Central Baptist Association Central Baptist Association DECEMBER 2017 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 10 10 Do not be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David Luke 2: 10-11 HCSB Registration 4:30 pm Dinner 5:00 6:00 pm Meeting 6:30 pm
WELCOME to the Central Baptist Association Newsletter. In this newsletter you will find information about upcoming events, stay up to date with our associate ministries, new church staff and much more. Merry Christmas 2017 Matthew 1:23 The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means God with us ). Thinking on this passage I began to wonder why? Why in the world would one who is named the King of Kings, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End want to come to this earth? Why would one who is known as the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace want to spend time with the people of this world? Why would one who would be known as the Living Water, the Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd and the Great Physician want to spend any time at all walking the dirty dusty roads of Canaan, teaching and preaching to crowds of people who would one day turn against Him and crucify Him an innocent man? This just doesn t make sense. Let me make this a little more personal why would the Holy of Holiest, the Creator and Sustainer of all things want to be with you? People around you know you but even more important you know you and when you look deep inside yourself, when you look at your thoughts and desires, actions and behaviors, attitudes and feelings would you want to be around you? So, why would God want to be with us? First, God wants to be with us because He loves us. I came across this story titled S H M I L Y many years ago. The words and letters might not mean much to you but they meant a lot to an elderly couple who endured many joys and sorrows through their life. They met young and fell in love. They believed in the value of marriage. They never thought of divorce as an option. They raised a family of wonderful children who went through the ups and downs of growing up. But they had a secret in their relationship that no one would know about until her death. Throughout their life the children would notice little notes of paper laying round the house with the letters SHMILY written on them. Flowers would arrive with those letters written in place of the name of a sender. It got quite weird at times. One day they noticed the words written on each sheet of a roll of toilet paper in their bathroom. On the mirror in their bedroom the words might appear. On the dust of a dashboard the letters might be scribbled. When she was in the hospital with cancer her grandchildren would even see the letters written on the bed sheet of the hospital bed. She died of her cancer and her husband was heavy with sorrow. At her funeral the family noticed a very large arrangement of beautiful flowers with a very large ribbon wrapped around it and tied in a bow. Painted on the ribbon hanging from the bow were written the letters S H M I L Y. After the service ended and the crowd left the family gathered for one last good-by. The aunts and uncles, children and grandchildren, they all gathered. Finally one of them asked grandpa about the words and their meaning. With great tears in his eyes and a trembling voice he told them that S H M I L Y stood for "See How Much I Love You." Through all those many years this couple shared their love through a secret message. God has a message for you and for me as well. He loves us. Each sunrise and each sunset, every blue sky and dark cloud, every birth and every death stand in the shadow of the incarnation and the cross where Jesus sent His message of love "See How Much I Love You!" (John 3:16) The second reason God wants to be with us because we need Him: The following has been printed on a Christmas cards for years: "If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so He sent us a Savior, which is the third reason that God wants to be with us so that we can be with Him for eternity. Jesus said I came that you might have life and have it abundantly.. John 10:10 I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12 I am in awe that our perfect Creator came to us because He loves us, because we need Him so much and so that we can be with Him for eternity through Jesus Christ. This brings us great joy, peace and hope. I pray you have a blessed celebration of the birth of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ this season.
The Rock at Noon Day "Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:13. Day after day, those in need come to The Rock for help. To watch our volunteers in action is to see the hands and feet of Christ. As physical needs are met, hearts are nurtured through the message of Christ. You can get involved and make an impact. Your time and resources change lives. The holidays are quickly approaching. Christmas Day brings a wonderful opportunity to join us as we serve a hot meal, give gifts and celebrate the day. Make plans now to be a part of our Christmas volunteer team. Contact kitchen@therockabq.com for more information. Want to help meet a need today? We need bath towels, blankets and sleeping bags. A hot shower makes a world of difference. The Rock will provide 14,700 showers in 2017. Your help makes an impact on the lives of the hurting and homeless. The Rock at Noonday - Feed the body. Feed the soul. www.therockabq.com Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Christmas play Dec 9th, 7:00 pm Feeding of homeless Dec 21st and 31st, 4:30-6:00 pm NEW YEARS SERVICE 10pm, Jan 1st 8550 Saul Bell Rd., Albuquerque All are welcome to attend First Baptist Church Of Bosque Farms We are having a Annual Holiday Craft & Vendor Fair on Saturday December 2nd 9:00 am- 2:00 pm Our Church 74th Anniversary Potluck Lunch Sunday December 3rd, at 12:00 pm Security Prevention Class Sunday December 10th, 2017 at 12:00 pm December 24th, 2017 - Christmas Eve Morning Service 10:30 AM Choir Celebration All are welcome to attend. Sierra Vista Baptist, Rio Communities Sierra Vista continues the Spanish language worship services we started the first Sunday of October. Attendance remains steady. Pastor Montoya has also begun an adult Sunday School. Praise the Lord for sending him our way! In December, we plan to go caroling to our shut-ins. Our Christmas Cantata will be on December 17th at 11:00 a.m. We will also join with Los Chaves Church for a Fifth Sunday Sing and New Years Celebration on Sunday, December 31. Hoffmantown New Life Fellowship, Belen We are having an ugly Christmas sweater game night on December 8th with people bringing their favorite dessert from 6-8 p.m. All are welcome. Hoffmantown Church is having their Christmas at Hoffmantown program Almost There on December 8 and 9 at 7:00 pm, doors open at 6:30 pm. Here is the link for the information: http://www.hoffmantownchurch.org/ christmas-at-hoffmantown/
WELCOME TO OUR NEW PASTORS Ronny Cooksey Family Sandia Baptist Church, Alb. Chris Promersberger & family Mountain Valley Church, Edgewood Stephen Baum Family First Baptist Church of West Alb. Casey Goodson and Family New Life Fellowship, Belen
The New Mexico School of Christian Leadership www.nmscl.org Spring Classes 2018 All classes offered in class or online Old Testament Survey CLS 1114 Taught by John Loudat. Starts January 9, 2018 thru May 1, 2018; 6-9 pm 3 hours. This course is a foundational introduction to the content, background, interpretations and critical studies of the Old Testament, with a survey and study of each of the books of the Old Testament. Intermediate New Testament Survey CLS 2300 Taught by Michael Summers. Starts January 9. 6-9 pm 3 hours. An intensive study of the background and content of The Book of Acts and The Epistle to the Corinthians with special emphasis on the history and development of the early church along with the resulting problems. Attention will be paid to finding valid applications to modern ministry situations. Must have already taken New Testament Survey. Islam I 2129 Taught by David McConkey. Starts January 22; 6-9 pm. 3 hours. An entry course designed to assist students developing the necessary personal, spiritual and ministerial foundations for lifelong ministry. Students will engage in assessment of their gifts and passions in ministry and will encounter some basic approaches to effective ministry, such as strategic, financial and physical planning for ministry; communication and relational skills; and team and staff building. FALL 2018 PROPOSED CLASSES New Testament Survey CLS 1314 Church History CLL 1111 Missions, Evangelism & Church Planting CLI 1351 NMSCL is affiliated with Gateway Seminary (formerly Golden Gate Seminary). Costs for the classes is $150.00 per class plus the costs of book(s), which each student needs to purchase. These classes are for anyone wishing to earn one of the CLD certificates or degrees, OR for anyone wanting to learn more about the Bible. Any questions or if you are wishing to register, please contact Barbara Long at the CBA offices, 505-243-2707 or Registrar@nmscl.org.
Central Baptist Association Page 8 Central Baptist Association Pastorless Churches First Baptist Church 4101 Paseo del Norte Albuquerque, NM 87114 FBC Moriarty PO Box 33 Moriarty, NM 87035 Highland Baptist Church 417 Palomas SE Albuquerque, NM 87108 FBC Bosque Farms 1350 Bosque Farms Blvd Bosque Farms, NM 87068 FBC Tijeras 11820 NM 337 Tijeras, NM 87059 Please be praying for these churches as they seek God s will for the person to lead their congregation. 2017 CBA Budget Monthly needs: $19,336.09 Monthly income: $16,082.61 Monthly expenses: $16,153.92 The Central Baptist Association is a network of Southern Baptist Churches in Central New Mexico. The geographical area of the Association encompasses about 43% of the states population centered around the Albuquerque metropolitan area including Bernalillo, Rio Rancho, Bosque Farms, Los Lunas, Belen, Cuba, Jemez Pueblo, Mountainair, Edgewood, Sandia Park, Tijeras, Cedar Crest, Moriarty, Estancia and Vaughn. We have recently added churches from Santa Fe and Gallup. Partner Churches Serving Christ together for HIS Glory CENTRAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION 2517 Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87112 (505) 243-2707 www.cbanm.org John Torrison Director of Missions Barbara Long Office Manager