West Michigan Free Will Baptist Youth Camp

Transcription

1 April Published Monthly by the Michigan State Association of Free Will Baptists 2009 West Michigan Free Will Baptist Youth Camp A Life With Purpose August 3 7, 2009 Evangelists: Seniors Tommy Swindol Juniors Byron Trimble Cost: $ per camper There s food on my table, there s shoes on my feet, for you gave me your love Lord and a fine family, thank you Lord for your blessings on me! Ages: 7 18 For More Information: Gordon Brad New church members come in all shapes and sizes! ##### CONGRATULATIONS PASTOR RON AND RHONDA HELMS AND WELCOME ABOARD BRADEN! As the world looks upon me, as I struggle along They say I have nothing, but they are so wrong In my heart I m rejoicing! how I wish they could see Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me, There s a roof up above me, I ve a good place to sleep, 1 FWBBC Students Elect Officers NASHVILLE, TN The following five students at Free Will Baptist Bible College were elected to serve as student body officers: Kurston Ward, junior English major from Van Buren, Arkansas, was elected president. The vice president is junior Thomas Holloway, a Pastoral Ministry major from Albany, Georgia. Katie Duttine, a freshman History major

2 from Sod, West Virginia, will serve as secretarytreasurer. Freshman Zach Maloney, a Pastoral Ministry major from Morehead, Kentucky, was elected chaplain and will provide spiritual leadership for the student body. Junior Missions major Matt Munsey from Newport, Tennessee, will serve as worship leader. June 22 26, 2009 Theme: Basic Training Cornbread joins the Military Cost: $ per camper PHOTO (L-R): Matt Munsey, Katie Duttine, Thomas Holloway, Kurston Ward, Zach Maloney. We need more workers counselors, kitchen help and one day volunteers to help with fishing and archery. Last year we were short on women counselors. We had 49 workers and 150 campers last year. Ages May 3 Battle Creek Sunday! The Johnsons Report from Spain o o o Dear Michigan friends, April showers bring May flowers 12 dramas perfect for the Easter season Fully reproducible Spiral bound for easy use! Isn t God s timing great? He knows just when to send the rain so that there will be the right amount of moisture in the soil for flowers to take root and bloom. He doesn t even need a calendar or a special computer program to know things like that. From 10-minute sketches to full-length plays, this compilation is sure to have the perfect dramas for your needs this Easter season. Celebrate Easter: Easter Sketches and Plays for Your Church is certain to be a favorite drama resource you will use over and over again. He also knows exactly how much the hearts of Alpedrete need to be watered, fertilized, and pruned before they can grow. He knew that our Café y Algo Mas at the end of March would be a time for many people to have the Seed planted as they heard the Gospel presented. As we approach the blooming season, help us pray that hearts will be tender and ready for the next step God has planned. Varied, relevant and spiritually impacting! We appreciate your ten year s worth of support and prayers. You have proven faithful time and time again. 2

3 Keep praying that many flowers will grow here in Alpedrete. Pray! Tim and Kristi Johnson Dear Fellow Free Will Baptists, Greetings in the name of the Lord! As you know, The National Association of Free Will Baptists will hold their 2009 National Convention July 19th through 22nd at Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. As Prayer Chairman for this gathering, it is my responsibility to do all that I can to "rally the troops" in advance of this great meeting to make sure that each and every aspect of this event is bathed in prayer. Many have asked how they can help in this regard, and I would like to share a few thoughts and ideas with you: * First and foremost, please try to set aside a few minutes each day to whisper a prayer for the 2009 National Association Meeting, and all who will be participating in it. * Starting in the next few weeks, I will be sending out a Prayer Bulletin" in regards to this effort, with specific prayer requests, news and updates concerning the National on a regular basis all the way until the Meeting occurs in July. There are two ways you can receive this: #1 - You can me at PastorJimMcComas@aol.com with a request to have your address added to my mailing list, and you will immediately begin receiving these updates. #2 - If you are a member of "Facebook", you can join the group "Prayer Group for the 2009 FWB National Convention", where you will receive all the regular Prayer Bulletins, plus be able to communicate with other Free Will Baptists from far and wide about this great meeting. In just a few short weeks we have seen over 250 Free Will Baptists from literally around the world join this group, and we hope to have 1,000 Prayer Warriors standing together by July! * I also need volunteers who would be willing to "adopt" a person who will be involved in some capacity at the National. This would involve taking their address, praying for them and sending them a note of encouragement from time to time, letting them know that they are specifically being prayed for. I have been on the receiving end of such notes, and I can say from personal experience they are a great comfort. Once again, if you would be interested in helping with this project, please me and I will send you a name and address within the next few weeks. We are excited about The National coming back to Ohio, and we hope you will join with us in praying that God will do a mighty work among us while we are together in Cincinnati! May God bless each of you as you labor for Him, and we'll see you in July! Volunteers Needed! Build Forward to Reach the Next Generation What Has Happened? Several years ago there was a dream, a dream to build a church in an area that had not been touched by Free Will Baptists. Battle Creek, MI quickly became the target city. With almost 100,000 people in the area and very few churches preaching the gospel, Bob and Nancy Trimble labored to carve out a work in the city. They succeeded in laying a solid foundation. A church was purchased, services were held and souls were saved. What Is Happening Now? The Trimbles have retired and Jeff and Charissa Isaacs were selected to replace them. Growing pains occurred but it was obvious that God had a plan for the church. It began to grow and outgrow its building to the point where adding on again was not feasible. It had maximized its potential at its current location. God opened the door for the church to be sold in just a fourday span. The church will get a good return on the original investment. This will be used to purchase a great piece of property on one of the busiest roads in Battle Creek, right across the street from the largest elementary schools in Battle Creek. It is an ideal location. What Needs To Be Done? Doors have been opened and the pieces are coming together in an amazing God-directed way. However, there are several ways we need your help. First, please pray for us. Pray that we experience God s presence in these days of transition. Second, we need your help to secure the upfront costs of the move. Our goal is to raise $25,000 in cash in eight weeks to offset the bridge loan expenses. Also, please consider sending a group of skilled or hard workers from your church to work on the new church building. Finally, please receive a special offering on May 3, 2009 specifically for the Battle Creek work. The new location will unlock so many opportunities for us to minister that we 3

4 have not had in the past. Please help us Build Forward to Reach the Next Generation. anticipate sunny days, the end of school, and family vacations, it is time to snap back to reality. The Master's Men have a number of projects for this year, from Operation Saturation to the Ridge Church project, from golf and softball to Impact Cincinnati. Come be a part of what God is doing through the men in our local churches. Can we count on you? Please continue to pray for the Master's Men Department. Remember June 21 is Father's Day and a day to receive an offering for Master's Men. By helping us, we are able to help our churches help their men. Ken Akers, General Director As published in last month s Menorah, the Berea Free Will Baptist Mission in Battle Creek needs your help in remodeling the new building. Here is the list that needs to be done. -Electrical -Plumbing -Painting -General Construction -Flooring (carpet, hardwood and tile) -Drywall Installation and Finish -Asphalt Sealing and Striping -Heating and Cooling -Windows and Doors -Audio/Video Installation -Landscaping -Concrete Work -Those willing to help cook for volunteer work crews Ridge Church Restoration Project-Phase III (Sanctuary) Date: August , 2009 This week will be devoted to painting the sanctuary. If you are interested in participating in this project please contact the office for more details. Operation Saturation Please contact Home Missionary Jeff Isaacs and volunteer your services in one or more of the needed areas. He may be contacted by or pastorjeffisaacs@yahoo.com or by mail: Rev. Jeff Isaacs, 77 LaVista, Battle Creek, MI Master's Men and FWB Home Missions are joining hands again to help two missionaries this year. The first helping hand will go out to Missionary Jeff Isaacs and the work in Battle Creek, MI. on September 26. October 3 will be the date to lend another helping hand to Missionary Tim Osborn in Memphis, TN. Mark you calendars and plan to spend a day lending a helping hand to two FWB mission works. Don't you just love those times when you're not in a service; you're not listening to an inspirational song; you're just sitting around minding your own business and God makes you feel good all over. Today is one of those times. It might be because I just got back from a mission trip to Haiti or because I was in a couple of very good services Sunday, or because the sun is out and it's a beautiful day, but, it just might be because God is blessing. Often, those days are far between, and never seem to come when you think you need them. But, God in His wisdom sends them on the day you need them most. And today is one of those special days. The pace has been hectic with never enough time to accomplish all I need to do. If it were not for the Internet and the pictures I post, my wife could easily forget what I look like. With the coming of spring, it's time to slow down, relax, and enjoy this season of new birth. While we May 3: Battle Creek Sunday! All churches and individuals are asked to give a special offering to the Battle Creek Mission to enable them to remodel their recently purchased building. Pray! Support! Our Missionaries Rev. Greg Floars Account...$ Rev. Jeff Isaacs Account...$ - 2, The 2009 Michigan State Association and Michigan Youth Conference is a time for the entire family. Please plan to join us. 4

5 Michigan State Association of Free Will Baptists May 14 16, 2009 May 14, 9:00 a.m. Golf Tournament May 14, 5:30 p.m. General Board Dinner and Meeting May 15, 10:00 a.m. Michigan State Association of Free Will Baptists Convenes May 15, 7:00 p.m. Michigan State Association Continues May 15, 7:00 p.m. Michigan Youth Conference Convenes May 16, 9:00 a.m. Michigan Youth Conference and Michigan State Association Continues Best Western Valley Plaza Inn 5221 Bay City Rd., Midland, MI ; (800) Welcome To Mid Michigan's Premier Resort! With over 30 acres of convention, conference and leisure opportunities, Valley Plaza Resort is a unique facility offering two hotels, 30,000 square feet of sterling meeting and banquet space, and numerous entertainment venues to relax, unwind and enjoy. Valley Plaza Resort has established a long standing reputation for excellence in conference and convention services, corporate travel accommodations, and as a family retreat and vacation destination. Featuring... Two Restaurants 3 Indoor Pools, 2 Hot Tubs and Saunas Four Seasons Health & Aquatics Club Twin Movie Theaters 32 Lane Bowling & Billiards Center & Video Arcade Indoor 18-hole Putt Putt Golf Course 77 Site 4 Star RV Park w/lake and Beach Room Rate: $82.99 per night Please make your reservation by April 17 Code: Free Will Baptist

6 Michigan State Association of Free Will Baptists Hayes Road Clinton Twp., MI Missionary Conference Community Free Will Baptist Church Cherry Hill Road, Westland, MI May 31 June 3 Missionaries: Greg Floars [Marquette, Michigan] Danny Elliott [Quebec City, Canada] Brian Williams [Buffalo, New York] Service Times Monday through Wednesday: 10:00 am; 11:00 am; 7:00 pm Qualifications They do not have to be a preacher, but would be helpful. We need someone that understands and sees the need to give spiritual direction to our Youth. Must be willing to start out on a part-time basis. Ready to work with a group of teens who s hearts and minds are willing and ready to worship the Lord, server Him, and have a great time together. Our Teens are the Church of today. We just need to prepare them for tomorrow. TRINITY FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH 410 Oregon Street, Ypsilanti, MI Please contact Rev. Calvin ; ; or by Calvin.brown007@comcast.net Trinity Church We are interested in talking with a couple that would be interested in youth ministry The Michigan Free Will Baptist Menorah is a monthly publication of the Michigan State Association of Free Will Baptists: Rev. Ron Helms, moderator; Rev. Joe Jones, assistant moderator; Rev. Allen West, clerk; Rev. Jeff Isaacs, assistant clerk; Mr. William Ferguson, treasurer; Rev. Steven Thrasher, assistant treasurer; Rev. Gene Norris, editor and promotional secretary. News is to be received by the 25th of the month at Hayes Road, Clinton Twp., MI or gnorris101@comcast.net.

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