North Star Update A PUBLICATION OF THE MINNESOTA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION Inside This Issue: Fellowship Founda-
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Family Camp
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MBA State Men’s Update
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Flash Updates
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SWA Annual Meeting in Adrian
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Volume IV, Issue 3
June 21, 2012
More Images from this Spring’s Pastors’ & Wives’ Fellowship
Calendar August 9-11: Family Camp, Lighthouse Baptist Church September 14-15: MBA State Men’s Fellowship, Camp Friendship October 20: Fall Twin Cities Ladies Luncheon, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Next Town Outreach for Grace Baptist, Virginia By: Pastor Todd Williamson In March Grace Baptist Church saw a need of reaching one of our sister cities. To accomplish this we called on our sister churches of the MBA to help with a mass outreach event. We scheduled a Next Town Outreach for May 19 to cover as much of the city of Mountain Iron as possible. For the next several months we and our sister churches of the MBA prayed for this event. May 19 came and seven individuals showed up to canvass the city of Mountain Iron. I am thankful for Pastor and Mrs. Rogers, Pastor and Mrs. Goetz and two of their children (Naomi and Joshua) and Mrs. Gail Nordmark for their efforts. We were able to cover much of the city and now are praying for the Lord to take the flyers and bring people out to our services. Thanks also to those that were praying for this event and are continuing to pray that the Lord would have His will in this outreach in Mountain Iron.
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North Star Update
Fellowship Foundations By: Rev. Robert summer solstice which occurs approximately on June 21. We generally call it, “the beginning of summer”. Summer-time usually involves Vacation Bible Time, summer youth camps, family vacations, and HOT WEATHER! For some churches it is a time of challenge to keep interest and attendance at an appreciable level, and to lay the groundwork for the fall and yearround programming. Our endeavors and efforts will be
J. Fuller, Sr., State Missionary
enhanced if we keep Christ as the focus of our doing and planning. Since my last UPDATE Report which concluded with the Pastor/Wife Fellowship at Baxter, I have been privileged to serve the MBA as follows. April 2 – During the Pastors’ & Wives’ Fellowship I attended a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Minnesota Baptist Association. April 16 – My wife and I attended the annual Central
Seminary Family and Friends Banquet. We were a part of a huge attendance for that occasion. April 18 – We were also privileged to share in the annual Minnesota Seniors’ Luncheon hosted by Lighthouse Baptist, Cottage Grove, Pastor Loren Bjokne (LaVonne). That event is a wonderful service provided for “us” seniors by that church. Continued on page 4
We are now entering the
We would love to invite you and your church family to join us for our 2nd annual Family Camp. Last year we had a wonderful time - we hope you can join us this year. If you are interested in a power point that includes photographs from last years event, please contact us. We'd love for you to show your congregation the fun that awaits them! In Christ. Lighthouse Baptist Church 9979 80th Street S Cottage Grove, MN 55016 651-459-6974
Volume IV, Issue 3
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State Men’s Update The annual Men's Fellowship is an event that has brought men from churches across the state together for friendship and encouragement for many years. While the foundation of our Association is a commitment to Christ and a doctrinal fidelity rooted in the principles of inspired Scriptures, events like these contribute to its connectivity and vitality. Without gatherings like this, we may affirm the same truths, but our relationships with each other suffer. This year’s fellowship is scheduled for September 14-15, and will take place at Camp Friendship in Annandale, MN. Our speaker will be Dave Doran, pastor of Inter-City Baptist Church in Allen Park, Michigan, and president of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Doran is a skilled Bible teacher, and young and old alike will find the instruction from the book of Proverbs useful in developing and maintaining their walk with the Lord. Those who attend can also look forward to good conversation, recreational activity, and vibrant singing, all on a beautiful lakeside location. The cost for the weekend is $75 per person, and will include overnight accommodations and 3 hearty meals. Please plan to attend, and invest in your own spiritual development while encouraging other men in theirs. Associations like ours cannot thrive unless we prioritize associating with one another.
Flash Updates SAVE THE DATE!! The fall Twin City Association Ladies' Luncheon will be held at Berean Baptist Church from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, October 20th, 2012. Be
sure to mark your calendar. The speaker and the cost will be announced later. * * *
Please add the following pulpit supply: Rev. Everett L. Holmes 104 3rd St. SW Blooming Prairie Mn. 55917 cell # 507-456-6534 home 507-583-2969
SWA Annual Meeting at Adrian The Southwest Association of Baptist Churches held its 145th Annual Meeting at First Baptist Church in Adrian on Saturday, March 31st, 2012. The group of about fifty people heard two presentations. One was from Brad Hoff of Continental Baptist Mission. The second was
from Jeremy Van Dyke, a member of First Baptist Adrian, and recent graduate of CBTS in Plymouth, MN. Jeremy is hoping to plant a church in Sioux Falls, SD under Continental Baptist Mission. The SWA is praying and planning to be a help to Jeremy and his family in any
way that it can. He hopes to be associated with CBM by fall of 2012 at which time he will begin his deputation. For further information, you can contact Pastor Timothy Barr of First Baptist Church, Adrian.
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 Minnesota Baptist Association PO Box 527 Willmar, MN 56201-0527 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
Fellowship Foundations, from page 2 April 23 – We met with the West River Road Baptist Seniors for lunch at the Old Country Buffet (a punishing experience!!) in Coon Rapids. Following lunch, all made their way to Coon Rapids Baptist for a program, and a message by retired St. Francis pastor, Jim Snow. May 13 – At the invitation of Pastor Todd Williamson, I preached and gave an MBA Report at Grace Baptist, Virginia. The day was “Mother’s Day”, and I preached the morning service and taught the Sunday school. We always enjoy being with our good friends there. Pastor Todd was away for a family wedding. May 19 – Elsewhere in this UPDATE is information regarding the Next Town Outreach for Grace Baptist, Virginia. Regrettably, I was unable to help in the outreach.
May 21 – We attended the Monday night service of the Missions Conference of Bible Baptist, Otsego, pastor Doug Roman (Julie). I am glad to support any special meetings such as this when I an aware of them. The burden for outreach was a blessing to us. May 27 – We journeyed to New Ulm to catch a brief time with two of our great grandchildren who were spending a few days with their grandparents, Pastor Bob and Jacque Fuller. While there, I was given the opportunity to report on MBA, and to preach the morning message and teach the adult Sunday school class. All in all, along with seeing again our many friends there, it was a great blessing. May 30 – Due to the illness of the Wednesday evening pulpit supply at Coon Rapids, the deacons asked
me to speak. I deeply appreciated the opportunity. June 10 – We took opportunity to visit the morning Sunday school and preaching service of West River Road Baptist, Pastor Floyd Lunde. We, as usual, were graciously welcomed, and we represented the MBA by leaving copies of the UPDATE. June 22-23 I will be attending the 153rd Annual Meeting of the MBA, and will report on that in the next UPDATE. If I can be of help or service to you or your church please contact me.