2013 Fall Messenger

God’s people have always struggled with the dilemma of living by faith or by fear.

This was certainly true when God’s people were traveling from the land of Egypt to the Promised Land. After the spies came back with the report that the land was filled with huge giants, the people of Israel were confronted with a dilemma: Do we live by faith and go forward, or do we live by fear and go around? Do we trust what we see or what we can’t see? Despite the fact that the same God who had delivered them from the hand of the Egyptians was the same God who promised to deliver them into the Promised Land, the people chose to live by fear instead of faith. Unfortunately that choice delayed entry to the Promised Land for a generation.

This dilemma of faith or fear is no more evident than in the area of financial stewardship. I believe this is the number 1 area where most Christians will give in to fear and not live by faith!

One important fact I have learned as a pastor is that it takes money to do ministry. It takes money to construct a church building, to pay for utilities, to hire staff, or to offer services to our community.

Giving is a pathway to build up one’s faith. God realized that giving was an exercise of faith when He invited His people to partner with Him in giving to build the Tabernacle.

The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me gifts. Receive for me the gifts each person wants to give. 3 These are the gifts that you should receive from them: gold, silver, bronze; 4 blue, purple, and red thread; fine linen, goat hair, 5 sheepskins that are dyed red; fine leather; acacia wood; 6 olive oil to burn in the lamps; spices for sweet-smelling incense, and the special olive oil poured on a person’s head to make him a priest; 7 onyx stones, and other jewels to be put on the holy vest and the chest covering. 8 “The people must build a holy place for me so that I can live among them. 9 Build this Holy Tent and everything in it by the plan I will show you.

(Exodus 25:1-9)

This dilemma of choosing to manage our finances by faith or fear still exists today. Our world promotes selfishness, excess and greed. When people hang on to nearly 100% of everything they earn and keep it for themselves or their families, this is selfishness and greed. Few people think they are greedy, yet they live out the definition of greed (an excessive desire for more) each day. When we refuse to give our financial gifts to God, we are choosing to live our lives and handle our finances without God’s blessing, without God’s direction, without God’s help. It is as if we are saying we can do better with our money on our own. What a mistake! We NEED God’s blessing upon our personal finances! We NEED God’s direction on how to spend the money he has provided to us. We NEED to trust Him and live by faith and not by fear!

I remember several years ago when General Baptists were commissioning our very first missionary to China. Josh Hammond was a young man fresh out of college. I remember sitting back in awe of this young man’s passion and call to world missions. As I sat back praying for Josh and the road that lay ahead for him, I was also thanking God that I had not been called to minister in China but at a church in Springfield, Illinois. And even though Springfield, Illinois was a long way from China, I asked God to help me lead my church to one day be a church that would give $100,000 to General Baptist Ministries so that more missionaries just like Josh could be sent to places just like China.

General Baptists must make some important decisions. On a personal level, each of us must decide whether we have the faith to partner with our local church so our own communities will be impacted with the gospel Christ. On the local level, each church must decide if it has enough faith to invest in the network of churches called General Baptist by giving so that more churches can be started and more people equipped for ministry in America and around the world. Pastors need to ask if they are casting the vision and leading their congregations to see the bigger picture of General Baptists doing together what we cannot do alone. Will we manage our personal and church finances by faith or by fear?

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Stewardship.

Yes it is about money! No that’s not all there is to it!

In the feature section you will find an introduction to the 2014 Mission One Theme of Stewardship. Some pages have been devoted to money issues. Others have been given to address time, talents, and lifestyle choices.

All have been designed to encourage Christian stewardship as a hallmark of the maturing disciple.

Additional Mission One resources including sermon starters, small group resources, and a host of other stewardship related items will be added to our Mission One website throughout the fall.

Please check www.gbMissionOne.org for current resources.

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By Rich Avery

hy do pastors always

talk about money at church?” It’s a question I’m asked every now and then when someone finds out I’m a pastor.

When I ask what they mean, they say that when they go to church it seems like their pastor always talks about the financial needs of the church right before the collection plate is passed each week, and asks people to give more money to help meet those needs.

On top of that, pastors preach sermons about money from time to time, and some of those sermons also seem meant to motivate people to give more to the church.

In essence, what they’re saying is they believe that pastors talk so much about money, and they ask their people to give so often, that it makes them feel uncomfortable about how they manage their own finances, and a little guilty about how much, or little, they give to the church.

So why do pastors and churches talk about money? Is it meant to make people feel uncomfortable or guilty?

Do we do it too much? Here are three reasons why pastors talk about money at church.

Three Reasons Why Pastors Talk About Money 1. To invite people to help the church fulfill her calling to impact the community and world.

When people ask me why pastors

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always talk about money, I usually begin my reply by jokingly saying,

“If you think pastors talk too much about money at church, you should see what they do at the grocery store.

Every single time I go there and put something in my cart, they ask me for money. And when I go to the doctor, he asks me for money too. When I

go to the gas station, they ask me for money. When I go to the movies or out to dinner, they ask me for money.

Come to think of it, wherever I go, people are asking me for my money in exchange for some service that they provide for me.”

My point is this: No business, organization, or ministry survives without money. Businesses charge their customers for the products and services they receive. Churches do not (though they may charge a fee for a particular class or workshop).

Instead, churches invite people to give to meet their financial needs so they can accomplish the work God called them to do, and serve people who cannot repay.

Our ultimate goal as pastors in asking people to give is not to make budget, save for a new building, fund programs, or employ staff. We need to show people how their tithes make a real – and eternal – difference in the lives of real people through the daily ministry of the church inside the four walls, across the street, across town, and across the world.

2. Jesus talked about money a lot!

In fact . . . .

• Jesus talked about money more than He talked about heaven and hell combined.

• Jesus talked about money more than anything else except the Kingdom of God.

• 11 of 39 parables talk about money.

• One out of every seven verses in the Gospel of Luke talks about money.

• About 25 percent of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospels relates to money, stewardship, and the

resources God has given us.

Why did Jesus talk so much about money? Because…

3. There is a direct correlation between what we do with our money and what we truly believe.

Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34). In other words, where and how we spend our money is a reflection of where our heart is.

As pastors, we have an opportunity to not just ask people to give, but also a God-given obligation to show them how to earn it, save it, and give it in a way that honors God. That’s why a lot of churches offer money management classes and coaching.

I think we can all agree that the world does not tell us how to spend our money according to biblical principles.

So where else will we hear this? It needs to come from the church.

But if you think pastors and churches talk too much about money, and ask people to give too often, consider these facts:

• Only 4% of Americans tithe (give 10% of their income to their church) according to a 2011 survey by the Barna Group.

• 25% of American Christians gave away no money at all (according to a 2008 Christianity Today article – from which the following points are also taken).

• The average regularly attending churchgoer gives 6% of after-tax income (but it was noted that this figure is skewed by a handful of very generous givers).

• The median annual giving for an American Christian is $200 – just over half a percent of aftertax income!

• About 5% of American Christians provide 60% of the money churches receive (it’s these people who skew the average mentioned above).

What this tells us, I believe, is that few Christians really believe that their money belongs to God and that they are stewards of the

resources He has chosen to entrust to them.

Few make a priority commitment to give from the heart. Most of us just “tip” God by dropping a few coins or bills in the plate here and there.

I believe pastors and churches probably wouldn’t need to ask for money if all Christians gave at least the 10% tithe. Our church has tested this assumption by holding a “Tithing Demonstration Weekend” once a year, where we ask everyone to tithe 10% of the income they earned that week. Our goal was to see how much money would be received if everyone tithed. We’ve found that our income increased by nearly 50%!

We also challenged non-tithers to a 90 day Tithing Challenge to give tithing a try for 90 days and see what would happen in their lives as a result.

After the challenge, we heard amazing stories of how people grew in their faith and watched God provide for their needs when they committed to giving Him at least 10%.

Of course, if you can’t give 10%, you can start where you can and try to add a percent every 4-6 months until you get there. But don’t stop there.

Keep on going, and growing, in the grace of giving.

I don’t know how it is at your church when the pastor announces it is time for the offering, but at our church, people applaud and cheer now when the time comes. Why? One simple reason: because God loves a cheerful giver, and more and more people in our church are learning to give with gratitude, from the heart (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Reprinted by permission of www.

MoneyWisePastor.com

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By Kevin Mercadante

ou give 10% of your income to your church and to

the needy. You also save 20% of your pay for

retirement, investments, and for a rainy day. Is there anything wrong with that arrangement?

If you’re a Christian, there might be. Jesus was very specific on this point.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 NIV).

We know we should save money, but it’s also a matter of degree – if too much treasure goes into savings, it could be taking our hearts with it! Not good.

This will always be a source of tension for the believer, and I think it was meant to be that way.

The Good Side of Saving Money

We can find numerous verses in the Bible supporting the idea of saving money. The book of Proverbs is full of them, so we know that saving is both good and necessary.

Consider what it can do for us as believers:

1. Helps us not be a burden to others.

By having a sufficient amount of money saved, we avoid being a burden to our loved ones and to the community around us.

2. We’ll have more money to give.

The more excess money (savings) that you have, the more generous you can afford to be in helping others.

There’ll always be needs and the needy in the world (Matthew 26:11), and there will always need to be people who are in a position to help.

3. Minimizes worldly stressors.

Worry is a false idol that draws our attention away from God. Having some money saved can help to reduce sources of stress, keeping our minds and our lives free to focus on our faith.

Obviously there’s a lot of good that comes from having extra money, even for a believer.

The Dark Side of Saving Money When it comes to savings, we have to ask the question, how much is enough? That’s a tough call, but it is possible for the perpetual pursuit of having ever more money to become a personal obsession.

1. Becoming your own favorite charity.

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The popular phrase in the financial world is “pay yourself first” when it comes to saving money. The word “yourself” is the operative word in the directive, putting the entire emphasis on satisfying your needs first. After paying taxes and necessary expenses, each of us have a certain amount of disposable income that we can direct to various needs. If paying ourselves becomes the priority, what does that say about us? What does it say about our faith?

2. Believing that money equals security.

It is possible to convince ourselves that the purpose for having a lot of money saved is to give ourselves “a little security” in life – that sounds less like a quest for riches, doesn’t it? But how much security can money actually provide? Is there a point at which the pursuit of monetary security competes with the journey toward eternal security?

Probably, and that’s something we need to think about.

3. The world calls a heavy emphasis on saving “good.”

The way of the world is all about the accumulation of money. But we have to be very wary of pursuing the things the world calls good. When everyone around us is pursuing the same goal, we can easily become swept up in that effort and lose sight of the fact that we have a different purpose in the world.

4. Neglecting needs all around you.

None of us can address all of the needs around us. But at the same time, we can neglect more than we should if we get too caught up in the climb for a bigger pile of savings.

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:1718 NIV).

It is precisely because building up wealth is so normal, so encouraged, that we need to step back and ask ourselves if our ways are too closely paralleling those of the secular world.

Why it’s Good to Give as Much as You Can

While recognizing the fact that we do need to save some money, it is also a sign of faith when we feel free to

give money away, secure in the knowledge that God will provide for us.

1. It’s important to trust God rather than “pay yourself first.”

We probably don’t think about this often, but a strong emphasis on saving money could be masking a lack of faith in God. If we always need to have more money put away, it can be an indication we do not entirely trust God to provide for us. There is a dividing line here – Jesus told us that we “cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24 NIV).

2. It helps us be the hands and feet of God.

If God has blessed us with any degree of prosperity, there’s so much that we can do to be his hands and feet in the world. As Jesus said, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48 NIV). Do we take that seriously, especially

when it comes to money?

3. The world will know us by our deeds.

How great a witness will you be if you are a person of modest means, but one who gives generously? That combination is downright countercultural – when people see it they will have to ask why. They’ll know that there’s something different about you. If they know that you’re a Christian, your witness will be greater than any words that can come out of your mouth.

I don’t think that there’s any magic formula here, such as giving away one dollar for every dollar that you save for yourself. But is it possible to save too much, and to give too little – and all the while seeing no problem with that arrangement?

This article reprinted with the permission of www.thechristiandollar.com.

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By David Peach

o be a good steward you have to recognize your

relationship to things that you have. When you think

of the possessions you have as your own and that no one will dictate to you how to handle them or use them, then you are not being a good steward. The proper relationship to things is to understand that everything belongs to God and that you have been given them to manage on God’s behalf.

Here are seven tips for Christians who want to have a better understanding of stewardship and how to handle money.

1. Tithe to the Lord

There are differing thoughts about how the tithe should be given or used today (since Christ’s death); however, it is clear that we are to have an attitude that what we own comes from the Lord and to give a portion back to Him is a recognition of that fact. Whether you ascribe to storehouse tithing and a strict 10%, or you give according to the way God has blessed you, we should give cheerfully and thankfully (2 Corinthians 9:7). Everything we have is because the Lord has blessed us with it. Out of obedience and love we ought to be willing to give back to Him with confidence that He will take care of our needs.

2. Don’t Get Into Debt

Proverbs 22:7 “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”

The Bible does not forbid debt. However, it teaches very 12

strongly that it is unwise to get into debt. Living within our means is spending what we make and can afford. It seems completely unchristian and unethical to spend money that we don’t own. However, we are guilty of doing it all the time.

When we put something on credit, or borrow money to buy something, then we are not living within your means.

Unfortunately, it seems normal in today’s culture to live for today while presuming upon the future. Certainly it is not wrong to plan for the future. But James 4:13-16 tells us that we should plan based on God’s will with the understanding that our life is short and that we cannot control what will come tomorrow. Living constantly in debt is a presumption upon money we are not guaranteed to have.

3. Get Out of Debt as Quickly as Possible

Psalm 37:21 “The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.”

Proverbs 22:7 says that he who borrows from another becomes the servant to the lender. How can you hope to serve God and do whatever He asks of you if you are beholden to a bank for the next 6 years (or indefinitely)?

You are not free to serve God as He wishes if you have

an obligation to another master; yet not paying this other master would be wrong. If you are in debt then you should work as quickly as you can to get out of debt by paying it off.

4. Manage God’s Possessions Colossians 1:16, 17 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

God owns everything; you and I are simply stewards of what God has granted into our possession. As stewards, we should be faithful to God (1 Corinthians 4:2) and manage what He has entrusted to us. The parable of the master who left various possessions to his servants (the Parable of the Talents) is a great illustration of our relationship to the Lord and the things He entrusts to us (Matthew 25:14-30). In the story the master rewarded the servants who used his money wisely. The one who did not was punished. How are you using what God has entrusted to you?

5. Accept Your Current Position 1 Timothy 6:7-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

A sign of Christian maturity is to be content with the things you have. Always wanting more displays a lack of trust in the Lord. That does not mean that it is wrong to work harder to better your position and condition in life, but it should not be what drives you. Your drive and passion should be squarely placed in the knowledge that God is in control and that He will care for your needs.

6. Seek His Kingdom

Matthew 6:31-34 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

Make God and His will first priority in your life and He will supply the needs you have. These verses do not promise great wealth, but they do promise a Father who is personally concerned for your needs. Wouldn’t you rather have a God who cares for you than to have all the money in the world without an understanding of who controls it all?

God is more than able to do much more than you can ever dream.

7. Involve Your Spouse It is so difficult to control money and spending if you are not both in agreement to how money should be used in your family and marriage. As is often the case, opposites attract.

Many times there is a saver and a spender in a marriage.

This can cause great strain on a relationship unless you go to God in prayer asking for wisdom on how to proceed with your finances as a Christian couple. Allow God to guide you.

This may mean that you need to seek godly counsel from your pastor or other mature couple in your church.

What’s Yours? What’s God’s?

I hope you see that everything you have comes from and belongs to God. You and I are simply stewards of what He has entrusted to our care. That may be money or items.

Whatever it is, submit it to the Lord and ask for His wisdom in handling these things.

David Peach has been in full time missions work with the Deaf since 1994.

He has started several deaf ministries in various countries and established a deaf church in Mexico. David now works as Director of Deaf Ministries for his mission board. This article reprinted by permission of www. whatchristianswanttoknow.com

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A Budget Worksheet

Developing A Church Spending Plan

By Franklin R. Dumond, Director of Congregational Ministries ust like every household, every church has a spending plan.

Most churches and many individuals use a spending plan that anticipates future expenditures based on past experience. Most churches write down this spending plan in a budget that is prepared in advance by the pastor and church leaders and approved by the congregation.

Even churches without a budget document have a spending plan. Often this is a plan that operates only out of current cash flow, i.e. if we have money in the bank we do it. This plan often reacts to felt needs and current balance in the check book. This approach can have serious shortfalls. First, this approach may only meet emergency needs or very basic essential needs as the mindset can become “We only spend when we have to!” A second drawback to only operating out of cash flow is the failure to plan for future needs.

The most serious drawback to this only operating out of cash flow is that this approach may keep the church on a hesitant spending plan because the objective too often becomes one of maintaining a cash balance rather than one of meeting needs.

When preparing a spending plan every General Baptist Church should consider three categories of expenditures:

• Our Work in the World—Missions

• Our Work in the Community—Local Church Ministry

• Our Work in Facilities—Building and Grounds

A final section of the budget should include projected income.

Tithes and Offerings should support the general work of the church.

Special offerings, project income, or designated gifts should support the special needs of the church.

Is Your Church Fiscally Fit?

By Franklin R. Dumond, Director of Congregational Ministries

ere are a few measures of church fiscal fitness.

1. Income totals. Does total annual income meet or exceed total annual expenditures? If expenses occasionally exceed income this may be a sign of health as when a building program results in a major expense one year with funds generated in a previous year.

If expenses routinely exceed income by substantial amounts the church cannot remain solvent.

2. Income history. Is the church plagued by a feast-or-famine mentality of giving to special needs at the expense of ‘routine’ ministry? If the folks respond only when the coffers run low this is not healthy.

3. Income sources. Do estate gifts underwrite the operating budget? This is not wise! Are a few generous members providing a large portion of the operating budget? Fiscal fitness comes from a broadly supported ministry.

4. Income percentages.

Churches should expect to spend 40-65% of budgets on employee costs. Factory and retail managers cringe at this since in business the lower the salary percentage the higher the profit.

Educational institutions cringe because in their model of hightouch personal connections to students up to 90% of the budget is personnel. A church spending too small a percentage on staff probably underpays or expects over performance. A church spending too large a percentage on staff may under serve by reducing program ministry and mission outreach to cover salaries.

Newer churches or newer facilities often have mortgages.

Fiscally fit churches spend 15-25% of income on regular mortgage payments.

Fiscally fit churches will give 10-15% to missions. In some cases more will be given. Although there are exceptions, if a church gives more than 20% of its general income much needed local ministry often goes undone.

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I.

Our Work in the World—Missions

Mission One Unified Giving

Associational Missions

Local Missions

MVP Team

Other Mission Projects

II.

Our Work in the Community—Local Church Ministry

Pastor

Salary & Housing _____

Self Employment Tax _____

Pastor Professional Expenses _____

Local Mileage, _____

Continuing Education _____

Summit & Minister’s Conf. _____

Christian Education

Sunday School _____

Youth Ministry _____

Children’s Ministry _____

Sr Adult Ministry _____

Church Office

Church Secretary _____

Postage _____

Office Supplies _____

Office Machines _____

Phone _____

Worship

Seasonal Music _____

Copyright License _____

Media Purchases _____

Personnel Benefits

Pastor Pension (5%) _____

Health Insurance _____

Designated Gifts _____

III.

Our Work in Facilities—Building and Grounds

Utilities

Insurance (prop property/vehicles)

Custodian

Lawn Care

Maintenance

Building Reserve (2%)

Transportation

Debt Retirement

_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

_____

Total Expenses

_____ _____ _____ _____

Income

Tithes and Offerings

Special Offerings

Designated Gifts

_____ _____ _____

_____

Total Income

Stewardship of Time:

The secret to time management is not learning how to save time or to get more of it; the secret is knowing how to use it.

Use an alarm clock.

Add 5 minutes to your day. Check the result‌ 5 minutes a day = 35 minutes a week = 1820 minutes in a year net change: 30.3 hours Use an alarm clock. Set a reminder to pray. Check the result‌ Use your app store for your smart phone. Notice the prayer reminder apps. Especially 2 X 7:14.

Use your e-mail. Go to www.operationworld.org. Sign up for their e-mail prayer reminders.

We lose and gain time every year by act of Congress through

Daylight Savings Time. In 1752 the citizens of England lost 11 days when the Gregorian Calendar was adopted. That year September 2 was followed by September 14.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Time Measurement in the Ancient World The ancient Greeks had two words for time. Each denotes a particular concept of time.

Chronos provides the source word for our English chronology. Chronos time is marked by a progression of elements. Seconds become minutes. Minutes become hours. Hours become days. Days become months. Months become years. Years become decades.

Kairos time was very different. This time refers to an event, a special moment.

Is it possible that in the course of our ordinary chronology that we might experience kairos moments? The calendar page is chronos time. The important date is kairos time.

Two Views of Time Some view time as cyclical. What has been will be again.

This Eastern view of time is illustrated by such religious concepts as reincarnation.

Others view time as linear. What started will one day stop.

This Western view of time is illustrated by the Christian view of last days, apocalypse, judgment.

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Redeem the time with a Time Log. Chart your activity over the course of several days. Identify how much time is spent in each of these important areas. Feel free to add categories as needed. Ask: Is this the best use of my time?

Time Log: There Are Only 168 Hours in Every Week!

Stewardship of Time: Weekly Summary • TV/The Internet/Social Media: • Activities & Athletics: • Devotional Life: • Commuting: • Christian Service: • Employment/School: • Rest: • Laundry & Clean-up: • Recreation & Social Life: • Miscellaneous:

What is stewardship? It is the Christian’s management of lifestyle which results in generous giving of time, talent and treasure

Time Management in the Ancient World

The ancient Hebrews came out of years of enforced slavery. When the Lord provided guidelines for a new life of freedom He included an effective time management tool. Every seven days Sabbath arrived with a change of pace that provided time for worship, rest, and much needed margin.

Periodically the ancient people of God were asked to manage their time by trading one activity for another. One of the most time-consuming activities of life in the ancient world was the preparation of food. By fasting the time needed to prepare food was exchanged for time spent in some spiritual activity.

The prophet Isaiah taught that fasting was much more than the absence of food (Isaiah 58).

Look at your weekly time log. Are there blocks of time you can redirect by fasting from your usual activities?

Whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times, it’s the only time we’ve got.—Art Buchwald

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By Franklin R. Dumond, Director of Congregational Ministries

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’ I Timothy 5:17-18 NKJV.

he advice from Scripture regarding compensation

for pastors has not always been taken seriously.

Congregations and their leaders often want to be fair, or even generous, but honest discussion of the needs of the pastor can be an uncomfortable discussion. The very nature of ministry, however, often finds pastors hesitant to ask for adequate salaries. Many pastors do ministry even without a salary.

The Scripture is very direct: pastors are expected to work hard; churches are expected to offer fair compensation.

The pastor’s salary should be reviewed annually. Years of experience, educational level, and cost of living adjustments should all be part of the review. Support staff such as secretaries and custodians should be evaluated and paid in comparison to their skills and their positions not in comparison to the pastor or staff ministers.

Why such low salaries?

Salaries paid by churches have historically been lower than the average salary paid in most communities. Too often the old adage “Lord you keep him humble; we’ll keep him poor!” has been an actual fact. A few reasons for lower church salaries are:

1. Unbiblical priorities. The New Testament clearly expects that pastors be respected, treated with dignity, and paid fairly. The Apostle Paul instructs, “Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Galatians 6:6-7 (NIV).

2. Unrealistic expectations. While all believers are expected to trust God not man, members may expect 18

their pastor to live on less as an example to the flock while the flock lives on more despite the noble example of the underpaid pastor.

3. Uninformed lay leaders. Many lay leaders who serve on finance and budget committees have never been trained to develop a compensation plan.

4. Unfair models. The salary model that is often used in churches is based on the take-home pay of the average church member. This approach does not take into consideration that the employee cost to an employer is much greater than net pay.

Employees benefit from having an employer who provides health insurance, job training, and retirement benefits in addition to the matching share of Social Security.

Independent contractors do not enjoy these benefits yet they gain a level of freedom and flexibility unknown by the employee. Pastors are employees; evangelists are independent contractors.

Personnel committees, finance committees, and pastor-search committees do well to avoid two perilous pitfalls in planning for pastoral compensation. First, it is never appropriate to use an average of church member’s income to determine the pastor’s salary unless an actual study is done of every member’s income.

Second, it is important to consider the long term implications of a parsonage to the pastor who is more than 30 years of age. Home ownership is a keystone to retirement. The general practice of a 30 year mortgage means that if a pastor does not purchase his own home by his early 30’s he will not have it paid for by the usual retirement age. To encourage a long-term pastorate some churches provide a down payment in the form of a loan or grant to the pastor which is forgiven over a period of a few years. Other churches use the parsonage for second or third staff members as the church grows and develops.

Every salary package should address three broad areas: base salary, fringe benefits, and professional expenses.

Essential Parts of the Salary Package

Base salary is the actual amount the pastor and his family have for living expenses.

Fringe benefits provide for retirement, health insurance, and continuing education. Fringe benefits should not be considered as part of the base salary since these items do not provide direct, living, taxable income to the pastor.

• Retirement should be based on the minimum requirement of the General Baptist Pension program in which the employer (i.e. the church) contributes 5% of the base package to the program and the employee contributes 2%. Each employee has the option of contributing additional amounts withheld as a payroll deduction.

• Health insurance should be provided for the employee.

The church will be wise to insist on family coverage and to provide for those premiums. Spouses who are full-time employees may be eligible for reduced-cost family coverage.

• Continuing Education is an often overlooked category of fringe benefits. Continuing education is vital to effective ministry in the 21st century. Currently General Baptists provide a Minister’s Conference for pastors and the Mission & Ministry Summit to provide continuing education and professional/personal networking.

Professional expenses incurred by the pastor as he engages in ministry on behalf of the church. Out-of-town travel to ministry assignments and office expenses such as postage, phone, cell phone, copier, etc. should be provided

in the church budget but not as part of the pastor’s salary.

Books and professional publications are essential if the pastor is to stay abreast of current studies, trends, and movements.

How do we know what is fair?

1. What does it cost to live in your community? Using the cost of a modest home in good repair you can determine the approximate income necessary to secure a mortgage on this kind of property. Be sure to allow for school loans and minimum consumer debt as you calculate. Generally mortgage requirements are based on a percentage of income available to make the monthly installment.

2. What are other professionals paid in your community? A salary scale based on education and years of service is available in your local school system. The solo or associate pastor could be linked to the classroom teacher’s scale. The senior pastor who supervises other associate pastors could be linked to the building principal’s scale.

3. What do other churches pay? Several salary surveys are readily available that show what salary ranges exist based on location, size of church, size of budget, years of experience, etc. Two very helpful ones are the one done

by Lifeway downloadable/free at www.compstudy.lifeway. com and The Compensation Handbook for Church Staff purchased through www.churchlawtodaystore.com. In addition a number of other region specific or denomination specific salary surveys will be discovered through a simple Google search of “pastor salary survey”.

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20

here was once a time when the earth, the creatures, and the natural resources

were seen by the Creator as being good. The created order was a perfect

testimony of the wisdom and greatness of the Creator. Today, we live on the same planet, but it seems that all is not good. The evidence is everywhere in our environment. Instead of life-sustaining rain from the heavens, we receive “acid rain.”

Millions in developing nations suffer because of water shortages or water supplies that are contaminated by toxic chemicals or disease organisms. Expanding deserts, drought, and famine are affecting millions of lives daily. Even in America, the growth and prosperity of whole communities are threatened by dwindling water supplies. The soil that nourishes us, the air that we breathe, and the fuels for our industries, cars, and homes are also diminishing in quantity and quality.

This depressing list of environmental problems should not be a surprise to those who understand the Scriptures which teach that the curse of sin was placed upon man and the creation as a result of man’s disobedience to God. Therefore, “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). But thanks be to God “who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son...” (Colossians 1:13). “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein righteousness dwells” (Il Peter 3:13).

Those who have confessed their sin and acknowledged their need of the Savior have a blessed hope that transcends the groaning and deterioration of the environment. However, this hope does not justify a disregard for the environment and the natural resources of the earth. In fact, the Scriptures clearly emphasize certain principles concerning the responsibility of Christians as stewards of the environment.

Certainly, the focus of the Bible is not upon natural resource preservation, but upon the preservation of the souls of men and women. Yet it is the conviction of this author that if Christians are to be effective witnesses as salt and light in this world, there must be a new awareness of and commitment to living in harmony with the Creator and the created order.

The following is a brief outline of the marks of a Christian steward. Hopefully, it will help the reader to initiate a prayerful study of the Scriptures which address this very important part of our lives on earth.

The Steward Loves the Creator.

Christian stewardship begins with willing obedience to the great commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all you heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). “We love Him because He first loved us” (I John 4:19).

Stewardship grows out of love for God. The steward’s love for God is nourished by his remembrance of Calvary, where the great lover of our souls provided the ultimate demonstration of stewardship in His submission to the One He served (Philippians 2:5, 9).

The Steward Loves the Creation.

God has allowed the creation to be subjected to the futility of sinful mankind, but He loves the creation. In Colossians 1:16, 20, we read that in Christ “all things were created, both in the heavens and the earth...He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (hold together). And it was the purpose of the Father that this same Christ should “reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” The incarnation, humanity, suffering, and death of Christ demonstrate God’s love for souls and the created order within which each soul is embedded—the flesh of man, the creatures, and the life-sustaining environment.

Even under the curse of sin, the wisdom and greatness of God is evident in the marvelous design and function of the human body and the bodies of various plants, animals, and microbes. Each species has been woven by the Creator into a complex tapestry of life with many intricate interrelationships necessary for their survival.

The steward who loves the Creator (John 1: 1-3), Sustainer (Colossians 1 :17), and Redeemer (Colossians 1:18-20) is moved by the indwelling Spirit to love what God 21

loves, and to live in harmony with his neighbor and the created order which is being sustained by God. The steward views his responsibility to love and care for the creation as an important part of God’s redemptive plan.

The Steward Understands His Role.

All creatures and all natural resources belong to the Creator God (Exodus 19:5, Psalm 24:1). The divine Owner delegated to man the responsibility to be a steward of the natural order of creation. That is, man was called to subdue and rule over the earth (Genesis 1:28) while being careful “to dress it” (serve it) and “keep it” (preserve it) (Genesis 2:15).

Adam, the first steward, was called to study the creatures so that he might understand his relationship to them biologically and spiritually (Genesis 2: 19, 20). Here we see the beginning of scientific endeavor. The proper exercise of dominion requires that the steward have an appreciation for and understanding of the interconnections that are necessary to sustain human life and the life of every creature.

Today, in spite of the subversive effects of sin, God’s grace has permitted man to develop a partial understanding of these interconnections through ecology and economics.

Ecology (Greek (oiko = house) + (logos = the study of) is the branch of life science that deals with the interrelationship among all of the creatures, and between the creatures and their environment. Even the Christian steward with only a basic knowledge of ecology can see that God’s natural laws are still in effect to sustain a marvelously intricate life support system on earth. Man could not live on earth today without the lifesupporting food and oxygen from plants and animals. On the other hand, man alone has been given the ability and privilege of exercising dominion over these life-sustaining creatures and their environment. He can extract mineral and energy resources and utilize plants and animals to provide goods and services through an economic system.

The words economics and stewardship are both derived from the same Greek word oikonomia (oiko = house) + (nomos = management of). That is, man is a manager of the “household of earth.”

The Christian steward understands that all men are economists in the sense that all are managers of their part of the household of earth. He realizes that he cannot live in greed and careless over consumption of food, energy, and other resources without adversely affecting his neighbor and the other creatures. Because of the ecological and economic interconnectedness that exists around the world, 22

the demands of one person’s lifestyle can have an impact upon the lives of many others.

For example, the more developed nations of the world represent only about 25% of the world’s billions of persons, but are responsible for 80% of the annual energy and material consumption. This great demand raises the cost of energy and food on world markets beyond what many nations can afford. Several developing nations that are struggling to avoid bankruptcy are recklessly extracting natural resources and ignoring the needs of their citizens in order to stay afloat in the world economy.

In light of these issues, the Christian steward views his stewardship in giving tithes and offerings in a broader sense. He realizes that in order to give in true worship of God, he must live and earn without making unreasonable demands upon the natural resources, the creatures, or his neighbor (Isaiah 58; 59: 1, 2).

He is not a slave to materialism or to the guilt that may arise when he compares his lifestyle to those who are less fortunate. Instead, the Christian steward acknowledges that he has been created with the ability to serve only one master (Matthew 6:24). Therefore, he chooses to serve God, not material wealth. Anxiety is controlled by a trust in God’s marvelous supply system a described in Matthew 6:19-34. As a result, the steward learns that he can live more richly by consuming less. He is seen by others as one who loves God, the creatures, and the earth, but it is evident that he is investing his life and wealth in another world. Best of all, he has many opportunities to minister to the poor of this world, whether they are rich in material wealth or not. “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8).

To the reader who has been challenged to examine the quality of his or her own stewardship of the environment, we suggest that the Word of God be prayerfully studied. In addition to passages cited herein, note the references listed below. As you read, allow God to search your own heart and life. Do you love the Creator above all other things? Do you love His creation as He loves it? Do you understand your role in the created order and the impact your stewardship can have on others? And do you serve the Master or materialism?

Dr. John E. Silvius is a Senior Professor Emeritus of Biology at Cedarville University, Ohio. He is the author of a college level biology textbook, “Biology: Principles and Perspectives (4th edition)”.

BIBLICAL REFERENCES Exodus 23:10-11: Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 14:28, 29: Matthew 25:14-46; Ephesians 4:28: James 2:14-17, 1 John 3:1617.

Stewardship By Serving Spiritual Gifts Identified in the New Testament Romans 12:6-8

Ephesians 4:11

1 Peter 4:11

Prophesying Ministering

Apostleship

Teaching

Prophesying

Exhorting

Evangelizing

Speaking

Giving

Pastor-teachers or

Serving or support

Ruling

Pastors and teachers

Showing mercy

1 Corinthians 12:6-10

1 Corinthians 12:28

1 Corinthians 12:29-30

Word of wisdom

Apostleship

Apostleship

Word of knowledge

Prophesying

Prophesying

Faith

Teaching

Teaching

Healing

Miracles

Miracles

Miracles

Healing

Healing

Prophesying

Helping

Tongues

Discerning of spirits

Administrations

Interpretation of tongue

Interpretation of tongues

Tongues

Spiritual Gifts Identified in My Life

For online spiritual gift inventories go to:

For a paper copy with a scoring key formatted in Microsoft Word go to:

www.spiritualgiftstest.com or www.elmertowns.com/spiritual_gifts_test/

http://www.acts17-11.com/gift_inventory.htm

For assistance utilizing a Spiritual Gifts Inventory as part of discipleship or new member classes contact Congregational Ministries cmofc@generalbaptist.com or 573.785.7746

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Monday, July 15 Nearly 1,000 General Baptists gathered for the annual Mission & Ministry Summit.

715 Adults

175 Students (48—Nursery/Preschool,

79—K-5th, 48—6-12th)

40 one-time guests

The praise team from Relevant Church, Locust Grove, Georgia provided worship while keynoters David Murrow and Judah Smith provided life application messages.

Workshop sessions featured special guests Tammie Head, Joyce Porcadillia and dozens of local church leaders. Those attending workshops were assisted by a new Summit app for smart phones.

Bob Stromberg provided late night comedy.

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Tuesday, July 16

The afternoon General Association session confirmed Rev. Clint Cook as Executive Director, paid tribute to Dr. James W. Murray and congratulated Rev. Dale Bates on his impending retirement from Stinson Press.

Tuesday evening began with a genuine spirit of celebration as the New Walk praise team led worship and dozens of beach balls sailed through the air.

Tuesday evening saw the commissioning of missionaries and church planters following a rousing keynote message from Clint Cook, “Known In Hell�.

An offering for missions saw more than $7,200 given to support church planting in Cookeville, Tennessee and overseas projects in India.

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Wednesday, July 17

Larry Osborne provided powerful expository preaching in each main session. Next Level Intensives in the afternoon addressed a variety of growth barriers. Dozens of other workshops provided personal enrichment, practical training, and specialized networking among church leaders.

Nearly 200 members of the New Walk Blue Shirt Brigade were recognized for their gracious work in greeting, hosting, and serving during the Summit.

Moderator Gary Baldus turned the gavel over to incoming Moderator Jeff Smith in preparation for the 2014 Summit in Springfield, Illinois.

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Best Practices: Segregation of Duties

By Franklin R. Dumond, Director of Congregational Ministries

A few simple safeguards, developed as financial policies of the local church, can easily be built into a church’s financial management system to protect the integrity of those who serve as financial managers for the church.

Not many years ago the church treasurer was expected to count the offering, pay the bills, and provide reports for both the church business meeting and tax receipts to donors. One volunteer often undertook the entire responsibility.

Wise church leaders realize, however, that a few simple policies, when developed and implemented, provide a level of accountability and much needed transparency that generates trust.

The business or accounting description of these policies is segregation of duties. In essence, each step in the financial operation is separated from the other steps with multiple personalities involved.

Step 1. Collecting the Offering. Responsible Parties: The Ushers.

In most churches the bulk of income is received when the offering is collected during worship.

Generally several ushers assist in this process. When the collection is complete the offering should be removed to a secure place for further processing. While one person could carry the entire offering it is best if two people are assigned the task. The underlying principle: At least two people are always present when the offering is received and counted.

Step 2. Making the Deposit. Responsible Parties: The Counting Committee.

A group of people who have discretion and who can work accurately should be assigned to prepare the deposit. This should be done on-site, as quickly as possible after the service is concluded.

At least two un-related individuals should be assigned to prepare the deposit by listing the checks, tallying the loose cash, and noting special or designated offerings. Accuracy is important both in the subtotals of the deposit and in the initial record of giving reflected in the deposit. Subtotals are used to verify bank records. Initial giving records are used later to provide contribution statements.

On those occasions when a larger than usual offering is anticipated the counting committee may need to be expanded to share the workload. Duplicate deposit tickets should be used and initialed by the counters so that any questions that are raised may be addressed to the correct individuals.

Step 3. Paying the Bills. Responsible Party: Treasurer and/or Bookkeeper.

Funds received by the church are designed to further the ministry of the church. Funds should be dispersed according to the spending plan and policies adopted by the church in its annual budget.

A process to request checks should be utilized that requires a written check request that identifies the budget category for the request as well as the nature of the purchase. Generally only program leaders should make check requests. A request for a personal reimbursement should be documented with receipts, prior permission to make the purchase, and a notation of the budget category involved.

Only in very rare circumstances should church funds be disbursed as cash payments unless a formal petty cash system with its checks and balances is implemented.

Step 4. Contribution Statements. Responsible Party: Financial Secretary.

Using information from the deposits a contribution record is maintained for each donor.

Quarterly this record and a letter of thanks should be mailed to each donor. This allows any corrections to be made closer to the time of the error rather than at year’s end. Annually, early in the calendar year, contribution records should be provided to each donor in keeping with IRS regulations.

Since one person, working hard, could handily take care of most church’s business affairs, why bother with segregating the duties so that several people are involved? Segregation of duties and financial policies agreed to and adhered to by the church are designed to protect honest people from unfounded charges of mismanagement or misuse of church funds. Every few months some church, somewhere is plagued with embezzlement and fraud. The real pain, however, is not felt by the church but by the offender who was often a respected member of the church prior to the discovery of financial mismanagement.

In most cases simple safeguards like those described here would have prevented the cases of embezzlement and fraud described in the media. With simple safeguards in place only armed robbers will be able to violate the integrity of a church’s financial system.

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gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship.

If you hoard a thing for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded. God will never let you hold a spiritual thing for yourself; it has to be given back to Him that He may make it a blessing to others. –Oswald Chambers Marshall thy notions into a handsome method. One will carry twice more weight packed up in bundles, than when it lies flapping and hanging about his shoulders. –Thomas Fuller

Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need; the remainder is needed by others. –Augustine If I have but enough for myself and family, I am steward only for myself and them; if I have more, I am but a steward of that abundance for others.

–George Herbert Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love 28

Work is a blessing. God has so arranged the world that work is necessary, and He gives us hands and strength to do it. The enjoyment of leisure would be nothing if we had only leisure. It is the joy of work well done that enables us to enjoy rest, just as it is the experiences of hunger and thirst that make food and drink such pleasures.

–Elisabeth Elliot The most important thing about global warming is this. Whether humans are responsible for the bulk of climate change is going to be left to the scientists, but it’s all of our responsibility to leave this planet in better shape for the future generations than we found it. –Mike Huckabee At the end of your life on earth you will be evaluated

and rewarded according to how well you handled what God entrusted to you.

–Rick Warren Don’t say that a loving God is going to send you to hell - He’s not. The thing that’s going to send you to hell is that you’re a sinner and you don’t want to admit it. –J. Vernon McGee If your investments are limited to this earth, you are the world’s worst investor.

–John Hagee We should never think that once we have given some money and time to the Lord that the rest is ours to do with as we please. All that we have belongs to God, so He should be taken into consideration in everything we do. –Theodore Epp The world asks, “What does a man own?” Christ asks, “How does he use it?”

–Andrew Murray If God was the owner, I was the manager. I needed to adopt a steward’s mentality toward the assets He had entrusted - not given - to me. A steward manages assets for the owner’s benefit. The steward carries no sense of entitlement to the assets he manages. It’s his job to find out what the owner wants done with his assets, then carry out his will. –Randy Alcorn The fear of the Lord helps us recognize our accountability to God for the stewardship of leadership. It motivates us to seek the Lord’s wisdom

and understanding in difficult situations. And it challenges us to give our all to the Lord by serving those we lead with love and humility. –Paul Chappell How believers handle their money is inextricably related to the depth of their worship. Whether we put money in the offering plate or not, weekly worship should remind us of our continual stewardship of the possessions that Lord has entrusted to us. If we do not give properly we cannot worship properly. –John MacArthur We should use all our money for the Lord. This is, we should use all our money in a way that God would approve. In that sense, all of our money is to be given to the Lord.

Stewardship is to be total, not partial. –Wayne Mack Where I was born and where and how I have lived is unimportant. It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest. –D.L. Moody Be careful to make a good improvement of precious time. –David Brainerd We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. –Winston Churchill Stewardship is the act of organizing your life so God can spend you. –Lynn A. Miller

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By Donald Key, Director of National Missions

ave you ever had a night in when you couldn’t

sleep? You counted sheep. You stared at the

ceiling. You drank warm milk. Sleep continued to evade you. Something was occupying space in your mind and you couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Psalm 121:4 tells us that God doesn’t sleep. We understand that worry doesn’t keep God awake. He is not up in heaven wringing His hands wondering what He is going to do about the current condition of the world, the lack of morals, and the downward slid of civility. When we read that God rested from his labors, it doesn’t mean that God was tired or needed a nap. It simply means that God stopped creating because creation was finished.

However, if God did sleep what might He lose sleep over? There are some things that He would not lose sleep over.

• He wouldn’t lose sleep over the stock market. God owns all the gold and silver, the cattle of a thousand hills and all the cattle on the hills. His resources are limitless and He has always provided for His own.

• He wouldn’t lose sleep over our rights being taken from us. Christians have for centuries thrived in places where freedoms were limited.

• He wouldn’t lose sleep over the color of the carpet or whether we have deacons or elders, just as long as ministry is done.

• He wouldn’t lose sleep over who is president of the United States. The Bible teaches us that it is God who puts people in power and He determines their appointed times.

What I think God might lose sleep over is the lostness of people’s souls and the lack of churches to reach them.

He would find it hard to sleep because so many people are 30

unsaved, wandering about like sheep without a shepherd and not having a personal relationship with their Creator. If God did sleep He might lose sleep over the condition of a heart that has never experienced the saving grace of God. He would understand that heart is blinded by the god of this world and separated from its Creator.

God might lose sleep over the lack of compassion in the church. He might be concerned over churches that are full of consumers whose only concern is what’s in it for them.

He might lose sleep over pastors who have not led their congregations to get involved in church planting.

Truth is, God has lost sleep over the condition of the world. Look at “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). Jesus Christ, God in the flesh has gone up on a mountain to pray. Here is God in the flesh talking to God in heaven. It’s hard to get our mind around this but the fact is Jesus spent all night in prayer.

He lost sleep over the things of God. He lost sleep over our salvation. He lost sleep over His mission.

God proved His concern for lost souls at Calvary. He gave His only begotten Son because He is not willing that anyone should perish. Shouldn’t we be concerned about lost souls? How will the world know we care about them?

What can we do to show them God’s love? Let me give you some suggestions:

• Share life with them, don’t just preach.

• Invite them to your house.

• Go out with them. Jesus ate with sinners.

• Pastors equip the saints for the work of the ministry.

• Have a special day at church, challenge your members to personally invite someone to attend.

• Repent if you don’t have a burden for the lost.

• Lose some sleep.

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Revitalization of churches for the purpose of growing our denomination is the responsibility of everyone. D. Joey Graves, pastor of New Testament Community Church, has seen this church grow and begin to reach his community.

National Missions asked Pastor Joey to share what he has learned in the revitalization of NtC.

s you look around the dimly

lit auditorium of the New

Testament Community Church (or NtC, as a new generation is calling it), you may notice something surprising. There are many young families and just as many people of their parents (and grandparents) age. It isn’t always comfortable. Many concessions in style and approach have been made. Yet somehow, this is a multiple generation congregation.

The music is loud and projected on two large screens. The band plays mostly current music and the stage has lights that blink and change colors. Worship is the focus.

You are as likely to see a woman in her 80s lifting her hands or clapping to the drumbeat as you are a teenager. You may see four generations of one family; from a baby in the nursery, to great-grandma.

We’ve been told it can’t be done that you can only reach a particular age group. And yet, here is evidence to the contrary. It is not uncommon for a woman in her 80s to tell me something like:

“Pastor, I’m not sure about the music and the lights are too dim to find my chair but it is a blessing to see all these young families and so many baptisms. If anyone has something to say about the changes, send them to me.”

It has been my experience that the generations before me want only a couple of things. First, they want to be acknowledged, maybe even honored. The generations before us don’t want to be tossed aside. Many organizations, including and maybe especially the church, move their focus toward a particular age demographic. As they age, they move from the focus to, well, out of focus. Maybe it’s easier to recognize it in your teen group. The teen ministry is edgy, hip, and the messages relate to the problems of teens. When teenagers graduate from high school, however, they feel left out, pushed out. The focus isn’t on them anymore. They

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were the teen ministry and now they are not even allowed to participate! “These new teens aren’t as _________ as we were.” This is not unlike how each generation moving from the “target audience” feels. The generations before me built this church, both figuratively and literally. The generations before me stuck through some very tough times. The generations before me often pay the bills and do a large part of the behind- the-scenes volunteer work. Unless they are acknowledged, they often feel pushed out, cast aside, and maybe even used.

Second, the generations before us want to continue making a difference. After all, they were the difference makers when they were in the “target audience”. They were the ones who were inviting their peers. They were the ones cooking at the fellowship barbeque. They were the ones who served on boards and made key decisions that led to the ministry we get to be part of today.

Just as the teens need a ministry that works toward answering the questions they have, the generations before us need a ministry focused on them. They have a new set of paradigms. Their questions have shifted from, “How do I take care of these kids?” to “How do I take care of these parents?” It was easy to minister to teens: “Don’t have sex

outside of marriage.” But what about after divorce or loss of a spouse? The generations before us have an even greater need for spiritual guidance. Does the Bible continue to apply? Often Sunday morning doesn’t quite cover it.

So, here are a couple of things we have tried. It may seem like a small thing, but, as the pastor, I regularly work those who stood before us into the Sunday mornings.

Sometimes highlighting a volunteer or group of volunteers.

Sometimes highlighting a class or small group that is geared toward them. Occasionally, we will ask someone to give a story, testimony or a prayer. This is not different from what we do with any age group. But we are intentional about including an older age group. Usually, once a year, I will give a message about the history and heritage of our church. Honoring those who have been around for 10, 20, and 30 or in our case 37 years. We talk about the vision then and how it has lead to the vision today, and how it’s not that different.

We also include people of all generations in serve opportunities. Not everybody can swing a hammer, but everybody wants to be involved. Ask if they can help.

If their response is “I really can’t do that anymore”, ask them to be present anyway. Chances are good, that they

have some experience and insight that could save time, energy, money or all three. Remember, that most people are still adjusting to their new stature in life. Just as a newlywed feels awkward wearing a ring all the time, someone who used to swing the hammer feels just as awkward watching someone else swing the hammer. A word of warning: DO NOT PATRONIZE THEM! Encourage them to participate, to be involved, and be sincere. No one, young or old, wants to be included because somebody mandated they be included. This is a good rule of thumb for all age groups.

The last bit of insight I can offer is to have programs that include former generations. The small groups of today are the Sunday School of yesterday.

I can guarantee you that they were just as, maybe even more, passionate about groups than you are. In fact, the biggest challenge in moving to groups was a misunderstanding! When we moved from Sunday School to groups many of those before me thought we were trying to only do the big Sunday morning crowd gathering. They felt like groups were a way of moving from teaching in a more detailed setting. While they still feel that Sunday mornings are the best time to do small group teaching, they aren’t nearly as offended when they realize that groups could reach more people and offer a better selection of topics to reach more people. We even offered a small group on Thursdays, at 11a.m., taught by the pastor, strictly going through the Bible text-by-text. And guess who is available at 11 a.m. on Thursdays? It’s the generation before me. We started with singing hymns and the pastor in a jacket and tie. Over time the group asked me to stop singing and to dress more casual!

Finally, let me add this small thing. In dealing with the generations before, do the same things you do for every other generation. Meet their needs through groups, serve opportunities, and recognition. The answer isn’t adding programming. It is keeping the needs of various generations in mind when we do what we are already doing. The answer doesn’t have to be a “senior adult ministry” (it may be, but, it doesn’t have to be). Every generation wants to be part of what God is doing. We just need to continue to give them opportunities.

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By Irv Ryder

e aren’t from there. We have no family who

lives there. But, somehow it captured our

heart. Kathy and I are Georgia born and bred.

We bleed the red and black every Saturday in autumn as we hunker down with them “Hairy Dawgs.” But, somehow Middle Tennessee caught our heart. After several years leading a church through transition, going to the Nashville fireworks show, and going to Vandy games just so we could see good SEC teams when they came to town, it happened. Our hearts were in Tennessee.

We moved back to the Peach State 5 years ago to lead yet another church through a difficult transition.

Always leading with middle Tennessee in the back of our mind. Now the time has come to make preparations to move forward, lay the foundation, and plant a new church in that place we love so much. Echo Church is our heartbeat for Lebanon, TN.

It’s interesting how things work. We moved back to Georgia with a heart to go back to Tennessee, and ended up meeting the only General Baptist church planter in the state, Relevant Church Pastor, Carl Nichols. As our friendship developed, both of us saw the opportunity to make a new church in Lebanon a reality. I was invited to explore General Baptist life and ministry where I met several great folks that took the time to encourage

the process. As a result and with the generous and cooperative support of National Missions and Relevant Church, an internship was made available for us to prepare to launch a fast growing church in middle TN.

At Echo Church, our mission is to “Echo Jesus’ story with passion, creativity, and relevance…so that people will become all God made them to be.” Our vision is to create a church where unchurched and de-churched people will love to attend, be changed, and become change agents in their culture. Wilson County is, and is slated to be one of the fastest growing counties in Tennessee from now until 2030. A short drive to Nashville, it’s the perfect spot for growth. Echo Church will launch in the fall of 2014 in Lebanon, a small town with big plans. Echo Church will launch with General Baptist, a small denomination with a big future.

Irv and Kathy live in Locust Grove GA. Irv is presently finishing an internship at Relevant Church. They plan to plant Echo Church in Lebanon TN.

scholarship fund in memory of Wayne Foust (December 1, 1928—June 12, 2013) has been established at Oakland

City University. Grants from the fund will assist young ministers in their educational pursuits at the university.

Wayne Foust gave his life to General Baptist churches and people. He served as pastor in Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, and Arkansas from 1995 to 1975. His service as pastor was interrupted when he became Director of Publications for the General Association of General Baptists and Editor of The General Baptist Messenger from 1975-1993. Following his ‘retirement’ he served churches in Southeast Missouri from 1993 to 2012.

A native of Wilburn, Arkansas Wayne moved to Poplar Bluff, Missouri where he was employed as a linotype operator by The General Baptist Press. There he met and married Hazel Ketcherside in 1953. In 1962 with three children in tow they moved to Oakland City, Indiana so Wayne could pursue theological training.

Rev. Foust served in a variety of denominational positions and in 1984 served as Moderator for the General Association in Tampa, FL. He wrote hundreds of positional editorials that spoke to significant spiritual issues among General Baptists while editing thousands of publications that shaped congregational leaders. He also taught leadership seminars, teacher training workshops, and music schools in more than 300 local churches. In 1989 Boy Scouts of America honored him with The Good Shepherd Award. In 2000 he was presented a Doctor of Divinity degree by Oakland City University.

Dr. Foust is survived by his wife Hazel, four children (Rev. Dr. Dennis Wayne Foust [Paula] of Charlotte, NC; David Loy Foust of Orlando, FL; Carol Sue Smith [Steve] of Indianapolis, IN and Kenneth Leonard Ness [Dee] of Fayetteville, AR) seven grandchildren (Nathanael Wayne Foust of Charlotte, Rachael Caroline Foust of Santa Monica, CA, Rev. Caleb Stone Foust [Mary Beth] of Richmond, VA, Taylor and Zach Smith of Indianapolis and Adam and Monica Ness of Fayetteville), as well as one brother (Alfred Foust [Judy] of Petersburg, Indiana).

Contributions to the Wayne Foust Scholarship Fund may be sent to Oakland City University, 138 North Lucretia Street, Oakland City, Indiana 47660.

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Submitted by Women’s Ministries for Fall 2013 Messenger.

Author: Shanda Somerville Author bio: About Shanda Somerville…

Shanda is the wife of Pastor Terrell Somerville, founding Pastor of Freedom Church in Gallatin, Tennessee, where she serves on the executive team and leads Adore Ladies ministry. Her desire is to inspire others in a warmer, intimate and personal relationship with God and to more fully embrace the joys of The Lord. Shanda & Terrell have three daughters, a son-in-law, and a new grandson residing in Oak Grove, Tennessee.

n the routine of life as a Pastor’s wife and mother, I find a huge blessing

in this role while it is oftentimes filled with challenges that can threaten

the joy and harmony desired. There is a topic repeatedly on the table in our home…balance and stewardship. A continual watch on the rise and fall of our priorities are constantly at stake. Between meetings, laundry, emails, scheduling, assisting, dreaming, leading, feeding, mentoring, counseling, advising, cheerleading, and re-evaluating with every season, I’m reminded to ask: “God, what would You have me do?”

Recognizing that our time on earth is limited and that The Church and family are both what God SO deeply loves and that He is Who I SO deeply love and want to adore with my whole life; I’ve learned the value in humility as being the most blessed position before God. When our plates are overfilled with responsibility, expectation and duty, we are to remember who we are and Whose we are. 1 Peter 5:6 comes to mind, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” And Prov. 11:2, “When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.”

I don’t know about you, but many times when I hear from God is when I get really quiet and still and just listen…and to do that I must rest myself. I know, sometimes that is easier said than done, none-the-less, to really pace ourselves, it’s essential. Resting is a discipline so important to God that He scheduled it into our every week as far back as His example at creation. I’m convinced it’s important and is the start of something wonderful in our body and spirit and mind! How comforting it is to know that when we lie down and surrender after a week of stewarding our life’s purpose and faithfully investing all our calculated efforts into His work around us, that He assigns us a natural gift to REST…it proves to be a real game changer.

Learning from the warnings and instructions found in God’s love letter to us all is far better than learning lessons the hard way. We read in Proverbs 29:25, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”

Partnering with my husband and family to “spend” our lives stewarding the home and ministry while acknowledging that we can say “no” to some things is necessary at times. Intentionally scheduling family time and family rest together helps us to lead our Church life and our home life by The Spirit and not by the guilt of being people-pleasers. Desiring to give of ourselves cheerfully and not resentfully means we say “yes” to some things because we want to and not because we would dread to. Something pointed out to me recently was a new look at Matthew 22:39b, “You shall love your neighbor AS yourself.” WOW, I have heard this scripture my entire life and somehow interpreted it in the past as- to love others as better than myself, but no, it says to love my neighbor as I love myself…that I should love myself, too! And for me, that means resting and being faithful in the small things of life. I am so glad that someone loved me enough to stress that portion for me.

In this life, there’s nothing like knowing that you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing! It’s no secret that being a devoted wife and partner with Terrell in raising our girls has been a top ministry of mine and the wise voices around me reminded me of that all along! I’m so glad I listened because for the most part, they’re all grown up now and I can have the great peace of knowing that they were well taught of The Lord, to love their family and their church family. They have a future and a hope in HIM to pass on! In Gods Word and Love, we’ve found a real treasure!

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Submitted by Lori Myers

Lori and Robbie Myers were commissioned at the 2013 Mission & Ministry Summit. Shortly thereafter, they completed transferring what was left of their belongings – and their selves – to Saipan. They, along with their 13 year old son Reagan, begin a new chapter of their lives as missionaries.

s a young girl, I loved shopping with my grandmother. We would try on

outfit after outfit, until we picked out the ensembles that were just right.

Then, because no outfit was complete without matching shoes, we went to the shoe store. I loved these times we spent together, and I loved the loot we brought home. I probably connected the loot with the loving feeling that came with being with my grandma, whom I adored.

I started babysitting every summer week day at age 12, so I had my own spending money from that time on. Perhaps a small amount of change was dropped in the offering plate during Sunday morning church, but most of my earnings were spent on myself. Even when holding down three jobs at once while in high school, my earnings funded my quest for new things. And although I went to church every Sunday, I really didn’t learn much about tithing or about stewardship of the gifts God gives us.

In college, I continued to work part-time jobs so I would have my own money.

I still liked shopping. My college offered learning enhancement classes during a January term that were considered to be learning enhancement experiences.

In my senior year, several of my friends signed up for Wilderness Experience class; ocean kayaking in the Sea of Cortez. I, however, chose an art and music tour of London and Paris. My friends who “roughed it” said I would never have made it in the wilderness because I liked to shop too much.

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Fast forward many years to the present. I am married to a wonderful man and we are part of a fantastic church. We recently faced some difficult financial challenges that could have overwhelmed us, but now we have learned about stewardship and tithing from our great pastor. We are trying our best to be obedient. I still love to shop, but after two years of unemployment and some other things which God used to change our outlook on “things”, my husband Robbie received a very clear call from God to enter the mission field. And God was so good at preparing us during that time of financial upheaval, so clearly did He show us that using our money to accumulate more things really didn’t make us happy, that when Robbie talked to me about us becoming missionaries I was immediately onboard.

We soon settled on Saipan, with God’s direction. First, we had to look at a map and see just exactly where to find it! We found the tiny island in the Pacific Ocean over 7,300 miles away from our home in Missouri. We pretty quickly came to the decision to sell our belongings, except for a sentimental few that we would store, and move to Saipan. I won’t lie; it was difficult watching some things being carted off at our two yard sales, and taking some of our well-loved belongings to charity operations. But through the whole thing, we kept it in perspective - these things were not “home’ and were certainly not “happiness” either. God provides for us while we are here on earth, and we so often forget that He wants the first fruits of our labor given back to Him, and that we have the responsibility to be good stewards with what He gives us. Most people are not going to sell all their belongings and go into the mission field. Some will. It’s the obedience that is important - if He calls us to do this, will we do it or will we disobey? In the same vein, are we good stewards, or are there better things we could be doing with some of His provisions to us?

I will tell you honestly, it was an enormously freeing feeling to get through the unloading of our belongings. We feel extremely unencumbered now. Are there things that I miss?

Sure. But living here, where all the local residents have so much less than I have had in my life, I appreciate the simple things; the little things, so much more now. I don’t envy my friends with beautiful homes and furnishings; but I don’t think there is anything wrong with that either. I just have come to the realization that we all need to study what the Bible says about stewardship, and then apply it in our own way to our lives.

I would be dishonest if I told you that I no longer enjoy shopping. But I realize now that more joy is found in letting go than in accumulating.

Patti Thornton, Women’s Ministries Director

ometime late this year or early next year,

you may be asked to give to an ABC Offering.

AND you may wonder why in the world, when Christmas spending has stretched your budget limits, you are being asked to give to yet another offering.

It’s simple, really.

A. Amazing is God’s grace and His plan for us to

B. Before we lavish ourselves, we are given the

C. Christmas is jubilant when Christ’s commis-

be vessels of His redemption story.

opportunity to lavish the ministry of the go-ers.

sion is celebrated!

Include the Asenath Brewster Christmas Offering as you plan your annual events, and celebrate the birth as well as the final instructions of Jesus Christ: Go…Baptize…Teach.

The 2013 ABC Offering will help Dustin and Melissa Thompson get Refuge church off the ground.

Prior National Missions recipients have included Generation Church, New Walk Church, and Revolution Church.

The Asenath Brewster Christmas Offering is named for the founder of Women’s Ministries, and in honor of her legacy of resourcing the “mission of the hour.”

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TRAINING CHURCH PLANTERS TO PLANT REPRODUCTIVE AND MULTIPLYING CHURCHES General Baptist International Missions has partnered with The Timothy Initiative (TTI) to train church planters in our mission fields to plant reproductive and multiplying General Baptist churches.

Since the founding of TTI about seven years ago by Dr. David Nelms in West Palm Beach, Florida, the results have been phenomenal: • 21,550 churches planted in 34 countries. • 323,250 have come to faith in Jesus Christ.

This strategy specifically targets church planters lacking the means and /or availability to receive a balanced biblical and theological training throughout Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Each church planter trained is expected to plant a least one multiplying and reproducing church in their area. The cost for training one church planter and for planting one church is $200. This provides a great mission investment opportunity for individuals, families, Sunday School classes, small groups, churches, and Associations to partner with our church planters in our fields to plant General Baptist churches!

THE MISSION

TTI is a reproductive, multiplying church planting movement that works with other church groups to penetrate the nations and cultures of the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

OUR VISION

Our vision is to plant hundreds of reproducing and multiplying General Baptist churches in partnership with TTI.

OUR STRATEGY

We train church planters to start one or more churches in their local community. We bring the church planters together for one year of training, and each church planter cannot graduate until they have started a multiplying new church. These churches meet in buildings, houses, under trees, etc.

The average size of a new church is 15 new believers, although many grow much larger.

We have launched this church planting strategy in Honduras by training some of the trainers in August. These trainers are now recruiting candidates for training in their training centers. The goal is to train 100 church planters for the planting of 100 new churches in Honduras by December of 2014!

Ultimately TTI will be introduced in our church planting outreach in India, the Philippines, Northern Marianas, Jamaica, and other countries.

LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE IN EACH COUNTRY

1. Regional Director. An experienced leader who oversees a number of National Directors.

2. National Director. He oversees the project in each country.

3. Teachers. Each teacher leads a Training Center in various locations in specific countries.

Time and time again we have been reminded that church planting is the most effective means of evangelism.

We believe multiplication is essential in church planting. The goal of all church planters trained

by TTI is that their church becomes a healthy churchplanting center for the glory of God.

Short Term Missions Update

By Kris Yeomans

t’s been an exciting and busy year so far for our Mission One Ministry Teams (formerly MVP). To date, we have sent out 19 short-term teams to 6 different fields. Nearly 300 volunteers have gone on a short-term trip this year! We still have several teams scheduled to depart later this year, and we look forward to seeing God glorified in our efforts to reach the lost through evangelism, medical clinics, leadership training/development, construction and much more! Here is a quick snapshot of what has taken place this year so far: Honduras - 3 new church buildings have been built through our partnership with Lone Wolf Buildings. Two medical teams have treated more than 2,836 patients! Most importantly, 134 souls have been saved through the evangelism at our medical clinics!

Jamaica - a new chapel building has been built at Camp Mt. Forest for our Jamaican brothers and sisters to use during church camp.

The Philippines - several churches have been rebuilt following the devastating Typhoon Pablo that hit Mindanao in Dec 2012. One medical team saw more than 1,500 patients in rural areas of Mindanao Island, and more than 45 souls were saved through the evangelism and grief counseling that took place at our clinics there!

Niger - the gospel was presented during the month of Ramadan in this majority muslim nation in West Africa. The lifechanging gospel was preached and more than 220 adults heard about the One, True, Living God. Seeds were planted and more than 1,000 children were taught Bible stories and they were able to hear about the saving power of Jesus - the only Way, the Truth and the Life!

God is not only using our short-term ministries to expand His Kingdom, He is also using them to call people to full-time missionary service. We praise God for the 13 new missionaries who have been commissioned this year, many of which have participated on short-term teams in the past. Our short-term ministries department is moving forward and we are excited to see God continue to work through our teams to change lives. We want you to be involved! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to help fulfill the Great Commission! Contact Kris Yeomans at 573-785-7746 or kris@generalbaptist.com to learn more about the teams headed out later this year and to hear all about the many exciting opportunities in store for 2014!

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hank you for everything you have done

to make the call to go possible. It’s

because of you that we are able to fulfill the Great Commission in our lives.

We have been here for almost four months and have had many new experiences. As time has gone by we have learned more and more about the culture and the condition of our churches. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to join our Typhoon Relief Coordinator on his routine visits to the GB churches that were either completely destroyed or badly damaged from Typhoon Pablo.

We were able to visit 10 churches in three days. I was amazed at Filipino hospitality. Everyone was very kind, loving, and generous. They truly made us feel at home wherever we went. We were able to talk to most of the pastors and I was amazed at the stories they told about Typhoon Pablo and the personal sacrifices their churches

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made to help their community. The rebuilding process has been difficult. But the level of team work has been amazing.

Some of the churches postponed the repairs on their church building so they could help rebuild the churches that were destroyed by the typhoon.

As I visited with the leaders and members I begin to think about the scripture in Nehemiah 6:3, “So I sent messengers to them, saying, ‘I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.

Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?’” Help us pray that our churches will not come down from their great work and that this level of sacrifice and team work will continue. But not only to build buildings but that it carries over to the building of God’s church, the people.

In His service, Keith Bowers

By Josh Hammond

estled high in the mountains of the southern Philippine Island of Mindanao the Matigsalog Bible

Institute stands out as a beacon over the surrounding valleys. For many years the Matigsalog

Bible Institute (MBI) has been a training ground for pastors and church planters for the tribal areas of Mindanao. Many great General Baptist missionaries have left a deep legacy at this institute. When I ask people here when a past event took place the answer is often “that happened in the time of Carr or Underwood, Howard, Trivitt or Weatherford or the name of another GB Missionary. When I first heard that phrase I realized that time and events are often measured by the missionaries who were here when it happened. I was filled with such a sense of gratitude and respect for the hard pioneering and sacrificial work others before me poured into the Philippines. I could also feel the heavy weight of responsibility: the responsibility to empower the Filipino leaders here to pioneer other works of God that leave such a mark on the lives of others.

Many of the students who come to MBI don’t even know if they will be accepted before the school year starts in June. Some will walk for days through mountains and jungles to reach a road. There they will buy a one way bus ticket with all they’ve saved to reach MBI with the hope of being accepted and trained as a Christian worker. As I look into the faces of the students who’ve come to MBI I see a people so hungry to be used by God they will give all they have just for the chance to be trained.

We have come to the Philippines because we believe the next great missionary force to reach unreached people groups throughout the 10/40 Window will be people from places like the Matigsalog Bible Institute and General Baptist Bible College. In these places our brothers and sisters are preparing to go into Mindanao and the world to bring the hope of the Gospel. In the future, if time is still measured by the names of great missionaries, I believe those names will be familiar Filipino names who sacrificed to take the gospel to other unreached places.

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You know God has assembled a good team when the Faith Home Director can sit in the hospital with a child, who just had surgery, and not worry at all. We had a team house full of Pastors and leaders in training, 30 visitors from the girls’ beauty school cutting hair on campus, our kids doing their homework, and vendors coming and going. Hector was translating the Pastor training and keeping things going via text messages. A.J. was multitasking in the training session and sending out current news. Brayan was taking care of the office, paying the vendors and coordinating the school visitors and homework. Tio Javier was busy running the children back and forth between the regular and special schools, and the other house parents were holding down the fort. I just sat with Jonathan and breathed easy knowing all was well in capable, God-Appointed hands. Proud of our Faith Home team!

Christina Massey, Director Faith Home Ministries

Amanda: _______________________________ In July, I enjoyed a week in Honduras at Faith Home and was able to spend some time with Christina, AJ, Hector and Maria, the women’s co-op director, Terra and Katie, the amazing summer interns, and some of the children. I have been so excited by what I feel the Lord is leading us to with the women’s co-op specifically as we have agreed upon some strong possibilities for future projects when our family arrives. My heart is completely taken by the children of Faith Home.

I look forward to sharing my family’s life with the other missionaries and staff, along with the pastors, children, local Hondurans, and Mission One teams — all the while living in fellowship and community, growing in Him so that we can glorify God in Honduras.

Ryan: _______________________________ I had the privilege of spending the first week of August with Sam Ramdial and Mike Eleveld in Honduras while we walked the local pastors through the first round of The Timothy Initiative intensive training. It was an amazing time as the pastors not only received a great deal of teaching but began to grasp the vision for what we believe God is going to do in Honduras during the first phase of this project. They left with clear direction and excitement as they move forward to implement the next steps.

During our time in Honduras, we also appointed a national leader to oversee the district leaders; who will be setting up training centers and beginning the process of recruiting potential church planters to begin The Timothy Initiative training. The ball is now in play, so please be in prayer as my family moves down in early October to walk beside these faithful men and women — to encourage and equip them in ministry & expanding the Kingdom of God. We still need about 250 shares to get us to our support goal…so we ask that you pray about what you can do to support our ministry. We believe God is going to do some great things in Honduras and we look forward to sharing more news in October.

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It’s a beautiful Sunday morning on Saipan.

By Phil Warren

I have been up since 5:00 A.M. and decided to stroll down by the beach near our apartment. The kingfishers were busy this morning making sure that I heard them in the stillness of the predawn light. The tide was up covering most of the rusting and barnacle covered tank that sits offshore. There are several of them along the coastline, reminders of the bloody battle during World War Two that erupted to free the island from Japanese domination. There is often a heavy cost for freedom and change.

Sitting off the coast, just on the other side of the coral reef, are four large cargo ships. They have sat there day after day since before our arrival.

They seldom leave their post. They are Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS), which are strategically placed around the world in case of a military conflict.

The MPS vessels each carry sufficient equipment, supplies and ammunition to support a Marine air-ground task force for 30 days. They are manned by merchant marines, each ship anchored and

waiting for the call to be deployed.

I sat along the beach as the water softly licked away at the shore and thought and prayed. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20 NIV, “‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” The words, “therefore go” keep bobbing around in my head like the orange buoy near the rusting tank. Jesus commanded us, His church, His followers, to go and “make disciples”. Around the world, out of every tribe, language and nation, we Christians sit as though we are waiting for orders to move. We have been fully deployed by the commands of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and have been given full authority to act on Christ behalf.

The question in my head is, “What more are we waiting for?” The disciples

were standing around after Jesus’ ascension when suddenly heavenly beings appeared and said, “…‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back’...” The reality was they had a clear mission and standing around was not in the plan.

Jesus is coming back, but until He does we are to go into all the world.

I am stationed on a tiny island floating in the Pacific. It is home to approximately 48,000 people. Most are Catholic, some are Shinto, Buddhist, Islamic, and many other shades of evangelicals and Pentecostals. The truth is that most do not have a redeeming relationship with Christ. We must evangelize this island. So many people are from different nations and to save a life is perhaps to save a nation.

We are pulling up anchor and asking the Holy Spirit to be our wind.

Pray for us and also pray that the place where you worship, and the people you worship with, will not be content to sit off the shore and wait. Therefore go....

Vacation Bible School at Saipan Community Church

By Jason Warren

Breathe It In – God Gives Life! This was the theme of our week of Vacation Bible School at Saipan Community Church this past June. We spent five evenings teaching the children of Saipan about the life-giving breath of God through Bible stories, crafts, songs and activities. We had wonderful attendance and an overwhelming number of volunteers. This led to a fantastic week of learning, fun, and bonding. We were blessed to share God’s promises of life, hope, courage, wisdom, and new life with a total of 105 children, ages ranging from Kindergarten to 5th Grade. Thanks to our 52 volunteers, we had an almost 2-1 child to volunteer ratio.

This allowed us to spend a great deal of time individually encouraging, loving and teaching the precious hearts of our children. We were able to raise $430.18 in offering to be given to the rebuilding efforts in the Philippines. The kids really responded to the friendly competition between the boys and the girls. The girls led the offering the first 3 days of V.B.S. with the boys winning the final day by a very large margin, which ultimately allowed the boys to win overall. The real winners, though, are those who are a part of the rebuilding effort in the Philippines who are going to benefit from the children’s generosity. We also had awards for both boy and girl in Bible memorization, most friends brought, and perfect attendance.

For our (Jason and Annie’s) first year running VBS here on Saipan, we were overwhelmed by the attendance from the community as well as the willingness of our volunteers to serve. We are already talking about theme ideas for next year and are looking forward to what God has in store!

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Ten Means God Uses to Compel Those Whom He Calls

By John Piper ©2013 Desiring God Foundation. Used by Permission

he calling is not authoritative the way the Scriptures

are. Your calling is never beyond question. You can’t

claim it to others the way you quote scripture to them.

Nevertheless our calling can be profoundly and durably sure in our own heart. It is the work of God to bring our heart to a point of conviction that, all things considered— including Scripture—this path is the path of obedience. The conviction is not infallible. But when it is of God, it brings peace.

How does God waken such a calling? I will suggest ten means that he uses. Only one of these is infallible—the Bible.

All the others are relative. They are not absolutely decisive in your leading. They are important. But any of them can be overridden by the others. Various combinations of these are the fuel God uses to drive the engine of his calling in your life.

1. Above all, know your Bible and saturate your mind with it.

The Bible shapes our minds for mission durability (Psalm 1:1-3), and makes us burn for Christ (Luke 24:32).

2. Know your gifts and know yourself.

Every Christian has gifts (1 Peter 4:10-11). Knowing them shapes your convictions about your calling. And knowing yourself (as Paul exemplifies in Romans 7:15-24) deepens your sense of fitness for various ministries. (Keep in mind that this can be overridden by other facts!)

3. Ponder the need of the world.

The Christian heart of love is drawn by perceived needs, whether near or far. Therefore God uses what we know to awaken the measure of our desire that pushes us over the edge of commitment (Matthew 9:36-38).

4. Read missionary biography and missionary frontline stories.

Clearly the Bible treats heroes of the faith as divinely appointed inspirations for or the awakening of vision and ministry (Hebrews 13:7). “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

5. Inquire of your soul, “Where are you burdened for others?”

God sends and seeks the burden for lost people. Jesus carried such a burden: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! . . . How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen 46

gathers her brood under her wings” (Luke 13:33-34). This burden was essential to his calling. What is your burden?

6. Know your circumstances.

Parents, health, houses, lands, children, age, etc. All of them matter in our calling, but none of them is decisive.

They can all be overridden. “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30).

7. Pray for God to throw you where you can be best used for his glory.

I say “throw” because in Matthew 9:38 that is the literal meaning: “Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to throw out laborers into his harvest.” The point is pray! Ask God to use you to the fullest for his glory. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).

8. Do not neglect passionate, Christ-exalting, corporate worship.

The most important missionary calling that ever happened took place in corporate worship: “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them’” (Acts 13:2).

9. Listen humbly to the spiritual people in your life.

They not only confirm your gifts. They are the instruments of God to awaken in you possibilities and joys of missionary service that you never dreamed (2 Timothy 1:5-7).

10. Cultivate absolute surrender of all you are and have to Christ.

This is the person that God leads to the greatest fruitfulness of life. Woe to the person who tries to be a half-Christian and never says from the heart: “I renounce everything for you, Lord Jesus. I am willing to go anywhere and do anything at any cost, if you will go with me be my everlasting joy.” This is why Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. . . . Therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26-27, 33).