Ohio Baptist
April 2011 Volume 59 No. 2
Messenger New International Mission Board President Thomas (Tom) D. Elliff was elected International Mission Board president March 16 by IMB trustees meeting in Dallas. Elliff, a longtime pastor, Southern Baptist Convention leader and former missionary, will lead one of the largest evangelical missions entities in an era of rapid change at home and around the globe. Go to www.scbo.org for a more detailed report. (IMB) PHOTO
The Big Apple Adventure VBS 2011 The 2011 Vacation Bible School season is officially under way! It all started on March 11-12, 2011, at First Baptist Church Kettering with The Big Apple Adventure Vacation Bible School Institute. Hundreds of workers from churches all across the state filled the auditorium on Friday night to move with the music of Jeff Slaughter and the Big Apple Adventure! The energy in the room was electric, and it would set the tone for the rest of the weekend. On Saturday more people joined the hundreds already there for a full day of training in VBS. Core training along with dozens of electives were offered throughout the day. There was a strong emphasis in the area of evangelism with several classes offered. Also discussed was the importance of FOLLOW-UP after Vacation Bible School is over. Another thing that was done this year for the first time was a public recognition of pastors present. It is great to see pastors that are involved in VBS and see it as a great tool to reach their community. The day ended with Jeff Slaughter and a one hundred voice kids choir! With the help of Doug Morgan and Jeff Christmas they pulled off the best VBS musical yet. The kids brought the house down and raised the roof at the same time. Broadway would have been proud! Now the ball has dropped and a new VBS season is here. We need everyone trained and ready for the best year ever! If you were not able to make this VBS Institute, please check your associational calendar or go to www.scbo.org and click on the regional VBS clinic site. There you will find a regional clinic near you. If you have questions please feel free to contact us at 614827-1826 and ask for Wendy Hammock, Ministry Assistant. to the Bible Teaching/Leadership Resource Group. Thanks for making the start of the Big Apple Adventure the best ever.
Wow, the excitement generated at VBSI this year is already making a difference in our church. People are so excited, we had a leadership meeting Sunday evening and already have our first staff meeting scheduled in two weeks. Everyone has come back from the event ready to go. We are so thankful to you and the state staff for all you do. We are expecting to break all our previous records for VBS attendance and children getting saved. God has already set the wheels in motion for us, we had decided to call a tax business here in town and ask to borrow a costume of the statue of liberty. Sunday evening a young lady came to our church said she had seen our sign and decided to give us a try as we were getting to know her a little better it came out that she works for this very company as none other than the statue of liberty. The hair was standing up on my arms as we told her the story of wanting this costume for our float not only can we use the costume she will wear it and ride on the float, is God not the awesome-est. He had it all worked out before we even made one phone call God is good. Thank you again.
Blessings, Dwayne Lee, SCBO/VBS State Director
In Christ Love, Brandy Dunbar, Faith Baptist Church, Lambertville, Mich
Cooperative Mission Program Day April 10, 2011 Messengers to the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention voted to observe Cooperative Program Day April 10, 2011. Resources are available to help you. “A Closer Look” and “Meet Southern Baptists” are available from the SBC Executive Committee. You may order these by phone 1 866 722 5433 or mail 901 Commerce Street Nashville, TN 37203. Another resource is the “SBC Cooperative Mission Program” that is available on the website of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio. Additional resources were mailed to every Ohio Southern Baptist congregation the first of this year. Please find a way to observe Cooperative Mission Program Day in your church. The Cooperative Mission Program is the basic support system for one of the most effective missionary movements in the history of Christianity. Let’s keep it going.