orizon Youth Group: A year of jubilee! David Schroeder Called to WSBC Staff Mountain view hosts VBS clinic. 3 w FYI

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1 Mountain view hosts VBS clinic. 3 Online Edition June 2016 Volume 32 Issue 2 H orizon S David Schroeder Called to WSBC Staff Lynn Nikkel The Executive Board of the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in called business session on Friday, April 29th, voted unanimously to call David Schroeder as the new WSBC Mission Strategist / South Region Missionary. The Search Team was made up of the WSBC Executive Board Administrative Team, and three additional members from the South Region, appointed by the South Region Executive Board. Those members included A.J. Jenness, David Grace, Mike Smith, Don Rushing, Ed Tharp and Bob Casper from the Executive Board; and David Brown, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist in Rock Springs; Gerald Crites, pastor of Grand Avenue in Laramie; and Joe Fabian, member of Memorial Baptist in Wheatland. The search process involved receiving resumes from late in 2015 through February of A total of nineteen resumes were received, reviewed and discussed. The process eventually brought the team to two most prospective candidates that were interviewed online. The entire process was bathed in prayer, lots of discussions and deliberations, leading to a unanimous recommendation of David to the WSBC Executive Board for call to this David and Carla Schroeder. ministry role. Schroeder told the team his vision for this role, to see WSBC churches grow in missions, both near and far. It is to the strength of churches to do mission work. It is to the good of Wyoming people and communities. Mission work is changing the world. It is to the glory of God that we do missions. David is a graduate of the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, and also from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a Masters of See SCHROEDER on pg. 8 Newcastle Middle School. Todd Olsen First, I want to say God opens doors and closes doors and does it in His time. I have seen God do amazing Youth Group: A year of jubilee! w FYI The Youth Group started with about 10 students, but now more than 20 students regularly attend the gathering. things here in Newcastle Wyoming over the last year and a half. I have seen the hopeless find hope in Christ Jesus in the county jail, prison, N.A. meetings and in a Youth Group at the Middle School. Pastors have done this Youth Group in the past many times and have reached 1 to 10 kids on late start Wednesdays and we should praise the Lord in that, but this year is a special year it s like the year of Jubilee! This youth group has been a community effort to reach the youth for Christ. We started with 9 or 10 youth at the beginning of school attending our group, but now God has increased the number of kids attending to 20 sometimes 25. This last Wednesday April 20, 2016 we saw 31 kids attend this youth group that meets on campus at the Middle School on late start Wednes- See JUBILEE on pg. 6

2 news 2 June 2016 ABOVE: 256 present at the Youth Evangelism Conference held April 8-9 at the Ramkota Hotel in Casper. RIGHT: Zeb from the Strength Team breaking bricks at the Youth Evangelism Conference. Youth Evangelism Conference A Todd Olsen total of 256 youth and adults from 23 churches met on April 8 and 9 at the Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center in Casper for the 2016 Youth Evangelism Conference. By the end of the two day event 48 students had responded to the invitation with 17 making salvation decisions. The Strength Team was this years featured guests, Jon Andrickson and Zebulun Bishop. Jon was born In New York and moved to Miami, Florida in He was very involved in basketball throughout his high school years and this love for fitness and overall good health led him to become a certified cardiovascular technologist and a personal trainer assisting others in obtaining a healthy lifestyle through his knowledge of fitness and nutrition. He became addicted to drugs until his life was radically changed by Jesus Christ. He joined the Strength Team in 2012 and now lives to tell others about God s Love and Forgiveness. Zeb Bishop was an all state track and field star in shot put and discus. Since he can bench press over 400 lbs. Zeb is the biggest and one of the strongest members on The Strength Team. He has the ability to crush massive walls of concrete with one blow of his fore arm. Although big and strong, Zeb has an even larger heart for God, his family and sharing with others about Jesus Christ! These men did many impressive feats of strength like breaking cement blocks, bending steel bars, breaking baseball bats, and bursting hot water bottles. Both men shared their testimonies of coming to faith in Jesus Christ and the difference in their lives since following Him. They also both brought gospel messages. Set Free Church of Riverton provided music for the event. Pastor Richard Mills played the guitar and sang. Gordon Mays and Doug Pick accompanied him on drums and bass. With a mixture of new songs and old ones, the music was very upbeat and loud and connected to the youth. Youth were given the option of choosing two of four breakouts. Their choices were World View? What s That? led by Eric Reid, How to Start a Spiritual Conversation with Your Friends led by Ed Tharp, Walking Worthy of Your Calling led by Lynda Roark, and Youth Group: What s the Point? led by David Largent. Allen Jackson formerly from New Orleans Baptist Seminary led a breakout for youth workers. All the breakouts were well received and comments from those who attended were positive and affirmative. Evaluations were taken at the end of the conference and each form is read and considered as plans are made for next year s Youth Evangelism Conference. The Evangelism staff of the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention are very thankful for the comments and suggestions offered on the evaluation forms. This means that Youth Evangelism Conference will continue to grow and change as new ideas are shared. Next year the YEC will be at the Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center again. They provided great facilities and service and most evaluations were very favorable Mountain Top Baptist Camp Schedule June 24, 25, 26 June 27- July 1 July July July Aug. 1-5 Aug Aug Aug Sept Sept Hispanic Family Camp RA Camp Children s Camp Summit Youth Camp Good News Camps Good News Camps Good News Camps College Heights Men s Retreat Shepherds Men s Retreat Northeast Region Ladies Retreat BCM Retreat More information: Lynda Roark Executive Director-MTBA mountaintopba@gmail.com Cell:

3 June NEWS Mountian view hosts VBS clinic On April Mountain View Baptist Church in Mills hosted the annual WSBC Vacation Bible School Clinic. The Mountain View Praise Team led the worship, and the WSBC VBS Team led the workshops. This year s theme is Submerged: Finding Truth below the Surface. At least 120 people were present, representing 24 Wyoming churches. I want to give a big thanks to Cindy Ma, director of the WSBC Vacation Bible School Team, and all team members: Amy Chidester, Mike Ellis, Penny Allen, Christy Weathermon, Cheri Mickelson, and Pam Creason. Prepared by Fred Creason WSBC Leadership Strategist Group of Baptist Collegiate Ministry students attended the 2016 retreat in February. BCM Retreat Seventy-six Baptist Collegiate Ministry students, directors and families from five Wyoming college campus met together for a weekend of winter fun, God s Word and amazing worship, February 19-21,2016 at Camp Bethel above Dayton, Wyoming. Danny Smith, church planting apprentice with Wind City Church brought the messages from the Book of Philippians. The theme was centered around Advancing God s Kingdom, with emphasis on personal transformation as we move deeper into our relationship with Jesus, serving and living for Jesus every day, and in every way, living a life committed to God s mission. The 2017 student retreat will be held February 17-19, 2017 with the location to be determined. Wyoming Rodeo Ministry The Wyoming Rodeo Ministry will be sharing three minute testimonies again this year at the National High School Finals Rodeo. This year the Rodeo is in Gillette at the Cam-plex on July The Ministry is looking for volunteers from our churches work in the booth. Training is available for those who volunteer. If you have some time you would like to give to the Wyoming Rodeo Ministry call James Scott at or Dale Bascue at We will schedule a training and plug you in to our volunteer system. You can get more information about the Wyoming Rodeo Ministry at the WSBC website, We need volunteers for all or any part of the week. This is a great opportunity to do evangelistic missions at home that can have a national (and international) impact.

4 News 4 June 2016 Gaining keys to the kitchen trailer Suzette Livingston hands over the keys to the kitchen trailer to Mickey Caison, Executive Director Disaster Relief of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, as representatives from the Crook County Fire Fighters Auxilliary and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief come together to celebrate the unit s donation. According to Caison, the trailer will be named in honor of the county that created it as it becomes part of the SBDR fleet across an eight-state area. Photo used by permission; Jeff Moberg, Editor/Publisher, Sundance Times sarah pridgeon preacher school Participants of the Preacher School. April 29-30, 2016, United Baptist Church, Riverton, Wyoming hosted the third annual Preacher School. 35 layman, church planters and pastors from churches throughout the state, gathered for training in the practical skills of faithfully proclaiming the Word of God. Mike Palmer, pastor and Trey Sapp, associate pastor of Salmon Valley Baptist Church and Lemhi River Cowboy Church, Idaho, led layman, planters and pastors through a simple process for discovering and proclaiming the truth found in God s Word. Two tracks were offered. A Basic Preaching Track for first time attenders and an Advanced Preaching Track for previous attenders who are digging deeper. The training was designed to enhance discovery skills as a student of Scripture, the development of confidence in Bible study methods and the implementation of a simple process of sermon preparation. Next year s Preacher School training is scheduled for April 28-29, Look for more information in the future, but mark your calendar today and plan to attend this free training provided through the faithful giving of our churches to the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.

5 June 2016 news 5 calendar of events June SBC Crossover, St. Louis SBC Pastors Conference, St. Louis 13 WMU SBC Meeting / SBC Committee Meetings SBC Annual Meeting, St. Louis 19 Father s Day Youth Encounter, Mt. Top Baptist Assembly Hispanic Family Camp, Mt. Top Baptist Assembly 27-7/1 RA Camp, Mt. Top Baptist Assembly July 4 WSBC Office Closed, Independence Day WSBC IN OFFICE WEEK Children s Camp, Mt. Top Baptist Assembly National High School Finals Rodeo, Gillette Cam-plex Stewardship Development Assoc. Meeting; Duluth, MN Summit Youth Camp, Mt. Top Baptist Assembly Cheyenne Frontier Days, Cheyenne 25-8/12 Child Evangelism Fellowship Camps, Mt. Top Baptist Assembly August 5-6 Disaster Relief Training, Green River, Hilltop Baptist Church 7-12 Collegiate Week, Glorieta 8-14 Sturgis Bike Rally Ministries, Sturgis, SD 13-8/17 Various Retreats, Mt. Top Baptist Assembly 20 Northeast Region Annual Meeting, Casper, Boyd Avenue Baptist Church 27 West Region Annual Meeting, Location TBD September 4-11 Week of Prayer for WSBC Missions/ Delmar Missions Offering 5 WSBC Office Closed, Labor Day 6-8 NAMB CPC Training, Location TBD 10 South Region Annual Meeting, Green River, Hilltop Baptist Church 15 Administrative Team, 3:00pm, WSBC Office 16 Executive Board, 10:00 am, WSBC Office SBC Executive Committee, Nashville Stewardship Development Association Meeting, Nashville OASIS, Casper, Parkway Plaza 2015 WSBC Cooperative budget update

6 6 news June 2016 The Gospel Invitation Dale Bascue Here s a great riddle of ministry why would we who believe in the power of the Gospel to change lives not invite people to respond to the message? I think I know something about those who would be reading this column. I think you are someone who has encountered God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I think you probably came to Christ because of an invitation. Maybe it was the invitation of a Sunday school teacher. Maybe it was the invitation of a friend. Maybe it was what we usually think of as an invitation. At the close of a church service the preacher asked for a show of hands of those who needed salvation. The congregation began to sing, Just As I Am. You walked down the aisle, took the preacher by the hand, and prayed with him as he led you to faith in Jesus. Whatever form the invitation came to us, there was an invitation to place our faith in Jesus for our salvation. Why, then, would someone proclaim the good news and not invite others to respond? I recently ran across an old book entitled 65 Ways to Give Evangelistic Invitations by F.D. Whitesell. It BASCUE was published in 1945 but as I began to read it I realized how timely it was. Whitesell states, Evangelistic preaching naturally culminates in an invitation. The whole drive of such preaching reaches a logical climax in the appeal. Without the invitation the evangelistic message is incomplete and the effect of the message unknown. He later says, The evangel of God s redeeming love deserves an immediate and whole-hearted response, and the invitation calls upon men to make that response in some public manner. Have you ever considered how many times the Scriptures make appeals, exhortations, entreaties, pleadings, and even commands to hear and respond to the calls of God to men? I ve never counted them and I m not aware of anywhere you can find the number, but they are countless. Come unto Me, all who are weary and I will give you rest. Who is on the Lord s side? Let him come to me. Follow Me. Immediately they left With many other words he warned them and pleaded with them. The Bible even closes with an invitation. Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. It s almost like God is saying, Okay, now that I m ready to finish My Book, I want to be sure everyone knows they can be included. I will make one last appeal, one last exhortation, one last invitation. Modern evangelistic invitations are of comparatively recent origin, but the spirit and principle of the evangelistic invitation is as old as the Bible itself. Many would point to Charles G. Finney and the anxious seat as the beginning of public invitations. I think it might be better to consider the anxious seat as a re-birth of a biblical idea. So how does your church do the invitation? There are several ways effective evangelistic invitations are conducted. Some ask for those present who want to be saved to come forward and the pastor or trained volunteers will tell them how to be saved. Some have a room where inquirers can meet with the pastor after the services and he can lead them into making a decision. Others have decision cards available for people to fill out and place in the offering plate (if you use this method I would suggest you place the offering at the conclusion of the worship service). Whatever method is used, use one. I have often heard the story about D.L Moody s conversation with a rather distinguished lady. The lady complained about the way Moody made pleas for people to respond to the gospel. She said, I don t like your method. He agreed with her and asked what method she used. I don t use a method, she responded. He said, Then I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it! There s a lot of wisdom in those words. Dale Bascue serves as Evangelism Strategist and West Region Missionary, Wyoming Southern Baptists. Churches on mission Clearmont Clearmont Community Church has called Shane Haynes to be pastor. Cheyenne Long time pastor of Sunnyside Baptist Church, Max Janzen has resigned. The church is in process of planning for the future. Lysite A new work is beginning in Lysite Wyoming! Bible Studies and Easter Services have been led by Dennis and Rosily Fish. See article and photo elsewhere in this issue. Worland Scott Longwell, pastor of First Baptist Church has resigned. Jess Rollema serves as Minister of Youth. Newcastle Pastor Todd Olsen and Cambria Community Church in Newcastle has been working with other pastors and churches to reach youth in their community. Please see the article Youth Group-Year of Jubilee! for more on this exciting story in this issue. Saratoga First Baptist Church pastor Johnathon Moore has recently resigned. JUBILEE continued from pg. 1 days. We have seen at least 5 or 6 out of this group come to know Christ this year! This amount of enthusiasm in youth in Newcastle has never taken place in all the years prior to this year. This is a special year that God planned and knew would be a year of Jubilee for the amazing youth in Newcastle wanting and desiring to find hope in Christ Jesus our Lord. So please Praise our great God and our amazing Lord Jesus for reaching the youth in Wyoming. Last thing, most of these kids do not attend church and many have never owned a Bible. Our youth need Christ! Please go and start youth groups in your areas and see God bless the efforts! Todd K. Olson serves as pastor of Cambria Community Church, Newcastle Have a story that needs to be told? Pam at hans@wyomingsbc.org with your story idea!

7 June 2016 news 7 PRAY for the harvest Pray for churches seeking God s direction for a new pastor. Dennis & Rosilyn Fish, Zach Edwards in front of the old schoolhouse in Lysite. Zach Edwards New work in Lysite! Let me tell you an incredible story about a friend of mine named Dennis. Dennis is a retiree who volunteers at the Wyoming Southern Baptists Convention. He was antelope hunting this fall and drove through the community of Lysite, Wyoming. Dennis began to feel a burden for this town. One day, Dennis stopped and spoke to a young man named Lucas who works at the local store. Through their conversation, Dennis asked him about his interest in Jesus. Lucas told Dennis that he believed in Jesus, but would like to know more about Him. In March, Dennis and his wife Rosilyn met Lucas, his wife Amber and their young son at the old, one-room school building for Bible study. My family and I were privileged to attend as well. Since then, Dennis, Rosilyn and people from WindCity Church in Casper went to the Lysite area and spread the word about the new work. Eight people showed up for Bible study that s 10% of the town! We pray this is the beginning of a new community of believers who will bring this area to Jesus! Please pray for the community of Lysite! Lysite is located in northeast Fremont County. The population of Lysite is only 80 people, but there are several ranches and other small communities (Moneta, Lost Cabin) within a few miles. The amazing thing about this area is that there is no evangelical church proclaiming Jesus in these communities. Please pray for Dennis and Rosilyn. They are special people doing good work. Pray for health, energy and wisdom as they serve the Lord. Please also pray for Lucas and Amber the young family who came to the first Bible study. Pray they become disciples of Jesus who help share Him in the community! Also, pray for God to work in the following people that Dennis and Rosilyn have met. Pray that as He works, people will see God s presence and come to know Jesus! Al and Debbie Al has cancer. Bob and Jeanie They are an older family with health problems. Jeanie just broke her hip. South Region Agape Baptist Church, Cheyenne Bairoil Community Baptist Church, Bairoil Circle C Cowboy Church, Green River First Baptist Church, Saratoga Sunnyside Baptist Church, Cheyenne North Cheyenne Baptist Church, Cheyenne** Fred Creason Northeast Region Big Horn Baptist Church, Buffalo* First Southern Baptist Church, Moorcroft First Southern Baptist Church, Douglas Dale Bascue West Region First Baptist Church, Woodland First Baptist Church, Big Piney* *Served by interim pastor. **Served by transitional pastor. God is working! Thanks for your prayers, your giving to the Cooperative Program and all that you do to make disciples of Christ in your community. Zach serves as Church Planting Catalyst, Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention State Hispanic Laborers Conference On April 22-24, Iglesia Bautista Principe de Paz in Casper hosted the annual Hispanic Laborers Conference. Hispanic leaders attended from all over Wyoming. Francisco Gomez of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention was the featured speaker. The services were hampered a bit by flooding in the church sanctuary thanks to lots of rain and snow. But several new believers were baptized. Special thanks go to Richard and Amy Lugo of Principe de Paz for organizing the event. Principe de Paz Pastor Richard Lugo baptizes during the Hispanic Laborers Conference. Prepared by Fred Creason Leadership Strategist WSBC

8 8 news June 2016 When bitterness bites: What if we surrender? Fred Creason Joseph grew up in a home where he was loved by his wealthy father, where he could expect the very best that life had to offer. But things changed quickly when he was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. I ve often wondered what Joseph was thinking as he walked those many miles down to Egypt. The clanking of the chains would remind him that he was a slave: that slaves spend their lives in hard labor, and that many slaves die young. I m sure Joseph cried as he walked the dusty roads to Egypt. I m sure he wept as he looked up at the stars. I m sure he asked every question that we would ask. Where was God when he needed God most? Why had God let him be abused by his brothers? Why had God let him become a slave? Abuse is terrible. But bitterness can be even worse. We can become bitter toward those who hurt us. We can become bitter toward the God who let it CREASON happen. What if Joseph had surrendered to bitterness? What if What if he had refused to work hard? What if he had given up on God? Humanly speaking, Joseph had every right to be angry. No one would have blamed him if he had rebelled against God. But somehow, by the time he got to Egypt, Joseph had made peace with God. We know what it s like to talk to a bitter person. They want to get even. They want to settle the score. We know what it s like to be a bitter person. We spend our time thinking about the Most likely, a bitter Joseph would have died a slave. But a forgiving Joseph became a hero of faith. - fred creason people who hurt us. We keep hoping for opportunities to hurt them in return. Nearly 1,000 years ago, Bernard of Clairveaux set forth several stages of spiritual growth: (1) Loving God for our own sake; (2) Loving God for our own sake, in view of what God does for us; (3) Loving God for God s sake, whether God does what we want, or not. You know the story. God took care of Joseph. But Joseph had opportunity to turn from God. He was tempted by his master s wife a beautiful woman, who sought him daily. He put God first: How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? (Gen 39:9). But God didn t seem to care. Joseph did the right thing, and got punished anyway. Potipher s wife accused Joseph of trying to rape her, and got him thrown into prison. No doubt Joseph began to wonder if he would ever escape the suffering. He had changed his slave clothing for prisoner clothing. In many ways, he was worse off than he had been before. Yet he refused to give up on God. Joseph became vizier of Egypt. God exalted him to be second ruler in all the land. Few people on earth were as powerful as he. And God gave him a chance to get even. Seven years of famine brought his brothers into Egypt. Joseph just happened to be there when they arrived. Joseph tested them a bit, to see what was in their hearts. But he refused to seek revenge. Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here (45:5). You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good (50:20). It was not you who sent me here, but God (45:8). Joseph chose to forgive. He made a conscious decision not to seek revenge or nurse a grudge (Greenfield, The Wounded Pastor, p. 224). He came to understand that God is in control, and that God uses the abuses of life to make us what he wants us to be. Let s remember the words of Romans 12:19. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Most likely, a bitter Joseph would have died a slave. But a forgiving Joseph became a hero of the faith. We can t control what other people do to us. But we can respond in the right way, a God-honoring way. And we can trust God to make things right, in his time, and in his way. Fred Creason is the Leadership Strategist and Northeast Region Missionary at the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention. SCHROEDER cont. from pg. 1 vinity degree. While with the IMB he has received specialized training in strategy development, supervision, interpersonal skills, and leader care. David and his wife, Carla, are no strangers to Wyoming, nor to the South Region. Prior to their last assignment with the International Mission Board, SBC, he served as pastor of North Cheyenne Baptist Church. His ministry also included being pastor of Mountain View Baptist Church in Mills. D&C s IMB assignment, over 10 years, included local ministry in an area of East Asia and to a specific people group, and the last 5 years as Member Care - supporting M s all across Asia. David s & Carla s pastoral experience, their mission strategy development, and their work in support of missionaries - will serve pastors and churches in the South Region extremely well. In regard to the South Region Missionary role, David said, I am eager to befriend and know the pastors, visiting and hosting them, supporting them, listening to their many burdens, encouraging them in the Lord, praying with them, and providing any assistance possible. Carla added that, David and I could in many capacities work together as I support him in this ministry. (We) have always been drawn to serve and support families in ministry. There would be times we could travel together to visit churches and ministry families. These are opportunities to give hospitality and encouragement. I am intimately acquainted with living in isolation and the need for encouragement and support. Ministry wives are especially dear to my heart. And their mission strategy development experience will also serve all the churches of Wyoming in fulfilling the Great Commission through missions. From pastoring in several locations in the West of the U.S., and especially in Wyoming; and from their mission strategy experience internationally David is uniquely qualified in experience to lead Wyoming Southern Baptist churches to develop meaningful Great Commission strategies. The start date for David with the Convention will be June 1st. Until then they have returned to Alaska, where they have been living, and will be making arrangements to move from there, and from Texas, where some of their belongings are stored. We welcome David and Carla to our Wyoming Southern Baptist team, as I know you will. For the first couple of months they will reside in a WSBC apartment in Casper for orientation, and as they search for a home on the field in the South Region.