From your missionary Backpack Buddies needs Attention pastors wives Church news page 3 Prayer needs Positions available Birthdays/anniversaries Calendar Crisp Area Pregnancy Center fundraiser page 5
Page 2 From Your Missionary But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 I am grateful we were given the mandate in Acts 1:8. I am even more grateful we have churches in Gary Leutzinger our association that take this verse very seriously. We had a great Missions Celebration at Lake Blackshear Church last week. It thrilled my heart to hear the reports of what God has been doing through our churches locally and beyond. I wished everyone in our association could have been there because it would have stirred hearts and lives because it did mine. I would like to share with you some highlights from our celebration so you can rejoice in all that God has done this year. In our Jerusalem there were a couple of great reports. We celebrated that God is using several of our churches in the Back Pack Buddy ministry. These bags of food go to several of our local schools in Crisp and Dooly counties to students that come from homes that aren t able to provide the nutrition for them. This ministry is fulfilling a great need, and I know that God is using it to touch lives. We heard a report from Lake Blackshear Church about their local outreach ministry and how they have had 30 new members this past year as a result of going out in the community, inviting and sharing. We also shared how the associational food pantry ministry was meeting needs and the Gospel is being shared with those who come to the Houston Baptist Center for food. We also celebrated how God used the mission team from our association in Townsend, TN. The team ministered in a campground, and many children and adults heard the Gospel. There were people from TN and many different states that were able to hear this wonderful message of good news, and we know of at least one child who prayed to receive Christ. Also, Rev. Fred Jones shared how God was using teams in Moldolva and Ukraine. Hundreds of people every year hear the Gospel and give their lives to Christ as result of teams from our churches that are obedient to go across the ocean to share Christ and His love. Gary Edalgo also shared how God worked in Romania this year through the eyeglass clinics as well as going to the local hospital to minister to people and share the Gospel. In closing, let me share with you that we have adopted a church planter in Pittsburgh, PA as well as in Santa Cruz, CA. Information about them is on the cover. I encourage our churches to begin praying for them now and also to see how God will use individuals in our association to be a part of a mission team that will minister in these two diverse cities and help the church planters reach people with the glorious Gospel. We are all called to be witnesses right where we live as well as the geographical locations in our nation and around the world where God is opening doors for us to go. We must fulfill this mandate because many souls are at stake, and we must do everything we can to lead them to a God who loves them and wants to save them. Bro. Gary Backpack Buddies Ministry needs these items Most items used in this ministry are purchased through the Second Harvest Food Bank, however, these two items are often not available. If you and/or your church would purchase at the grocery store and bring to Houston Baptist Center it would be very helpful. These items are available at Sam s in the bulk sizes as shown above. ATTENTION PASTORS WIVES If you are interested in attending the Ministers Wives Winter Retreat January 26-28, 2017, at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center, Toccoa, call Laura Leutzinger at 229-273-4127.
Page 3 Church news Acorn Pond Church has called Larry Kimbrel as pastor. He is pictured above with his family at his ordination service October 23. Byromville Church will host the annual Byromville Community Thanksgiving Service on November 20 at 6:00 p.m. Pinecrest Church members Heidi and William Haun, who are also IMB missionaries, are featured on pages 34-44 of the Fall 2016 issue of On Mission. It s a wonderful article with beautiful pictures. Access it o n l i n e a t https://www.namb.net/resourc es/on-mission-magazine-fall-2 016. Also, Pinecrest is sending a mission team to Ghana November 1-10. Harmony Church member Edith Peavy is pictured above receiving her 49 year perfect Sunday School attendance pin from Sunday School Superintendent Royce Cross on October 2. Northern Heights Church s pastor Damon Fountain has resigned. Unadilla First Church will hold their Annual Highest Praise Dinner and Lottie Moon Cake Auction on November 22 at 6:30 p.m. Wenona Church will host Ugandan Thunder in concert November 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Page 4 Please pray for: #Asssociational Missionary Gary Leutzinger #Hicks Brown #Nancy Gibbs #Mary Linda and Warren Hall #Janet and John Pate #Merle Sheffield; Lauralyn & Troy Drew #Crisp Area Pregnancy Care Center #Lost and unchurched people #Revival in HBA churches #Unity in our churches and unity among our churches #Churches without pastors: Bethel, Cordele First, Dooling,, Mars Hill, Northern Heights. #TV ministries of Cordele First, Omar Heights, and Pinecrest churches #All the events and activities mentioned in this newsletter Church positions available Arabi Church is seeking a bi-vocational youth pastor. Send resume to John Evans, 3910 First Avenue, Arabi, GA 31712. Pinehurst Church is seeking a Minister of Music/Worship Leader, interim or permanent. Blended worship style. Contact Tim Price at 478-957-5326 or Tim@PBCFamily.com. Smyrna Church is seeking a part-time minister of music. Contact Linda White at 229-268-6792. Unadilla First Church is looking for a pianist and a part time secretary. Call 478-627-3615. Vienna First Church is seeking a pianist for Sunday AM worship and weekly choir practice. Contact Jim Bolton at 229-268-4386. Opportunities coming up Houston Baptist Association events are printed in bold type. HBC is an abbreviation for Houston Baptist Center. Tuesdays Nov. 6 Nov. 8 Nov. 11 Nov. 14 Nov. 14-21 Nov. 20-26 Nov. 23-24 Nov. 24 Nov. 27 Dec. 4-11 Dec. 8 Men s Prayer Breakfast, 8am, HBC Daylight Saving time ends International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church Election Day Veteran s Day Georgia Baptist Convention, Calvary Baptist Temple, Savannah Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes National Bible Week HBC closed Thanksgiving Day Advent begins Week of Prayer for International Missions and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering Ministers Christmas Dinner, HBC Birthdays & Anniversaries Nov. 1 Nov. 2 Nov. 9 Nov. 11 Nov. 13 Nov. 18 Nov. 22 Nov. 23 Nov. 26 Sophia Leverett Stan Bowen Elizabeth Streetman Sara Childers Johnnie Ruth Mixon Janice Gauthier J.E. Harris Jill Duncan Laura & Gary Leutzinger
Page 5 Houston Herald is published monthly by Houston Baptist Association. Send news and/or comments to P O Box 1274, Cordele, GA 31010, email to secretary@houstonbaptist.org or call 229-273-4127. Hous on Baptist Association 2116 Hwy 41 P O Box 1274 Cordele, GA 31010 www.houstonbaptist.org 229-273-4127 (phone); 229-273-0626 (fax) Associational Missionary: Gary Leutzinger a.m@houstonbaptist.org NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 35 VIENNA GA ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED