Indiana Baptist Fall

1958 - 2018

EXALTING

JESUS

FALL 2018 Volume 60 Number 3

> CONTENTS

Our hope is that, as you read this magazine, you will be drawn to see God’s Kingdom building from His perspective and that you will join with His heart in prayer for your church and others. May our prayers unite us for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ!

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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 60Years for Indiana Baptists

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WELCOME NEW SCBI TEAM LEADER

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FAITHFUL PRAYER

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CONVENTION PROGRAM Exalting Jesus - Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

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HIGHLAND LAKES BAPTIST CAMP Tremendous!

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SCBI MENISTRY INTEGRIS

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CAMP RECAP JAM/Super JAM & MAC CAMP

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COMMITTED COOPERATION Partnership - Baptist Convention of Ecuador

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DISASTER RELIEF Everything but Typical

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BAPTIST FOUNDATION OF INDIANA

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ANNUAL ASSOCIATIONAL MEETINGS

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AROUND THE STATE Gospel Grove

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FRESH IDEAS Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

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CONVENTION PROGRAM 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

STANDARD NON-PROFIT POSTAGE PAID Seymour, Indiana.

Printed and mailed by Graessle-Mercer 100 N. Pine St., Seymour, IN 47274

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

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INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE || FALL 2018

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dr. Steve McNeil CONVENTION PRESIDENT Bruce Reynolds CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Greg Byman COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN Scott McDowell COMMUNICATIONS TEAM LEADER Dr. Steve McNeil COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE Alison Blankenship GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST Greg Cooper

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MINISTRY

OPENINGS

PASTOR POSITIONS Calvary Baptist Church, Greenwood: Full-time Senior Pastor. Please send resume to cbc.gwood.search@gmail.com or Calvary Baptist Church Search Committee, c/o Mindy Donoho, 8074 Bentley Bend Court, Indianapolis, IN 46259.

Christ Community Church (CCC), Vincennes: Bi-vocational or Full-time Pastor. Send resume to cccfoxridge@yahoo.com.

Ladoga Baptist Church, Ladoga: Bi-vocational Pastor. Send resume to rgardner31611@gmail.com.

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

New Point Baptist Church, New Point: Bi-vocational Senior Pastor. Send resume to gmlanning1234@yahoo.com.

Remington Family Church, Remington: Part-time Revitalizing Senior Pastor. Send resume to gcmin@comcast.net or P.O. Box 183, Remington, IN 47977.

Sugar Creek Baptist Church, Greenfield: Full-time Senior Pastor. Send resume to Greg Fullerton, 3266 S 600 W, New Palestine, IN 46163.

Find more listings and updates at www.scbi.org/indianaministryopenings

CALENDAR 2018

SEPTEMBER

3 Labor Day (Office Closed)

7-8 Men’s Retreat, Highland Lakes Baptist Camp 14-15 Pure Girl, Highland Lakes Baptist Camp

OCTOBER

8 Pastors’ Conference, Highland Lakes Baptist Camp

8-9 Annual Meeting, Highland Lakes Baptist Camp

NOVEMBER

22-23 Thanksgiving Holiday (SCBI Office closed)

DECEMBER

2-9 Week of Prayer for International Missions 9 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions In-gathering

14 SCBI Office closed 24-31 Christmas Holiday (SCBI Office closed)

2019 JANUARY

NEW CONGREGATIONS

Redeemer Baptist Church, Ft. Wayne (Luke Fausett) Graceway Church, Auburn (David Martin)

NEW SENIOR PASTORS

Chuck Roberts (Westside Baptist Church, Kokomo) David Martin (Graceway Church, Auburn) Danilo Rodriguez (Esperanza Viva, Whiting) Gary Fox II (Eternal Life Baptist Church, Mooresville) Zach Blackwell (River’s Edge Baptist Church, Bedford) Zachary Houghton (First Baptist Church, Greentown)

Southern Baptist Convention Call to Prayer 2 New Year’s Day Holiday (SCBI office closed) 21 Martin Luther King Jr Day (SCBI office closed) 20 Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

FEBRUARY

8-9 Wives in Ministry Retreat, Highland Lakes Baptist Camp

10 Racial Reconciliation Sunday

View the online calender at scbi.org/calendar

FALL 2018 || INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE

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From the Executive Director Dr. Steve McNeil, Executive Director

60 Years

for indiana Baptists

In the last issue of the Indiana Baptist Magazine, I talked about the shoulders that we stand on as we work to help Jesus build His church in Indiana. There have been great leaders across the board in our churches, our committees, teams and staff. We need to celebrate these lives and their commitment to do the same thing that we are committed to do, to take the gospel of Jesus to our communities and to work together as we seek, and pray and work to accomplish the “Great Commission.”

and undesignated giving (just like in your church). Our churches can choose to give to the Annie Armstrong Offering, or the Lottie Moon offering or the State Mission Offering or the Highland Lakes Offering, or to any specific group or individual mission work or ministry or they can give through the Cooperative Program. A few years ago, our national convention opened a door for our churches to “count” giving activity as “Great Commission Giving.”

So giving toward any of these items (as example) would be counted as “Great Commission Giving.”

“By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:35 (HCSB)

I feel compelled today to talk about a basic, foundational principle that should draw us all together. We stand as Southern Baptists in our beliefs as spelled out in the Baptist Faith & Message; but I have observed that there is some confusion about some basic principles related to how we function as a convention of independent, autonomous churches.

I understand the confusion. In our world today, we prefer a cafeteria approach to our lives. We want options and control over where our giving goes. What we have is the ability to give in really two categories – designated 4

INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE || FALL 2018

Here is the confusion that I have run into. As churches honestly and sincerely give to any of these options, the assumption is that they are giving through the Cooperative Program. But that is not true. Remember we can give just like at church to designated or undesignated options. When you give through your state convention a percentage of that goes to the national Southern Baptist Executive Board and counts as Cooperative Program, which helps the whole SBC family. This is comparable to the local church general budget. When your church gives to Annie Armstrong, Lottie Moon, State Mission Offering,

the local association or other ministries like these then those gifts are considered Great Commission giving (or designated giving), but they do not support or count toward Cooperative Program giving. This is important because it informs us as to who is a “cooperating church” which speaks to the partnership of being part of the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana. Churches that do not give through the Cooperative Program are non-cooperating churches.

To summarize, there is undesignated giving or Cooperative Program giving and designated giving or Great Commission giving which is anything other than CP giving.

I hope this helps clarify how these gifts are viewed and interpreted. It is our desire to serve you with your giving and make sure the offerings that your church makes are given the right designation and accounted for accurately.

I really appreciate the great work that your SCBI Business Services office does for us. Thank you Kyle Brennan, Mary Brown and Michelle Hillard for all you do to serve our churches.

For 60 years, churches like yours have been giving through the Cooperative Program which has led to churches being planted, a 400 acre camp ground being purchased and buildings built on these grounds, young people who have Invited Jesus into their hearts, adults who have been trained in Sunday School, small groups, discipleship, worship and many other areas of local church ministry. AND we can thank the Lord God for allowing us to be debt free today.

It is always great to celebrate a major “mile marker” in the life of an organization/ministry. We gladly celebrate these past 60 years, and I want to encourage you to look at how you can be part of the next 60. We have been sharing with you via our web site and the Indiana Baptist Magazine about the next seven years with an emphasis called “Mile Markers 2025”. These include eight markers and one overriding principle. The overriding principle is “Cooperation.” How can we all seek and find ways to work together to strengthen HIS church and to reach people with the good news of Jesus?

Welcome New SCBI

Team Leader That sounds a bit

oxymoronic! After all, he is not really new to SCBI or to our overall team here at SCBI. But, he is in a new role as Team Leader for Church/ Leader Development.

His name is Rev. Bob Weeks. He was officially approved for this position in the March Executive Board meeting. He was unanimously recommended to the board by the Church/Leader Development Committee of the board. The full board also voted unanimously for Bob to serve SCBI churches in this role.

We are excited to welcome Bob and Cathy to this new place of service to our churches.

Bob has a wealth of experience right here in Indiana. He has served small churches and lead an average size church to become one of SCBI’s strongest churches. He would love to meet you and talk to you about how he can help your church accomplish what God is doing in your church.

You can contact Bob Weeks in our offices at 317-481-2400 ext. 229 or by email at bweeks@scbi.org.

During the 2019 year, our convention-wide emphasis is on “Revitalizing Churches” and “Evangelism.” Go to our web site, and see how you and your church can help in these two areas of church life and health.

FALL 2018 || INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE

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In our 2017 annual meeting and in our last two issues of the Indiana Baptist Magazine, I shared these markers with you. You can see them below. These are intended to be things that we can all agree with, that we can do together and that will help any church or association to be better at cooperation with each other. Just as a reminder and to keep these markers before us, they are: The Overriding, overarching Principle for all 8 markers is “Cooperation” Churches Helping Churches 1. Revitalization Marker – By 2025 we can together help 224 of our churches move toward being led to a greater vitality and new life.

2. Evangelism Marker – Our goal is to see churches who will take the ESP 2020 Challenge to develop an evangelism strategy.

3. Cooperative Program Marker – Our goal is each church to take the 1% CP Challenge. Increase your churches giving through CP by 1% each year.

4. Equipping Marker – Our goal is to enlist our healthiest congregations who will commit to being a mentor church for other churches in their association and open up training opportunities in their association or regional area.

5. Mission Partnership Marker – Our goal is to see that “the sun never sets on the work of SCBI mission work.”

6. Planting Marker – Plant 20 churches each year, which would be 140 new church plants over the next 7 years.

7. Leadership Development Marker – With this goal, we want to continue to follow our strategic plan to develop leaders in our convention. This plan has four layers.

8. Highland Lakes Camp Marker – Our goal is to see God bring salvation to students and leaders, to expand our facilities, to see HLBC used more and more for equipping opportunities.

My prayer is that we will all choose to pray for each other. Pray for our churches. Pray for our pastors and church planters. Pray for the Holy Spirit to be present in us and in the Church Body each Sunday. And pray a prayer of thanks for those on whose shoulders we stand.

Be sure to put the 2018 SCBI Annual Meeting on your calendar now. It is OUR 60th Anniversary!

October 8-9, 2018, Highland Lakes Baptist Camp.

In HIS Love,

Dr. Steve McNeil

Faithful Prayer

In early 2016, God gave me a specific concern for drug addicts. I have the honor of being the wife of a narcotics agent within our city police department so my exposure to the addict lifestyle was a daily conversation topic. My husband, and all other police officers, are immersed in a Satan led drug epidemic. Satan uses drug addiction as a tool to control and convince people they are not valued. Prayer is my tool to free them from that lie. I was constantly praying for the ones with whom my husband would tell me about. I was also frequently asking if those he dealt with could come to church with me and my daughter. His answer was always no, for many reasons, but mostly out of loving protection over our family and our church. My persistence paid off though because he finally agreed to let me offer an intercessory prayer ministry at a separate location from our church.

Our church owns a building in a downtown location that runs a food pantry as well as a church plant pastored by Cedric Anderson. Many in our church had been praying that the building could be used more regularly. God is on the move...BattleCry Prayer Ministry was born. Every Friday at noon, I open up this building to offer a safe place for addicts to come and receive prayer and the love of Christ. God opened doors for me to post advertisement for BattleCry along with a locked prayer request box at the community corrections office. I also gave business size cards displaying the location and time of BattleCry Prayer Ministry to the police officers to pass out as they see fit.

I will admit I get discouraged. Every time I feel a bit discouraged, God sends a request in the box or a person through the door. He has perfect timing. For instance, one day a young man entered through the door out of the blue not even realizing what we were doing. He told us that he was so incredibly lonely that he had considered taking his life. We prayed with him, for him, and encouraged him to connect with Grace Missionary Baptist Church, the church plant at this building. God answered our prayers to send somebody to pray for at the same time He answered this man’s prayer for fellowship. More recently, God sent a young woman that received BattleCry information from her probation officer. She boldly came in and quickly asked if she could pray with us. She told us she gave her life to Jesus during her last incarceration and was needing godly surroundings and influence. I do not know who was more excited she came, her or us!

God gave me this concern, passion and faithfulness to pray for the lost. God has encouraged me to be a faithful and persistent prayer warrior. The battle is real and one of our most effective weapons is prayer. I hope this is an encouragement for all to pray powerfully, boldly and expectantly.

Your humble and blessed SCBI Prayer Coordinator, Laine Elam

Prayer Point Our Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your patience with us and this world. Continue to renew our joy and passion for You each day so that we may continue to reach this dark world for You. Thank You for Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:15-16 FALL 2018 || INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE

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INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE || FALL 2018

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Mention “SCBI” for special rate by September 30

CONVENTION PROGRAM Monday, October 8 – Session One: 6:00-9:00 PM

Scripture and Prayer........................................................................................ Ross Terry Call to Order.............................................................................................Bruce Reynolds Appointment of Committee....................................................................Bruce Reynolds Introduction of New Pastors and Wives.................................................... Steve McNeil Skype Missionaries.........................................................................................Rick Hillard Evangelism/Prayer/DR Report.....................................................................Rick Hillard Worship...................................................................................................... Clayton Knight President’s Address...................................................................................Bruce Reynolds Concert of Prayer...........................................................................................Rick Hillard First Election of Officers................................................Bruce Reynolds, Wayne Briant Committee Reports..................................Bruce Reynolds, Jimi Staton, Steve Johnson IMB Video............................................................................................................................

Misc. Business.................................................................Bruce Reynolds, Wayne Briant Worship...................................................................................................... Clayton Knight Executive Director’s Message...................................................................... Steve McNeil Benediction/Prayer and Adjourn...........................................................Bruce Reynolds

Tuesday, October 9 – Session Two: 8:30 AM-1:00 PM

Scripture and Prayer....................................................................................Glen Flowers Call to Order.............................................................................................Bruce Reynolds SBC Agency Reports...........................................................................................................

Worship...................................................................................................... Clayton Knight Church Planting/NAMB Report.................................................................... John Horn Second Election of Officers............................................Bruce Reynolds, Wayne Brian Church/Leader Development....................Bob Weeks, Allison Kinion, Sarah Bohrer Concert of Prayer................................................................................................................

Worship...................................................................................................... Clayton Knight Annual Sermon..................................................................................................Alan Scott Resolution Committee................................................................................ Roger Kinion Misc. Business.................................................................Bruce Reynolds, Wayne Briant Executive Board............................................................................................. Greg Byman BFI Report......................................................................................................Jennifer Hall Highland Lakes Report....................................................................................Jim Shields WMU Report...................................................................... Allison Kinion, Linda Clark Worship...................................................................................................... Clayton Knight Pastor Panel Facilitated by Steve McNeil..........................................................................

Prayer...............................................................................................................Rick Hillard Installation of New Officers....................................................................Bruce Reynolds Prayer and Adjourn..................................................................................Bruce Reynolds

BRUCE REYNOLDS PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

DR. STEVE MCNEIL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

ALAN SCOTT ANNUAL SERMON

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.

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CONVENTION OFFICERS Bruce Reynolds, President Roger Kinion, First Vice President Randy Forsythe, Second Vice President Clayton Knight, Music Director Sandy Irick, Recording Secretary Wayne Briant, Appointed Parliamentarian

CONVENTION COMMITTEES ORDER OF BUSINESS Bruce Reynolds, Chair Roger Kinion Randy Forsythe Sandy Irick Jim Bohrer Greg Byman Clayton Knight Steve McNeil

REGISTRATION

Alison Blankenship Gasburg Baptist Church in Mooresville First Baptist Church in Mooresville

CREDENTIALS Randy Forsythe, Chair Mike Jamison Steve McJunkins Bob Parnell

PRAYER

Rick Hillard, Chair Laine Elam Kyle Bell Courtney Bell Michelle Hillard

TELLERS

Dan Conrades, Chair Brandon Doyle Jonathan LaFleur Jeff Burns

ARRANGEMENTS Steve Johnson, Chair Dave Newcomer Dan Sager Mike Sawyer Nathan Watson

Messenger Registration

Each cooperating 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 Churches should register elected messengers online at www.scbi.org/convention by Monday, October 1. If you are unable to connect to the internet, please call 317-481-2400 or 800-444-5424 to request messenger cards.

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

NOMINATIONS Jimi Staton, Chair Ray Deeter Chris Hortin John Hutchenson Jim Jenkins Tom Keb Linda Leas Dave Leffler Hre Mang James Marlow Chuck McMahan Ricky Persons Mike Sawyer Larry Snyder

RESOLUTIONS Roger Kinion, Chair Bill Bailey Jack Elliot Josh Goephrich Tom Kebb

Resolutions

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

Childcare is available during all meetings for children ages five or younger. Please pre-register your children at www.scbi.org/convention by October 1, so that adequate preparations can be made.

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 10 INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE || FALL 2018

ENERGIZING FOR

EVANGELISM 2018 Pastors Conference We will cover the Energized Pastor, the Energized People, the Energized Plan.

Physical and Spiritual life will be emphasized.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 8

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

Steve Reynolds

Steve Reynolds has served as the Senior Pastor of Capital Baptist Church in Annandale, Virginia, since 1982. He coaches churches in Evangelism and leadership around the country. He pastors a multi-cultural church in the midst of our country’s capital, Washington D.C. Currently he is known for his Bod4God program. He launched a weight-loss campaign in his church and community after he lost over 100 pounds, and his story has been featured in local, national and international media. He and his wife, Debbie, have three children.

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Highland Lakes Baptist Camp

By Jim Shields

TREMENDOUS!

What a tremendous summer we had here at Highland Lakes! Thank you to all who have been praying for the camps; thank you to all of you who volunteered in one form or another at Highland Lakes to help us get ready for the camps; thank you to all of you who helped sponsor students financially either directly through your church or through the Highland Lakes Mission Offering! It is because of your efforts that so many lives have been redirected, transformed, encouraged and added to the kingdom. The impact is forever, and more than you can imagine!

We started camp season by hosting the Falam Christian Church and Pastor Hre Mang and were privileged to watch at the end of the week as over 10 students went into the pool for baptism in obedience to the Lord.

During the SCBI camps season, we experienced a summer like never before. Each week was unique; yet each week was an experience in watching the Father work in lives differently than before. The weeks went smoothly; the weather was excellent (mostly); the

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students were engaged and thoughtful; the atmosphere was conducive to allow the campers to reflect on the message of the Father. There was fun, there was food, there was fellowship, there was friendship. There was a recognition of the way it should be. Each week the campers were challenged to question their hearts and minds and each week they rose to the challenge.

Camp pastors spoke boldly to the students about the Gospel, about what it means to surrender and about living as a disciple in a world that is becoming more hostile to His Truth.

Each week more students, leaders and staff left renewed and ready. Each week more campers learned to discover, develop and deploy a transformed life in Christ. Each week they left knowing that, no matter where they go or what they do, they are never alone; and as they go in the strength of the Savior, they can accomplish all that He wants them to accomplish.

And we end this camp season as we started. The last week of camp we were privileged, once again, to see nearly 20 students, this time from Zomi Baptist Church, follow the Lord in baptism in our pool.

It’s enough to even make us want to build a bigger pool.

INTEGRIS,

SCBI MENistry INTEGRIS, SCBI MENistry, is here to serve as a means for encouraging, equipping and enlisting leaders of Southern Baptist men across our state.

men. This is what is necessary for the spiritual reformation of men, for the transformation of their heart; and it is the power necessary to transform the world.

There is a vital need to engage the heart and soul of the men of our state – to engage their passions and strengths toward a fulfilling adventure of life in Christ. Men need to be better equipped to lead their lives, their families and their communities in a manner that is uplifting, encouraging and Godly.

INTEGRIS, SCBI MENistry, is here to serve as a means for encouraging, equipping and enlisting leaders of Southern Baptist men across our state. Our purpose is to help connect the resources to the men as well as to connect our men to each other. Our shared resources and experiences will help us all to become stronger and more effective builders of the Kingdom. Together we are better.

To change the culture around us, we need to change the culture of manhood in Indiana; to change the culture of manhood in Indiana we need to work together. Our pastors and lay leaders have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of men. Now is a critical time – more men are asking questions, looking for true substance, for true direction, and as the days progress, the need will be greater. We need to provide not only men’s ministries or outreach projects, but more importantly, we need to develop and utilize ministries to men, for men and about men.

We need to train leaders to bring up leaders, disciples to bring up disciples and recognize that men become men in the company of other

We have various studies for men via DVD, webcast, seminar, or book.

Like our Facebook page and keep up to date with events and opportunities for growth around the state. Join our e-mail list for newsletters. Please give us a call and let us know how we can partner with you in this endeavor. If you don’t have a ministry to men but are interested in beginning one, again give us a call and we can help you to formulate a blueprint for impact.

INTEGRIS: the process to become integritas—whole, complete, solid.

We need Nehemiahs, not Samsons.

For more information, contact Jim Shields at 317-481-2400 ext. 266 or jshields@scbi.org.

List of MENS EVENTS 2018

www.scbi.org/mensretreat

2019 Man Camp May 17-18, 2019 Men’s Conference September 13-14, 2019

Prayer Point

Our Heavenly Father, Thank You for the peace You have given us through Christ Jesus. Please allow it to rule our hearts and unify us. Help us to be thankful for all that You have already done and are doing within us. We pray this in Jesus Name, Amen.

Colossians 3:15 FALL 2018 || INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE

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This year at JAM/Super JAM This year at JAM/Super JAM kids and students from across Indiana came together and received hands on training in many different areas of ministry. If you walk around Highland Lakes during JAM and Super JAM you will find kids and students, playing guitars, dancing, singing, learning how to use a sound board and media in the church, learning how to make balloon animals and most importantly how all of these can be used for Jesus. Every year JAM/Super JAM ends with the students participating in a talent show. This year I watched as one church took the stage with a combination of kids and students playing ukuleles, guitars, drums, percussion and a group of singers and led the rest of the kids and students in worship.

Another leader leaned over to me and said, “this is what JAM is all about…these kids help lead worship in their church every Sunday.” This is the heart of JAM camp, many of the kids and students on the stage were introduced to their instrument at JAM camp and they went home and used it for Jesus.

JAM is a very hands on kind of camp and we want to make it available to all kids and students, not just the creatives.

So JAM 2019 will feature a new track - Jesus, Art, Music and MISSIONS! We will have a missions track that will give kids and students who are not attracted to the creative aspect of ministry an opportunity to experience missions hands on. Be on the look out for more specifics on this exciting change.

Mission Adventure Camp (MAC) was in full swing

volunteered at camp so her granddaughter and friend could come to camp. This friend did not attend church and had never had an experience like camp. After the Wednesday night service this Grandma and her sweet girl had the opportunity to introduce this friend to Jesus.

This is just one of many exciting stories of adults of ALL ages who answer the call to attend camp as a counselor and leave camp having led one of the kids they brought to Jesus.

Mission Adventure Camp (MAC) was in full swing with kids and adults all over Highland Lakes playing archery tag, shooting bows and arrows, painting pictures, learning sign language, dancing, trying out their talent in the kitchen, swimming, playing messy games, when one grandma who had volunteered as a counselor pulled me aside and said she had to talk to me. She told me she had

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Every year these counselors tell me there is no better way to spend a week of vacation! Camp is designed for kids to have fun, worship and draw close to Jesus, but it affects the adults and the church as well. Every year parents call and ask if there is a camp opportunity for kids in 1st and 2nd grade so in 2019 we will have Mini MAC June 21-22! This will be an opportunity for young kids to have an awesome weekend camp experience. Look for more details coming soon!

“I wanted

to enjoy and learn about God with my

friends.”

See YOU next year at CAMP 2019

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Committed Cooperation

BY DR. RICK HILLARD

PARTNERSHIP Baptist Convention of Ecuador You ever get the feeling that God wants to do much more than you can plan or even imagine? After all, the Scripture teaches us that our “God is able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think,” (Ephesians 3:20). He constantly surprises me with what He is doing. Let me tell you one of the ways.

The State Convention of Baptists in Indiana has entered a pilot partnership with the Baptist Convention of Ecuador. The vision for this partnership is to be able to train pastors who are interested in planting churches. My personal goal was to involve 25 Ecuadorian pastors in this “Pastors Planting Churches” pilot. Our plan was to make training available, free of charge, and bring it on a quarterly basis, to places that would provide easy access for our Ecuadorian brothers.

We have just returned from our second teaching module, and we are incredibly encouraged. To date we have had nearly 85 Ecuadorian pastors in the process. For some of these pastors, this is the first time they have had any kind of theological training. Praise God, He is able to do more than we can ask or think.

I am grateful for our team of Indiana Baptists pastors who have felt that this project is worthwhile. We have had some of our best men who have gone to teach. Also, I want you to know that giving through the Cooperative Program makes these kinds of partnerships possible.

Your giving helps with logistics, travel, cost of translators and materials we have made available to our friends in Ecuador.

Thank you Indiana Baptists for your faithful giving through the Cooperative Program. You are helping to make a difference in the Kingdom!

Prayer Point Father God, Thank You for Your perfect and holy love for us.Thank You for providing for us all we need to serve You.Thank You for our eternal life, hope, and for Your eternal love.Thank You for Your enduring love and goodness.

In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

1 Chronicles 16:34

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everything but

TYPICAL

Typically, February in northern Indiana is pretty predictable. A nice blanket of snow covers the ground until spring, and there is always a good chance of lake effect snow, which will bring copious amounts of snow and bitter cold temperatures which chill us to the bone. However, this past February was everything but typical. Lake Michigan brought not lake effect snow but lake effect rain and lots of it. Many counties in the northern part of Indiana received five to six inches of rain in a short time frame and with the ground being frozen we had lots of flooding.

Our Disaster Relief (DR) teams responded. We were deployed to Plymouth in Marshall County, where we spent three weeks helping victims from the floods. A total of 90 homes were reported to us, some needing total

Denny Smith Indiana Disaster Relief White Hat

muck outs and some needing just mold remediation. The great thing about helping victims is not only helping with the flood damage but also talking and praying with people. Many are at a very low time in their life and we can show them love and hope through Christ our Lord.

The southern part of the state also flooded that week, and teams were very busy. They helped 23 homes with muck outs and mold remediation in a matter of six days. These teams are great evangelists for Christ and spend time witnessing every chance they get.

In June, Indiana DR had the privilege of giving a presentation to Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

This presentation’s purpose was to give an insight on what Disaster Relief offers, our procedures and protocol

in the event of a disaster and general knowledge of how we respond. The presentation went great and our hope is to build a good working relationship with them and other agencies to try to get our first responders out in a quick and timely manner.

We have trainings coming up including Incident Command Center training at Highland Lakes on September 8 and Orientation in Greenfield on November 3. Information will be forthcoming for these events.

There is a great need for more volunteers. If your church does not have a disaster team and you would like to discuss how to get a team started in your church, please contact Rick Hillard at rhillard@scbi.org or 317-481-2400.

CHURCH LOANS THAT CHANGE LIVES. The Baptist Foundation of Indiana partners with WatersEdge Advisors to provide loans to Indiana Baptist churches.

We offer competitive rates, and unlike traditional lenders, interest from your loan is given back to Southern Baptist ministries that touch lives with the Gospel.

YOUR LOAN SUPPORTS:

Evangelism & church planting

National & international missions

Baptist universities & seminaries

Disaster relief & human needs ministries

GET STARTED AT:

INBAPTISTFOUNDATION.ORG/LOANS

FALL 2018 || INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE

17

While reading an issue of Smithsonian Magazine recently, I came across an article about trees. It talked about how trees of the same species are communal and “live in cooperative, interdependent relationships, maintained by communication and collective intelligence similar to an insect colony.” Scientists believe that trees in a forest setting have formed an underground network of roots they like to call the “wood-wide web.”

For young saplings in a heavily shaded part of the forest, the network is literally a lifeline. Large trees draw up water with their deep roots and make it available to shallow-rooted seedlings.

In addition to sharing water and nutrients through their networks, trees also use them to communicate. They will send distress signals about drought, disease and even insect attacks.

Scientists are just beginning to study and decipher these signals.

I am not suggesting that these interactions between trees are intentional or purposeful or that trees possess any sort of consciousness. However, I love the symbolism of how the strong and established trees “feed” the young and growing. They rely on their interconnectedness to survive, and I believe this is God’s design for His people.

As we award our 2018-2019 Baptist Foundation of Indiana Scholarships, I’m reminded of the generous people who have shared their resources and helped build the fund that makes these scholarships possible. Their gifts model the practices of the first-century church, where believers shared their possessions with other believers in need. Praise God for their obedience and generosity!

Blessings, Illustration provided by Kelly Smith - Girl in the Blue Glasses

If you would like to contribute to the Baptist Foundation of Indiana’s Scholarship fund, please visit inbaptistfoundation.org/scholarships.

Grant, Richard. “Do Trees Talk to Each Other?” Smithsonian Magazine. March 2018. Smithsonian. Web.

www.inbaptistfoundation.org

(317) 481-2400 ext. 300

SCHOLARSHIP HISTORY: Thank God for His provision through faithful donors!

Over the past 39 years, the Baptist Foundation of Indiana has awarded more than $220,000 in scholarships to 637 applicants. Please pray for these students who received scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year.

Kylen Farmer

Katlyn Griffin

Receiving $1,000 to attend Boyce College.

Receiving $500 to attend Boyce College.

First Baptist Church, Charlestown Biblical and Theological Studies

Lauren Turner

First Baptist Church, Henryville Global Studies

Receiving $1,000 to attend Boyce College.

Harrison Hills Baptist Church, Lanesville Business Administration

Isiah Turner

First Baptist Church, Henryville Masters of Divinity

Receiving $500 to attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Nicholas Arbogast

Timothy Bitz

Receiving $500 to attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Receiving $500 to attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

First Baptist Church, Henryville Masters of Divinity

Deven Smith

Plainfield Baptist Church, Plainfield Masters of Divinity

Receiving $750 to attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Redeemer Church, Jeffersonville Masters of Divinity

Jonathan Titsworth

Heritage Southern Baptist Church, Vincennes Masters of Divinity

Receiving $500 to attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

“I am so grateful to be a recipient... This gift reminds me that when God leads His people somewhere, He provides for them, too (Isaiah 58:11).�

Timothy Bitz

NORTHWEST Sunday, September 9, at 6:00 p.m.

First Baptist Church, Lake Station

NORTH CENTRAL Monday, October 1, at 11:00 AM Logan’s Roadhouse, South Bend

WABASH VALLEY TBD

NORTHEAST Tuesday, September 11, at 6:00 PM First Baptist Church, New Haven

MIAMI Monday, September 10, at 6:30 PM New Hope Church, Kokomo EAST CENTRAL Thursday, September 20, at 7:00 PM Old Town Hill Baptist Church, Muncie

CROSSROADS Tuesday, October 2, at 6:30 PM Fall Creek Baptist Church, Indianapolis

EASTERN Tuesday, September 25, at 6:00 PM

Ravinia Park Baptist Church, Richmond

WHITEWATER Saturday, September 15, at 8:30 AM New Life Baptist Church, Sunman

WEST CENTRAL Sunday, November 4, at 4:00 PM First Southern Baptist Church, Terre Haute WHITE RIVER Tuesday, October 16, at 7:00 PM

Englewood Baptist Church, Bedford

TRI-STATE NETWORK Saturday, October 27, at 9:00 AM New Bethel Southern Baptist Church, Evansville

20 INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE || FALL 2018

SOUTH CENTRAL Saturday, September 22, at 8:30 AM First Baptist Church, North Vernon

SOUTHEASTERN Saturday, November 3, at 9:30 AM First Southern Baptist Church, Clarksville

Around The State...

Gospel Grove Church, Bargersville

Gospel Grove Church Constitutes in Bargersville

It all began with a calling to a student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft Worth, Texas in 2014.

Josh Crisp and his wife Bethany had gone to seminary knowing that they wanted to share the gospel in a place where people needed Jesus. The couple began praying about where they should serve following graduation. Josh had a meeting with then Send Indianapolis missionary Chris Kellermeyer about the critical needs in Indianapolis.

Josh couldn’t shake the statistics of all the people who had no meaningful relationship to Christ. Kellermeyer considered Josh’s background, coming from a small town in southern Illinois, and asked him if he would consider planting a church in one of several smaller bedroom communities near Indianapolis. Josh saw the needs in Bargersville, a rural town just south of the city with 90% lost, and he realized that he had found his answer.

The Crisp family moved to Bargersville in 2016 and the first thing they did was to meet their neighbors by going door to door with their two young girls carrying a platter of homemade cookies. Their smiles and tasty treats opened doors and hearts. Soon people began coming to the Crisp house where they met for Bible study. Most of the people who came in through their front doors had no prior relationship with Christ, but as Josh and Bethany

shared the gospel people responded and brought others to hear the gospel message.

The growing congregation began meeting in a pole barn just outside of the Bargersville city limits and continued to reach out to more and more people. When they needed a new space, the local Lutheran church opened their facilities for Sunday afternoon worship and Wednesday evening small group meetings.

On July 8, 2018 Gospel Grove Church constituted as a church. During the service a short video was shown portraying the way the church had started, beginning with cookies and smiles, progressing through changes in venues, but always sharing the Good News of the gospel along the way. In the two years since the church began, 76 people have trusted in Christ through saving faith and 45 people have followed in believers’ baptism. At the conclusion of the constitution service, 52 members came to the front of the church to sign a Church Covenant to express their determination to help Gospel Grove Church continue to grow.

Please pray for Gospel Grove as they continue to grow and reach their community for Christ!

FALL 2018 || INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE

21

Love

Your Neighbor As Yourself We all know this Scripture from Mark 12, and we’re good at applying it to our “neighbor”…the people we go to church with, the people we enjoy being around, the people our kids spend time around. But do you actually apply it to your NEIGHBOR? As in….your literal neighbor? Often we get caught up in doing ministry that we miss the people we pass by every day on our own street. Here’s a few fresh ideas for seizing those opportunities.

•

• • • • • •

Know Them. Make a grid with nine boxes…put your family name in the center box to represent your home.

Now, fill in the names around your box of the neighbors in each house (next door, in front and behind, etc).

Don’t know their names? Be intentional to find out and get to know them. Take time to pray for them by name every week!

Serve Them. Help them carry in a large item when you see they’ve come home with something new and need a hand. Surprise them by mowing their lawn, shoveling snow from their driveway, clearing ice off their car.

Pay Attention. Do they have a new baby? A family member pass away? A child graduating? Be aware of the unusual seasons of life and take a gift or offer assistance in these challenging times.

Be a Safe Place. Do they have small children? Get to know the family enough that their kids would feel safe coming to your house in an emergency or if they accidentally get locked out.

Invite Them. It’s easy to forget to invite these people we see every day into our church family. Invite them to your small group, Sunday worship service or special event happening in your church.

Befriend Them. The best way to get to know your neighbors is to do something with them. Throw a neighborhood cookout and invite all the neighbors to come hang out.

Use Holiday Fever. Throw a Christmas open house. A Fourth of July party. An Easter egg hunt. A New Year’s day lunch. A Halloween party. A National Pancake Day Celebration. Choose your day to celebrate and optimize on the holiday to bring people together.

Whatever you do, make it your goal to KNOW your neighbors so you have the ability to love them as yourself…just like Jesus commands.

Prayer Point

Gracious Father, We praise Your holy and righteous ways. Help us not to turn away from or forget all Your benefits. Guard us from focusing on what we do not have and keep us focused and thankful for what we do have. All that we need You have already so readily given. In that precious gift’s name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Psalm 103:2 22 INDIANA BAPTIST MAGAZINE || FALL 2018

Global Hunger

Sunday

14, R E B O OCT

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GlobalHungerRelief

globalhungerrelief.com globalhunger

7805 State Rd 39 Martinsville, IN 46151