A PRAYER NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BAPTIST CONFERENCE

Transcription

1 May June 2018 INTERCESSOR A PRAYER NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BAPTIST CONFERENCE Open Letter to the Triennial First-Timer Stu Streeter Vice President of Ministry Advancement W hen my family and I planted Disciples Church in 2009, it began a partnership with the North American Baptist Conference that opened me up to this family of churches in which I was brand new. There was a lot to learn, so I don t remember the first time I heard about the Triennial Conference from my regional minister. However, I must confess I do remember embarrassingly going back to my office after the meeting and googling the definition of triennial. In later meetings it became clear this was a big deal in my new tribe. I knew this once-every-three-years gathering of pastors and leaders of the North American Baptists was not something I should miss out on. I had been to denominational conventions in the past. I d sat in the heated meetings arguing over a floor resolution and walked the row of exhibitor booths of Christian businesses peddling their products, so when I arrived in Orlando, Florida, with my wife, Jen, for the 2012 Triennial, I thought I knew what to expect. Continued on inside

2 What I experienced was completely different than what I expected. I remember Cam Roxburgh s message out of 1 Peter on the missionary nature of God, and I recall with clarity looking wide-eyed to Jen with the thought, These NAB people are saying the very things I have been thinking! I have fond memories of sitting in a hotel lounge into the wee hours of the night with a few NAB pastors and their spouses, along with one of the NAB international missionary couples just back from the field. The discussions were vibrant, authentic, and fun. But most of all, I remember a week gathered with a likeminded group of people all focused on the goodness and glory of God. My soul was refreshed, my resolve was reignited for the ministry God had called us to, and the roots of this tribe, this community of believers, was profoundly planted in our life as a ministry couple. Since that first Triennial, I have had the high privilege to join the team at the International Office. Even though my role has changed slightly, I still look forward to this upcoming Triennial as a time to be with other like-minded ministry leaders who serve in churches all over North America and on international mission fields scattered across the globe. I hope to see many familiar faces in Edmonton, Alberta, for the 2018 Triennial, but I pray especially for the dozens of you out there for whom, like me six years ago, this could be your first experience at this once-everythree-years gathering of the NAB family. This is your chance to bask in the presence of God and His people, all of whom share a passion for the work of the North American Baptists in cities and towns all over the world. If I can be a personal aid to you in getting to Triennial or getting connected once you arrive, please reach out to me. I d love to meet you and help you navigate your first Triennial as so many did for me at my first. And to everyone else for whom the 2018 Triennial is no new event, I pray you, too, would remember your first time at Triennial and that it would invigorate you and renew your excitement for the NAB and all that God is doing in and through us. This is not just a chance to complete the necessary business of the conference; it is, more importantly, a chance for all of us to gather together as one and celebrate each other. Whatever your level of experience with Triennials past, I hope you are as excited as I am about this upcoming July in Edmonton. It s sure to be the source of many fond memories in the years to come. For more information or to register for Triennial, visit: nabconference.org/triennial/

3 Ron & Jeannie SECK NAB Missionaries in Hungary Ron and Jeannie began working as NAB missionaries in 2011, partnering with Community Health Evangelism (CHE) in Hungary. CHE s goal is to produce healthy Christians, churches, and communities among the Roma in Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Albania, and Croatia. God is working through Ron and Jeannie in the Gypsy nation in Central Europe to reach those who need Christ, teaching a discipleship that is wholistic touching on every area of life, including spiritual, physical, emotional, economic, educational, and social. At the beginning of March, Ron and Jeannie returned from four months in the United States where they visited with supporters; built new connections with Native American communities in Arizona, as well as with Sioux Falls Seminary in South Dakota; and even helped raise support for two partners in their work, one in Hungary and one in Bosnia. Join us in praying for Ron and Jeannie: Praise God for the growth in the number of leaders providing training and reaching Roma communities in need. Pray for their ongoing partnership with Gateway to host short-term mission teams. Pray for the teams going to Hungary and Romania June 22 July 2 and July Pray for the two-week arts and music outreach in Hungary and Serbia in August. Find out more at nabonmission.org/missionaries/ron-jeannie-seck Pleasant Grove Blvd. Roseville, CA (916) communications@nabconf.org Connect with us online. & Copyright 2018 North American Baptists, Inc., All rights reserved.

4 Aplington Baptist Church, Aplington, IA Home Goings: Willa Mae Ostercamp, age 90; Robert Frey, age 83 CHURCH UPDATES Greenfield Community Church, Edmonton, AB Baptisms: 2 Home Goings: Bob Day, age 62; Steve Nixon, age 62 Ashley Baptist Church, Ashley, ND Home Goings: Violet Goehring, age 90 Bethany Baptist Church, Portland, OR Home Goings: Lorraine Fritzke, age 86 Bethany Baptist Church, Richmond, BC Pastoral Staff Updates: Kelly Madland, youth pastor, began ministry April Home Goings: Gerda Dickau, age 88 Brentview Baptist Church, Calgary, AB Baptisms: 2 Decisions for Christ: 1 New Members: 10 Pastoral Staff Update: Pastor Dan Leffelaar moved from executive pastor of large groups to associate pastor of teaching. Calvary Baptist Church, Easton, PA DayBreak Community Church, Airdrie, AB Baptisms: 2 First Baptist Church, Elgin, IA Baptisms: 2 New Members: 2 First Baptist Church, Minitonas, MB Home Goings: Ruth Sagert, age 77; Erna Sagert, age 89 First Baptist Church, Minot, ND Baptisms: 7 Decisions for Christ: 1 New Members: 17 Home Goings: Jessie Hepper, age 93 First Baptist Church, Wishek, ND Home Goings: Harley Herr, age 86 First Baptist Church, Saint Joesph, MI Decisions for Christ: 5 First Baptist Church, Hebron, ND Decisions for Christ: 1 New Members: 1 Home Goings: Esther Heinle, age 93; Helen Schneider, age 89 First Baptist Church, Medina, NY Home Goings: Janet Wakefield, age 83; Mildred Knights, age 100; Jeanette Phillips, age 85 Grace Community Baptist Church, Trenton, IL Home Goings: Janice Carroll, age 72 Heartland Community Church, Medina, OH 0 Pastoral Staff Updates: Tyler Ambrose, one-year pastoral intern, began ministry January Zach Dayton, one-year pastoral intern, began ministry April Home Goings: 1 Heritage Baptist Church, Yorkton, SK Home Goings: Arther Fiege, age 91 Herreid Baptist Church, Herreid, SD New Members: 1 Pastoral Staff Updates: Andrew Van Kuren, interim pastor, began February Hunters Ridge Community Church, Hutchinson, MN New Members: 8 Immanuel Baptist Church, Vancouver, BC New Members: 1 Immanuel Baptist Church, Wessington Springs, SD Home Goings: Bernice Rasmussen, age 85 Metropolitan Baptist Church, Fargo, ND Minnetrista Baptist Church, St Bonifacius, MN Baptisms: 3 New Members: 4 Redeemer Baptist Church, Oakdale, MN Decisions for Christ: 1 New Members: 4 Home Goings: Jean Johnson, age 89 South Canyon Baptist Church, Rapid City, SD Baptisms: 4 New Members: 16 Steamboat Rock Baptist Church, Steamboat Rock, IA Baptisms: 6 New Members: 6 Steele Heights Baptist Church, Edmonton, AB Baptisms: 5 Decisions for Christ: 34 New Members: 4 Sturgeon Baptist Church, St. Albert, AB Pastoral Staff Updates: Peter Taylor, children s director, concluding ministry April Whyte Ridge Baptist Church, Winnipeg, MB Home Goings: Ed Newfield, age 72

5 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY For Craig Moody s birthday, lift him and Maureen up in prayer while they are on a short home assignment. Pray for the start of summer camp season at our NAB camps. Pray that God would use the workers and leaders to help form and develop the lives of their campers into greater Christ-likeness. This Mother s Day, pray for all of the mother figures in your life. Thank God for the ways they helped to shape and form you into the person you are today. Pray for the various special projects on each of our international mission fields. These projects provide valuable resources to the ministries our missionaries are involved with. View the list at nabconference.org/special-projects Pray for Nick and Iris, NAB workers in East Asia, as they celebrate their anniversary today. Ask God to bless their marriage and ministry. Pray for NAB medical mission work in Cameroon, Africa. Pray that the patients who come to the hospitals and clinics would be open to the gospel. Pray for God to provide financing for the many needs and special projects to assist with the medical mission work there. Pray for the Retired Workers Retreat happening right now in Sumas, WA. Pray this time together would be encouraging, supportive, worshipful, and celebratory. On this day of Pentecost, celebrating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, ask God how you can be more open to His Spirit working in your life. Pray for interim regional minister 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. Randy Jaspers (Northern Plains Region) and Rev. Rick Weber (Northern California Association). Ask God to continue to give them wisdom as they serve the pastors and churches in their area. Pray for marriages today. Ask that God s Spirit would bring love, kindness, and gentleness into relationships that are struggling or hurting. Pray for pastors who are counseling couples in their churches. Pray for protection for the men and women in the military who serve to protect us all. Pray for those in the NAB family who are preparing to leave on long-or short-term summer mission trips.

6 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Pray for the call between the regional ministers and the executive team today, that the Holy Spirit would be present in the midst of the necessary business. Pray for your nation and leaders today as it is National Day of Prayer. Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. (Isaiah 58:1a). Pray for VP of Ministry Advancement, Stu Streeter, as he visits with NAB pastors in the Philadelphia area. Thank God for Geoff Hartt and his work leading Hispanics for Christ. Pray that God continues to use this ministry to encourage Hispanic pastors and establish ministry hubs in underserved areas. Pray for the first module of Ethos in the SoCal region, beginning today. Pray that the leaders and pastors who have committed to this two-year journey on missional theology would be challenged, along with their ministries. Pray for Dan Hamil, NAB executive director, and Terry Fossen, interim regional minister of the Alberta Baptist Association, as they travel through Edmonton and Calgary and the surrounding areas, meeting with pastors. Pray for the Jones family, NAB missionaries continuing to raise support to go to Brazil. Pray for their family in the midst of much transition and for the remainder of their support to come in as they are eager to get to the field this fall. 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 for the prospective church planters participating in an assessment taking place in Nashville, TN, today with C2C, our national church planting partner. Pray for the board meeting at Sioux Falls Seminary this weekend. Ask God to provide the board with His vision for the future of the seminary. ministers 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 the Upper Mississippi Region as their equipping focus this year is Ministry to Millennials. Pray for today s focus group being held at Faith Baptist in Minneapolis, MN. 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. Pray for those planting churches in the US and Canada. Ask God to direct them as they seek to reach individuals and communities in need of the good news of Jesus. Pray that the Lord will continue to bless and protect the children at Chain of Love. Pray also for new partner missionaries, the Uebelhoers, who are raising funds to partner in Brazil with Chain of Love. Pray for outgoing VP of Ministry Outreach, Norm Poehlke, as he finishes his last day on staff at the NAB International Office to serve in a local ministry context. Pray as well for the Ministry Outreach department during this transition. Pray for the students from Taylor and Sioux Falls Seminary, as well as international seminaries in Brazil and Russia. Pray for the Lord to direct their steps as they wrap up this semester. Pray for Bud Fuchs as he partners with churches and campus ministries in Utah to reach international students for Christ. Pray for him as he also resources our NAB churches in reaching internationals in their own communities. MAY 2018

7 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY JUNE 2018 Pray for the youth pastor and youth workers at your church. Pray that God would encourage them and guide them through summer ministry opportunities. Take time to show them your appreciation. Pray for a greater depth of understanding and love today in your own life for the call of God to join Him on mission in your neighborhood and city. Pray for those in the NAB who are in the process of searching for new pastors and leaders. Pray for God s wisdom and guidance as they seek to fill these open positions. Lift up Paul and Tanya Gericke in prayer as they celebrate Tanya s birthday. Pray for their ministry at Camp Falcon Rock in Romania, especially in these busy months of summer ministry. Pray for the Nor Cal Ethos gathering today, part of a three-year journey where pastors and leaders work out what it means to be missional within their ministry and local context. Pray for Rick and Debbie Bardin as they celebrate her birthday. Thank God for their ministry as medical missionaries to Cameroon. Pray for each of the father figures in your life as you celebrate Father s Day today. Thank God for the ways He used them to help you grow spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually. 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 for the NAB Women s Ministry Leadership Team; pray that God would give them wisdom and a unified vision as they seek to partner with and encouarge women s ministry across the NAB. 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. The first day of on-site registration for Triennial 2018 is exactly one month away. Pray for God s hand to be on this event as the final details come together. ministers 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.

8 WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Pray that our NAB churches and cooperating organizations would continue to grow in Christlikeness and encourage one another. Pray for your pastor(s) today as they spend the weekend serving, preaching, and giving to others. Ask the Lord to grant them precious time to rest in Him and with their families. Pray for the staff of the NAB International Office as they serve the NAB missionaries and churches around the world. Pray for the Taylor Seminary board meetings taking place this weekend. Ask God to shower the board with wisdom and guidance. Pray for younger leaders in the NAB family whom God is developing for spiritual impact today in their ministries. Pray that the Lord surrounds them with Godly mentors who invest in them deeply as spiritual leaders. 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. Pray for the seminaries in Russia and Brazil, as well as the Bicol Center for Christian Leadership, as each of them teach, train, and raise up the next generation of church leaders in their country. Today is Calvin Hohn s birthday. Pray for him and his family and his ministry serving as the NAB field director in Cameroon. Pray for the NAB ministries in Japan. Pray especially for Shan Reed as she wraps up home assignment to head back to the field to join Yuri Nakano and the Ewing family. Pray for the missionaries your home church supports. Bless them in some way this week. Pray for the Youth Ministry Leadership Team as they encourage and equip youth leaders of the NAB to reach students in our churches, communities, and around the world. Pray for the NAB churches who are serving cross-culturally, reaching people groups in their own neighborhoods who come from different backgrounds than the majority culture around them. Pray for interim regional minister 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. Randy Jaspers (Northern Plains Region) and Rev. Rick Weber (Northern California Association). Ask God to continue to give them wisdom as they serve the pastors and churches in their area. Pray for Gateway Director Randy Schmor and the important work he does training churches and missions teams for missional engagement through longterm partnerships with mission fields around the world. Pray for the shortterm mission team serving the children in Zsambok, Hungary, this week alongside NAB missionaries Ron and Jeannie Seck and national missionaries Laci and Eszter Daroczi-Csuhai. Pray for the Southern Association meeting taking place this weekend. Lift up the pastors who will be in attendance, as well as regional minister Dan Heringer. NAB Vice Presidents Cam Roxburgh and Kent Carlson are working on various tools and resources for use by leaders and churches in the NAB regions. Please pray for this process to be inspired by the Holy Spirit so that we will see fruit come from these resources.