2016 Fall Messenger

w w w. G e n e r a l B a p t i s t . c o m

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Messenger J erus ale m

J u d e a & Sa m a r ia

G en e ral B ap ti st

Fall 2016

En d s o f th e Earth

General Baptist Ministries, based in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, exists to unite the efforts of various local General Baptist churches and regional associations. Policies are set and initiatives are approved by regional representatives to the Council of Associations. The Leadership Team of General Baptist Ministries then develops plans and programs to carry forward those policies and initiatives from the Council.

This unified effort allows human, spiritual, and financial resources to be pooled with the result that we are able to do together what otherwise would never be done alone.

General Baptist Ministries exists to extend the ministry of local General Baptist churches and to assist them in winning people to Christ at home and abroad while helping to develop believers to their highest potential in Christian service.

We will maximize Kingdom impact by starting, equipping and inspiring local churches to accomplish the Great Commission.

Housed in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, our ministry center provides a base of operations for missions, church resourcing and communications. Because of our collective work, missionary outreach to the world is coordinated in Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, The Marianas Islands, India and The Philippines as well as through other partnerships with organizations in many other parts of the world.

State-side, our national missions department coordinates church plants in a number of states and through the Go! Project intends to plant a number of high-impact, fast-growing churches in the next few years.

Church resourcing comes from conferences and events, local and regional training, coaching networks and consultation services.

Print communication comes from the General Baptist Messenger and the Capsule as well as through various promotional pieces. Digital communication occurs through social media outlets, a weekly blog, various websites that are maintained and a weekly e-mail news release.

For more information visit: www.GeneralBaptist.com.

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Turnaround 2020

by Clint Cook, Executive Director

2016 marks the first year of a five-year General Baptist initiative called TURNAROUND 2020. Turnaround 2020 will assist General Baptist churches to discover and to achieve their full redemptive potential by the year 2020.

What if…

• What if more of our General Baptist churches would double or triple in worship attendance over the next five years?

• What if our General Baptist churches experienced the largest number of conversions and baptisms ever in our history? Would we be a healthier church? A healthier movement?

• What would happen in the communities where our General Baptist churches are located if we went outside the walls of our buildings and ministered to the hurting, the needy, and the underprivileged, just like Jesus did when he walked the dusty streets of his hometown?

• What if, as church leaders and members, we started praying intentionally for the lost and unchurched people of our communities to come and visit our churches for the first time?

• What would happen in our General Baptist churches if we wept and prayed over our communities as Jesus did over Jerusalem?

• What would happen to all of our General Baptist churches if we once again relied on the power of the Holy Spirit to change lives and bring a fresh wind of revival and renewal to every General Baptist member’s heart?

If this initiative called “TURNAROUND 2020” is going to happen, please allow me to challenge our pastors and church leaders in a few areas.

First, I want to challenge our pastors and preachers to remember God’s call. Go back in your mind and recall what it was like when you first heard His voice, as Samuel did, or as Isaiah did. Do you remember specifically what you felt and how you answered? Can you feel the heavy burden He placed upon your heart? Church leaders, do you realize we only have a limited amount of time to share the gospel?

We must remember that when God called us to preach, or to pastor, or to teach, or to minister, or to start a local church, it was not an afterthought – it was for a specific

reason. God does not call a person or start a church without a specific reason for doing so.

Second, I want to challenge our pastors and church leaders to cast God’s vision for His church and our communities clearly. Our culture bombards us with so many messages, few of which are godly. Is God’s vision being drowned out by all the noise? Pastors, do you even know what God’s vision is for your church? That vision must be based on God’s Word. Our churches must proclaim and live out the Great Commission of Matthew 28 to our communities. We need to be churches that are so troubled by the lost who are dying around us that we cannot rest. Does your community know that you value their eternal destination above anything else? Would your neighbors feel your church can teach and equip them for the storms of life? Have we communicated clearly God’s vision to His church? If not, who is going to share it?

Finally, have we invested and trained our leaders to succeed in this assignment? Our national General Baptist gathering called The Summit just finished its 10th anniversary as the premier place of providing training and inspiration for General Baptist members. Once again, The Summit provided incredibly practical instruction and resources for all sizes of congregations. The Summit is for all General Baptists: pastor, preacher, teacher, missionary, church member, student, child, or parent.

This year we learned of innovative ideas that could work in our churches. We were inspired to look beyond our church walls at the needs around us. We were refreshed and encouraged through laughter, reflection, and praise and worship. We were equipped with biblical instruction.

This TURNAROUND 2020 initiative is not just a slogan or idea. It is a partnership between local churches and General Baptist Ministries to provide a tool God can use to implement His vision in your community. General Baptist Ministries wants to help this turnaround by providing a practical plan book, coaching connections and mentoring opportunities. A sample of the ideas, resources and instruction from this year’s plan book will be found in our feature section.

I hope as you read this issue of The Messenger from cover to cover you will want to join us in the adventure of TURNAROUND 2020.

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Messenger General Baptist

Fall 2016

Table of Contents

3 Letter from the Director 7 Feature Section 8 First Steps 10 Part 1: Recognize 14 Part 2: Organize 18 Part 3: Mobilize: Behind the Scenes 20 Part 4: Mobilize: Practical Strategies 21 Turnaround 2020 Registration 22 Unclosed 24 Summit 2016 Reprise 26 Let’s Celebrate Advent 27 Christmas is on Sunday This Year 28 Christmas Eve Planning Tips

First Steps

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29 Suggestions for a Special Christmas Eve Service 30 3 Types of Candles 33 2017 Save the Dates 34 2017 Summit: Take the Land 36 Heavenly Highway Church History, Growth and Vision 38 Jamaica Association Celebrates Jubilee 39 Strong Tower Lafayette Campus 41 An Unexpected Direction 44 Trending Now 46 James and the Giving Bottle

Part 1: Recognize

Part 2: Organize

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Messenger General Baptist

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The General Baptist Messenger is published by General Baptist Ministries (General Baptist Council of Associations, inc), 100 Stinson dr, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

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under the direction of an editorial team composed of the denominational leadership team, and Executive Director, Clint Cook

editorial team: Franklin Dumond Mark Powell Linda McDonough Patti Thornton

layout & design:

James and the Giving Bottle

Stinson Press - Kenrick Nobles General Baptist Ministries

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Christmas Planning

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www.turnaround2020.net Maximizing Kingdom impact by planting, equipping and inspiring local churches to accomplish the Great Commission

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First Steps in Turnaround:

Recognize, Organize, Mobilize Note: Our feature section for this edition of The Messenger comes from the 2016 Turnaround 2020 Plan Book written and compiled by Dr. Franklin R. Dumond, Director of Congregational Ministries. A full version of this plan book is available by download at www.Turnaround2020.net or by hard copy from Congregational Ministries, 573-785-7746.

I received an unusual combination Father’s Day/Birthday gift this year. The gift was a print out of plans for a new picnic table for the backyard along with the promise of assistance with the labor to construct the project. The plans had been selected based on seating capacity and the design features that would allow an umbrella to be placed in the center of the octagonal shape of the picnic table.

Investigating the plans for shaping rectangular boards into an octagonal pattern revealed a series of angled cuts and pocket holes for screws that seemed a bit complex but manageable. Further investigation of the size of the table and the amount of lumber included suggested that it would be heavy. Indeed, it appeared it would be very, very heavy. Since we planned to place the table in the back yard to take advantage of shade from our large pecan tree, it appeared that the very, very heavy table would need to be moved several times each year to mow the grass.

Evaluating the plans against our carpentry skills and with the notion of mobility in mind led us to scrap the elaborate octagonal shaped table in favor of a traditional rectangular picnic table.

Churches and their leaders who plan and work toward turnaround must use the same kind of process to discern the right plan to both take advantage of the human resources available in the congregation and reach the unchurched and dechurched population in the community.

Turnaround 2020 will assist General Baptist churches to discover and to achieve their full redemptive potential by the year 2020. Many participating churches will see 8

significant increases in attendance. Others will double or triple in size as they realize the potential the Lord has placed before them. Still others will see revitalized programs and more effective ministries as a result of Turnaround 2020.

Turnaround, by simple definition, results in something different. Change can be awkward and frightening or it can be pleasant and rewarding. Undergirding our overall approach to turnaround in existing congregations are four core principles that will always show up in turnaround.

1. An outward focus will be regained or intensified.

2. Members will display responsible, high-expectation behavior.

3. A clear discipleship process will be in place.

4. Leadership and relational skills will constantly improve.

Turnaround 2020 is offered to maximize Kingdom impact by equipping and inspiring local churches to accomplish the Great Commission. Many of these churches are already well down the road of turnaround.

Others are just beginning that sometimes daunting task. Thus in addition to this plan book, coaching and mentoring opportunities will also be organized for those who are willing to make that level of higher commitment.

Gregory Tyree, in his doctoral thesis, describes churches in need of turnaround as established churches that have experienced one or more of the following: • numerical decline or plateau, • serious conflict, • severe demographic shift, • have become non-evangelistic with few, if any converts, • felt the blow of some inside or outside force resulting in decline, financial loss, ministry ineffectiveness, or some other ecclesiastical malady.

When viewed in this context the need for turnaround may relate to the need for community or economic renewal. Many urban communities as well as many small towns and villages face the prospect of severe demographic shift due to bleak economic conditions. Also when viewed in this context the need for turnaround may relate to the need to regain church health. An unhealthy church cannot deal well with conflict nor will it be attractive to new converts.

Turnaround 2020 has been designed by General Baptist Ministries to address the turnaround needs of our General Baptist churches. The program cannot, however, address all the turnaround contexts indicated in the well thought out description referenced earlier. Turnaround 2020 can, however, address three important areas of turnaround found in numeric decline, the lack of evangelism and ministry ineffectiveness.

These three areas will be addressed through a plan book produced annually to provide assistance with assessment, systems development and leadership training.

A storyboard of real life turnaround efforts reported by a variety of churches will also be developed as a companion piece and included on the website. The plan book will be freely distributed by download and made available to all who request it.

In addition to the plan book, Turnaround 2020 will organize regional and virtual coaching experiences for those who will commit to participation. These coaching experiences will be designed to meet the needs of those churches grouped together by common factors such as location, church size or associational membership.

Coaching sessions will generally be scheduled quarterly for fall, winter and spring sessions. Additional sessions will be arranged on an as-needed basis. If interest

develops and if technology is available virtual coaching through on-line or live streaming sessions will be arranged. Coaching sessions will require a covenant agreement and a small registration fee to maintain accountability.

In some cases both the local leader and the local congregation will benefit most from a one-on-one mentoring connection with another leader and a congregation already engaged in the turnaround process.

These mentoring connections will be facilitated by General Baptist Ministries and will include both a covenant agreement and a fee schedule that is appropriate to the level of engagement desired.

You really cannot debate the wisdom of Bill Easum when he insists that only four processes grow a church and anything else has little to no impact. These four core processes are: In v i t ing people to Christ and the Church, C o n n e c t in g with those who show up so they return, Di s c ip l ing those who stay, and S en din g them back out into the world to be neighborhood missionaries.

People win people and the people most likely to be reached are those already included in our friend and family connections.

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Part 1. Recognize

W h at I s Y our C hur c h ’ s R e de mp t i v e P o t e n t i a l?

A . C hur c h L if e C y c l e s

Suppose your church became all that the Lord intended it to become? What might result? What is the full redemptive potential of a local church? Is it measured by attendance, programs, life transformation or some other metric?

A variety of factors impact the redemptive potential of any local church. Some of them are simple and practical.

For example, megachurches are always found in large population centers. Villages do not contain the level of population to produce a megachurch.

Other factors are more complex and elusive. Craig Groeschel wrote a few years ago about having “It” and while sometimes “It” can be identified, it is often more obvious when “It” is missing.

In our Turnaround 2020 strategy we first take stock of the current reality. By recognizing where we are, we should be better able to chart where the Lord will lead us as we endeavor to become all that He intends us to become.

Churches, like the people who comprise them, move through cycles in their existence. Some of these cycles a church moves through are life cycles. People are born, grow to maturity, then they age and die. Churches, too, are born and grow to maturity. Churches age. Some churches complete their life cycle and others discover new periods of growth and development.

Learning where a church is on its life cycle helps church leaders develop appropriate strategies. Learning life cycle status often provides a sense of urgency for church leaders as they plan for new cycles of growth and development to avoid the life cycle of decline. Life cycle may be measured by attitudes, chronology and comfort zone.

Because the life cycle is not always as predictable and smooth as many may think, it is important to avoid alarm over short periods of plateau or decline. The best possible advice for any church is to remain vigilant. Once a problem is spotted, ensure that all possible measures are taken to reverse decline before it leads to drop out and death.

Why does a church move through these stages? What factors in the life of a church cause plateau or decline?

A number of factors may influence both the speed with which a church progresses through the life cycle, and the direction a church moves in the life cycle. Some of

“A variety of factors impact the redemptive potential of any local church.”

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these factors are external forces beyond the control of the congregation and other factors are internal.

Life cycles simply are. They exist. For the human being there is no fountain of youth or reversal of time. A healthy lifestyle may slow the process of aging but the natural result of birth is growth, maturity, decline, and death. The human organism cannot recapture youth and vitality once it passes.

Organizational life cycles simply are. They exist. For the organization there is no fountain of youth or reversal of time. While the organization can potentially regain its youth through refocusing its energies or restarting, generally most organizations are never able to reverse the aging process. Thus most organizations move through the life cycle from birth, growth, and maturity followed by plateau, drop-out, and death. Whether large or small, every church faces the dynamics of the life cycle. There are no exceptions. Every church will experience the life cycle and every pastor and congregation will have to address it.

The most vibrant, cutting edge churches ever known are described in the book of Acts. These first century churches pioneered a Christian movement that became the dominant religious force of its day. These churches impacted thousands upon thousands of sin-sick human

beings. Yet, despite all their dynamic spiritual energy they no longer exist. These churches moved through their life cycle, but they have left us with a legacy of generations of new churches built upon the foundations they laid.

It is important for us to understand and accept that we are all just interim members in the ageless work of the Kingdom. Our individual times will come and go. Our churches are all just interim churches in the ageless work of the Kingdom. Every church will see its time come.

Every church will see its time go.

While some churches will regain their mission and vision and restart the upward movement of a new life cycle, about 80% of currently operating churches in the United States are plateaued or declining. Many of them will never regain their mission and vision with the result that sometime soon their life cycle will be completed.

B . T he C omf or t Z one Churches tend, over time, to function within a designated comfort zone. A church’s comfort zone will be quickly identified by charting average worship attendance over a 10—15 year period. A church in the upper level of the comfort zone generally struggles with one or more growth barriers. A church at the lower level of the comfort zone may find new incentive to engage in outreach or may find that new folks are readily assimilated because there is ‘room’ for them along with a need to fill essential ministry positions. When attendance averages are placed on a chart as indicated above a comfort zone of operation is indicated.

Thus, to exceed the upper level in attendance, new initiatives or new ministries will be necessary. Relational components may be a limiting factor since the highly personal connections folks feel within the smaller congregation may unintentionally leave little room for

Life Cycle: The Time Line The Life Cycle Ideal: Turnaround rather than Restart

1-5YRS

6-20YRS

20-60YRS

60-80YRS

80+ YRS

• Years 1-5, birth or early years of growth • Years 6-20, maturity • Years 20-60, plateau that leads to decline or turnaround that leads to birth and growth • Years 60-80, decline and drop out that leads to death or restart that leads to a new beginning • Years 80+, death or restart

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new people to be accepted and loved.

When the last few years on the chart are the lowest in the 10 year profile the church may have already entered the danger zone.

Ho w C hur c he s Gr o w: T he C omf or t Z one a nd P r e dic t ing Gr o w t h P o t e n t i a l Since growth in a church results from style of relationships and ministry programs, most churches will never undergo the transformational change necessary to advance to a new style of relationships and ministry.

Small churches do not become large churches simply by continuing to do what small churches do. Small churches only become large churches when they begin to function, program, and relate like large churches.

To function, program, and relate differently than we are already doing can be very difficult. Transformational growth can also lead to conflict and drop-out if a church changes from one style into another. Conflict in this transformational process generally comes from either those who do not want to change or from those who want to change rapidly.

Significant growth for most churches is possible without transformational change. For example, the smaller, family church of 35 can become a smaller, family church of 70 or more by simply adopting new family members.

Since about half of the churches in the United States are comprised of fewer than 75 people there is room for significant growth by simply including more people in the already existing framework.

“Can a church predict its potential for growth?”

Can a church predict its potential for growth? Since most churches function today much as they have in the past, a look at the past can generally predict the future. A simple tool easily completed by any church can predict the level of growth potential based on the current ministry structure of the church. This tool has been label Comfort Zone Analysis. A few steps are involved in this analysis. a. Gather worship attendance averages for each of the previous 10 years. Worship attendance more accurately predicts congregational life than membership rolls.

Using a 10 year profile is important because this generally captures a look at two or three cycles of church growth and development. A pastor recently observed, “I’m on my third congregation now.” When he made this observation he was simply describing the turnover rate in many churches. Children grow up and move away. Older folks retire and relocate. Most churches will have a substantial 12

The Comfort Zone 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1

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10 year Attendance Profile

turnover in members who attend every five years or so.

By capturing at least two of these cycles it is more likely that the actual personality or style of the congregation is indicated in the attendance averages. b. Chart the averages on a simple bar graph with one column for each year. If information is missing for one year just leave that column empty. Average attendance can often be discovered on the report forms that churches are asked to submit to the denominational office annually.

Other internal sources for attendance data can often be discovered in the annual reports, business meeting records, or church bulletin files. c. Identify the lowest annual average, then draw a line across the graph just below it. This represents the danger zone for the church. It is difficult or impossible to operate the current ministries of the church if attendance is maintained in the lower range. Often a church finds a new incentive for outreach and growth when this lower limit is reached. Either there is room for new folks to find a place of service or there is a desperate need for new folks to sustain the current ministries.

Some researchers contend that a church enters a danger zone that is difficult to survive when attendance drops to less than 25 adults. d. Identify the highest annual average. It is unlikely that average attendance will exceed this number unless the church undergoes significant transformation. Most churches only reluctantly pay the price to become something new and different. e. Calculate the difference between the current annual average and the highest annual average. This represents the growth potential.

A home-grown religious movement had its beginnings in the 1820s in Evansville, Indiana.

General Baptists came into existence because of the revival preaching of Elder Benoni Stinson. He boldly and frequently proclaimed the good news of the gospel that “Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for everyman” with the result that “whosoever will may be saved”. This preaching from texts found in the New Testament books of Hebrews and Romans resulted in the planting of new churches, a networking with other like-minded groups, and the birthing of a national organization in 1870.

But why General Baptist? The name is actually a summary of the core theology of the movement reflecting belief in a general atonement that anyone who is willing to trust Jesus as Savior may be saved.

This theological name stood in contrast to those groups of the 19th century who advocated a particular or limited atonement for in their theology only a few, not the many, could be saved.

Though the term “atonement” is not in the General Baptist Statements of Faith, few terms are more important to our historical identity. The “general” in General Baptist is derived from our position on atonement. Atonement can mean the compensation, the restitution paid, or expiation given by God through Jesus Christ for our sin. Atonement can describe the actions of Jesus to secure our salvation, and thus the redemptive work of Jesus can be described as the atonement.

Many Protestants continue to disagree over whether atonement is general (i.e., for all) or particular (i.e., only for those who are “elect”).

General Baptists argue that the atonement is for all, but the benefits of the atonement “can be received only through repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Statement of Faith IV).

Because we believe in a general atonement we are naturally evangelistic and intentionally missionary.

How else will our world hear the Good News?

THEOLOGICAL CONNECTIONS

For more information visit: www.GeneralBaptist.com.

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Part 2.

Organize A . Im p r o v e Y our W or s hip S e r v ic e

☐ What do we do well? ☐ What is confusing or threatening to guests? ☐ What is goofy and needs to be changed? ☐ What needs to be updated? ☐ Is there a growth barrier we are facing? ☐ Do we consider the first time visitor to be a guest? ☐ Is our worship dynamic small group or large group?

Since worship is THE entry point to almost every church these days, what we do in worship will set the stage for our success or failure to reach people. It is always nice to lead with your strength. So honestly ask yourself “What do we do well in our worship?” By asking that question you must also determine what you do not do so well or what you do poorly.

B . T he M ini s t r y of R e c or d K e e p ing First steps in evangelism, outreach, and turnaround begin with the behind the scenes ministry of good records. Record keeping strategies may be complex or simple. It really doesn’t matter as long as they are effective!

A quick look at the Bible illustrates the historical importance of numbers. There is even an Old Testament book called Numbers! The New Testament records the numbers of people who had lunch with Jesus—4,000 on one occasion; 5,000 on another—and even how they sat in groups of 50 (Luke 10:14).

BEHIND THE SCENES NUMBERS. Some of the most important numbers only rarely make a ‘public’ appearance. That is, they are generally not communicated openly. However, they remain very important. The leader of a growing congregation will undoubtedly be aware of them.

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S t e p 1 . S ta r t w i t h t h e s e r m o n .

Sermons that engage real life questions and issues with real life application help make worship more inspiring.

S T E P 2 . I n v o lv e m o r e p e o p l e .

Worship is not just a spectator event.

Members of the congregation can be intentionally involved by planning for testimonies, encouraging a variety of special music, enlisting greeters and ushers, and arranging Scripture readers.

STEP 3. Visit other Churches.

While every church is unique and no church should simply copy what another is doing, every church can learn from other churches what works in worship in their settings.

S T E P 4 . L o o k at t h e M u s i c .

Worship leaders are often surprised by how few hymns and songs are used when the list of music that is used is compiled over a year or so. While a steady diet of all new songs can be difficult, so can a steady diet of 10-12 hymns and gospel songs that are repeated throughout the year.

STEP 5. Use Seasonal Themes When the worship planner looks at the church year and the civil calendar and includes these elements in the worship service it becomes more inspirational since it connects to elements of life that are common to our culture.

STEP 6. Recognize Time Constraints Every local church will develop its own worship culture as to what is an appropriate length of time for most worship services.

Worship that inspires will therefore be worship that is planned to fit within the accepted time frames of the participants.

1. THE SIZE OF THE CROWD. “If everyone had been here.” This statement often consoles us on low attendance days or celebrates a full house that would have been beyond capacity if everyone had been present on a high attendance day.

The crowd is composed of those folks who attend at least once in a while. One convenient measure of the crowd is to identify those folks who attend at least once every 6-8 weeks.

Why is it so important to know the size of and the identity of the crowd? The size of the crowd indicates the potential the church has to grow and impact people. The identity of those who make up the crowd indicates who it is that we are most likely to win to faith in Christ and faithfulness to His church.

counted one time per week for the overall participation level.

3. PERCENTAGE OF THE CONGREGATION PRESENT FOR FIVE YEARS OR LESS. “I’m on my third congregation!” reported the pastor of a middle sized church. Having been pastor there for nearly 20 years he had discovered first hand that church folks are mobile. They move away. They drop out. Others drop in.

Every year there are funerals!

Other measures of tenure could be used. A very important one is the percentage of folks who have become part of the congregation since the current pastor arrived.

Each of these measure the likelihood of leading change and maintaining relevance. Change is most likely when

C O MMU N I T Y - A Community person is committed to NOT ATTENDING church.

C R O W D - A Crowd person is committed

to ATTENDING church—at least once in a while.

C O N G R E G AT I O N - A Congregation person is committed to a SMALL GROUP.

C O MMI T T E D - A Committed person is committed to

HABITS necessary for spiritual growth.

C O R E - A Core person is committed to MINISTRY.

2. TOTAL WEEKLY PARTICIPATION. In the Family Based Church everyone attends everything. These churches function like an extended family. They are generally smaller in size. It is not uncommon for activities to be cancelled if even a few cannot attend.

A Program Based Church will have a more developed and diverse program where no one attends everything but everyone attends something. Total weekly participation, then, is a measure of who attended at least one ministry activity in a given week. It is determined by a cross reference of attendance reports so that everyone who attends at least once in the week is counted but is only

enough newer folks with newer ideas come into leadership roles. The pastor is most likely to lead change when a large percentage of the congregation has come into the church since he began his ministry.

Numbers will not track themselves. Use of some church management software or the development of a spreadsheet will make the task easier. In the church of 200 or fewer a good notebook and clipboard will cover most of the bases. Volunteer office helpers can do much of the record keeping. Whatever system is used, however, must ring true to the old adage “We count people because people count!”

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C . P r e pa r e f or Gue s t s ☐ Develop a Standardized Welcome ☐ Use Communication cards or other non-threatening means to gain guest information ☐ Greeter Training ☐ Hospitality Teams ☐ Be User friendly: park in the back—move to the front—scoot to the middle ☐ Plan for Follow-up Note: Remember, regardless of music performance or message deliverance, a person must be welcomed into the church in a friendly and helpful way or the first impression of the church will be a negative one, and it will be unlikely that the guest will ever return a second time.

1. DEVELOP A STANDARDIZED WELCOME “Good morning. Welcome to __________ church today. It’s so good to see you here! We have an engaging worship experience planned and I trust you received a worship folder (or program or guide or bulletin) as you entered today. If you didn’t receive one please raise your

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hand and one of our greeters will bring you one.

Inside the worship folder you will find an order of service with some information about what we will be doing, a sermon guide so you will be able to take notes and a communication card. We ask that our regular attenders please print your names and e-mail addresses along with any updated information and prayer concerns. If you are our guests today please complete as much information as you feel comfortable sharing. I want to assure you that we will not embarrass you or use this information irresponsibly but we will attempt to provide you with more information about our church.

I know there are a number of fine churches in our community that you could be attending today and that there are any number of other activities that could have taken your time, so I want to say “Thanks” for sharing the day with us.

Would you please stand with me as we being our worship with a prayer? Then please remain standing as we will sing together.”

2. THE COMMUNICATION CARD The best communication cards will include • An obvious way to respond to become a Christian.

• A customized means of response to the day’s worship service.

• An opportunity to volunteer or sign up for special events.

• An avenue to report prayer concerns and praise reports.

A collection process at the conclusion of the service, even if the offering has been collected earlier, will also enhance the response process.

1 . C o n g r at u l at i o n s e- m a i l o r t e x t m e s s a g e within 24 hours.

2 . P r i n t e d l e t t e r f r o m pa s t o r .

3. GREETER TRAINING Greeters should be organized and trained. Greeters should be friendly, knowledgeable people who are placed at strategic locations to meet and greet those who attend the worship service.

Churches that do not have parking teams may find benefit to placing greeters on the parking lot. See the book Fusion by Nelson Searcy for more information on greeters. Another handy, targeted resource may be found in Church Greeters 101: Putting the Pieces Together for an Effective Greeting Team and Ministry by Christopher Walker.

4. HOSPITALITY AND FIRST IMPRESSION TEAMS Will refreshments be served? If so who will provide, prepare, serve and clean? Perhaps hospitality features should be introduced on special days or once each month. First impressions helps us understand how to make maximum impact on the guests the Lord sends to us. A handy resource will be found in First Impressions (Revised): Creating Wow Experiences in Your Church by Mark L. Waltz.

5. BE USER FRIENDLY View everything through the lens of the first-time, unchurched guest. Announcements and church language need to be minimized or eliminated if they confuse the first-time guest.

D . P l a n f or F ol l o w-up Follow-up is essential if we are to conserve the results of our outreach efforts. Since each guest is a gift from the Lord each one should be treated as a special person.

3 . C h u r c h B r o c h u r e .

4 . N e w b e l i e v e r s b o o k l e t.

(Include it with your pastor’s letter.)

Now That You’re a Christian by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz from Harvest House Publishers is often used.

5 . N e w B e l i e v e r s B i b l e .

(Include a coupon for it in your pastor’s letter. Make it available to be picked up the next Sunday after the letter is received.)

6. Baptism Brochure.

This should be customized to your church.

Contact Congregational Ministries if you need a sample.

7. D e v e l o p a n i n f o r m at i o n c o l l e c t i o n p r o c e s s t o g a i n a l l i n f o r m at i o n n e e d e d f o r y o u r church record keeping process.

An information sheet as part of Class 101 may work well.

Remember: Having freshly redeemed people around the church does something to the church. Are you ready, in advance, for these gifts?

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Part 3. Mobilize Behind the Scenes A . P r ay e r T e a m SPIRITUAL POWER FOR A SPIRITUAL PROCESS A wise pastor once observed “You can have a crowd and still not have a church.” Most church leaders would agree with that sage observation for they have realized from their own experiences that drawing a crowd is secondary to having a church.

Turnaround 2020 exists to equip local churches in best practices of social, religious and spiritual systems to help local churches set the stage for divine moments when the Lord of the Church demonstrates his powerful presence.

Before a church begins any turnaround activity, the first thing that should be done is build an Intercession Team. In fact, we believe so strongly in this that we do not encourage a church to engage in a turnaround project unless the project leaders have mobilized and are communicating regularly with at least 10 people who are covering the entire project in prayer.

B . 10 S t e p s t o F ol l o w in Mob il i z ing Y our In t e r c e s s ion T e a m STEP 1: PRAY AND ASK GOD TO RAISE UP INTERCESSORS for you as the leader, for your family and for all of the various miracles God will have to perform if the church is to turnaround to become healthy, vibrant, and growing.

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STEP 2: BEGIN TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL INTERCESSION TEAM MEMBERS. Take the time to sit down and make a list of individuals who may fit one or more of the following characteristics: Who have said they will pray for you?

Who call you and ask for prayer requests?

Who ask if you have had any answers to prayers?

Who do you know to be a person of prayer?

Who has received ministry from you, who you really connected with? That is, you liked them, they liked you and “they carry you on their heart” (Phil 1:3-5, 7).

STEP 3: INVITE THEM TO JOIN YOUR INTERCESSION TEAM. Personally communicate with them about how vital prayer is to your success.

STEP 4: DEVELOP THE STRUCTURE. Remember this is not a general prayer ministry open to everyone and everything. This is a specialized prayer ministry of intercession for the church. All prayer ministries in the church should remain totally confidential in what is shared, unless the person gives you permission to share with others on the Intercession Team.

STEP 5: COMMUNICATE REGULARLY. Develop a monthly Intercession Newsletter.

This may be done very inexpensively via e-mail. Make sure you cover both answers to prayer, as well as requests in your newsletter. The thing that will motivate your Intercession Team to pray more, is God’s answers to prayer that have already been achieved!

Stay focused on the strategic! Other prayer ministries will deal with the incidental.

STEP 6: YOU SHOULD PRAY FOR YOUR INTERCESSION TEAM. Pray that God will protect them and energize them to pray for you and the needs you have. Carrying the value of intercession on your heart is critical!

STEP 7: PERSONALLY CONTACT the members of your Intercession Team about every six months, to see if they are active or not, and if they need to be released as intercessors. At that time, you can make the determination if they need something different from you to stay motivated.

STEP 8: APPOINT AN INTERCESSION DIRECTOR. Among your general list of Intercessors, pray that God will lead you to someone willing to serve as the Intercession Director for the church. This should be someone who God knits your heart with, who would assist you in the intercession task and also who would be someone you could call when you need someone to cover you in prayer immediately as situations in the church arise that need God’s intervention.

STEP 9: BUILD DEPENDENCY ON GOD in the task at hand. All too many church leaders are activists and their first response in crisis is to panic and ponder how they are going to solve the problem. In so doing, they choose to live like practical atheists. To be an effective church leader, in the crises that will come, you should run to God as a FIRST option, NOT as a last resort!

STEP 10: SHARE THE NEEDS. As you begin this project, take some time to think through all of the miracles from God that you are going to have between now and the time the church moves to its turnaround. If you can help your Intercession Team to see clearly the vision from God that needs to be fulfilled, they can pray much more intelligently and purposefully.

C . C hur c h Gr o w t h T e a m Just as each church exists in its own unique environment so each church will have its own unique need for an organized church growth team. In all sized churches, in all kinds of locations, the pastor must play a central role in the church’s outreach.

One tendency when organizing a church growth or turnaround team will be to assign the task to an existing group that is already structured and organized to serve together. The peril of this approach is that the organized group may drop its original assignment in favor of the new task. While there is nothing wrong with changing assignments or even discontinuing ministries, these decisions should be made strategically rather than incidentally. A strategic decision would be based on current needs or trends and could result in discontinuing a ministry. An incidental decision would result from simply abandoning or ignoring the original assignment, even if it remains a valid need for the church.

If a radical turnaround is anticipated then it is important that the church growth or turnaround team contain those who have influence with the congregation so they can explain the new endeavors in such a way that trust is gained and conflict avoided.

Most pastors can give themselves to significant turnaround efforts simply by targeting their own lives and ministry. Actions like improving preaching and regularly inviting people to attend do not cost anything, nor does the pastor need anyone’s permission to engage in these activities.

The larger the church, the more people will be needed to aid the turnaround effort.

D . He l p ing P e op l e B e gin Ta l k ing a nd In v i t ing 1. FIRST STEPS TOWARD A CULTURE OF INVITATION. People win people, but how can folks who have gotten out of the habit of inviting others to attend worship with them be persuaded or trained to invite?

The first year of turnaround efforts can take the first steps toward re-establishing a culture of invitation through a simple process that involves two steps.

Step one is to look at annual attendance trends. Every church has an ebb and flow to their attendance with high days and low days. By looking at the annual trend lines it should be possible to find two different seasons with higher than normal attendance. Often this will be Easter or Mother’s Day in the spring and may be Christmas or some other day in the fall or early winter. Choose those days to begin encouraging folks to invite their friends. Use 19

many of the promotional tools from Big Day Planning but keep it safe and non-threatening. Help people learn the joy of inviting.

Once the two primary days have been identified where relationships already exist to encourage folks to attend, select a third day that can be added. Perhaps it will center on a fellowship event or some special feature that will allow your folks to invite non-churched or de-churched friends and neighbors to attend.

After this strategy has been in place for a year or two the congregation may be ready for an all-out Big Day effort designed to double or triple the normal attendance. The principle is simple: learn to swim in the shallow end then dive into the deep end of the pool!

2. PASSIONATE SPIRITUALITY Passionate Spirituality or how the individual lives out the faith measures how Sunday impacts Monday through Friday. This goal of a spirituality that passionately guides the believer’s life is advocated in Romans 12:11-12 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

While evangelism will take on many faces, personal witness will also be an important element. Many folks are well equipped to provide an • Instructional Witness where they will offer answers to questions about the faith--apologetics. Still others will be able to provide an • Informational Witness as they tell their story of personal faith. Many leaders find the first steps of personal witness come from encouraging an • Invitational Witness whereby believers invite their unbelieving friends and family members to attend a worship service or a Big Day.

A useful strategy to provide content for spiritual conversations is to teach your people to go on a God Hunt. To do this participants are asked to keep a log or journal of how they find God in everyday life. Four ways the Lord often shows up in the midst of life are: a. Identify an obvious answer to prayer. b. Unexpected evidence of God’s care. c. Unusual linkage or timing. d. Help that comes to do God’s work in the world.

Ask your folks to keep a log with short descriptions of God at work in their everyday lives. A sample journal page will be found in the Companion Resources— Bulletin Template section of www.Turnaroundd2020.net.

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A . B e f or e Y ou B e gin 1. THINK BITE-SIZE, ACTIONABLE STEPS. Small steps can ultimately lead to realizing the vision.

Small steps often provide easy “wins” and with initial success confidence can be developed to carry forward to the larger work.

2. CONSIDER YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY. Do you have the capacity to implement the full vision?

Review the analysis portions of comfort zone and capacities presented earlier in this plan book.

3. RESIST AT ALL COSTS THE URGE TO HYPE UP A VISION PREMATURELY. Announcing a plan to double or triple commits yourself and your congregation to a future that may be unrealistic.

Choose incremental progress over immediate fireworks.

Under-promise and over-deliver. Set in place a process to regularly win a few and keep at it over time to achieve larger goals.

4. INTEGRATE YOUR VISION/PLAN into the overall culture and environment of the congregation one or two steps at a time.

5. OVER-COMMUNICATE and then be sure to say it at least one more time and in at least two more ways.

T ur n a r ound 2 0 2 0 R e gi s t r at ion (Please submit to Congregational Ministries, 100 Stinson Drive, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 or cmofc@GeneralBaptist.com)

Church Name: _________________________________________________

Pastor: _________________________________________________

P r e f e r r e d C on ta c t Inf or m at ion Mailing Address: _________________________________________________ E-mail: _________________________________________________

Phone: _________________________________________________ (texts to this number? Yes No)

☐ B a s ic E nr ol l me n t : We will download the plan book and check the website for other downloads and updates as we engage in a self-guided turnaround. ☐ B a s ic E nr ol l me n t+ : We will purchase the plan book and download additional copies when we check the website for other downloads and updates as we engage in a self-guided turnaround. Please bill us $10.00 for the basic+ enrollment. ☐ T ur n a r ound C o a c hing A p p l ic at ion : Please enroll us in Turnaround Coaching. We realize this will be at least three (3) sessions in 2016-2017 scheduled in the fall (September—October), winter (January— February) and spring (April—May). o We understand there will be a $50 per church per session fee to cover the cost of materials used in the coaching process. o We understand that the pastor and church growth team are making a commitment to give high priority to attending the coaching sessions and we will do everything possible to avoid schedule conflicts. o We understand the coaching sessions will be up to 3 hour sessions and we prefer a coaching session on a weeknight of (circle one) Monday Tuesday Thursday with a start time of ______________________ o We understand the coaching sessions will be up to 3 hour sessions and we prefer a coaching session on a Saturday morning with a start time of ___________________ ☐ T ur n a r ound Me n t or ing : Please consider our church for a mentoring relationship with a pastor and leaders who have already been where we believe the Lord is leading us. We understand that mentoring will begin with an assessment of the redemptive potential and will result in a connection to an available mentor facilitated by General Baptist Ministries but guided by a direct agreement with the parties involved that will specify expectations, accountability and fee schedule.

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ELLSINORE, MO

UNCLOSED Every year an estimated 1% of the churches in the United States close their doors. This means that about 4,000 churches annually cease to exist. Many times a new church will restart in the same location but only rarely does a congregation that closed its doors unclose those doors. National trends notwithstanding the Harmony General Baptist Church in rural Carter County, Missouri is now unclosed!

We asked Pastor Jerry Crowley to tell part of the Harmony Church story as we celebrate with this UnClosed church.

1 . H a r mon y C hur c h i s a n ol de r c hur c h . c a n y ou t e l l u s a b ou t i t s e a r ly hi s t or y ?

The church actually started on Cane Creek about two miles away from its current location in July, 1927. This is actually the third church building that has been there. To find the church from Elsinore take Highway A to County Road 354 follow it about 2 miles, go through a wet weather creek and if the creek’s not too high (occasionally we have to postpone services due to high water), you’ll drive right up to the church.

4 . T he c hur c h i s l oc at e d in a v e r y r ur a l a r e a , in a s pa r s e ly p op ul at e d c oun t y.

W he r e did y ou f ind p e op l e t o r e op e n t he c hur c h?

We just started announcing around in the community that there was going to be a church opening. That we were going to start it back. We just started visiting people in their homes and asking them to come. God has done the rest.

5 . W h at h av e b e e n s ome of t he gr e at e s t s t r uggl e s in r e op e ning?

We had no money. We had no furnace. We had no insurance on the building. No nothing. We got title to the property by just re-starting and re-organizing anew as Harmony Church and we opened the doors.

6 . W h at h av e b e e n s ome of t he gr e at e s t jo y s in r e op e ning?

The church was closed for a few months. It wasn’t closed very long. Some folks moved away and others just quit coming.

I’ll be honest with you and I’ve pastored for years and years and I have never encountered anything like this.

God has done amazing things. Never have we had one cross word in a business meeting. The people have given generously and there is a sweet spirit among them.

Everybody’s in one mind and one accord and God is the head of it and that makes a great big difference.

It’s been amazing. Every time we have needed something God has provided.

3 . W h at m o t i vat e d y ou a nd o t he r s t o r e op e n t he c hur c h?

7. W h at k ind s of mini s t r ie s doe s t he c hur c h no w of f e r ?

2 . H a r mon y C hur c h c l o s e d i t s door s .

A b ou t ho w l ong wa s t he c hur c h c l o s e d?

Well this was my old home church. I just couldn’t stand to see it closed. It’s been an old time General Baptist church for a long time. I just couldn’t see it closed. Some people went there the Sunday before we started and Josh Francis actually got started and 4 or 5 others of us came along to help.

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The most helpful as far as the church is concerned is that we have been doing a lot of home based ministries for people that are sick. We have been helping some of them with monetary assistance—about $10,000 this last year.

The folks in the community have taken notice that we are a giving church and they want to come see what we are

about. Even folks from Texas have sent us checks because they heard what we were doing.

Right now we are offering a normal schedule of Sunday morning, Sunday evening and Wednesday. We do a children’s church for our kids.

8 . Y ou r e c e n t ly de dic at e d a ne w a ddi t ion t o y our b uil ding . C a n y ou t e l l u s a b ou t i t ?

The little church was pretty small and when we started running 75-80 people I told them that if we didn’t do something to get a little more room we could only run about 70% of our capacity. We added a 50 foot addition to provide seating for about 50 more. We can seat about 150 now.

9 . W h at l ong r a nge p l a n s h av e b e e n de v e l op e d t o guide t he c hur c h ’ s mini s t r y ?

Well we’d like to keep growing and our fellowship hall only seats about 50 people, so we hope if at all possible to build a larger fellowship area and some more classrooms.

10 . Ho w m a n y f ol k s ge ne r a l ly at t e nd y our w e e k e nd s e r v ic e s ?

When we first started we had about 20 folks and on our building dedication day we had 155 present. Typically we run 80-100 every weekend.

1 1 . H av e y ou s e e n c on v e r s ion s a nd b a p t i s m s s inc e r e op e ning?

We’ve seen a dozen baptisms this first year and we haven’t seen an amazingly large number of conversions yet but we are seeing people in church who have not been in church for 50 years.

1 2 . W h at a d v ic e w oul d y ou gi v e t o o t he r s w ho m ay b e c on s ide r ing r e op e ning or r e s ta r t ing a c l o s e d c hur c h?

Do a lot of praying and trust Him because He will help.

It’s been amazing to see what He has done. We started last year with no money and now we’ve spent $75,000 on the new addition. We’ve given away $10,000 to local missions and if we paid in what we have on hand we’d only owe about $6,000 on the little note we borrowed to do the building.

I’ve never been in a place like this before. It’s something that’s special and I feel like God is the one that has done it.

It is nothing we have done but it is just because of God and people willing to be led by Him. I want to give God the glory and say “Thank You Jesus” for all He has done.

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Let’s Celebrate Advent

By Dr. Franklin R. Dumond, Congregational Ministries Director

Advent could be organized around some of these elements of the Christmas Story:

Long before Christmas became a commercial event that began appearing in retail outlets alongside Halloween, the church developed an approach to Christmas that made it a November 27 First Sunday of Advent Prophets and Bethlehem season of anticipation and preparation in the December 4 Second Sunday of Advent Angels weeks before the holiday.

December 11 Third Sunday of Advent Shepherds As a young pastor, I remember struggling December 18 Fourth Sunday of Advent Mary and Joseph with how to fit all the favored carols and all December 25 Advent Baby Jesus! the special programs of Christmas into the one Sunday before December 25 traditionally for the Children’s message. Because I used a nativity set given to Christmas celebrations in my rural home church. with a variety of figurines, the children could help place Then I stumbled onto Advent and learned not only the one or two figures in the scene each week as we explored joy of anticipation and celebration, but also the beauty of the Christmas story. preparing a congregation for that special time of the year.

Two special features easily added to the season could Advent is the season marked by the four Sundays prior be a Hanging of the Greens service on Sunday evening, to December 25, climaxing with Christmas Day and the December 4. While we never used this event to actually wonderful good news, “unto you is born a Savior which is decorate the church, we often used it as a songfest we Christ the Lord.” called “Songs of the Season” with both religious and Many churches mark Advent by using an Advent traditional Christmas music and readings. One of the later Wreath composed of greenery and five candles. Artificial Advent evenings also lends itself to “Carols, Candles, and greenery is much to be preferred over live greenery, which Communion.” may present a fire hazard in the later weeks of Advent.

Even if you are not using Advent in your church it is Pillar-type candles provide the safest use of candles, as worth using the Sundays of Advent to mention some only rarely do they drip or spill. aspect of the Christmas story. The more often Christmas Lighting the candles one each Sunday allows children is connected with the church the more often we are able to to excitedly count the Sundays before Christmas as one develop and reinforce a Christian world view. candle burns on the First Sunday of Advent, two on the Even worship plans and sermon themes that are Second Sunday of Advent, three on the Third Sunday unrelated to Advent can be given an Advent flavor of Advent, and four on the Fourth Sunday of Advent to by adjusting an illustration or changing a song title. remind everyone that Christmas is almost here!

While some church leaders do not believe Christmas Many churches will use traditional themes of Advent, deserves 1/12 of the annual emphasis in a church, others but I always enjoyed using Advent to tell the Christmas who recognize the overwhelming significance of the story in small parts. As a Baptist pastor I always found Incarnation believe that the message of Advent cannot be telling the story of Christmas leading up to the birth of restricted to just one month of the year.

Jesus was well-received by the congregation and a special Go ahead and cancel Christmas this year but don’t treat for the children who hurried to the Advent Wreath forget to celebrate Advent.

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Christmas Is On Sunday This Year It happens only infrequently in the life of the church and the professional career of the pastor but Christmas does come on Sunday once in a while. When this happens special plans need to be made to preserve the spiritual impact of the season and to maintain the witness of the church as expressed in its worship schedule.

This infrequent event occurs once again Sunday, December 25, 2016.

Many Christian churches have established traditions for Christmas Eve services, yet only a few offer Christmas Day services. In our culture Christmas Day is a secular celebration of surprise gifts and family celebrations very distant from most religious traditions.

Across the years, as a local church pastor, I tried a variety of approaches to Christmas on Sunday and then I found one approach that worked best.

Early in my tenure as pastor, I took the approach that Sunday was a sacred day of worship no matter if Christmas or other holidays happened to arrive on that day of the week.

My approach in those days was one of denial, something like: “If I don’t admit it is a holiday we can have ‘church’ as usual.” With a generous amount of guilt along with some promotion of the schedule I found I could gather a little less than ½ of my congregation on Christmas Day if we kept our ‘usual’ schedule.

I have since come to believe that the attitude I held then was one of “They know where the church is so there’s no excuse for not coming.” I have also come to realize that this attitude is not conducive to church growth!

A second approach I took to Christmas on Sunday was one of adjusting the morning schedule. By working with/ through the Church Council we arranged a morning fellowship 30 minutes prior to the morning worship service. This adjusted schedule resulted in a little more than ½ of the regular attendance on this special day.

Then the next time Christmas came on Sunday I found an approach that worked best. We arranged and promoted two options for Christmas Worship. The first option was a Christmas Eve Service. The second was a Christmas Day Service. By offering these two options

I found about ½ of the congregation came on Saturday evening and about ½ came on Sunday morning so that our combined attendance was the ‘usual’ number. With two options family and church celebrations were balanced and everyone felt good about the holiday being both a religious and a family celebration.

To fully reap the benefits of this approach the Christmas Eve Service must become more than the Candlelight Communion so often offered then. When elements of morning worship like special music, the Advent Wreath, tithes and offerings, Christmas sermon, etc. are combined with Christmas Eve communion a meaningful service of worship is offered for the church family and for the community.

Christmas worship on Sunday morning may require a bit different schedule. Perhaps the church that offers multiple services will offer “One Grand Celebration” or perhaps Christmas worship will be scheduled at the Sunday School hour to accommodate family gatherings at mid-day.

By finding a schedule that will work and by effectively communicating it to the church family and to the community, Christmas worship can be a celebrative gathering of a large crowd rather than the depressed assembling of a few faithful saints.

Now about the guy in the red suit coming to church on Christmas…

1. If he does come, let him come to the fellowship hall or to a location outside the building and make sure he comes after, not during, worship celebrations.

Remember Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

2. If he comes on Christmas weekend have him come after the Christmas Eve Service in the fellowship hall or on the church lawn. Let him go back to the North Pole for Christmas Day! 27

christmas eve planning tips With Christmas on Sunday this year more churches than usual will offer a Christmas Eve Service as an alternative worship setting. Despite this periodic increase, Christmas Eve services have become one of the most popular means of reaching unchurched and dechurched families in our communities. Here are a few general suggestions for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Worship Services.

1. Will the church offer both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services? If a Christmas service is designed to reach the unchurched or dechurched it probably will do so best on a pre-Christmas date. Many churches will also feature a Christmas Eve-Eve service on December 23 to avoid conflict with family Christmas traditions.

With Christmas on Sunday and Christmas Eve on Saturday it may be realistic for many churches to offer similar services on both days with the hope that members will attend at least one of the services.

2. Will the church print a special bulletin or program? A brightly colored bulletin or program cover lends a festive air to the service. Some will prefer a more utilitarian approach of a simple handout that guides the worshipper. Others will opt for verbal instructions or the use of a projection system to guide the worshippers.

3. How will Invite Cards be distributed? The special rules that guide the production of any Invite Cards apply here: proof—proof—proof, include contact information, include service times. Invite Cards should be distributed to the congregation on Sunday, December 18. If these cards can coordinate with the bulletin cover and other themes the worshipper is more likely to enter into the spirit of the worship theme.

4. How will information from guests be gathered?

A Communication Card that is completed by all in attendance is one of the most non-threatening means of gathering guest information. Once again standard rules of operation apply: keep the card simple but be sure there is adequate space to fill in the blanks, do not leave the date line blank, explain the card with some version of “complete as much information as you are comfortable sharing.”

5. Will an offering be received? If the strategy of two similar services is used then the offering instructions 28

for Christmas Eve will probably be very similar to the offering instructions for Christmas Day. If, however, Christmas Eve is treated as a special or an “extra” service then consider the offering to be designated for some benevolent or charitable purpose. If large numbers of guests are expected please remember that these Christmas guests may be very generous if they know the specific needs being addressed by the special Christmas offering.

After all giving is a required part of a secular Christmas celebration too!

6. Will Communion or the Lord’s Supper be served?

Many Christmas Eve services feature a Candlelight Communion as the climax of the service. If Communion is served be sure to be clear with instructions since guests may come from a variety of church and non-churched backgrounds. In General Baptist churches the Lord’s Supper is always prefaced with a general invitation for all believers to participate. If servers are limited, then invite the worshippers to come forward where a more ‘selfservice’ approach can be taken if needed.

7. Will candle lighting be part of the service? The lighting of candles at the conclusion of a Christmas Eve service is a moving experience especially as one person lights another person’s candle with the declaration “Jesus Christ is the Light of my life!” Then to sing Silent Night as the benediction becomes a powerful statement of faith and worship. Candle lighting supplies are readily available from Christian bookstores and suppliers but be sure to order yours in advance so they will be on hand for your special event.

8. Will creative elements be used? Creative elements may be provided by members of the congregation or by friends from the community. Creative elements are available for purchase on-line or from many bookstores.

• www.SkitGuys.com offers several Christmas themed video productions.

• www.hymncharts.com will acquaint the shopper with the possibility of purchasing music scores for an entire service including special background music for Scripture readers.

• www.YouTube.com remains an ever popular site for video elements. Just type in “Christmas Worship Songs” and view 735,000 possibilities!

Suggestions for a Special% Christmas Eve Service The following outline of a Christmas Eve Service uses Scripture readings interspersed with carols, praise choruses and/ or special music to tell the Christmas story. Musical selections can be adapted to selected stanzas and any available music can be easily inserted in the flow as worshippers alternately read and sing the Christmas story. This particular guide uses traditional carols but other music may be easily substituted to meet the preferences of the worship leader.

People who read the selected passages can be recruited in advance. A microphone set up on floor level might aid them in their presentation. Be sure to provide advance notice, a copy of the portion to be read and instructions about arriving early for a short sound check prior to the arrival of worshippers.

Consider selecting older children, teens and senior adults who are often overlooked for these kinds of readings. Of course you may rely on the few people who are always willing but why not save them for last minute substitutes in case someone can’t make it?

Opening Carol — “O Come All Ye Faithful” Welcome The Lord’s Prayer (Traditional)

The Lord’s Supper An Affirmation of our Faith: The Apostle’s Creed (Modern English Version) I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

Our Father, which art in heaven,

creator of heaven and earth.

Hallowed be thy Name.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son,

Thy Kingdom come.

our Lord who was

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

• Conceived by the Holy Spirit

Give us this day our daily bread.

• Born of the Virgin Mary,

And forgive us our trespasses,

• Suffered under Pontius Pilate,

As we forgive them that trespass against us.

• Was crucified, died and was buried;

And lead us not into temptation,

• He descended to the dead.

but deliver us from evil.

On the third day he rose again;

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,

He ascended into heaven,

For ever and ever. Amen.

He is seated at the right hand of the Father,

A Reading from the Prophets: Isaiah 9:2, 7; Micah 5:2 Song: “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” Christmas Eve Offering Readings from the Gospel Luke 1:26-35 Song: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” Matt. 1:18-25 Song: “Away in a Manger” Luke 2:1-7 Song: “O Little Town of Bethlehem” Luke 2:8-14 Song: “Angels We Have Heard on High” Luke 2:15-20 Song: “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks” A Reading from the Epistles: Galatians 4:4-5; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Song: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” Message: Three Types of Candles Song: “Joy To The World”

Copy this page to use in your Christmas Eve Bulletin

Candles and Carols: A Christmas Celebration

And he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in • the Holy Spirit, • the holy Christian church, • the communion of the saints, • the forgiveness of sins, • the resurrection of the body, • and the life everlasting. Amen

A Prayer of Consecration We Remember Together Candlelighting Scripture Reading: John 1:1-14 As you light the candle of the person next to you do so by declaring “Jesus Christ is the Light of my life.”

Benediction Choral Benediction: “Silent Night, Holy Night” 29

so the crisis comes and the candle burns but only in crisis moments.

Note: The beginning thoughts for this message come from a renowned preacher of yesteryear. The observations and applications come from another voice. Your personal illustrations and explanations can make this a powerful message customized to your local setting.

Robert G. Lee, long time pastor of the Bellvue Baptist Church, told once of visiting a candle shop and finding there three different types of candles. As you look around our auditorium you will find that we too have three different types of candles. There are several different colors and shapes but beyond the color and shape there are three different styles of “candle-life” being lived before us.

I. The Unlit Candle Some of our candles remain unlit. They are fresh and new. Some of them are waiting to share their lights at a special moment. It’s not their time yet but it soon will be.

Others remain unlit because the purpose for their existence has been transformed from that of being a light bearing candle to that of being a colorful decoration.

As long as candles remain unlit they cannot dispel any darkness. Jesus reminded us of the folly of candles that do not provide light when he shared his observation about candles and baskets in Matthew 5:15-16.

II. The Partly Burned Candle Most of our candles are partly consumed. Some under the heat and stress of burning have become slightly bent and twisted. Others have been disfigured as a cascade of wax has streamed down their sides. Some partly consumed candles have shone a little but not much.

Some have burned as misers give—sparingly. Some meet the bare requirements of shining for minutes when the necessity is to shine for hours.

The Prodigal burned brightly in his youth but the rigors of life in the far country caused his flame to sputter and nearly die.

Jesus illustrated these partly burned candles in his story of seeds that grew in a field. Some never took root like a candle with a faulty wick that never burns. Others grew rapidly but as quickly stopped when the rocky soil did not provide the environment for growing just as the partly burned candle that functions for a short period of time. Most partly burned candles can be packed away and brought out again next year for another few minutes of life. Much like the old adage about atheists and foxholes 30

III. The Burned-to-the-Socket Candle Some candles burn until they are all burned away. They become mere remnants of themselves. For the glory of giving light to those in darkness they have given their all. But that’s what candles do! They are to be used, not displayed. They are to give light, not to sit in the darkness.

Many people today are like those burned-to-the-socket candles as they burn out to give light to others.

Not until we are burned-to-the-socket can we say we have fulfilled our mission and finished the work God has given us to do on this earth. Yet to be burned-to-thesocket in doing the will of God is to shine forever as stars that will never go out (Philippians 2:14-16), as a light that never fails (Matthew 5:14-16), as a lamp whose oil never diminishes (Matthew 25:1-13).

As we think of our three types of candles there is really only one that reminds us of Jesus, the Christ. His is not the unlit candle though many only know him as the Babe of Bethlehem who has sweet potential but has not achieved the reality of Calvary.

His is not the partly-consumed, half-burned candle though many only know him as teacher and miracle worker rather than the final sacrifice for the sins of many.

The Lord Jesus was not a partly consumed, half-burned candle. Rather his existence was one of burned-to-thesocket obedience to the Father as described by the apostle in Philippians 2:6-11.

Tonight we celebrate his birth and remember his death.

We find here in Jesus that example of burned-to-thesocket obedience that motivates us to copy, pattern after and give ourselves to that One who gave himself for us.

General Baptist National Youth Conference June 16-18, 201 7 Lake Williamson Christian Center

Registration opens January 2, 201 7.

Visit www.gbnyc.org for more information!

“General Baptist Ministries exists to maximize Kingdom impact by starting, equipping and inspiring local churches to accomplish the Great Commission.”

Three reasons for belonging: 1. Doing together what we cannot do alone.

No one church can accomplish individually what we accomplish collectively.

Can one church singlehandedly…

• Supervise the gathering of 42 churches in India?

• Undertake the management of an orphanage in Honduras?

• Plant a series of fast-growing, high-impact churches to reach thousands with the gospel?

• Guide the revitalization of hundreds of existing churches?

While no one church can undertake all these ministries singlehandedly, we do together what we cannot do alone!

2. We are not alone in the struggle. As part of a network of churches we are exposed to the help and encouragement needed to be more effective in our local ministries. Broad connections among and between General Baptists from different parts of the nation and different parts of the world provide a synergy of effort and a keen reassurance that we are not alone in the struggle.

3. A denomination offers services and programs.

• Conferences and events offered at very modest costs and in convenient locations.

• Consultation services customized to our denominational settings.

• Missionary presence to assist local ministries to more effectively reach the world.

• Church Planter connections to impact the course of our nation.

• Construction and expansion loans.

For more information visit: www.GeneralBaptist.com.

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THOSE OLD DENOMINATIONS

Look What will Happen in 2017 6 // 16 – 18

conferences & events

9 // 5 – 7

7 // 17 – 19

5 // 30 – 6 // 1

10 // 6 – 8

Tentative Date

special offering dates

3 // 19

national missions sunday

9 // 17

world missions offering/ ed steven’s day

other special dates 4 // 16

9 // 10

easter

grandparents day

5 // 14

10 // 15

mother’s day

pastor appreciation day

5 // 29

11 // 23

memorial day

thanksgiving day

6 // 18

father’s day

...doing together what we cannot do alone.

By Lance Johnson, Host/Moderator

We are already in full swing making plans for the 2017 edition of the Missions & Ministry Summit and I couldn’t be more excited. I want to take this opportunity to invite you to be part of this incredible journey.

Our theme for the 2017 Summit will be “Take the Land”.

I believe God has placed your church in just the right location to make an eternal impact on those around you and He is calling you to “Take the Land”. This has been our calling from the very beginning of our movement. We unapologetically proclaim the truth that Jesus tasted death for every man, woman, boy and girl. As General Baptists, we want to do anything we possibly can, while we trust God to do the impossible so we may take the land He has given us by sharing this life changing message.

That’s why I believe the Missions & Ministry Summit is so important for each of our churches. Each year, General Baptists from all across the globe gather together to encourage and strengthen one another. Our focus is always on learning how we can make a greater impact in growing God’s Kingdom. We challenge each other to further develop our respective ministries through meaningful worship, purposeful training, and missional challenges.

At next year’s Summit, we will continue to challenge and encourage one another on July 17th-19th at the Old National Events Plaza in Evansville, Indiana. It is already shaping up to be an incredible event.

We will be offering a wide array of breakout sessions that will help you better impact your community. We will build on the excitement generated by the Go Project at the 2016 Summit and once again have a focus track on children’s ministry development. You will have 34

an opportunity to explore technology in the church with workshops on service planning and volunteer ministry through Planning Center Online, working with presentation software like Pro Presenter, as well as resources for graphics and video editing. Other possible tracks we are discussing involve leadership development in the church, personal enrichment, and much more.

All of our breakout sessions will be designed to equip you to “Take the Land” God has given you. It would be an incredible opportunity for your church to bring staff, leaders, and volunteers to grow in their respective ministries.

There is also an inspiring roster of keynote speakers for the 2017 Summit. We will welcome to the main stage one of our very own difference makers, Gary Baldus. Pastor Gary has been intentional as he planted New Walk Church in Zephyrhills, Florida to “Take the Land” God called him to. New Walk has now grown to become the largest church in General Baptist history.

We will be challenged by Aaron Broyles. Aaron is a Christian author of the book “Do Great Things”, a speaker, and entrepreneur. As a successful businessman and leadership developer, his focus is on discovering purpose, helping people see opportunities that others don’t see, and achieving success in those opportunities.

And finally, we will welcome back to the Summit none other than Alex Himaya. Alex serves as pastor of TheChurch.at in Oklahoma and was a special part of the 2015 Missions and Ministry Summit.

This year’s Summit is going to be incredible. As always, you are going to be able to reconnect with old friends and have the opportunity to network with new ones. But even more than that, we will all be equipped and encouraged to make a difference in the world around us. With God leading the way, I believe with all of my heart that you and your church can make that difference. So I am challenging you to prepare yourself for God-sized things in your ministry by inviting you to be part of this amazing event.

Make plans now to attend the 2017 Missions and Ministry Summit on July 17th-19th. For more details and information, visit the Summit website at www.gbSummit.org.

MISSIONS & MINISTRY SUMMIT 2017

July 17-19, 2017

Evansville, IN

2017 Held @

Double Tree by Hilton and the

Old National Events Plaza

Evansville, Indiana Hotel Info:

Address: 601 Walnut Street Evansville, IN 47708 Reservations: 1-800-HILTONS Front Desk: 1-812-423-5002

wwwgbSummit.org #gbsummit

Heavenly Highway Church History, Growth and Vision

by Rev. Phillip Pusey

To God be the glory for the things He has done.

The power and presence of the Lord has always been evident at Heavenly Highway.

The history of the Heavenly Highway General Baptist church is one that is rich and changing. Its history dates back to the time of Reverend Albert Russell and his wife, First Lady Louise Russell, in the year 1965. Initially the church started out with a small congregation. The physical structure was that of wooden walls with a thatch roof and small board benches. Rev. Russell lived on the church grounds with his wife. He was a skilled baker who specialized in baking spice buns, ginger bulla and ‘kuup kuup’. These he sold from time to time by a place called Pen Gate in the community. The community personnel gave him their support.

However, as time passed on, a transition was made and Reverend Lloyd Hall was sent to continue on the foundation that was laid by Rev. Russell. Rev. Hall with the help of his wife, First Lady Donna Hall, Deacon Wendell Ford, sister Gloria Campbell secretary and sister Sonia Mignott treasurer, the church was led into another

36

phase. Mention must also be made of the involvement of the missionaries such as Brother John Hibbs and his wife and Brother Terry Howser and other missionaries from America that were pivotal in further establishing and assisting this denomination here in Jamaica.

The ministry continued to build and grow, and its membership grew from the thirties to the sixties. The church was also re-roofed courtesy of Brother Terry and his team. This was a huge blessing for which the congregants were extremely grateful and appreciative. As time advanced Rev. Hall was called upon to pastor another General Baptist church and so he handed over the reins to Rev. Phillip Pusey.

Rev. Phillip Pusey and First Lady Sis. Pusey were given the mandate to lead Heavenly Highway into the 21st century. Rev. Pusey’s first stint began in the year 2003 as Minister Pusey, when he was under the tutelage of Rev. Hall. Then in the year 2006 he became the pastor of Heavenly Highway General Baptist. They took over when the church was in transition mode from having a pastor of over twenty years and also when the world itself was shifting from the nineteenth century into a new dispensation-the 21st century. As they embarked on their new responsibilities they sought to build on the foundation that was laid spiritually, numerically, structurally and socially.

Heavenly Highway has always been a ministry that was an indicator of the power and presence of the Lord. Our Bible Studies have seen an increase in attendance and an improvement and infusion in technology. We are now able to have the use of a laptop, projector and a screen to assist in the delivery of the content of the Word of God in our Bible Studies. To further assist with the mandate that has

been given to the general church to go ye therefore, a special Mission Initiative program was instituted.

The Mission Initiative is a means by which we seek to minister to the unsaved among us whether in our families, at school, work or in the community. Then every first Sunday we set aside special time to reach out to the unsaved who have been invited to attend our services.

Our praise and worship ministry has been impacted in that it is now more vibrant and dynamic. There is also the infusion of technology to assist in our worship via our projector, laptop and screen. A dance ministry has also been attached to our worship arm.

Numerically, Heavenly Highway has seen an increase in membership. When Rev. Pusey took over the reins, the membership was in the sixties. Currently, our membership is over 100 and is consistently growing.

The church has also been impacted structurally and socially as many developments have occurred. The church has a perimeter fence, which was constructed in partnership with other contributors. We have further established a kitchen that allows us to continue to provide sumptuous meals for the indigent in our community. The ministry is now blessed with proper bathroom facilities and an office for our pastor. All these were done in partnership with our faithful contributors. This allows the church to cater to the social needs of the people it ministers to on a regular basis. It also gives the church a facelift and enhances its professional outlook.

Heavenly Highway is now prepared to further cater to its growing numbers as there is a challenge to comfortably house over four hundred people that may attend one of

our special services. We are therefore envisioning constructing a building that will facilitate the growth and development that we have experienced.

This vision has potential of evolving into something massive. It is not just limited to the physical structure but also encompasses that of our social, educational and economic needs. We are hoping to have a holistic ministry that is well equipped and advanced.

This will further aid in propelling us to new heights as we broaden our horizons and our borders.

Socially and economically, the proposed complex will seek to meet the needs of its members and community by offering first class standards in the form of business opportunities. Jobs will be created that will assist persons to meet their own personal needs and thus be able to make further contributions to the ministry. This will also give rise to the ministry being able to better sustain itself financially. We also have in mind to house a gym, pharmacy and restaurant. Of course Rev. Pusey will also be in a much better position to offer various forms of counseling and guidance to the members and community personnel.

Educationally, we are also hoping to house an educational center- Heavenly Highway’s School of Excellence. The idea of a school is of paramount importance as it will provide for the needs of those who are weak in literacy and numeracy and also seek to help propel those who need the extra push to achieve further educational success.

Heavenly Highway is gearing up to becoming all that God has it to be. Thus, to Him be all the glory for what He has done and will continue to do.

G E N E R A L B A P T I S T M I N I S TE R ’S CO N FE R E N CE

May 30 — June 1, 2017 r e g i s t e r b y p h o n e f o r e a r l y b i r d r a t e , 5 7 3 - 7 8 5- 7 7 4 6 O n - L i n e R e g i s t r a t i o n O p e n s J a n u a r y 2, 2 0 1 7 a t www.GeneralBaptist.com

MIRACLE DELIVERENCE TRIUMPHANT BETHEL FAITH KEMPS HILL

The Jamaica Association was organized on November 29, 1963. Delegates from the United States included Rev. and Mrs. Marlin Dossett (representing the Foreign Mission Board) and Dr. and Mrs. W. N. Gibson (Board of Religious Education). On September 11 the Jamaica Association formed their articles of Association and was officially recognized as an incorporated religious body, The Jamaica Association of General Baptists Limited.

Starting with the annual meeting of the association in August 2016 the Jamaican church is planning a year long celebration in honor of the 50th Anniversary of its articles of incorporation.

Early key players in the Association were Rev. Roger J. Cazziol, a British subject, who came to Jamaica via Ghana, West Africa in 1958 where he began a ministry of missionary evangelism in the rural areas of central Jamaica. The most prominent Jamaicans in the early days were Rev. and Mrs. Alexander DeCosta and Rev. Thomas.

Throughout the years the Association has seen several projects come and go. GBIM also has deep roots in Jamaica. Faith Home had its beginning in Jamaica as did the Mission One (MVP) program. The association also has maintained a camp at Mt. Forest for several years although its campus is currently closed due to asbestos issues.

In 2015 the Association reported nine churches, 521 members and 104 conversions. They have an active Brotherhood, Mission Board, National Sunday School Board, Youth department, and Women’s Missionary Society. Despite Mt. Forest being unusable due to asbestos issues, the Association still has an active camping program and also supports Windsor Lodge Children’s 38

HOPE

GRACE HEAVENLY HIGHWAY

Home.

After the departure of Faith Home to Honduras, GBIM became less involved in Jamaica. Johnny and Teresa Hibbs served as missionaries, but for the most part, GBIM has been involved mostly in an official capacity and in short term missions.

Three groups within the General Baptist movement have remained actively involved in Jamaica. The Henderson Church, where Charlie and Lavon Linhart served after their time as missionaries, has been actively involved. Pastor Terry Howser and his organization, “Rippling Hope Jamaican Missions Teams.” More recently “Jamaican Kingdom Partners” has been very active with the Jamaica Association.

This year GBIM and the above partners are working in cooperation with Jamaica Association to purchase a new lot along a busy highway for the Heavenly Highway General Baptist Church. Our goal for this offering is $50,000. We hope you will join with us as together we help Heavenly Highway position themselves for greater kingdom impact. Of course we know that kingdom impact requires faithfulness and prayer as well as givers and goers.

So how can you help? Make sure your church is involved at some level with the Ed Stevens Day offering.

Give through your church or send gifts directly to GBIM labeled Ed Stevens Day. These offerings will be received through December 31, 2016. Pray for the ongoing success of the Heavenly Highway Church, Pastor Phillip Pusey, and Jamaica Association.

NEWS

STRONG TOWER LAFAYETTE CAMPUS

BY TRAVIS STEPHENS, EXECUTIVE PASTOR

Two years ago we at Strong Tower Church got really serious about the idea of going multisite. When you’re in a town of 2,200 people (like our town of Westmoreland, TN), at some point your growth is going to max out. We felt like we were nearing that point. We also had a large group of people who were coming to our church from a town about twenty minutes away from us. It was time to get started.

We started doing as much research as possible about multisite, but there wasn’t much information about churches our size that were also in a rural community.

So, for the most part we just had to wing it.

The biggest question we wrestled with was whether to do video teaching or live.

After many months of preparing to do video, we ultimately decided it wasn’t going to work at the level we desired, so we completely changed directions.

Now, our lead pastor, David Mitchell, and campus pastor, Jeremy Meador, (pictured above) work together each week to prepare a message that will be delivered at each location. Scriptures and main points are the same; then each adds his own personal stories and touch.

We’re only a few months in, but it looks like we made a good decision.

If you’re thinking of taking your small town church multisite, here are a few things we’ve learned so far.

• IT TAKES PEOPLE – The success of any type of church launch is largely dependent upon the size of the “launch team.” Churches who launch campuses often have a huge advantage over church plants because the launch team is largely made up of people already attending the central campus. Our launch team was around 80 people who had mostly been attending and serving at the central campus. They already knew our vision, culture, and DNA.

• IT TAKES MONEY – I’ve heard of churches that launch campuses on a shoestring budget, but for us that wasn’t the case. We wanted to do our best to make sure that the experience at the new campus was as close to the experience at the central campus as possible. This meant spending over $100k to make the worship experience the best it could be in a portable facility.

• IT TAKES VOLUNTEERS – Lots of volunteers.

You’re not only filling positions for a new campus, you’re also replacing volunteers who are leaving to go to that campus. We handled this a couple of different ways. We went from offering three services to two services at our central campus. This cut down on the number of positions we needed to fill, and it ensured that we had critical mass in those two services. We also went on a recruiting blitz a few months before launch asking everyone and anyone to step up and volunteer.

• IT TAKES SACRIFICE – Don’t underestimate the amount of work, time, and sacrifice multisite is going to take. Portable facilities mean arriving early for set up and staying after services for tear down. Most of us will be launching with one service which means volunteers in the kids’ ministry will be missing service so that someone else can experience it. Just remember we sacrifice so someone else can be blessed.

Since we began the Lafayette campus, we’ve seen fifteen people give their lives to Christ and follow through in baptism. In August attendance reached 200+.

We believe no matter how much money it takes, how early we have to get out of bed in the morning, how many services we have to miss because we’re changing diapers, the sacrifice is worth it.

We would like to thank all of our ministry partners who have helped us along the way, especially the GO Project and General Baptist Ministries.

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Deposits accepted for demand certificate of deposit Paying 2.50% • No Penalty for withdrawal

Last August, Wilbur and I took a trip to Colorado. We knew, I think, that it would be our last adventure together.

Most things we did together, and some he cajoled me to do without him while he stayed back as a cheering and sleeping section.

One day, I decided to take on a short, but challenging hike to a waterfall – and if I held out – a beautiful lake basin. There were other people at different points on this well-known trail, but no one seemed to be entering the trail head the same time I was, so there was no one to follow. Wilbur was proud to see me heading off with the new hiking pole he had purchased for me in one of the mountain sporting goods shops.

I knew from reading about the trail that it would be a fairly steep incline, and I was not disappointed. But the air was crisp and clean, the pine needles smelled glorious, and I was happy to just “be” with Wilbur. I hiked for a while before coming to a narrow creek. At that point, the trail wasn’t obvious, and I could not tell which way looked most travelled. I can tell you that I chose the wrong one.

From there on, the incline got almost undoable.

I found myself grabbing on to roots – anything – to get myself up a muddy hillside without sliding backward.

The waterfall was rushing right beside me – gushing with force after several days of rain. It was beautiful – and tall.

I realized, eventually, that my choice in paths was actually taking me straight up the waterfall itself!

An Unexpected Direction

by Patti Thornton, Director of Women’s Ministries

“This can’t be considered an intermediate hike”, I thought.

This can’t be considered an intermediate hike, I thought.

I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. It was all I could do to work out one foothold at a time, and my thighs were burning madly. I prayed for God to direct me to the right path, because I was sure the one I was climbing was not it. I prayed quite anxiously – and expectantly. Despite the temperatures that cooled even more with each increase in altitude, I had broken out in sweat. NERVOUS sweat.

Finally, I decided that an easy path was not in my immediate future, and I would have to trust, one step at a time, that I would conquer this hill. I thought about the battle my husband was fighting so valiantly without any assurance of the disease’s outcome. He bravely fought one skirmish after another, taking them as they came.

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I was wonderstruck at the view of God’s creative genius...

I wanted that kind of bravery.

I did eventually make it to the top of the waterfall. I was wonderstruck at the view of God’s creative genius, and I was tired. I sat at the edge of the pooled waters, covered with dirt, sweat, and forest flora and downed a protein bar and some water. Eventually, an older couple came from the other side of the fall, carefully maneuvering across raised stones to cross over to my side. I noted with amazement that they were hardly mussed. She didn’t have a hair out of place and his hiking shirt was pristine. I was intrigued and felt all the more mucky.

“Do you mind if I follow you down,” I asked?

After a quizzical pause, he answered. “Well, sure, I guess.” With his finger pointing past me to my left he continued, “But my car is in the parking lot just a few hundred yards in that direction.”

I laughed hysterically and they both looked at me like I must have eaten one of the weird mushrooms in the forest. I explained my experience, and politely said that I should probably slither back down the mountain I had climbed. And that’s exactly what I did. By the time I was on the right trail, the back side of my khaki shorts was nothing close to khaki.

Why do I tell you this story? Because in this case, I expected an answer I didn’t get, and if I hadn’t trusted for each notch in the mud on my way up, I may have fallen, 42

tail first, in Indiana Jones mudslide fashion. I had to be obedient to the path that was before me, trusting that the experience would be vital to my growth. It was. Oh - And I was in love with that hiking stick.

Even now my walk with Jesus is taking me places I never would have guessed, and without people I assumed would always be walking beside me. Believe me, the journey feels like an uphill climb most days. I have a visual, though, of Jesus – and Wilbur close by – sitting on the smooth rock at the top of the waterfall reminding me that His wonder is worth a stump-gripping, derrieredirtying, uphill trek. Even knowing He may answer my prayers with unexpected direction, I hope I will never stop expecting to hear from Him.

Unified Giving The early Church knew while not all were called to travel the known world preaching the Gospel, all were expected to financially and spiritually support the work of those who were, as well as give toward emergency relief.

Paul mentions on numerous occasions the help he receives from the established churches and the offerings he delivers to the poor. ( Romans 15:23-24, Galatians 2:10, Philippians 4:16) People from all over would come together in support of a few, so that the Gospel could branch out to even more places.

Unified Giving allows us to follow the example of the first believers and gather our resources to send and support more missionaries than ever before to all corners of the world, and to provide relief to the poor, the widowed, the orphaned, and the disaster-stricken.

It enables us to do greater things together than what we can do alone.

Unified Giving

Trending Now Most Americans see nothing morally wrong with gender change.

Six in 10 Americans don’t think it’s wrong for people to identify with a gender different from their birth sex, according to the Nashville-based research organization.

And more than half don’t think it’s wrong to switch genders by taking hormones or having surgery.

The findings indicate most Americans don’t see moral significance in being born male or female, said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research.

“A majority of Americans reject the view of a creator giving them a gender that shouldn’t be changed,” he said.

“We freely change many things about ourselves—we have cosmetic surgery, we use teeth whitener, we dye our hair, we get tattoos. Many Americans view gender as one more thing on that list.”

It is morally wrong for an individual to identify with a gender different than the sex they were born.

– source: LifeWay Research

More than 100,000 same-sex couples have tied the knot since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages nationwide last year.

Have you been asked to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony?

YES – 11% NO – 88% UNSURE – 1%

But for preachers, being asked to do a same-sex wedding remains rare.

A new survey by Nashville-based LifeWay Research found 11 percent of Protestant senior pastors have been asked to perform a same-sex wedding.

Baptist pastors (1 percent) are the least likely to say they were asked to perform a same-sex wedding.

Presbyterian/Reformed pastors (26 percent) are most likely.

Overall, pastors who identify as mainline were three times as likely to have been asked than evangelical pastors (18 percent vs. 6 percent). Pastors 55 and older (14 percent) are twice as likely to have been asked than those 54 and younger (7 percent).

“Most couples, if they want a church wedding, will ask a pastor they know or who they think will support them,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. “For same-sex couples, this appears to be an older Presbyterian pastor.”

– source: LifeWay Research

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Highly Religious adults more engaged with family, more likely to volunteer, and happier overall.

Family Life & Overall Happiness

Volunteering & Community Involvement

Gather w/ extended family at least monthly

Volunteered in past week

“Very happy” with way things are going in life

Donated money/time/goods to poor in past week

“Very satisfied” with family life

Not Highly Religious Highly Religious

Note: “Highly religious” respondents are defined as those who say they pray daily and attend religious services at least once a week. All other respondents are coded as “not highly religious.”

– source: Pew Research Center

HOW Americans choose a new house of worship: Personal visits remain crucial Among U.S. adults who have looked for a new congregation, % who say they have ______ while doing so.

85%

69% 68% 55%

When searching for a new Congregation, Americans value quality of sermons and feeling Welcomed Attended services at congregation being considered Talked to members of the congregation Talked to friends/ colleagues about congregation

Among U.S. adults who have looked for a new congregation or house of worship, % who say each factor played an important role in their choice.

Talked to clergy at congregation

37% Looked for information online

83% 79%

Quality of sermons Feeling welcomed by leaders

74% 70%

Style of services Location

56%

Education for Kids

48%

Having friends/family in congregation

42%

Availability of volunteering opportunities

29%

Other factors

19% Made phone call to congregation

Note: Based on those who have searched for a new house of worship.

– source: Pew Research Center

0%

Note: Based on those who have searched for a new house of worship.

– source: Pew Research Center

0%

@generalbaptist #gbministries

Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest trends and research about the American religious beliefs.

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and the Giving Bottle

by Patti Thornton, Director of Women’s Ministries There is usually only one thing that attracts young men to the Women’s Ministries display at Summit. The candy bar. Chocolate, jelly beans, licorice, and more right there for the scooping.

But on the first day of the 2016 Summit, an 11 year old boy made his way eagerly to the exhibit hall, looking specifically for our booth. Better yet, he was looking even more specifically for a place to put his water bottle.

This wasn’t any old water bottle. And James Turner isn’t any old young lad.

James attended the Missions & Ministry Summit last year, and several missionaries spent some time there with the children talking about the children in their own lives.

James’ heart was bitten by the missions bug. Women’s Ministries had just started a new campaign, asking people to fill water bottles with dimes. A full bottle would mean $100 for ministry. His mom shared with us that he saw our display and thought, “Hey, I can do that!”

Oh, yes he could. He was a radical dime saver. He asked for change in dimes in stores. He asked relatives to empty their purses and pockets of dimes and drop them in his bottle. He scooped up loose dimes between cushions. He even had his mom post a request on Facebook when he doubted his ability to fill the bottle up in time for Summit.

There was an indescribable glint in James’ eyes when he carried that bottle over to Hope and Vicki while they were getting ready to open up shop. His bottle was the first in the bucket, and he received the very first thank you gift from Women’s Ministries. He may not have been thrilled about the cool “Be You, Bravely” tote bag, but when Hope threw some extra candy and an empty Tervis cup into the mix, he was happy.

Actually, I don’t think James cared a bit about the gift.

He had accomplished his goal – a sacrificial offering that stemmed from a heart of love.

Thank you, James, for the example.

James (pictured right) is the son of Brian Turner, pastor of Carters Chapel GBC in Madisonville, KY.

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• The I AM Series covers relevant issues backed up with biblical foundation.

• Writers in the I AM Series will use either or both the KJV/NIV. • The I AM Series is directed to help students know their place in their relationship with God, the great I AM. We also relate stories to show who we are and what we are.

• The I AM Series is written by GB authors & published by Stinson Press, the GB print arm.

• When purchasing books from the I AM Series you are keeping your money at work within General Baptist Ministries.

• International Sunday school lessons for adults (30+) • Available in KJV or NIV (NIV available Fall 2016) • Written for lecture class format

• Stories relevant to young adults (19 to 30-something) • Can be used in a small group or Sunday school class

• Stories relevant to teens (junior and senior high) • Teacher and student book all-in-one to save the church money • Written for the busy teacher in mind

general baptist

m e s s e n g e r General Baptist Ministries 100 Stinson Drive Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

non-profit org u.s. postage

pa i d poplar bluff, mo permit no

With your help we will be able to assist with: • Construction of a building in Siddipet.

(This building houses the missionary home, orphanage, sewing center, and church.)

• Sewing Centers in both fields.

• Ministry to the Aids Communities.

• Ministry to widows and women vulnerable to trafficking.

Check may be sent to: General Baptist Women’ Ministries 100 Stinson Dr. • Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

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