Messenger Winter 2020

Issue No. 30 | Winter 2020

W W W.G E N E R ALBAP TI S T.CO M

As your church starts to adjust to the new normal we find ourselves in, Stinson Press is here to help with your discipleship needs.

Our General Baptist ABC quarterly is a quality publication written specifically for General Baptist’s, by General Baptists.

We also offer several popular lines of literature.

We can combine all your literature orders saving your shipping costs and the hassle of dealing with multiple vendors.

For more information call: (573) 686-6011

CONTENTS No. 30 • Winter 2020

PG

6

Meet 12 Church

Pastor David Rotteveel and team launch 12 Church this year amid the COVID pandemic.

PG

14

7 Miles in the Middle of Nowhere

After 40 years of service at Cedar Grove Church, Pastor Larry Embry retired in August of this year.

PG

10

Open for Business

Several GB pastors share stories of how they are dealing with “business as usual” in our new normal.

PG

20

Resurrecting Family Trees: Generation Church Spotlight On the Cover:

Pastor Brandon Petty and Family break ground on their new phase of construction.

Generation’s family tree story leads to recognition as one of the “Fastest Growing Churches in America” by Outreach Magazine.

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 3

CONTENTS 5 From the Interim Executive Director 6 Meet 12 Church 10 Open for Business 13 Transitions 14 7 Miles in the Middle of Nowhere

PG

18

1 8 GBBC Update 20 Resurrecting Family Trees Generation Church Spotlight 24 Tornado in Lake City 26 Mission & Ministry Summit 2021 28 Virtual NYC 30 Relief Efforts Have Defined 2020 33 Show Real Life to Real People Through a Real Savior

PG

26

The General Baptist Messenger is published by General Baptist Ministries (General Baptist Council of Associations, Inc), under the direction of an editorial team composed of the denominational leadership team, and the Interim Executive Director.

CONTACT GENERAL BAPTIST MINISTRIES: 100 Stinson Drive | Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 573.785.7746 Send mailing list updates attention: info@gbmessenger.org VIEW THE MESSENGER ONLINE AT WWW.GBMESSENGER.ORG

4 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

PG

30

EDITORIAL TEAM:

Danny Dunivan Franklin Dumond Mark Powell Linda McDonough Vicki Smith LAYOUT & DESIGN:

Stinson Press - Kenrick Nobles General Baptist Ministries

On July 24, I was named the Interim Executive Director for General Baptist Ministries. A week later I sat in my office in Poplar Bluff on the first morning in the new role and reflected on the significant work of others who have held the position.

Faithful men who loved God and General Baptists have served as our leaders since January 1, 1960, when the office of the Executive Secretary was first filled by J. L. Mondy. Prior to that time, many others gave their talents to further the gospel through the work of the denomination. As I reflected on the work of these servants, I was humbled to be in this position. I take it as a great joy and blessing to use the gifts God has given me to make an impact in this season, and I feel the weight of the responsibility.

As I look into the near future, I am excited for the opportunities before us! We have missionaries impacting places where we have never been before. At the same meeting of the General Association in 1959 where J. L. Mondy’s position was announced, a comment was made about raising funds for missions that stated, “We trust your loyal support will permit us to expand to Africa . . .” Today, we have a family (the Yeomans) serving in West Africa.

We have churches being planted in the United States. In this issue of the Messenger, you will read about the start of Twelve Church by David Rotteveel in West Pasco County, Florida. Even through the shut-down from the COVID-19 pandemic, Twelve Church has continued to thrive. Church planting will also again come under the leadership of a National Missions office. Vince Daniel, the Lead/Founding Pastor of Real Life Church in Mountain Home, Arkansas, will be presented at the November meeting of the Council of Associations to fulfill the role of Director of National Missions.

Vince has a passion for planting new churches, and a vision for General Baptist church planting that will be a catalyst for growth for years to come.

Our support and institutional ministries are thriving. Women’s Ministries continues to focus the work of women’s groups across the denomination to impact missions. The General Baptist Investment Fund continues to supply opportunities for General Baptist churches and ministries to get access to loans to multiply the work. Oakland City University continues to educate men and women to become leaders in ministries, in schools, and in businesses around the world. Stinson Press provides services to help churches and the denomination expand their communications and resources to grow our discipleship efforts.

We have churches among us that are reaching their communities with the gospel. I have had the privilege to travel to several churches since taking this position. I have been in small churches and larger churches, and one thing is constant—General Baptists have a passion for reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have witnessed groundbreaking on a new building project (see the article in this Messenger about Generation Church). I have participated with a church in rural Missouri (Twin Rivers General Baptist Church) who fed more than 400 needy families on a Saturday morning. I have witnessed pastors shepherd their flocks faithfully through the dark days of the pandemic. I have praised God as I watched new believers be baptized, people respond to the gospel with a profession of faith, and new ministries get birthed out of a vision for sharing the good news.

Through much of 2020, we have all experienced depressing isolation and uncertain times. However, we can see the darkness of this day and choose fear, or we can see this day for what it is . . . an opportunity for God to be faithful in a new way! God is still God, and he is preparing a people, a church, for tomorrow. We can either be part of that or we can forfeit it to fear. The church will live on. No virus can stop it. No financial collapse can defeat it. No election can dim the mission before it. God’s church is forever! I hope that in the pages of this Messenger you will find reasons to trust God’s ongoing work, and I hope that you will be inspired to join in our future together!

Grace and peace, Danny Dunivan, interim executive director

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 5

MEET TWELVE CHURCH

By David Rotteveel

My wife, Stephanie, and I were both born and raised in West Pasco County, Florida (a suburb of Tampa Bay). We both grew up, went to school, and played sports in West Pasco. It has always been home.

When Jesus saved me, He almost immediately (if not simultaneously) called me to ministry and placed a particular burden on my heart for the community I’ve called home my entire life. I began praying from the age of seventeen that God would allow me to lead a church that would push back the darkness in West Pasco and through the proclamation of the Gospel, see many come to know Christ!

March 1, 2020, was an extremely special day for my family and me. It was the grand opening of our new church plant, Twelve Church. My wife and I both grew up minutes from the church’s location and, in many ways, it felt like both of our lives had led to that moment.

Over 500 people came to our grand opening! 502 people came and heard the life changing message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are still amazed at the grace of God and blown away by such a successful launch day, and we believe that we are just getting started!

Like any church plant, we faced challenges.

There were difficulties in the early days as we began

6 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

developing a launch team. There were difficulties as we approached our grand opening. Tears of frustration led to tears of joy when we saw the hundreds of people gathered at this new church!

On March 12, we were notified by the School Board of Pasco County that we were no longer permitted to hold our gatherings at Wendell Krinn Technical High School due to the threat of COVID-19. This news was devastating. We felt as though we had so much momentum and so much ahead of us, and to be prohibited from gathering (and not knowing for how long) was not only emotionally, mentally, and spiritually draining but caused extreme fear to enter our minds.

We had so many questions, and no one had answers. I remember thinking, “Does this mean that we will never gather again? Is Twelve Church going to close? After waiting to plant this church for over 10 years, will we have to do it all over again?”

With so much uncertainty of the future, we did the only thing we knew how to do. We remained focused on the mission of reaching the people of West Pasco with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but our approach had to be adjusted. For a season (the length of which we did not know at the time) we became an online church.

We quickly developed a strategy to minister to people

(Clockwise from Top) • Worship team leads congregation.

• Children enjoy kid’s ministry.

• First Impressions Team asks how they can pray for you as you enter 12 church.

(Opposite Page) • Pastor David welcomes people as they enter for worship.

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 7

Why Twelve Church?

Twelve communities make up West Pasco County, Florida.

Pastor David says, “My heart has always been and always will be to saturate these twelve communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I want these communities to be our primary focus, and I want the hurt, brokenness, and depravity in these communities to move us toward action as we are compelled by the love of Christ to be the agents of reconciliation in our area.”

8 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”

– 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV)

entirely virtual. We invested in technology and social media and worked hard to establish ourselves as the most creative, innovative, and mission-minded church in our region.

Although at the time it was impossible to see, COVID-19 truly helped our church. On July 26, 2020, we were able to resume our in-person gatherings at a brand new (and better) facility, and we had 135 people join us! Over the past twelve weeks we have

(Above) • Pastor David Rotteveel shares The Message.

(Opposite Page Clockwise from Top) • First Impressions Team prays with guests as they enter worship.

• Pastor David baptizes one of many new believers.

• Kids enjoy some outdoor fun during weekend services.

continued to grow, and, by the grace of God, we broke the 200 barrier last weekend (October 11, 2020)! It was such an incredible moment for my family, our staff, our servant leaders and our people to celebrate that God is continuing to move and save and glorify Himself in and through Twelve Church in West Pasco!

I cannot say “thank you” enough to General Baptist! Thank you so much for believing in me and investing in the calling on my

life and the vision that God has given me. It is your support and overwhelming generosity that has made Twelve Church possible and has positioned us to be the church for an entire region!

I will forever praise God for His grace in allowing me to be part of such a wonderful community and brotherhood!

We are continuing to see God move in miraculous ways and we could not be more excited!

David Rotteveel is the Lead Pastor of Twelve Church in West Pasco County, Florida. He is a graduate of Oklahoma Panhandle State University and Summit Bible College. David is the former Student Pastor of New Walk Church in Zephyrhills, Florida. Twelve Church exists because of the passion that God has given Pastor David for the Gospel of Jesus, the local church, and the communities of West Pasco County. Pastor David and his wife, Stephanie, were both born and raised in West Pasco. The vision of Twelve Church is to see our communities and the world transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the glory of God.

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 9

Liberty Church (Auburn Hills, MI) leads Facebook Live worship in an empty auditorium

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

By Dr. Franklin R. Dumond, Director of Congregational Ministries Pastor Craig Moore summed it up so well when he said, “On March 15, in an amazing service, we baptized four individuals, and then the very next Sunday the shutdown began.”

This kind of story repeated itself hundreds of times in mid-March as the threat of Covid-19 gripped the nation. Originally it appeared that a few weeks of social distance might stop the virus in its tracks. Doors were propped open. Bulletins were no longer handed out. Pew Bibles and hymnals disappeared. Even offering plates were quarantined to central locations so no one could accidentally touch a surface touched by someone else.

A few days later, churches abruptly stopped in-person meetings out of concern for public safety. Some churches were “shuttered” while others were “scattered.” A few chose to just say “closed,” but the net result was the same. For several weeks churches did not offer in-person worship.

Pastors and church leaders rose to the occasion. Most local pastors became televangelists by way of Facebook and YouTube. Just a few weeks into the shut down the back porches of many churches became platforms for drive-in, parking lot services. Some of these parking lot services featured portable sound systems positioned to broadcast across the “crowd” of parked cars.

Others used special FM equipment to broadcast live services that could be tuned in on car radios.

One dedicated volunteer reported, “Our church is doing drive-in worship but our pastor will not allow my husband to assist with set up because of his medical conditions. Since we can’t help we show up early and watch everyone get ready. They’re doing a great job!”

A church treasurer, concerned about receiving the offering at their drive-in worship found a simple solution. She posted on the church Facebook page, “I’ll have a bucket on the porch to use for an offering plate.” Then she added, “Please approach one at a time to drop in your offerings.”

Pastor Steve Tippen at Mt. Gilead Church, Bloomfield, Missouri, found another creative way to receive the offering at their drive-in worship. With no mail service on Sundays the parking lot

10 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

crowd took to placing their offerings in the church mailbox as they arrived.

Pastor Tim Reese of Ava, Missouri, reported, “While Missouri was under the stay at home order, our congregation was broken up into groups with the group leaders calling, sending letters, or messaging their group members to care for one another. It was amazing seeing how people stepped up their efforts to care for one another above and beyond what they already do.”

Reflecting on the shut down Pastor Mike Melton of Camden, Tennessee, remarked, “We took the conservative approach to protect our people. We moved quickly and got equipment to broadcast parking lot FM radio. I preached from the porch each Sunday and did Facebook live…but it has been a great sacrifice to lose events like Easter, Mother’s Day and other important events in the life of the church.”

One church lay leader reported for the monthly board meeting, but on the way to that socially distant meeting room he said, “I just had to walk into the auditorium. It was so pleasant just to be in that room again and remember what it had been like just a few weeks ago.”

Facebook Live and other recorded videos filled the void when in-person worship was not an option. Zoom Bible Studies and conference calls provided many small group experiences.

Pastor Mike Brady of Halltown Church, Portland, Tennessee described their experience. “When the pandemic hit we didn’t panic but worked hard to stay effective. We shuttered our services on March 22 and did not meet in person again until June 14.

We immediately had a new website built with Halltown.tv with the ability to stream and give online. Our brothers and sisters at Generation Church helped us to start our online campus. They donated a camera, and a black magic web presenter, and we have added a switcher and now produce services each week.”

Many larger churches developed elaborate broadcast schedules so children’s ministry, youth groups and Bible Study Groups could function remotely alongside the live stream worship.

When churches began to return to in-person worship they sadly discovered not everyone was comfortable gathering in public groups. In fact many churches found only 25-50% of folks returned to the in-person experience. In some cases this absence is understandable as when underlying health conditions place some folks at very high risk in any public setting. Many others have accommodated to the on-line or livestreamed services many churches have

Billy Henderson Drasco Church, Drasco, AR Before the COVID shut-down we had no Facebook or social media connections for the church, apart from a One Call phone devotion three days a week.

During the parking lot services, we actually picked up a new couple who are still strong members at this time.

Eddie Fleming Concord Church, Manitou, KY We resumed in-person on May 24, while maintaining our new online ministry. The most difficult thing about this virus is maintaining a balance of caution.

Buddy Frantz Liberty Church, Auburn Hills, MI Our children’s church pastor managed to get us an audience for our sanctuary during our virtual services. He put puppets and cardboard action figures in the pews to appear that there were some in-person attendance.

Mike Melton Sandy Point Church, Camden, TN In Tennessee, the governor left it up to churches to make their own decisions.

Some of them were hard decisions to make but as of today we have been blessed with no cases of COVID.

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 11

Tyler Feller McLeansboro First, McLeansboro, IL Our Children’s Ministry has done stellar work to insure safety while continuing effective ministry. We’ve had several baptisms throughout COVID, including two of our M1Kids, Chuck and Paul Jones.

Craig Moore Concord Church, Bloomfield, IN We still maintain a nice following on Facebook Live and still are doing our Wednesday night Bible study by free conference call number.

Mike Trotter Mt. Zion Church, Wadesville, IN Our offerings have been at about 85% of last year’s total, but our expenses have been less than 85%, so we are functioning quite well.

Tim Reese Ava Church, Ava, MO Reopening has taught us at Ava General Baptist one major thing: to be flexible

Mike Brady Halltown Church, Portland, TN We have been inperson since June 14th with about 70 percent of our people attending. We have had a creek baptism since being back in person.

continued. One mother of young children explained this to her pastor. “I could have returned to church but it is so much easier to enjoy the service on-line rather than gather the kids for the trip to church.”

In Ava, Missouri, the church saw an 80% return rate when in-person worship resumed in May. “When the virus came to our community in July people became much more cautious of in-person services. Then when it came to Ava General Baptist in September, that is when our in-person service attendance dropped dramatically.”

With the necessity of maintaining on-line and in-person connections, a new workload has been created for many pastors. Pastor Billy Henderson, Drasco, Arkansas, started a Wednesday Bible Study as one of his needed virtual connections during the shut-down. Now that in-person has resumed he finds the virtual connection is still needed to connect to the new on-line crowd he is reaching. But this means “Wednesday is a pretty busy day with the on-line study early in the day along with Wednesday evening”.

Pastor Mike Trotter arrived at the Mt. Zion Church, Wadesville, Indiana, as the new pastor just a few weeks before the pandemic caused the church to join the crowd that stopped in-person worship. “We were fortunate that we were already working to get our services online otherwise the transition might have been a challenge. Since many were stuck at home those first few weeks, I added a midweek Bible Study online that I plan to continue indefinitely.”

As churches resumed in-person worship a variety of plans were put in place to provide social distance and to monitor those attending. Some churches required that seats be reserved so they could insure appropriate social distance with reduced seating capacity. Others did temperature checks at the doors to screen obviously sick folks from attending. Still others, like McLeansboro First Church resumed with two morning services just as in pre-Covid days. But as Pastor Tyler Feller explained, “In the early service we require masks and social distance. In the late service we suggest masks and social distance.” This allowed worshippers who were anxious about public contact to have a choice as to which setting was “safer” for them.

“It is hard to sing the Lord’s songs in this strange land” reported Mike Melton of Camden, Tennessee. Billy Henderson of Drasco, Arkansas, echoes that sentiment, “It has been and continues to be a different kind of challenge, but we are reaching more people with the Facebook connection than we had in person. We have some people who have never attended our church in-person but faithfully watch and respond to our live presentation.”

12 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

TRANSITIONS DR. FRANKLIN DUMOND began serving on the Leadership Team as the Director of Pastoral Ministries in January 2005 after many years a pastor and denominational leader. Later, he took the responsibility to direct a consolidated department for both Pastoral Ministries and Congregational Ministries and spent a period of time as the Chief of Staff. Most recently, he has served as the Director of Congregational Ministries. He has brought integrity and industry to each of these roles.

During his years of service, Dr. Dumond has made significant contributions to the development of resources and leadership of programs. Having served in ministry to General Baptists since 1970 and having served as a denominational executive since 2005, Dr. Dumond is retiring in November 2020.

VINCE DANIEL will join the General Baptist Leadership Team as the Director of National Missions pending the approval of the Council of Associations in November. Vince is the Lead/ Founding Pastor of Real Life Church in Mountain Home, Arkansas. He brings significant leadership and church planting experience to the position. Most recently, he led Real Life in launching a campus in Gainesville, Missouri, a community of less than 800.

Vince will fulfill the role of Director of National Missions on a part-time, flex-time basis.

STEVE NAFF has served as the President/CEO of the General Baptist Investment Fund (GBIF) for 15 years. During these years, GBIF has experience the longest and largest financial growth in its history. Today GBIF holds nearly $57 million in assets as it provides loans for about 50 churches. Steve has always brought a pastor’s heart and a business mind to bear on his leadership of GBIF. In the letter announcing his retirement, the Chair of GBIF’s Board, Jack Boyer states, “Personally, I have truly been blessed to serve with Steve throughout his tenure as President. He has been a good leader, with God always as his guide.”

Steve will be retiring at the end of the year.

TRENT HOLCOMB will assume the position of President for GBIF with the retirement of Steve Naff. Trent has served for eight (8) years on the GBIF board. A 1991 graduate of Arkansas State University, he has worked as a loan officer, in insurance, and most recently in real estate.

He and his wife Michelle are members of the Piggott First General Baptist Church, where he serves as a deacon, plays drums in the praise band, assists with the food pantry, and assists Michelle as the Senior High Youth Leaders.

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 13

7 MILES IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

By Dr. Franklin R. Dumond, Director of Congregational Ministries

“Strategically located seven miles in the middle of nowhere” describes the location of the facilities of Cedar Grove General Baptist Church. At least that’s the way Pastor Larry Embry describes the church location when in conversation with other pastors.

Whether you travel east from Hartford or Beaver Dam when you turn off either highway, it is still seven miles of rural Kentucky hillsides before you reach Cedar Grove Church. But there in the middle of nowhere stands a large multi-purpose building with its parking lot across the road and just down the hill from a large auditorium and educational complex with another parking lot. And right there in the middle of nowhere pre-Covid Sunday mornings found more than 250 people attending in-person worship services every Sunday.

The church has not always enjoyed such fine facilities, nor has it always welcomed such crowds to worship. Back in 1959 the Cedar Grove Church was organized with 14 people. Pastor Larry’s father Rev. Basil Embry with three other men signed personal notes at the bank in order to purchase a house of worship.

Previously abandoned by the Methodist congregation that it housed, the little frame building sat empty for 12 years before it became home to Cedar Grove.

Pastor Larry was just a youngster when the church was organized. His father remained as pastor for a few years before moving on to serve other congregations in Kentucky and Indiana.

Cedar Grove remained part of Larry Embry’s life, and it was there as a teenager that he became a Christian. Not many years later he met a charming

14 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

young lady who attended church with him. She too was converted at Cedar Grove and later became Mrs. Elda Embry.

During his college years Larry felt the call to preach. He remarked, “I told the Lord it was a mistake.

I barely made a C in High School Speech Class.”

A call to preach is a call to prepare, so Larry enrolled in Vanderbilt Divinity School and began serving rural churches. Later he took a teaching positon in Ohio County and moved back to the Hartford/Beaver Dam area as a middle school Social Studies and Science teacher.

He still served churches as a bivocational pastor and like everyone else in those days, he stayed in each place 3-4 years and then moved on, as was generally expected.

In 1981, he started a new job as pastor of that church his father had organized and that had been so pivotal in his own spiritual journey.

His educational career moved from the classroom to that of building principal and later Assistant Superintendent for Ohio County Schools. In 2001 the leaders of the church offered to make his position full-time. With an early retirement from the school system he reported, “They paid me to study the Bible full-time!”

In August, 2020 after 40 years of service to the Cedar Grove Church he retired from that position.

Looking back over 40 years, Pastor Larry is the first to say that he never intended to stay that long. In fact he fully expected after a few years of holding the church together that he would conclude his service there and

Pastor Larry Embry & wife Elda

move to a new location to help out. That’s exactly what he was planning toward after about year 3 until he heard the Lord “just as clearly as when He called me to preach.” “I woke in the middle of the night and knew the Lord was saying to me ‘I haven’t called you to hold things together for a while. I called you to build my church.’”

When asked what kept him going all these years he was quick to answer, “My wife, Elda. She’s always been a support.”

In 1981, the congregation had an old building with a seating capacity of 60. In 1987, Pastor Larry thought he was preaching his final sermon when he felt compelled to challenge “Cedar Grove must build”. But that first Sunday in January was not his final message. The people heard the message and responded positively.

But how do you grow a church seven miles in the middle of nowhere in Ohio County, Kentucky,

with a population of about 20,000 of whom about 5,000 are in the towns of Beaver Dam and Hartford?

Pastor Larry suggested three strategies that attracted people.

First, he convinced his leaders that ministries should be targeted for the future by attracting and training young people. When the complaint was raised “We don’t have any teenagers,” he responded, “Let’s pretend we do and start our ministries with that in mind.” With 3-4 existing teens the church employed the first of a series of youth workers who in turn attracted families with

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 15

The little white church served well in the black and white days of the 1960s.

Children’s Ministries and a multipurpose building are important to church life.

The annual passion play filled the 375 seat auditorium built in 2006.

16 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

children. This strategic planning started with the end in sight and worked toward that goal.

Second, he focused his preaching on building a theology people could understand. “I always worked hard on the weekly message. I would write and re-write to find the right words. I’ve never been one to preach from a manuscript or to read a sermon but I prepared the best I could.”

Third, he helped the church become a family of believers. “We could easily have been a family church with 3-4 families that made up the congregation, but I didn’t want to be a family church. I wanted the church to be a family.” This family connection provided the fodder for the basic tool of growth: word of mouth. Friends began to share with friends and folks began showing up at church.

Thom Rainer in his book Surprising Insights from the Unchurched researched that topic and demonstrated once again that friends and family members are key to reaching people. However, he also writes that the content and life application of the sermon is key to keeping people.

By the time Thom Rainer wrote his book, Larry Embry and the folks at Cedar Grove had already proved the point time and time again.

“The smallest group in our church are those who grew up in a General Baptist Church. We only started with a few dozen of them. But we have folks from a variety of church backgrounds and no church backgrounds who are now General Baptist. They may have been Episcopalian or Roman Catholic or some other kind of Baptist or nothing but now they are part of the Cedar Grove General Baptist Church.”

Looking back to the most memorable experiences in those 40+ years at Cedar Grove Pastor Larry quickly divided them into personal and professional experiences.

Personally both he and his wife came to faith at Cedar Grove. So did their son Brian and their grandchildren. “What a blessing to baptize my son and my grandchildren.” Now with a great-granddaughter there are four generations of Embrys worshipping at Cedar Grove.

Professionally he marked two important milestones in the church’s development. In 2006 the church “borrowed more money that we ever thought we would” to construct their final auditorium and educational wing. Designed with a 375 seat capacity on dedication day 450 people crowded into the new space—seven miles in the middle of nowhere. Five years later the facility was debt-free.

But ministry is more than buildings and Pastor Larry remembers more than 20 years of the annual Passion Play presented to the community every Spring. “The folks just kept coming to fill the house every night.”

What does it take to stay in one place for 40 years?

1. You must have a love for people. You have to treat them as if they were your own kids because you’ve been in the foxhole with them.

2. You must have a thick skin without being insensitive. “People say stupid stuff so you need to have a good forgettery.”

3. You must be a shepherd like the Lord.

You work with people at their very best and at their very worst moments. Promise Keepers helped us challenge our men to step up. We keep offering opportunities for service and ministry in Jerusalem (Ohio County), Judea and Samaria (annual work camps to do home repairs in Appalachia) and to the uttermost with mission trips to other cultures and countries.

Across the years Pastor Larry has seen members come and go. Crucial people and staff members have been called to serve in other locations, but the Lord has always provided replacements while blessing those who now serve in other churches in the region and beyond.

A chronic back condition helped Pastor Larry see that it was time to retire. So now another Embry, a nephew, Philip David, serves as pastor while Pastor Larry attends when he can and does pulpit supply realizing that even after 40 years the Lord isn’t quite finished with him yet.

Hospitalized at six weeks of age with a serious pneumonia, Pastor Larry reported “They said I was turning blue.”

His mother prayed, “Lord if you have a purpose for his life I know you are going to see him through.” Part of the Lord’s purpose for Larry Embry was 40 years as a pastor strategically located seven miles in the middle of nowhere. Not a bad place to be when the Lord sends you there.

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 17

GE N E R AL BAPTIST

via Facebook Messenger. Their activities, quizzes, and exams are written on notebooks and the students take photos of their answers and send the images back to their teachers.

Many of our college students are from rural areas

By Dr. Joyce Porcadilla-Rubia where internet connectivity is a problem. Most of them need to travel to find signal to download their weekly It has been a little over a month since school year lessons and activities.

2020-2021 started here at the General Baptist Bible We are busier than ever because our learning College. We opened this new school year with the packets have been made from scratch. In the basic theme, “In gratitude, we bow down Before Christ.” Our education department, the students have textbooks so theme verse is found in Psalm 138:2 (NASB): “I will bow the learning packets are supplemental. down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your However, for our college students, we have to put name for Your loving kindness and Your truth; for You all the content in their modules since they do not have have magnified Your word according to all Your name.” access to our library or have their own textbooks.

This school year has been a We also need to produce our very challenging journey. By and own instructional videos. Teachers through the sustaining grace of our are not used to teaching in front of Abba Father, we have been able to a camera. This has added pressure make it through a day at a time. to their work.

The new normal of teaching Our campus has been and learning has posed a lot of transformed to cater to all the adjustments. Since face to face production needs, as well as classes have been prohibited by accommodating health protocols. the government, everything is The covered court is the main distance learning. We have put in internet hub. This is where our place a blended learning approach, teachers work on their learning which involves online and offline packets, since our classrooms GBBC classroom in a virtual environment. modalities. For those who have do not have WiFi. The weekly reliable internet access, they distribution of packets is done from opted for online learning. We have made use of Google this location as well. Classrooms are used for audio Classroom. recording of lessons.

On the other hand, for those with no internet All the printing is done manually in the library. connection or have very limited connectivity, we print Video recording and filming of instructional videos learning packets. Every week, parents come to pick up and virtual lessons is done in the periodicals area. The the learning packets. editing of videos is also done in the library.

We have used all sorts of communication platforms The non-teaching staff had to step up and learn to keep in touch with our students and parents: text, the technology of video production. Some of the call, email, Facebook Messenger, group chats, video administrative staff have helped in the checking and calls/chats, and Google Meet. editing of learning packets for quality control. Our It is also challenging with our college students, school nurse has become our entrance gate keeper, as since most of them rely on mobile phones and free she takes the temperature of all those entering. Our data on Facebook. All the modules are sent to them security officer is stationed at the exit gate.

B I B LE COLLE GE U PDATE

18 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

We cannot afford to hire additional maintenance personnel, so has to help in the cleaning of the campus.

We have set aside a day each week for the faculty and staff to do maintenance work.

Chapel services are done virtually. Thank you to our brethren stateside who have helped us in this area.

On a positive note, not only can our students watch our chapel services online, but the entire household can watch it with our students.

Thank you to our generous donors and sponsors who helped us buy laptops for our teachers. We were also able to buy additional printers. This has been a great help as we have limited equipment.

Financially, it has been a struggle, too, as we only have 430 students in both the college and basic education departments. We normally have over 600 students. We are still grateful that God has blessed us with this number of students, and through your generosity our doors are kept open to continue the ministry He has entrusted to GBBC. God has been so gracious to help us in making ends meet each day.

Please continue to pray with and for us. On the afternoon that I am writing this, a parent came to withdraw his child because he has been laid off from work and could no longer afford to pay for his child’s

tuition. This week three students who were enrolled withdrew for the same financial reasons.

Please pray for our parents and their daily provision for their families. Likewise, our students need our prayers as they adjust to home schooling, and include our faculty and staff in your prayers, too. Please pray for protection, provision, good health, patience, strength, knowledge, wisdom, joy, and peace.

This is our current reality. This is our new normal.

Despite the changes and the struggles we endure each day, God is faithful and His mercies are new every morning. He is sovereign. He is in control of everything.

We are thankful that He is in charge. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We are grateful that for the past 55 years of GBBC’s existence, God has never abandoned us, and He continues to use people like you to partner with us to help carry the burden. For that, we bow down before Christ with gratitude and thanksgiving in our hearts for what He has done and continues to do and for who He is in our lives.

Thank you so much for all your prayers and continued financial support. We would not have been able to continue the ministry here and our doors would have been shut by now if not for your partnership with us. To God be all the glory!

Bonus Video Content!

Watch as Joyce goes into more detail on the GBBC Update.

Find this, and all Messenger Bonus Videos, on the General Baptist Vimeo Channel. https://vimeo.com/473900258

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 19

RESURRECTING FAMILY TREES

20 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

Generation Church in Portland, Tennessee, was planted in 2012 by Brandon Petty with the support of General Baptist National Missions. The church was recognized this year by Outreach Magazine as one of the “Fastest Growing Churches in America.”

In fact, Generation was ranked 17th overall.

The list is compiled using data from Lifeway Research through responses to a survey of attendance averages for February and March (excluding Easter weekend). The numbers are then compared to the previous year, and churches are ranked factoring both numerical and percentage growth. Generation had the second highest percentage attendance increase of any church on the list (attendance average of 1055; +435 from previous year; 70% increase).

Generation Church’s success is related to their attention to the unchurched and dechurched in the Portland area. In the Outreach article about Generation

Church, Pastor Brandon says, “The story of this community is my story. I have empathy for people in pain, and I wanted to create a safe place for people to deal with those things.” As a result, Generation Church prioritizes ministry to those who are hurting. “We want to resurrect family trees and help people start something new in their families. Half of the families in our congregation are dealing with some sort of brokenness, whether it be abuse, divorce, or addiction. They need to feel supported in this pain and find ways to restore relationships for the next generation.”

Pastor Brandon relates several elements to their

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 21

recent growth. First, he connects his own growth and health as a leader to the growth of Generation Church.

He says, “I walked through some dark personal things in years 3-5 of our church that almost drove me out of ministry. We would grow to about 700 and then fall back. I realized that when I got healthy, I could be the leader and pastor that the church deserved.”

He also believes that the church’s culture has also contributed to the growth, especially their intentionality to have an irresistible culture in the church.

Finally, clarity of vision has led to growth, namely vision to see changes in the city of Portland.

“Someone asked me once, ‘what separates you from other churches,’ and my response was, ‘We don’t have a preconceived list of things we aren’t willing to do to reach people and grow. Most churches say they want to grow but already have a list of things they won’t do. You can have comfort, or you can have growth. You can’t have both.’”

Phase 1 of a building project was completed in 2019, and Generation moved into a new facility on a new site.

However, Pastor Brandon is adamant that their growth was about so much more than the building. “Once we got healthy leaders, great culture, intentional vision, and then created space, we started growing exponentially.

The building helped us make room, but really it was

22 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

the other factors that set us up for growth. Not everyone who builds a building grows.”

As an example of the impact that Generation Church has had in its community, Pastor Brandon tells the story of Rhealyn and her family. Rhealyn is a 9-year-old girl who comes from a blended family. She would invite her dad to church all the time, and he would always have an excuse not to come. Rhealyn was baptized during the groundbreaking for Phase 1 of the building, and she wanted her dad there. He came.

Slowly, her dad started attending, even being invited

by Rhealyn’s mom and stepdad. Eventually, he came to one of Generation’s men’s retreats. It was at the retreat that “God got ahold of him,” he gave his life to Christ, and was baptized! James now plays bass in the worship band and volunteers an any ministry he is needed. Now, Rhealyn’s mom, stepdad, and dad all attend, volunteer, and make Generation Church a place where family trees can be forever changed. Pastor Brandon says, “It’s stories like THAT that have led to growth!”

On October 3 and 4, Generation Church celebrated the groundbreaking and launch of Phase 2 of the building project. The majority of Phase 2 will allow for the expansion of the worship space and addition of a larger area for children and students. In total, the addition will approximately double the current facility.

As the church celebrated this exciting new work, Pastor Brandon told the congregation, “Today is an incredible day of God’s faithfulness! We have seen God move; we have seen Him do some incredible things.

And we are ready to see Him do it again! I want you to know that what we are building is not a building; it is an opportunity to see more family trees resurrected, and it is an opportunity to see more people reached for the Kingdom of God.” Pastor Brandon Petty is the founder and lead pastor of Generation Church based in Portland, Tennessee. He is responsible for leading the mission, vision, teaching, and leadership development of the church.

Pastor Brandon is a firm believer that, “There’s a YOU, you haven’t met yet.” This is what drives the unique purpose of Generation Church to help people move from where they are to where God wants them to be. Pastor Brandon is passionate about seeing people take next steps as they become more like Christ and grow into the best version of themselves.

Pastor Brandon and his wife Jessica have three kids: Launa, Mya and Truett.

“Today is an incredible day of God’s faithfulness! We have seen God move; we have seen Him do some incredible things. And we are ready to see Him do it again!”

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 23

TORNADO IN LAKE CITY

By Dr. Jim Pratt

Refuge General Baptist Church in Lake City, Arkansas has endured a number of disasters throughout its history.

Organized in 1890 the church’s first building was destroyed by fire December 20, 1920.

The next fifteen years they met at Bowman School along with two other churches, the Church of Christ, and the Missionary Baptist Church.

In October 1935, a wood frame church building with dirt floor was built by members.

In April 1965, a new 30 x 60 block building was built. After a few upgrades and additions in the late 1970s and early 1980s, a covered entrance was added in March 1984. This church building was destroyed by a tornado on April 3, 1984.

Refuge Church once again stood strong and rebuilt with its first service in the new building held on September 9, 1984.

In July 1997, the multi-purpose building was completed, and an extension was added in 2002. In 2006, the youth room was added, and in 2007 an outdoor pavilion completed.

Then 2020 happened. Pastor Steve Hinkle shared that Refuge Church, as a result of COVID-19, spent time having worship services online and then began meeting in the church’s east lot for drive-in services. Eventually, they began meeting indoors and gathered in the gymnasium, practicing social distancing and wearing facial coverings. They held worship in the sanctuary on August 16, 2020, for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Pastor Steve reminded the church, “Although it sure felt good to be back home, it is not about the building, the people are the church.”

On August 27, 2020 the remnants of Hurricane Laura impacted Refuge Church bringing a new disaster. A tornado once again struck Refuge Church. Pastor Steve, his wife, and son waited out the storm in the church parsonage across the parking lot from the church facilities. Just as they made their way to the bathroom in their house, they heard the tornado and could feel the house shaking.

Once they felt safe, they exited their house and saw all the damage. The church pavilion and fellowship hall were destroyed, as well as a storage building on the church property.

The main building that houses the sanctuary was extensively damaged. Miraculously, there was very little damage done to the parsonage located less than 50 feet from the destroyed buildings. Pastor Steve believes that, without a doubt, God protected them.

24 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

The total rebuild of the facilities at Refuge Church may take 2 years or more. Well before the current disaster a Bible verse had been displayed in flowing script on an interior wall. “God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in time of trouble.” (Psalm 46:1). The church embraced that verse, and the very next Sunday following the tornado, the First Baptist Church in Lake City, Arkansas, made their church available for the Refuge Church to meet for worship.

Refuge Church met at the First Baptist Church for a few weeks until other arrangements could be made. A vacant building in Lake City was secured and renovated to include a worship area, coffee bar area, children’s area, and a welcome center.

After Refuge Church rebuilds at their permanent location, the temporary location may be used as a community food pantry, and a community youth center where the churches of Lake City, Arkansas, could come together to minister to the needs in their community.

On Sunday, October 4, 2020, the first worship service at their current location, Refuge Church had 81 individuals in attendance, plus over 30 additional individuals viewing the worship service online.

That day Pastor Steve challenged the church to see that church buildings are great but that the people are

the church. Wherever they are, no matter what building they occupy, they are still God’s people.

Pastor Steve, who has been at the church for about 2 years, expressed gratitude for all the prayers and financial support the General Baptist family has given to Refuge Church. Currently nearly $30,000 has been given through the denomination to help the church during this time of transition. In addition, other area churches have also contributed financially to Refuge Church.

Refuge Church is praying about how they can financially be a blessing to others even during this time of transition. Pastor Steve continues to ask folks to pray for the future of Refuge Church. “I believe God will provide for our future, but my greatest desire is that God will use the storm Refuge Church went through for His glory and honor. God wants to take your messy and make it beautiful. God will give you hope.”

Pastor Steve’s message to his church is a message we all need to hear and share. Truly, God is our refuge and strength.

Bonus Video Content!

Jim Pratt interviews Pastor Steve Hinkle about the Tornado in Lake City. Find this, and all Messenger Bonus Videos, on the General Baptist Vimeo Channel. https://vimeo.com/473900304

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 25

The 2021 General Baptist Mission and Ministry Summit will take place on the banks of the Ohio River at the Owensboro Convention Center in Owensboro, Kentucky, on July 26-28.

The theme of the Summit will be “Called.”

The scriptures are filled with examples of those who are called by God. Abraham is called to leave his family and set out for a land that God would show him. Moses is called at the burning bush to be God’s instrument for the deliverance from Egypt.

Samuel is called in the night while lying near the Ark of the Covenant. Isaiah is brought into the heavenly throne room and called to speak for God as a prophet. Peter, James, and John are called by Jesus to leave their boats and nets and to come follow Jesus. Paul is called through a vision to go to Macedonia to spread the gospel on a new continent. We are called today for our time. We should observe, though, that these callings are to areas of ministry where God is already at work. When we call someone, it is from a place inviting them to be present where we are. We are not going on some kind of mission apart from God. We are called to come where God is already on mission.

26 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

At the Summit in July, we will be inspired, equipped, and sent to fulfill our callings and join God in his mission to reconcile the world to himself. We will have breakout sessions highlighting the work of General Baptists around the world, sessions that challenge us to join in that work, sessions that equip us for ministry in our communities, and sessions that encourage us to fulfill our calling into whatever field God is inviting us to join him. Our keynote speakers will also inspire us around this theme.

The COVID-19 pandemic upended the planned Summit in 2020, but we are making plans to hold the 2021 Summit as scheduled. While many unknowns remain about the status of the pandemic in July 2021, we will plan to follow whatever guidelines are in place in order to hold the event. Specific information on those guidelines will be published closer to the event.

Bonus Video Content!

Moderator and Executive Director, Danny Dunivan, invites you to the 2021 Summit, plus shows us a little of Owensboro. Find this, and all Messenger Bonus Videos, on the General Baptist Vimeo Channel. https://vimeo.com/477164481

2021 SUMMIT SPECIAL GUEST WORKSHOPS Every year General Baptist Ministries offers dozens of workshops as part of the annual Mission & Ministry Summit.

In 2021 three special guests have agreed to assist with several of these workshops.

Jon Sanders

is a pastor in Flandreau, South Dakota, population 2,341. His vision is to reach rural America and assist other pastors ministering in small towns. Jon is the author of “Rural Church Rescue” and also the founder of the Small Town Big Church Network, a resource for pastors in rural settings. He and his wife Jessica have three children.

Jon will present several workshops at this year’s Mission & Ministry Summit. On Monday and Tuesday afternoons he will address “How to Make a BIG Impact in Your Small Community” (Parts 1 and 2).

Then on Wednesday afternoon he will teach on “Mindset, Multi-site, and Money”.

Robert J. Morgan

Served as the teaching pastor of The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville, Tennessee, for nearly 40 years. He is a best-selling, gold-Illuminations, and gold-medallion winning writer with more than 40 books in print and more than 5 million copies in circulation in multiple languages. “The Red Sea Rules” first published in 2001 remains one of his most popular titles.

Rob will be leading workshops every afternoon using content from his recent and/or soon-to-be-released titles.

These personal enrichment workshops at this year’s Summit will include “Worry Less, Live More”, “Reclaiming the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation” and “God Works All Things Together for Good”.

Karl Vaters

“A small church pastor” will return to the Summit with some specially crafted workshop options. Workshops dealing with “Three Ways a Small Church Can Be an Effective Church” and “Surviving and Thriving In a Post-Pandemic Small Church” will allow Karl to provide his unique insights into churches with less than 200 in attendance. Karl writes, “My heart is to help pastors of small churches (up to 90 percent of us) find the resources to lead well, and to capitalize on the unique advantages that come with pastoring a small church something virtually every pastor will spend at least some of their ministry years doing.”

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 27

VIRTUAL NYC

By Jeff Roth, NYC Co-ordinator

For the past 14 years I have had the privilege of helping coordinate the National Youth Conference (NYC). Looking back over those years, we have found ourselves with obstacles to overcome. For example, back in 2011 our theme for NYC was “In Control.”

On Saturday night, a thunderstorm ripped through Carlinville, Illinois, and the Lord taught us that we certainly weren’t “in control.” The rain got on the ramps of the BMX stunt crew and the power went out, so everything that we had planned was off the table. But, the Lord still showed up. If you talk to any students who were at NYC 2011, they will likely tell you it was one of their favorite and most memorable NYC experiences.

This year’s NYC experience faced some obstacles too. Our theme was “2020”, and we were going talk about seeing things clearly. Then COVID happened, and all of our plans were scrapped. Nobody saw that coming!

But, I believe the Lord is still showing up. We transitioned as much of the event as we could to a virtual experience, and we encouraged each youth group to put together their own Virtual NYC. I am so incredibly thankful for Jason Jordan, Brandon Petty, Blake Thomas, and Whitney Tanksley.

They each put together a wonderful message for students or leaders just because they love students and want to see God’s Kingdom grow. If you see them or have their contact information, would you shoot them a message to let them know how awesome they are?

Several groups watched the live streams when they premiered on October 3rd and more groups are 28 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

using the teaching videos in the weeks that follow. On October 10th both Liberty Hill Church (The Hub) in Aid, Missouri, and Skyline Church (Fuel) in O’Fallon, Illinois, held their Virtual NYC events.

At Liberty Hill’s event they planned it as an outreach to get students from the community involved.

They adjusted the schedule to fit their group’s needs.

Youth Pastor Shawn Cook said, “The students really enjoyed it, and even though we hosted it a week later, the way we structured it gave it that ‘live’ feel, rather than just watching a prerecorded video. The students really responded well.”

At Skyline’s event they had their youth band lead them in worship, watched the message videos, played games and activities, and had a service project in the afternoon. During their service project they were able to pack over 10,000 meals that will be sent to feed the hungry in Nicaragua!

I want to thank every youth leader who has continued to persevere through this pandemic. What you do matters as much now as it ever has! Stand firm and press on! If you haven’t checked out the special leader video by Blake Thomas, please go watch it today for some more encouragement. You can find it on the Virtual NYC page of our website.

I hope that your church will join us next year at NYC at Lake Williamson when our theme will be, “Who Knows?”

Who knows what next year will bring? You don’t.

I don’t. But we can find rest knowing the Lord does. I can’t wait to see what the Lord has planned!

Students at Skyline church and Liberty Hill GB participated in the virtual NYC. Many participated in locally led worship and service projects along with online broadcast keynote messages and virtual workshops.

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 29

RELIEF EFFORTS HAVE DEFINED 2020

By Mark Powell, Director of International Ministries

General Baptists have been extremely generous during 2020 to International Ministries. We are so grateful for your ongoing faithfulness. It is important that you know that your missionaries and national workers have also been faithful during this interesting year. Much ministry has been accomplished, and we want to celebrate that with you.

As you read through these updates, you will see a variety of approaches to the funds that have been given, with each ministry area doing its best to understand and minister to the needs of their context.

It is amazing to see how the faithfulness of God’s people combined with the faithfulness of our missionary team can do so much good in the midst of very difficult days. International Ministries is extremely thankful for your generosity and the hard work of our missionaries and field workers. We would certainly not choose days as difficult as these, but we are grateful that in the midst of it God can and is glorified through the gracious acts of His people.

The Philippines • Cash distributions on 2 occasions to 267 workers • Unemployment rate in Davao City at nearly 20% • Enrollment at the General Baptist Bible College is down from 600+ to about 400 • A budget shortfall at GBBC of nearly $115,000

The Calvary Grace Association (India) • 2,544 families in Chinnakodur have received food

assistance during the COVID crisis • 2 food distributions in Siddipet reaching 168 and 113 families in the slum areas • 20 pastoral families received food assistance • 42 individuals in a transgender community received food assistance • Cash gifts were made to 25 pastoral families in 2 distributions of $92 and $66 • In response to need during severe flooding 500 families received food assistance and 1,166 people received medial care in Thummileru, Dharmathaalagudem, and Reddigudem • 500 masks were distributed to individuals who could not afford one • 7 pastors received bicycles, and 2 pastors received motorcycles

30 | General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020

India Association • Assistance of $10 per month given to 50 pastors

and 4-12 Dorcas Sewing Center teachers each month • 500 families provided food assistance in 8 different communities, totaling 3,550 pounds of food • 195 families of poor women and widows through Grace Home ministries • 10-15 Bible women (an important ministry within the association) provided monthly assistance • Pastor Prakash states, “All this is because of the generous donations of all our General Baptist saints. We thank our Lord for His blessings to the needy people in our ministry field in these difficult days through our General Baptists.”

Honduras • As of the date of this writing, the country is still experiencing curfew and Faith Home is on lockdown • Several pastors have had the virus • $8,247 given over 11 distributions to pastors • Faith Home provided 3 food distributions to neighboring families in El Barro

Pastors across the General Baptist International family receive needed assistance.

West Africa (Yeomans) • 26,972 meals provided to Nigerien Christians

costing just $7,282 ($0.27 per meal) • Women completely out of food and about to give birth given a meal just before delivery • Plans to purchase an additional 4,000 meals in the next month • $1,454 to 9 pastors. Pastor AZI says, “I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

[I am writing] to thank you...for your love for me. Thank you for this good [deed] done...God will give you back a hundredfold. God Bless you Shalom.”

• $7,137 spent on flood relief, especially directed at other missionaries displaced by the flood and who lost all of their possessions • 454 Nigerien people and families provided assistance, including buckets and bowls, cooking utensils, mosquito nets, soap, and bags of water and rice.

• The Yeomans say, “We are so grateful to everyone who has given to help. The generosity and prayers of our people have sustained us through a very difficult time.”

Mexico and Guatemala • $6,560 distributed through Bible Institute leaders to pastors who passed along the gifts to needy members in their congregations • Elida Quezada ( Juarez) lost a family member to COVID, so a donation was made to assist with expenses

Jamaica Association • 2 distributions of financial assistance totaling $2,800 • Mixed response to the pandemic due to difficulties in moving to an online presence

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 31

G E N E R A L

B A P T I S T

INVESTMENT FUND

n a s o L e l b a l i Ava TO EXPAND

t y r i M i n s r u Yo

GENERAL BAPTIST INVESTMENT FUND, Inc.

100 Stinson Drive • Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

573-785-7746 Barbara Williams,  Steve Naff,   

SECURITY SI NC E 1974

SHOW REAL LIFE TO REAL PEOPLE THROUGH A REAL SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST

By Vicki Smith I have always been a what’s next person. My husband Sid will always laugh and say that while we are on the way home from a trip, I am planning the next one. I do not think I am quite that bad, but I do like to have things moving and be around a lot of activity.

In 2003 we answered the call to go to Honduras as missionaries. We were secure in that calling, and just as certain as we were that God had directed us there, we were also secure when after four years on the field He was calling us to return home. I remember taking a few weeks to rest and reconnect with family and friends and then thinking “What’s Next?”

It was shortly after returning home that we became involved with National Missions. We received a phone call from Vince Daniel inviting us to attend a launch team meeting for Real Life Church in Mountain Home, Arkansas, and as they say the rest is history. The one thing that excited us about that meeting was the fact that we could see God working. The group there was enthusiastic and ready for the ministry God had entrusted to them.

Fast forward ten years later, and we are still part of that thriving church with a weekly attendance of 1200, holding three services on Sunday. Over the course of the last ten years we have witnessed countless numbers of people come to know Christ and have seen lives changed. But that is not the best part. Once again, we have witnessed God working in our local community of Gainesville, Missouri. So on October 4, we have been able to be part of a second Real Life Church launch. And for the second time, we are working with an enthusiastic, God-loving group of people who are looking for evidence that God is working, and they are joining Him there. So now we have moved from Real Life Mountain Home to a brand-new church family at Real Life Gainesville. We are so excited for the “What’s Next”!

I remember vividly a statement that was made to me after we became involved more actively in National Missions. The statement went something like this, and I quote, “Well I guess you and Sid just can’t get away from missions can you.” It was one of those statements that you want to cock your head to the side and say, “SERIOUSLY!” My prayer is that none of us ever want to “get away from missions.” In Matthew 28:19-20 the Great Commission gives us the mandate. We are to go into All of the world. Look for areas that you see God working in your community, your church and even your family. We cannot risk getting too comfortable.

When I accepted the position of Director of Women’s Ministries is was for no other reason than I saw that God was working through the women in the denomination, and He was not done with the ministry.

While over the years we have traditionally thought of Women’s Ministries existing solely for the support of missionaries and the mission fields, I challenge you to broaden those thoughts. Missions is anywhere there is a need. It is telling the story that Jesus loves you.

It is as we say at Real Life Church everything that we do should lead us to that “One More!”

General Baptist Messenger Winter 2020 | 33

Asenath Brewster Christmas Offering 2020 NIGER OUTREACH

The country of Niger is one of our newly opened mission of the inhabitants of the country being Islam. Education is free, but only a small proportion of children attend school.

Currently Kris and Nicole Yeoman serve as General Baptist missionaries to the country of Niger. Several years ago, God placed a vision in their hearts for this country and the people that live there.

The Yeoman’s have a vision to construct a GB Ministry needed for land and to construct a building. The center will be a community center which will include education, basic needs (food and clothing distribution), as well as medical.

The goal is to meet some very basic needs for the people in the local villages. Of course, the primary purpose is evangelism.

The ABC Offering will go to financially support the land and for the construction of the GB Ministry Center.

Churches are encouraged to receive ABC Offerings on December 6th or 13th, 2020.

Send your ABC offering to: General Baptist Women’s Ministries 100 Stinson Drive Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

S T INSON PRE SS BOOKS T ORE Our inspirational bookstore has something for everyone! We thoroughly search our vendors to make sure we have on-trend, high quality, faithbased items.

We carry, apparel, jewelry, accessories, home dÊcor, journals, bestselling devotionals, Bibles, church supplies and so much more! Stop by our store or check out our website, www.stinsonpress.com. You won’t be disappointed!

NON-PROFIT ORG U . S . P O S TA G E

PA I D

POPLAR BLUFF, MO

G e n e ra l B a p ti s t M i n i s t r i e s 10 0 Sti n s o n D r i ve Po p l a r B l u f f , M O 639 01

PERMIT NO 164

$ 2 5 , 0 0 0 M AT C H I N G G R A N T

G EN ER AL BAPTIST BIB LE CO LLEG E DAVAO CIT Y, PHILIPPINE S

S e n d D o n a ti o n s to

G B BC COVID

10 0 Sti n s o n D r i ve Po p l a r B l u ff, M O 6 39 01