Blessings. In This Issue. M a y A p u b l i c a t i o n o f B y r o m v i l l e B a p t i s t C h u r c h

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1 M a y Blessings A p u b l i c a t i o n o f B y r o m v i l l e B a p t i s t C h u r c h In This Issue Ecclesiology & growth.. p. 2 Turkey Creek Fesitval.. p. 3 Assn l news p. 3 National Day of Pryer.. p. 4 Conference & supper... p. 4 Children s Home Day... p. 5 Monthly info p. 6 News from afar p. 7 Pictures from April..... p. 7 Day of Prayer/Fasting... p. 8

2 Page 2 Pastor s column Ecclesiology and growth Andy Blankenship In recent months the topic of Ecclesiology (the study of the theology of church) has been at the forefront of my thoughts in these articles. Once again I find myself engulfed with this topic as I pray and contemplate what it will take to see members of our church family grow in their faith and walk with Christ. In conversations and personal readings I have learned that there are several movements that are attempting to remedy the growth problem that many churches are facing. The fundamental assumption underlying these new approaches is that everything has changed, and so our methods must change. However, in my preparation to preach on Sundays my mind has been saturated with teaching on the nature of humanity and the sin that ensnares us all. It is because of these truths that I am inclined to dispute both parts of the previous equation. First it must be noted that regardless of present cultural trends the human condition has not changed and therefore the human need has not changed. The words of Solomon and there being nothing new under the sun come to mind here. Furthermore, one of the things that has always marked faithful and effective Christian ministry in every era and area of the world is a confidence in God s Word, both in the Gospel message and in Gospel means. Faith still comes by hearing. It is here I would give you the words of Dr. Ligon Duncan and his thoughts on Ordinary Means Ministry. Ordinary means of grace-based ministry is ministry that focuses on doing the things God, in the Bible, says are central to the spiritual health and growth of His people, and which aims to see the qualities and priorities of the church reflect biblical norms. Ordinary means ministry is thus radically committed to biblical direction of the priorities of ministry. Ordinary means ministry believes that God has told us the most important things, not only about the truth we are to tell, but about the way we are to live and minister in any and every context. Hence, God has given us both the message of salvation and the means of gathering and building the church, in His Word. In all practicality what this means for Byromville Baptist is: #1 commitment to following the direction of God s Word as to both the message and the means of gathering and perfecting the saints. Ordinary means ministry has a high view of the Bible, preaching, the church, the ordinances or sacraments, and prayer. #2 believe that God means what He says in the Bible about the central importance of these public, outward instruments for spiritual life and growth. In the absolute simplest of terms I am confirming something I said almost two years ago when I first became pastor of this church. I am not interested in reinventing the wheel. God is just as smart and sovereign now as He was then and when He spoke it was and is perfect. If we want to grow we must dive into the Word of God, fast, pray, worship and enjoy a relationship with Christ. We must stop leaning on the minds, opinions and programs of the latest megachurch pastor and start leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus. This model of spiritual growth has not only been effective for generations but it is also much more simplistic than some of the program driven models that are popping up in our time. Don t you want the simple and more effective model of spiritual growth? Because He lives, Andy Visit our Seasoned Saints booth at the Turkey Creek Festival on May 1. They will be selling coffee, sausage biscuits, homemade cakes & other goodies.

3 Page 3 th Celebrate Byromville at the 14 annual Turkey Creek Festival May 1, 2010 Theme: Circus in the Park 8:00AM 9:00AM 10:00AM Dessert TasteOff Welcome Center/Exhibits open Vendors open Basketball Shootout Parade led by Grand Marshal Elizabeth Taylor Associational news Riverview Church to host Ladies Night Brotherhood May 3 Several youth who made spiritual decisions at the recent Youth Explosion last month will give their testimonies at this quarter s associational Brotherhood meeting. Also this is the annual Ladies Night so all you ladies come and enjoy the evening. Supper begins at 6:30 p.m. with the meeting immediately following. Riverview Baptist Church is located at 1021 River Road, Vienna. 10:30AM 11:00AM 11:30AM 11:45AM 12:00PM 12:15PM 12:30PM 1:00PM 1:15PM 1:45PM Opening ceremony Entertainment by Confetti the Clown Fire truck ride Bicycle races begin Sampling of TasteOff entries Drawing for children s prizes Entertainment by The Gospel Stars Hula Hoop Contest Drawing for children s prizes Entertainment by Illusionist Charles Wright Drawing for children s prizes Entertainment by the Dooly Middle School s Perfect Gentlemen Drawing for adults prizes Youth Rally at Arabi Church, May 1 The rally will begin after a hotdog supper at 6:00 p.m. Arabi Baptist Church is located at 3939 First Avenue, Arabi. Camp Houston Dates for 2010 Joyful Noise May Grades 1-3 June Grades 7-12 June Grades 4-6 June 28-July 1 To download a camp application, camper/parent instructions or counselor application, go to Go to for more information. Associational Emphasis Week, May Prayer guides will be available at the church house.

4 Page 4 Come down Holy Spirit! A traveling evangelist always put on a grand finale at his revival meetings. When he was to preach at a church, he would secretly hire a small boy to sit in the ceiling rafters with a dove in a cage. Toward the end of his sermon, the preacher would shout for the Holy Spirit to come down, and the boy in the rafters would dutifully release the dove. At one revival meeting, however, nothing happened when the preacher called for the Holy Spirit to descend. He again raised his arms and exclaimed: Come down, Holy Spirit! Still no sign of the dove. The preacher then heard the anxious voice of the small boy call down from the rafters: Sir, a yellow cat just ate the Holy Spirit. Shall I throw down the yellow cat? From Holy Humor by Cal and Rose Samra Latest news reports are that five terrorist cell groups have been operating in many of our churches: Bin Sleepin, Bin Arguin, Bin Fightin, Bin Complainin, and Bin Missin. Their leader, Lucifer Bin Workin, trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ. They come into the church disguised as Christians and work within the church to discourage, disrupt, and destroy. However, there have been reports of a sixth group. A tiny cell known by the name Bin Prayin is actually the only effective counter terrorism force in the church. Unlike other terrorist cells, the Bin Prayin team does not blend in with whoever and whatever comes along. Bin Prayin does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ. We have noticed that the Bin Prayin cell group has different characteristics than the others. They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, Bin Fastin, and Bin Longin for their Master, Jesus Christ to return. NO CHURCH IS EXEMPT! (However, you can spot them if you bin lookin and bin goin.)

5 Page 5 Campus Residential Programs: These ministries provide residential care for troubled children, youth, and families. Christ-centered programs on three campuses, located in Baxley, Meansville, and Palmetto, work together to meet the basic physical needs of our children, as well as assist them in personal development and spiritual growth. Group Home Residential Care: These group homes have the capacity to serve five to eight children. We have group homes located in Brooks, Carrollton, Demorest, Ellijay, and Newnan. Maternity Care: Our maternity program includes a facility on the Palmetto campus providing a safe place for pregnant young women and guidance for unwed mothers and their child. Specialty Residential Care: This program evaluates the physical, mental, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs of a child and serves children with higher emotional needs, including children who have been victimized, on a long-term basis. Every child deserves a loving home. Unfortunately in today s society our children are often innocent victims; living in situations that are far from loving. Every day, somewhere in the state of Georgia, a child falls victim to abuse, abandonment or neglect. A young girl finds out she s pregnant and has nowhere to turn. A teen battles a substance abuse problem. Young girls are exploited and victimized. Families who have children with developmental disabilities are seeking respite help. Every day in our state there are children and families desperate for help. For more than 137 years, Georgia Baptist Children s Home has been the loving hand that reaches out to these hurting children. Our programs have changed over the years to serve the needs of children in our care, but our mission has not. We continue to be a Christian ministry of services designed to promote the spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being of children, youth and families. Through the following ministries we seek to provide every child in our care a loving home. Camp Hawkins: This summer camping program is designed to meet the needs of children with developmental disabilities. This ministry has expanded to include a weekend respite care program called" Matthew's Time" for children with more severe disabilities. The Nelson Price Treatment Center: Teenagers today struggle with the temptation of readily available drugs and alcohol. The Nelson Price Treatment Center is helping to meet that need through a twelve-step Christian program designed for teens and their families through residential treatment. Good Shepherd Therapeutic Center: Located in Warm Springs, Georgia, this unique farm based residential program for boys provides both short and long-term care and offers an outpatient therapeutic riding program. Community Child and Adolescent Services: We offer a full range of coordinated mental health and community support services including individual counseling, family counseling, psychiatric services, nursing services and pharmacological services. There will be special offering envelopes at the church house. Visit for more information.

6 Page 6 Schedule of Volunteers for May Please remember it is up to you to arrange coverage if you are unable to serve on your scheduled day. Date Flowers Nursery for Sunday School Nursery for Morning Worship May 2 Open Laura Lamberth Kimberly/Ryan Godfrey Deacon of the Week Mark Smith Ushers Daniel Thompson Matthew Youngblood May 9 Pat Hatcher Sharon Thompson Laura/Keith Lamberth Floyd Tucker Jimmy L. Hendrix George Massey May 16 Connie Raper Jill Brannen Terri Gregory Michelle Kitchens May 23 Open Mary Kathryn Blankenship May 30 Debra Walling-Preston Vicki/Steven Lamberth Curtis Lamberth Jimmy Lockerman Mark Smith Quint Smith Mark Peavy Arthur Roney Kimberly Godfrey Robin/Mark Peavy Arthur Roney Monta Averill William Preston April Sunday School Stats Senior Adults 11 FBIC 12 CIA 5 VOC 9 Young Adults 9 Older Youth 5 th th th 6, 7 & 8 Graders 0 rd th th 3, 4, & 5 Graders 5 st nd 1 & 2 Graders 7 Older Preschoolers 3 Younger Preschoolers 9 Nursery 1 General Officers 3 TOTAL 78 Financial $ummary March receipts General offerings $ 9, Annie Armstrong Easter Offering Mailbox club Special Social/recreation committee Special Stove TOTAL 10, March disbursements General expenses 8, Library Local missions and benevolence 1, Cooperative Pr o g r a m 1, Houston Baptist Association TOTAL $13, In Honor of Mother s Day, May 9 A teacher gave her class of second graders a lesson on the magnet and what it does. The next day in a written test, she included this question: "My full name has six letters. The first one is M. I pick up things. What am I?" When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to find that almost 50 percent of the students answered the question with the word Mother.

7 Page 7 Monthly feature News from afar Scenes from April at BBC More pictures on our Pictured above are Jonathan Brinson s children, step daughter Christina and son Andrew. Jonathan and his wife Michelle now live in Alpharetta. Vacation Bible School 2010 June Contact VBS Director Jill Brannen to volunteer to help with our biggest evangelistic event of the year. website.

8 Page 8 Blessings is published m onthly by Byrom ville Baptist Church. Send news item s and/or com m ents to Editor Brenda Lockerm an at POB 217, Byrom ville, GA 31007, em ail to brendalockerm an@ windstream.net or call Byromville Baptist Church 713 Patterson Street ` POB 126 Byromville, GA Pastor: Andy Blankenship N O N PR O FIT O R G ANIZATIO N PO STAG E PAID PERM IT N O. 2 BYR O M VILLE GA ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

9 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 Turkey Creek Festival 6:00pm Youth Rally, Arabi 2 Senior Adult Day National Teachers Day 4:30pm W omen s Bible Study 6:00pm Church Conference followed by Supper Mother s Day Children s Home Day No evening services 6:30pm Assnl Brotherhood, Riverview Church Clean Up Your Room Day 12:00pm National Day of Prayer, Groves Park 5:30pm Seasoned Saints leave for Snellgroves 10:30am GEMS Armed Forces Day 8:00am Brotherhood Breakfast Graduate Sunday 4:30pm W omen s Bible Study 10:00AM Women on Mission (Going out to eat after meeting) Pentecost Day of Prayer/ Fasting World Evangelization 4:30pm W omen s Bible Study :30pm W omen s Bible Study Weekly Schedule 5-1 Jim m y Gauthier Glynn Grantham Thad Kitchens Mary Lizzie Lam berth Ross Stout 5-4 Tommy Bodrey 5-5 Sophie Roney 5-6 Lily Diehl 5-7 Jam ie Roberts 5-8 Cooper Blankenship Nikki Gaultney 5-9 Cathy Thom pson 5-10 Thom as Bodrey 5-10 Mandy Sm ith 5-13 Jason Mathenia Courtney Overton Jimmy R. Hendrix 5-19 Stacey Bryant 5-20 Mary Greer Sonya Thom pson 5-21 Jean Latim er Amanda Trimback Carrie W oodruff 5-22 Vicki Lam berth Austin Langford 5-24 Sherylan Payne 5-27 Hailey Gaultney 5-28 Sarah Averill Brannen Brenna Kirksey 5-30 Barbara Barlow 6-1 Cole Thom pson Please pray for these people on their birthday. SUNDAY Sunday School AM Worship AM Children s Choir PM Worship PM WEDNESDAY Supper PM Prayer Meeting PM Mission Friends PM Girls in Action PM Children in Action PM Youth Group PM

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