2015 Fall Messenger

w w w.Ge ner alBaptist.com

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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 2015

En d s o f th e Earth

Staying Connected

by Clint Cook, Executive Director

Staying Connected, Staying Strong Those four words say a lot to me not only as Pastor, but also as Executive Director.

As a pastor, I am reminded of the parable Jesus told: “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?

[Matthew 18:12 NKJV] Jesus used a simple illustration to communicate a directive to every pastor-shepherd. In order to truly disciple Christians into fully-devoted, mature followers of Christ, helping them stay connected to the body of Christ is essential. Jesus made it clear that shepherds keep their sheep connected to the fold. For the local church this means we are to seek for straying sheep and help them reconnect to the fold of the church.

As Pastor, I’ve always viewed this shepherding task as a very important and serious responsibility. The spiritual lives of my sheep are dependent upon their connection to the church. A shepherding pastor must also strive to help members stay in the fold of the church. If they stay connected they are better protected from tragic pitfalls and hidden obstacles that await outside the church. A church is always stronger with 100% of its sheep in the fold than it is when even a few are missing.

As Executive Director, the words, Staying Connected, Staying Strong, also have a sobering effect on me. I am reminded that as General Baptists strive to advance the Kingdom, each and every mission field is crucially important to us. For we “are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). We can never forget the sacrifices of missionary families who travel to different states or countries to spread the gospel.

We can never forget the sacrificial giving of individuals and churches that help develop new ministries in the U.S. and around the globe.

I always feel a burden when I visit our mission fields.

I want to make sure that our missionaries and national workers know that they have a larger General Baptist family in the United States who love them and want to stay connected with them. As a network of churches called General Baptist, we must stay connected to the ministries

God has provided to us.

We try to maintain this connection by having our missionaries, and now some national workers as well, travel to the United States to attend the Summit. I want this to continue each year so the ability to meet with, pray with, worship with, and laugh with their greater General Baptist family will breathe encouragement into the lives of our missionaries, national workers and the mission fields they represent.

I believe Jesus is pleased with our General Baptist family when we seek to stay connected at the local, national and international levels. Staying connected is so important that we have dedicated this issue of The Messenger to Staying Connected, Staying Strong.

Local pastor, I personally know how tough ministry life can be. One weapon in Satan’s arsenal is isolation and separation. Pastors, we don’t want you to be disconnected, struggling to do ministry alone. We have designed conferences to equip you to do the work more creatively, efficiently, and meaningfully than ever before. Our Barnabas Project attempts to make personal connection to you. We provide services to facilitate personal networking and maintain current communications.

Local church, regardless of your size, location or budget, we value your connection to General Baptist Ministries.

In light of the troubled state of our culture and the recent ruling by our U.S. Supreme Court regarding marriage and family, the time to stand strong together upon the Word of God is now.

Missionaries and national workers, we believe in your sacrifice and mission. We are dedicated to giving you our prayers as well as our financial support.

Staying Connected, Staying Strong. May these words stir each and every General Baptist. No Pastor can be left behind. No mission field can be forgotten. No local church can be cast aside. No General Baptist can be overlooked. You belong to a larger body of believers committed to helping you do more together than you could ever do alone.

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Messenger General Baptist

Fall 2015

Table of Contents 3 Letter from the Editor 8 Life Long Learning 11 Life in Those Old Denominations 12 Building Usage & Marriage Definitions 14 Staying Connected 17 The Barnabus Project 20 An Interview with Gary Baldus 23 Why General Baptist?

26 Health & Fitness 28 Spiritual Fitness

Life Long Learning

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29 Why General Baptist Ministries?

30 Connected: The House Nine Months Built 31 GBIM introduces Jim Pratt 32 Jamaica Association Celebrates 50 Years 34 Jamaica Association 36 Church Construction in India 39 Strategic Churches 40 Five Commandments for Becoming a Media Savvy Pastor 45 2016 Dates

Staying Connected

The Barnabus Project

8 14 17

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

Church Construction In India

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

editorial team: Franklin Dumond, Sue Schremp, Jim Schremp, Linda McDonough, & Patti Thornton

layout & design:

Jamaica Assoc.

Celebrates 50 Years

Stinson Press - Kenrick Nobles General Baptist Ministries

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Full Tablet Support

Gary Baldus

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@ General Baptist Ministries @ GeneralBaptist

@ GeneralBaptist

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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

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. – Romans 14:5-6

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STAYING STRONG Through Life Long Learning: Three Areas That Always Need Attention

By Dr. Franklin R. Dumond, Director of Congregational Ministries

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” – Henry Ford The world of the church and the world at large continues to change at an ever increasing rate. The 21st century provides greater challenges than ever to the church leader who would remain relevant and timely. Church leaders always need to give attention to at least three areas as they meet these challenges.

I. Personal Evangelism. Many churches report zero conversions in a year because too few church leaders engage in personal evangelism.

A. The Public Arena of Personal Evangelism.

Our changed and changing culture has made the public, general appeal to become a Christian less effective. The success of those appeals has always been proportional to the advance work done to prepare people to hear, understand and respond to the gospel.

In the past this advance preparation came from a culture with a Judeo-Christian morality and a worldview that included acknowledgment of a benevolent creator.

The advance preparation also included a cultural respect for the church and a general awareness that local churches were open to all who would choose to attend.

The public efforts to win people to Christ, then, have become less effective not because the gospel is ineffective, 8

but because of the lack of preparation provided by a secular culture.

Does a shifting culture exclude a public appeal to become a Christian? Not at all!

The deficiencies of a secular, hostile culture require some added features to this public proclamation that were not necessary a generation ago. Four elements come to mind.

1. I believe simple explanations of the gospel should be part of every pastor’s preaching calendar. Thus a few times each year (perhaps 3-4) the morning message is a simple recounting of the gospel.

2. Public invitations must avoid the #1 fear of being pointed out in public. There is nothing about walking to the front of an auditorium that will in and of itself save anyone. Effective use of a communication card or spiritual survey can gain the attention of hearers who otherwise would never respond publicly.

3. A sample prayer is needed. We need to assist people in making connections to God. On the gospel presentation days it is possible to lead the entire group to repeat this prayer!

4. Focus evangelism on 2-3 Big Days spaced throughout the year as a means of making initial public connections

that will result in on-going private conversations.

B. The Private Arena of Personal Evangelism 1. Relationship is the key and must be cultivated. Jesus used his relation building skills to connect with people.

We can do the same.

2. Un-churched is different from De-churched.

De-churched people often suffer their own personal disappointments that require bridges of trust be redeveloped. Un-churched, on the other hand, have no clue about church music, church etiquette or church finance. Patience is required to gently teach and train.

3. Important tools in the toolbox of personal evangelism include personal integrity that generates trust.

4. A three-fold witnessing plan is essential.

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. Everyone can extend an Invitational Witness by inviting unbelieving friends and family members to attend a Big Day.

II. Suggestions for Making Christian Disciples in a Non-Christian Culture

A recently baptized believer visited the local bookstore.

This large retail outlet boasted two floors of floor-toceiling shelves of books. Because it was part of a national chain the sales premise was “IF we don’t have it, we’ll get it!” The eager shopper flagged down a clerk for assistance, but the experienced clerk could not locate the requested title. In frustration the new believer explained later to a new friend at church, “I know the pastor asked us to read the book he referenced but the bookstore doesn’t have a copy of a book called Daniel.”

A guest at a rapidly growing church plant reported the experience was pleasant, the music was great, and the sermon provided life application. He noted one puzzling feature. “They can’t tell time correctly. The pastor kept referencing different men but each of them seemed to have a different time than I had.”

“What do you mean?” his friend gently probed. “Well, the second time it happened I looked at my phone. It was 11:10 but the pastor said according to John that it was 3:16!”

The stories are real and they illustrate a telling point.

The Christian Church is on the periphery of the larger culture and as a result the larger culture no longer teaches the basics of the Christian faith or of worship behavior.

This places the American Church back into a similar culture as that of the 1st century when the church was in its infancy. This is the Book of Acts, but not the

culture and environment of Acts 2 where on Pentecost a simple presentation of the gospel resulted in thousands of conversions and baptisms. In Acts 17 a similar presentation of the gospel in an environment and culture informed by a different world view resulted in only a few conversions. In Acts 2 the people were prepared. In Acts 17 the background information simply did not exist and without prior knowledge they could not come to a decision.

The simple fact that evangelism requires background information to prepare people to make a decision for Christ has been known since the 1st century.

It shows in the declaration by the Apostle Paul to describe the Corinthian process of evangelism: I planted, Apollos watered, God gave the increase.

How can we make Christian disciples in a non-Christian culture?

1. Communicate clearly with language that can be understood by people in the culture.

2. Let the Bible speak for itself.

3. Use elective studies that teach the essentials of a Christian world view and biblical backgrounds..

4. Incorporate important how-to instructions as part of new member classes. For example Class 201 in the suggested discipleship classes for new members addresses such topics as: • The Habit of a Daily Time with God • The Habit of Reading God’s Word • The Habit of Prayer: Talking with God • The Habit of Tithing: Giving Back to God • The Habit of Fellowship: Enjoying God’s Family • How to Start and Maintain Good Habits.

5. Model Christian discipleship in both small group and one-on-one relationships. Discipleship is often caught rather than taught. When people around us see that we have been with Jesus some of them will want to join us on the journey.

Many churches report: zero conversions in a year because too few church leaders engage in personal evangelism.

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III. Work/Life Balance.

Maintaining regular office hours is an important feature for the vocational pastor. This means showing up on time but it also means going home on time. Advice given to a young pastor who lived next door to the church in a parsonage is still sound: “Leave your house in time to drop the kids off at school. Circle back to the church and park outside the building so everyone will know you are in the office today. At the close of the day drive back home and park inside the garage. Close the garage door.

You’re home now; act like it.”

4. Do I have a regular day off? Regular office hours are important because they not only define the time I spend at work they also define the time I do not spend at work.

5. How do the hours I spend in ministry compare with the hours other professionals spend in their vocations?

1. How much time is actually being used? A simple time log maintained for 2-3 weeks can assist the church leader to analyze how much time is being spent on what particular task. This naturally leads to the follow up question “How much time should be used for…?”

2. Are time wasters built into your day? E-mail alerts, text messages and social media posts have replaced the persistent ringing of the phone as intrusive time wasters.

Reducing time wasters happens when by setting a time for returning phone calls or responding to e-mail, I no longer have to be interrupted if I am in the middle of an important, tedious or get-this-done-the-deadline-isapproaching task.

3. Do you have a plan for how your day will unfold?

Writing down a to-do list with an intentional plan to say “Yes” to certain tasks means that I must say “No” to other tasks. Appropriate “Yes” and “No” is the key to work/life balance.

Many pastors would do well to compare schedules with a successful real estate agent or the managing partner in an accounting firm or a building principal in the local school system.

6. Is my current busyness due to a season of ministry or is it workaholic behavior? A friend who was setting up his medical practice intentionally scheduled his clinic to be open one evening each week and every Saturday morning.

This schedule, however, lasted until he had gathered enough patients to fill his regular appointment schedule.

Now, several years later, his office is closed two afternoons a week and he shares his on-call weekend responsibilities with others.

There are seasons of ministry in the local church that are much busier than other seasons. The special programs of summer, the holiday frenzy of November-December and the period around Easter are sure to be busier-thanusual times that come, but then go.

7. Is my current schedule working for me, my family and my church? When it comes right down to it this answer really defines work/life balance.

An ongoing struggle for many church leaders is the struggle to maintain an appropriate balance between ministry tasks or obligations and personal or family life.

For example: • Bi-vocational pastors balance the demands and tasks of ministry with the demands and task of livelihood and working a ‘real’ job.

• Pastors with younger children must balance the demands and tasks of ministry with the demands and tasks of childrearing, especially in two-income households.

• High capacity volunteers who serve ably in necessary roles in the church also struggle to maintain balance.

A few leading questions may point toward meaningful solutions to provide balance.

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Life in Those Old Denominations: Five Ways to Participate

By Dr. Franklin R. Dumond, Director of Congregational Ministries

While hundreds of General Baptist leaders gathered in Collinsville, Illinois for Powerful Worship, Practical Training and Personal Missionary Connections, hundreds of others chose not to participate in this year’s Summit. As I reflected on participation in denominational enterprises it struck me that there are at least five ways to participate.

1. Participating through shared theology. The heart of our General Baptist movement-network-denomination is a commitment to our core theology of a General Atonement.

This seems old-hat to those of us who have always held such a simple belief.

As stated in the Scripture, Jesus Christ by the grace of God tasted death for every man so that whosoever will may be saved. It seems strange to think that this was heresy in most Baptist circles in the 1820’s when our movement was born. When evangelicals today avoid the simple truth of a General Atonement they often portray God as capricious, arbitrary and unreasonable When I served as pastor I regularly met new people in our community who came from a church background that was non-General Baptist. They were delighted to learn that we believed as they did that God offers

equal opportunity to all who will by faith accept Jesus as a personal savior.

2. Participating through shared mission. The natural outgrowth of belief in a General Atonement is taking the Great Commission seriously.

Thus when I pray for, give support to, or participate in the denominational mission then I am participating in the General Baptist cause. Shared mission involves missionary activity throughout the world, church planting within the United States, and various initiatives to teach and train as we make disciples in obedience to the Great Commission.

3. Participating by personal networking. Shared theology and shared mission puts me in connection with others and while I cannot be connected personally with every adherent of the General Baptist cause, I can and do make connections with some others. Many times these connections are framed within my local church or regional association. On other occasions they cross regional boundaries as I find like-missioned people across the nation or around the world.

4. Participating by officially belonging. Officially belonging is an important and meaningful way to participate in the life of our denomination. This official connection gen-

erally occurs through participation in a regional association that in turn is connected to the General Association of General Baptists. Churches that are not part of an association may become direct affiliates of the General Association to establish an official connection. Help is always available from denominational officers and denominational offices to assist any church who shares our core theology, mission and network to take the necessary steps to officially belong.

5. Participating by showing up.

Attending the first time is always a bit awkward whether it is a pastor’s conference, The Summit or a Council of Associations meeting. Repeated attendance, however, means that soon we learn the expectations and nature of the gatherings. Repeated attendance also means that soon we learn not only how to navigate the denominational circuit but also that we anticipate seeing, greeting and catching up with folks who have become partners in the gospel. After 40 years of attending the General Association and after directly working with The Summit for 10 seasons now, I still look forward to showing up and checking up on folks I may only see once in a while.

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Building Usage & Marriage Definitions By

By Franklin Franklin R. R. Dumond Dumond Director Director of of Congregational Congregational Ministries Ministries Reprinted Reprinted from from winter winter 2013 2013

The rapidly changing legal and social definitions of marriage have left many church leaders puzzled and anxious over how to manage the public use of their facilities. Similarly many pastors are concerned over whether they will be required to perform marriage ceremonies that are inconsistent with a biblical view of marriage.

This has been a very rapid shift in legal and social behavior fueled by activist judges, self-interested politicians and an age of instant communication. Thus while only less than five percent of the United States population considers itself gay, bi-sexual, transgender, or lesbian the public perception is that this small group is much, much larger.

This dramatic shift in public morality and legal standing brings several issues to mind that require careful, prayerful attention from church leaders and pastors.

Issue 1: The public use of privately owned facilities.

Every church should have a well-developed, written policy, formally approved by congregational action that clearly states how its facilities can be used, who can use those facilities and what fee schedule is appropriate.

A quick internet search will yield several sample policies of building use. A simple building use policy might include something like: Building use activities fall under the jurisdiction of the _______________ which manages the use of building facilities. No commitment for building use is finalized until the Building Use Agreement has been completed and approved in advance.

Approval of the use of the grounds and facilities does not constitute or imply endorsement of any group, their mission, or their positions. Groups approved to use facilities must not advertise the event in such a way as to imply endorsement by the church. No activities or advocacy may take place within our buildings or grounds that conflicts with the policies and the practices of this church and the General Association of General Baptists.

The use of facilities should be tailored to reflect the church’s program of worship and ministry as well as the 12

availability of someone to monitor or arrange any outside use of the facilities. The primary use of the church’s facilities should always be specific to its worship and ministry, otherwise the church building simply becomes a general purpose facility subject to public accommodation laws.

The nature of fees charged for use of the facilities determines to some extent whether the facility is a public facility ready for hire or whether it is a private facility designed for specific uses. A fee schedule for use by non-members should probably best be designed to cover utility and cleaning costs rather than as rent. Requiring a cleaning or security deposit adequate to the nature of the building use is always a wise policy.

Issue 2: Public requirements of access and opportunity. Public access and opportunity for admittance addressed by health and safety codes are very different from access based on moral or behavior requirements. A church that complies with building and fire codes is not required to provide unrestricted access to its facilities for purposes it considers immoral.

Issue 3: Hate speech. Prevailing social norms regarding human sexuality and marriage are increasingly opposed to a biblical view of human sexuality and marriage. This conflict between social norms and biblical right and wrong has led many pastors and churches to make severe, harsh statements that sometimes are labeled hate speech. It is unfortunate that our pronouncements against sins have lost the genuine concern for people and their lostness. If they saw our tears they might better hear our words.

Issue 4: Pastors are agents of the church not agents of the state. A justice of the peace or court official in most states will probably have no alternative but to act as an agent of the state in performing all wedding ceremonies.

The pastor, however, serves as an agent of the church and cannot be compelled to perform wedding ceremonies that are inconsistent with a biblical view of marriage.

Issue 5: The real definition of Baptist. At the heart of this social quagmire we are faced with the real definition of Baptist that clearly distinguishes the church

as independent of the state. Thus as Ed Stetzer wrote, “The Court decides what is legal and appropriate for a secular, civil government. Courts don’t determine biblical morality, and regardless of what government does, churches shouldn’t stop their mission.”

Despite recent Supreme Court rulings General Baptist Ministries continues to affirm a view of marriage and sexuality as defined by the Scripture and as summarized in the Social Principles of General Baptists: We believe in the divine sanctity of the marriage covenant, which is the union between one man and one woman only. This is God’s plan for a continued moral civilization. We reject ‘marriage’ between two parties of the same sex and count such an act in violation of God’s ordained plan for human beings…

Marriage is a partnership between husband and wife and accomplishes its full purpose through unity, loyalty, and love. (page 10) We recognize that sexuality is a good gift of God which, in all instances, is to be disciplined in such a manner as to bring two persons to its true fulfillment. We are to be good stewards of this divine gift. We believe that society as a whole has fallen far below God’s standards of sexual morality. We believe the Bible teaches that sexual relations should be practiced only within the marriage bond. (page 15)

Executive Director Clint Cook states, “Neither courts, legislatures or a secular culture can alter eternal standards revealed by God himself. The recent Supreme Court rulings illustrate the mandate given to the Church to make disciples one at a time so that society at large may be changed. General Baptist Ministries will continue to pursue an aggressive plan for church planting to win more and more people to the faith. We will continue to coach and encourage local General Baptist churches to aggressively pursue evangelism and missions with the goal of life transformation that will in turn lead to social transformation. May God send us another Great Awakening to rescue our lost and dying culture.”

A simple building use policy might include something like: BUILDING USE FORM Building use activities fall under the jurisdiction of the _______________ which manages the use of building facilities. No commitment for building use is finalized until the Building Use Agreement has been completed and approved in advance.

Approval of the use of the grounds and facilities does not constitute or imply endorsement of any group, their mission, or their positions. Groups approved to use facilities must not advertise the event in such a way as to imply endorsement by the church. No activities or advocacy may take place within our buildings or grounds that conflicts with the policies and the practices of this church and the General Association of General Baptists.

Signature

Date 13

Staying Connected: Formal, Informal and Legal Connections

By Dr. Franklin R. Dumond,Director of Congregational Ministries

General Baptist churches and their leaders stay connected in formal, informal and legal ways. Each connection is unique but all of them are important.

Formal connections among General Baptist churches typically come from regional associations where two or more churches band together both for mutual support and to engage in mutual enterprises. Associations often own property, organize regional ministries like church camping, and provide a point of connection and communication among member churches. Churches belonging to an association thus maintain their formal connection to General Baptists as long as the association maintains membership in the General Association of General Baptists.

Some churches are distant from one another or for one reason or another choose not to participate in a regional association. These individual churches may apply for direct affiliate status with the General Association of General Baptists. This direct affiliate status does not provide an avenue for denominational decision making through the Council of Associations but it does provide a legal connection to establish 501c3 status and to clarify the religious nature of the local group in other tax and 14

regulatory matters.

Informal connections among General Baptist churches and leaders results from the nature and power of networking. These informal connections often cross regional boundaries. They frequently result from shared interests in mission and ministry. For example, many Mission Volunteer Program team members come from different parts of the country and informally share a connection that is meaningful and lasting. In an earlier generation much of this informal networking could be traced to the exchange of pulpits that occurred on a regular basis when pastors preached revival meetings in different churches.

Legal connections also exist among and between General Baptist churches and the denominational network.

Because the name General Baptist has been properly trademarked, use of the name implies a legal connection to the larger family of General Baptists. Technically General Baptist is a servicemark since it deals with words not images, yet like a trademark its use can be authorized or prohibited by the registered owner.

Organizing documents also establish a legal connection between a local church and the larger General Baptist family. Basic organizing documents of articles of incorporation, constitutions, and bylaws regularly reference denominational connections by restating doctrinal connections, by establishing collective purpose and by use of the name General Baptist.   Reversion clauses that provide advance instruction about how or if a church should close and when and who should be recognized as its successor are legal statements that are properly included in organizing documents and in deeds of ownership. When statements like these are used, a legal connection is then established that continues across time.   While reversion clauses may properly be included in both deeds and in organizing documents, they are more important when attached to the deed since the legal process to change a deed is more difficult than swaying a majority of members to change a constitution.

The essence of a reversion clause that would be attached to a deed would be: If at any future time this church body shall cease to teach and practice the polity and doctrine set forth by the General Association of General Baptists (or its successors), or should teach doctrines contrary to said denomination; or in the event the church should dissolve as an organized General Baptist church body, the title to this property shall transfer to General Baptist Council of Associations, Inc. (or its successors).

A similar reversion clause included in a church constitution would be If at any future time this church body shall cease to teach and practice the General Baptist doctrine, or should cease to be an active participant in the denomination or in the event the church ceases to have worship services for a one (1) month consecutive period, or if active membership falls below ten (10), the church corporation shall be dissolved and after all legal liabilities have been resolved, all its assets shall be assigned to the General Baptist Council of Associations, Inc. with such assets to be used in planting new General Baptist churches.

Should the church for any other reason dissolve as a viable entity after all legal liabilities have been resolved, the church corporation shall be dissolved and all its assets shall be assigned to the General Baptist Council of Associations, Inc.

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A Landmark Legal Case

A landmark legal case in 1940 established legal recognition to a minority who organized to maintain their existence as a General Baptist church. A full transcript of the legal decision is included in The History of the General Baptists, by Ollie Latch (The General Baptist Press, 1954) on pages 389-393. Essential portions are included here.

As has been noted in the previous pages, there arose a schism in Liberty Association, Indiana in the early 1930’s which divided several churches. Liberty Association had a church in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. This church was pastored by one of the ministers who had ceased to preach General Baptist doctrine. When the time came that a decision had to be made about ridding themselves of this pastor, the true General Baptist element in the church found that they were in such a minority that they could not oust him. The pastor stayed in the church, continued to preach a doctrine different to the General Baptists, and practice things not in keeping with General Baptist usage. However, the church which stood true to its faith was powerless. This situation continued for some time, for the people who were in control never changed the name of the church. It was still called a General Baptist church, though it had long ceased to be one.

However, within a few years they changed pastors. The new minister came to the field, and he immediately set out to change the name of the church. He had a vote taken, authorizing such a change, and the Mt. Carmel General Baptist Church now became known as the Second Street Baptist Church. They adopted a new set of Articles of Faith and church government rules as well. Immediately, the minority group in the church, who were really General Baptists, organized. They elected a moderator, trustees and other church officers. They then brought suit against the trustees of the Second Street Baptist church, to whom the deeds had been transferred by the old trustees. The case came before the courts of Illinois, with the Mt. Carmel General Baptist church as plaintiff, and the Second Street Baptist Church as defendant. The Mt. Carmel General Baptist Church sued for possession of the property, and the following decision was rendered in the courts of Wabash County. Following is a clerk’s copy, provided in photostatic form, to the author.

Decree And now on this 15th day of February, A.D. 1940 come the plaintiffs by P. J. Kolb, their attorney, and come also

the defendants by Ben H. Townsend and Frank Fornoff, their attorneys, and this cause now coming on for hearing before the Court on the plaintiffs’ complaint and the defendants answer thereto, and the Court having heard the evidence, both oral and documentary introduced by the parties respectively, and having duly considered the same, and having heard the arguments of counsel thereon, finds: 1. That the material allegations of plaintiffs’ complaint are true.

2. That the equities of this cause are with the plaintiffs…

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED BY THE COURT: 1. That said Mount Carmel General Baptist Church is the owner of said described real estate and its members entitled to the use and occupancy thereof to the exclusion of the defendants and the members of the Second Street Baptist Church.

2. That said deed of conveyance made by said G. A. Sperry and H. N. Belcher as Trustees of Mount Carmel General Baptist Church, dated September 24th, 1938 to “the present Trustees of the Second Street Baptist Church (undenominational—fundamental) or their successors”, recorded in volume “44” of Deeds, at page 171, in the Recorder’s office of said County of Wabash, be and the same is hereby declared to be void and of no force and effect, and is set aside and the record thereof is hereby expunged.

3. That the defendants and each of them, and particularly, the Second Street Baptist Church, be and they are hereby ordered to surrender possession of the said real estate and church building thereon, and the property therein belonging to said Mount Carmel General Baptist, to the said Mount Carmel General Baptist Church, and that the Mount Carmel General Baptist Church and its members, be and are hereby restored to the possession of said real estate and said church building thereon, and the property therein belonging to said Mount Carmel General Baptist Church, without interference or molestation on the part of the defendants or said Second Street Baptist Church, or any of its members.

Ray E. Pearce, Judge 16

In an effort to provide denominational services and connections as close to the field as possible, Executive Director Clint Cook has appointed a team of Field Representatives to provide personal connections to General Baptist pastors. The Barnabas Project intends to establish personal connections to General Baptist pastors through regular, planned contact.

These Field Representatives have agreed to make personal contact with the pastors in their care by a phone call or by in-person conversation two to three times annually.

They will address the specific areas of concern identified by the executive director while also being sensitive to the needs and concerns of the pastors in their assigned group.

As much as possible the current listing of General Baptist pastors has been divided into regional listings with some specialized groupings. Some of the regions are small enough geographically that the field representative will be able to attend Presbytery and Ordaining Council meetings to establish direct, personal connections. In other regions contact will be primarily by phone.

For more information or to provide updated contact information please contact: Congregational Ministries at 573-785-7746 or cmofc@generalbaptist.com.

Charles Richardson

[PIGGOTT, AR]

In many ways this assignment has forced me to be intentional in an area where I should have been anyway. As a pastor I need other pastors around me who face the same challenges while sharing wisdom, strategies and concern.

Creating many new relationships and strengthening some old ones has proven to be very rewarding. I believe the Kingdom is benefited when men of God come together for the worthwhile cause of mutual encouragement, inspiration, and improvement. Connecting with all these pastors and building these relationships will no doubt pay dividends well into the future for all involved. I believe great opportunities and potential lies within the networks that are forming as a result of the Barnabas project!

Pete White

[VINCENNES, IN]

As this project took shape and calls began to be made, I was amazed at the response.

Pastors desiring to be heard! For many, it seemed like a very long time since anyone had inquired of them how things were going or what the denomination could do for them. Responses varied from 'things are going well’ to 'we’re really struggling out here and could really use some prayers’.

One pastor was disappointed in the inquiry, saying it had come a little too late. He had resigned his church a little over a year and half ago. The Barnabas Project helps reconnect the local pastor to the denominational offices and the services they provide, not only to the local church but also to the pastor. More than ever, this connection is needed! No church, no pastor stands alone! We are in this together. We are doing together what we cannot do alone. (I think I’ve heard that somewhere, right?)

I look forward to continuing to connect with the pastors in my region, if for no other reason, just to let them know someone is in their corner, praying for them, encouraging them, and standing in the gap for them! We have a great work ahead of us, as General Baptists, in the days ahead and we need to be connected!

Donald Key

[WESTMORELAND, TN]

As to being a part of the Barnabas Project, I have found it to be a personal blessing to get to talk to the men of God who serve our churches.

Most of the guys on my list are bi-vocational.

They are trying to work a secular job, raise a family and see to the spiritual needs of their respective congregations.

Most of the phone calls they get are not positive. It is usually about someone who has died, is sick, in the hospital or upset and leaving the church. Rarely do they get phone calls that are encouraging.

I get to be the one who calls and says, "Thank You. How can I pray for you? How can I help you?” Most of the answers are the same, there’s not enough time, not enough 17

volunteers, leadership training that needs to be done or just being able to balance all the responsibilities that go along with bi-vocational ministry. However, just to hear an encouraging word and a sympathetic voice means a lot to these men. Over and over they tell me, "I needed this today.” or "Thanks for the encouragement.” How wonderful to be able to tell a person who is giving his life to family, community, job and church that they are doing a good job and are appreciated.

Seriously, my life has been impacted by getting to be an encourager. Each time I pray with a pastor my own life is strengthened, my circle of friends becomes larger (Prayer of Jabez) and I am encouraged myself.

Jeff Little

[MISHAWAKA, IN]

I am thankful to be part of this ministry. I am a pastor and I have a heart for other pastors.

Beyond this, I am inspired by the faithful people who have served many years in ministry, some under adverse and challenging settings. In spite of these challenges, the pastors keep on serving! They serve in out-of-the-way places that won’t make headlines in the daily papers.

I’m also struck by the fact that each of these ministers have expressed a passion to see more people come to know Christ.

I’ve noticed that most of these servants aren’t asking for help from the denomination like I had anticipated they would. What they seem to desire is that someone give value to them as people and connect with them person-toperson. It seems this type of effort in being personal and personally interested in local leaders touches them where they live.

It is interesting to learn some of the more personal stories like the brother who attends county fairs to share the gospel from a booth. Another pastor told of going to Africa and being privileged to share the gospel with hundreds in an evangelistic crusade. A lot goes on in the lives of these pastors as they seek to share Christ with their world.

Overall, I’ve been enriched by these connections.

After our conversations, sometimes I am saddened by the sadness in their lives as they minister in challenging places. Always our conversations leave me feeling gratitude that I get to serve alongside these folks.

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David Evans

[TECUMSEH, MO]

I have been blessed in the Barnabas Project by the selection of this team. The group itself reveals well thought out members offering their regions special and unique perspectives from the pastor’s special talent and needs. I receive blessings from other pastors when I pray for them to be blessed. It is a blessing to see the motives and godly mission they display by wanting their churches to grow in numbers, in spirit, and in God’s word.

The road map of ministry includes calling, preparation, active service and finally the time of rest when tested and tried servants share their journey. The Barnabas project also has a road map of service. There are signs on the pastor’s map that he/she may need extra support. The road sign on the map of each minister’s journey may be grief and loss, disappointments, emotional problems, family struggles or even self-destructive behavior. It may even be pastoral burnout (giving out of self, without refilling, or lack of family support). Each minister can be vulnerable and all ministers seem to have a case of compassionfatigue at some point in time.

Cheyne Newberry

[HEBER SPRINGS, AR]

The Barnabas Project is great new ministry for our movement. It seems like too many pastors feel they are doing ministry alone, and this simply isn’t true. We have many churches in our movement, and that means we have many pastors also. The greatest thing about this is that we are tasked with the same mission no matter where our churches are located. We are all called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to make disciples! The Barnabas Project encourages our pastors in this mission.

Over the past few months I have heard of some wonderful things going in Arkansas and the Missouri Bootheel! It is so encouraging to hear news of people being saved and baptized, or to hear about small churches that are growing! The Barnabas Project helps spread good news from our pastors and encourages them to keep fighting the good fight. We are not at this alone; there are hundreds of other pastors out there facing the same struggles, and problems that each of us faces every day and week. My goal as a member of the Barnabas Project is to encourage, pray, inform and help equip the pastors of

our movement! God is still moving in our churches, our communities, and in our denomination, so let’s press on and run the race!

Ken Slater

[NEWBURGH, IN]

What an honor to be asked to serve on the Barnabas team!

Part of the assignment is to be an encourager to other pastors and as a pastor I know the ups and downs of a pastor’s life.

Yet, as I have talked with many of these men of God, I am the one being encouraged. They serve in cities, towns and rural communities but mostly in small to medium size churches. They share a common love for God and for their people. Even when life is hard, and so many are working a second or third job, they just want to see people grow in their faith and people come to know Christ.

What a privilege to visit with pastors who have been preaching for their entire adult lives yet they are still looking forward to helping others through their ministry even when most would be thinking about retiring.

John Brumfiel

[DIXON, KY]

Two things stand out to me now that The Barnabas Project is up and running. The first is that General Baptist churches have some of the best pastors in the entire world. Having had many opportunities to talk with many different pastors from different church backgrounds – small churches of less than 20 to large churches running several hundred – I have been impressed with the heart of each and every one to make an impact for the Kingdom of God. As a whole, I have found our pastors to be genuinely and passionately concerned for the future of the church, of the General Baptist movement, and the lost in their midst.

The second thing that strikes me about The Barnabas Project is the depth of compassion, grace and care that is found in the team that makes up the regional representatives. This group of men cares greatly for the Kingdom of God and His servants. They are going above and beyond what has been asked of them, in many cases doing things for pastors that were never even conceived in the Barnabas Project plans.

Asenath Brewster Christmas Offering

The 2015 Asenath Brewster Christmas (ABC) Offering, sponsored by Women’s Ministries, will go to support new church plant, Turning Point Church, led by Steve and Keisa Gill in Bonita Springs, FL. Turning Point Church launched in September 2015.

They are striving to “help people experience a life changing relationship through Jesus Christ.” We are excited about what the Lord will do through their church and we hope that this offering will be a blessing to them as they navigate through the first few months of their ministry.

Please share this giving opportunity with your church.

All gifts may be made payable and sent to General Baptist Women’s Ministries, 100 Stinson Dr., Poplar Bluff, MO 63901. Donations may also be made online at: www.easytithe.com/GBWM. All gifts must be received by March 31, 2016.

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An Interview with Gary Baldus New Walk Church, Zephyr Hills, Florida

1. How did you come to faith in Christ? Who/what influenced your decision?

It was probably through the death of my wife’s mother.

She had been inviting us to a local General Baptist Church all along in 2001 but I had grown up Christian Science. Fortunately I didn’t pay too much attention to Sunday School at the Christian Science Church but I paid enough attention to know something about Jesus. But they so focused on worship of one God and dismissed the Trinity so to them worshipping Jesus as God was a form of idolatry. When I came into a General Baptist Church that centered on Jesus I was dismissive of it at first. I remember sitting in the back of the church one day and as I reflected on the death of my mother-in-law and through the preaching of Pastor Bob Harber, I came to faith in Jesus when I was 29 years old.

The teaching of the word was where it happened to me.

Then getting the revelation of the truth of the word and getting the whole truth rather than just the segments of Mary Baker Eddy Christian Science teaching, made such a difference for me. Now, over the last few years I have been able to see several people in my family come to faith in Jesus.

2. What are your earliest memories of the church?

My background was not conducive to where I am today.

My faith journey has always been a sensitive issue in some family settings. My earliest memories were my parents taking us to that Christian Science church, which was a two minute walk we made every Sunday.

Some things I learned in that early church experience are a cross over into full blown Christianity. I got some foundation there but not the whole truth about who Jesus is and what Jesus does.

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3. When did you sense the Lord leading you into vocational ministry?

Local people in the church pushed and encouraged me.

They weren’t afraid to look me in the eye and say that they saw potential. They saw what could be. I was part of an older church so giving opportunity for a young person to do things was easy for them. Pastor Bob Harber and Pastor Jon Leach both invested in and encouraged me.

I remember I was teaching youth but I was just myself getting revelation about the truth. It was like I was only a few steps ahead of them. But I loved teaching. I never knew that I liked to teach before.

4. When did you sense the Lord leading you into church planting?

They gathered a group of us for a meeting in I think 2005. Dr. Ron Black (Executive Director of General Baptist Ministries) and Dr. Dean Jaggers (Florida Ministry

“We are beyond thankful for being part of General Baptists...That’s the truth and we are just thankful for that. We don’t know where we would be without our General Baptist Family.”

-Pastor Gary Coordinator) painted the picture of a need for a church in our area, in our part of the county. There were probably 20 people in the room but I just knew right then and there through the prompting of the Holy Spirit that I was going to be the guy to plant that church. Then a few months later when Dean Jaggers spoke to me I could say to him it had already been on my heart. So we started on the adventure.

I saw so many people my age that had no idea what a relationship to Jesus could do and I saw it all around me so I wanted to do something about it.

5. Has New Walk church developed as you anticipated? Did you redefine your methods or model along the way?

When we launched in October 2006, we never thought we would grow the way we grew. We are in a small community here in Zephyr Hills and we didn’t see planting this style of church. We planned initially for a more traditional church. I guess that’s what we knew. Our hearts were open though to what would reach young people, young families so we changed to a contemporary style of worship. Then when the Lord provided explosive growth right out of the gate it meant

we had to adjust quickly. We had to learn how to hire staff, how to lead staff and how to do ministry on a larger scale than we had imagined.

Now our usual weekend attendance is 2,000 pretty regularly. On our Main Campus in Zephyr Hills we see 1,500. Then we have satellite campuses in Holiday and Dade City. With the grand opening of our new facility we are hoping for a 2,000 person average at Zephyr Hills with a church-wide average of 3,000 weekly by year’s end.

6. How did your partnership with General Baptists assist in the launch of New Walk Church?

Our partnership with Florida Home Missions, General Baptist National Missions and the Kingdom Expansion Campaign helped provide the startup funds we had to have. Brand new churches don’t even have broken folding chairs so everything has to be purchased and planned for carefully.

Women’s Ministries also helped by listing us as the recipient for the Asenath Brewster Christmas offering. We would not be where we are today without all that early help.

Now we can help others. For example, there are only four churches in our association but we are investing several thousand dollars in the next Florida project, Turning Point Church, Bonita Springs.

7. You served as Moderator/ Host for the Mission & Ministry Summit in 2013.

How did this experience impact you personally?

How did it impact New Walk Church?

What an unbelievable experience! Our church loved it. They look back on that as one of the coolest things to be involved in that we have ever done by serving all those leaders who traveled to Florida. It was like a New Walk Event. We just watched our church rally to the 21

cause. We told them, “We have all these people coming down and these are the General Baptist people who helped us get started.” They just thought it was awesome that they could serve those people who had invested in New Walk from a distance.

8. As you look to the future what do you see as the greatest challenges for our General Baptist network?

It all boils down to money and men. Many are called and few are chosen. God sifts through people and not all guys are capable to lead church work. I have people tell me of their call so I give them ministry assignments. It is not unusual that six months later they are crying because ministry is so hard and they quit.

9. How did your connections with General Baptists assist in the construction of New Walk’s first permanent buildings?

Our building would not have happened if not for the General Baptist Investment Fund. This was like when the Kingdom Expansion Campaign was involved at the outset. This is a faith based thing for us so we had to have someone who believed in us to be the right kind of lender.

We are going to spend the next 2-3 years on stabilization and taking care of things to maintain a healthy operational base but if it had not been for a group of people seeing the potential in New Walk we would probably still be in the YMCA setting up and tearing down every time we had a meeting.

We have a metal building with a few aesthetics but it is a first class facility that would not have been possible if others, General Baptist Investment Fund, and its investors, had not believed in us.

10. You have coached dozens of other church planters.

What is the one best piece of advice you can provide to anyone considering that adventure?

I guess it would be: Don’t do this unless you are really 22

called. Don’t do it because it is flashy or because you will make money or because it is the cool thing to do.

Someone told me once, “I think I’ll try my hand at church planting.” But I said to him, “What you have to do in church planting is cut your hand off.” That’s true in any ministry work. It’s not something you play games with.

You don’t do it unless you are willing to give yourself to a life cause. If you are going to get a church plant off the ground and get it into something healthy you better be in it for the long run. This is not to even mention the attacks of the Evil One that you can only endure if you are invested for the long haul.

11. How does your family engage in ministry at New Walk?

We are all very involved. For the longest time my wife went out to the Holiday Campus to lead the kids ministry every weekend. Right now she helps me here at the main campus. She looks behind the scenes and helps me see how we can realign the ministry for the next level. My girls are very involved in kids’ ministry. My oldest daughter is what they call a small groups teacher so she works with younger kids. My younger daughter just started middle school and she is in our transitional ministry that targets fifth and sixth graders.

We give them freedom. They choose how they are involved. They are also involved in our weekly student ministry.

12. What has been your most rewarding ministry experience?

Well I just can’t tell you anything more rewarding than when someone gives their life over to Christ. We had 107 new people come to our church this week. We have an 80-something man from Illinois who made a decision for Jesus this week. He had tears in his eyes. He had been part of another church that taught him about religion but never introduced him to Jesus. I introduced my grandfather to Christ on his death bed a few months ago.

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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10 EASY TO REMEMBER COMMANDMENTS Most people avoid the topic of health and fitness. Often people dread going to the doctor’s office even for a wellness checkup. Some talk about health and fitness, but few follow through on it.

No matter how fit we become, “each person is destined to die once” (Hebrews 9:27). The number one killer in the world has always been, and will always be, death! Yet the risk from many of the leading causes of death in the U.S. can be lowered by giving attention to health and fitness.

If you don’t know WHY you are doing it, then you will never maintain living it! My 3 WHY’s: • As a Christian I want to stay disciplined in ALL areas of my life!

• My wife is seven years younger than me and women outlive men by about five years so I have a 12 year deficit I can address by health and fitness.

• My children are 14, 12, and 8. I will be 54 by the time they all graduate high school. My first born son has Down syndrome and the odds are not favorable for him living on his own. I want to prepare myself to be as active as possible throughout.

• 32 grams daily are recommended for a healthy adult, but the average American consumes only 10-15 grams a day.

• Sources of fiber include beans, whole grains, brown rice, popcorn (watch the butter and salt), nuts and seeds, fruits (w/skin), berries, oatmeal, vegetables, and dietary supplements.

• Complex carbohydrates come from 100% whole-grain bread and pasta, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, peas, lentils, brown rice, oatmeal and whole fruit.

• Avoid simple carbohydrates from sugar, syrups, fructose, fruit juice, enriched flour, white bread, crackers, cookies, candy, donuts, white rice, French fries, chips, and sodas.

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(3 meals + 3 healthy snacks) • A serving portion is the size of your palm. Each meal needs a lean protein, a complex carb, and at least two meals need a vegetable.

• Pay attention to what is a complex carb (see #3) and what is a vegetable (any green vegetable, carrots, cauliflower, mushrooms, tomato, celery, cabbage, zucchini, onion).

• Lean protein includes chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef, and eggs.

• Avoid the manufactured fat-free and low-fat products that often include hidden sugars.

• Healthy fats come from natural peanut butter, nuts, oils (olive, safflower, canola, sunflower), fish. Coconut oil and egg yolks fit here too!

• Food is not meant to be and should not be used as a coping mechanism.

• That is why they are called a treat!

• Food is not meant to be consistently celebratory.

• Exercise is hard and it hurts less if it is fun, different, challenging, and adventurous.

• Exercising 5-6 days per week at 30 minutes a day does not require a gym membership.

• You are in charge of what you eat and how you exercise!

• Talk to your physician and find a health and fitness regimen that is appropriate for your age and fitness level.

• Set short-term goals that lead to long-term success.

• To maintain health and fitness for the long haul you need the FREE day when you eat whatever and whenever you want with bigger portions and ‘comfort’ food.

• Watch out! Eat too much and you will be ill!

God has blessed you with life; enjoy it!

Live healthier by writing your goals and living out your plan!

Chad Hensley serves as pastor of Henderson, Kentucky General Baptist Church.

You may find more information on this topic by following his blog at www.pastorchadh.blogspot.com.

“I DISCIPLINE MY BODY LIKE AN ATHLETE, TRAINING IT TO DO WHAT IT SHOULD.” - 1 CORINTHIANS 9:27 27

Spiritual Fitness: Growing Through Spiritual Disciplines and Retreats

By Dr. Jim Pratt

“God made every man simple; man’s complex problems are of his own devising” Ecclesiastes 7:30 When God is not at the center one’s life, an unhealthy attachment to things may develop. People tend to crave things they neither need nor enjoy. They buy things they do not want to impress people they do not like.

One must realize that simplicity is counter-cultural. The modern hero is the poor boy who purposefully becomes rich rather than the rich boy who voluntarily becomes poor.

In his book Freedom of Simplicity (1981) Richard Foster discusses the results of living a life in conflict with the spiritual discipline of simplicity. Foster states that contemporary culture is plagued by the passion to possess.

The discipline of simplicity, when rightly exercised, will free us from this passion to possess. It allows us to see material things for what they are--goods to enhance life, not to oppress life.

In his book Celebration of Discipline The Path To Spiritual Growth (1978) Foster gives ten principles to be considered if one wants to exercise the spiritual discipline of simplicity:

1. Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.

2. Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you.

3. Develop a habit of giving things away.

4. Refuse to be controlled by modern inventions.

5. Learn to enjoy things without owning them.

6. Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation.

7. Look with a healthy skepticism at all “buy now, pay later” schemes.

8. Obey Jesus’ instructions about plain, honest speech.

9. Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others.

10. Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the Kingdom of God.

Fathe r, I want to know thee , but my cowa rdly hear t fears to give up its toys.

I cann ot part with them witho ut inward bleed ing, and I do not try to hide from Thee the terro r of the part ing. I come trem bling , but I do come . Pleas e root from my hear t all those thing s which I have cher ished so long and which have beco me a very part of my living self, so that Thou maye st enter and dwel l there witho ut a rival . Then shalt Thou make the place of Thy feet furio us.

Then shall my hear t have no need of the sun to shine in it, for Thyse lf will be the light of it, and there shall be no night there . In Jesus ’ name , Amen .

- A. W. Tozer 28

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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Connected: The House that Nine Months Built

By Patti Thornton, Director of Women’s Ministries

The story of the Tabernacle construction is a most amazing example of the power of connection. Contained in the words of Exodus, chapters 35 to 40, is the story of how God orchestrated the gathering of everything needed to create, furnish, and staff the place He later filled with His presence.

When I say everything, I mean everything.

First, all the people were invited to give. There was an entire list of ways to give from “cash” to lamp oil.

Everybody would have something physical to contribute. Then, the people were asked to put their skills and talents to task in constructing and furnishing the Tabernacle.

God had already gifted a man with wisdom, leadership skills, craftsmanship, and the Holy Spirit in order to equip him for the role of heading the operation. He and a couple of other men were gifted with teaching the special skills in which they excelled.

Moses spoke God’s instruction and motivated the massive coordination of skilled workers and givers to complete, in less than nine months, the Tabernacle of God. There was never a shortage of craftspeople to get the job done or money in the coffers to pay for the materials. In fact, Moses had to tell the people to stop bringing their offerings; there was more than enough in the stock room.

Finally, on the first day of the second year since they escaped Egypt’s slavery, the people of Israel gathered to ceremonially erect the mobile tent that would somehow hold the awesome glory of the Lord. I love the words of Ellen G. White, who shares how she envisions the scene:

“With eager interest the multitudes of Israel crowded around to look upon the sacred structure. While they were contemplating the scene with reverent satisfaction, the pillar of cloud floated over the sanctuary and, descending, enveloped it. ‘And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.’ There was a revealing of the divine majesty, and for a time even Moses could not enter. With deep emotion the people beheld the token that the work of their hands was accepted. There were no loud demonstrations of rejoicing. A solemn awe rested upon all. But the gladness of their hearts welled up in tears of joy, and they murmured low, earnest words of gratitude that God had condescended to abide with them.”

(Patriarchs and Prophets, p, 349) Centuries of studies have been devoted to pulling every possible symbolic teaching from these passages.

Personally, I tend to look at the simple side of historical lessons, and what I see here is a lesson in cooperation.

God could have created mankind to work and succeed in whatever way He wished. Apparently, He wishes that we work as an assembly, a collection of gifted people gifted according to His outpouring. He gives us leaders, resources, and gifts for every work that He has for us to do. He also leaves it in our hands to GIVE those resources, OFFER those gifts and STEP UP to the leadership roles for which He poured Himself into us.

Wouldn’t it just be something if at next year’s Mission and Ministry Summit we all had stories to tell of overflowing resources and talent pools? If a sense of awe and reverent satisfaction filled the room as we gathered to worship? If we could say, without hesitation, “YES! We are gifted individually but awe-inspiring when we connect”? The people of Israel succeeded in their project in less than nine months…what can WE do in the next nine?

Visit our new store at GBWomen.org Did you know Women’s Ministries is selling Coffee?

$12 /bag

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The Jewelry you couldn’t get enough of at the Summit is now online.

Visit today to get that ring or snap you just had to have and wish you would have bought at the Summit.

General Baptist International Ministries Announces New Mission One Coordinator General Baptist International Ministries is pleased to introduce Dr. James (Jim) D. Pratt as the new Mission One (MVP) coordinator. Jim will succeed Kris Yeomans as the Mission One Coordinator effective September 1, 2015.

Doctor Pratt comes well qualified and highly recommend for the position. He holds a Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership from Oakland City University (OCU). He has led seven Mission One teams over the last several years as well as serving as a presenter on two Philippine Fall Leadership Conferences. Since 2013 he has served as Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Director of Campus Life at OCU. While serving as Assistant Professor and later as Associate Professor, Jim taught a variety of courses including History of Christian Missions, Introduction to Short-Term Missions, and Studies in Christian Missions. Jim was ordained in 1984 by the historic Liberty Association of General Baptists and has served the denomination both as Pastor and Interim Pastor.

Jim is well known to many General Baptists because of his long connection with Oakland City University and his frequent presence in local associations to present the Oakland City University report. He has been a regular contributor to General Baptist Sunday School literature, and has been a presenter several years at the Mission & Ministry Summit. In fact Jim may be one of the best known faces and names among us!

Jim’s wealth of background with the Mission One program as well as his wealth of involvement with

Did you know some of the greatest things in life are free…? Others cost money. It’s the world we live in…. and we at Women’s Ministries are working to meet the needs of women in our communities, our country and in our mission fields. In order to do this, we

Oakland City University and student mission life will serve General Baptists well as we continue to develop both our short term team approach and missionary internships.

Jim is married to Kris Kinder Pratt and they have a daughter, Katie Pratt Benefiel. The Pratts will be relocating from Oakland City, Indiana to the Poplar Bluff area. Dr. Jim will work from the General Baptist offices in Poplar Bluff.

Kris Yeomans, his wife Nicole and their children, will begin a transition that they hope will lead to missionary appointment themselves. They have a strong sense of a call to reach unevangelized people groups and will hopefully help General Baptists spearhead our initiative to reach the 10/40 window – the area where the greatest number of unevangelized people live in our world. The 10/40 Initiative will strengthen our work in India as well as expand ministry in partnership with other Southeast Asian General Baptists, especially in the Philippines and Hong Kong, to impact this unreached part of the world.

Kris will continue to serve the Mission One program as Dr. Pratt makes his transition to the program.

have dedicated a portion of this year to raising money to help with the many plans we have for supporting women in our denomination.

If you had the privilege of attending the Summit this year, you got to see and hear all about the great things that are happening in Women’s Ministries.

For example: Did you know that if you fill an empty water bottle with dimes, you’ll have $100? Vicki Smith and Hope Valvero challenged the women who attended their breakout and visited the Women’s Ministries table to turn their dimes to dollars by filling their water bottles and giving the money to help support Women’s Ministries.

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“The General Baptist work in Jamaica had its beginnings in 1958 through some correspondence initiated by Reverend Roger J. Cazziol, a faith missionary who was working in the newly independent country of Ghana in West Africa.

Reverend Cazziol, a British subject was a teacher-minister trained in tropical agriculture. He was a self-supporting missionary with an independent mind-set, and was ever alert to new opportunities for service. Since Cazziol was a British subject, it was natural that he would be alert to a new opportunity for teaching in Jamaica, a developing country soon to be granted full independence from Great Britain.

Attracted to General Baptist polity and doctrine while in seminary studies, he wrote to the denomination for more information. Having taken a position as Headmaster at a private boys’ school in Jamaica, he began a ministry of missionary evangelism in the rural areas of central Jamaica” (Seed Soil and Seasons, by Charles Carr, Pages 168-169).

Cazziol’s goal was to develop an association of churches and to bring them under the organizational structure of General Baptists in the United States. By the close of 1961, Cazziol had registered with the government of Jamaica the name Jamaica Association of General Baptist. Although the paper organization existed, a local organization of churches and people had yet to be organized.

In 1962, Jamaica received full independence from Great Britain. Reverend Cazziol united with the Ft. Lauderdale General Baptist Church in Florida, then a member church in the Union Association, and was ordained by its presbytery on Thanksgiving Day, 1963.

Delegates from the Jamaica General Baptist churches met to organize the Jamaica Association on November 29, 1963 two years after it had been organized as a legal religious body. Representatives of General Baptists in the United States were Mr. and Mrs. Marlin Dossett (secretary-treasurer of the Foreign Mission Board) and Rev. and Mrs. B. Gibson (representing the Board of Religious Education). Twenty-eight delegates represented nine churches with a total membership of 300. The interest of the people in such an organization was shown by the fact that all churches were represented and all ministers and deacons were present. It not only showed their interest, but gave opportunity to 32

explain the working and value of an Association.

Mrs. A. DaCosta who served as acting clerk of this meeting reported, “We were not expecting this wonderful turnout, because it was an ordinary working day, and all the representatives had to travel for many miles by bus. The association, however, provided transportation with two trucks, one taking the delegates from the Northern side of the island, another from the Southern part. The meeting point, the town of Christiana, is right in the center of Jamaica.”

“Since Jamaica was near the United States mainland, it was now possible for pastors and Christian workers to travel to a mission field for their own first-hand experience in cross-culture work.”

(Seed, Soil and Seasons- page 171).

In a letter dated the 6th of October, 1964, the Jamaica Association sent a request to the General Association of General Baptists asking for financial help so they might be able to incorporate. Because the Association was not incorporated their ordained ministers were not recognized by the Jamaican government. The letter stated “presently we cannot perform marriages for our young people and it is difficult to get ministers of other churches to do this for us. When they marry someone, they want them to join their church. So we stand a chance of losing our young people.”

On September 11, 1966 the churches of Jamaica formed their Articles of Association and became the Jamaica Association of General Baptists, Limited. The Jamaica Association of General Baptist became a reality rather than a mere name registered with the government of Jamaica.

In August, 2016 the Jamaica Association will celebrate its 50th annual meeting. In its earliest beginnings the work of General Baptists has been an enigma in Jamaica. Probably the fact that the work in Jamaica was begun at the initiative of an independent Missionary, and not instituted by the Foreign Mission Board in the customary way contributed much to the problems. The Foreign Mission Board had just opened a new field in the Philippines, so funding for the new work in Jamaica was limited. The most urgent need in Jamaica was the construction of suitable buildings where the congregations could assemble for worship. Most of the groups were meeting in the open air, under shade trees, or in pole and thatch shelters on private properties. The capital needed for these buildings was beyond what the Foreign Mission Board could raise.

Faced with many challenges both here at home and on the field, through “staying strong and staying connected”, the ministry has continued. The Jamaica Association of General Baptist stands tall, in spite of the disappointments and struggles, with faithful pastors at the helm determined to spread the good news of Jesus Christ in a troubled society. By staying strong and staying connected, we make a difference in Jamaica and around the world.

Rev. James Schremp and his wife Sue have served as Interim Directors for General Baptist International. Having completed that assignment Pastor Jim now serves as Senior Pastor of Agee Fellowship General Baptist Church in Poplar Bluff, MO.

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JAMAICA ASSOCIATION Rev. Charles and Lavon Linhart

Fifty years have passed since the founding of the Jamaica Association of General Baptists, and we are pleased to celebrate with our brothers and sisters on the beautiful Island of Jamaica.

When Columbus discovered Jamaica in 1494, he described it as the most beautiful island paradise on earth. Jamaica is called the land of sun, wind and water. It is only approximately one hundred-fifty miles long and about fifty miles wide. The mountains are covered with lush green forests. The Caribbean Sea with its white sandy beaches and beautiful azure blue water surrounds the island. We found the sights to be indescribably beautiful as all who have gone there can testify. The beautiful scenery is populated by the wonderful people of that island nation. I am pleased to call them my brothers and sisters in the Lord.

I first became acquainted with the people of Jamaica by joining a work team led by Rev. Roy Ridenour in 1983. Our assignment was to build a home for the Snider missionary family. During the construction of this home I was privileged to meet some of the local Jamaican pastors. I had no idea that in just a short season we would be privileged to work among these and other fine men and women making up the Jamaica Association of General Baptists.

When we arrived as missionaries, our first assignment in Jamaica was to reestablish a work among the churches by restoring the run-down buildings at Mt. Forrest Youth Camp, and establishing a camping ministry among island churches. A very narrow, bumpy, dirt road, (or path) that a vehicle could hardly get through provided access to the camp. The view, however, was worth the drive.

Work crews from the states and volunteer work done by local pastors of Jamaica Association made our task easier. By August, 1986 the camp was in good working order (except for electric), and the Jamaican Association met at the camp for its annual meeting.

Faith Home Child Care Center was established in 1946 by Rebecca Brown O’Sullivan, and a small group of prayer partners from Jamaica. The home was described as “a vine of God’s planting.” The first lot was the Mama O’Sullivan property where a crude frame building 34

made of local wood and bamboo poles became the first dormitory housing the “first dozen children” to live at Faith Home.

At that time food was cooked in open pots over an open fire and water was carried from nearby streams.

Another lot was purchased about one half mile from the first and became known as the North Campus.

The boys were moved into bamboo huts and later into concrete dorms there. With failing health Mrs. O’Sullivan arranged for Faith Home to be transferred to

the General Baptist Foreign Mission Board in 1973. The Charles Benson family became the first superintendents.

The ministry of Faith Home-Jamaica enriched many lives both in the states and on the Island of Jamaica.

This ministry continued until the Ministry of Youth in Jamaica transferred all the children from Faith Home to individual foster families. That decision led to the closure of Faith Home, but did not work out as the government of Jamaica had planned. Many foster

parents only took children because of the funds they were paid rather than because of their love for them.

Some twenty years later Lavon and I would go back to Jamaica and hold a reunion with many of those children who were brought up at Faith Home. It was a delightful event being able to meet again those who were now grown men and women, many with children of their own. Each one testified to the good work of General Baptists at Faith Home telling us it was the best years of their lives. To God be the glory!

Worship among the Jamaicans is an experience all its own. The enthusiasm demonstrated by hand clapping, shouts of praise to God and sound preaching is worthy of the term worship.

Moving from their earlier days, the Jamaican pastors have all become college graduates and students of the Word of God. I always enjoyed the crusades and the joy of preaching among the churches, both while I lived there and on the many return trips to Jamaica since moving to the states.

The churches of Jamaica are very evangelistic in outreach. They now have a full-time associational evangelist, Rev. Ucal Thompson, who is among the best preachers one can have the privilege of hearing. He is a winner of souls and is referred to as “The Walking Bible” due to his ability to preach much of it from memory. The Jamaica Association has planted a new mission church

in the Spanish Town area, under the leadership of Rev. Rudolph Lennards, and through the sponsorship of the Henderson General Baptist Church, Henderson, KY. As I reflect on my personal experiences in Jamaica, it is my opinion that many fruitful years are on the horizon for the great people that make up the Jamaica Association of General Baptists. Staying connected to the churches of Jamaica will allow American General Baptists to enjoy the rich fruits of the faithful ministry of soul winning and church planting partnerships available there.

Rev. Charles and Lavon Linhart served as missionaries on the Island of Jamaica and are now retired in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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Church Construction in India

By Jessey Vemula

Having a church building in India is always a blessing.

Our Christian families who allow us to conduct Sunday worship services at their houses every week are sometimes looked down on, threatened, or even beaten by their neighbors and the people of the village. In that way, as pastors we are putting Christian families in danger by visiting and conducting services in their houses every Sunday. We have been interrupted and stopped during the services by the neighbors and unfortunately we have stopped gatherings in many places.

realize the true spiritual condition of my country. That’s when I realized that there are millions and millions of people in India dying every day and ending up in hell because they never got a chance to hear about Jesus Christ once. Since then India has become my calling and mission field. Honestly, this incident has put an inerasable impression in my heart.

I spent the next few minutes with this old man sharing the good news. My main intention was to become a good friend to him first and later make him a disciple for Christ. It took almost a year to plant a church at his house with 2 people, but we used to gather every Sunday for worship. In 2007 my parents bought a small piece of land in this village to build a church. It took more than a year to go through a long process to get permission from neighbors, politicians, and municipality to build a church. Permission was purposely delayed and denied. After several recommendations and special “fees” it was approved. Finally we had the permission but no money to start the construction because most of the money was used in the process of getting permission.

In 2010, with the small amount of money we had, we started constructing a temporary building with galvanized sheets on the roof but heavy winds blew the sheets off twice in three years and caused a lot of damage to the brick walls. Every time this happened we spent an equal amount of money to get the walls and roof repaired.

We are putting Christian Families in Danger by visiting and conducting services in their house every Sunday.

In 2005, I went to a village called Chinnakodur to do an open air evangelism. There I met a man and I decided to share the good news of Christ Jesus with him. I started my conversation by asking him a question in Telegu, “Namasthe meeku Yesu Kristhu thelsa?” This means, “Greetings, do you know Jesus Christ?” He replied, “Are you sure he lives in this village? I’m 70 years old living in this village but never heard of him.” Later he suggested I go to the next village where I might find him. This conversation broke my heart. That old man helped me to 36

Time went on and we still did not have any way of fixing the church. God however, provided a way through the General Baptist International Missions.

So we decided to tear down the old construction completely and rebuild it with a strong concrete foundation, walls, and pillars to make it permanent. The church and an additional hall on the side is being constructed in the shape of ‘L’. If God willing Brittany and I want to move to this building in the future to make it our permanent home. At the same time, we want to put two more stories on the top of the new church building with a second story for the Good Shepherd’s Children home and a third level for mission teams. This building will also be used to run the Lydia sewing center, leadership training center, and as an office. The Good Shepherd’s home has 16 kids. Seven out of 16 kids are HIV positive and they are in a different place for health reasons, but 9 kids are with us now in Siddipet. 5 boys and 4 girls. They all sleep, eat, play, study, do their homework, etc. inside the church, that’s all they have, because they have no other place. The kids are growing and it is time for us to understand their needs and separate the boys and girls to provide them better accommodations with privacy.

We have already started the construction but in order to finish the remaining work and build another story completely we need an extra $20,000. Among all 43 General Baptist churches in India we have only 3 church buildings and the rest of them are in houses. So we request all of our brothers and sisters out there to prayerfully consider helping and supporting the General Baptist Churches in India. We want to grow, bring transformation through making disciples, and we want to plant General Baptist churches so that we can reach the nation of India for Christ. The Christian population is 2.3% in India. There is so much Christian work to be done in this country. Pray for this ministry and the nation of India.

“Jessey Vemula (from South India) met his wife Brittany (from Southeast Missouri) while he was doing graduate work in the United States. They minister in India through church planting, evangelism efforts and social justice ministries.”

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Strategic Churches

By Rev. Mark Powell Director of International Missions

The phrase strategic churches means different things to different people, but for the General Baptist Church of the Philippines, Inc. (GBCPI) it means targeting and reaching areas of strategic importance due to location and/or population centers where there is currently no General Baptist presence. The dilemma that has plagued the Filipinos was not one of desire but of ability. Who would provide the manpower and the resources to make church planting possible?

The answer came in an unexpected way when a layman in one of our churches, who happened to work for a security company, offered to hire General Baptist pastors and assign them security details in locations where churches were needed. The security agency happened to have a contract with The Philippine National Bank to assign security details to foreclosed properties all over the central Visayan Island Cluster and the island of Mindanao.

Church leaders including Rev. Danilo Jamero (outgoing GBCPI moderator), Rev. Jerry Muring and Dr. Abdon Canonoy (incoming GBCPI moderator) seized the opportunity and started a Tent Making Ministry based on this model.

So now they had a way of providing a pastor, but what about the problem of property and eventually a building for the new church to utilize? The resourceful GBCPI leaders decided that they needed to recruit their local associations and churches to join them in this new church planting effort and launched CLAP – Church Lot Acquisition Project. The idea was to challenge local associations (districts in the Philippines), churches and individuals to pledge support and pursue that support until enough was raised to purchase a church lot.

The first church started by using this model was in the community of Pigcawayan in the province of North Cotabato. This community of nearly 60,000 people is in an agricultural area not very different from the setting of

many of the established General Baptist churches in the Philippines. Through the program a pastor was employed and assigned to duties in the area, pledges were received and sufficient money raised to not only purchase church property but also help the new church by providing roofing materials for their new facility. Success!

The next project, located in Cagayan de Oro is more challenging. Cagayan de Oro is the third largest city on Mindanao and a key industrial area on the island. Pastors have been employed as before – in fact five pastors were employed in Cagayan through the Tent Making Ministry.

As a result, there are now four newly opened house churches meeting in the city.

Time for phase two: CLAP. At the 2015 General Assembly of the General Baptist Church of the Philippines, Inc. pledges were received from the assembled delegates to purchase 100 square meters but the goal was 500 square meters or larger. Land in Cagayan de Oro is expensive, yet great progress had been realized in just one meeting, and there was still a broader appeal to be made.

As of this writing GBCPI is still raising money to achieve the goal.

Recognizing the strategic location that Cagayan de Oro offers to the Philippine ministry and the great potential for growth in basically an untouched area of the island, General Baptist International Ministries asked if we could assist the project by offering a matching grant to the CLAP program and thereby giving even greater incentive to the pledge process and a way to arrive at the goal sooner. The offer was accepted and it was decided that a good portion of the 2015 Ed Stevens offering would be used to help make this new church plant a reality in partnership with GBCPI. Some parts of the offering would be reserved for future Strategic Church plants, perhaps in the Philippines or with one of our other national partners in an effort to help national churches plant churches in very strategic ways.

We applaud the leadership in the Philippines for such innovative and strategic leadership. By God’s grace they have looked a problem in the face and have found a way to overcome!

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Commandments for Becoming a Media Savvy Pastor

By Phil Cooke

As a media consultant, I have the opportunity to help some of the largest churches and ministries in the country create effective, high quality media outreaches. In most cases, they are experienced, committed Christian leaders who understand the value and the power of the media.

But I also have the opportunity to spend time with less experienced pastors and ministry leaders who feel just as called to use media in a meaningful way, but have serious questions like: • “Will it compromise my message?”

• “Will it be too expensive?”

• “Will my preaching or teaching ministry really work on television?’

• “I only have 100 people in my congregation, can I still use the media?”

• “Is it an effective use of our money?”

There are many questions, and many options as well.

Perhaps you’ve wondered about many of these issues before, or listened to Christian radio or watched Christian television late into the night thinking, “I could do that” but just have no idea where to start. I feel your pain. But the good news is yes – even if you have only a handful of people in your congregation, you can use the media. I’ve taught media classes and workshops around the world, and I’ve seen people in the most remote places in Russia, Africa, India, and South America producing programs.

Today, there’s a young Russian woman producing a local Christian television program in one of the most isolated cities in Siberia. She started with a department store video camera and a VHS tape deck, and yet it’s reaching thousands of people with a message of hope.

Before you start, there are some critical things you need to know to be effective. Here’s five vital principles as you begin your journey.

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1.

Think Quality People Before Quality Equipment – Most churches and ministries are happy to spend serious money on equipment, and then hire untrained volunteers to operate it. But remember – God works through people, not equipment. I would much rather have creative, innovative people working with second rate equipment, over great equipment operated by average people. When you allocate your budget – concentrate on qualified and committed people before you purchase stateof-the-art equipment.

2.

Consult with Someone Who Understands the Media – Your brother-in-law may be a wonderful guy who loves your ministry, but chances are he doesn’t know anything about the media. Find someone with real experience in the business who can guide you and give you the best advice. Perhaps there’s someone in your church with experience. If not, call a media ministry you watch and respect, or Christian college with a mass communications department, and ask for their recommendations.

3.

Learn How to Tell a Story – It’s no surprise that the most watched programs on secular television are story based. Even reality programs are built around a story. It’s critically important to remember that ultimately – as a pastor, you’re telling a story. A simple story about how God chose to become one of us and share His eternal plan with people who didn’t deserve it. That’s it. It’s not just about close-ups, cuts and dissolves, better lighting, or quality sound. It’s about telling a story. This coming Sunday, thousands of pastors will step up to the pulpit without telling a single story. And yet, when you study the life of Jesus, that’s just about all he ever did. Stories touch people, and change their lives.

4.

Forget Christian “Lingo” – Christian media is so filled with its own “lingo,” that most of the people we’re trying to reach can’t even understand us. But when I read the New Testament, Jesus spoke in a language and style people understood. Why have we lost that ability?

Why have we created an entire vocabulary of words and

phrases that only church members can understand?

The Importance of the Package – On our home cable TV system in Los Angeles, we have nearly 500 channels. With TV remotes, our experience and research indicates that most people take an average of two to three seconds to decide which program to watch. Therefore, it doesn’t matter how powerful your message is – if the rest of the program can’t keep their attention, they’ll never watch long enough to hear it. We need to package our messages in an innovative and exciting way so people will want to watch and listen.

You can make a difference in the media. Keep checking this blog, and we’ll show you how.

5.

This blog post originally appeared at www.philcooke.com and has been reprinted with permission. Phil Cooke will be a special guest at the Mission & Ministry Summit, July 18-20, 2016 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Did you know that 5K is equal to 3.3 miles?

And did you know that Women’s Ministries hosted a 5K event on October 3, 2015? Did you know Vicki Smith will give you everything you need to plan and organize a 5K of your own, including a t-shirt design and order form for only $10? Using Vicki’s well planned out packet, you can host your own event and make it fit your church and community demographic.

Email Vicki Smith at sids@peoplepc.com to have a packet sent to you.

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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.

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“In everybody’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner fire.”

– Albert Schweitzer

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”

– Dale Carnegie “Remember that guy that gave up? No one else does either.”

– Unknown “Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right.

To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson “Don’t be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.”

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“A winner is someone who gets up one more time than he is knocked down.”

– Author Unknown “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.”

– Vince Lombardi “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

– Thomas Edison “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.”

– Franklin D. Roosevelt “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

– Winston Churchill “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!”

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“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

– Author Unknown “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.”

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