North Star Update A PUBLICATION OF THE MINNESOTA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION Inside This Issue: Fellowship Foundations
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MBA Trustees Report
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Smetak resumes Ministry
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Poster for State Ladies
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Southeast Ladies Meet
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Calendar March 12: Twin Cities Association March 27: Installation, Rev. Dwight DePenning, Redwood Falls April 2: Southwest Association April 4 and 5: MBA Pastors’ & Wives’ June 24,25: MBA Annual Meeting
February 23, 2011
Volume V, Issue 1
The Strength of Our Heart “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10). Winter can get pretty long – especially when the snow keeps piling up. We had a brief warm spell a while back, and lost a lot of snow. We were almost basking in the “warm weather.” Almost. Then came last week’s blizzard. Snow everywhere – again. Of course, I remind myself that it is winter, after all. What do I expect? Why would I think winter was over? We haven’t even had the state
basketball tournaments yet. So, like getting to church after the blizzard, we trudge forward. We know that spring is coming; we also know that there is likely more snow coming. How do we deal with situations that just seem never to get better? Should we merely think spring? The Lord through His Apostle Paul encourages us to press forward, to ignore the blizzards that were or might yet be. Because focusing on the storm will only cause us to sink. The ministries God has given each of us continue regardless of the weather, or any other hindrance that might rise up to meet
us. We remember that with each new day, each new week, each new month, each new season comes a change in the weather, but no change in our charge from our God – and no change in His provision for us. Recently two dear friends shared a passage from the Psalms with my wife and me. At the time, the need was personal and physical. However, listen to the encouragement for every situation, even those that seem to never end. “My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26).
Events Twin Cities Association The Twin City Baptist Association Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at the Lighthouse Baptist Church, Cottage Grove. Registration will begin at Noon with services and business sessions to follow. The meeting
will end around 5:00 p.m. * * * MBA Pastor’s & Wives’ This year’s Pastors’ & Wives’ fellowship will be held at First Baptist Church in Baxter, MN. The dates are April 4 and 5. Pastor and Mrs. Grotzke are looking forward to hosting
the pastors and wives of the state. Plan now to attend. More information will be coming. * * * The MBA Annual Meetings for 2011 will be at First Baptist, Sr. Francis, June 24-25.
Bible Distribution Ministry at Walworth By: Ryan The members of Walworth Baptist Church have created a DVD tract entitled In 100 years. This DVD is just under nine minutes and we think it can be a great tool for outreach. We are offering to churches a master copy of the DVD with their own church name and contact infor-
Olson, Director, Bible Senders
mation free of charge. After that you can make copies how you wish or you can send them to a company that they are using called Idea Media. You can get 1,000 copies made with a white sleeve for around $460.00 plus shipping. If you would like to view the video you can visit
www.afterdeathwhat.com and it will start playing automatically. If you would like more information you may contact Pastor Ben Carpenter at 218-567-8244 or ema i l a ft erd e at h what@gmail.com.
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North Star Update
Fellowship Foundations By: Rev. Robert If you like snow, and plenty of it, you must be giddy with the blanket of that white stuff covering one-half of our Country. Driving the roads of Minnesota in the winter presents challenges, but at the end of each trip Rhoda and I always receive many blessings. From December 19 th where we reported in the last UPDATE that we would be at First Baptist, International Falls teaching the Sunday School and preaching the Morning Service, we finished December with no other “on the road” opportuni-
J. Fuller, Sr., Interim State Missionary
ties. Our Schedule then included – January 2 – I was asked to preach the Morning Service at Grace Baptist Fellowship, Sartell, as their pastor Mark O’Brien (Brenda) was still recovering from an illness. It was a blessing to become acquainted with that church and congregation. January 6 – I attended a Meeting of the new church Committee chaired by Pastor Doug Roman, held at 4th Baptist church meeting room. January 9 – I had planned
to attend Services at First Baptist, St. Francis, but the scheduled pulpit supply at Coon Rapids became ill, and I was asked by the deacons to teach Sunday School and preach both the Morning and Evening Services. Pray with Coon Rapids as they seek God’s man for the pastorate there. January 23 – We were able to visit the Evening Service at First Baptist, New Ulm, Pastor Continued on page 4
MBA Trustees Meeting Nineteen of the twenty-one trustees of the Minnesota Baptist Association along with the Interim State Missionary and the four officers met at Community Baptist Church in New Prague on January 24th for one
of their board meetings. Mrs. Gerald (Dana) Stephens provided a delicious noon meal. Thank you, Dana. President Gerald Stephens led the meeting until he had to leave and then Vice-President
V. Richard Jensen took over the meeting. Secretary Dave Rogers took minutes and Treasurer Brian Veth gave the FinanContinued on page 4
Dr. Smetak Resumes Duties in St. James Back in November 2010, Pastor Larry Smetak, Highland Park Baptist Church, underwent by-pass heart surgery. His surgery was followed by a heart attack. Now, ten weeks later, he sends a “thank you” to all
who prayed and showed interested in his recovery. As he had the second surgery, his doctor later commented, “We did all we were able to do, but it was the prayers of your people that really made the difference (in fact prayers came from two foreign countries, a dozen states, and 30 some Minnesota churches). Now he is praising the Lord 1) that the Mayo Clinic bill has been 99.5% covered, and 2) that he has been slowly getting back into speaking opportunities in
recent days. “I am so glad that the blood of Jesus is such a great message. It has become all the more personal in these days. Thank you to community friends who have prayed or shown interest in all these events.” “Why? Why me? Good questions; if we leave it all with God, He will show Himself strong on our behalf. Life is filled with many trials and struggles,” Pastor Smetak added. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”
Volume V, Issue 1
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Southeast Ladies Meet The ladies of the Southeastern Association gathered for their fall Fellowship on October 16. We enjoy the time of fellowship at the Hubbell House in Mantorville, Minnesota. There were around 30 women who decided to attend this event. Besides the wonderful meal three churches presented different ways in which they are trying to reach out to their community. Grace
Baptist in Owatonna has the ministry of giving a homemade blanket to their elderly members. First Baptist, Preston has the ministry to the men and women in the Armed Forces. Community Baptist in New Prague has an outreach ministry to its community with the food giveaway called Have-AHeart. At the end of our meeting Cathy Haynes, First Baptist in Spring Valley,
By: Dana Stephens gave the devotional on having compassion for others as Christ had compassion for us.
A PUBLICATION OF THE MINNESOTA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION PO Box 527 Willmar, MN 56201-0527
We’re on the web! http:www.mbaoc.org
MBA Contacts Minnesota Baptist Association Rev. Gerald Stephens, President Community Baptist Church PO Box 212 New Prague, MN 56071 (952) 758-3287 pastor@npcbc.org Interim State Missionary Rev. Robert Fuller, Sr. 1549 118th Lane NW Coon Rapids, MN 55448 (763) 568-4078 rjfsr4@juno.com MBA Office contact@mbaoc.org
Fellowship Foundations, continued from page 2 Bob Fuller, Sr., (Jacque). January 24 – I attended the meetings of the MBA Executive Committee and Full Board held at Community Baptist, New Prague. Pastor Jerry Stephens (Dana) do a wonderful job hosting the meeting, and supplied a delectable lunch for the Board Members. That evening, we journeyed to Calvary Baptist, Granada, Pastor John Schofield
(Loretta), having been invited to attend a pastor and wife supper and fellowship. The church has beautiful facilities, and it was a blessing to be with those who attended. January 30 – We took occasion to visit Rockford Baptist, Pastor Roger Louks (Sherri). Pastor allowed me some time at the end of the Morning Service to give a brief report on the Pillsbury Campus
sale progress and some of the latest decisions of the MBA Board regarding our Association. The ladies (and men) of the church prepared a delicious carry-in meal that we all enjoyed thoroughly. We enjoy many friends at that church, and pastor Louks is doing a great job there. If I can be of any service to you or your church, please contact me.
Minnesota Baptist Association PO Box 527 Willmar, MN 56201-0527
MBA Trustees Meeting, continued from page 2
Send Contributions to: Mr. Brian Veth, MBA Treasurer c/o Coon Rapids Baptist Church 11164 Hanson Blvd. Coon Rapids, MN 55433 Send Update Articles and Pictures to: drjfjr@comcast.net North Star Update Editor 315 S. Payne St. New Ulm, MN 56073 (507) 354-3323
cial Report. Dr. Robert Fuller, Jr., gave a report on the sale of Pillsbury. Continue to pray for the timely sale of this property. Pastor Doug Roman, the chairman of the Church Planting Committee, outlined the “nuts and bolts” of the new program to start churches in
the State of Minnesota. Candidate and pastoral questionnaires have been developed. Also, a tab will be placed on the MBA website (www.mbaoc.net) to inform and encourage church planting in Minnesota. The next meeting of the Trustees will take place a few hours before the Annual Meeting
starts on June 24, 2011, at the First Baptist Church of St. Francis. The next day, Saturday, June 25th, will be a full day of fellowshipping and listening to God’s Word. Hope to see you there.