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WSBC CP budget update 3 Online Edition December 2015 Volume 31 Issue 4 orizon H S Wyoming s CP percentage remains unchanged despite challenges Karen L. Willoughby BAR NUNN, Wyo. (BP) A ranch hand who had wrestled cattle out of a late spring snow bank and manhandled a downed barbed wire fence might say his day had been interesting, and in the same understated way, that s the word Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention leaders used at their recent annual meeting at Bar Nunn Baptist Church to describe a tumultuous year. Legal and corporate issues related to the change-over from eight associations to three regions, staff reassignments to reflect the changed structure, and income vastly different from what was knowingly passed last year as an unbalanced budget led Wyoming s executive board to work together even more closely than usual. This has been an interesting year, Executive Director Lynn Nikkel said as he introduced the 2016 budget. We need some relief, added David Grace, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Laramie, second vice president of the state convention and chairman of Wyoming s WYDR crews begin cleanup at one house. Wyoming Disaster Relief Partnership Dennis Belz Pictured are Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention officers: Cheri Mickelson, Assistant Recording Secretary; Renee Hanson, Recording Secretary; John Larramendy, 2nd Vice President; John Constantine, 1st Vice President and David Grace, President. executive board. The shared challenge strengthened a camaraderie evident at the annual meeting. Speakers would pick on someone in the congregation, only to have someone else pick on them, and maybe a third pass on the joshing. Breaks and meal times were twice as long as the norm at annual meetings, to give plenty of time for fellowship. Wyoming Southern Baptists are a family, and when we get together we love to share life together. From the first WSBC Annual Meet- ing I ever attended, back in 1994, I have been amazed at the depth of relationship we all share. We really know each other and talk about our families, our children and our churches. It is really a special time, Nikkel shared. The Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention s 32nd annual meeting Nov. 5-6 opened Wednesday evening, Nov. 4, with a missions banquet, and Thursday morning with a pastor s conference and women s get-together, See CP on pg. 2 On Oct. 23-24, our first Disaster Relief Partnership Training was conducted at the WSBC office. Excitement filled the room as 41 WYDR volunteers arrived in the conference room early on Friday evening! Training was provided in: Involving Southern Baptist in Disaster Relief Assessment DAC (Disaster Assistance Center) Feeding/Mass Feeding Recovery Mud-out/Ash-out Shower/Laundry Unit When this training was scheduled months ago, little did any of us know that there would be an immediate need for the new WYDR team to deploy and serve with CO, UT/ID as recovery efforts were needed for the Cole Creek Fires in Evansville. Many of the new WY Volunteers began serving just a few days later as the training they received was put into action. We had people getting OJT See RELIEF on pg. 7

2 December 2015 CP continued from pg. 1 before the annual meeting. It started at 2 p.m. Thursday in the worship center at Bar Nunn Baptist Church, eight miles north of Casper, with Our eyes are on you, God, from 2 Chronicles 20:12 as its theme. While the verse had been suggested by outgoing President Mike Cooper, pastor of College Heights Baptist Church in Casper, it had come to him several times over the last two years, Nikkel said, as he led in navigation of the changes and challenges besetting the state, knowing the absolute necessity of keeping the focus on God to better follow Him. The new directions we are pursuing together require much greater investment in our cooperative ministry from within the state, Nikkel said, singling out the Executive Board with a commendation for its wisdom and good counsel in its restructuring that took place since approval by messengers at the 2014 annual meeting. That action led by January 2015 to the dissolving of the eight Baptist associations in Wyoming into three regions, each led by a state strategist for better local ownership of efforts to reach the state with the gospel message. With no resolutions, motions, or constitutional/bylaws changes, business was limited to the election of officers, approval of the 2016 budget and hearing reports from state staff and SBC agencies. Elections David Grace, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Laramie, was elected president of the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention. John Constantine, pastor of Story Community Church, was elected first vice president. John Larramendy, pastor of Alcova Community Church in Alcova, was elected second vice president. Renee Hanson, pastor s wife at Mountain View Baptist Church in Mills, was re-elected recording secretary. Cheri Mickelson First Southern Baptist in Powell was re-elected assistant recording secretary. Budget The proposed 2016 budget had been revised three times already, and another revision is possible before the end of the year, Nikkel said. We believed God showed us the way to go, Nikkel said. We are projecting our Cooperative Program receipts [for 2015] will probably fall $245,000 short of our CP budget, but we ll end the year with expenses just $45,000 more than receipts. God is our source, Nikkel continued. We have seen Him work in ways the math just doesn t add up. The 109 messengers from 39 of Wyoming s 106 churches voted unanimously to approve a $1,497,042 budget for 2016, down from $1,710,223 in 2015. The shortfall reflects a personnel change, Nikkel explained. The state convention church planting staff have become NAMB employees, covered by NAMB s health insurance. Top: Wind City Praise Team leads worship at Missions Celebration Wednesday evening. Left: Lynda Roark, Director of Mt. Top Baptist Assembly gave an exciting summer camping report. Right: Pastor Randy Barnett welcomes messengers and guests. Pastor Randy and Bar Nunn Baptist Church did a wonderful job hosting the 32nd Annual Meeting of the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention. The church planting staff has been assigned to Wyoming and supervised by the Wyoming SBC Executive Director, though NAMB will provide their salaries and benefits. It s the same arrangement as that of other new work state conventions, Nikkel told Baptist Press. The North American Mission Board is a wonderful partner with the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention, the executive director told the convention. A total of $748,242 is projected in the 2016 Cooperative Program giving of Wyoming churches, up from $742,201 budgeted for 2015. The CP percentage passed on to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries remains unchanged for the fifth year at 32.75 percent. The budget also reflects $440,500 from NAMB, $67,000 from LifeWay Christian Resources and $85,000 from the Delmar State Mission Offering. Reports All three regions have had their inaugural annual meetings, with good participation from their areas at each one, the executive director noted in his report. The process of connecting churches within each region for ministry and missions opportunities is an on-going work. And, getting used to and settling in to the ways regions relate to one another and the [state] convention at large will also be an effort that will extend over several months to come. But, Nikkel continued, we are making progress and thankful for the cooperative spirit that has marked this journey together. Mission teams from Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma helped teams and churches from Wyoming minister during the annual Frontier Days Ministries in Cheyenne, reported Mark Porter, former state Missions Strategist South Region Missionary. This year we handed out 38,700 bottles of water along with 1,000 Cowboy Bibles, and printed off more than 1,500 pages of What s in a Name, Porter reported. As a result, 140 people made professions of faith in Jesus Christ. Wyoming has 15 ongoing church plants and See CP on pg. 3

December 2015 NEWS 3 Mark Porter returns to the pastorate Ministry at Life Point Church in Cheyenne began in November Lynn Nikkel One of the best parts of the meeting are the times of Worship. CP continued from pg. 2 13 seed congregations, reported Don Whalen, state Church Planting Strategist. We are currently working with 14 potential church planters, seven cross-cultural planters and seven indigenous planters from our Wyoming congregations, Whalen added. Baptist Collegiate Ministry groups have been or soon will be established or re-started at the University of Wyoming and WyoTech, both in Laramie, and in Gillette, Riverton, Sheridan, Powell, Torrington, and Rock Springs, Whalen reported. Fifty-three college students participated in the 2015 BCM Student Retreat last February. At the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs this summer, trained volunteers with the Wyoming Rodeo Ministry shared more than 2,000 times their three-minute story of coming to faith in Christ, and 137 people said they were putting their faith in Jesus, reported Dale Bascue, state evangelism strategist and West Region Missionary. Now in its tenth year, the Wyoming Southern Baptist Center for Leadership Development, sponsored by Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, has provided the opportunity for at least 350 students to advance their theological education, reported Fred Creason, state leadership strategist and Northeast Region Missionary. About 50 students currently are enrolled in seven classes in five locations: Casper, Gillette, Buffalo, Riverton and Cheyenne. Four graduated last spring and two this fall. Five more anticipate a Spring 2016 graduation. The Wyoming Southern Baptist Foundation has $103,996 in assets. Mountain Top Baptist Assembly on Casper Mountain made several improvements to its facilities, caught a bear, and hosted 987 campers, who recorded 48 professions of faith in Jesus and 24 other spiritual decisions. Several SBC entities also made reports. The 2016 annual meeting of the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention is set for Nov. 3-4 at the United Baptist Church in Riverton. Karen L. Willoughby is a national correspondent for Baptist Press. Mark Porter joined the staff of the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention, and as Southeast Director of Missions in September of 2000. He came to the Convention and the Associations for the Southeast from being pastor at Antelope Valley Baptist Church in Gillette. And, at the end of October this year Mark left the staff of the WSBC, from the position of State Missions Strategist & South Region Missionary, to become pastor of Life Point Church in Cheyenne. He started his ministry at Life Point on November 1st. Mark served the churches of the Southwest well as missionary, and was the main drive in the development of Cheyenne Frontier Days ministry each summer involving the churches of the Cheyenne area, as well as mission teams, in distributing water bottles at parades and other events. Those bottles, around 50,000 each year, had an evangelistic message on them. And, churches and volunteers did other ministries to engage people with the gospel. Countless presentations of the gospel resulted from those ministries, and each year decisions were made for Christ. This last summer 140 professions of faith were recorded. Mark has also been very involved in the transition team planning of our Future Study Group over the last several years, and supportive of significant changes that resulted from those plans. We have appreciated Mark s cooperative and supportive spirit, and his involvement in all of these years of him ministry with the Convention and Associations, and in the new South Region. He and Janice have been great friends to all of those who serve in Wyoming, whether through his ministry role, and also in their interaction with folks across the state. I know all of us join in wishing Mark and Janice the best of blessings from the Lord in this new role as pastor and wife, and we wish Life Point the best from the Lord in effectiveness to continue reaching Cheyenne and the area for Christ, and in gathering believers for worship, ministry and discipleship. 2015 WSBC Cooperative budget update

4 News December 2015 In need of revival: God invites us to repent Dale Bascue Picture a grand courtroom. The judge sits to preside over the affairs of the court. Witnesses are called and the accused stands guilty, ready to receive the sentence. This is the image we find in Isaiah chapter 1. Of course, the Judge is God Almighty, the Holy One of Israel, our Redeemer and King. The witnesses are heaven and earth. The accused are God s own people, those He has nourished and brought up. The accusations are brought forth in verses 2-15. Rebelling against God, not considering God s ways, forsaking God, provoking Him to anger, going backward in their relationship with Him, being religious without an authentic relationship, and having hands soaked in blood by oppressing the poor, widows, and orphans. Now surely in this modern age we live in we wouldn t be guilty of any of these seditious acts against God, would we? We wouldn t rebel against Him, deciding we BASCUE know what is best for us and what we enjoy without giving consideration to Him and His ways. In our enlightenment we would never even think about committing adultery or lying or stealing or cheating. The very thought of turning to other means of spiritual expressions like astrology or psychics would never cross our minds. It surely isn t part of modern man s make up to plan out our own lives without ever thinking about the will of God and determining for ourselves the course of our lives and leave the Creator and Redeemer of life out of the picture. And when it comes to church, religion, and spiritual matters, modern man is far beyond the need of a real, vital and living relationship with an ancient concept of God. I mean, this stuff of a personal saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is so old-fashioned, isn t it? Yeah, we would never be guilty like the people of Isaiah s day. God would never be angry with us, would He? And I hope you are able to pick up sarcasm when you see it because you just read an entire paragraph of it! Of course we are guilty. And now we have an opportunity to do something about it. If you re tired of being beat up because of guilt and sin you can do something about it. If your sinfulness has bruised you and your iniquities have battered you, here is hope. Come now, let us reach an end to this discussion, says the Lord. God invites you. God invites you to repent. God invites you to repent now. The arguments are made and God wants us to come to an end of the discussion. He wants us to come to closure with Him. He wants us to be washed and cleansed from all the stain that has made us dirty, defiled, offensive, and unacceptable. Doesn t that sound good? Who wouldn t want to be clean and forgiven? This is what it would take to see revival in our day and in our land. The Evangelism Conference is scheduled for January 25 and 26, 2016. Our theme is A Measure of Revival. We stand in desperate need for revival and it can come. God invites us. He invites us to repent. He invites us to repent now. Dale Bascue serves as Evangelism Strategist and West Regional Missionary, WSBC A Measure of Revival The Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention s 2016 Evangelism Conference January 25-26 Boyd Avenue Baptist Church 1930 Boyd Avenue, Casper Begins Monday at 1:20 pm and concludes Tuesday at 9pm For more information call the WSBC at (307) 472-4087 Lodging available at: Parkway Plaza Hotel 123 West E Street (307) 235-1777 $60 per double room Ernie Perkins Gary Hawkins Don Lum

December 2015 5 calendar of events December 14-17 WSBC STAFF IN OFFICE WEEK 25 Christmas Day 24-Jan 1 WSBC Office Closed January 2016 4 WSBC Office Reopens 11-12 WSBC IN OFFICE WEEK 13-14 Western Execs Meeting 14-15 GGBTS Western Exec Meeting 14-15 National Vacation Bible School Clinic, Fort Worth, TX 17 Sanctity of Human Life Sunday 19-22 Golden Gate CLD Meeting, CA 25 Executive Board Orientation, 9 a.m., WSBC Office 25-26 WSBC Evangelism Conference, Casper, Boyd Ave. Baptist Church 27 Executive Board Meeting, 8:30 a.m., WSBC Office February 15-17 New Orleans, Life Beyond Seminary 15-18 State Executive Director Fellowship Meeting, Ponce, PR 19-21 BCM Student Retreat, Dayton, Camp Bethel 20 SonShare Interviews 22-23 SBC Executive Committee Meeting, Nashville 25-26 TeamWest Sunday School Training, Rapid City, SD March 14-15 Possible GuideStone Exec Meeting, Dallas 21-24 WSBC IN OFFICE WEEK 27 EASTER 28 WSBC Office Closed, Easter April 8-9 Youth Evangelism Conference, Casper, Ramkota 14 Administrative Team Meeting, 3 p.m., WSBC Office 15 Executive Board Meeting, 10 a.m., WSBC Office 15-16 BCM Directors Planning Retreat, Casper WSBC office Church planting thoughts: Communicating needs Staff If there is one thing that most all church planters know, it is the need for help and support. Church planters know that they need prayer support to face the spiritual warfare that is a part of taking enemy ground. They need financial support as they go from nothing to something in the beginning of a new work. Planters also need human support, faithful hands, feet and voices to share in the Kingdom work. Effectively communicating these needs to those who are willing to partner in the Kingdom effort of planting a new church requires skillful and intentional planning. Here are some simple suggestions. Share regularly. (but not too regularly). Your partners genuinely want to hear your stories of celebration and your urgent challenges. As they hear of God s hand at work, they gain a renewed sense of partnership and a conviction to invest in your ministry. But, at the same time, don t over communicate! Remember that if everything is in BOLD, nothing is in bold. Be brief. It s human nature to see a long, detailed message and just lay it down with the intention of returning to read it later, but later often doesn t come. Two well-written paragraphs are far more effective than two pages of information that are never read. Be honest. Be honest as you share your celebrations and your challenges. If you overstate the victory or the trial, eventually people will catch on and it will end your credibility. Be unselfish. The work that God has called you to is important, but remember, the Kingdom of God is bigger than you. Advocate for the planter in the next community who has few supporting partners. Share the victories that God is bringing in other areas of your city, county and state. Communicate the challenges that other planters are facing. We re in this together! It s a Kingdom work! Be inspirational. Don t be afraid to brag on God! He deserves to receive the glory for the victories He is bringing. And as you share these stories with your partners, you validate the spiritual credibility of your Kingdom vision and Kingdom work. Be grateful. Sharing your gratefulness with those who support you in prayer and in funding demonstrates your humility, interdependence and heartfelt commitment to cooperative ministry. Heartfelt gratitude inspires more generosity, while a spirit of entitlement inspires disconnection. Most church planters begin the new church plant lacking two critical things that are necessary for ultimate success; people and resources. It has been my experience that willing partners and abundant resources are there for those who are able to effectively share their need and then trust God for His provision.

6 December 2015 Wyoming Cowboy Church Planting Don Whalen Cowboy Church Planters and Potential Cowboy Church Planters from Wyoming, Montana and Texas met together at Evansville Baptist Church, Evansville, Wyoming on August 28-29, to enhance their capabilities for planting new Cowboy Churches across Wyoming and the Western State Region. Jim & Myrtle Ballard, NAMB s Western Region Cowboy Church Missionary and Pat & Renee Alphin, Cowboy Church Planters from Texas, led this important time of training. Mustang Ministries, including Marty & Lynda Roark and Bill & Trey Snow, brought Cowboy Worship to the event. Wyoming has many ranching communities where the Cowboy Church model would connect with the western culture, and as a result, impacting lives with the Gospel. Many of these communities are Harvest Point communities that have no evangelical witness. There are also communities in Wyoming that have a substantial rodeo culture where the Cowboy Church model can become the avenue for Kingdom advancement. Please pray that God will call out Cowboy Church Planters who will minister to the Cowboy Culture of Wyoming. Also, pray that God will open doors to Cowboy Church planting opportunities and to persons of peace, that will help connect us to this important people group. Jim Ballard, Western Region Cowboy Church Missionary for NAMB. Churches on mission Casper First Southern Baptist Church has a new name; Hilltop Baptist Church! The transition is expected to be complete by the New Year. Rob Peterson is pastor. Wright Wright Baptist Church has called Shane Stone to be pastor. Shane had served as Ministry Associate for the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention before accepting the call to the pastorate. Shane and wife Melissa are on the field. Cheyenne LifePoint Church has called Mark (Janice) Porter to be pastor. Mark has served with the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention for over 15 years. Most recently as Mission Strategist and South Region Missionary. Burns Jeff (Pam) Giles has been called to serve as pastor of Golden Prairie Baptist Church. Gillette Brent Howard is on the field as pastor of Westside Baptist Church. Brent along with wife Holly and family arrived late October from Ohio. Lander The West Region had their first annual meeting on August 29, 2015 at the Sawmill Campground in Sinks Canyon State Park. There were 50 people present from 13 regional churches. The new constitution and bylaws were adopted and new officers were elected. Dean Whitaker, pastor of United Baptist Church in Riverton, was elected moderator. Richard Mills, pastor of Set Free Riverton was elected vice-moderator. Barb Seago from First Southern Baptist Church, Powell, was elected clerk and Annette Baxter from Hillcrest Baptist Church in Riverton will serve as treasurer. Riverton Set Free Church continues to reach and baptize several people. On October 18, 2015, Pastor Richard Mills was able to lead a worship service at the Honor Farm. Thirteen men were baptized that day. They baptized 5 more on November 1. A new Baptist Collegiate Ministry has started on the Central Wyoming College campus in Riverton. Eric Reid is the BCM Director. In this first semester the BCM is averaging 8-12 students and has been granted status as a campus club. Big Piney First Baptist Church has called Larry Mizell to serve as Interim Pastor.

December 2015 7 PRAY for the harvest Pray for churches seeking God s direction for a new pastor. Crews use donated heavy equipment for cleanup. RELIEF continued from pg. 1 in Assessments of properties (to explain what we as SBDR teams could do to help the property owners). Several worked in the Recovery efforts doing Ash-Out and getting down and dirty! One couple brought their heavy equipment to use in making the cleanup much easier and faster. While all this was happening outside on the job sites, others assisted by answering the phones and taking in new job orders. And of course we cannot forget those who were making fantastic meals for the volunteers. The new WYDR team had a total of 15 volunteers that came out during this deployment. Many others had planned on being there, but emergencies arose. There will be more opportunities to serve, not only in Wyoming, but across our country as responses are needed. What is one of the biggest events in Wyoming and SBDR today? It is that Wyoming now has an active Disaster Relief Organization! Colorado Disaster Relief is so pleased with the work that you have all done, starting with openness to a Partnership between the two states and then having such a large and exciting group of volunteers that are willing and ready to BRING: Help, Healing and Hope whereever needed. Keep your eyes open for upcoming training events in 2016 and then plan to attend and be a part of the new WYDR. These are exciting days and I look forward to serving with you again. Dennis Belz serves as Disaster Relief Director with the Colorado Baptist Convention. Cole Creek Fire Recovery Report Evansville, WY; Oct. 27 Nov. 8. Jobs Requested: 12 Jobs Completed: 12 Volunteers: CO -6 WY 15 UT/ID 11 Volunteer Days: 136 Volunteer Hours: 1096 Heavy Equipment Hours: - 106.5 Value of Volunteer Hours: $21,920.00 Types of work completed: Assessments Ash-Out and Debris Removal Heavy Equipment Operations Shane Stone s new ministry It is always interesting and inspiring to watch as the Lord leads in people s lives, and when he makes his call on their life clear. One of those times has been ours in the state office as the Lord has worked this year in the life and ministry of Shane Stone, and his wife, Melissa. Shane joined the staff of the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention in March of 2013, in the part-time role of Evangelism Associate. He joined our staff to assist us in a time of transition as a Convention to lend to the assistance to our churches specifically in the area of evangelism. And his leadership in that area was very effective. However, his ministry went far beyond that assignment alone. Shane is employed by the University of Wyoming as a professor in Criminal Law, and his schedule with UW made it possible for him to work on weekends with those churches. Shane has been very effective in helping churches and pastors as he filled the pulpit, and his preaching has made a difference in many church ministries. His assistance especially with churches that were in an interim between pastors was also very effective. This year his role shifted to be our General Ministry Associate, and his work with staff and churches has continued to be very helpful and effective. Earlier this year the Lord was working in Shane s heart to return to the pastorate of a local church. He felt that the times in which we live and minister are such that he needed to be leading a local church in an ongoing basis toward effective ministry. And, this November the Wright Baptist Church called Shane to become their pastor. He and Melissa have begun their new ministry in Wright, and we know that God will bless them as they lead them in these days. The staff wish them the very best as God uses them there, and are glad they are still here in Wyoming serving Him. Lynn Nikkel (Interim) South Region Agape Baptist Church, Cheyenne Bairoil Community Baptist Church, Bairoil Circle C Cowboy Church, Green River North Cheyenne Baptist Church, Cheyenne** Fred Creason Northeast Region Antelope Valley Baptist Church** Big Horn Baptist Church, Buffalo* First Southern Baptist Church, Moorcroft First Southern Baptist Church, Douglas Dale Bascue West Region First Baptist Church, Big Piney* *Served by interim pastor. **Served by transitional pastor. Basic Training Journey for Church Planters Nine church planters met at the WSBC Office building August 13-15, 2015, to participate in Basic Training Journey. Participants included core group members, potential church planters, and those presently involved in planting a new church in Wyoming. The training covered the development of a planting vision, values as well as strategic planning in the areas of Worship, Discipleship, Evangelism, Community and Missions. Those interested in participating in an upcoming Basic Training Journey event, contact Zach Edwards or Don Whalen for details.

8 December 2015 When depression strikes cried, Yahweh, he is God (1 Kings 18:38-39). But nothing really changed. Ahab and Jezebel remained on the throne. And the people went Elijah the prophet ministered at a tough time back to living as they pleased. in Israel s history (880-850 B.C.). King Omri Elijah had great expectations when he stood introduced Baal worship into the Northern Kingdom, by forming an alliance with the Phoe- on Mount Carmel. He expected God to bring revival. God showed his power. The people said nician king Ethbaal (1 Kings 16), and by sealing the right words. But revival never came. the alliance with a marriage between his son Elijah received a threat from Jezebel (1 Kings Ahab, and Ethbaal s daughter Jezebel. 19:2-3). Elijah had killed her prophets. She was Baal was the Canaanite god of storm and going to kill him. Elijah had been fearless the fertility. The Canaanites believed that Baal day before. Now he runs away in fear. Elijah s brought moisture to the earth and caused the actions seem remarkable until we remember his crops to grow. They worshipped Baal through condition. Elijah was physically, emotionally, and temple prostitution, physical mutilation, and child sacrifice. Baal worship was a great tempta- spiritually exhausted. Unmet expectations are a major cause of detion to Israel. It offered life s necessities without pression in ministry. We do all we can, and nothmoral or ethical requirements. ing seems to happen. We re worn out. We re not Israel s God demanded purity prepared for Satan s attack. The attack comes, the of life. Baal worship made no darkness settles in, and we like Elijah want to such demands. Israel could run away. worship Baal, and live as she Elijah ran, more than 350 miles, all the way to pleased. Mount Sinai (1 Kings 19:3-9). Thanks to God s Religion without rules is provisions, Elijah arrived safely, and found lodgas popular today as it was in ing in a cave. Elijah was at a turning point in his Elijah s day. People want a CREASON life. His ministry was in shambles. He needed god who promises much but some time alone with God. demands little. People don t want to hear about The Depressed Prophet. Elijah s depression sin, judgment, and repentance. Modern America had several characteristics (1 Kings 19:4-14). is in desperate need of revival. Ancient Israel (1) He forgot past victories. (2) He magnified needed revival as well. present problems. (3) He was illogical runelijah was deeply burdened by the conditions ning away to save his life, while asking God to around him. God s reputation was at stake. Israel s existence was at stake. Elijah issued a chal- kill him. (4) He was lethargic with no energy to do anything productive. (5) He was looking lenge (1 Kings 18), a challenge that King Ahab for a way to escape. (6) He was saying stupid accepted. The people of Israel would gather to Mount Carmel. Elijah would represent Yahweh. things. (7) He was focused on himself how hard he had worked, how much he had suffered, The prophets of Baal would represent their god. The God who answered by fire would be God in how little he had accomplished, and how terribly lonely he was. (8) He was consumed with pride. Israel. He had done so much for God, and God had The fire of Yahweh fell. The people of Isdone so little for him. rael were amazed. They fell on their faces and Fred Creason We better be careful when we get depressed. Like Elijah, we can become proud of our sacrifices. We can attack God for not bringing the results we deserve. We can say and do some very stupid things, things that can destroy our ministries. The Caring God. The cure for depression has always been the same contact with a loving God. God has always worked through imperfect people. (1) God listened to what Elijah had to say. (1 Kings 19:4-14). (2) God taught Elijah a much-needed lesson (1 Kings 19:11-14). Elijah needed to see the heart of God. God is a God of judgment. There s a time for Mount Carmel experiences. But much of the time, God is patient even with his enemies. Elijah must be patient too. Like Elijah, we must let God be God. We better not become frustrated with who God is and what God does. God is gracious to us. We dare not complain when God is gracious to others. (3) God restored Elijah to ministry (1 Kings 19:15-21). Our God is the God of the second chance. God sends Elijah back to anoint Hazael, as king of Syria, Jehu, as king of Israel, and Elisha, as prophet in Israel. These men would bring God s judgment on Ahab, Jezebel, and the worshipers of Baal. God s judgment would fall, but in his time, and in his way. Elijah s most important ministry was his least dramatic one. He would mentor Elisha, and prepare Elisha to be prophet in his place. Like Elijah, we all want to give up from time to time. God understands. The one who called us can restore us, and use us in wonderful ways. Fred Creason serves as Leadership Strategist and Northeast Regional Missionary, WSBC. Have a story that needs to be told? Email Pam at hans@wyomingsbc.org with your story idea!