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A LetterLetter from Michael
arious statistics have been released in recent years that confirm the need and opportunity for church planting in the U.S. “In spite of 324,000 Protestant and 20,000 Catholic churches, • 95 to 100 million Americans are unchurched,” reported BGCWorld. • “Not one U.S. city,” the report affirmed, “has a greater church population than ten years ago. In 1900 there were 27 churches for every 10,000 people. • Approximately 3750 U.S. churches close each year—72 per week, or 10 per day. • Approximately 1350 successful churches are planted each year in the USA, resulting in a deficit of 2400 churches per year—200 churches per month or seven churches a day.”
Where does Baptist Builders Club USA stack up among those statistics? A review of the past five years revealed the following: • 24 church plants have come into the Association of Regular Baptist Churches In the same five years: • 46 Regular Baptist Churches have closed their doors Almost 100% more Regular Baptists Churches have closed in the past five years than church plants that have come into the fellowship. We can do better! We must do better! First Corinthians 3:9 says, “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building”. We need your help. For all of you who faithfully support this minsitry with prayer and/or financial support, thank you. Michael Nolan, Director
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On the Road Road alvary Baptist Church in Menom-
onee Falls, WI, recently invited us to share in their month’s theme of “Building God’s Work on a Firm Foundation.” How appropriate for them to invite us to share the vision of the Baptist Builders Club. Most Regular Baptists associate BBC with only giving funds for the physical building, but BBC is much more. While BBC helps churches with financial support to build or rebuild the physical building, the ministry also provides resources to help build the church, the people. BBC does this by: • providing a year’s worth of RBP curriculum • paid registration to training and leadership conferences Baptist Builders Club • USA Michael Nolan, Director 1300 North Meacham Rd Schaumburg, IL 60173-4806 (888) 588-1600 ext 817 www.baptistbuildersclub.org
• subscription for the Baptist Bulletin for the entire church
I was priviledged to share God’s Word with Calvary Baptist’s people and to share how BBC helps churches not only financially to build a physical foundation, but also provides tools for a spiritual foundation. We would love to come to your church to share how God could use you in His ministry of the Baptist Builders Club. To schedule a date for us to come to your church, contact Judy Emery at 1-888-588-1600, ext.817.
Spotlight
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Where They Were
ince 1950 the Baptist Builders Club (BBC) has awarded over 3 million dollars to Regular Baptist churches in need. From the first church helped in 1950 to the latest church in 2007, BBC’s mission has not changed. The first application received came from First Baptist Church of Soap Lake, Washington. The church needed financial assistance to break ground for a new building. Regular Baptists responded to the call for help and provided the $1000 that was needed for the building project. The founding pastor, Everett Bramblet, expressed his appreciation for the BBC in the June 1951 issue of the Baptist Bulletin after his church received the grant. He described what an “encouragement to their hearts” the funds provided. He also stated,
“If every member of all our GARB churches could catch the vision of this thing and also become members of the Baptist Builders Club, what a great change it would make in the home mission work of the Regular Baptists.” Pastor Bramblet was calling on fellow Regular Baptists to share the vision of this ministry.
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Where They Are Now
he Lord is still using First Baptist Church of Soap Lake to accomplish His work. When asked, Pastor Schopf (current pastor) and his wife confirm all that God has been doing through this ministry. Pastor Schopf and his wife, Hannah, tell us they are located in a small, ethnically diverse and spiritually needy community. The ministry reaches unchurched people with the gospel through various means: visitation, Vacation Bible School (averaging 50 children each day!), an annual evangelistic chicken barbecue, and the formation of a youth group. God has blessed the church financially so they can bless others. In addition to giving generous love offerings to missionaries, the church was able to add two new missionaries for regular, monthly support. A ladies missionary group (Hearts for Missions) made quilts, blankets, and other items for use at a hospital in the Central African Republic. Also, a new Visionary Building Committee has been formed and is working to improve traffic flow and provide better accessibility for elderly and handicapped people.
Join me in praising the Lord for what He has started and continues through this work in Washington. And let me echo the founding pastor’s call, “If every member of all our GARB churches could catch the vision of this thing and also become members of the Baptist Builders Club, what a great change it would make in the home mission work of the Regular Baptists.” We still have a goal to help nine sister churches a year, which requires $135,000 annually to accomplish. We currently raise about $50,000 annually. That is just not enough. That is why we need the help of all Regular Baptists. To become a member or give support to this ministry, please call 1-588-1600, ext. 817 or go to the Web at www. baptistbuildersclub.org.
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