A PRAYER NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BAPTIST CONFERENCE

Transcription

1 September October 2017 INTERCESSOR A PRAYER NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BAPTIST CONFERENCE False Opposition Michael Benson NAB Communications Writer I t almost goes without saying that bees see the world through different eyes than you and I. Their eyes are simply built differently. We can see more colors, but bees can see ultraviolet. This is helpful when they gather pollen; many flowers, though colorful to our eyes, gain an entirely new splash of color when viewed through an ultraviolet lens. The petals of flowers like daisies, seen through the perspective of the insects that help them reproduce, contain vibrant stripes or bullseyes that seem to point directly toward the pollen at the center of the flower. While Genesis tells us that flowers and the rest of creation were made for us to enjoy and steward, science tells us that the true intent behind the colorful flowers is to attract bees and other pollinators. There is no need to attempt to reconcile what appears to be two irreconcilable claims; the reality is that both are true. Continued on inside

2 Too often we place people, concepts, or things into opposing categories when there is no need to create this false opposition in the first place. We are adept at creating categories to order our lives so we can better manage them, even when that management is propping up a faulty system. However, separating things into competing categories is not always the healthiest way to live. Often, the best place to be is resting in the tension between two opposing concepts, not letting one gain an unhealthy dominance over the other. As Christians, we are already well practiced in holding seemingly competing ideas in tension with one another: God is one, but three; Jesus is wholly man and wholly God; the Kingdom of God is both present and yet to come. Yet, when talking about living missionally or pursuing our own spiritual formation, the conversation often pertains to one or the other rather than including both. In actuality, they are two sides to the same coin. To be missional is to live in such a way that we invite everyone around us to be formed into Christ s image; conversely, honestly and wholly pursuing our own spiritual formation will always lead us to deeper depths of mission. Scripture also speaks of the intrinsic connection between spiritual formation and missional living. In John 15:5, Jesus uses the image of a grapevine to illustrate the importance of spiritual formation, saying, I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (NIV). James writes of the other side of the equation, living missionally, when he says, Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (2:17). It is through pursuing our own spiritual formation that God fuels us for the difficulties of mission. Just as bees see in ultraviolet, our willingness as followers of Christ to pursue both our call to mission and the invitation to be formed in the image of Christ helps us to see God in vibrant color and to see the world in new and exciting ways. Let us strive as people, as churches, and as a conference to pursue a missional way of life and our own spiritual formation, because it is when both are in tandem that God can transform us and use us to transform the world around us.

3 69 Baptisms CHURCH UPDATES 9 Decisions for Christ 47 New Members 16 Home Goings 6 Pastoral Staff Updates Aplington Baptist Church, Aplington, IA Baptisms: 1 Home Goings: Ally Koch, age 24 Bethany Baptist Church, Richmond, BC Home Goings: Peter Goltz, age 82 Bethel Korean Church, Edmonton, AB Baptisms: 5 Pastoral Staff Updates: Pastor Myung hi Cho began ministry January Calvary Baptist Church, Easton, PA Baptisms: 11 Creston Baptist Church, Creston, BC Decisions for Christ: 2 Home Goings: Anne Chernoff, age 94 Ebenezer Baptist Church, Vancouver BC Home Goings: Edna Gertz, age 89; Gertrude Krause, age 89; Bill Hemerling, age 88; Glenn Crossley, age 30; Teofelia Iseli, age 97 Pastoral Staff Updates: Dr. John Oakes, senior pastor, began ministry June 15, First Baptist Church, George, IA Baptisms: 2 New Members: 2 Home Goings: Fred Stratman, age 71 First Baptist Church, Minot, ND Decisions for Christ: 2 New Members: 2 First Baptist Church, Valley City, ND Pastoral Staff Updates: Pastor Les Koenig began ministry August 20, First Baptist Church, Wishek, ND Decisions for Christ: 1 Home Goings: Freda Ketterling, age 104; Ben Ulmer, age 95 Grace Baptist Church, Kelowna, BC Home Goings: Gunther Schmidtke, age 82; Harold Schultz, age 93; Erwin Giersch, age 90 Hillside Baptist Church, Dickinson, ND Baptisms: 1 New Members: 1 Home Goings: Leona Kadrmas, age 96 Hope Fellowship Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO Decisions for Christ: 1 New Members: 3 McDermot Avenue Baptist Church, Winnipeg, MB Baptisms: 3 Minnetrista Baptist Church, Saint Bonifacius, MN Baptisms: 2 New Members: 5 Pastoral Staff Updates: Curtis Roth, youth intern, concluded ministry August 31, Dekek Patz, youth intern, began ministry August 1, Oak Hills Church, Folsom, CA Baptisms: 13 Romanian Baptist Church of San Francisco Bay Area, San Leandro, CA Decisions for Christ: 3 New Members: 2 Steamboat Rock Baptist Church, Steamboat, IA Baptisms: 9 New Members: 11 Steele Heights Baptist Church, Edmonton, AB Baptisms: 2 Pastoral Staff Updates: Rev. Mike Bartusek concluded ministry August 13, 2017, and is moving to another NAB church. Temple Baptist Church, Swan River, MB Baptisms: 1 New Members: 3 The Pointe Church, Fort Dodge, IA Baptisms: 3 Whyte Ridge Baptist Church, Winnipeg, MB Home Goings: Senno Rist, age 87 Heartland Community Church, Medina, OH Baptisms: 16 New Members: 18

4 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Pray for Gateway, specifically for Director Randy Schmor and the important work he does training churches and missions teams for missional engagement through long-term partnerships with mission fields around the world. individuals in your church and community who struggle with depression. Ask God to guide you to a friend who is suffering and show you how to love them. The 60th annual Steer Missions Conference is being held this week in Bismarck, ND. Pray for all the missionaries and organizations attending this weekend. NAB work in Cameroon. Cameroon Baptist Convention leadership and our partnerships there. ministers Dr. Jim Leverette and associate Dr. Terry Fossen (Alberta Baptist Association) and regional minister Rev. Chris Gorman (Northwest Region). Ask God to continue to give them wisdom as they serve the pastors and churches in their area. ministers Dr. James Renke (Upper Mississippi Region), Pastor Larry Burd (Atlantic Association), and Dr. David Ewing (Eastern Association). Ask God to continue to give them wisdom as they serve the pastors and churches in their area. ministers Rev. Dan Heringer (Central Plains Region), Rev. Terry Holley (Great Lakes Association), and Dr. Bob Krahn (British Columbia Association). Ask God to continue to give them wisdom as they serve the pastors and churches in their area. ministers Rev. Rick Weber (Northern California Association), Pastor Ken Solberg (Saskatchewan Baptist Association), and Rev. Bob Klein (Southern California Association). Ask God to continue to give them wisdom as they serve the pastors and churches in their area. Pray for River City Church in Fargo, ND, as they host a church planting conference October to equip and encourage church planters from the midwest. Lift up the Northwest Region s annual meeting happening this weekend. Pray that their time of fellowship, worship, and encouragement would minister to the pastors and leaders in attendance. board meetings at Sioux Falls Seminary this weekend. Ask God to be present in every aspect of governance. NorCal Association annual meeting and celebration. Thank God for all He has done in NorCal churches in the past year and all He will do in the next. Pray for NAB churches across North America that are creatively serving and reaching out to their communities. Ask God to bless their work with much fruit. Our conference vision is accomplished through missional engagement, international missions, leadership development and formation, and ethnic partnerships. Pray that God would bless these ends with fruit. Eastern Association meetings this weekend. Pray for Regional Minister Dave Ewing as he leads the meetings. Thank God for the separation of church and state in Canada and the United States, allowing us the religious freedom to worship God. OCTOBER 2017 INTERCESSOR VIA Receive the Intercessor electronically and enjoy benefits like faster delivery and forwarding capability. your name, address, and address to apedroni@nabconf.org with Intercessor in the subject line.

5 SUNDAY Pray for Norm Poehlke, VP of Ministry Outreach, as he returns from his sabbatical to the NAB. Pray for him as he leads the NAB s efforts in church planting and international missions. MONDAY Baptist Joint Committee board meetings where Dan Hamil is this week. Pray for wisdom for each board member and for a strong discussion. TUESDAY Pray for pastors wives in the North American Baptist Conference. Ask God to give them great love, joy, and peace as they serve others in the churches where God has planted them. Pray for our NAB missionaries who are currently raising support to go on the field the Kilmartins (Cameroon) and the Jones family (Brazil). Pray for good connections with churches and family and friends as they travel to meet with them. Pray for small group leaders and/or Sunday school teachers who serve your church. Pray that God would use them in powerful ways to teach His word with accuracy and integrity as they seek to transform lives. For Canadian Thanksgiving, take time to thank God for the individuals He has placed in your life to spur you on to deeper faith and encouraged you in your walk with Christ. Blue Ocean is a yearly cohort that meets three times to help our leaders grapple with the theology of what it means to be missional. Pray for this next cohort as they meet for the first time in Vancouver over the next couple days. NAB REACH capital campaign. Pray that many hearts would be moved to give toward these projects that will benefit the larger NAB family as we partner with the NAB Foundation, Taylor and Sioux Falls Seminaries, and the NAB Heritage Commission. Hohn family as they are back in Cameroon after home assignment. Pray for the Hohn girls as they are at Rain Forest International School now. Alberta Global Operations Team holding events this weekend and next, assisting Alberta NAB churches in developing and resourcing international ministries. pastors and their wives who attended the retreat this past weekend put on by the Upper Mississippi Region. Ask God to use this retreat as a catalyst for further spiritual growth. national missionaries we are privileged to partner with in the Philippines, Romania, Serbia, and Hungary. Pray for Chain of Love in Brazil, that God will grant wisdom to Executive Director Telmo Camargo, the staff, and the houseparents. regional ministers and search committees who are in the process of searching for new pastors for NAB churches. Pray for God s wisdom and guidance as they seek to fill these open positions. Pray for Gary Clatterbuck and the teaching needs of Moscow Theological Seminary.

6 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2017 Ask God to give wisdom and insight to those who direct various leadership boards affiliated with the North American Baptists. Pray for men and women who sit on the boards of the NAB, CIF, NAB Heritage Commission, Sioux Falls Seminary, and Taylor Seminary. children s ministry pastors and leaders at your church. Pray that God would encourage them and guide them through summer ministry opportunities. Take time to show them your appreciation. ministers Dr. James Renke (Upper Mississippi Region), Pastor Larry Burd (Atlantic Association), and Dr. David Ewing (Eastern Association). Ask God to continue to give them wisdom as they serve the pastors and churches in their area. Pray that God would encourage and guide the youth pastor and youth workers at your church through this school year as they plan new ministry opportunities. As we celebrate Labor Day in the US and Canada, please ask God to bless those who labor with effort and integrity. Pray for those who are unemployed or searching for work. Praise God for supplying your physical needs food, clothing, and shelter on a daily basis. Pray for Kent Carlson, VP of Leadership Formation, as he speaks in Chicago at a conference about becoming a transforming church. Eastern Association today as they meet together for Ethos. Ask God to bless the training and discussion that will take place. Pray that God would create a strong team out of the pastors and leaders participating. students from Taylor and Sioux Falls Seminary, as well as international seminaries in Brazil and Russia. Lord to direct their steps in this next year of schooling. students of Taylor Seminary who begin classes today. Ask that God would meet them in their studies. NAB work going on in Romania. Pray that God continues to bring in the resources necessary for progress at Camp Falcon Rock. follow up with the families who were impacted by the very successful and fruitful VBS season. ministers Rev. Rick Weber (Northern California Association), Pastor Ken Solberg (Saskatchewan Baptist Association), and Rev. Bob Klein (Southern California Association). Ask God to continue to give them wisdom as they serve the pastors and churches in their area. Ethos training happening in the NorCal region this week. Pray for Kent Carlson and Cam Roxburgh as they lead pastors and church leaders through this formative training.

7 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY students of Sioux Falls Seminary who completed their first week of classes for the fall semester. Ask God to meet them in their studies. Pray for Paul and Melissa Ewing as they return to Japan after being on home assignment. Pray for a smooth transition for them and for Noah as he stayed in the US to begin college. NAB International Office as it begins a new fiscal year. Pray that the funding for our missionaries, the Ministry Resource Fund, and the various offering appeals would be provided for joyfully and plentifully. Pray for faithful stewardship of what God provides. Pray for national missionaries and pastors, that they would be empowered and encouraged to continue harvesting the seeds that were planted this summer during mission trips that took place. North Central Association as they have their annual association meetings this weekend. Pray for unity and a sense of God s leading. Praise God for Ebenezer Baptist in Vancouver, BC, as they are celebrating their 90th anniversary this weekend. The church was founded on August 25, Pray for our NAB missionaries who are on home assignment right now. Pray that they would have great connections with their supporters, as well as encouraging times of rest and spending time with friends and family. Pray for Ron and Jeannie Seck. Pray for their work with CHE (Community Health Evangelism), as well as their reach among the Roma people. Pray for encouragement for the CHE team as they seek new ministry opportunities. Pray today for the missionaries that your church supports. Ask God to give peace, stength, and encouragement to those serving around the world. work being done by NAB missionary to Brazil, Lyndell Campbell-Requia, and her husband, Paulo. Pray also for the Jones family as they are in the fundraising stage of their journey as new missionaries to Brazil. ministers Rev. Dan Heringer (Central Plains Region), Rev. Terry Holley (Great Lakes Association), and Dr. Bob Krahn (British Columbia Association). Ask God to continue to give them wisdom as they serve the pastors and churches in their area. ministers Dr. Jim Leverette and associate Dr. Terry Fossen (Alberta Baptist Association) and regional minister Rev. Chris Gorman (Northwest Region). Ask God to continue to give them wisdom as they serve the pastors and churches in their area. next generation of NAB pastors, leaders, and missionaries. Pray that God would prepare the hearts of these young men and women for the work that they will someday do for His glory. seminar at Brentview Baptist Church in Calgary, training grandparents on how to leave a legacy of faith. Pray for See You at the Pole, an international event where students gather at their campus flagpole to pray. Pray for boldness for the students. NAB Executive Committee meetings in Edmonton this week. Pray that as this team of men and women meet, they would have a strong sense of where God is leading the conference. Pray for Bud Fuchs as he partners with churches and campus ministries to reach international students for Christ and as he trains others to do the same in their areas. Praise God for the impact that the ministry of Hispanics for Christ is having; pray for their leaders and the new churches that have begun. Pray for new partnerships with NAB churches.

8 Julie STONE NAB Missionary in Cameroon Julie Stone serves as an associate chief medical officer in charge of clinical supervision at Banso Baptist Hospital in Cameroon. This means she teaches doctors who are at Banso to learn, in addition to working with patients. In the midst of everything she does, she ensures the patients she works with have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and learn of God s love for them. She is currently on home assignment, traveling to churches across Canada and the United States to connect with faithful supporters. She recently had the privilege of joining nearly 550 students and leaders at The Gathering, a triennial mission trip and conference where the students serve all around Orange County during the day and gather at night for worship and teaching. Julie served as the nurse for the week, which gave her the chance to connect with students to hear their stories and share her own. She was also able to reconnect with a Cameroonian friend who was there to encourage and share with the NAB youth. Even as she travels extensively and connects with friends, family, and supporters during her home assignment, Julie continues to remain aware of the situation in Cameroon. There is still much tension between the Englishspeaking and French-speaking populations of the country. Pray that Julie would be able to rest in the midst of a busy schedule full of travel and connecting with supporters. Pray for a resolution to the ongoing political unrest in Cameroon, particularly for the children in the English-speaking areas who are not attending school on account of a strike. To learn more about Julie s ongoing work, go to nabonmission.org/missionaries/julie-stone Pleasant Grove Blvd. Roseville, CA (916) communications@nabconf.org Connect with us online. & Copyright 2017 North American Baptists, Inc., All rights reserved.