Bradley Baptist Beacon April and May 2008

Transcription

1 Bradley Baptist Beacon April and May 2008 All church members are invited to the SPRING CELEBRATION Semi-Annual Meeting THURSDAY APRIL 24, 2008 Dinner at 6:30 pm Vision Meeting at 7:00 PM The Church at Grace Point 2575 Old Freewill Road BBA VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL CLINIC Westwood Baptist Church April 14, :00 April pm 8:45 14, 2008 pm 6:00 pm 8:45 pm ALL VBS WORKERS AND LEADERS ARE INVITED Breakout conferences will be hosted in all age groups and many different topics. Registration and vendor browsing will begin at 5:30 pm DOOR PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN BBA WILL RECEIVE CREDIT FOR ALL LITERATURE ORDERED AT THIS CLINIC (A limited amount of decorations will be available to purchase at this clinic)

2 Page 2 JERUSALEM The W omen s Ministry of Big Spring Baptist Church honored the single ladies with an evening of celebration. A devotional was given by Frances Irizarry, Director of Ethnic Ministries at the Bradley Baptist Association. From left are Irizarry, Leah Stevenson, Makala Dover, Debbie Cartwright, Gina Varnell, Vicki Jenkins and Debra Shadwick. Pianist is Jerry Dunlap. OCOEE OUTREACH NEEDS LIST As Ocoee Outreach prepares for a huge summer of local missions work, we are in need the following items: *Containers of Gatorade or Powerade *Paint Brushes & Rollers *Little Debbie or similar type snack cakes *Bottles of Clorox/Bleach *Small Packages of Crackers (Nabs) Any of these items in any quantity will be a tremendous help. You may bring supplies to the Association Office. OCOEE OUTREACH OFFERS A JERUSALEM PROJECT WEEK FOR BBA CHURCHES Frances Irizarry meets with Hispanic guest at a Valentine Banquet at Council Baptist Church. This summer Ocoee Outreach has developed the Jerusalem Project. This is an opportunity for BBA churches to put their arms around one week of local missions involvement through Ocoee Outreach. Approximately 1,100 volunteers from 32 churches and 15 states will embark upon Cleveland for a one week mission project in June and July. Mission teams will be taking on approximately 60 home repair projects, presenting 12 community-wide evangelistic block parties, 18 children s outreach events through VBS, backyard Bible clubs, sports clinics and other special mission projects in our area. Ocoee Outreach Mission projects have resulted in more than 200 professions of faith over the last 3 summers, right here in Bradley County...our Jerusalem. One of the key components to the Jerusalem Project is for immediate follow-up and discipleship of new believers by BBA churches, as this year we believe there will be an even greater harvest of new believers. The other components offer churches the opportunity to assist and support the mission teams that are investing a week in our Jerusalem. Here are 4 ways a church can take on a Jerusalem Project for one week this summer: Summer Volunteers (equipment runners, lunch runners, construction supervisors) Evangelism & Discipleship Team (follow-up and visit new believers and their families) Hosting Mission Teams for evening meals (Monday, Tuesday and/or Wednesday) Wednesday Worship Opportunities (inviting our mission teams to worship with your church or possibly participate/lead a Wednesday night service).

3 JERUSALEM Page 3 SERVANTHOOD EVANGELISM CAN REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR CHURCH part 2 Surveys show that only three to five percent of believers will share their faith with someone. This is not due to a lack of evangelism tools. As Southern Baptists, we have CWT, EE, FAITH, WIN, NET, BWR, PSJ, WD40, ESPN. I think you get the idea. There are some great witnessing tools for presenting the gospel; however, statistics reveal that the breakdown comes in the application phase. Whether it is the fear factor, complacency or some other reason, it is still a challenge for most believers to share their faith no matter what training they have received. So, the big question How do you get people in our churches to actually start witnessing? You might be thinking, the majority of the people in my church could care less about being involved in evangelism. The truth is, many people in our churches want to share their faith, but do not because they are intimidated by the prospect of stereotypes relating to in your face evangelism. I would say that there are probably many church leaders that secretly feel the same way. The truth is, personal evangelism does not have to be intimidating. Many people have discovered new joy and boldness in witnessing through a tool known as servant evangelism. Scripture gives many examples of Jesus modeling servanthood and kindness as the introduction into His evangelistic ministry: washing the disciple s feet in John 13; the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4; and, the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6. Many other biblical accounts demonstrate Jesus reaching beyond the barriers of tradition in order to demonstrate His love through kindness and servanthood to intentionally lead others to Himself. Servant Evangelism can be fun, relevant and intentional. You can target specific groups such as servant evangelism to women, to senior adults, to teenagers, to children, to those in need, and more. Stay tuned for Part 3 of this series, when I will give you some ideas of how you can use servant evangelism to reach all different target groups. - Randy Bonner, BBA Ministry Evangelism Director Hoops & Jesus: Servant Evangelism On Friday Nights in March & April LateNight Basketball Outreach is Servant Evangelism using basketball as a tool. LateNight will be in its 10th session in March & April on Friday nights. It is a partnership between the Bradley Baptist Association, the Cleveland City Police Department., and the Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland. This event gives high school students & young 20s a safe and positive environment to go to on Friday nights and opens opportunities for volunteers from our churches to build relationships and share the Gospel. If your church would like to help sponsor a Friday night in March or April, contact Randy at the BBA Office ( ). Churches that sponsor a Friday night help by providing volunteers to serve in various roles, provide pizza and drinks, and have someone to share their story (testimony). YEC 155 Youth & Adults from 8 BBA Churches Partnering Together for the Youth Evangelism Conference The Association assisted 8 BBA churches (Big Spring, Corinth, Farmland, Hopewell, Union, Valley View and West Cleveland) in taking their youth to YEC in Nashville, Feb. 29-March 1. This was the largest number of youth from BBA churches that have attended the conference to date. More than 9,300 attended YEC from all over the state, with many salvation decisions made for Christ. WMU NEWS Missions Get-Together /Connection April 4-6, 2008 Gatlinburg Convention Center Projects for WMU and Women s Ministry groups: Women at the Well Call Robin Nation at (423) or go to women@tds.net Baptist Collegiate Ministry Contact Jan Kyle, BBA WMU Director, if your ladies can help with Thursday luncheons to students at Cleveland State Community College Welcome to Sue Bennett Bradley County Coordinator of the Christian Women s Job Corp. To learn more about CWJC, go to Bible Fun Field Day March 29, Carson Springs Children s Bible Drill-Association April 6, 2008, 1:30 Bellefounte Baptist Church Children s Bible Drill State April 26, New Union Baptist Church in Dayton

4 Page 4 BRADLEY COUNTY BAPTIST DISASTER RELIEF The BBA Laundry/Shower Trailer was there being used for the first time assisted by Jim and Betty Sneed of Clingan Ridge Baptist Church DR volunteer, DeWayne Pierce of Candies Creek Baptist Church was there for this young couple when their home was taken by tornados. DeWayne and Lou Sadowski led the gentleman to Christ. After the ice storm, the Bradley Baptist Men were there with chainsaws...inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 24:40b KJV) Bradley Baptist men were there with heavy equipment to clean up BBA DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS ARE AT THEIR LOWEST LEVELS IN 5 YEARS We will need additional funds to continue sending teams to disaster situations. Our Disaster Relief volunteers have been very active recently, responding seven times in the last few months. Please prayerfully consider how your church might be able to respond to our financial needs related to sending out Disaster Relief teams. There are three opportunities the Ministry Development Team adopted in February to help increase our disaster relief funds: 1 VBS offerings will be given to BBA Disaster Relief (promoted at the VBS Clinic on April 14) 2 BBA churches participating in a Special Offering Challenge to adults that would coincide with VBS offerings children participate in during the summer 3 A benefit golf tournament tentatively scheduled for Fall 2008 These opportunities are in the near future. If you feel led to lead your church to consider how they might be able to help build our Disaster Relief funds in the immediate future, that would be gladly welcomed and would assure that we can continue to send teams out in the coming months. HURRICANE KATRINA REBUILD MISSION TRIPS Dates for mission teams from the Bradley Baptist Association churches for Katrina rebuild/home repair projects in Pass Christian/Gulfport, MS: March Westwood Baptist Church-Contact Jeff (423) April 6-12 Gum Springs Baptist Church-Contact Ted (423) or fredmurphy@hotmail.com April Waterville Baptist Church- Contact Kathy (423) or lynmoore@bellsouth.net June 1-7 North Cleveland Baptist Church-Contact Verlin (423) or Verlintucker@aol.com June The Church at Grace Point-Contact Matt (423) or mdavies@grace-point.com 2008 DR REGIONAL TRAINING DATES: March 29-First Baptist, Jackson; April 19-First Baptist, Morrison 30th DR Anniversary Celebration on May 24-Camp Linden (Pre -Registration Deadline May 10, 2008) All chainsaw, feeding, laundry/shower, and other units are encouraged to display their trailers/equipment

5 A word from the Director. Page 5 In my home state of Virginia the Southern Baptist churches were encouraged to have a Friend Day on November 4, I have kept up with several of my friends in Virginia to see how the campaign went and I am still hearing exciting reports. The churches that participated used the new friend day materials written by Dr. Elmer Towns and Vernon Brady, called, My Friend Connection. Many churches have had their greatest day of attendance and the biggest results in conversions they ve ever had. Brambleton Baptist Church of Roanoke, VA, usually has a regular attendance of 30 worshippers each week, but on Friend Day they brought 70 visitors, of which four people prayed to receive Jesus Christ, and one prayed a prayer of re-dedication. A member of the church who had been there since the beginning said, Sixty eight in attendance was the biggest day ever, but this year they had 101 on Friend Day. Needless to say, the church is ecstatic about what God has done for them. One of the largest Southern Baptist churches in North Carolina Green Street Baptist Church, High Point, joined the Virginia churches on Friend Day. The church reported 254 family units filled out the visitor card, with over 20 people trusting Christ as Savior and reported, We are excited about following up all our visitors in the next few weeks. Green Street has a usual attendance of about 1500, but had 2,347 on Friend Day. Darryl Craft, Pastor of Green Street Church and former pastor of Brainerd Baptist Church, Chattanooga, shared, My Friendship Connection, brought excitement and an evangelistic focus to the whole church, and we worked together as a team. Like others who had a Friend Day, he s looking forward with great anticipation to The well-known Thomas Road Baptist Church of Lynchburg, VA, that averages 17,445, attracted 2,676 visitors on their Friend Day. Jerry Falwell Sr. never had a Friend Day as successful as his son, Jonathan Falwell, who mobilized Thomas Road and preached passionately on Friend Day; 51 people responded to the invitation and received Christ. According to Vernon Brady, perhaps the most awesome moment of the day was when young Falwell said, If you didn t come forward to receive Christ today, but you want to know more, mark the Friend Day card with an X and I will phone you myself this week to talk about how you can know God personally. That week Jonathan called 39 people who marked the X to learn more about salvation. Pastor Barry Ginn of Monumental Baptist Church, Petersburg, VA, said his church was averaging 175 in worship service, but had an attendance of 294 on Friend Day with 11 additions to the church. He responded, It was incredible! Does Friend Day work? In November, 1994, Glenda Allen picked up the phone on Sunday morning and her best friend Julia Hicks said, Get dressed, put on your best clothes, and stand at the end of your driveway; I m going to pick you up at 10:30 a.m. Glenda did what she was asked, put on her best clothes and stood at her driveway and Julia picked her up, took her to Friend Day at Green Street Baptist Church, High Point, NC. About one month later, Glenda prayed to receive Christ and has been faithful at Green Street ever since. Does Green Street Baptist Church believe in Friend Day? Absolutely! They point to Glenda Allen as a living example of what Friend Day can do to an individual. If one person like Glenda Allen can get saved, think what will happen when ten attend, or fifty, or a hundred, or even as many as 2,000. Think of the influence of one friend upon another, and how friends go where their friends go, think like their friends, and believe what their friends believe. Union Campus was ravaged by a tornado on Feb. 5 In His Service, Phil Taylor TBC initiates Union University: A Gift from the Family TBC President Tom McCoy has challenged churches in the state to participate in a Day of Prayer and Giving for Union University on Sunday, April 6. Although no one was killed in the tornado, the campus sustained $40 million in damages caused by the tornado. Insurance will not cover the cost of rebuilding. Pastors are asked to challenge your churches to give over and above Cooperative Program gifts to help Union in its rebuilding efforts. Also, pray for the administration, staff, and students during these difficult days of transition. Churches are asked to send checks made out to the TBC and earmarked for the Union Offering.

6 Bradley Baptist Association, April 08 Mary N. Ocoee Street Cleveland, TN Phone: Fax: Website: bradleybaptist.org 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 Non-Profit U.S. Postage Paid Permit #288 Cleveland, TN OPPORTUNITIES Ridgeview Baptist Church 1501 South Ocoee Street Ladies Spring Praise Brunch Saturday, April 19th 9:00 am 2:00 pm Speaker: Bonnie Keene Music: Jennifer Slack Contact Dot for more info or approximate number attending by April 14th PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH MONTH OF MONDAY REVIVALS Pastor Tony McClanahan March 17th Phil Taylor March 24th Earl Farris March 31st Arris Cavender Music: Patrick Wooden Pianist: Frances Wyatt ROYAL AMBASSADOR ~SEARCHING~ FOR ALL BSU ALUMNI Contact: Denise Roebuck Collegiate Ministries (423) deniko14@hotmail.com Southern Gospel Music With THE TALLEY TRIO APRIL 20 6:00 WATERVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH The Annual Royal Ambassador Banquet was held on January 19th at North Cleveland Baptist Annex. Two churches were represented and 18 were present. The RA s enjoyed the event with Dr. Jay McCluskey as speaker. If your church has an RA program, please contact Charles Hysinger, Associational Royal Ambassador Director, at or the BBA office. MISSION TRIP FOR SENIOR PASTORS Sharing Christ in White Plains, NY Depart: Saturday, May 24, 2008 Return: Thursday, May 29, 2008 Approximate Cost: $ Includes airfare/room/t-shirt For info on $200 scholarship: Contact Darryll or to dlgrady@charter.net CALENDAR March 18th Ocoee Outreach Volunteer Orientation at 7:00 PM 24th 29th RA Mission Camp 26th Pastor s Lunch April 14th VBS Westwood 24th Spring The Church at Grace Point 25th 27th Franklin Graham Knoxville 30th Global Day of Prayer Luncheon at North Cleveland Church of God May May 8 Next Beacon goes to print May 11 Community-Wide Global Day of North Cleveland Church of God Among Our Churches BBA has a Gestetner DSc38 color printer for sale for $ purchased new Birchwood Baptist is seeking a parttime minister of music. Send resume to P. O. Box 96, Birchwood, TN Tasso Baptist has called Michael Cawood as full time pastor. Tasso needs Baptist Hymnals. Contact Donna