2016 Summer Messenger

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Messenger J erus ale m

J u d e a & Sa m a r ia

G en e ral B ap ti st

S u m m e r 20 1 6

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Staying Strong. Staying Connected.

by Clint Cook, Executive Director

I am so excited about this issue of The Messenger! It is a guided tour of the 2016 Summit. In these pages you will find all the information and descriptions you need to prepare your church, your family, and yourself to join with fellow believers as we celebrate our faith and heritage as General Baptists.

General Baptist history is full of stories about how ordinary people partnered with God to accomplish extraordinary things. The Summit is our annual celebration praising the Lord for what He is doing through us!

I am proud of our General Baptist heritage. I have been greatly inspired by our own giants of the faith. As a young man at the General Association meeting, I would listen as General Baptist giants would tell us about people and mission fields far away from my home in the Midwest.

• People like Cecil and Betty Green, Mary Lou Howard, Gary and Darlene Underwood, Mark and Kim Powell, and Dean and Sandra Trivitt would transport me across oceans with their clothing, words and pictures.

• Folks like Fred and Jan Brittain, Gene and Joyce Koker, Bruce and Marilyn Conran, Jim and Eddi Marie Julian, and Jim and Rae Murray would light up the room with their excitement and vision for ministries in Florida, California, and other U.S. locations.

• Then there were the steadfast pastors of local churches like Cecil Robertson, Curt Yarbrough, Arzie Long and Clayton Hall that would stir my heart and challenge me to dream and dream big about what God could do through me in pastoring my church.

These faithful followers endured loneliness, fear, danger, rejection, political unrest, conflict, and even sickness because they believed in a Savior who could do unbelievable, extraordinary things. When they spoke, they took us on a guided tour of their mission field, whether around the world or around the corner. Their faces would glow when they showed us pictures. Their voices would get excited when they told us of conversions and baptisms.

Their eyes would fill with tears when they shared the potential for the gospel in their areas.

Because of their words, my own eyes would fill with tears as I connected with different people, cultures, and communities. Their burden to share a time-sensitive message of salvation ignited a sense of urgency within me to reach the lost for Christ.

Our annual meeting is no longer called the General Association; we are now The Summit, but the objective is the same – to bring the work that Christ is doing through General Baptists to life! In just three days, we utilize a number of formats to accomplish this task. The Summit is a time to rejoice in how the Lord is using common, ordinary General Baptists to carry out the Great Commission in international locations, across our nation, and in the local church. We will hear impassioned speakers, watch inspiring videos, study innovative techniques, and experience breathless worship, all from one location. We will have direct access to a new generation of international mission pioneers, church planters, local pastors, excited lay leaders, and burdened church members.

I believe your face will light up, you’ll laugh out loud, and your eyes will probably fill with tears when we hear how God is using General Baptists to do the Kingdom’s work.

If you need to be inspired, motivated, and challenged, make plans now to spend three days with common, ordinary folks called General Baptists, who serve a Savior who specializes in unbelievable, extraordinary things.

I pray the tour starts in your home as you read these pages and ends at The Summit in Bowling Green, Kentucky. See you there!

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Messenger General Baptist

Summer 2016

Table of Contents 3 Letter from the Director 6 Trending Now 9 Articles from Gary McIntosh 12 Articles from Phil Cooke 15 Articles from Ted Cunningham 19 A Personal Invitation 20 KidSpring 21 Why GB? Those Old Denominations 22 Summit Schedule at a Glance 23 Why Summit Workshop Tracks?

24 Summit Workshop Schedule

Articles from Gary McIntosh

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29 Because You Gave 30 Why GB? Theological Connections 32 Summit Children’s Schedule 33 Summit Youth Schedule 34 Meet your 2016 Keynoters 36 GBIM @ the Summit 37 Freedom Link 39 The Climb to Jackson Hill 41 Jamaica Assoc. Celebrates Year of Jubilee 44 Inside Out | A Veteran Speaks: Lisa’s Story Back Cover: Summit Map

Articles from Phil Cooke

Articles from Ted Cunningham

9 12 15

Messenger General Baptist

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Summit Schedule

under the direction of an editorial team composed of the denominational leadership team, and Executive Director, Clint Cook

editorial team: Franklin Dumond Mark Powell Linda McDonough Patti Thornton

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Trending Now The U.S. remains one of the Most religious nations in the West.

But Americans are surprisingly indifferent to faith, when compared to countries around the world.

Americans ranked just behind Turkey and slightly ahead of Venezuela in terms of religion being important in peoples lives.

– source: PewResearch.org

Former Pastors Report Lack of Support Led to Abandoning Pastorate.

No sabbatical. No help with counseling. No clear picture of what’s expected. Hundreds of former senior pastors say these were the crucial elements missing from the final churches they led before quitting the pastorate.

A recent study by LifeWay Research points to ways churches can encourage pastors to stay in the ministry, said Ed Stetzer, Executive Director of the Nashville-based research organization.

“Almost half of those who left the pastorate said their church wasn’t doing any of the kinds of things that would help,” Stetzer said. “Having clear documents, offering a sabbatical rest, and having people help with weighty counseling cases are key things experts tell us ought to be in place.”

– source: LifeWayResearch.com

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ETHIOPIA – 98%

VENEZUELA – 42%

PAKISTAN – 93%

MEXICO – 37%

BRAZIL – 74%

ISRAEL – 34%

TURKEY – 56%

POLAND – 28%

UNITED STATES – 53%

FRANCE – 14%

The Gender Gap in Religion Around the World

Standard lists of history’s most influential religious leaders – among them Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) – tend to be predominantly, if not exclusively, male.

Many religious groups, including Roman Catholics and Orthodox Jews, allow only men to be clergy, while others, including some denominations in the evangelical Protestant tradition, have lifted that restriction only in recent decades. Yet it appears that the ranks of the faithful are dominated by women.

A recent study by the Pew Research Center showed that in the United States, for example, women are more likely than men to say religion is “very important” in their lives (60% vs. 47%), according to a 2014 Pew Research Center survey. American women also are more likely than American men to say they pray daily (64% vs. 47%) and attend religious services at least once a week (40% vs. 32%).

According to media accounts, women so outnumber men in the pews of many U.S. churches that some clergy have changed decor, music and worship styles to try to bring more men into their congregations.

– source: PewResearch.org

CHRISTIANS Weekly Attendance Daily Prayer Importance of Religion Belief in Heaven Belief in Hell Belief in Angels

MEN WOMEN 46% 53% 51% 61% 61% 68% 89% 91% 76% 78% 84% 88%

MEN WOMEN +7 +10 +7 +2 +2 +4

MUSLIMS Weekly Attendance Daily Prayer Importance of Religion Belief in Heaven Belief in Hell Belief in Angels

MEN WOMEN 70% 42% 71% 72% 76% 76% 93% 94% 88% 88% 85% 86%

MEN WOMEN +28 +1 +1 +1

America is launching new Protestant churches faster than it loses old ones,

attracting many people who previously didn’t attend church anywhere, new LifeWay Research studies show.

More that 4,000 new churches opened their doors in 2014, outpacing the 3,700 that closed, according to estimates from 34 denominational staticians.

On average, 42 percent of those worshipping at churches launched since 2008 previously never attended church or hadn’t attended in many years, LifeWay Research finds in an analysis of 843 such churches from 17 denominations and church planding networks.

Over 4,000 Churches were launched during 2014

– source: LifeWayResearch.com

@generalbaptist #gbministries

Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest trends and research about the American religious beliefs.

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Unified Giving The early Church knew while not all were called to travel the known world preaching the Gospel, all were expected to financially and spiritually support the work of those who were, as well as give toward emergency relief.

Paul mentions on numerous occasions the help he receives from the established churches and the offerings he delivers to the poor. ( Romans 15:23-24, Galatians 2:10, Philippians 4:16) People from all over would come together in support of a few, so that the Gospel could branch out to even more places.

Unified Giving allows us to follow the example of the first believers and gather our resources to send and support more missionaries than ever before to all corners of the world, and to provide relief to the poor, the widowed, the orphaned, and the disaster-stricken.

It enables us to do greater things together than what we can do alone.

Unified Giving

Articles from our Keynoters

GARY MCINTOSH

The McIntosh Church Growth Network

The One Year Rule

A survey of 109 growing smaller churches in middle America

Several years ago Charles Arn and I surveyed pastors and asked them to identify the most frustrating part of their job. Can you guess the most frequent response?

“Getting laypeople to help with the work and ministry of the church.”

You’ve heard it before-the hems and haws from church members when asked to volunteer for this task or that job.

REV! Magazine found that our old assumption about 20% of the members doing 80% of the work is optimistic (Jan/ Feb 2009, 52). It’s even fewer!

One of the major reasons people are reluctant to serve in and through a church is the feeling that they’ll be stuck in the position for ever, or at least a very long time.

Thus, we have found that it is good to establish a One Year Rule. This rule states that no one should be asked to take a church responsibility that lasts longer than a year.

Of course, some positions, say on the church board, may require a longer commitment. However, most positions in a church don’t require such an extended time for accomplishment.

Why is it that church work is dreaded by so many laypeople? One reason is that little effort is given to finding the right place for the right person. The qualification to hold many volunteer positions in the church today seems to be the invitee’s ability to say, “Well,

• Their pastor and members are involved in community activities.

• They were located in towns of 2,500 people or more.

• They were fewer than 10 miles from a Wal-Mart.

• The population was in transition.

• They were pastored by younger pastors.

• The church was “very friendly”, not just friendly.

• The church was open to new methods.

• Evangelism was a number one priority.

• The atmosphere of the church was open and safe for newcomers.

• The church had multiple children’s ministries.

• Mentoring activities were available for newcomers.

• A high percentage of members were involved in ministry.

• Evangelism was the strongest skill of the senior pastor.

• Guests were welcomed and treated as though they were members.

• The church had written plans and goals.

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I guess so.” Once the volunteers have agreed to take on a responsibility, there is little training, accountability, or evaluation for how they are doing. And many members know that accepting a responsibility in church can easily become a life sentence! It doesn’t take too many such experiences for members to become reluctant to accept future opportunities to serve.

What is your approach to inviting people to serve in a ministry role or task in your church?

One insight is that the length of time people are asked to serve affects the response they give. The general rule is, the longer the commitment, the fewer people will say yes.

In fact, if there is no end date to the duty, and the church member is smart enough to know that, it can be next to impossible to find anyone willing to say Yes. So, this rule of thumb says, don’t ask prospective volunteers to commit to any more than one year for any one position.

The One Year Rule

“This rule states that no one should be asked to take a church responsibility that lasts longer than a year.”

Applying this rule will: 1. increase the number of those who say, Yes, 2. decrease the drop-out rate of volunteers throughout the year, 3. increase the percentage of your members/ attendees who have a meaningful role or task 4. improve the morale of those involved.

Each ministry position, from the lowest level of influence to the highest, should be a one-year term. In the minds of your members, one year goes by a lot faster than ten years! If they can try a new activity and have the freedom to leave at the end of the year without guilt, many more will be willing to try it.

This doesn’t mean that all volunteers must give up their position after one year. In fact, if they enjoy the task, if others affirm their skills and gifts in this area, and if they want to continue for another year . . . by all means, let them! In fact, those who are presently filling ministry positions, and who enjoy them, should get “first dibs” on that position the following year. But if there are some who find they just don’t have the time, desire, skills, or gifts for the task, this policy gives everyone an easy way out.

What You Can Do About It Review all the roles and tasks in your church: volunteer, elected, appointed. If you have any position 10

(i.e., committee member, deacon, Sunday school teacher, choir member, small group leader, etc.) that does not have a specific duration, make it one year. If you have any position that presently lasts longer than one year, change it to one year.

I like the idea of some churches that create a written job description (or, better, a ministry description).

• The document begins with the importance of this position to the overall purpose of the church.

• It includes an organizational chart showing how the position relates to those above and below the chain of supervision.

• A specific description of activities and time requirements is given.

• The name and contact information of his or her supervisor is included.

• Questions and answers that might be pertinent are provided.

• Last, a letter from the pastor affirming the important role of each member as a contributing part of a healthy body of Christ concludes the document.

This ministry description booklet can also be given to prospective volunteers to provide more information about the position, its expectations and its responsibilities. Give people a copy of this document to take home and read, think about, and pray over and you will greatly reduce the chance of unpleasant surprises for those who eventually take on the task.

Adapted from What Every Pastor Should Know (Baker Books (2013) by Gary L. McIntosh and Charles Arn used by permission.

Number of Unchurched Friends Research demonstrates that the best way to reach new people for Jesus Christ is by targeting the family and friendship networks of existing church attendees and members. However, in order for a church to grow, church members must be in regular contact with a critical number of friends and family members.

There is a direct correlation between the average number of unchurched friends and family among a

church’s regular worshipers and its growth or decline. The basic guideline states that if the people in a church have an average of three or fewer non-churched friends and family members, the church is most likely to be declining.

If the average is around six, then the church is likely to be plateaued. Yet, if the average of non-churched friends and family members is nine or more, then a church is very likely to be growing.

AVERAGE NUMBER OF NON-CHURCHED FRIENDS & FAMILY MEMBERS 9– 6– 3–

GROWING CHURCH

PLATEAUED CHURCH

DECLINING CHURCH

The longer a church has been in existence, the more likely that current worshipers will have smaller networks of friends or relatives that they can reach for Christ and the Church.

The growth of new church plants is often silently empowered due to the large extended networks that members have with non-churched people in the community. As a church ages, the members tend to invest more of their time within the church, gradually losing contact with people outside the life of the church ministry.

Over time, members and regular worshipers develop fewer connections with those who do not know Christ and, with fewer contacts, there is less potential for effective evangelism to take place.

Activating outreach through the social networks of current members and worshipers is key for effective evangelism in a local church. Pastors can help their regular attendees to discover their networks by using the following strategy.

First, design a sermon series on a theme such as Making Friends for Jesus. A six-part series seems to work best, as it is long enough to cover the subject, but short enough not to lose people’s interest. Use passages that show how others invited friends and family members to find Jesus. For example, John 1:35-51 tells how Andrew found Peter and Philip found Nathanael. Acts 16 tells two delightful stories of how Paul and Silas brought the Philippian jailer and his family to Christ, as well as Lydia and her family.

Second, after the final sermon in the series, ask those in attendance to make a list of all their non-churched friends and family members. One way to do this is to distribute two three-by-five cards to everyone in attendance. Ask each person to think of everyone they know who lives within a ten or twenty mile radius of your church facility, and who is not currently active in church, and to write their names down on the cards making two duplicate lists. Then challenge the congregation to commit to praying for all the people on their lists each week for the coming year. As a sign of their commitment to pray, have them place one of the cards in your offering plate. Be sure to tell them that you are not going to contact the people on their list in any fashion, but that you want to know how many people your church will be praying for in the coming year. Collect the cards, asking those in attendance to keep the other card in their Bible, purse, or other place where they will remember to pray.

Third, after collecting the cards, add up the total number of people listed and divide by the number of cards you receive. This will tell you the average number of friends and family members your people know. Compare this to the averages listed above to determine if you are on the way to being a declining, plateaued, or growing church.

Fourth, the Sunday following the one in which you collected the cards, announce the total number of people your church is praying for in the coming year. Then on a regular time schedule, say, at least once a month, remind the congregation to be praying.

Fifth, once a quarter during the coming year, offer an event to which your people may invite those whom they are remembering in prayer. A Christmas Eve candlelight service, Easter Sunday worship services, Summer outingscamping, alternative Halloween gatherings, etc. are all types of events that are user friendly, and to which your members will feel comfortable inviting their friends and family members.

What is the average number of unchurched friends and family members per worshipper in your church?

What does it mean for your church?

Adapted from What Every Pastor Should Know: 101 Indispensable Rules of Thumb for Leading Your Church (Baker Books April 2013) by Gary L. McIntosh and Charles Arn. Used by permission.

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Articles from our Keynoters

PHIL COOKE

The 7 Most Common Ways Pastors Shoot Themselves in the Foot I love pastors. I work with them regularly and have the greatest admiration for what they do. But when it comes to outside criticism, bad PR, or being attacked in the media, a significant number of instances are caused by pastors themselves – and I’ve discovered a number of common threads those pastors share. Nothing here is a theological or doctrinal issue, but they’re all red flags when it comes to outside media’s perceptions. And in today’s instant message, social media world, those perceptions matter. You may not care today, but I can name you many pastors and leaders down the ministry road who wished they had. Here’s the most common ways pastors and ministry leaders shoot themselves in the foot: 1. They overdo the “respect” thing. I completely understand a pastor’s desire to teach new converts the importance of respecting the office of pastor. But many simply go too far. Before a meeting with one pastor, I actually had his assistant phone to warn me I needed to call him “Pastor,” and never just his name. But the truth is, respect isn’t demanded, it’s earned, and when it’s overdone, those outside the church assume it’s a cult.

That’s why the secular media comes down so hard. Plus, two of the most respected pastors in the country – Jack Hayford in Los Angeles and Jack Graham in Dallas, each 12

just go by “Jack.” No titles, no pomp, no ceremony. That’s because they’ve earned respect and don’t need to remind anyone of their titles.

2. They buy an ostentatious house. Want to toss a red flag to a media bull? Buy a huge house. It doesn’t matter whether you deserve it or not or can afford it or not. If a house is so large it can’t be photographed well from the street, then don’t buy it. It doesn’t mean you should live in a trailer, but the truth is, pastors living in mansions are like catnip to reporters, so you can avoid a lot of PR pain by simply not going over the top.

3. They overdo security. We need to protect our kids at church, and we need to ensure everyone’s safety – especially in this crazy world we live in. But that doesn’t mean you need an armed guard to walk you from your car to the church. I visited a church in California recently with an entire fleet of armed security guards stationed throughout the church. Walking into the lobby, it felt more like airport TSA than a church. I have a friend who’s a former Navy Seal and provides protection for a few top professional golfers. He never looks like a security officer.

He puts on golf clothes, fits into the crowd, and is invisible – until he’s needed. Some pastors should think less about using security to support their ego and more about actual safety for the congregation.

4. They’re not accessible. Too many pastors rarely show up at the office, rarely spend time with their staff, and create a barrier between them and everyone else. If your team is going to execute your vision and communicate your message, they need to spend time with you, understand your DNA, and know how you think. You don’t have to be best friends with everyone on the staff, but if you don’t walk through the factory on a regular basis, you’re undermining your own calling and ministry. Want to build resentment among your staff? Cut them off.

5. They don’t do background checks during hiring.

It would take too long to list all the church employees

that seemed so nice and had a great resume during the interview, but later turned out to be racists, sex addicts, thieves, have anger problems, and more. Call the references. Do a background check. Find out the truth.

Being lazy on the front end of hiring can really damage your reputation down the road.

6. They’re too trendy. I’ve written here about the actual definition of “relevance” and it has nothing to do with preaching in jeans, t-shirts, moving lights, or fog machines. I like all that stuff, but if you’re not careful, over time it can add up to “shallow” in the minds of your community. Look like you honor the spiritual office you hold. Don’t always show up dressed like you’re still in high school. It doesn’t mean you have to go back to a coat and tie, but if you’re in this for the long haul, simply be aware of how people perceive you – because it matters.

7. They make fun of the local media. Huge mistake.

Like them or not, local news media can damage your ministry more than you know – and on the positive side, they can help more than you know. They’re speaking to a lot bigger audience than you are. So speak the truth, but never try to “get back” at local media. It will always come back to haunt you.

My CPA tells me that there are some tax deductions that are perfectly legal, but are a red flag to IRS auditors. It’s the same way with the media. Nothing on this list is sinful or illegal. I’m not telling you not to do these things, I’m just telling you it’s the quickest way to generate negative media attention.

Why go through the pain? Some Christian leaders are criticized because they take a bold stand for their faith.

Others are criticized because they do dumb things.

Which would you rather be? http://www.philcooke.com used by permission

Just Criticizing the Culture Won’t Change the Culture When it comes to engaging in public policy and challenging today’s culture, one of the least likely

strategies is one built around criticism. The growing number of churches and ministries that are constantly “against something” has always been a disturbing trend.

On a regular basis, I see an avalanche of direct mail campaigns and magazine articles by organizations upset about the latest movie, court decision, TV show, cartoon series, or mad at the homosexual community or some other special interest group.

But while a healthy debate is the cornerstone of a vibrant democracy, the truth is, just being critical changes very little. After all, as Christians, we of all people should be known as being for something. We have the greatest story in the world, but instead of focusing on that story, we continually get distracted by turning our focus on issues peripheral to our real calling.

Yes – many of these issues are important. Christians are American citizens, with every right to vote our conscience and speak in the public square. It’s one of the reasons I support My Faith Votes. We also have the right to campaign against candidates or issues for which we disagree. I’m a strong believer in energetic social discourse, and we need to speak up. However, because we’ve focused so much of our time, money, and resources lately against the entertainment industry, political parties, the culture, the media, and other groups, the world is simply turning us off – because we’re just singing the same old song.

I believe a big reason for the rise of this phenomena is the growth of non-profits. I’m all for the non-profit IRS designation, usually for churches and ministries that survive through contributions. Christian ministries and other non-profits do an amazing work in the world, and would certainly be crippled if that status were revoked.

But having worked with media ministries for three decades, one thing I’ve discovered is that “being against something” really gets the phones ringing. Creating an enemy – Hollywood, the gay community, abortion clinics, liberals, or others really gets people worked up, and the money comes in. By contrast, being for something really doesn’t get much response. (Just look at the Donald Trump strategy.)

It’s a real paradox that we criticize mainstream news organizations for reporting on negativity, rather than paying attention to positive stories of hope. For the networks, it’s all about ratings, and negative, sensational stories score higher ratings. But the fact is, when it comes to fundraising, Christians do the same thing. The negative, the lurid, and the evil gets a bigger response.

In fairness, it’s not just religious organizations that should be blamed. Political groups, activists, environmentalists, and others are just as guilty.

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Demonizing an enemy gets the supporters worked up and the cash register rings.

But I suggest we begin re-thinking why we’re here and what our real assignment is on the earth. Are we supposed to reach the lost or complain about the lost? And second, we need to understand that constant criticism – even if we’re right – isn’t always the best strategy for actually changing things.

In other words, if all we do is complain, the culture will simply tune us out. At some point we have to reach out a hand and start a conversation. http://www.philcooke.com posted on Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Leading Your Organization Through Difficult Financial Times Some time ago, I received a call from The New York Times. The reporter was curious if I knew of any pastors or ministry leaders who were changing their tune because the economy wasn’t going so well. That call reminded me how much the world looks at our message as adaptable, changeable, and flexible. When it comes to those pesky issues like absolute truth, can’t we just change God’s principles to accommodate a changing culture, financial problems, or difficult circumstances?

So if you’re facing financial challenges with your organization, here are some suggestions: 1. Be Confident in the Validity of Your Message. If you really feel God has given you a message for this generation, outside circumstances shouldn’t impact the essential truth of that message. In other words, don’t pull back on your core message – in fact, it probably should be stronger than ever. You can re-think the way we package the message, or how you present it, but don’t pull back from the message itself. Be confident in your calling, and bold in your message. You have this platform because your voice matters. Don’t allow fear to hold you back.

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2. Keep results in front of the congregation or donors.

When it comes to cutting back their giving, most people start with ministries they believe aren’t effective. Is your ministry working? Are you doing what you said you would? Are lives being changed? Now more than ever accountability is important. Show the mission outreaches, give them results, and let them see where the money is going. We need to be creating those segments, spots, and features that confirm you’re making a difference and getting results.

3. Streamline Carefully. When money is available, many pastors and ministry leaders start outreaches that aren’t part of the core calling of that leader. They may have been good ideas at the time, and maybe still are. But they aren’t really what you’re called to accomplish in this world.

As a result, they become an expensive time suck, and draw vital resources away from the real focus of the ministry. Be tough. Find those non-essential areas and cut there first.

4. Don’t Cut Your Lifelines. During a period of financial crisis, a major national TV ministry cut 1/3 of their TV stations to save money. But they didn’t realize they were cutting 1/3 of their donor contact. Within weeks, their finances dried up, and will probably never recover.

Always evaluate methods, but keep communicating with your supporters, keep talking to them, and keep those avenues open.

5. Don’t panic. Remember that the newspaper and evening news increase sales during times of controversy and uncertainty, because that’s what generates readers and audiences. It’s why they rarely show the positive side of what’s happening – on any subject. You should be using your pulpit or platform to be inspiring, and encourage people to see God’s hand working in a much more important way. Because they sure won’t see it in the media.

Your goal this year is to discover new avenues your audience or congregation prefers to communicate through. We need to expand from simply TV and direct mail response to online, email, social media, and other interactive ways our audience can connect with you. This isn’t a fad, and it’s growing. So focus on helping your organization navigate this divide.

Others can panic if they want to, but I’m looking at this year to be the year you breakthrough and impact the culture. http://www.philcooke.com Posted on Monday, February 22, 2016

Articles from our Keynoters

TED CUNNINGHAM

IS YOUR CHURCH UNNECESSARILY UNCOMFORTABLE? November 9, 2015 Some people have a phobia towards snakes, spiders, dark places, heights, or clowns. I’m okay with all of those. What do I hate and fear? People singing the happy birthday song to me. It may sound weird for a preacher to say this, but I hate drawing attention to myself. It makes me feel like crawling into a hole.

My phobia escalated when I was ten and my Aunt Bev worked as a waitress at the Red Lobster. My parents took me there for my birthday, and Aunt Bev called me before the meal started and said, “Teddy, I have a surprise for you at the end of your meal tonight.” I froze with fear because I knew what was coming. Dinner was miserable. I sulked through the whole thing. When the waiters and waitresses gathered around the table to sing, my mom pretended it was her birthday and asked them to sing it to her. I was fine with that. She is one of the most socially alert individuals I know. She took the hit for me. Thirty years later, when we’re out for my birthday, she insists that the servers do not sing to me. To this day, I’m the loudest voice when singing that song to others, but loathe it sung to me.

Give me a clown playing with snakes any day of the week.

My fear of the birthday song affects the way I process our guest experience at church. What does a non-

Christian think and feel when they walk into Woodland Hills Family Church on Sunday? What does the nonChristian fear about the church facility and service? He is there because a friend invited him. She is there with her relatives that are visiting from out of town. Neither one of them have been to church in years. The last time they were there it was for a funeral or a wedding.

Here are a few considerations for making your environments and experiences more comfortable and less threatening for guests: Greet guests in a friendly, non-overbearing way.

Not every person coming into your church wants a hug from a stranger. Smiles and a friendly “Hello” are great.

Sometimes smaller churches pounce on guests. This can be quite overwhelming. Give folks some space. Be kind and gracious, without being weird. Pastor Rick Warren often shares the story of visiting a church during his seminary years, and halfway through the service everyone stood up and sang a welcome song to him. I’d rather have someone sing me the birthday song.

Explain the service. My friends at Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia and at Mission Community Church in Gilbert, Arizona do this well. It eases uncertainty for first-time guests. It acknowledges that they’re in the room. It’s more personal than an order of service in the bulletin, and it gives nonChristians a better understanding of expectations when you say, “We’re going to sing a few songs and then have a message from the Bible by our pastor.” This is simple, yet it’s a great courtesy to guests.

Recognize guests, but let them hide. The church I grew up in was small, and our pastor would ask in every service, “Raise your hand if this is your first time or your first time in a long time.” That last part always cracked me up because it was a non-subtle way of calling out backsliders.

After a show of hands, we slapped a visitor sticker on them and invited them to the potluck.

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Without calling them out individually, here are a few ways to recognize guests throughout worship and the message: “Welcome to our church, we’re so glad you’re here.

We’ve thought a lot about you this week as we planned this service.”

“If you have your Bibles, turn to Psalm 19. It will also be on the screen for you to read along.”

If your church has Bibles in the pews for guests: “To find Psalms, open the Bible in the middle and go slightly to the left.”

“If this is your first time reading Hebrew poetry, here’s what the writer is saying …”

Preach God’s Word with passion this coming weekend.

May the repentance of sin and placing faith in Jesus get our utmost attention. Let’s remove every unnecessary, uncomfortable distraction from the proclamation of Gospel.

10 WEDDING CONSIDERATIONS THAT ESTEEM MARRIAGE AS HIGHLY VALUABLE October 5, 2015 Do you know a pastor who no longer officiates weddings? Do you enjoy them, or would you prefer not to do them? Do they seem like an add-on to your ministry?

Weddings honor marriage. The visual of a man separating from his parents and uniting with his wife esteems marriage as highly valuable. Jesus honored marriage by attending a wedding (John 2:1-2). He then blessed the new couple, their parents, and gathered guests by keeping the celebration going when he turned water into wine (John 2:3-11). Your attendance and participation at a wedding honors marriage and blesses the couple.

Unfortunately, many churches and pastors today shy away from officiating weddings. Some keep a preaching schedule and have a leadership assignment that can’t handle the extra workload. Larger churches with multiple weekend services find it difficult to turn the facility over from a wedding chapel to a church auditorium.

Sadly, many church leaders now see weddings as an 16

inconvenience rather than a celebration.

The following 10 considerations may help ease the burden and restore the excitement for weddings: 1. Differentiate between a justice of the peace and a pastor. Many engaged couples today desire a pastor by title but a justice of the peace in practice. A justice of the peace has limited legal power to make a marriage official.

A pastor gives counsel and blessing to a couple.

2. Differentiate between a wedding coordinator and a pastor. Where people stand or how they walk in is not a huge concern for most pastors. When pastors get swamped with details, they tend to retreat. Request that a family member or friend fulfill the role of wedding coordinator, and allow the pastor to focus on the content of the ceremony.

3. If necessary, free up your pastor(s) from rehearsals.

A rehearsal is a great time to learn more about the couple and minister to the family. If you can, try to be there.

If you can’t, ask the wedding coordinator to run the rehearsal is an easy solution.

4. Recruit a deep bench for wedding officiants. We seek volunteers for children’s ministry and small groups, why not recruit a wedding team? Find those who are already ordained (you might be surprised how many pastors are in your pews), and begin a process for training and equipping those who would like to be ordained.

5. Work with your receptionist and/or assistant. When someone calls the church office and says, “We would like to talk to someone about getting married,” train whoever answers the phone to respond with statements like, “Congratulations!” or “When’s the big day?” Avoid statements like, “Well, let me see who is available to talk to you.” or “We don’t host a lot of weddings here because of our weekend services.” Part of creating a marriage and family culture at your church is developing a genuine enthusiasm about marriage on the front lines.

6. Bless your facilities team and validate the extra work. Weddings take a toll on the facility. Turning over the facility from wedding to church service requires extra work. There are many ways to show appreciation for a great attitude in going the extra mile. Consider bringing in pizza or an unexpected gift card.

7. Develop relationships with chapels, gardens, and resorts. Woodland Hills Family Church, where I pastor, meets in a castle. You would think that every princess would want her wedding in a castle. However, there’s a pole smack dab in the middle of our auditorium’s center aisle. This makes for an awkward processional. We have many options for facilities in our town.

8. Use the wedding as a “link” between premarital and newlywed. The gap is unintentional, but many

churches work with engaged couples and couples in crisis to the exclusion of couples who seem to be doing “okay.” Create a newlywed follow-up plan that includes encouraging personal touches within the first year of their marriage. Create custom greeting cards to send to newlyweds throughout the year. Let them know you’re thinking of them.

9. Edit wedding guidelines, and add more grace. A few years ago, my assistant asked me to reconsider the tone of our wedding guidelines. When someone called the office to seek premarital counseling and to schedule their wedding, we sent them our wedding guidelines. This document included where we stood on cohabitation. We never heard back from many couples. This was not our intent. Tough conversations are better in person, not print.

You don’t need to put everything you believe in a policy manual. Don’t change what you believe, but get face to face with the couple so they can hear your heart and see your genuine love and concern for them.

10. Give people a clear path through your marriage ministry. Premarital counseling is the perfect time to give the couple a discipleship plan. From church membership to small groups, challenge couples to press into biblical community. Translate the support of the church for their wedding into even more support for their marriage.

It takes a team, not just a pastor, to honor marriage through a wedding. Bring these 10 considerations to your next board or staff meeting. Ask for their input. Edit this list, and create your own.

May your church be known in the community for great weddings. Let the word on the street be, “If you want to get married, you definitely want to go to that church because they tie an incredible knot!” http://blog.thrivingpastor.com

• TR A IN IN G • C OAC HING • FU ND I NG • NE T WO RK I NG • A S S E SSI N G • T R AI N I N G • C O AC HI N G • FU N D I N G • N E T W O R KIN G • AS S E S S I N G •

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A PERSONAL INVITATION from our Summit Host by: Joey Graves

Transgender rights. Gay marriage. Abortion. Prayer in schools. The Ten Commandments displayed in public. Up is down. Down is west. And there is no black and white. I think I have lost my mind!

I often think I am the ONLY person who thinks differently than society. Until… I connect with someone from my General Baptist family. Then, and often only then, do I remember that I am not alone. When I connect with my General Baptist family I realize that there are others who hold the same truths that I hold. There are others who hold the Bible as the standard and do their best to lead people toward a God centered world view. I need those connections.

I haven’t always had those connections. I remember the first Summit (then the GA) I attended. I didn’t know anybody. I was only there because it was hosted in my area and the association needed volunteers. Nevertheless, it was there I met my first mentor, my first coach. Suddenly as a young pastor I had a pastor. And he loved me and helped me become who I am.

This mentor and new friend had a different perspective.

He had seen things and had been exposed to strategies and teachers and books that I had never experienced. I wanted to know what he knew. So I intentionally made a connection. Then I was introduced to others with different perspectives and different experiences and different gifts.

Today, some of those connections are my closest friends, confidants, and prayer warriors.

THE SUMMIT IS UNIQUE. IT IS MORE THAN GREAT TEACHING. Although this year we will be featuring especially great main stage teachers/preachers!

Gary McIntosh will offer insights on making a God connection in the midst of this thing called church. Ted Cunningham will remind us about how to connect our faith at home. Phil Cook will talk about how to connect in our communities in relevant ways. We will also experience a very special focus on children’s ministry, to help us make sure that our kids are connecting with God on their level.

THE SUMMIT IS UNIQUE. IT IS MORE THAN PRACTICAL TRAINING. Although this year we will be featuring especially great practical training in our workshop settings. Tracks have been organized to feature specialized training in:

• Children’s Ministry • Women’s Ministries • Church Growth • Local Church Ministry • Personal Enrichment • Apologetics • Missions • Youth – for teens only!

THE SUMMIT IS UNIQUE. IT IS MORE THAN GREAT MISSIONARY CHALLENGES. Although again this year we will gather for a powerful commissioning service as we collectively set apart and send forth those who this next year will plant churches in the United States or relocate to other countries to advance the Great Commission.

The Summit offers connection. Connection with larger vision, larger impact around the world, and larger perspective. It offers a great place to network with people who have the same goals, the same struggles and the same beliefs. This year the summit will be just as focused on making connections as it will offering strategic worship, preaching and teaching.

Because of the connections developed through The Summit our General Baptist family is more connected to one another than has been the case for a generation!

Bring your business cards. Bring your enthusiasm to connect. And bring your team. This Summit will be the opportunity to multiply what God has for you through connections.

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This year at the Mission & Ministry Summit we will be showcasing the free children’s curriculum called KidSpring! With KidSpring each Child will experience Jesus at their level. During the morning and afternoon sessions on Monday and Tuesday, every child will participate in a small group fun activity designed to help the child to connect with peers and leaders. These small groups will be followed by large group worship services.

Each worship service will include music, encourage audience participation, as well as video and live teaching.

The video and live actors work together to share the message of the gathering. Every worship service will be followed by returning to small groups, where they will discuss the lessons with the group and group leader. Each parent should ask two questions after every session: “Did you have fun?” And “What did you learn?”

After a long day of fun and learning, the children will enjoy a relaxed evening session with themed movie parties, such as pajama night, frozen treats, or popcorn party!

On Wednesday the elementary kids will go offsite for an Australian Adventure (lunch will be provided off site for this day).

We have already begun praying for you and your kids as we prepare to engage the future generations.

As an added bonus, following the Tuesday morning general session we are featuring a full production of the KidSpring curriculum. We will also have a conversation on the advantages of using KidSpring in our churches, how to implement it, and success stories from General Baptist churches who are already using KidSpring.

UNITED STATES • HONDURAS • JAMAICA • INDIA • PHILIPPINES • HONG KONG • SAIPAN • MEXICO Since 1823, General Baptists have been growing our ministry here in the United States, continually trying to reach new people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Since 1911, we have been sending missionaries overseas, to go where many of us will never go, to reach people groups many of us will never meet. And people are being won to Christ because of YOUR gifts to Unified Giving.

GENERAL BAPTIST MINISTRIES 573.785.7746 • WWW.GENERALBAPTIST.COM

“General Baptist Ministries exists to maximize Kingdom impact by starting, equipping and inspiring local churches to accomplish the Great Commission.”

Three reasons for belonging.

1. Doing together what we cannot do alone.

No one church can accomplish individually what we accomplish collectively.

Can one church singlehandedly…

• Supervise the gathering of 42 churches in India?

• Undertake the management of an orphanage in Honduras?

• Plant a series of fast-growing, high-impact churches to reach thousands with the gospel?

• Guide the revitalization of hundreds of existing churches?

While no one church can undertake all these ministries singlehandedly, we do together what we cannot do alone!

THOSE OLD DENOMINATIONS

2. We are not alone in the struggle. As part of a network of churches we are exposed to the help and encouragement needed to be more effective in our local ministries. Broad connections among and between General Baptists from different parts of the nation and different parts of the world provide a synergy of effort and a keen reassurance that we are not alone in the struggle.

3. A denomination offers services and programs.

• Conferences and events offered at very modest costs and in convenient locations.

• Consultation services customized to our denominational settings.

• Missionary presence to assist local ministries to more effectively reach the world.

• Church Planter connections to impact the course of our nation.

• Construction and expansion loans.

For more information visit: www.GeneralBaptist.com.

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Monday

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | General Session I – Keynote Speaker: Gary McIntosh 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Workshop 1 lunch 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Workshop 2 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Exhibit Hall Open 3:00 p.m. | Afternoon Break (in exhibit hall) 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | General Session II – Keynote Speaker: Ted Cunningham

Not Registered for

THE SUMMIT yet?

stop by the summit website

www.GBSummit.org

Tuesday

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | General Session III – Keynote Speaker: Ted Cunningham 10:10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Make a SPLASH! – Kids Ministry Extravaganza 11:10 a.m. | G. A. Business Session lunch 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Workshop 3 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Exhibit Hall Open 3:00 p.m. | Afternoon Break (in exhibit hall) 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | General Session IV – Keynote Speaker: Phil Cooke Missions Commissioning Service 8:30 p.m. | Missions Reception – Exhibit Hall

register online, or download the form and mail it in. for more information call

CONGREGATIONAL

MINISTRIES

573.785.7746

Wednesday

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | General Session V – Keynote Speaker: Phil Cooke 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Workshop 4 lunch 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Workshop 5 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Exhibit Hall Open 3:00 p.m. | Afternoon Break (in exhibit hall) 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | General Session VI – Keynote Speaker: Clint Cook

Summit Registration

Registration for all Participants is located in the Sloan Convention Center at the hotel crosswalk entrance. sunday evening | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. monday 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. tuesday 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The information desk will be manned 8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. each day.

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WHY SUMMIT WORKSHOP TRACKS?

By Dr. Franklin R. Dumond Director of Congregational Ministries

In 2007 leaders of the General Baptist denomination took intentional steps to re-engineer the denomination’s annual meeting. The meeting originated in 1870 when a General Association of General Baptists was organized in Junction, Illinois.

For many years this General Association functioned as a convention of sorts where various independent General Baptist agencies made their annual reports to the assembled delegates. With the creation of the General Baptist Council of Associations in 1996 the business portion of the annual meeting was, for the most part, unnecessary for the denomination to function since the operational detail of denominational life was assigned to the Council of Associations and the executive staff that comprised the Leadership Team.

A new format that utilized powerful worship, practical training and intentional missionary contact caused the attendance at the annual meeting to double in just two years!

Now in its 10th year of operation the Mission & Ministry Summit continues to provide missionary connections and to offer powerful worship in large group settings while also providing practical training in workshop environments grouped into workshop tracks.

Why offer workshop tracks? Grouping workshops into similar subject areas allows workshop leaders to present more depth in each session. For example, workshops are often divided into parts or segments so that a broader scope of information can be shared.

Workshop tracks also allows individuals to balance their workshop experience by choosing a variety or to specialize by focusing on one particular track.

Can tracks benefit me and my church? Many times workshop tracks will offer ‘competing’ workshops.

That is two or more workshops dealing with the same subject area are offered at the same time. In this case many church leaders will work to divide and conquer by sending different members of their Summit team to different workshops. Handouts can be shared and important information communicated so the learning can be multiplied.

Another benefit of tracks is the benefit of a shared experience by members who are engaged in ministry. For example, this year’s tracks will offer some very in-depth presentations on children’s ministry. A children’s ministry team that attends these tracks together will benefit significantly!

What tracks can I expect this year? In 2016 workshop tracks will include offerings dealing with • Children’s Ministry with special offerings for smaller and larger churches.

• Women’s Ministries that will include topics on prayer and community connections • Church Growth with presentations from noted authors, recognized consultants and General Baptist pastors.

• Local Church Ministry in such areas as bi-vocational ministry, healthy small church, gender issues, volunteer placement, recovery ministries, capital fund raising and family issues.

• Personal Enrichment will provide some important disciple making sessions on living a meaningful life, stress management, friendship factors among other topics.

• Apologetics will offer three sessions with the general theme of Answers from Genesis.

• Missions will, of course, offer sessions that provide up-close-and-personal connections to missionaries and national workers from around the world. Some of these sessions will deal with programming and planning for short term missions. Others will focus on the 10/40 Window and our General Baptist outreach there.

• Youth—for teens only! Provides specific training for Jr./Sr. High Students along with a fun afternoon off-site event on Wednesday.

Pre-registration for individual workshops is not required but registration for the Mission & Ministry Summit is now open on-line, by phone (573-785-7746) or by mail to 100 Stinson Drive, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901.

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SUMMIT WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Workshop 1

MONDAY 10:30 - 11:30 am Safety in Kids Ministry - Ballroom B Although safety may not be the most exciting topic, it does however, have to be your number one priority and value in kids’ ministry. Discover how you can put a parent’s mind at ease and turn a crying child into a willing child by implementing safety policies and procedures throughout your Kids Ministry. We will explore some practical principles that will increase the retention rate of first time guests and keep your church from being on the nightly news!

Women at War: Un-sissified Prayer

by Patti Thornton - Ballroom C Take your prayer life from to half-hearted to battleready. Let’s talk about how to use your heartbreak as ammunition for spiritual warfare, and how the Armor of God outfits us as front line prayer warriors.

The Healthy Small Church

by Dennis Bickers - Ballroom D Examine some of the issues that cause churches to become unhealthy and discover the steps needed to turn that around.

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Saipan: The Legacy Lives On

by Glenn Jenkins - Crosswinds Room An insightful view of the ministry of General Baptists in Micronesia and the present state of recovery in Saipan and its strategic future ministry.

Summit Youth - Icebreaker Session

by Justin Benefiel - Hartland Room A special time of getting acquainted with one another while also previewing the week ahead.

When Ministry is Messy: Celebrate Recovery

by Tammy Scheller & David Depoister - Room A (Hotel) The local church has the awesome responsibility to carry out the work of Christ in our communities.

There are so many around us who suffer from hurts, habits, and hang-ups as a result from our sinful nature.

Celebrate Recovery is a ministry that is specifically focused on bringing deliverance to people who are bound up in sin. This is not just for the addicts and alcoholics. This is for anyone who seriously wants to break the chains of bondage in their lives. This ministry has the potential to bring impressive growth and transformation in the church and in your community.

The Friendship Factor: Why Christians Need Each Other

by Brenda Poinsett - Room B (Hotel) Why are friendships vital to our spiritual and emotional health? How do they help us in serving the Lord? How do we make and maintain connections that will help us thrive?

Learning How to Love My Neighbor

by Becky Coomer - Room C (Hotel) Come discover how diasporas, those displaced from their native land, are quickly becoming the fastest means to take the Gospel to all nations. As nations struggle with where to place refugees, the church is learning: how to love new types of neighbors, how to recognize the difference between media induced fear and genuine human need, and how to cross cultural boundaries and verbalize the Gospel to those who have never heard. Learn how you fit in a globalized world needing to know your Savior!

Workshop 2

MONDAY 1:30 - 3:00 pm Together We Can Rock The World

by Patti Thornton - Ballroom B Throughout decades, women have connected to support and mentor each other, to pray, and to put feet and hands to their passion. Join Patti Thornton and Women’s Ministries representatives to discuss connection strategies for today’s spiritual battles.

PART ONE: The Great Commission Engine

by Bart Rendel - Ballroom C Join Bart Rendel, the co-founder and President of Intentional Churches, as we learn the practical fundamentals of a growing church. We will look at Matthew 28, Acts 2, and Luke 15 to discover transferrable ideas any church can use to grow its eternal, Kingdom impact. This is part one of a two-part workshop series.

Children’s Track Church Growth Track Local Church Track Youth Track (teens only) Missions Track Personal Track Apologetics Track Women’s Track

Raising The Bar of Safety and Security In Your Church

by Bob Wild - Ballroom D We have an ongoing battle in ministry today and churches face increased hostility from lawsuits and the threat of being sued. Every church needs a proper “battle plan” that helps establish good policies and procedures. Nationally recognized ministry risk consultant, Bob Wild, will give your church leaders the tools needed to avoid disaster. Make plans to attend this very important workshop.

Help! I might need an Executive Pastor!

by Scott Millford - Crosswinds Room It can be really difficult to know if bringing an Executive Pastor into the mix is a need, a want, a good idea or a bad idea. This session will ask a handful of key questions to help you decide if hiring an Executive Pastor is a good idea for your church. You will leave with actual job description samples as we review the different functions and key responsibilities of an Executive Pastor.

Summit Youth - Could I Be A Missionary?

by GBIM staff & Interns - Hartland Room Up-close-and-personal connections to real, live missionaries will be featured in this unique breakout.

Explore how to recognize the call of God and how to prepare for missionary service. Also gain a better understanding of the life and ministry of missionaries in a foreign field.

Genesis: Where History Begins

by Bob Gillespie - Room A (Hotel) This talk explains that the events as described in Genesis 1-11 are real historical accounts and are foundational to the rest of scripture and its authority.

It is exciting for Christians to see that observational science confirms what God’s Word actually says. The rest of this talk covers our true history: creation, the fall, the Flood, the Ice Age, and the tower of Babel. It answers some of the most asked questions: How old is the earth?

Why is there death and suffering in the world? How did Noah fit all those animals on the ark? What about the dinosaurs? and more...

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Gender Issues

by Carl Nichols - Room B (Hotel) With an ever changing culture, how do we remain true to a never changing message? In this session Carl Nichols, pastor of Relevant Church, will address key issues regarding the gay and lesbian community including how to reach people from the LGBT community, how to engage them in healthy conversations, as well as policies on marriage and serving that can help your church be full of grace and truth at the same time. You will also hear real life stories of life change of people who once struggled with their sexual identity.

Growing God’s Church

by Gary McIntosh - Ballroom D Hear first hand from one of the premier church growth consultants in the nation as Dr. McIntosh shares insights from his most recent research on how people are coming to faith in Christ today.

ELIC

by David Raisor - Room C (Hotel) Learn how you can serve the world with your English ability. Come and listen to David as he describes different opportunities for you to invest in the lives of students overseas. This is your opportunity to become a missionary, either for a few weeks or a few months.

Summit Youth - Take the Shot!

by Mat Murphy - Hartland Room So many times we idolize sports figures who were able to hit the turn around jumper at the buzzer to win the game. This interactive breakout is for students who want to be difference makers. In this session Mat will discuss how we can hit these “game-changer” shots that change our world and the world around us.

Workshop 3

Mission One

by Jim Pratt - Room A (Hotel) From internships to mission trips - GBIM, through the Mission One Program, has opportunities for taking the gospel to the world. Opportunities for mission involvement in Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica, Philippines, India, Niger as well as China will be discussed.

TUESDAY 1:30 - 3:00 pm Kids Ministry for Churches under 100

by Kids Staff - Ballroom B Kids Ministry in a church less than 100 can be a challenge. However, if you want to reach the next generation, you have to accept the challenge. Join us as we reveal the ONE thing you must do to make a splash and connect with the next generation. It’s so simple yet it will blow your mind! You will learn key steps on how to begin where you are, how to recruit volunteers, and how to plan for growth. See you for the beginning phase of growing your kids’ ministry.

PART TWO: The Great Commission Engine

by Bart Rendel - Ballroom C Now What? - Join Bart Rendel, the co-founder and President of Intentional Churches, for part two of our workshop series. We will talk through the application of the tools and practical learning from part one of our workshop series. This interactive session will focus on implementation within your church. It will be based on input and questions from those in attendance. You will walk away with something you can immediately do to grow your Kingdom impact.

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Building What You Can Afford

by John Hessell and Mark Adams - Crosswinds Room Learn from those who have done it and are doing it!

Explore how to expand or improve your church facilities for ministry, and how to pay for those improvements.

Do I Need a Titus 2 Woman since I have the Internet?

by Brenda Poinsett - Room B (Hotel) A woman has an abundance of information on the internet available to her about every aspect of life. With the stroke of a few keys she can find out how to lead a Bible study, write a resume, prepare a holiday meal, improve her marriage, and have numerous friends. Why then would she need to have an older woman to teach and to train her as Paul instructs in Titus 2:2-5?

Bivocational Ministry in the 21st Century

by Dennis Bickers - Room C (Hotel) The need for bivocational ministry is growing throughout denominations. In this session learn what this ministry looks like, and how churches and individuals can prepare for it.

Workshop 4

WEDNESDAY 10:30 - 11:30 am Foundations of Kids Ministry: The Pastor and Children’s Ministry - Ballroom B Did you ever think that Lead Pastors don’t have a role in kids’ ministry? Well, if you have, then think again!

Learn how it is essential for the Lead Pastor to promote and embrace the mission and vision of your church’s kids’ program. Whether you are a Lead Pastor, Kids Director, or kids volunteer, come hang out as we discuss how a Lead Pastor just might be the key to a successful kids’ ministry.

He Said What?!: Jesus’ Amazing Words to Women

by Brenda Poinsett - Ballroom C One way we can strive to thrive is by listening in on Jesus’ conversations with women. His short pithy words, while often startling, left a woman feeling encouraged, hopeful and renewed. This possibility is still available for the woman today who has “ears to hear.”

Genesis - Does It Really Matter?

by Bob Gillespie - Ballroom D Our nation is more divided today than we have ever been since the Civil War. One dividing issue is “Where do we find truth - in ourselves or God’s Word?”. This presentation explains what compromise on God’s Word has done to America and why the book of Genesis is vital to the gospel message.

Help! I AM an Executive Pastor!

by Scott Millford - Crosswinds Room It’s your first day in the Executive Pastor chair. What do you do? How will you get started? Or, maybe you have been in the role for a while, but you want to up your game. What can you do to “skill up” and add true value to your church, especially with a probable considerable level of confusion around your role. This session will equip you with plenty of ideas you can take back and implement right away. For example: A Ministry Planning process to follow, position summary templates, and performance review resources.

Summit Youth - 12 Keys to Significance

by Chad Hensley - Hartland Room We live in a world that is success oriented. However, success has a tendency to be me oriented. There is more to life than my success. Dare to go beyond success; live a life towards significance.

Honduras Missions: Beyond the Gate

by Rodney and Teresa Walls - Room A (Hotel) Exciting times are ahead in our efforts in Honduras as Rodney & Teresa Walls look to develop ministries beyond-the-gate ministering to the communities using the medical clinic while also providing support and leadership to our pastors and churches.

First Things First: Maintaining Evangelism as a Priority

by Gary Baldus and Terrell Somerville - Room B (Hotel) Learn from experienced pastors how evangelism remains a priority even in the midst of a building program and even as ministries develop in the established church.

Strategy for the Impact

by Kris and Nicole Yeomans - Room C (Hotel) Join Kris and Nicole Yeomans as they lay out a blueprint of GBIM’s plans to embark on a mission to complete the unfinished task of taking the gospel to the ends of the earth - the 10/40 window - where a majority of the world’s Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists live.

Kris and Nicole will discuss plans to launch a training program designed to equip Asian believers to share their faith as they go out to work in some of the most restricted nations on earth. They will also talk about General Baptist partnerships and plans for extending our ministry opportunities throughout West Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Come and hear about what God is doing as we move forward with reaching beyond established evangelism methods and guide our focus to more unique strategies for building the Kingdom throughout this virtually untouched area of the world.

Workshop 5

WEDNESDAY 1:30 - 3:00 pm Kids Ministry for Churches over 100 - Ballroom B If you want your church to grow, you must grow your Kid’s Ministry. Join our team as we take you on a journey through the phases of a child’s life and how we must create environments with this in mind. We will also explore key aspects of mission/vision, staff structure, service planning, recruiting volunteers, and plans for growth. You will also learn how ONE simple decision exploded our kids’ programs. Be a champion for kids and be here!

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Growing God’s Church

by Gary McIntosh - Ballroom C Leading author and church growth consultant Gary McIntosh presents findings from his recent research and discusses applications for local churches as he explores how people come to faith in Christ today.

Science Confirms the Bible

by Bob Gillespie - Ballroom D This presentation is designed to clearly explain the difference between observational science and historical science. Many believe that evolution is scientific and based on facts and that a biblical view of origins is just a religious idea based on faith. This talk will show that what we observe confirms the Bible’s account of origins, exposing the different false beliefs about origins as unscientific.

The Healthy Pastor: Easing the Stresses of Ministry

by Dennis Bickers - Crosswinds Room Learn from an experienced pastor as we look at some of the pressures pastors face and how these can be addressed as we also discuss why it is so important that pastors practice good self-care.

Going Beyond Borders: From Receiving to Sending

by Joyce Porcadilla and Phil Warren - Room A (Hotel) The church in the Philippines has reached the place in its development where they are ready to become senders of missionaries as well as receivers. What does that future look like? Joyce and Phil lay out the roadmap for moving from receiver to sender in the Philippine context and how that will affect the General Baptist movement.

“I Cannot Be Happy While Feeling the Best Years of Life Are Over.”

by Bob Poinsett - Room B (Hotel) Feel this way? Challenge your thinking by what research, the Bible, and your Christian peers have to say about finding happiness in life’s second half.

Beyond Your Wreathed Door

by Jennifer Freeman - Room C (Hotel) Find and create involvement for the women of your church outside their church doors through community outreach by learning hands-on ideas for taking Jesus to people who need Him.

Right Person, Right Place

by Dwayne Foster - Hartland Room The church should seek to have qualified and passionate people serving in the right positions. In this session we will discover four key personality traits that impact our serving. We will also explore how to identify a dominate trait and how to communicate well with people of different personality traits.

GET CONNECTED #GBSUMMIT 28

Because you gave General Baptists have always been served by capable, godly pastors yet the nature of our work has often left the pastor at a disadvantage. Using the farmer-preacher model of the early 19th century our churches were planted by bivocational church planters and were served by bivocational and circuit riding preachers. After Benoni Stinson began our General Baptist movement in the 1820s various efforts were organized to establish new churches and to advance the gospel message of a General Atonement.

In 1832 Liberty Association heard the report of its founding pastor’s missionary work. The minutes of that meeting summarized his report as follows “Heard the report of Elder Benoni Stinson, of his progress in traveling and preaching the gospel since our last association. He reports that, owing to pecuniary embarrassments, he was prevented from giving much of his time to preaching until the fourth of June.”

While a denomination such as ours cannot address the “pecuniary embarrassment” of low or no salary for those who serve as our pastors, the denomination can address

the need for encouragement to our preaching pastors.

To help meet that on-going need for encouragement and support The Barnabas Project has been developed with the intention of contacting every General Baptist pastor 2-3 times each year to share words of encouragement, to offer needed avenues for resources and to ask a persistent question “How may I pray for you?”

Because you gave to our denominational mission through Unified Giving you have been part of the lifechanging ministry of The Barnabas Project that is extended to our pastors for whom we have current contact information. Thanks for doing your part!

MAKE A CONNECTION For more information regarding support of our denominational mission through Unified Giving : Contact Rev. Clint Cook, Executive Director 573-785-7746 | 100 Stinson Drive | Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 | www.GeneralBaptist.com 29

A home-grown religious movement had its beginnings in the 1820s in Evansville, Indiana.

General Baptists came into existence because of the revival preaching of Elder Benoni Stinson. He boldly and frequently proclaimed the good news of the gospel that “Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for everyman” with the result that “whosoever will may be saved”. This preaching from texts found in the New Testament books of Hebrews and Romans resulted in the planting of new churches, a networking with other like-minded groups, and the birthing of a national organization in 1870.

But why General Baptist? The name is actually a summary of the core theology of the movement reflecting belief in a general atonement that anyone who is willing to trust Jesus as Savior may be saved.

This theological name stood in contrast to those groups of the 19th century who advocated a particular or limited atonement for in their theology only a few, not the many, could be saved.

Though the term “atonement” is not in the General Baptist Statements of Faith, few terms are more important to our historical identity. The “general” in General Baptist is derived from our position on atonement. Atonement can mean the compensation, the restitution paid, or expiation given by God through Jesus Christ for our sin. Atonement can describe the actions of Jesus to secure our salvation, and thus the redemptive work of Jesus can be described as the atonement.

Many Protestants continue to disagree over whether atonement is general (i.e., for all) or particular (i.e., only for those who are “elect”).

General Baptists argue that the atonement is for all, but the benefits of the atonement “can be received only through repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Statement of Faith IV).

Because we believe in a general atonement we are naturally evangelistic and intentionally missionary.

How else will our world hear the Good News?

For more information visit: www.GeneralBaptist.com.

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THEOLOGICAL CONNECTIONS

General Baptist investment fund

Your Church — New or Renovation

Your Parsonage • Church Transportation

Funds are

Available

GENERAL BAPTIST INVESTMENT FUND, Inc.

100 Stinson Drive • Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

573-785-7746

Barbara Williams, Treasurer Steve Naff, President/CEO

Deposits accepted for demand certificate of deposit Paying 2.50% • No Penalty for withdrawl

SUMMIT CHILDREN All children will be checked in through KidCheck secure child check-in system. All Summit volunteers involved in children’s ministries have had background checks.

Children’s Registration is located in the Sloan Convention Center at the hotel crosswalk entrance. Children’s fees are not included in Church Block registrations.

Nursery and Toddlers | Birth – 2 years No Registration fee The nursery is located in the Sloan Convention Center.

Meeting Rooms 3 and 4.

Children will be with their parents for all meals.

Preschool | 3-5 years No registration fee The preschool room is located in the Sloan Convention Center.

Meeting Rooms 5.

Children will be with their parents for all meals.

Elementary | K – 5th Grade Registration fee - $55 The Elementary room is located in the Sloan Convention Center Meeting Rooms 1 and 2.

Children will be with their parents for all meals -except Wednesday lunch.

Regular play clothes will be suitable for all sessions - including the fun day on Wednesday.

MONDAY 9:00 am – 11:30 am | On-site worship and activities • lunch with parents 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm | On-site worship and activities • dinner with parents 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Themed Movie Night TUESDAY 9:00 am – 11:30 am | On-site worship and activities • lunch with parents 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm | On-site worship and activities • dinner with parents 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Themed Movie Night WEDNESDAY 9:00 am – 4:30 pm | Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo Zoo allows guided interaction with animals so there will be lots of fun and learning at the same time!

Time will also include a cave tour of Mammoth Onyx Cave.

• dinner with parents 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Themed Movie Night

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SUMMIT YOUTH Registration Fee - $55 Youth Registration is part of the adult on-site registration in the Sloan Convention Center at the hotel crosswalk entrance. Youth fees are not included in Church Block registrations.

We have updated the Summit Youth program to be more in line with the needs of students attending the Summit. Through feedback and discussion with students and Summit volunteers, we have incorporated changes the students want the Summit to provide.

• Summit youth will now be a part of most General Worship sessions and are included in the workshop sessions with a specific track just for students.

• We have kept a little of the fun and special features for the students so it’s not too boring!

MONDAY 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Main session worship - reserved seating!

10:30 am – 11:30 am | Workshop 1 Student Track: Icebreaker Session – Holiday Inn Hartland Salon • lunch with parents 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Workshop 2 Student Track: Could I Be In Missions?

– Holiday Inn Hartland Salon • dinner with parents 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Main session worship - reserved seating!

TUESDAY 9:00 am – 10:00 am | Main session worship - reserved seating!

10:10 am – 11:00 am | Make a SPLASH! – Kids Ministry Extravaganza 11:10 am – G. A. Business Session • lunch with parents 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Workshop 3 Student Track: Take The Shot – Holiday Inn Hartland Salon • dinner with parents 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Main session worship - reserved seating!

WEDNESDAY 9:00 am – 10:15 am | Main session worship - reserved seating!

10:30 am – 11:45 am | Workshop 4 Student Track: 12 Keys to Significance – Holiday Inn Hartland Salon 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Mammoth Caves Tour and Pizza Picnic Students will meet at Sloan Convention Center in the Main Ballroom to leave for Mammoth Caves. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, the tour is 2 hours. The cave is a constant 54˚ so dress accordingly (light jacket).

Students will return to Sloan Convention Center at 4:30 p.m.

• dinner with parents 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Main session worship - reserved seating!

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MEET OUR 2016 SU Clint Cook

- Executive Director of General Baptist Ministries Born in 1962, Clint was called into the ministry at the age of 16 and ordained as a minister at the age of 20. Graduating from St. Louis Christian College in 1986 Clint began his first pastorate at Real Life Church in Springfield, IL in September 1985. At that time the church was known as First General Baptist Church.

In 2011, Clint was called by the General Baptist Council of Associations to act as the interim Executive Director following the resignation of Dr. James Murray. After less than a year serving as Interim, Clint was elected to fill the Executive Director position on a permanent basis.

As Executive Director, Clint has continued his ministry as Lead Pastor at Real Life Church and continued and expanded the Next Level Coaching Network among General Baptist pastors and leaders.

Phil Cooke An internationally known writer and speaker, Phil Cooke has actually produced media programming in nearly 50 countries around the world. During that time—through his company Cooke Pictures in Burbank, California—he’s helped some of the largest nonprofit organizations and leaders in the world use the media to tell their story in a changing, disrupted culture.

Through his best-selling book Branding Faith: Why Some Churches and Non-Profits Make a Difference and Other's Don't, Phil helps churches and ministry leaders understand that they have to "tell a better stories.”

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UMMIT KEYNOTERS Ted Cunningham Ted Cunningham is the founding pastor of Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson, MO. He is the author of Fun Loving You, Trophy Child and Young and In Love and coauthor of four books with Dr. Gary Smalley: The Language of Sex; From Anger to Intimacy; Great Parents, Lousy Lovers and As Long as We Both Shall Live.

He is a graduate of Liberty University and Dallas Theological Seminary. Ted and his wife, Amy, have been married for 17 years and live in Branson, MO with their two children, Corynn and Carson.

Gary McIntosh Dr. Gary L. McIntosh, has over 27 years of experience in the field of church growth consultation, coaching of church leaders, and workshop presentations. As President of the McIntosh Church Growth Network, Gary has analyzed over 1,000 churches, representing some 87 denominations throughout the United States, Canada and Southeast Asia. His articles have appeared in Global Church Growth, New Results, the Win Arn Growth Report, Leadership, Church Growth America, Growing Churches, and numerous denominational publications.

Gary is currently Professor of Christian Ministry and Leadership at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, where he teaches courses in the field of Pastoral Theology.

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G B IM @ SUMMIT 2016 International Ministries is excited about the Missions and Ministry Summit! We will offer a broad spectrum of missions breakouts and we will have representatives from seven of our mission fields and international partners present at this year’s summit.

We hope you notice a definite theme from our GBIM offerings directly related to the Summit theme of ‘Connect’ and the General Baptist theme of ‘Staying Connected and Staying Strong.’ With that in mind, there will be representatives from some of our long term mission partnerships in Saipan, Philippines, and Jamaica.

Plus, representatives of some of our newer developing opportunities in Honduras, Mexico, Hong Kong, India, and possibly Niger, West Africa. English Language Institute China will also be with us again in 2016 to talk about partnership opportunities that are unique in their scope and perspective.

The International Ministries portion of the missions offering will go to Jamaica this year as we come alongside the Jamaica Association of General Baptists to help them celebrate their Golden Anniversary or “Jubilee” as they like to call it. Representatives from Jamaica will be present to bring us greetings and we look forward to helping them celebrate this ministry milestone.

When you look at our breakout offerings you will find opportunities to learn more about some of our “older” fields like Saipan and the Philippines. But you will also find that we are brining a new and fresh perspective to the opportunities God has given us – even when it comes to some of our older partnerships.

A key passage in the Bible about the coming of Christ is Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Since we are part of God’s kingdom expansion program it is vital for us to also be part of His plan for the gospel to be preached “unto all nations.” Strong’s Dictionary defines the word, here 36

translated “nations,” as “a tribe, nation, people group.” So the obvious question for anyone desiring the completion of God’s task for the church is, “Where are those who are still unreached?”

The answer is found in a cluster of hard to evangelize nations that has come to be called the “10/40 Window.” As General Baptists, we have many opportunities to impact the 10/40 window in a variety of unique ways – countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, India, Niger, Nigeria, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the list goes on. You will immediately protest that we have no work in most of these places – and you would be correct. But we hope to help you understand at our break out sessions this year the manifold opportunities God has blessed General Baptists with to help do our part to finish the task. As you look through various offerings from GBIM in this issue of the Messenger, you will find that we have focused on just this – opportunities. We hope you will join us in some of our sessions and learn more! Learn how you can become involved as senders and goers alike – whether short term or long term.

It is true that we are not alone in this great task. Billy Graham led the church by bringing together Christians from 150 nations at the Lausanne Convention of 1974. As a result of that convention, evangelicals from around the world agreed that: “Therefore, in the light of this our faith and our resolve, we enter into a solemn covenant with God and with each other, to pray, to plan and to work together for the evangelization of the whole world. We call upon others to join us. May God help us by his grace and for his glory to be faithful to this our covenant! Amen, Alleluia!”

GBIM is committed to both strengthening our connection with our many long term partners in the Gospel, but also committed to the great call to help finish the task our Lord set before us. To preach the gospel to the whole world! Let’s do our part!

FREE DOM LI N K

The Spirit Falls • The Word Speaks • Bondage Breaks

The 2016 Women’s Ministries Summit Offering is an investment in freedom.

Freedom from the bondages of sin, and those forced from outside evil.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

Luke 4:18-19

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.

And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

*funds will benefit local, national, and international General Baptist ministries

Women’s Ministries encourages women to be enthralled by Jesus, connected for strength and compelled to outward movement.

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• The I AM Series covers relevant issues backed up with biblical foundation.

• Writers in the I AM Series will use either or both the KJV/NIV. • The I AM Series is directed to help students know their place in their relationship with God, the great I AM. We also relate stories to show who we are and what we are.

• The I AM Series is written by GB authors & published by Stinson Press, the GB print arm.

• When purchasing books from the I AM Series you are keeping your money at work within General Baptist Ministries.

• International Sunday school lessons for adults (30+) • Available in KJV or NIV (NIV available Fall 2016) • Written for lecture class format

• Stories relevant to young adults (19 to 30-something) • Can be used in a small group or Sunday school class

• Stories relevant to teens (junior and senior high) • Teacher and student book all-in-one to save the church money • Written for the busy teacher in mind

2004

2010

Construction projects by Rippling Hope Jamaican Mission Team

The Climb to Jackson Hill Jackson Hill General Baptist Church is located high on a hill near Jackson Town in the Trewlawny Parish of Jamaica. Just driving to the church is a difficult task across steep hills, washed out roads, and rocks that some would call boulders. In addition, most people of the church make this climb by walking.

The church is located on the northern side of the island.

It is the furthest away from the other churches of the Jamaican Association of General Baptists.

Rippling Hope Jamaican Missions Team from The Mt. Union Association has ministered to the people at and around Jackson Hill since 2004. At that time the church was almost to the point of total ruin. The roof had very large holes allowing rain to flood inside and all the wood in the ends of the building was completely decayed and only fragments of windows and doors remained. During one visit, to the team’s surprise, they found church pews that the team had constructed on a prior trip at another location.

The people of the area are some of the poorest of any of our General Baptists churches. The team has regularly climbed this hill to perform “Extreme Make-over: Church Edition” to Jackson Hill. Many days and hours have been spent in this labor of love for the church and community.

Due to the location of the church, it has been a difficult challenge for the Jamaican Association to maintain the property or keep a regular pastor placed there. The nearest General Baptist pastor lives about a 40-minute drive away. He would need to hire a driver to attend.

Because of many factors, the church was leased to a non-

General Baptist pastor in 2014 in an attempt to keep the church going. The attempt failed and the church was closed for over a year.

During a recent meeting with the Jamaican General Baptist Presbytery, Terry Howser asked about the efforts to re-open the church. It was agreed between the Presbytery and Rippling Hope Missions Team to allow the team to obtain the property for worship services. Timon Edwards, a Jamaican pastor, who has worked with the team faithfully for more than 12 years, agreed to be the pastor.

He himself is not currently General Baptist but has been trained in our doctrine.

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Pastor Edwards has agreed to work under the direction of Rippling Hope Jamaican Missions and the Presbytery.

He further agreed to conduct worship service each 3rd Sunday, working alongside the General Baptist Deacon of the church, Daniel Pindling, who supports the partnership. In addition, one midweek service a month will be conducted.

Rippling Hope Missions Team, Martin’s Chapel General Baptist Church and other churches of The Mt. Union Association have committed to fully fund this partnership.

Pastor Edwards’ compensation and the churches utilities will be funded by Rippling Hope, allowing the pastor to freely minister to a group of poor families that he has grown to love himself. Pastor Edwards is supported by his wife Staci and their daughter TiAnn. Staci is a high school teacher in Clarks Town where most children from the church attend. The Edwards family has even cared for a girl, Sandy, from this church, taking her into their home and sending her to school for more than three years already. It is only about a 20-minute drive for the Edwards to travel to the church.

The climb to Jackson Hill has been a very long and trying journey. Through life and in His service, the road is sometimes bumpy with lots of pot holes yet it can be filled with spiritual highs. Even the poorest Jamaican families should experience the love of Christ. With this partnership, God’s guidance and lots of prayer, the community will once again have a pastor who truly loves these people already and assuredly loves our Lord, serving them selflessly.

The current goal is for the one Sunday each month be extended gradually to full time services again.

Thank you for praying for Pastor Edwards and the church as they continue to make the climb to Jackson Hill.

Rev. Terry Howser is the pastor of Martin’s Chapel General Baptist Church, Portland, Tennessee, Mt. Union Association for 18 years and Team Leader for the Rippling Hope Jamaican Missions Team. He has made 23 trips to Jamaica since 2002 assisting General Baptist Churches.

He is also Registrar for Christian Training Institute. He is married to Audrey and they have two children, Clara and Jerryn. His entire family has ministered together in Jamaica on many trips.

What We Do Church Law Institute (CLI) is a non-profit legal ministry that equips churches to flourish. Flourishing churches are healthy, peaceful and bold.

For this reason, we focus on three initiatives: the Healthy Church Initiative, the Peaceful Church Initiative and the Bold Church Initiative. In each of these, we work with churches to address external threats and internal conflict. Our ultimate goal is to see churches more effectively share the good news of Jesus Christ and live out the implications of the Gospel in their communities—to flourish in carrying out the Great Commission.

Our Approach Biblically-Informed We provide biblically informed legal advice.

Gospel-Centered We serve churches so they can fulfill the Great Commission.

Church-Focused We strive to help YOUR church flourish so it can change YOUR community.

“The Healthy Church Initiative is about strengthening churches from a legal, organizational perspective. It involves a process of applying Biblical principles for church governance to promote strong leadership and a high level of accountability. In order to flourish, it is essential that a church be organizationally healthy.”

Phone

270.781.7500

Website 40

www.ChurchLawInstitute.com

Jamaica Association Celebrates Year of Jubilee

by Mark Powell, International Missions Director

During the 2016 Mission and Ministry Summit, we will have some special visitors from the Jamaica Association of General Baptists with us to help us celebrate the Jubilee year of the Association. The International Missions portion of the missions offering will also be designated for Jamaica and the 2016 Ed Stevens Offering will be for Jamaica as well.

The Fall 2015 issue of the General Baptist Messenger had two articles relating to the history of the Jamaica Association of General Baptist and Faith Home Jamaica, the predecessor to Faith Home Honduras. The question remains, what does the Jamaica Association look like today and where is it going in the future?

Jamaica Association of General Baptists is composed of nine churches located in three parishes across central Jamaica – Trelawny, Clarendon and Spanish Town in Saint Catherine. There are seven pastors in the association with two of the pastors, Philip Pusey and Rudolph Lennards, pastoring two churches each. Membership was 521 in 2015, and the association reported 104 conversions. The association maintains an active presbytery, Women’s Missionary Society (WMS), youth organization, Sunday School organization, missions department and Brotherhood.

The face of the Jamaica Association has changed over the years with the closing of Faith Home Jamaica and the discontinued use of Mount Forrest camp due to asbestos in some of the buildings. However, the association continues to minister aggressively through tent crusades, youth camp, both Christmas and Summer VBS programs, Bible spelling bee, and Bible quiz programs.

The association also contributes to a Salvation Army run children’s home called Windsor Lodge Children’s Home, contributing $10,000J monthly.

In light of the Jubilee year of the Jamaica Association, and to go along with the year’s theme of “Staying Connected… Staying Strong,” General Baptist International Ministries will partner with the Jamaica Association to purchase a church lot for the Heavenly Highway General Baptist Church which is pastored by Rev. Phillip Pusey.

Pastor Pusey and the Heavenly Highway Church have been favored by God over the last several years with good success, and they have simply outgrown their existing property. Jamaica Association has endorsed the purchase of a new church lot for Heavenly Highway as the recipient of our Golden Jubilee partnership! Property in Jamaica costs a premium, and we are working to help raise $70,000 US for the purchase of this new property.

Joining us in this partnership is the Jamaica Association and two other groups from Arkansas and Tennessee. The Jamaica Kingdom Partners, from Arkansas, have been working with Jamaica Association on various projects over the last few years and they have agreed to join with Jamaica Association and GBIM to help raise money for this project. Another long time partner with Jamaica is Pastor Terry Howser of Lafayette, Tennessee and pastor of Martin’s Chapel General Baptist Church. Pastor Terry has made 20+ trips to Jamaica over the years and has worked 41

closely with Jamaica Association. We further anticipate other partners joining with us to make this God sized dream a reality.

So what does it look like to help make this possible?

The approaches of the various partners will look different, but here are some possible ways you can get involved: 1. Jamaica Kingdom Partners brings Jamaican pastors to the USA to preach revivals in General Baptist churches and other like minded churches. The evangelist receives the typical honorarium from the local church and 20% goes back to Jamaica Kingdom Partners to help them fund projects in Jamaica. You may contact Jamaica Kingdom Partners president Johnny Thomas to learn how you can become involved.

2. If you have partnered with the Henderson General Baptist Church or with Pastor Terry Howser and the Martins’s Chapel Church over the years, you may wish to contact them to see how your continued partnership may help make this year’s goal a reality.

3. Involve your church in the Missions and Ministry Summit and meet our Jamaican representatives and give generously to the Summit missions offering which is divided between National and International Ministries.

The International Ministries portion will go to Jamaica Association in 2016.

4. Encourage your church to participate in the 2016 Ed Stevens Offering for International Ministries. We would love to exceed the $50,000 offering goal this year but can only do so with your help. This year’s offering will be received September 18, 2016. Materials for the offering will be mailed later this summer, but you can get a sneak preview by visiting gbimissions.com/eso2016.

5. Organize a Mission One team to go to Jamaica to help with other projects taking place in Jamaica. We have a list of projects in the Poplar Bluff office if you are interested in organizing a team. Please contact Dr. Jim Pratt at the GBIM office for more information.

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The Jamaica Association has planned a year long celebration beginning with their annual Association meeting in August. The activities they have planned include: • A live radio broadcast to kick off the celebration on Sunday, August 21 which is also the opening day of their Association.

• A 3-night prayer meeting during October.

• A telethon on October 15 along with a “Day of Prayer, Praise and Deliverance.”

• A National Fun Day, Health Fair and 5k Marathon in December.

• A Family Weekend and Retreat in February 2017 • A Banquet and Awards Dinner in May 2017 to recognize outstanding members of the Association over the years.

• In June 2017 they will be reaching out to 50 families around each church with packages for the elderly and sick.

• They also plan to give out fifty scholarships in their Sunday Schools to assist with cost of High School education. These scholarships will be between $5,000 - $10,000 J. • A 50th Anniversary magazine to commemorate the occasion.

• Their missions department has put out a challenge for “each one to reach one” as they plan to double their membership during the Jubilee year. The theme for this will be “Each One Really Matters.”

It is an exciting time to partner with the Jamaica Association of General Baptists, and we hope you will partner with us as well to make this year of Golden Jubilee a year of victory and progress for one of our oldest mission partners.

Heavenly Highway Church

Experience it for yourself this September 23-25 at beautiful Wooded Glen Retreat Center in Henryville, Indiana (just north of Louisville, KY) where the company and food are memorable, the rooms are cozy, and there is room to roam while you pray.

Join us for inspired speakers, encouraging breakouts, and probable emotional outbursts.

Featuring: Charlotte Strickland from Conway, Arkansas – in a return engagement!

Jacqueline Warren from Real Life Church, Springfield, Illinois Hope Valvero – 1st Baptist Church of Harvester in St. Charles, Missouri Patti Thornton – Women’s Ministries Director, Poplar Bluff, Missouri Out of Ashes from Princeton, KY – Guest Worship Performers.

Register early! Space is limited and the 2015 event sold out!

Event fee is $100 | Lodging and 5 meals is $210 per person, double occupancy For more details or to register: Call 573-785-7746 Email wmofc@generalbaptist.com Go online at www.gbwomen.org

out of ashes

I have been a Christian for just over five years. The first half of those years were spent sporadically following Christ - until I was surprised by a major health scare that changed the way I thought about my priorities.

Although I almost died during that 2012 health crisis, I was still only half-heartedly following God. I wasn’t reading my Bible, and I wasn’t praying. Eventually, though, in the spring of 2013, I rededicated my life to the Lord and started doing my best to be a better example of a Christ follower.

As I started to pursue Him, God gave me a true passion for the work of Women’s Ministries. As my involvement in our group increased, Sheryl Livesay, my sister in Christ, invited me to attend that year’s Inside Out event in Tennessee, hosted by Women’s Ministries.

In the months that fell between my rededication and Inside Out, I continued to fight the “demons” that threatened to knock me down. The hardest fight was the one for my oldest son, Jeremiah.

Jeremiah had suffered from the consequences of drug 44

addiction for years. Our family had tried its best to save him from himself, and we refused to give up on him. I prayed so hard for many years, and that September I was

finally able to hand the problem completely over to God, realizing it was beyond my control. I was amazed at the feeling of peace that came over me. Yes, I was at peace!

A couple of weeks later, Sheryl and I took off on our road trip, bound for Tennessee and the Inside Out event (incidentally, the theme for the weekend WAS “Road Trip”!) The location was beautiful. It was secluded, full of nature, and it was overrun with Christ loving women all there for the same reason. They were there to draw closer to Jesus.

I had never been around so many women who were sincere in their faith and love for our God. The whole weekend was wonderful. Not only was I challenged and encouraged in my journey, but oh, how we laughed. There was a “drive-in” movie on Saturday night, and all of those women gathered outside in their flannel pajamas, blankets wrapped around them, and snuggled down for a chilly night show. The laughter was infectious and I am sure even the wild turkeys who gathered on the lawn heard us laughing that night.

I came back home fired up for the Lord and determined to get as many women as possible to attend the next year’s conference.

Unfortunately, my excitement was cut short when on October 9, 2014 I lost Jeremiah to a drug overdose. My

heart was broken. No parent should have to bury their child, but I believed with everything that was in me that God had heard my prayer in September and I would get through this. I clung to the Lord during this time. I was not angry - sad, but not angry. I knew God had answered my prayer and that Jeremiah was at peace.

During the first Inside Out event I won a gift certificate to help with the cost for the next year, and I had already signed up to attend even before leaving Tennessee. I gathered five women to come with me for the 2015 event, “Anything? Anything”. I wasn’t disappointed that year, either. I was reunited with new friends from the previous year, and the teaching was about surrendering to God’s purposes for our lives and on the gifts He gives to help us fulfill those purposes. I learned to appreciate the unique journey I had traveled.

I truly believe I could not have made this journey without the growth I experienced during the Inside Out weekends, and I know you won’t regret a minute of the time you sacrifice to join me this September and become another one of those new friends I look forward to seeing!

Lisa Tolbert Johnson Road GBC Granite City, IL

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2 nd Annual

MISSION

Green

5K Walk/Run for Missions

st 1 REGISTER ONLINE TODAY www.GBWomens.org

Wherever you are, you could be walking‌or running.

You could be exercising your legs AND your generosity.

In 2015, only three groups of women organized walks.

They raised $1,500 for missions.

So, if 30 groups spent a morning in movement this year, $15,000 is possible. Your 5K (approximately 3.3 miles) path could move the Gospel thousands of miles. Informational packets are available by request, and at the Women’s Ministries display at Summit.

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But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength‌ Isaiah 40:31

Branson, MO

on

September 6-8

become Strengthened as you hear preaching from the Word of God.

renew your spirit as you worship with old friends & make new friends.

Relax & enjoy all of the entertainment, shopping, and dining that has made Branson famous.

Radisson Hotel Branson, MO

Chris Vaught

Ted Cunningham

Keynote Speaker

Guest Entertainer

Contact Congregational Ministries at cmofc@generalbaptist.com for more information.

To register by phone call us at 573.785.7746

general baptist

non-profit org u.s. postage

pa i d

m e s s e n g e r

poplar bluff, mo

General Baptist Ministries 100 Stinson Drive Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

Mission & Ministry

SUMMIT 2016

permit no

GET CONNECTED

#GBSUMMIT Holiday Inn University Plaza

The Sloan Convention Center

Holiday Inn University Plaza & The Sloan Convention Center 1021 Wilkinson Trace

Bowling Green, KY 42103

Reservations: 800-315-2621 Front Desk: 270-745-0088

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