Dr. Larry Mason Executive Minister larrymason@abc-indiana.org I Love a Party! I LOVE A PARTY! Really! I will use any excuse to get a few people together and celebrate, have some fun, and enjoy being together. So birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and special events are reasons for me to get excited; and I AM EXCITED about our coming together on October 1 and 2, 2010 at the First Baptist Church in Richmond to celebrate the ministries of our Region. The 2010 Region Biennial will be different than any before. There will be a special program and meal for Region pastors and their spouses on Friday with Dr. Jerry Cain, President of Judson University speaking. The Friday evening session, to which everyone is invited, will be an absolute party. No speakers are scheduled, but there will be great music, videos and testimonies The Baptist Observer Magazine BECKY SEPTOSKI, EDITOR VOL. 8 NO. 4 JULY/AUGUST, 2010 HIGHLIGHTING THE MINISTRIES OF AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN INDIANA & KENTUCKY regarding the ministries and accomplishments of our Region and its member churches. The last two years have been difficult for most of us, and it would have been easier to simply maintain and just survive, but the American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky have demonstrated that this is not good enough for them. Baptisms are up, mission trips continue to be led, local missions are being lifted up all across the Region, churches are celebrating anniversaries, new congregations are being formed, building projects are moving forward, and much more. That is why the Planning Team chose the theme Thriving Not Just Surviving, and why they decided that doing our 2010 Biennial in the same old way as we have done in the past is simply not representative of what is happening all across our Region. It is cause for a party, a real celebration of a group of congregations who have seen adversity as a time of opportunity and spiritual growth. The best way to celebrate is to throw a party, and that is exactly what we will be doing in Richmond on the evening of October 1, 2010! On Saturday morning, Dr. Stan Slade, ABC International Ministries, will lead us in a Bible study and interactive discussion. If you have never heard Dr. Slade bring the scripture alive, you are in for a treat. There will be a business session to vote on the proposed bylaw changes. To have a real party, you have to have people, and so, I invite you to a genuine, for real, absolutely amazing and fun party. It won t be complete without you, so put it on your calendar now and come join us. ABC-IN/K -IN/KY Vision Statement Fanning the Flame 2010 The 2010 Fanning the Flame conference was held the week of May 24-27 at Green Lake Conference Center. The conference was organized by the Executive Minsiters of ten ABC regions across the country. The keynote speakers for the event were Dr. Wallace Charles Smith, President of Palmer Seminary and Dr. Clay Ford. Hannah Ford was the worship leader for the entire conference and did an exceptional job! It was exciting to experience a fresh and empowering move of God with so many pastors and leaders in the American Baptist family. Six of the eight Executive Ministers who attended the conference are pictured from left to right: Dr. Michael Williams, Dr. Larry Mason, Dr. Frank Frischkorn, Dr. Larry Swain, Dr. Leonard Thompson, and Dr. Dwight Stinnett As of this writing, there were 125 baptistms recorded for the first quarter of 2010. The region office is receiving cards on a daily basis, with the number of baptisms for the second quarter of 2010 (April, May June). There have been 87 baptisms As the hands and feet of Christ, compelled by his love, we will do whatever it takes to reach the lost and serve our communities and churches. Pictured from left to right are: Dr. John Piippo, Dr. Wallace Charles Smith, Dr. Clay Ford and Dr. Lee Spitzer reported so far! Remember that numbers for the second quarter are due to the region offcie by July 16, so there is still time to report! As we list the numbers of new believers in Christ, we celebrate together as American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky.
PAGE 2 Dr. Don Scott Associate Executive Minister donscott@abc-indiana.org Invitations! Most people like getting invitations. I have three for you and I hope you will give prayerful consideration to each one. It should come as no surprise that our Region s Executive Committee has worked long and hard in an attempt to discern God s plan and purpose for our Region over the next few years. That work has been well documented in a series of mailings sent to each church. The Region will be holding eleven information gatherings in July and August throughout the Region. So, my first invitation is to participate in one of the information meetings. Choose the one that fits best in terms of your calendar and geography. My second invitation is in the form of a hope that you will participate in our Region s 2010 Biennial Meeting on October 1-2 at the First Baptist Church of Richmond. Be watching for detailed information. This meeting will be important for several reasons. One reason is that the delegates will vote on the proposed bylaw changes. We believe and anticipate that the new bylaws will help us move efficiently and smoothly into the future. I hope you will join us in Richmond for this important meeting. Now in a very different vein, I want to offer a third invitation. For a number of years, the Church Leadership Institute (CLI) has trained laity in a variety of areas with the intention of strengthening the local church leadership base. That has indeed happened. In addition, some CLI graduates have sensed God s call on their lives in terms of pastoral ministry and several are now serving congregations. So, this is an invitation to you and your congregation to encourage gifted people to consider participating in CLI, whether it be for the entire sequence of courses, or only one or two courses that hold special interest. Courses are being offered this summer and you are invited to contact Jennifer Greene at 317-635-3552, ext. 221 or at jennifergreene@abcindiana.org for more information. This is a wonderful opportunity. I invite you to look into it. There are more invitations that could be offered but three is enough for one article! My hope is that you and your congregation will pray for our Region during these times of change and that you will participate as fully as possible. National Ministries Has New Name - New Logo American Baptist Home Mission Societies, formerly known as National Ministries, has launched a new logo as well as a new name. The logo is a contemporary version of the symbol of God s sacrificial love and promise of redemption the cross. Mission in America has gotten a facelift as well. The publication s pages have been cut and now highlight stories and news bullets that direct readers to the Web site: www.abhms.org. Associate Pastor Gathering at Franklin College A group of ABC associate staff, including associate pastors, education ministers, music ministers and youth ministers, from across Indiana held a special event in April at Franklin College. Former Franklin College Director of Church Relations, Ced Cox, was honored at the event. Former colleagues and friends surprised Cox with a gathering and gift presentation in his honor at the chapel. Event organizer Steve Newman, father of current student Andrew Newman 11 and music minister for First Baptist Church of Terre Haute, coordinated collection efforts with the associate staff members who helped purchase 50 new Bibles for community use in the Richardson Chapel. Campus minister David Weatherspoon accepted the Bibles on behalf of the college, and college president Jay Moseley shared several memorable stories about Cox In this archival photo, Ced Cox and his wife, Jane, listen to a classmate speak at the Old Gold Luncheon during Franklin College Homecoming 2006 and his connections to the school. To donate additional monies to the Bible fund in honor of Cox, send checks payable to Franklin College, c/o Church Relations, 101 Branigin Boulevard, Franklin, IN 46131, or make donations online at www.franklincollege.edu/supportfc. CHILE MISSION ENCOUNTER 2011 Plans are currently being made for a team of 10-15 individuals to visit Chile. The proposed dates for the mission trip are December 30, 2010 through January 12, 2011. The cost per person will be determined as group air fares are negotiated. The anticipated cost will be between $2,700.00 and $2,900.00. The purpose of the scheduled trip is to both encourage those in areas of the earthquake s devastation and to see the mission work of the Bolicks among the Mapuche churches. Dwight and Barb Bolick will be the missionary hosts. Those attending the trip will participate in a gathering of Girls Clubs, and visit both the Bee Keeping Project and the Yarn & Weaving Project. Dr. Lee Riggs, Pastor Emeritus of FBC Greensburg, will be the Mission Team Coordinator. To register your interest or ask a question, email: rev.riggs@gmail.com MORE DETAILS WILL BE COMING IN THE FUTURE!!
PAGE 3 ABW Summer Conference Submitted by: Nancy Bond The 2010 ABW Summer Conference is now history. Those in attendance have been renewed and re-energized for the coming year. It was heartwarming to see old friends, and encouraging to make new ones. Many new young women, our promise for the future, were present at the Conference. A variety of workshops and activities offered something for everyone. Two truckloads of supplies were donated and will be used around the world in response to natural disasters. History was made through communication with Barbara and Dwight Bolick, missionaries in Chile, via skype. Tysha Sellers shared plans for EMCC s exciting future. The ladies worshiped joyfully and deeply! Mark your calendars now for the 2011 ABW Summer Conference. It will be held on June 3, 4, 5, 2011. Join the $2 a week club to assure that you will have funds for registration next spring. The AB women will celebrate their 75 th Summer Conference with much fanfare. Make plans now to participate in this diamond CELEBRATION! AB Girls Joy Jamboree Great Success! Submitted by: Tracy Karnes The AB Girls JOY Jamboree was a great success thanks to everyone that participated, helped, donated and gave support. There will be another opportunity to meet again at the AB Girls PJ Party on October 8-9 at FBC Indianapolis. This event will be for ALL girls of ALL Ages, 5-18. Make plans now to come and join the fun! Anyone wishing to help, donate, support or ABW Women s Day Oct. 9, 2010 Submitted by: Julia Fisher American Baptist women from all points of our great state will be joining together on October 9, 2010 in Indianapolis for a day of fun and fellowship. The event will be held at The First Baptist Church of Indianapolis, 8600 N. College Avenue, Indianapolis. Save the date now and plan to fellowship, re-connect with old friends, and meet new ones. A variety of workshops will be offered including a Bible Study on our national theme, learning what it means to enjoy Exercising Made Easy, and discovering Scrappy ABW Women. There will be an opportunity to make a Baby Blanket to either take home or give to Wishard Hospital. In addition, time will be spent learning about the NEW Edna Martin Christian Center home. The AB GIRLS will be participating in an overnight on Friday and activities are planned for them on Saturday. For information regarding the over-night, please contact Tracy Karnes at musictjk@ymail.com or (812)-498-4448. Registration begins at 8am on the 9th and the day will conclude with the installation of new officers by 3pm. Contact your Association President for registration forms. Deadline for registration is October 1. Register now for this exciting day! obtain a registration form can contact Tracy Karnes at musictjk@ymail.com or 812.498.4448. AB Women Serving as a Team Submitted by: Cynthia Leffel, ABWM Secretary After serving just 6 months as the ABWM State Secretary, I am amazed at the network of teamwork I have become involved in. What a privilege to work with and learn from so many ladies. These are women who demonstrate an absolute sense of duty, diligence, discipline and dedication. Women who strive to serve God, the Church, and society thru ABWM. As the AB women work side by side, they are building a camaraderie that will last a lifetime. I have witnessed a care and concern for those in need that I did not know existed statewide. Prayer for one Congratulations to the Class of 2010! In February of this year, Dr. Don Scott (ABC IN/KY) and Rev. Joan Friesen (ABC GI) had the privilege to award the Diploma of Pastoral Studies to the 2010 CLI graduates. Earning this honor in 2010 were: Chad Birkey of Avoca BC, Stephen Brock of FBC-Martinsville, Richard Burcham II of FBC-Sparta, Dianna Cline of Tuxedo Park BC, Timothy England of Calvary BC-Kokomo, Roger Rockenbaugh of FBC- Crawfordsville and Dale Robinson of FBC-Bedford. Many CLI students choose to complete their credentials in Leadership and Pastoral Studies after getting a taste of the challenge and excitement the CLI experience another s needs is a constant. There is an attitude of comingtogether that says the AB women will work in cooperation and respect because they love the Lord and strive to be Christ-like in their lives. In light of this, I want to challenge women of our churches to get involved. Witness first-hand what is going on in your groups. ABWM is still alive and well, and exists for the advantage of all. The commitment to serve is just a portion of the concept. The true sisterhood is a benefit meant for all ladies (young & old). brings. Those that commit to earning a Diploma of Pastoral Studies, which includes 13 courses offered in CLI, attend class sessions every other Saturday over three years totaling more than 250 hours. Their education is supplemented with outside reading, writing assignments and projects. While attending classes a network of support is built with other students that they will draw from throughout their ministries. For more information about CLI, please contact Jennifer Greene at 317-635-3552 x 221 or jennifergreene@abcindiana.org. Observer Notice Beginning with the September/October issue, we will be accepting no more than 2 articles per church due to limited space. Thank you in advance for your cooperation! September/October Submission Deadline: August 3, 2010
PAGE 4 FBC Columbus News Joyce Crowder Given 3 Week Sabbatical Prayer of blessing for Joyce Crowder SOUTHEAST AREA In 2010, Joyce Crowder, Minister of Music at FBC Columbus, was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemotherapy. On Sunday, May 30, 2010, Crowder announced that she is in remission! Crowder was given a 3 week period of sabbatical in June early July. She and her husband, Scott traveled to Europe to tour with a choral group. Laughery Association ABW Spring Retreat The Laughery Association ABW Ministries Spring Retreat was held at the Southeastern Baptist Youth Camp at Westport, IN. The retreat was organized by Joyce West (Osgood First Baptist), Coordinator of Church & Community, and led by Rev. Becky Pohle, a member of First Baptist Church of Aurora. A weekend of fun, good food, sharing with sister churches and spiritual renewal were enjoyed by 24 ladies representing five churches in the Association. Rev. Pohle s focus was on Living in the Plains of Life. The ladies discussed how everyone likes the mountain top experiences, and how God walks with us through the valleys. Most of our lives are spent in the plains, where everything is just...plain. The plains are the places where we rest, run and grow. God has a purpose whether we are in the plains of life, the valley or on the mountain top. The Glad Ringers, comprised of those ranging in age from 12-70+, toured in Michigan and northern Indiana in early June. Children s Sunday - May 16, 2010 The children read scripture and shared the love of Jesus. All those involved with the children s ministry were invited to come forward. At that time, Lianne Wright, director of the AWANA program was honored. High School and College Graduates, along with Scholarship winners, were honored on May 30, 2010 Faithfulness = Growth at Union BC Union BC is a small country church in Vevay, with more than 30 active members coming together in ministry to each other and their small community. In the Spring of last year, the members of Union BC committed to investing in their Bi-vocational Pastor by budgeting $480 each year towards continuing education. To give him a solid educational foundation in ministry, Pastor Mike Barnes has been working towards his Diploma of Pastoral Studies through one of the Region s ministries called the Church Leadership Institute (CLI). Although their pastor still has 2 years to go, Jerry Sigmon, who is the moderator at Union BC, says that the church has already benefited from its investment. Barnes has drawn from what he has learned so far to improve sermons and bring excitement to his congregation. The members have often talked about the growth they have seen in their pastor and that it has lead each of them to personal growth as well. The church is growing in numbers too they need a bigger parking lot and a bigger fellowship hall. Moderator Jerry Sigmon said, This is the best problem that Union BC has had in years! Sixteen Commissioned for Mission Trip to Mexico On June 6, 2010, FBC Columbus commissioned sixteen people to go on a mission trip to Cannali, Mexico. They will join a Spanish teacher and 8 students from Columbus North High School. Each one of the group was assigned a prayer partner. The congregation was asked to donate gently used tee shirts, ballcaps and personal items to participate in the mission trip. One family gave 600 Spanish New Testaments to be taken as well. The youth were asked to fill jars located throughout the church with loose change. The children raised $750, which was dedicated on Children s Sunday, to buy shoes for those in Mexico. This encouraged others to contribute towards the shoe fund as well. Osgood FBC Ordains Dan Pilz On January 10, 2010, Osgood FBC ordained Dan Pilz. Carol (Buzz) Lohrum was made an honorary deacon at their annual meeting in November of 2009. Pictured from left to right: Don Buck, Carol (Buzz) Lohrum, Dan Pilz & Steve Allen
WEST CENTRAL AREA Freedom Association ABW Holds Spring Conference The women of the Freedom Association met for their Spring Conference on April 20, 2010. The guest speaker was ABW State President, Charlotte Welling. Linda Wilson, the Director of Music at Crawfordsville FBC, brought the children of Guiding Light Child Care Ministry from her church to entertain the group. Guiding Light provides Christian Day Care and preschool for the children of Crawfordsville and Montgomery County. An important part of the children s day is Bible time and music. Spring Bible Conference Held at Bedford FBC Speaker: Edsel West The Bedford Baptist Association held its annual Spring Bible Conference April 21, 22, and 23 at Bedford FBC. Rev. Edsel West, former pastor of Woodville, was the guest speaker. The conference began with a wonderful meal prepared and served by the ladies of Bedford FBC. Rev. West s opening message What s Good about the Church? began by pointing out many criticisms During the months of January through April 2010, FBC Petersburg participated in a mission project benefiting Indian Creek Baptist Camp. The project was appropriately titled, Hoop-it-up as the donations were used to purchase new sports equipment at the camp. A basketball hoop was set up for the children to shoot their money through of the Church. As Rev. West noted, many of those critics are now dead, but the Church is alive! What Do You Do When the Brook Dries Up? was the second message and focused on Elijah taking on Ahab and Jezebel. Man can rebel against God until God finally says Enough! Whatever the tragedy, God can bring something good out of it. The final night s message Who is Jesus? is the central question of theology. Today s culture classifies Jesus as one of the prophets. It scoffs at the notion that He is the only way to heaven. He is the only one who can open our eyes to help us see ourselves as we really are, so we can improve ourselves for Him. The Lord inspired the messenger and the messages. It was a joyous gathering of God s people. On April 25, 2010, New Prospect BC, Bloomington, commissioned Stephen C. Brown as their new pastor. Brown has 38 years of ministry experience. He is a graduate of Lincoln Christian College and Seminary in Lincoln, IL. Pastor Steve is also a licensed commercial airline transport pilot and flight instructor. His wife, Debbi, is a registered nurse employed at a hospital in Indianapolis. Stephen and Debbi have three children: Rachel, Joshua, and Abigail. The New Prospect congregation welcomes Pastor Steve, Debbi and their family! SOUTHWEST AREA each week. A basketball wall decoration enabled the children to keep track of how much money had been given. ICBC Manager, Jordan Morris, was recently in attendance at the church and the youth presented him with a check in the amount of $500.26 at that time. FBC Petersburg views camp as a very vital part of the children and youth s PAGE 5 Stephen Brown Commissioned as Pastor at New Prospect BC New Market Focuses On Outreach! Cody Guersney (R) pictured here with Fath Demlow and Kelsey Dugger FBC New Market has focused on reaching people for Jesus Christ in 2010. The music committee invited musicians to come participate in a Sunday evening of music. The evening was enjoyed by all in attendance and the music committee FBC Petersburg - Mission Project By: Nancy Baxter, Camp Coordinator lives. The church pays full registration fees for all active members and attenders. Twenty one children and youth are currently registered. God is Good! has been asked to make it a regular event. The next Sunday evening of music will be held in July. Another new event was also held this year. Cody Guersney, a Christian young man who performs illusions, was invited to come and present illusions that brought Scripture and a message about Jesus Christ. All of the 98 people in attendance REALLY enjoyed Cody, his illusions and the truth he shared. The event presented something new and it was well received. Call Pastor Ken Demlow at (812)653-3469 or email him at kjdemlow@yahoo.com for more information.
PAGE 6 NORTHEAST AREA New Building for IB Emanuel The members of Iglesia Bautista Emanuel are pleased to announce that God has provided a beautiful building for the congregation. The building is located at 1327 Winter St., Ft. Wayne. IBE would like to express their gratitude to members of old South Wayne Baptist Church for the opportunity given to use their Eleazar s House is a free store created by Huntington FBC to help the needy in the area. It is called Eleazar s House because the name Eleazar means God has helped. Due to the overwhelming amount of donations from the congregation, Eleazar s House was relocated to the church basement. Some of the volunteers got together to clean up the basement and build shelves and tables. As a result of their efforts, the church s basement, which had not been in use for a long time, has been transformed into Eleazar s House and is now being used for facilities. Thanks be to the Lord for providing the financial resources to purchase this new building. Our Dedication service will be held the last weekend of July. Thanks to FBC of Peru and pastor Bob, who are faithful to us and believe in us, and also thanks to the New Church Planting Council for the money that they provided. Thanks to FBC of Decatur for their love offering to our ministry. We offer special thanks to Fort Wayne BC for the donation to our congregation and finally, to Dr. Larry Mason for his support of our ministry to the Hispanic community. Eleazar s House Comes to Huntington FBC God s glory once again. Several families and individuals have received help. Some who have received help have returned, not for more assistance, but to donate items to help others. Some have volunteered with sorting, labeling and organizing items. The greatest gift for the congregation at Huntington FBC is to see God s mighty grace at work! Supporting The Baptist Student Foundation Campus Ministry (BSFCM) at Purdue A TOP TEN LIST By: Dr. Mark W. Hetrick, Director of Advancement The ministry of The Found can be supported in any of the following ways: 1. Praying for the ministry. Pray for the BSFCM during church worship services, Sunday School classes, various small groups, and in personal devotions. Prayer is essential to campus ministry, 2. Direct gifts to The Found. Gifts can be made to the Baptist Student Foundation at any time by mailing a check directly to the ministry at 200 Russell Street, West Lafayette, IN 47906. Doantions may also be given on-line to support the ministry by visiting www.bsfpurdue.blogspot.com and making a donation directly from a checking or savings account, by debit card, or with a Visa or MasterCard credit card. 3. Gifts for a special project/need. The Found has a Wish List of special projects and needs that an individual, group, or church can help make a reality through special gifts. Contact the Found directly by phone at (765)473-2371 for information about items on the Wish List. 4. Involvement in a special ministry or activity. The Found is always looking for volunteers to help with certain activities and ministries. Campus ministry is highly labor intensive, which means that time and abilities are needed as much as financial gifts. Contact the campus pastor, Dr. Shawn Zambrows, at (765)473-2371 for information about volunteering at The Found. 5. Local church budgets. Congregations can include the Baptist Student Foundation at Purdue in their annual mission budget. Congregations can also receive a special offering for The Found at any time throughout the year. 6. Personal designated gifts. A personal gift to support campus ministry at Purdue can be made through the church. Designate a gift accordingly and place in the offering plate. 7. Work projects. Any individual or church group can get involved hands on with a special work project at the facilities on the Purdue campus. Contact The Found directly at (765)473-2371 to find out how to help. 8. Donation of assets. Gifts of stock, shares of mutual funds, and other material assets may be contributed directly to the Baptist Student Foundation at any time. Contact Mark Hetrick at (317)697-2485 for assistance with making such a donation. 9. Donations of supplies and/or material goods. The Found is always grateful for gifts of supplies and material resources, paper products, kitchen supplies, nonperishable food, cleaning supplies, and office materials that are essential to our ministry. Please donate materials in new or excellent condition. 10. Planned gifts. The campus ministry of The Found can be supported for the long-term through estate plans. This is an excellent way to make sure the Baptist Student Foundation remains viable for future generations of college students. For help in creating such an estate gift, please contact Mark Hetrick directly at (317)697-2485.
James W.. McDaniel Retires from Baptist Homes After 30 Years Ray Mott (r) presents 30 year plaque to James McDaniel (l) On June 8, 2010, the Baptist Homes of Indiana board of directors, staff, close family and friends gathered to celebrate the retirement of James W. McDaniel, vice-president and chief financial officer. Jim s thirty years of dedicated service to the day-to-day operations of Baptist Homes has greatly contributed to the remarkable life enjoyed by the residents of the Baptist Homes retirement communities. In recognition of Jim s service and commitment to Baptist Homes, the board honored him with the status of Showers of Blessing Showers of Blessing rained on the approximately 245 senior adults who attended the 2010 spring Senior Adult Day on April 15 at the Alexandria FBC. Attendees were warmly welcomed by the host congregation and the region committee who provided an atmosphere for reunion with the greater ABC family. Wonderful food and gracious hospitality were enjoyed by all! Uplifting congregational music was led by Alexandria FBC Associate Pastor/Music Director Doug Henkelman and accompanied by Mike Owens. Youth pastor, Rob Bratcher, challenged those present to engage in mentoring relationships with youth and younger adults. Senior Pastor Michael Deutsch shared of his faith journey growing up in a traditional Jewish family in Skokie, IL, to accepting Christ, and serving as an American Baptist pastor. The afternoon began with greetings from Don Scott and a trumpet selection by Kevin Garner. A concert was Director Emeritus. Jim s sound financial leadership and visionary approach has directed changes that advocated for a life that is affirming, satisfying, and meaningful for over 1,100 residents and the staff who serve them. Jim s involvement in mission and ministry on the local, regional, and national level of the American Baptist Churches has contributed to others seeing him as a caring, compassionate, and charitable individual. Jim has contributed countless volunteer hours at the First Baptist Church of Indianapolis where his wife, Marsha, is the associate pastor. The James McDaniel Beginnings Scholarship endowment fund has been established in recognition of Jim s faithful support and nurturing to the children of this preschool ministry. Roger E. Weideman II has been appointed as the new vice-president and chief financial officer. Roger and his wife, Rachel, live in Fishers with their three children. Woody & Vonnie Wright share their gift of music at Sr. Adult Day presented by Woody and Vonnie Wright, a dynamic worship team with the ability to make one smile and hang on every word as they give God the glory for all that is accomplished through their music and testimony! Relating to Discipleship By: Ruth Proctor I have spent a great deal of time this spring emptying out a storage unit and sorting through boxes of items that have been passed down to me from previous generations. My grandmother s needlework, my great grandmother s dishes and double globed lamp, old school books used by relatives in the late 1800 s, and the equipment my great grandfather carried as a soldier in the Civil War are just a few of the things that I treasure. At this time, I have no way to use them, no place to display them, yet I cannot bear to part with them, and so back into the boxes they went. I know these objects are only things and yet I feel that I have a duty to protect them, so that they may be passed on to those who follow me. These things have monetary value as antiques of course, but their real value to me is in the stories that accompany the objects. For it is only in the story that the object will become meaningful to my children and grandchildren. And so, the story must be boxed up and kept protected as well, to prevent it from being lost. The pastor at my church has been preaching a series of sermons on discipleship. Along with those sermons, the congregation has been learning a new hymn titled Find Us Faithful. The words to the hymn talk about the legacy we leave our children as Christians and how our faithfulness, or lack thereof, to pass on PAGE 7 our beliefs directly affects the next generation and, in turn, many generations to follow. While we don t box up the gospel, we certainly have a duty to keep it from being damaged or forgotten. We have a duty to claim it, to protect it and to pass the story of our faith on to future generations of Christ s disciples. What we save from the past says something about us and has the potential to impact those younger than ourselves. I took great care in handling and preserving the things of value from my ancestors. We can do no less with our Christian faith. Our responsibility to pass it on is far too important to be taken lightly or done haphazardly. After all, if it is worth keeping and worth passing on, then it is worth the time and the effort to do so to the best of our ability. Discipleship Partners is available to help the local congregation in matters relating to discipleship: the life-long learning that is a part of being a follower of Jesus. Contact Ruth Proctor at 250-493-1694 or proctor606@verizon.net for more information. Senior Adult Day - October 7, 2010 at Unity BC Guylia Bunge extends an invitation to the fall Sr. Adult Day during the Senior Adult Day at Alexandria in April Guylia Bunge, Senior Adult Day chair, would like to invite everyone, regardless of age, to come on Thursday, October 7, 2010, and experience a first ever, historymaking event. The six churches of the Mt. Zion Association have joined forces to host the fall gathering in Brown County. Unity Baptist Church, 7361 Spearsville Road, Morgantown, will be the host site. The theme, The Hills of Brown and All Around, will provide a great opportunity to plan an overnight retreat and take in the sites, sounds, and shopping of Brown County in the midst of attending a joyful day planned by the Mt. Zion churches.
Indiana Baptist Convention AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES OF INDIANA AND KENTUCKY 1350 N. Delaware St. Indianapolis, IN 46202-2493 Non Profit Org. US POSTAGE PAID Indianapolis, IN Permit No. 8457 Retreat Opportunities at Camp Tippy Family Camp - September 3-6 Cost: Adults: $120.00 age 16 and over $90.00 age 10-15 $75.00 age 2-9 Ages 2 and under are free! Young at Heart (ages 55+) September 7-9 Cost: $85.00 For registration information contact: Camp Tippy at 574-834-4184 or visit the website at: camptippy.org 2010 ABY Convention November 12-14 The theme Turbulence is based on the verses in James 1:1-6: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. KEEP WATCHING FOR MORE DETAILS TO COME SOON! PAGE 8