THE DIGEST Volume X Issue 7 August 2017
From the Director of Leadership Development James Holliday jholliday@screvenbaptist.org The Well of Power! In December of 2002 the Barna Research Group, which researches the condition of the Christian church, made this startling statement, America is now entering a period that historians will someday regard as the beginning of the era of moral anarchy. The difficulties facing the Church are symptomatic of such an era. The next ten years will be crucial toward determining the capacity of the American Church to be a serious influence on the culture. Churches have tremendous opportunities to impact millions of people's lives, and the resources to get the job done are accessible (Barna Research Online at www.barna.org) Barna was right and we are seeing the devastating effects all around us today! The New Testament Church of Jesus Christ is to be God s agent of transformation in this world. Each local Bible Believing church and its membership is crucial to God s plan. Each has the awesome privilege and responsibility to live the life of faith daily and share the Good News of Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. However, many churches and their memberships are declining, conforming to the world and have little resemblance to the vitality and growth of the Early New Testament Church. I believe a key element missing in our churches today is powerful and productive prayer. We are often faithful to pray for the sick and grieving families, and we should. But, our prayer life lacks the focus, power and effectiveness of the Early Church. The Early Church saw Prayer as the well of power for all their needs. It was Jesus that said in John 15:5 Without Me you can do nothing. The intensity and frequency of our prayer life as individuals or churches reveals our belief or lack of belief in Jesus statement. Let s look at what the early church prayed for and begin to pattern our personal and corporate prayer after their example. They called on God for strategic wisdom. (James 1:5). They called on God for unity and harmony in the ranks. (John 17:20-21). They called on God for the encouragement of togetherness. (1 Thessalonians. 3:10). They called on God for a mind of discernment. (Philippians 1:9-10). They called on God for a knowledge of his will. (Colossians 1:9). They called on God to know him better. (Colossians 1:10; cf. Ephesians 1:17). They called on God for power to comprehend the love of Christ. (Ephesians 3:14,18). They called on God for strength and endurance. (Colossians 1:11; cf. Ephesians 3:16). They called on God for deeper sense of his power within them. (Ephesians 1:16,19). They called on God that their faith not be destroyed. (Luke 22:32, Luke 21:36). They called on God for greater faith.(mark 9:24; cf. Ephesians 3:17). They called on God that they might not fall into temptation. (Matthew 6:13, Matthew 26:41). 2
They called on God that he would complete their resolves. (2 Thessalonians 1:11). They called on God that they would do good works. (Colossians 1:10). They called on God for forgiveness of their sins. (Matthew 6:12). They called on God for protection from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13) We must adapt our prayer focus and intensity to reflect the priorities of the Early Church. Prayer is the well of power we go to, to draw out the resources we need if we are going to have a redeeming influence on our culture. I hope each church and believer in our Association will make a renewed commitment to this kind of prayer. Men s Ministry Meetings 7PM January 16 Cordesville First Baptist February 20 Givhans Baptist March 20 Sandridge First Baptist April 17 Corinth Baptist May 15 Miles Road Baptist June 19 Chaparral Baptist July 17 FBC Jedburg August 21 Wassamassaw Baptist September 18 Salem Baptist October 16 Berkeley Baptist November 20 Memorial Baptist December no meeting 3
From the Director of Church and Community Ministries Susan Harris sharris@screvenbaptist.org 4
MacDougall Christmas Toy Shop will be Tuesday, November 28,2017! If you would like to volunteer for this ministry you will need to sign up by August 30,2017! Newer and stiffer volunteer procedures are in place and we have to abide by the South Carolina Department of Corrections requirements. This ministry has been ongoing for over 30 years. Screven churches provide NEW unwrapped toys for ages birth to 15. The gifts are sorted into ages and gender. The inmates are allowed to come pick a gift for his children. The volunteers help guide the men in making gift selections, then other volunteers wrap the gifts, then the gifts go to another set of volunteers for packing and shipping. We are only allowed 25 guest volunteers! And it takes everyone working hard to accomplish this task. If you would like to be a part of the ministry this year, call me immediately. The FIRST 25 will be allowed to be on the list for entry. You will have to provide your full legal name, ssn#, date of birth, and drivers lic. #. This is NOT requested by Screven, but the SC Dept. of Corrections. Please only call to add your name to the list if you are certain you can go, so check your calendar and keep it clear for this day, Tuesday, November 28. (I can not stress enough we are only allowed 25 and need all 25 to be present and able to serve!) This is a very rewarding experience and would love for you to join us! Call Susan 843-871-2410 to reserve your spot! 5
The question is often asked, What resources does the Association have available to assist our church in ministering to our community. Answer: There are a number of ways, but we have probably not communicated the information as well as we should. Well, The times they are a changin. NOW if you click on the tab on the Association web site or on the slide (below) that appears on the first page you will be directed to pages that will either list resources or redirect you to the information you seek. We hope and pray that many will avail themselves of this opportunity. 2017 Tyner-Jackson Associational Missions Emphasis. The 2017 Associational Missions Emphasis is May July. Our 2017 Goal for Associational Missions is $10,000. For the churches of Screven Baptist association, the $10,000 goal means: More New Churches will be Planted locally More Existing Churches will be Strengthened More Churches Equipped to Develop Disciples More Churches Partnering Together in Ministry in our Communities More People Reached and Discipled More People Commissioned and Sent Globally More Churches Displaying the Glory of God 6
From the Director of Missions Robert Bailey bbailey@screvenbaptist.org Throughout our history, the world has been indelibly marked, both negatively and positively, by actions carried out in the name of Jesus. But the history of mankind has also been eternally influenced by some of the least likely heroes. In our churches, we call these heroes Volunteers. They are men and women who never sseek the spotlight, and in most cases, who are never honored by their contemporaries. People who are moved by compassion at the great need they have observed. That observation, unshakably locked in their minds, made them responsible. They could not, with spiritual integrity, turn their backs to what they had seen. The course of our history has been dramatically impacted because followers of Jesus believed that Jesus meant business. Orphanages and children s homes were opened, colleges and universities started, the hungry were fed, the sick were cared for, slavery was abolished, human beings around the world were loved in the name of Jesus, and the Kingdom of God was expanded wherever the people of God lived recklessly obedient to His voice. I want to personally thank everyone in our local churches who serve faithfully and live obediently to the Word of God and the voice of Sovereign God who calls them to make a difference in His world. Baltimore, MD Vision Trip October 9-11. I want to invite you and your wife (or a staff member/church leader) to spend 48 hours in Baltimore to see how your church can engage lostness. The North American Mission Board will pay for all of your expenses (except travel to the city) for a two-day Vision Trip. You will stay in a very nice hotel and enjoy all of your meals and transportation in the city. All you have to do is get there. You can register by going to www.namb.net/events.ctv32 and scroll down to Baltimore Catch the Vision registration link and then register. If you have any questions, email me at bbailey@screvenbaptist.org Thank you again for your continued prayer support of the Screven Baptist Association. 7
8 Screven Baptist Association 1851 Dawson Branch Road Summerville, SC 29483 843-871-2410 Toll Free: 1-800-868-2410 Fax 843-821-7050 Screven@screvenbaptist.org www.screvenbaptist.org Thank You for Your Faithful Financial Support! JUNE YTD JUNE YTD Berkeley 428.68 3,253.77 Mt. Zion 113.00 734.00 Bethel 434.86 1,427.22 North Trident 428.78 2,992.32 Beulah 250.00 500.00 Oakbrook, The Fellowship of 200.00 1,200.00 Bonneau First 400.00 1,525.93 Old Fort 3,252.38 23,140.78 Brookhaven 0.00 0.00 Old St. George 0.00 1,000.00 Calvary, Moncks Corner 761.00 5,208.00 Pleasant Grove 244.55 1,272.49 Calvary Pregnall 0.00 0.00 Providence 232.77 1,531.44 Chaparral 30.00 180.00 Reevesville 200.00 1,200.00 College Park 0.00 1,395.65 Ridge 0.00 0.00 Cordesville, First 0.00 1,449.94 Ridgeville 298.70 1,797.65 Corinth 200.00 1,200.00 St. John's Bethel 527.25 2,810.21 Crossroads 350.00 2,100.00 St. Matthews 416.66 1,605.78 Eutawville, First 130.00 760.00 St. Stephen, First 0.00 675.00 Faith 179.29 944.39 Salem 0.00 2,704.85 Gethsemane 0.00 0.00 Sandridge 468.00 1,469.25 Givhans 0.00 466.23 Sangaree Baptist Church 0.00 600.00 Harleyville, First 364.75 2,502.78 Santee Circle 167.00 833.98 Harristown Road 0.00 492.00 Summerville 2,246.39 14,383.19 Holly Hill, First 600.00 3,600.00 Tall Pines 211.00 1,553.00 Hopewell 0.00 0.00 Wassamassaw 1,073.92 6,443.52 Iglesia Nueva Vision 0.00 0.00 The Journey Church 1,250.00 2,500.00 Jamestown 0.00 175.00 Compass Church 0.00 157.56 Jedburg, First 0.00 4,207.86 The Pines Church 0.00 300.00 Knightsville 458.20 1,146.94 Solid Rock Ministries 0.00 4,000.00 Lighthouse Community 267.00 584.00 Cornerstone 150.00 900.00 Limestone 276.00 1,174.00 The Church at Cane Bay 350.00 1,750.00 Lydia 499.00 1,409.89 Ministerio Hispano de la Ridge 0.00 0.00 Memorial 0.00 3,016.85 Trueway Missionary Baptist 0.00 0.00 Midway 379.71 1,889.65 Miles Road 0.00 0.00 Total Revenues 19,154.00 123,705.31 Moncks Corner, First 750.00 4,500.00 Total Expenses 18,515.86 127,934.35 Mt. Olivet 565.11 1,040.19 Tyner-Jackson Offering 0.00 349.36 8