IB Fall 2017

How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news.

Romans 10:15

MAGAZINE

Fall 2017 Volume 59 Number 7

> CONTENTS God is at work! It is often easy to miss, as we contend with daily struggles. However, we are called to trust Him even when evidence is hidden. We pray that the time you spend reading these stories that proclaim His work will affirm, encourage and even challenge your faith in our faithful God.

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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Let’s Recognize What God is Doing Among Us

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CONVENTION PROGRAM KINGDOM UNHINDERED

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MISSIONS Changing The World

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HIGHLAND LAKES BAPTIST CAMP Another Successful Summer in the Books

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MAC CAMP Generations Closer Together

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JAM CAMP Campers are Challenged

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COMMITTED COOPERATION Let Me Tell You about...

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BAPTIST FOUNDATION OF INDIANA Serving You

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AROUND THE STATE The Greater Fort Wayne Celebration New Campus Ministers

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Convention Schedule The Indiana Baptist Magazine is owned and published quarterly by the

DIGITAL EDITION www.scbi.org/ib

7805 State Road 39 Martinsville, IN 46151

SUBSCRIPTIONS www.scbi.org/ib ib@scbi.org 317-481-2400 ext. 220

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SUBMISSIONS www.scbi.org/ib ib@scbi.org 7805 State Road 39 Martinsville, IN 46151

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INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE || FALL 2017

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dr.Steve McNeil CONVENTION PRESIDENT Bruce Reynolds CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD David Cullison COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN Jamie Murphy COMMUNICATIONS TEAM LEADER Dr. Steve McNeil COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE Alison Blankenship GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Greg Cooper

MINISTRY

OPENINGS

PASTOR POSITIONS

First Baptist Church, DeMotte: full-time Senior Pastor. Send resume to henryjacksonfuenral@gmail.com.

New Hope Community Church, Fort Wayne: bi-vocational Senior Pastor. Send resume to kenthirschelman@icloud. com.

Oolitic Baptist Church, Oolitic: bi-vocational Pastor. Send resume to jkjgore@gmail.com or David Riggs 907 Mathis Avenue Oolitic, IN 47451.

Rolling Fields Baptist Church, Jeffersonville: bi-vocational Lead Elder. Send resume to tymcgowen@gmail.com or Rolling Fields Baptist Church, Attn: Tyler McGowen, 1858 E. 8th St. Jeffersonville, IN 47130.

OTHER POSITIONS Crossroads Baptist Association, Indianapolis: part-time

Missional Strategist. Send resume to 952 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, IN 46204 or cbasbc@hotmail.com or call 317.833.0949.

First Baptist Church, Charlestown: part-time Assistant

Pastor for Children and Students. Send resume to JLWallsctown@yahoo.com or Pastor Jim Walls at First Baptist Church, PO Box 36, Charlestown, IN 47111.

Tri-State Network, Evansville: part-time Coordinator. Send resume to Michael Wilhite at gonefishing2819@gmail.com.

Find more listings and updates at www.scbi.org under Resources.

CALENDAR SEPTEMBER Month of Prayer for Indiana State Missions and In-gathering for the State Missions Offering

4 Labor Day (SCBI Office closed)

8-9 Men’s Retreat, Highland Lakes Baptist Camp 22-23 Pure Girl, Highland Lakes Baptist Camp

OCTOBER

9 Pastors’ Conference, Highland Lakes Baptist Camp 9-10 SCBI Annual Meeting, Highland Lakes Baptist Camp

NOVEMBER 17-18 Ultimate Sleepover, Highland Lakes Baptist Camp 23-24 Thanksgiving Holiday (SCBI Office closed)

December 3-10 Week of Prayer for International Missions 22-29 Christmas Holiday (SCBI Office closed)

2018 January

Southern Baptist Convention Call to Prayer

WELCOME

NEW CONGREGATIONS

SOMA NORTH WEST (BOBBY BARBOUR) NEW DAY BAPTIST, MUNCIE (DALE TREGO) HOUSE OF REFUGE (MICHAEL DORSEY) SOVEREIGN KING CHURCH (JOSEPH SPURGEON) REDEEMER TERRE HAUTE (DAVID RALSTON) THE GATHERING (JEFF LAWLEY)

NEW SENIOR PASTORS

Tim Bushong (Syracuse Baptist) Steve Grant (Gaston Baptist) Jonathan LaFleur (First Southern Baptist of Terre Haute)

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New Year’s Day Holiday (SCBI office closed) Wives in Ministry Retreat, City View Church, Indianapolis Martin Luther King Jr Day (SCBI office closed) Sanctity of Human Life Sunday Youth Leaders Training Retreat, Highland Lakes Baptist Camp

Febuary

11 Racial Reconciliation Sunday 23-24 Unceasing Worship: Worship Team Training Retreat, Highland Lakes Baptist Camp

View the online calender at scbi.org/calendar

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From the Executive Director Dr. Steve McNeil, Executive Director

Exalt Jesus, Encourage Pastors and Equip Churches The State Convention of Baptists in Indiana (SCBI) exists to Exalt Jesus, Encourage Pastors and Equip Churches. How is that being done? Let me give you some examples.

encouraged; they can meet other pastors, wives, and leaders and ultimately we can allow iron to sharpen iron and so one person can sharpen another.

Equip Churches – most of what your SCBI staff Exalt Jesus – it is our commitment that everything does is centered on the principle found in we do is centered around Jesus, His mission, His Ephesians 4:11-13. It is our desire and calling to commands, His priorities. When we talk about equip the church for ministry. We spend time each Exalting Jesus, we are month in our staff meetings also referring to the 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the going through new training triune Godhead of the and refining existing trainprophets, the evangelists, the pastors and three in one. It is our ing. It is our goal to then teachers, 12 to equip his people for works desire to help each of of service, so that the body of Christ may take that training to our local our 456 churches keep be built up 13 until we all reach unity in churches where your people the faith and in the knowledge of the Son their focus on Jesus can be better equipped to be of God and become mature, attaining to the every Sunday. In all of the church. There is a pretty the worship services whole measure of the fullness of Christ. long list of things that can that take place each be provided for your church.

Ephesians 4:11-13 week, that Jesus would Training in the development be the primary reason of your teams, discipleship, we are there. We exalt conflict resolution, intentional Jesus in our programs, our retreats, our meetings, interims, search team training, Sunday School, our training, our efforts to plant new churches and small groups, age group training, deacon and elder in our everyday conversations. My hope and my training, worship training, greeter and welcome prayer is that each of you hold this as a priority in team training, evangelism training, sending church your life as well. training, basic training, church planter training, church health assessments, discipleship assessEncourage Pastors – the statement remains true ments, teaching methods training, Bible study that everything rises and falls on leadership. We methods, learning styles, development of a vision, are committed to raise the leadership bar in the mission and strategy development. I think you get SCBI. We want to pour into the lives of our the idea. We want to help you to be confident and pastors through relationships, training, networking equipped as you take the gospel to your communities and intentional partnering. As you look at the and disciple people for the sake of the gospel.

SCBI schedule of events, you will find intentional events like Leader Labs, the High Impact Leader These are expressions of our normal. We do these Lab, the Ministry Wives retreat and the student things every day. We desire to see our churches leadership retreat. These are designed to create and associations engaged in doing these things. an atmosphere where pastors and leaders can be Imagine if we would all work together to 4

INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE || FALL 2017

accomplish the same things. What would your church and ministry look like? How would that affect your association’s work? How could that impact our entire state for Christ?

This year we celebrate our 59th anniversary as an organized body of churches. I hope you will register and attend this year’s annual meeting, which is being held for the very first time at Highland Lakes Baptist Camp. We will worship in our new, paid for worship center. You will have the opportunity to see some of the new things that are happening at “camp.” Come with a heart to worship, to connect with old and new friends, and to hear about some of the great things that God is doing around our state and through our churches, associations and convention. Come and participate because this is how Southern Baptists influence the future of our state for Christ.

Nineteen years is a long time with an organization.

Especially when those years have been filled with a person who has worked hard, been dependable, has a servant heart, raised the competency level of an organization and become a loved family

member. We say THANK YOU to Bev Olonoh for being that person. Bev has served as the Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director; she has been the assistant to the Church/Leader Development Team Leader; and, she has been the Managing Editor of the Indiana Baptist Magazine.

Bev announced her retirement from the SCBI and has accepted a position with our own Indiana Baptist Foundation. She will be a great asset to the IBF as she has been to the SCBI. Bev, we love you and we pray for God to continue to use you, and we know He will.

Steve McNeil

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CONVENTION PROGRAM Monday, October 9 – Session One: 6:00-9:00 PM

Scripture and Prayer...........................................................................................................

Call to Order.............................................................................................Bruce Reynolds Motion to Organize the 58th Convention for Business............................. Sandy Irick Appointment of Committee....................................................................Bruce Reynolds Introduction of New Pastors and Wives...........................................................................

Worship............................................................................................................Al Davisson Church Planting/NAMB Report.................................. John Horn, Chris Kellermeyer Worship............................................................................................................Al Davisson President’s Address...................................................................................Bruce Reynolds Concert of Prayer...........................................................................................Rick Hillard Committee Reports..................................................................................Bruce Reynolds First Election of Officers......................Bruce Reynolds, Roger Kinion, Wayne Briant Misc. Business...........................................................................................Bruce Reynolds IMB Video Skype IMB.......................................................................................................Rick Hillard Worship............................................................................................................Al Davisson Executive Director’s Message...................................................................... Steve McNeil Benediction/Prayer and Adjourn...........................................................Bruce Reynolds

Tuesday, October 10 – Session Two: 8:30 AM-1:00 PM

Scripture and Prayer...........................................................................................................

Call to Order.............................................................................................Bruce Reynolds SBC Agency Reports Worship............................................................................................................Al Davisson DR/Evangelism and Prayer Report..............................................................Rick Hillard Second Election of Officers...........................................Bruce Reynolds, Wayne Briant Church and Leader Development and Communications Report Concert of Prayer...........................................................................................Rick Hillard Worship............................................................................................................Al Davisson Annual Sermon.............................................................................Rev. Lonnie Anderson Resolution Committee................................................................................ Roger Kinion Misc. Business...........................................................................................Bruce Reynolds Executive Board.........................................................................................David Cullison IBF Report......................................................................................................Jennifer Hall BREAK Highland Lakes Report....................................................................................Jim Shields WMU Report...................................................................... Allison Kinion, Linda Clark Worship............................................................................................................Al Davisson Guest Speaker...............................................................................................................TBA Response Installation of New Officers....................................................................Bruce Reynolds Prayer and Adjourn..................................................................................Bruce Reynolds

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CONVENTION

Recommendations to the Convention are not available at the time of printing. These will be posted at www.scbi.org/conventionrecommendations as they are available from the Nominations Committee, the Arrangements Committee and the Executive Board.

CONVENTION OFFICERS Bruce Reynolds, President Roger Kinion, First Vice President Randy Forsythe, Second Vice President Al Davisson, Music Director Sara Burk, Recording Secretary Wayne Briant, Appointed Parliamentarian

CONVENTION COMMITTEES ORDER OF BUSINESS Bruce Reynolds, Chair Roger Kinion Randy Forsythe Sandy Irick Bill Bailey David Cullison Al Davisson Steve McNeil

REGISTRATION Alison Blankenship

Gasburg Baptist Church in Mooresville Hope Community Church in Brownsburg

CREDENTIALS Randy Forsythe, Chair Bob Parnell Steve McJunkins

PRAYER

Rick Hillard Michelle Hillard Laine Elam Kyle Bell Courtney Bell

TELLERS

Jim Bohrer, Chair Gasburg Baptist Church in Mooresville Hope Community Church in Brownsburg

ARRANGEMENTS Dan Conrades, Chair Nick Clark Scott McDowell Gary Yochum Dennis Runner

NOMINATIONS Tony Manning, Chair Cliff Howell Steve Johnson Tom Keb James Marlow Chuck McMahan Ricky Persons Roy Redd Jimi Staton Bill Taylor Mat Shockney Larry Snyder Michael Wilhite Denny Zeidler

RESOLUTIONS Roger Kinion, Chair Steve Davidson Reginald Fletcher Ernie James Mike Cramer Jr.

Resolutions Messenger Registration

Each member church shall be entitled to send messengers to the annual meeting according to the formula below:

1-150 members – 4 messengers

151-300 members – 8 messengers

301-500 members – 12 messengers

501 + members – 16 messengers

All resolutions for consideration by the Convention must be presented in written form two months prior to the annual meeting. Send to SCBI at ablankenship@scbi.org or the Resolutions Committee Chair Roger Kinion at pastor@cbcgreenfield. org

Childcare

Churches should register elected messengers online at www. scbi.org/convention by Monday, October 2. If you are unable to connect to the internet, please call 317-481-2400 or 800-4445424 to request messenger cards.

Childcare is available during all meetings for children ages five or younger. Please pre-register your children at www.scbi.org/convention by October 2, so that adequate preparations can be made.

All church members are welcome to attend the meetings. If you are not a messenger, please register when you arrive as a visitor.

Prayer Room

The prayer room will be open for you to spend time in connection with our living Lord God Almighty.

Monday 10:00 AM-9:00 PM Tuesday 8:30 AM-1:00 PM

REVITALIZING THE CHURCH 2017 Pastors conference MONDAY, OCTOBER 9

Session 1 10:00 AM Session 2 2:00 PM Highland Lakes Baptist Camp

Allan Taylor Director of Church Education Ministry LifeWay Christian Resources

Don Moore

Pastor Creekside Baptist Church Evansville IN

William Bailey

Pastor Parkside Baptist Church Columbus IN

“Will You not revive us again so that Your people may rejoice in You?.”

Psalm 85:6

Changing the World through loving hearts.

While our National Convention met in Phoenix, a much needed discussion occurred and resulted in a greater understanding. We stood in solidarity as brothers and sisters in Christ against sin. While the media created a narrative that reflected their bias, the real story of Southern Baptists and the Cooperative Mission continued.

The week of the National Convention coincided with the week our church served with World Changers Memphis.

70 volunteers from around the nation came to partner with the city of Memphis and meet the needs of people, many of whom live in poverty. We served two communities by cleaning playgrounds and offering Bible camp for the children.

Four teams served homeowners who needed work that they did not have the ability or the money to complete.

When you look at all the different ages, faces and economics, you see variegated beauty only the Lord can bring together.

My team assisted Ms. Lorine in West Memphis. She had become bed ridden at the age of 87 and could no longer get down the steps of her home. A team of 12 painted her house, built a deck and a wheelchair ramp, and fixed a 4x12-foot roof section that a tree had crashed through. Ms. Lorine also blessed us.

She invited us into her home. She

had little in the way of possessions and space, but she had a mighty big heart full of love.

One day while we shared Bible study with her, the 12 of us crammed around her bed, and she began to speak with such sincerity and passion, our eyes welled up with tears.

Ms. Lorine said, “I’ve never seen ya’ll before, but I love ya’ll. I really do. And I appreciate you all, just for coming by and helping me out. God sent you. You all just didn’t come on your own. If it weren’t for the Lord, you wouldn’t have come at all.

He is in the plan of whatever good you do!” The students and leaders all sensed the authentic love that just oozed from Ms. Lorine. I felt the same acceptance and love from Ms. Lorine I remembered from my grandmother and grandfather. That one experience alone would have been enough for me.

I heard the Lord’s words echo in her voice. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) While we do need to stand united against the darkness as the conven-

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By Jim Bohrer

tion did the same week, we need to remember the true power of Christ comes as we work in the light of love.

As we finished that week our teams wept as they said farewell to the kids and new friends they made. We also rejoiced that 40 people openly professed faith in Christ. Ms. Lorine wept as well. We noticed that her mailbox could not be reached by her where it had been located. Stephen and I took it and moved right next to her door so she could get to it.

She began to tremble and said, “No one has ever been so kind to me.” As she trembled, I reached for her. Her daughter said, “Don’t worry, she is not hurt. She is just so overcome with emotion.”

I pondered the profound joy she experienced. This lady showed only kindness, love and thankfulness for all she had and did not have. She had shared with me how she had bounced around from project to project as a single mother until the Lord gave her the present home. She

spoke proudly of raising her kids, and going to church. I also realized this woman lived through hardships and cultural struggles. She would have been in her mid-twenties when the Montgomery bus boycott occurred. I cannot even imagine what she experienced before that, let alone after that time. She lived in Memphis her whole life and would have been nearing her 40s when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. I realized that Ms. Lorine had not been treated as kindly as she had treated others; but that day in a small way our team

had answered a heartfelt prayer of one of the Lord’s saints.

I don’t know all the brokenness and hurt that she lived through. She raised kids by herself, grew up in a time where divisions were open, and women struggled. The Lord showed her, her family, the teams, and me that His power works through us and we can love no matter what goes on around us.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be

glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Eph. 3:20-21 NIV) Resolutions matter, but Jesus brings real healing through relationships. I am thankful the Lord takes broken people and works through them cooperating in His Great Commission.

Without the Cooperative Program and the good will of my Southern Baptist family, I would not have been blessed by Ms. Lorine.

Learning to love more each day, JIM.

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Highland Lakes Baptist Camp

BY Jim Shields

Another Successful

Summer in the Books As I write this article for the Indiana Baptist Magazine, we are smack dab in the middle of JAM/SuperJAM Camp. Praise and music lifted up to the Father surrounds every facet, invades every nook and cranny of the campground. By the time you read this, 2017’s camp season will be another successful summer in the books, and we will be busily serving others in a very active Retreat/ Conference season. Lives Transformed! The Gospel proclaimed!

The Voice of the Father heard and followed! Because of your continual prayers, encouragement and support, these are claims that can be and are made every year at Highland Lakes.

Southern Baptist churches working, praying, and cooperating together to continue the vision of Camp Life year after year; your faithfulness in response to His direction yields to a constant addition of members into the Kingdom. Thank you!

Speaking of “Thank You,” let me again say THANK YOU for the support given to complete the new Worship Center! The center is such a blessing to the Camp—more space for more individuals to convene

together in a rich atmosphere of worship to the Creator.

And… What a great venue for the annual Convention! What a great time for us to come together and rejoice in the work of the Father as we continue to boldly proclaim his Kingdom Unhindered! I look forward to the privilege of hosting the Convention here at Highland Lakes—an opportunity for our Team to go all out in “showing our stuff ” in gratitude to the churches of the SCBI. If you have not been to Highland Lakes in the past few years, please take the opportunity to come visit us as we serve the Convention. Let us give you a tour of the facilities; talk to us about scheduling a retreat, conference, or camp; join us in continuing to help others Discover, Develop, and Deploy a Transformed Life in Christ!

On behalf of Rick, Sarah, and the rest of team here at Highland Lakes – thank you for allowing us to focus on Just One Thing…Phil 1:27 (HCSB).

Honored to serve SCBI as Team Leader at Highland Lakes.

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S N O I T A R E GEN

CLOSER TO EACH OTHER

What do you do when you find yourself alone? One of the greatest adventures occurred after Tom asked himself that question when he experienced the valley of the shadow of death. When the Lord called his beloved wife home, Tom turned to the Lord. “I realized that I could feel bad for myself or I could start serving. I decided to serve as a counselor at summer church camps.” Tom has been a counselor at Mission Adventure Camp (MAC) and Radical Kids Camp for several years.

Summer camp not only draws the children and youth closer to Jesus, it draws the generations closer to each other. Summer camp changes the lives of all who answer the call to go. Tom has found renewed purpose and vision. The Lord uses him to instill the love of Jesus in the kids at MAC. He woke up early every morning to prayer walk the camp, praying for the counselors and students. MAC went incredibly smoothly. The weather cooperated, the counselors served joyfully together, and the kids received a whole lot of Jesus. There were several first time decisions made, kids heard about what Jesus is doing in Morocco through a missionary who is serving there. Camp pastor Rob Tuma challenged the kids each day to turn to Christ in everything because He is our Rescuer! Do you think the Lord may have listened to that senior citizen who got up before everyone else to intercede that the Lord bless the day?

Though he is older and could make excuses, he has the energy and strength of the Lord when he serves. When we choose to follow the Lord’s call to minister, we find that He lifts us out of the valley, He gives vigor to weak legs and a life of unspeakable joy. Tom wants to come back every year. I think Habakkuk 3:18-19 sums up how he stays strong: I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:18-19 (NIV)

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Campers are Challenged to be Set Apart

at JAM Camp and Super JAM Camp) and Dan Defriece (Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Seymour). Josh Anders and his team from the Pointe Church fully invested themselves in the lives of the campers, teaching classes for the Super JAM students in guitar, bass, drums and the technical aspects of worship.

At this year’s JAM Camp and Super JAM, older children and youth were reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 2:2,1 that they should be holy vessels, clean so that they can become a special instrument, set apart, and ready to live a life worthy of Christ.

Worship was led by the Pointe Worship from Fort Wayne and camp pastors Rick Porter (Director of Operations, Highland Lakes Baptist

The Pointe Worship and camp pastors were not the only ones who provided leadership at JAM Camp and Super JAM. There were many worship leaders and arts-inspired leaders from across the whole state who led classes. Some of these leaders have been teaching for as many as 20 years at JAM Camp and its predecessor Children’s Music Camp. Director of Children’s Ministries for SCBI, Sarah Bohrer, directed JAM Camp while Steve Blanchard gave leadership to Super JAM.

One new aspect of camp this year was an event that we called Super JAM Experience. Led by Super JAM Assistant Camp Director Chris Benefiel, the students were encouraged to choose their own worship songs, write expressions of praise, thanksgiving and confession, and even their own creed. Each evening the students would entirely lead a time of worship for themselves.

When Steve Blanchard reflected on this event he saw the future of worship leadership in Indiana churches and was encouraged that the future of worship in our churches is bright!

After a fun-filled and faith-filled week, both camps shared what they had learned at celebrations that concluded camp. Parents and campers could experience just a little bit about what the kids had experienced during the week through live and video-taped performances.

The Convergence:

Student Fusion 2017 The Convergence: Student Fusion 2017 was an incredible week filled with powerful worship by the Jake Brothers Band and deep truths taught by the camp pastor, Alan Findley. Students spent time learning from some of Indiana’s top leaders in their Bible study groups and track times. Missions minded students took off to help reach out to the local community. 12 students committed their lives to Christ, and there were many more who restored their relationship with Christ. Together, students raised $1,464.40 in an offering to send to the IMB and NAMB. Next year, Student Fusion will be June 18-22nd and July 9-13th.

Don’t miss it!

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Committed Cooperation

BY DR. RICK HILLARD

Let me tell you about...

I love this Scripture verse; “…How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news,” (Romans 10:15, ESV) Let me tell you about a couple of guys that I have met in the last few months. There is David (name changed to protect identity), who serves in one of the world’s most populated cities. He is a godly man, has a great family, and a tremendous desire to reach the unreached with the gospel. He is rock solid doctrinally and is somewhat of a specialist, in that God has uniquely equipped him with knowledge and a passion to reach some of the hardest to reach.

He serves on the African Continent and has a call to reach Muslims.

He engages them every week, and God has opened the hearts of many who have accepted Christ as their Savior. And then there is Elesio, who serves in one of the world’s most under-served areas. He too is a godly man, with a great family, and a

tremendous passion to share the gospel. Like David, he is theologically solid, and God uniquely equipped him with the knowledge and ability to reach some of the most difficult.

He serves on the Asian Continent and is a gifted pastor/teacher reaching his people with the gospel.

He is doing a fantastic job raising up leaders and teaching them to share their faith. Through their work, many have come to faith and several congregations have been planted.

What is different between David and Elesio, besides their nationality, and where they serve? They are both godly men doing a fantastic job reaching the unreached, but Elesio has to leave his mission field to raise the support his family needs. He has very few people supporting the work to which God has called him.

He lives modestly, but often needs the support of others to make ends meet. David, on the other hand, is one of around 3700 missionaries supported by Cooperative Program dollars. He is supported by our mission sending agency and is able to devote himself full time to reaching the people God has entrusted to him. He doesn’t have to worry about the support his family needs because SBC churches are holding the ropes by their faithful giving though the Cooperative Program.

Whether in North America, or to the Nations, your Cooperative Program dollars go a long way in holding the ropes of those who preach the good news.

Thank you for giving!

God’s Kingdom is being advanced!!

The State Convention of Baptist in Indiana is applying 1 John 3:17-18 by providing food for those in need through 22 hunger ministries throughout the state. As a result, there have been people professing Christ as their Savior, attending Bible studies and becoming involved in the church. It is exciting to know that through meeting people’s physical needs, their spiritual needs are being met as well.

Global Hunger for 2017 to date:

3,378 Evangelistic Encounters 72 Professions of Faith

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6,271 Hot Meals Served

13,718

Individuals fed with Grocery Items

Global Hunger Sunday

October 8, 2017

GlobalHungerRelief globalhunger

A Partnership of Southern Baptists to Meet Needs Around the World

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REACHING TOWARD THE SON A couple of years ago, my daughter brought home a special Mother’s Day gift that she made at preschool. It was a small, hand-painted flower pot with 3 tiny seedlings growing inside. I placed it on my kitchen counter, watered it occasionally and watched the seedlings grow. Recently, I ran across a photo of those spindly shoots.

As I looked closer, I was intrigued by how the plants were reaching and bending toward the light from my kitchen window.

After a quick search, I learned that this persistence in plants to reach for the light is called heliotropism, which is Greek for “turning toward the sun.” No matter which way you position a plant, it will innately reach for even the faintest light. I believe humans have this same quality too. God placed a longing in our hearts for Him and no matter what comes our way, we reach for something to satisfy our desire. Psalms 63:1 says, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.” HCS Like the plant on my kitchen counter, I’ve found myself reaching for God’s light with both hands lately. As many of you know, my father passed away a couple of months ago after a long battle with cancer. My family had the privilege of spending many of his final days with him at my parents’ home. He was a born-again believer, and we take comfort knowing with certainty where he is spending eternity. Still, the loss of our beloved patriarch has been hard, but our family, friends and community of faith have walked with us and ministered to us all along the way. Thank you for letting HIS light shine through you! God’s perfect peace has carried us through this difficult time.

One of the ways my family is honoring my dad is with a memorial fund through the Baptist Foundation of Indiana.

The David “Randy” Wilson Memorial Fund was established through generous gifts from family and friends.

The proceeds from this fund will be used to share the Gospel, through my dad’s local church and throughout the State of Indiana. We are thrilled to honor my dad by supporting ministries he cared about.

If you are interested in setting up a memorial fund for your loved one or even a bequest in your own estate plan, please give us a call. The Baptist Foundation of Indiana manages $2.5 million in charitable endowments, benefiting hundreds of ministries around the globe. Consider making a legacy gift part of your estate plan today!

Please contact us if we can serve you in any way!

Blessings,

Jennifer Hall President 18 INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE || FALL 2017

3021 E. 71st Street Indianapolis, IN 46220 317.481.2400 ext.300 www.inbaptisitfoundation.org

The Baptist Foundation of Indiana

Celebrates Indiana Students with Scholarships!

The Baptist Foundation of Indiana is proud to administer the Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by generous donors to provide scholarships, to Indiana Baptist students.

During the past 18 years, we have awarded over $100,000.00 in scholarships to 385 applicants!

We are pleased to share this year’s 2017 Scholarship Recipients: Dustin Warren, Nate Tripp, David Seibel, Kaymon Noble, Abigail Bohrer, and Summer Corn.

Find Us On Facebook at facebook.com/inbaptistfoundation/

CHURCH LOANS THAT CHANGE LIVES. The Baptist Foundation of Indiana partners with The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma to offer loans to Indiana Baptist churches.

Our rates are extremely competitive, and every penny of loan interest is given back to ministries that touch lives with the Gospel.

YOUR LOAN SUPPORTS:

Meals for hungry children

Evangelism & Housing for church planting pregnant women

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Clean water for villagers

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Around The State...

The Greater Fort Wayne Celebration with Will Graham October 6-8, 2017

In a day and age where the word Evangelism seems to make people uncomfortable, Northeast Indiana is gearing up for an Evangelistic outreach like never seen before in this region! On October 6-8, the grandson of evangelist Billy Graham, Will Graham, will stand in the pulpit to allow The Lord to take center stage! People are gathering by the hundreds now to pray, plan and prepare for the “Celebration” that is to come later this year! From a dream in a pastor’s heart for something BIG in this region to where we are now is nothing short of the hand of The Lord! Training is about to kick off with hundreds meeting together to learn how to more effectively share our faith. Our hearts desire is that this region never be the same and that The Lord do something so big that He alone can get the glory!

Feel free to join in this celebration, as well as the weeks of training. If you cannot attend, please be in prayer that souls will come to know Christ! Let’s not wait until October 6-8 to tell a lost world about Jesus. Let’s be busy today! We plead with all believers to join us in praying for His will to be done and for a mighty move of God that will never be forgotten!

For more information please contact the BGEA office in Fort Wayne at gfwcelebration@billygraham.org or 260-755-1902.

New Sanctuary for New Day Baptist, Alexandria Recent sightings in Alexandria of a large boom crane are a welcome sign that the town is growing. New Day Baptist Church is constructing a new sanctuary adjacent to their current facility. The 7,000 square foot project is being built by volunteer labor - primarily the Mississippi Nailbenders. “God has blessed us in ways we never imagined throughout this construction. He continues to bless by providing free skilled labor, free materials and evangelism opportunities with our neighbors. We’ve even had our first wedding in the new sanctuary in the middle of construction!” praised Chris Hubler, senior pastor. The building will be ready for occupancy within a few weeks, and a there will be a celebration in September to celebrate God’s goodness.

Crosspoint VBS

Crosspoint Church in Richmond hosted their second Vacation Bible School as a church plant from July 10-14th.

There were 33 children in attendance, including several guests looking for a new church home. The kids had a blast “searching the visible, discovering the invisible!”

This VBS would not have been possible without the generosity of several SCBI churches who donated supplies, decorations and teaching materials! Thank you Calvary Baptist Greenfield, First Baptist Church Sellersburg and all those who prayed for Crosspoint during this awesome week!

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New Campus Ministers

West Central Baptist Association has called Chad and LaDonna Wilkin to serve as campus ministers in Terre Haute. The Wilkins will serve as part-time associates in the coming school year while they raise support.

They will begin work full-time when the current campus ministers, Roger and Rose Bear, retire on June 30, 2018.

Reception for Dr. Ron & Becky Osborne On Sunday July 16, 2017, a reception was held to honor Dr. Ron & Becky Osborne for their years of service at Tri-State Baptist Network. Ron has accepted the pastorate at Water’s Edge in Henderson, Ky. The TSBN moderator, Michael Wilhite, presented Ron with a gift of appreciation for the years that he has served the network.

NORTH CENTRAL Monday, October 2, at 11:00 AM Logan’s Roadhouse, South Bend

NORTHWEST Sunday, September 10, at 6:00 p.m.

Cornerstone SBC, Hammond

WABASH VALLEY TBD

MIAMI Monday, September 11, at 6:00 PM Market Rd. Baptist Church, Tipton

CROSSROADS Tuesday, October 3, at 6:30 PM Calvary Baptist, Greenwood

NORTHEAST Tuesday, September 12, at 6:00 PM Wayndale Baptist Church, Fort Wayne

EAST CENTRAL Thursday, September 21, at 7:00 PM Faith Christian Fellowship, Anderson

EASTERN Tuesday, September 26, at 6:00 PM

Western Avenue Baptist Church, Richmond

WEST CENTRAL Sunday, November 5, at 4:00 PM

SOUTH CENTRAL Saturday, September 23, at 9:00 AM Vernon Baptist Church, Vernon

Sugar Creek Baptist Church, West Terre Haute

WHITEWATER Saturday, September 16, at 8:30 AM Smyrna Baptist Church, West Harrison WHITE RIVER Tuesday, October 17, at 7:00 PM

River’s Edge Fellowship Church, Bedford

TRI-STATE NETWORK Saturday, October 28, at 9:00 AM Grace Baptist Church, Evansville

SOUTHEASTERN Monday, October 23, at 6:30 PM SEIBA Building, New Albany

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