NSU 5.04

North Star Update A PUBLICATION OF THE MINNESOTA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION Inside This Issue: Fellowship Foundations

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MBA First Person, Olmstead

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MBA Olmstead, Snow

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State Men’s Fellowship

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FLASH Notes

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Calendar

Volume V, Issue 4

August 10, 2011

A Note from the MBA President By: Rev. Gerald Stephens, As another busy summer quickly comes to a close I am reminded of the words of our Savior in John 4:35 – “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and them cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”

As I reflect back on our Minnesota Baptist Association annual meeting which was held in June, I am thankful that God provides times of fellowship, instruction, and encouragement to help us remain focused on

Community Baptist, New Prague

serving Him. As we were challenged with the theme of “Maintaining Our Vision” we were reminded that the purpose of the Minnesota Baptist Association is to maintain a foundation that consists of a solid Biblical education in the lives of those God calls into His service, an exciting church planting ministry within our state, and continual scriptural fellowship amongst God’s people through local churches working together for the Glory of God. I want to thank First Baptist

Church of St. Francis for doing a great job in hosting the meetings and each one who participated for taking time out of their busy summer schedules to be an encouragement to other believers.

May God continue to challenge us together as brothers and sisters in Christ to be faithful until our Savior returns or until He calls us Home.

I invite you to begin planning now to attend next years’ annual meeting which will be held at Community Baptist Church in New Prague, Minnesota.

September 16-17: State Men’s Fellowship

Report from MBA Annual Meeting Business Session

NOTE: Check out the MBA Planting & Watering Website. mbaoc.net/churchplanting/

Please pray for the sale of the Owatonna campus.

The messengers of the churches of the Minnesota Baptist Association met June 24-25 for the Association’s annual meeting at First Baptist Church of St. Francis. On Saturday, the 25th, the fifty-four messengers from twenty-two churches met to conduct the necessary business of the Association.

The messengers adopted three amendments to the MBA By-laws at this year’s Annual Meeting: (1) an amendment to allow virtual meetings and voting in the board of trustees, (2) an amendment changing the number of PBBC Board members elected each year to four (4), and (3) an amendment establishing a process by which churches may associate with the

MBA. The messengers also adopted a reworded Purpose Statement for the MBA as found in its Articles of Incorporation.

The Board of Trustees of the MBA presented this change at last year's meeting, and the messengers adopted it this year.

The messengers also approved a change in the Baptist Builders Network stipulating that requests by churches for needful projects will be made through the North Star Update.

Elected this year: MBA Secretary: Pastor David Rogers MBA Trustee Class of 2014

Pastor Todd Williamson Dr. Lee Ormiston Pastor Dwight DePenning Pastor Jeremy Stephens Pastor Ron Groschel Pastor Greg Linscott Pastor Ted Clarke PBBC Trustee Class of 2014 Dr. Robert Fuller, Jr Pastor Leonard Huebscher Pastor Todd Williamson Pastor Bart Goetz President Gerald Stephens announced that the 2012 annual meeting will be held at Community Baptist Church in New Prague, on June 22-23, 2012.

Rev. Stephens is the pastor in New Prague.

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North Star Update

Fellowship Foundations By: Rev. Robert As I have started my 5th year as Interim State Missionary, Interim in this instance meaning temporary and parttime, I want to congratulate the others who do the bulk of the work previously done by past Executive Secretaries of the MBA. Just to hit the high spots – records keeping and preservation, agendas for business sessions, concern for church planting, and publications of needed information including finances and the abbreviated North Star Baptist, the North Star Update.

My portion, and in my

Fuller, Sr., Interim State Missionary

estimation the most enjoyable, is to visit churches by invitation of pastors or pulpit committees for pulpit supply, to teach and preach, give advice and counsel, and to give current updates on MBA happenings and direction.

Since my last Fellowship Foundations report in the North Star Update: June 5 – We visited Berean Baptist Church, Brooklyn Park, Pastor Cary Flinck (Nancy). I was given time to report on MBA happenings and Pillsbury campus sale progress.

Our friends at Berean are always friendly and interested.

June 12 – I was asked by the deacons at Coon Rapids Baptist to preach the evening service, and report briefly on the MBA and Pillsbury. Pray with that church about their search for a pastor.

June 19 – I was invited to fill the pulpit at First Baptist, Preston, for all services and to share lunch with the church.

The church is without a pastor, Continued on page 4

MBA Annual Meeting, First Person By: Rhoda Having recently moved back to the state, I was excited that my husband and I were able to be messengers from our church in New Ulm to the MBA Annual Meeting in St. Francis. I was so happy to again see some people whom I had known for years. I was excited to introduce them to my three children and catch up on what was happening in their lives and ministries. I had hoped to see more people of my generation attending both days, but there were few who did.

Jane Olmstead, First Baptist, New Ulm

I was thankful for the way the church took care of us.

There was plenty of fellowship, complete with an ice cream social on Friday night and many goodies on Saturday. There was also a well-staffed nursery for my three small children.

While there was some business to discuss, most of the time was spent being encouraged with messages from the Word of God. I was especially blessed with Pastor Doug Roman's message and vision on the association's Planting and

Watering program. We were encouraged to make that an even more important part of our larger mission for the state of Minnesota.

If the Lord keeps my family in Minnesota, I look forward to attending next years' meeting, and perhaps meeting the new faces in the association that I have heard about but who were unable to attend this years' meeting.

MBA Annual Meeting, First Person By: Beverly The Annual Meeting of the MBA reminds me of the verse in I John 1:3, "That which we have seen and hear declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus." It is always so great to get together with fellow believers in our sister churches and rehearse the blessings the Lord has

Snow, First Baptist, St. Francis

showered upon us.

We had a wonderful time of fellowship with long time friends from our sister churches and also meeting new friends who have recently joined our fellowship.

The challenges from God's Word from Dr. Roy Beacham, Pastor Doug Roman and Pastor Lee Ormiston were highlights of the time we spent together.

As a member of the host church, we worked hard to provide great food and fellowship times, a nursery for those who need that, and activities for the children. We wanted to encourage all families to participate in this time of fellowship with other believers. It is well worth the time and effort it takes to be a part of a fellowship with other believers.

Volume V, Issue 4

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2011 MBA Men’s Fellowship

FLASH Notes

Registration is now open for the 2011 Minnesota Baptist Association Men's Fellowship.

This year’s theme is “Our Shield and Defender - Confidence in Christ Through Life’s Daily Challenges.”

Our speaker is Mr. Chuck Hervas, a Christian attorney who has been an occasional student at Central Seminary and is a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Schaumburg, IL. Chuck also serves as a member of the board of Bob Jones University.

Workshop sessions with a variety of speakers and options are also planned during the Saturday program.

The cost of the event will

Operation Sword and Shield took Inver Grove Heights by storm this past month. During Vacation Bible School, the children learned much about trusting the Lord with their life (salvation) as well as through their life (sanctification). We praise the Lord for the 50-plus kids who heard the gospel and enjoyed a week of excitement, learning, and friendship during this ministry. The week ended with a program and picnic which included the parents of all of the children who attended. *********************** Evangelist Norman Stevens will preach September 18-23 Sunday through Friday at Rockford Baptist Church 8800 Elm Street Rockford, MN 55373 763-477-5120. The meetings will be at 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. *********************** From the TC Ladies Meeting: Nancy Flinck brought a good devotion challenge on Mothering and the Christian Home at our Twin Cities' Ladies' meeting in March at Lighthouse Baptist Church. It was a blessing and inspiration to all. Be sure to join each March at our annual Twin Cities' Baptist Association meeting. *********************** Grace Baptist, Virginia: We are looking for someone experienced in house painting. Our parsonage is in serious need of paint. Can you or do you know of someone who would be willing to help our congregation with this need. A word of caution though, two sides of the parsonage are 32 ft. high. You can contact the church at 218-749-1426 or email me at twillie10@juno.com for more information. *********************** The SWA Ladies Meeting will be held Saturday, October 1, 2011.

be $75 ($15 due with registration + $60 fee due the day of the event). This will cover accommodations and three meals (Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch). Spaces are limited, so please register early!

The registration deadline is Monday, September 5. Forms received after the deadline will be charged an additional $5 late fee. Registration forms are intended to be completed one per congregation. Registration fees of $15/person should be sent to: MBA Men’s Fellowship c/o First Baptist Church PO Box 148 Marshall, MN 56258

Northern Ladies Fall Retreat: October 7-8, 2011.

Theme: Godly Heritage: Country Church and Home Place: First Baptist Church, Baxter Special messages, workshops, music, crafts, food, books, fellowship, fun, prizes Make plans to attend. More information to follow.

Questions? Call Lorri Millan at 218-839-0469.

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 and the pulpit committee there will appreciate your prayers about that need. Preston is a beautiful town, and I remarked that if I was 40 years younger, they would get my resume.

There are great people in that church.

June 25 – We attended the MBA Annual Meeting hosted

by First Baptist Church, St. Francis, Pastor Steve Brower (Heather). All business, including an update on Planting and Watering New Church plans, were conducted for the benefit of the messengers from the churches.

June 26 – I was asked, on an emergency basis, to teach Sunday school and preach the morning service at First Baptist Church, Spring Valley, Pastor Joe Haynes (Cathy). Their daughter, Megan suffered a badly broken leg while working

at Camp CoBeAc in Michigan, and pastor and wife were needed there to assist her home.

We enjoy our many friends at Spring Valley.

July 3 – I was privileged to preach the morning service at Jordan, Sand Creek Baptist, Pastor Dan Lowe (Deborah).

Pastor Lowe was on vacation from that vibrant new church.

The congregation is energetic and forward looking.

July 9 – I attended a Pillsbury Board meeting held in the fire station in Owatonna. An update was given by the board Chairman and others regarding progress for the sale of the campus.

July 20 – I conducted a memorial service at the senior housing apartment building in Coon Rapids where I regularly hold a weekly Bible study with several residents.

July 24 – We visited the Sunday school and morning service at Oakdale First Baptist, Pastor Richard Jensen (Loretta).

The adult class conducted by Kyle Jensen, and the morning service preached by pastor were very biblical and strengthening to the hearers. Pastor Jensen allowed me time to report on the MBA and the Pillsbury campus sale. We appreciate the steadfastness of the Jensens and the congregation. We enjoyed our luncheon fellowship with the Jensens. Continue to pray for Loretta.

July 25 – Aug. 2. We enjoyed a vacation to Indiana to visit my brother and his wife, Dr. Bill Fuller, and Louella.

If I can be of service or help to you or your church, please contact me, (763) 5684078.