The Messenger May 2018

Transcription

1 The Messenger May 2018 Cumberland Plateau Baptist Association The Cumberland Plateau Baptist Association is a network of Churches committed to evangelizing, teaching and ministering to our World. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Philemon Fellow Laborers are wonderful to have when we are participating in ministry. Every one of us needs to find some co-laborers that we can join with in accomplishing ministry in the name of Christ. Some of the deepest relationships that a Christian can ever have are with those that they have joined together in doing ministry or missions. Fellow Laborers work and serve side by side with each other. They share a common bond in fellowship with their Savior, Jesus Christ. Truly they are brothers and sisters in Christ going about the Father s business. Laborers together with Christ are active salt and light serving where they have been called in ministry or on mission. Fellow Laborers rely on each other. They are there for each other to achieve a shared goal. When you serve beside another Christian you learn how Christ has changed their life and is working through them. Closeness grows between co-laborers in Christ that is rarely experienced in any other setting. As a team there develops a mutual desire to accomplish the mission you ve been called to together. You have time to pray together, laugh together, cry together, learn together, rejoice together, and of course enjoy meals together. For the past ten years I have continued an annual partnership that my predecessor, Roy Davis began many years ago. Every Spring we join with our fellow laborers from Sequatchie Valley Baptist Association and find a place to help with building or rebuilding. This year we decided to stay close and chose to help local Camp Ozone with some of their projects. We had six in our team, Sequatchie Valley had seven in their team, and we were joined with about ten mission volunteers from First Baptist Church of Powell, TN. Together we were able to finish about seven projects that they needed done. (See the pictures that follow this article) I would encourage you to become a Fellow Laborer as soon as you can. Your church provides many areas that you can use your giftedness. Keep up with the opportunities that your association offers to serve on mission and join us as a Fellow Laborer. Your Fellow Laborer in Christ, Kirk

2 The Messenger Page 2 Robert McTurnal and Fred Schaffer (FFGFBC) insulate walls in the maintenance building. Michael Krizonivic and Richard Lewelling construct a firewood shelter. After the insulation, paneling was installed. Finished shelter

3 The Messenger Page 3 A full dumpster outside of cabin......after stripping wall down to studs The main project was on the lodge. Here is the beginning of the project. The finished project with new roof lines and metal roof. Changing the angle of the side roofs. Roof decking complete.

4 The Messenger Page 4 Halfway finished with roof decking. Roof paper is tacked down awaiting the metal Corner post was replaced with new footer and 6x6 post.

5 The Messenger Page 5 Pastoral Counseling Center of the Cumberland Plateau Submitted by Carolyn Scott, Pastoral Counselor May 2018 Trusting Jesus How easy is it for you to really trust Jesus? We read the Bible, we say we believe the Bible, and we stand and teach others about what the Bible has to say. But when trouble hits our hearts (our families and our lives), will we choose to trust and believe in God even when we don t see what we are hoping for? Do we believe and trust God for what we see or do we believe and trust God for who He is? From what I experience working with individuals through pastoral care is that many people will believe and trust God while things are good, but when bad times come, the very spiritual foundation of the person is challenged. I believe God allows sufferings to produce perseverance, and through perseverance it builds our character. As our character grows in spiritual holiness it produces the kind of hope that will stand throughout eternity. This kind of hope will never disappoint us because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us (Romans 5:3-5). I m reminded of an old hymn titled Trusting Jesus written by Lyrics: Edgar P. Stites. It says, Simply trusting every day, Trusting through a stormy way; Even when my faith is small, Trusting Jesus, that is all. Trusting as the moments fly, Trusting as the days go by; Trusting Him whate er befall, Trusting Jesus, that is all. Brightly does His Spirit shine Into this poor heart of mine; While He leads I cannot fall; Trusting Jesus, that is all. Trusting Him while life shall last, Trusting Him till earth be past; Till within the Jasper wall, Trusting Jesus, that is all. When we find ourselves in a suffering situation, keep your eyes on Jesus. You may feel like the life is being sucked right out of you, but remember that scripture reminds us that when we go through these deep waters, God will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown, and when you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2)

6 The Messenger Allow God to breathe into your nostrils that you may live! Allow the Holy Spirit to raise you up and make you an exceeding great army for Jesus Christ. The bigger the battle, the bigger your victory! Scripture tells us that what the devil meant for evil, when we lay those things at Jesus feet, God will turn it for good. And everything you have survived and come through God will one day use through you to help others get through similar battles. So hold on! Don t let go of Jesus! And even If you let go, Jesus has you in the palm of His hand. You may feel you can t find God, but don t worry, He knows exactly where you are. He will never leave you or forsake you (Joshua 1:9). Page 6 Put on the full armor of God, take your defensive stance and stand on the Word of God (Ephesians 6). Test your thoughts (1 Thessalonians 5:21). If your thoughts are not supported by the Word of God, rebuke them and force yourself to think upon God s faithfulness, God s goodness, His sovereignty, His provision, and start counting your blessings. Did you know that when the enemy attacks your mind, all you need to do is speak the Word of God and the devil will flee? (James 4:7). If you are struggling and you need someone to listen and give you Biblical guidance through your problem, we are here to help you. Call Carolyn Scott at May God heal your broken hearts and bind up your wounds. Psalm 147:3 *Grief and loss peer support groups for teens are forming. Call today * Central Baptist Church Veterans Ministry What: Coffee and Donuts Fellowship When: Saturday, May 5th from 9-12 Where: 1346 S Main St, Crossville, TN Speaker: Bill Ward, Cumberland County VSO Topic: VA Benefits and Filing Claims This will be a time for getting to know our fellow veterans, eating donuts and drinking some Black Rifle Coffee Company Coffee. RSVP requested by May 3rd to CBCVeterans@gmail.com or contact Mike DePoortere (240)

7 The Messenger Page 7 BAPTIST ASSOCIATION OCTOBER HUNGER MONTH MISSIONS EMPHASIS WEEK $250.00IS GLOBAL MAY 20-27, 2018 YOLANDA HEUSER MAY 2018 MISSION EMPHASIS MEETINGS-2018 July 12th Fredonia Baptist Church 623 Fredonia Road Crossville, TN November 15th Pine Eden 976 Genesis Road Crossville, TN ALL MEETINGS 6:00 PM & are 6065/EAT EVERYONE IS INVITED: MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN WMU DATES: May State Acteens Advisory Panelist applications due Baptist Association Emphasis Week Why is it important to recognize our Association? I agree with Ray Gentry, executive director of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders, they [the associations] are the glue that holds our Southern Baptist churches together. Why? Glue is an adhesive used to fasten or join objects together. In our case an association is a group of churches joining together to be co-laborers for the Lord. According to Gentry, Whether it s sharing the gospel or meeting needs together brings more resources for a further reach. He lists several scriptures attesting to that fact, Psalm 133:1; Romans 12:4-5; 1Corinthians 6:1, 2Corinthians 8:1-2, 16-24; Hebrews 10: I believe there are many valuable reasons to be participate in the association. Let s use the week of May to saturate Brother Kirk and Alta with prayers for them and for the work of the Cumberland Plateau Baptist Association. I have just returned from a TN WMU work project, at the National WMU building in Birmingham Alabama. I left April 15th and returned late evening April 19th. In 1984 when the WMU built the building several states sponsored rooms within the building and furnished items such as wallpaper, carpet, furniture, decorations, etc. Tennessee was one of the states and sponsored the National WMU Library. The National WMU building has not been renovated since it was built in It is in need of renovations and technology updates. The library is one of those areas and since Tennessee sponsored it in 1984, the Tennessee WMU voted at the annual meeting to sponsor the updates. This involves deaccessioning and accessioning the remaining books. The TN WMU Staff and I, along with 3 other WMU ladies worked for days doing this and accomplished much doing our time there. Several of us had meetings with the National WMU Staff in the areas we serve. These meetings were very insightful with the furtherance of our jobs and obligations with the WMU. We had so many highlights to our trip, meeting the National WMU Staff, serving with the TN State staff, seeing items from the missionaries, hearing their stories, for me revisiting Alma Hunt s museum, [she is one of my heroes]- just to name a few; but the two biggest highlights were spending time with Heather Keller and Sandy Widsom-Matin. Don t forget to continue to collect Christian books, CD and movies for children and adults for the Baby Comfort Station. I was blessed to get some books from the deaccessioning project at the National WMU, for a small donation. Please continue or if you have not started, please start praying for each child and adult that will stop/pass by the Baby Comfort Station. Please pray that God will open their eyes and their hearts to be receptive to whatever He has for them, whether it is salvation or turning back to Him or maybe it is just obedience to a call. That God will use the volunteers working the station or through reading the material, watching the movies or listening to the CD to plant many seeds. Please pray that God will use this ministry project to glorify Him.

8 The Messenger Page 8 Bethlehem Baptist Church is seeking a part-time youth pastor. This job will primarily work with 7th- 12th grades and oversee the new Family Life Center when it opens at the end of the year. A full job description is available on our website: bethlehemonline.org If you are interested in applying for this position, please your resume to the search committee at: BbcYouthSearchComm@gmail.com Lighthouse Christian Camp, located in Smithville, TN but serves underprivileged and at-risk children throughout the middle Tennessee region continues to accept applications for paid summer staff. The ideal candidate will be 16+, mature, love children and have a heart to serve the Lord. Lady staff is needed for the four weeks on June while male staff will serve the last three weeks of July. Volunteers to serve for a week (or more) is also needed. Volunteer counselors help support staff leaders in the cabins. Help is also needed in the kitchen and other support roles. Please contact Josh Wessel at or his cell for additional information or for an application. Thank you! Cumberland Plateau Baptist Association s Mission Trip in May Smithville, TN May 14-18, 2018 Deadline: May 9, 2018 Come join us as we ll be helping Lighthouse Christian Camp with several projects. The projects that they have include painting, staining, landscaping, light construction, cutting and cleaning trails, etc. This opportunity will be for both men and women. We ll be staying at the camp or you can bring your RV since they have connections. You can choose how many days you would like to work or choose to work the entire week! There is no cost to this mission trip, so come and join us. If you are interested in joining us on this mission project contact me before the May 9 th deadline.

9 CUMBERLAND PLATEAU BAPTIST ASSOCIATION 291 Sparta Hwy P. O. Box 2508 Crossville, TN Associational Directory Dates to Remember Office Hours Mon.-Thurs. 8:30a.m. 2:30p.m. Web: Kirk Casey, Associational Missionary Cell: Alta Wagner, Ministry Assistant Office: Fax: *********************** Carolyn Scott, Pastoral Counselor, PCCCP Counseling Phone: May 7 May 13 May 14 May May May 24 May 28 May 31-June2 Pastor s Conference 10:00AM Mother s Day Pastor s Conference 10:00AM Lighthouse Christian Camp Mission Trip Baptist Association Emphasis Week Pastor s Conference 10:00AM Memorial Day Office Closed Love Packages Mission Trip