Missions Camp
Join Us On Facebook! OWN-Ohio Women’s Network Prayer List of Church Planters and Wives
Fall
Date Event September 20-21 Fall Retreat & Mission Celebration September 15-22 Ray Roberts – State Missions Offering Week of Prayer for Ohio Missionaries October 11-12 Mother Daughter Retreat November 7 Pastors’ Wives Luncheon December 1-8 Lottie Moon Offering Week of Prayer for International Missionaries
August 2013 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | Page 9
INVIGORATE 2013:
Stories from an Ohio Collegiate Summer Missions Team Natasha’s Story
Sitting in the grass on the University of Cincinnati campus, I could feel the excitement run up my spine. “How do you feel right now?” I asked. “Really, really good. Like a huge weight is, just, gone!” she observed. Natasha, a student at UC studying for her veterinary school entrance exams, had just prayed to receive Christ as her savior. I met Natasha while initiating conversations on UC’s campus with a collegiate church named H2O Cincinnati. In the span of about 45 minutes she shared with us her story. Natasha grew up in a home where religion was not discussed due to parental differences on the issue. Her family moved eleven times before she graduated from high school and she didn’t make friends easily. She had recently been dumped by a boyfriend who had promised never to leave, and is now hopelessly waiting for “the one.” She was not really sure how God felt about her. In fact, she was not sure if He even cared. But Natasha’s ambiguous relationship with God began to change as we talked with her about the gospel. We told Natasha that God loves her more deeply than she could imagine, and desires a relationship with her. We told her about her need for Jesus because of sin. We told her that Jesus is able to redeem her if she puts her faith in Him. Finally, when we asked her the question “Is this a decision you would like to make right now?” she could barely contain her emotion. “Absolutely yes!” she replied. Natasha’s story, which she thought was going nowhere, was suddenly interrupted by the gospel, and she is now a new creation in Jesus Christ.
My Story
My conversation with Natasha occurred on the final day of campus evangelism during a summer collegiate missions program called Invigorate, which has occurred each of the past five years. Invigorate is designed to bring students, like myself, to Ohio from different parts of the country, train them in evangelism, and send them out to the state’s universities to share the gospel and partner with the collegiate ministries at each school. As I sat talking to Natasha, I could not help but reflect on my very first evangelism conversation. It was just over a year ago, on my first Invigorate team experience, and we were at Ohio State University. As a timid college student from the Bible-belt, I remember shaking as I approached a student sitting on a park bench. I do not remember what I said, but I am certain it was not eloquent or overly compelling. Even so, this stranger listened intently, asked insightful questions, and even took the Bible I offered him at the end of our talk. It was there that I learned evangelism is not difficult or frightening. It was there that I shared the gospel, which I have believed since childhood, for the first time. Now, with Natasha, in what was probably the one-hundredth gospel presentation I have made since that first conversation at OSU, I was getting to see the harvest. A lot has happened in my story since my time in Ohio last summer. Through the Invigorate program I began to develop a framework that shifted my view of collegiate ministry and my life’s trajectory. Throughout my involvement in ministry here in Ohio, I came to know God more
Invigorate Team collegiate missionaries Amanda Brandon and Kyle Farmer give an evangelism training presentation to H2O Church in Cincinnati.
Invigorate Team collegiate missionaries Amanda Brandon and Jenn Harmon use the Soularium Evangelism tool.
through experience and see His activity around me. I learned about myself, and the way that I have specifically been wired with strengths and abilities that are useful for kingdom work as a member of the Body of Christ. Finally, I learned about people, and how every context and every life is different, yet all are in desperate need of the same Savior. I never pictured myself working in a ministry context, yet it seemed clear that God was calling me to leverage my life for the gospel. Fast forward to June 2013. I had just graduated from Texas A&M a couple of weeks earlier and was back in Ohio again, this time to co-lead the Invigorate team. It had been a year of development for me personally as I gained experience in ministry at my own campus and professionally through an engineering co-op, and now I was contemplating which one I should enter into. These two seemingly opposite career paths had left me somewhat paralyzed by uncertainty of God’s plan for my life, so I enrolled in graduate school to buy myself more time to figure things out. As Invigorate 2013 began, I started earnestly praying that God would show me His will and give me clarity for my next steps. But what I got was silence. I felt even more confused than I did to begin with. Finally, in a moment of frustration at the uncertainty I was experiencing, but also a moment of real honesty with God, I asked Him to do three things if He wanted me to enter into full-time ministry. Similar to Gideon laying out fleeces before the Lord, I laid out my requests:
Invigorate Team with staff of H2O Church at the University of Toledo. Back, l-r: Kyle Farmer, Ben Andrews, Ryan Anderson, Kevin Stacy, Justin Dickman, Matt Pardi, Elizabeth Brooker, Danny Front, l-r: Amanda Brandon, Shannon Kahn, Jenn Harmon
•
That God would have someone else initiate the conversation about me entering ministry. • That God would be the one to tell my parents about this calling and career change. • That God would provide a means for financial security in the ministry opportunity. Now, let me preface what I am about to share by saying that I do not think what I did is a magic formula, or that God was in any way obligated to respond the way He did. It was completely His choice to reveal Himself and His will to me in this way. Fleece 1 – Around noon of the day that I first prayed for these three fleeces, I received a message from my pastor asking if I would be interested in interning with the church this year, and earning credit through the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for that internship. I had not previously talked with him about my ministry versus engineering dilemma. Fleece 2 – Three days later I had a phone conversation with my parents in which they expressed that though it made them nervous, if I felt that God was calling me into ministry they would be supportive. Fleece 3 – Three days after my conversation with my parents I received a phone call from a college pastor saying that he is looking to hire a full-time college associate, and that he felt the Lord was putting me on his mind to ask about applying. What choice do I have but to say, “Yes Lord” and adjust my life
to His calling to enter collegiate ministry?
Every Life is a Story
Ministry on a college campus is not unlike the Bible’s description of what Paul experienced in Athens. “Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:21). College students are ready to hear new ideas, and the college campus provides a forum for thought and discussion unlike any other place. Students are not shocked to be approached by someone initiating a spiritual conversation. In fact, they expect it, anticipate it, and embrace it. Each one of these students has a story. They have a story that, like Natasha’s, needs to be interrupted by the gospel. These stories will not be interrupted, however, unless someone takes the message to them. Multiple students turned to Christ in repentance and faith this summer, simply because our missions team took the initiative to get “on their turf,” (sometimes literally through a game of ultimate-frisbee), hear their stories, and let the gospel meet students where they are. The harvest is plentiful on college campuses, and more workers are needed. As Henry Blackaby says in his Experiencing God study: “Any revelation from God is an invitation to join Him.” Through the Invigorate team and Ohio collegiate ministries, God has revealed His activity on these campuses to me and to the others on our team, and we have made the decision to accept His invitation.
Page 10 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | August 2013
FESTIVAL OF MARRIAGE SIMULCAST September 27 & 28, 2013 If you want to build a healthy marriage and a God-honoring home that will have a positive and spiritual impact on your family for generations, Festivals of Marriage Simulcast is a must-attend event. Married adults of all ages and stages will learn something new about how the gospel should impact their marriage and will leave feeling excited about their future.
HILLCREST BAPTIST CHURCH 820 Central Avenue Carlisle, Ohio 45005 Featured Speakers: Gary Chapman, Mark Merrill, Steve & Debbie Wilson, Les & Leslie Parrott Worship Led by: Big Daddy Weave Register Now: Got to www.hbc.weebly.com/events; Or call 937-746-4248 if you do not have internet access. There is no cost for this event. It is our gift to you! Schedule: Friday September 27 7:00 pm Event Begins General Session with Dr. Gary Chapman 9:00 pm Dismiss Saturday September 28 8:30 am Event Begins 9:00 am General Session - Les & Leslie Parrott 9:30 am Breakout Session - Justin & Trisha Davis 10:30 am Breakout Session - Jerry & Bayne Pounds 11:00 am Break for the Afternoon 5:00 pm Return for Couples Picnic at Hillcrest Baptist Church 7:20 pm General Session - Mark Merrill 10:00 pm Dismiss Co-sponsoring with SCBO and Hillcrest Baptist Church.
August 2013 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | Page 11
TRANSFORM
Growing the Smaller Established Church About 80 % of the Southern Baptist churches in Ohio have 100 or less in average Sunday School attendance. Imagine the impact on the Kingdom of God if each of those churches baptized just five more people in 2014. That would be about 2800 additional baptisms in our state! Church leaders all across Ohio rejoice that many new churches have been planted and are reaching many people for Christ, but imagine the joy of seeing smaller, established churches adding their influence to the harvest in our great state. That is what this conference is about. Anyone may attend, but the focus will be on the smaller church pastors and church leaders who want to see God do great things in their congregations. Our conference leaders are Phil Jones, who once pastored the Parsons Baptist Church in Columbus, Dave Frasure, who currently pastors the First Baptist Church of South Lebanon, Ohio, and Steve Hopkins, who has pastored in Ohio and currently serves on the State Convention staff as our Bible Teaching/Leadership Resource Team Leader. The conference will also feature breakout sessions related to key areas of church ministry. Many conferences are wonderful to attend, but few keep the smaller church as the focus. This conference will be mindful of the Bi-Vocational pastoral leaders in our state and the special struggles of the smaller church. The conference will be held at FBC, South Lebanon, Ohio on October 18-19. Saturday, breakfast and lunch will be provided. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE October 18-19, 2013 A conference designed for the smaller, established church
Dave Frasure
Phil Jones
Friday, October 18 6:30 PM Registration 7:00 PM Worship & Message 1: Dave Frasure—Shepherding the Smaller Church 8:00 PM Break 8:15 PM Worship and Message 2: Phil Jones—The Power of the Holy Spirit in the Pastor’s Life Part 1 9:15 PM Dismiss Saturday, October 19 8:00 AM Breakfast 9:00 AM Worship & Message 3: Steve Hopkins 10:00 AM Breakout Sessions: Breakout 1—Steve Hopkins Breakout 2—David Frasure—A Simple Growth Strategy for the
Steve Hopkins Smaller Church—Practical insights on three priority ministries Breakout 3—Phil Jones—The Morning Hour—Practical principals on how to have a life changing Quiet Time before you begin your day
11:30 PM Worship and Message 4: Phil Jones—The Power of the Holy Spirit in the Pastor’s Life Part 2 12:30 PM Lunch 1:30 PM Panel Discussion with Phil, Steve and Dave 2:30 PM Break 2:45 PM Message 5: Dave Frasure—My Three Biggest Mistakes in Ministry 3:30 PM Dismiss
The State Convention of Baptists in Ohio (SCBO) has partnered with LifeWay to bring you TRANSFORM, an exciting Sunday School training event scheduled for August 3, 2013. TRANSFORM is designed to develop your Sunday School leaders to guide their students toward transformation. LifeWay training professionals and resources are the best in their field. You won’t want to miss this exciting opportunity. SCBO wants to invest in you. We will cover half the cost of the training fee in an effort to make this an affordable opportunity for your entire Sunday School leadership team. TRANSFORM will be held on August 3, 2013 at First Baptist Church of Grove City in Columbus Ohio. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. and the event will conclude at approximately 3:30 p.m. Visit www.Lifeway.com/transform for more information and to register today! We look forward to seeing you there. In His Service, Dwayne Lee Associate Team Leader The Bible Teaching/ Leadership Resource Group
SEEKING STAFF Full-time or bi-vocational pastor for Green Valley Southern Baptist Church, Mount Vernon, Ohio. Send resume to Alex Stewart via email: alexrstewart@ yahoo.com or mail to 1680 Old Delaware Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050. (Additional information at SBC job search) Central, Marion, is seeking a part-time youth & worship minister. If interested, please submit resume and any additional materials to Pastor Ryan Strother, ryan@ cbmarion.org.
HOLD THE DATE: Momentum Conference 2014. Next year’s event will be held Tuesday March 18, 2014 @ Jersey Baptist Church from 9am to 6pm. There will be five preaching sessions and 12 breakout sessions. Lunch will be served on site by several food vendors. The day will be filled with relevant biblical preaching, dynamic worship, informative ministry workshops, and peer networking opportunities. Full conference details will be available on September 15th at www.momentumconference2014.com.
Page 12 | Ohio Baptist Messenger | August 2013
PRESS TOWARD THE MARK Mission Ohio is focused upon cooperative mission endeavor. We are helping Southern Baptist churches sharing the Gospel, starting churches, obey the Great Commission to reach and ministering to human needs all people for Christ. The Great Comover the world. The Southern Baptist mission guides everything we as Cooperative Mission Program is one Southern Baptists do in missions. To of the most effective and efficient misreach people for Christ begins with Jack Kwok, Ph.D. sion endeavors in the history of Christhe personal salvation experience of Executive Directortianity. Treasurer an individual. This personal salva- State Convention I personally praise God for Southtion experience leads to baptism and of Baptists in Ohio ern Baptists and their Cooperative membership in a local New Testament Mission Program. Through the mischurch. Through the ministry of our church- sionary work of Southern Baptists, members es, individual Christians grow in the grace and of my family in Arkansas and Hong Kong have knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. become Christians and found their individual The individual Christian discovers his or her calling of service to our Lord and Savior Jesus personal calling from God which involves a life- Christ. Our family has benefited greatly from time of service in the name of Jesus Christ and the Cooperative Mission Program of Southern the power of the Holy Spirit. Baptists. Thus, Mission Ohio is the cooperative effort Lost families need Jesus. Mission Ohio exof Southern Baptists to reach at least 1,000,000 ists to glorify God through reaching lost indiindividuals for Christ in at least 2,020 congrega- viduals and families for Christ. For believers, tions by the end of 2020. This is obedience to Mission Ohio exists to help individuals experithe Great Commission for the state of Ohio. ence the fullness of fellowship with God through Beyond Ohio, Southern Baptists are obey- Jesus Christ. This is His Great Commission. Let ing the Great Commission through a unified us press toward that mark.
Dover Baptist Temple at Crossover Houston
Thirteen members from the congregation of Dover Baptist Temple in Dover, OH participated in Crossover Houston in June. Pastor Chris Rhodes led his team to be involved with mission outreaches with Holman Street Baptist Church and Lazybrook Baptist Church. Pastor Rhodes said, “We wanted to be a part of Crossover to partner with our brothers and sisters in Christ serving in Houston.”
How to become a
Christian If you are not a Christian, have never surrendered your will to the Lord Jesus, let me share briefly how you can make this life changing decision. GOD WANTS YOU SAVED. First, you must believe that God loves you and wants you to have peace in your heart and an everlasting life (John 3:16). Second, you must recognize that you are a sinner, that you have done things which have displeased God and that you have separated yourself from Him (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Third, you must believe that Jesus came to this earth, was actually God in the flesh, lived a perfect life, and yet went to a cruel cross, dying for your sins, paying once and for all the penalty of sin (I Peter 2:24). However, it’s not enough just to know these three things.
Many of us knew them for years before we ever gave Jesus our lives. Fourth, you must personally ask Jesus to come into your life and forgive you of your sins (Revelation 3:20). You can pray this prayer now and if you mean it with all of your heart, Jesus will come in just like He said. He cannot lie. Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I’m really sorry for my sins, Lord. I ask you now, Lord Jesus, to come into my heart, forgive me of my sins, take control of my life, and make me the kind of person You want me to be. I now receive You into my heart. Thank You for coming in. I will follow You all the days of my life. In Your name I pray, Amen.
Pictured here is the ministry team of Dover Baptist Temple and their work in cleaning a local cemetery. The Crossover Houston event featured 25 block parties on Saturday (June 8) and had more than 200 professions of faith recorded. In addition, 182 salvation decisions were recorded through door-to-door contact by local churches.
For information about the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio and more Baptist Press news, go to our website www.scbo.org.
How to submit Church News Send all church news and information to Linnett Snodgrass at lsnodgrass@scbo.org