ON MISSION CELEBRATION. - Frances Irizarry, BBA Ethnic Ministry Director. Numbers, Numbers. October 3-7, 2009 YOUR LIFE - HIS MISSION.

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1 BRADLEY BAPTIST BEACON APRIL and MAY 2009 A Weekend Experience to Reach Out & Care for Cleveland & Bradley County Presented by The Bradley Baptist Association 7pm. Friday at orship Kick-off W Featuring: e Experienc orship Praise & W s estimonie Stirring T gleton Danny Sin Friday & Saturday, April Clingan Ridge Baptist & More! Saturday 8:30am to 3:00 pm Equipping Sess ions: 1. Prayer Walk ing 2. Evangelism Tools î Sharing You r Story î The Evange cube î Tract & Mar ked New Testamen t î Witnessing Bracelet 3. Discipleship & Follow-up with New Believers Guest Speaker To register for icare call the Chick-Fil-A lunches will be provided on Saturday for a $4.00 donation Danny Singleton Missions Pastor First Baptist Woodstock, GA. G Day Mate! Are you ready for a trip to the land down under for this year s VBS? Saturday Afternoon Climax Prayer Walk Witnessing Journey all over Bradley County Semi-Annual Association Meeting Come out to the annual LifeWay VBS Training Clinic with the Bradley Baptist Association Monday, April 6th, 6:00-9:00pm (Registration and Vendors open at Big Spring Baptist Church Awards will be given to the church with the most attending! For more information, you may contact the Bradley Baptist Association Office at or Amy Chapman at amychapman@charterinternet.com Guest Speaker will be FRANCOIS CARR of Heart Cry for South Africa Refreshments will be served following the meeting

2 - Frances Irizarry, BBA Ethnic Ministry Director Page 2 Everybody seems to be focusing on numbers these days. The NASDAQ, the Dow Jones, the S&P and they are all shaky and mostly down. However, there are other numbers that keep going up, and most of our people don t seem to know about it. Last week I had the opportunity to attend the NAMB Church Planters Forum in Atlanta where over 250 church planter strategists and missionaries gathered to learn from each other and to share about resources and ideas. The first thing that caught my attention was the great diversity of people present. There were Russian missionaries as well as African, Korean, Chinese, and Afghan among others, and an impressive number of Hispanics (not counting the many Spanish-speaking Anglos in attendance). Please note that we are not talking about a gathering of foreign missionaries. A great number of those who were in attendance are foreign born but every one in that gathering is a missionary in some city or town in the US. And they are just a sampling of the hundreds of foreign-born missionaries serving in the territory of the United States. Do you understand what that means? Numbers, Numbers The United States started as a nation of immigrants and that has never changed. In Tennessee alone, census statistics show that the foreign born population of the state grew by over 46 per cent between 2000 and In Cleveland and Bradley County alone we know of people from over 60 different nationalities living among us. Now more than ever we need to realize that the peoples of the world are at our doorsteps and God expects us, as His people, to reach them for Christ. Now, one problem we have sometimes is that we get hung up on the numbers, on the differences, on the barriers. It is time we get past that. We need to remember that each number represents one soul for which Christ gave His life. Facts are interesting, but we are dealing with matters of life and death eternal life or eternal condemnation. What are you going to do about it? Yes, you! If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, those foreign people around you are there so you can introduce them to the Son of God one way or another. Are you going to let the Lord use you and the resources He has given you to reach out to the lost the Lord brought right to your backyard? I suggest you begin by praying. Ask the Lord for direction. He has a plan for your life and it may include doing foreign missions right from your own home!...make If you feel the Lord speaking to you and you have a desire to do something even if you have no clue as to what give us a call! I am sure we can find something for you to do! In the meantime, please pray for this ministry. The fields are certainly white unto harvest and we need many, many workers. All Matthew 28:19 ON MISSION CELEBRATION October 3-7, 2009 IMB President, Jerry Rankin will speak on Tuesday, October 6th We now have 30 verbal commitments it s not too late for your church to participate. Contact the BBA office at so that we can arrange with our mission boards for missionary speakers. Please sign and return your commitment letter to the BBA! Pray that our Lord may use this OMC to bring about a spiritual awakening for Bradley Baptists. Bradley Baptist Association Partnering with International World Changers Quito, Ecuador June 20-27, 2009 YOUR LIFE - HIS MISSION Pray for our students that will be participating in this mission trip. Let us all pray that through their personal relationship with Jesus Christ, whether they are doing street witnessing, sports evangelism, light construction, drama or as they are distributing Scripture that Jesus will be shared in Quito, Ecuador.

3 - Randy Bonner, BBA Ministry Evangelism Director Page 3 An Excellent Opportunity To Show How Much You Really Do Care For Cleveland and Bradley County I m always excited about ministry but I have to tell you that my excitement meter has never been as high as it is now when I think about icare coming to Cleveland, April 17 & 18. icare is a very unique evangelism weekend that can have a life changing impact for many and can serve as a great resource to you and your church. The weekend will feature a Friday night Worship Service with the body of Christ coming together that will be inspirational and challenging as we hear God s Word from Danny Singleton, Missions Pastor at FBC Woodstock, GA. Danny, who is passionate about evangelism, is a dynamic communicator and was a big hit at our Men s Conference a couple of years ago. Saturday will feature some high quality equipping sessions that will challenge and equip believers in sharing their faith, prayer walking, and followup/discipleship with new believers. Missionary evangelism specialists from the North American Mission Board and the Tennessee Baptist Convention will be leading the equipping sessions. The climax of the weekend will come on Saturday afternoon as we will put into practice what God has been challenging and equipping us to do by actually going out into the community for a prayer walk witnessing journey. Plus as an added benefit to those that have never been part of an outreach ministry or are trying to overcome the fear factor, there will be some on the ground training as mentors from our BBA churches that have a passion for evangelism will help lead participants during this journey. The icare Weekend is not about a one weekend experience. It can actually serve as a resource or a tool for your church to use in any of the following ways: It can help your church launch an outreach ministry It can strengthen your church s existing outreach ministry It can provide something that could serve as a type of Missions 101 training for adults or youth that will be going on a church mission trip in 2009 or are part of a community ministry your church is or will be actively engaged in It can simply help your church catch a passion and vision for reaching the lost in Bradley County for Jesus Christ Plus more great news! the weekend is free. The only thing we ask participants to do is to make a $4 donation to cover lunch on Saturday. Check out the front page for more details and show how much you really do care about the lost living in Cleveland and Bradley County by signing up for icare. HOW YOU COULD BE A BLESSING FOR OCOEE OUTREACH Ocoee Outreach is a 501 3C non-profit ministry of the Bradley Baptist Association. Our mission is to restore homes, renew hope and reach hearts for Christ as we work towards eliminating substandard housing in Bradley County. What happened in Cleveland, TN in 2008? 1,300 volunteers from 50 churches in 14 states (including TN) participated in Ocoee Outreach 150 People accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord 75 Home Repair Projects were completed 15 Evangelistic Block Parties impacting 4,500 people 38 Backyard Bible Clubs/VBS for children and seniors, neighborhood canvassing & much more Countless lives touched in extraordinary ways Ocoee Outreach is always in need of materials, equipment and supplies to grow our ministry. The missions registry (needs list) shown below lists the items that we are in need of. Items can be donated and dropped off at the Bradley Baptist Association Office or bigger items we can arrange for pick-up. No matter how big or small the items that are received it will all be a blessing to Ocoee Outreach and the many low income families we will be ministering to. An on-line registry has been set-up at that will show what items on the needs list have been met. Our Needs List for the summer of 2009 is as follows: 6 roofing shovels Paint scrapers/utility knifes 2 leaf blowers 4 push brooms 2 skill saws 1 air compressor 2 weed eaters Containers of Gatorade mix Paint brushes / roller covers 4 step ladders 6 ft. or 8 ft. 2 pressure washers between 2,000-3,000 psi 6 tape measures 2 lawn mowers 1 roofing nailer 1 set of scaffolding Ocoee Outreach needs a Reliable -Used Pick-Up or Utility Truck The trucks we are using are old and not dependable. Several times during 2008, a mechanic had to be called onsite to repair one of our vehicles. Please consider donating a truck you may have available. This can be used as a tax credit. This summer, approximately 1,500 volunteers from 16 states will be involved in Ocoee Outreach weeklong mission projects all over Bradley county, demonstrating the Love of Christ and helping those in need.

4 Page 4 Bradley Baptist News.... From the Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Director Denise Roebuck THANKS The Baptist Collegiate Ministries of Cleveland State Community College and Lee University has been in the process of ongoing building renovations and updating over the past year and half. The BCM Building now has new carpet and ceiling fans. Work is continuing, volunteers are welcome, and prayers are needed! Thank you for your continuing support for our efforts in reaching out to the community through BCM. We encourage everyone to drop by and check out the improvements. We would also like to say THANK YOU to the committee members, churches, and private donors who have made this work possible. Big Springs Baptist Waterville Baptist New Friendship Baptist North Cleveland Baptist Ron Ross Mike Hinkle Dan Gilson Lanny Tayloe Doug Caywood John Glover Phil Burress Cliff Hauk LeBron Conley Lettie Kirkpatrick Burress Denise Roebuck DISASTER RELIEF TRAINING Friday, March 20th & Saturday March 21st Brainerd Baptist Church BX Building 4011 Austin St., Chattanooga, TN Registration: Call Brainerd Baptist Church at (423) or bob@brainerdbaptist.org Each class is $5.00 and $5.00 for lunch on Saturday Friday Evening, March 20th Registration 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM u Intro (LLT) - 6:00 PM 9:00 PM INTRO CLASS IS the first priority and NECESSARY Saturday, March 21st - Registration 8:30 AM to 9 AM u Mass Feeding Class 9 AM 2:30 or 3:00 PM (LLT and Bob Rann) u Chainsaw Class 10:30 to Noon (Gary Brooks) Lunch Noon to 1 PM u Mass Feeding Class - Continued u Shower and Laundry - 1:00 PM-2:30 PM (Bill and Anita Jacobs) If you would like to receive the Bradley Baptist Beacon by , please call the BBA office at or send your information to bba10@bellsouth.net MIDNIGHT RUSH 5K Sponsored by the Baptist Collegiate Ministries All proceeds go to summer missions Location: The Greenway (starting at First TN Bank) When: March 20, 2009 Time: Registration begins at 11 p.m. Race starts at midnight Cost: Adults $15 / Students $10 For more info call

5 A word from the Director. Page 5 Relevant is a popular word, but it is not that easy to define. The dictionary primarily uses synonyms to define the word: pertinent; germane; apropos; suitable. Perhaps the best understanding of the word is derived from its antonyms: inappropriate; extraneous. In other words, relevance is a function of whether something is germane, pertinent, and appropriate in its context. At a recent evangelism conference, I heard several speakers decry the word relevant. They protested the use of the word in reference to the Bible, Jesus, and Christianity. Since I believe that Jesus and His Word, the Bible, was, is, and shall always be relevant, and since I also believe that relevancy is a critical issue for American Christianity, I was forced to rethink the matter. My conclusion is that it is not the Bible, Jesus, or the Gospel that has become irrelevant; it is the American church that has become irrelevant. A recent LifeWay Research survey of adults who have not attended a religious service in the last six months revealed that 64% of American adults think the Christian religion is a relevant and viable religion for today. However, most of these folks also believe that the church has become a stumbling block to Christianity: The survey found that 79% feel that Christianity is more about organized religion than about loving God and loving people; 72% said that the church is full of hypocrites ( people who criticize others for doing the same things they do themselves ); and 80% believe they can have a good relationship with God without being involved in the church. Another recent survey, conducted by Zogby International and the North American Mission Board s Center of Missional Research, found that 79% of American adults who do not consider themselves born again Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead; 59% of those who rarely attend church believe that Jesus rose from the dead; and 39% of those who never attend church believe that Jesus rose from the dead. Therefore, these surveys show that most American adults are not hostile toward Jesus and are open to the Gospel, but about the same percentage of American adults are skeptical about the church. They see no vital connection between Jesus and the church in America. They do not see the acceptance of Jesus and the rejection of the church as contrary beliefs. Indeed, the evangelism speakers were The Relevancy of Christianity and the Church accurate in their pronouncement: Jesus is relevant. However, the church in America has become irrelevant. We desperately need to examine what our churches are supposed to be and to do. We have become so inwardly focused and personally sinful that we have lost our credibility and respect in this world. We often mistake our culture s rejection of the church as the fulfillment of Jesus prophecy regarding persecution of Christ-followers: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me (Matthew 5:10-11). However, Jesus indicated that persecution would result from Christ-like attitudes and lifestyles: for righteousness and because of Me. The disrespect that unchurched Americans have for the church is the direct result of our hypocrisy and our lack of seeking the Lord s righteousness both corporately and personally (Matthew 6:33). It is time that our churches become relevant and effective. I m convinced that this will require the direct intervention of the Lord. Therefore, pray with me that we will see revival and that we will see the fulfillment of 2 Chronicles 7:14: If My people who are called by My name, humble themselves, pray, and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. God help us! In His Grace, Phil Thank you for your prayers during our trip to Israel. Peggy and I were in the beautiful Garden of Gethsemane on Monday, February 23, 2009

6 Bradley Baptist Association, April-May, North Ocoee Street Cleveland, TN Bradley Baptist Association Phil Taylor Director of Missions Randy Bonner Ministry Evangelism Director Frances Irizarry Ethnic Ministries Director Denise Roebuck Collegiate Ministries Dimple Cox Ministry Assistant Loyce Farris DOM Assistant CALENDAR MARCH 20th Midnight Rush 5K 25th Pastor s 12:00 noon APRIL 1st MDT Meeting 10:00 BBA 6th VBS Big Spring 6:00 pm 15th Cleveland/Bradley Ministerial Assoc. BBA 15th-17th Kingdom Builders Library Conf. Nashville, TN 22nd Pastor s 12:00 noon 23rd Spring Maple Street 6:00 pm MAY 6th MDT Meeting 10:00 BBA 12th Library Meeting at Michigan Avenue 6:30 pm 31st Global Day of North Cleveland Church of God 6:00 pm RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit U.S. Postage Paid Permit #288 Cleveland, TN Among Our Churches New Friendship Baptist Church welcomes Mike McDowell as Student Pastor. Mike is a senior at Lee University. Clingan Ridge Baptist Church is seeking a Youth Pastor. Send resumes to the 2412 Georgetown Road, Cleveland, TN You may pick up a copy of the job description at the BBA office. Church Administration Conference April 27-28, 2009 Heritage Hills Baptist Church Nashville, TN. For more info call x 2053 or Visit Associational RA Dates 2009 March Mission Camp Out at Camp Agape May 30 Pinewood Derby Race at Big Spring Baptist 1:00 PM 3:00 PM Call Charles for more info LIBRARY CALENDAR April Kingdom Builders Library Scarritt Bennett Center, Nashville, TN Guest speaker will be Liz Curtis Higgs Tuesday, May 6:30 Michigan Avenue Baptist Church Topic will be Book Selection with Johnny Smith, Lifeway Store Manager Janice Baker, Director Lynda Harrington, Assistant Director Clara Hudson, Secretary Tickets are $10 Free to cancer survivors American Cancer Society Relay for Life Bradley County s Cancer Survivor Event SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN Performed by Cumberland County Playhouse Friday, April 24, Lee University s Conn Center Doors Open at 7:15 pm - Play Begins at 8:00 pm Reservations are required you must have a ticket For more info or to purchase tickets, please call