Baptist Digest June 2014

7/27/2019 Baptist Digest June 2014

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Newsjournal Of Kansas and Nebraska Southern Baptists

www.baptistdigest.com

June 2014Vol. 58 No. 6

Baptist

igest

Easter 2014 marked the fourth year that Baptists from Juarez, Mexico, have served in south-west Kansas and the Panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas. The team of 80 people split up

and served at Hispanic churches throughout the region. They shared Christ door to door andheld revival services. Here, Pastor Enrique Arriaga (in the back row at center) welcomed agroup of the Juarez Baptists to Iglesia Bautista del Sur in Garden City, Kan. (Below) Jess andDarlene Bluvan traveled from Topeka, Kan., to use their skills in making balloon creations inthe Easter outreach block party in a Hispanic community in southeast Dodge City, Kan. Learnmore about their ministry and business at http://bluvanballoons.blogspot.com/

An Easter outreach block party on Saturday afternoon, April19, targeted a Hispanic community in southeast Dodge City,Kan. The goal was to start a Bible study there. First SouthernBaptist Church, Dodge City, staged the event with help fromother churches, including Iglesia Bautista del Sur in GardenCity.

Editors Note: Because of budgetarycutbacks, we are reducing the numberof issues per year from twelve to ten. We

will skip the July edition beginning thisyear and the January issue also begin-ning next year. We will continue to postnews stories on a timely fashion on ourconvention website (www.kncsb.org).

Hispanics Hold Easter Outreach Events in Southeast Kansas

Task Force Designed to AddressDeclining Baptisms AmongSouthern Baptist Churches toRelease its Full Report (see page 3)

After Montana Flood(turn to page 4)

New KNCSB Event Reaches TeenBoys (see story on page 5)

Emporia State Students Pick Up


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WWW.KNCSB.ORG

June

2014

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES:INFORM -- Regularly share information about ongoingtraining, curriculum, events, support and personnel.RESOURCE -- Serve as a resource pool for practicalideas about what is working in KS-NE congregationsand how it relates to all sizes of churches.GENERATIONAL -- Cast the widest net, providing sto-ries and information that will appeal to all generationsof Southern Baptists in NE-KS.FAMILY-FRIENDLY -- Be family-friendly with stories,regular columns and helps for families and leaders whowork with families.

AGE DIVERSE -- Publish stories that address the

diversity of age, ethnicity, and geographical regions ofKS-NE.MISSION-ORIENTED -- Publish stories about peopleand congregations involved in missions and regularlypublicize ministry opportunities.PART OF WIDER MISSION - Help congregationsdiscover that they are part of the larger work of theKingdom of God through their ministries.

To give local news:Local church and associational news may be submit-

ted by mail, phone, fax or e-mail.

Advertising:Advertising policy and rates are available upon

request Call 800-984-9092 or e-mail:[email protected]

STAFFEditor: Tim Boyd, PhD.

Associate Editor: Eva Wilson

Printing Coordinator: Derek Taylor

Robert T. Mills, D. Min.

KNCSB Executive Director

AFFILIATIONSAssociation of State Baptist PapersBaptist Communicators Association

The Baptist Digest(USPS 018-942)Vol. 58 No. 6

Leadership Newsjournal for Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptists is published

monthly 10 times a yearexcluding January and July.

5410 SW 7th StreetTopeka, KS 66606-2398Phone: (785) 228-6800Toll Free: 800-984-9092

Fax: (785) 273-4992E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: baptistdigest.com

POSTMASTER:Periodical postage paid at Topeka, KS 66606 andadditional entries. Send address changes to: TheBaptist Digest, 5410 SW 7th Street, Topeka, KS

66606-2398.

Walking With the Master

The Thought Occurred to MeBy Bob MillsKNCSB Executive DirectorE-mail: [email protected]

Recently, I read a fascinating little book by LifeWaypresident, Thom Rainer, entitled, Autopsy of a DeceasedChurch. I am convicted, as is Rainer, that we are currently

facing a difficult time in America relative to church health.Rainer shares a percentage breakdown on church healththat is disturbing. He offers an estimate of the percentageof churches in each of the following categories: Healthychurches: 10%; Churches showing symptoms of sickness:40%; churches that are very sick: 40% and churches that aredying: 10%. Rainer is quick to indicate that these numbersare not precise but merely estimates from his perspective.Based on my experience and observation, I would agreewith his assessment.

What are some of the symptoms of a church that isshowing signs of sickness?

1. When the prevailing attitude is our best days were in

the past. Ask a long time member and ask them to reflecton the best days of the church and you will hear stories ofthe good ole days. No mention is made of current eventsor experiences.

2. I hesitate to mention numbers, but they are indicators of

people and can be a portal into look at church health. Declinein worship service attendance in the past five to ten years isat least one metric of concern. Lack of baptisms or a reductionof financial support can also be telltale signs of concern.

3. Often programs and ministries of the church are

directed at church membersand not on the communityand the needs of the community. Losing an outward focuson the community is a strong indicator of the lack of health.

4. One concern that merits attention is when churches getso busy doing things/ministry that theyfail to evaluate theministry/evangelistic effectiveness or misssional outcome.Basically, is what we are doing accomplishing our statedvision or mission?

5. A sure symptom of lack of health is the lack of anintentional disciple-making process. This symptom maynot manifest itself immediately, but will be devastating inthe long haul. Too many churches in America suffer exactlyat this point. Disobedience to the Great Commission is a

sure sign of sickness in our churches today.6. Failure to recognize, by and large, churches in America

no longer live in a churched culture. When I was a youngboy, my family and I went to church because that was thething to do. In todays world that is just not the case. The

church in the 21st centurymust go beyond its walls intothe community so that the peo-ple of the world can observeChrist Jesus. Generally speak-ing, people will not attendchurch just because the churchis on the corner.

7. The lack of prayerin thechurch is another symptomof sickness. How is it possibleto show spiritual vitality anda connectedness with Godwithout prayer being a centralingredient in the life of the church?

This is not an exhaustive list but merely some of the symp-toms I have personally witnessed and that are mentioned byDr. Rainer. How is your church doing? Is the church healthy,

beginning to show signs of sickness, really sick or are youdying? My article next time will respond to steps we cantake in responding to the lack of health in the church. Thereis hope. Church health is something, through the work ofthe Holy Spirit, prayer and strategic intervention that can berealized. Let us keep our eyes on Jesus and his Commission .

Preparing to PrayI discovered one day that Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the prime

minister of Canada, was going to be visiting the University ofCalgary where I was a student. Trudeau was a colorful, capri-

cious, edgy, charismatic leader whose presence was weighty.I was an admirer and like many I decided to go meet thePrime Minister. But I was trained as a child that when we go to meet impor-tant people to be the best I could be. I showered, shaved, andput on my best clothes. I prepared myself for the encounter. Itook my place in the line, made sure I was poised to respondin case the Prime Minister of Canada addressed me.

The elevator doors opened and suddenly I became awarethat I was in the presence of someone of importance.His charisma was evident: penetrating eyes, infectious

spirit, somewhat playful,and extremely welcoming

demeanor. Will he acknowl-edge me? Will I be myself inhis presence or pretend to

be more than I am and try toimpress him?

Before I knew it he stoodstill when he came to me,took my extended hand andshook it. Then he spoke tome. Our eyes locked and anypretense I had of showing offdisappeared from my mind.

Im not sure what I said orwhat the question he askedme was. Im sure whatever I

rehearsed in my mind as potential words I would impresshim with, flew the coop. I was in the presence of someonewho demanded trust and honesty. I did my best to be prepared to encounter the man whowas at the helm of Canada. A picture was snapped justwhen he shook my hand and I was given it, a treasure Istill cherish. We see it in the news all the time. Royal visits,presidential encounters, papal presence demand a kind ofsoul preparation other encounters dont usually elicit fromus. The more important the person we encounter the morewe tend to pretend.

I have often reflected on this experience in relationshipto prayer. It has informed aspects of my prayer life. Whenwe pray we enter into divine territory where no one shouldgo without preparation or reflection on who we are andwho God is. We are about to meet the Maker of Heavenand Earth. In this encounter we are opening ourselves to

God, which engages our whole being. Any pretense of self-importance is just that.

Often we jump into prayer without much thinking orpreparation on what is actually happening when we open

ourselves to God.I want to suggest that preparation is not as easy as wemight think. In order for me to be myself with God who istotally present to me is daunting.

First, I must place myself in a position of openness,which demands deep trust in God. When Jesus prayed heapproached God with full openness, completely confidentin the total goodness of God. This level of openness to Godis an awkward and unnatural posture for us human beings.Ever since the fig leaves cover up, humanity has found itdifficult to be open to God and to others. What if we areseen exactly as we are? David Benner says in Opening toGodthat God invites us to come in faith that expressesitself in vulnerability and brutal self-honesty.

When we come to God closed hearted or half-hearted weshow mistrust and deep-seated lack of faith in his good-ness. If God were not totally good we should fear him andcover up. But nothing hes ever done and has been record-ed for us besmirches this perfect goodness.

Without this trust in the goodness of God (faith) it isimpossible to live or pray pleasingly before God (Hebrews11:6). Even when our faith is battered by life, a fewmoments of reflection will help us realize that even themustard seed of faith that remains in us is a gift of theGood God we address in prayer.

Human beings cannot but pray. The soul demands achance to be open to God (whether we recognize this or

not). The soul, the naked self, is what we must bring beforethe one who breathed into us.

Whatever faith we might have when life knocks usaround, when we offer it to God with an openness of spirit,

it is accepted by God. It is God working through his gift offaith to connect with us. Benner says, All that is required ofus is the openness to receive what we can and then act on it.But we must act on what we have and be where we, in real-ity, are. No pretense, no gritting our teeth, only the open-ness to receive. We are in the presence of pure goodness.

Then there is honesty that springs from deep-rootedtrust. Have you noticed that you cannot be honest withpeople whose trust of you or yours of them is in doubt?Brutal candor before God is necessary preparation fordivine encounter. Brutal candor is only possible if we areswimming in a sea of trust when we pray. The Psalmiststeach us that lesson 150 times, if not more.

We must be prepared to come to God with the trueself we are before we can encounter the true God he is.Transformation happens at the intersection of this trust, thenaked self and honesty. Easier said than done!

This is scary stuff. Would we even still like ourselvesafterward? Will we retain any self-dignity? The answer isyes because the mercy and grace we encounter in our open-ness to God preserve the true self, diminish the false selfin us, and strengthen us to remain whole. Though we arepeople of unclean lips, when we present ourselves to Godin honesty, the Spirit of God takes the purifying fire of Godand touches us in ways we didnt know were possible. Any

preparation less than that cannot be easily defined as trueprayer or openness to God.Georges Boujakly

Bob Mills


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Sharing

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2014

By Andy AddisKNCSB Convention President

E-mail: [email protected]

Serving as the President of the Kansas NebraskaConvention this year has been one of the most excitingand meaningful things I have done in ministry.

No kidding, thats not even preacher talk.From writing these

articles, to meeting withamazing people about themission and vision of ourtwo state convention, torepresenting our tribe inother places I love everyminute!

One of those opportuni-ties to represent you tookplace on a national taskforce to study decliningbaptisms in the Southern

Baptist Convention.Youll see an articledetailing our report on thispage as well.

While the subject matter was anything but fun, itwas a very worthwhile endeavor and I am pleadingwith you to take seriously the challenges offered inthose findings.

Decreasing baptisms is not just discouraging, its awarning sign on par with the railings of the prophetswho cried out for Gods people to listen before it wastoo late. Baptism problems mean discipleship prob-lems, which mean evangelism problems, which simplymeans our churches have problems!

The reality is that baptism rates have been on adownward trend for 6 years now, compounded bythe fact that we have remained stagnant for decadesbefore that while the population exploded around us.The downward trend now means we are losing groundfaster than ever.

Presidents PerspectiveThe stats speak for themselves from the 2012 Annual

Church Profile:n25% of Southern Baptist churches reported 0 bap-

tismsn60% reported no youth baptisms (age 12-17 brack-

et)n80% reported 0-1 young adult baptisms (age 18-29

bracket)

nThe only consistently growing age group in bap-tisms is age five and under.Friends, we cant ignore this.We must embrace the reality, trust our God and

throw ourselves into the Great Commission. We arentcalled to build buildings, win worship wars, or sufferdeath by business meeting.

We are to (1) go and (2) make disciples (3) baptiz-ing them and (4) teach them everything we can. Then,those we have reached can join us on this very samemission, just like it says on the shampoo bottle clean,rinse, repeat.

Thats why the report we have offered all SouthernBaptists isnt just doom and gloom statistics and self-deprecating warnings. It includes recommendationsbecause we know God is still good and we are still His!

In the report we acknowledge the problems we dis-covered. Its a spiritual problem. We are the ones whomoved, not God.

Its aleadership problem. Pastors have spent thetime, energy and prayers on putting out fires in thechurch instead of fighting the fires of hell.

Its a discipleship problem. We have created systemand structures designed perfectly to give us the resultswere getting, but the results are not disciples.

Its a next generation problem.We will lose the nextgeneration if we do no reach them now!

We have a celebration problem. Not that we dontcelebrate, we just pick the wrong things to highlight.For example, attendance is not as important as conver-sion.

So, its time we get in the fight! We need to call our-

selves and others to heartfelt, honest and broken prayerthat God would use us once again.

Pastors and leaders need to be sharing Jesus person-ally everyday and telling those stories.

We need to leave behind the broken practice ofchurch growth and embrace a culture of disciple mak-ing. Showing up is not the key; transformation is! Weneed a new plan.

We must prioritize the next generation. This is notgiving the youth group more space, or budget. It ischanging your church culture, and giving up your pref-erences for the gain of the next generation.

We need to celebrate baptism, those who lead othersto Christ, and transformed lives. Its messy, risky andexactly what Jesus has called us to

The report is in and the situation is clear. We are notperfect people. We do not have perfect churches. We donot have a perfect plan.

But, we do serve a perfect God and this is the perfecttime.

Its got to start with you.

ALPHARETTA (BP) -- A task force designed toaddress declining baptisms among Southern Baptistchurches plans to release its full report later today(May 12).

An urgent, immediate call for spiritual renewaland personal commitment to evangelism and dis-cipleship are the common threads among five rec-ommendations made by the Pastors Task Force onEvangelistic Impact and Declining Baptisms. Thenational task force, aimed at addressing the contin-ued decrease in baptisms among Southern Baptistchurches, was convened last year by the NorthAmerican Mission Board (NAMB). Most task forcemembers are pastors.

Southern Baptists downward spiral in baptismsis the fruit of our spiritual lukewarmness, task forcemember Ted Traylor, pastor of Olive Baptist Church

in Pensacola, Fla., said. I am greatly encouraged bythe stirring I see among us toward spiritual awak-ening and the need for the resurgence of the GreatCommission. This task force work and report gives mehope.

The group was formed, in part, because the 2012Annual Church Profile (ACP) reported a drop of5.52 percent in the number of baptisms in SouthernBaptist churches, confirming a two-decade down-ward trend.

Al Gilbert, vice president for evangelism at NAMBfacilitated the groups meetings. LifeWay Research

president Ed Stetzer assisted the task force with

Task Force Report on Baptistism Declineresearch support.

Recognition and ownership of the issue are keys toreversing the decline, Gilbert said.

The task force identified five key areas, described asproblems, that pastors and churches must address toreverse the baptism decline:

Spiritual -- With urgency, we must join together infervent and effective prayer for spiritual awakening inour churches and our nation.

Leadership -- As pastors we must intentionallymodel and prioritize personal evangelism while pro-viding clear pathways for our congregations to fol-low.

Disciple-making -- As pastors we must create adisciple-making culture -- focusing on multiplying dis-ciples who know how to grow in Christ and lead othersto Christ.

Next generation -- As pastors we must leverage ourinfluence, activity and resources to reach and make dis-ciples of the Next Generation.

Celebration -- As pastors we must celebrate newlife in Christ as people publicly profess their faiththrough baptism. We must establish an ethos of joy thatcelebrates the practice of personal evangelism and itsfruit.

Task force member Manpoong Dennis Kim, pastorof Global Mission Church in Silver Spring, Md., said, Iam grateful for this endeavors commitment to renewthe passion for evangelism that ultimately begs the

question, How then should we proceed?

Task force member Roger Spradlin, pastor of ValleyBaptist Church in Bakersfield, Calif., summed up theconviction of the group.

I think all Southern Baptists were aware that ourbaptisms were declining, but seeing the actual statswas both shocking and heartbreaking. Continuingas we are yet expecting a different result is not anoption. We must address this issue now, Spradlinsaid.

From 1950-2011 Southern Baptists baptized an aver-age of 379,711 people annually. Only twice during thattime did the numbers dip more than 10 percent belowthat average. But in 2012 the decline was 13 percent offthe average -- the worst drop in 62 years.

The report itself takes an even more sobering viewof the issue. The report states: SBC baptisms reacheda plateau in the 1950s, peaked in the 1970s, and have

stayed fairly constant since that time ... The problem iseven greater than these numbers indicate. Consideringhow the North American population has increasedsubstantially between the 1950s baptism peak andtoday, these figures indicate how much ground wehave lost and are losing.

Gilbert said, The recommendations are unanimous,but more than that, these men have made this a per-sonal statement of action and they are hopeful thatevery pastor will review the list and see if they canidentify with it. Our hope is that pastors will join us tomake these recommendations personal and take action

to affect change.

Andy Addis


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www.kncsb.org

JUNE

2014

4

HAYS, Montana: The land stretched onfor miles and miles. Mountains rose upto the sky as a backdrop to this remote

ranch near Hays, Montana. A metalclank lled the morning air, followed bylaughter. The new fence post pointedout of the ground at an angle.

Emporia State University studentsmade the x quickly to the post, teasingback and forth with the ranch owners.The Christian Challenge students spenttheir spring break cleaning up ooddamage from last July in Montana. AliceTunks-Jones, a sophomore businessmajor at ESU, explained that their mis-

sion trip centered around physical actsof love.We moved brush, sticks and made

fences, she said. Oddly enough, thatwas my favorite part because we wereable to show Gods love in a way that thepeople in this area needed to experienceit. They needed help that was uncondi-tional.

ESU Christian Challenge directorJason Huebner answered a North Ameri-can Mission Board request for volunteers

to help clean up in an area where a smallBaptist church was trying to revive. Oneof the ways the local pastor thought thestudents could make an impact was byworking within the community of ranch-ers.

Heavy rains put a wrinkle in this planfor one of the days. The team ended upstuck in the mud on the side of the roadfor ve hours. Freshman Katie Kelly saidthat since they couldnt get back out to

the ranch to work, the team decided toshow a little love to the strugglingchurch that hosted them. The church hadbeen sitting unused for years until a newpastor arrived a few months earlier.

We cleaned out the church. Wecleaned the closets. Worked outside thechurch, Kelly, an education major, said.The pastor didnt really know what wasin the church or closets so we helped or-ganize things. We found a whole bunchof Sunday school material and books.That got me really excited because its

stu they can use in the future. Theydont have money to buy anything likethat and God had provided it all along.

Cleaning the church, piling brush andbuilding fences provided opportunitiesfor the students to talk about God andtheir own faith experiences.

Emporia State Students PickUp After Montana Flood

Setting fences was just one way that

Emporia State Universitys Christian

Challenge students shared Christ.

Through physical labor, they met the

needs of local ranchers and showed that

Christ answers prayers. (Photo by SueSprenkle)

God commanded us to love oneanother and you may think that doingphysical labor is an odd way of showingChrists love but its exactly what theyneeded someone to come and helpthem, Kelly said. God opened doors tohelp the ranchers and church and theysaw our love for them. I learned thatGod works in mysterious ways, we justneed to follow His prompting.

Tunks-Jones encouraged other stu-dents to spend their spring break makinga dierence. She said it takes you out ofyour comfort zone and thats when Godgets you to grow in your walk.

You have the chance to get outside ofyourself, help others, and make a lastingimpact, Tunks-Jones said. Opportu-nities like this in one in Montana arehelping to mold me into the adult I ambecoming.

by Sue Sprenkle

Regional Staf Writer

Emporia State University students dig

out of the mud during their spring breakmission trip to Montana. (Photo by Sue

Sprenkle)

Emporia State Universitys Christian

Challenge mission trip 14 to Montana.

(Photo by Sue Sprenkle)

Pounding down a fence post, an Emporia

State University student follows her mis-

sion teams mantra, Serving the least

of these wherever they may be. (Matt.

25:40)

New Groups Requirea Missionary Mentality

Starting new groups is scary. It re-

quires a missionary mentality for folksto separate themselves from what theyknow into an area that is unfamiliar. Justlike God asked Abraham to travel to aland he did not know, todays leadersof new groups must trust God and theirleadership to step out. The goal of thenew group is to reach people and engagethem in an ongoing Bible study experi-ence amid a community of relationships.This is not an easy endeavor but neces-sary. Believers are called to Go andMake Disciples; not to nd a spot andsquat and sit and soak.

Did you know that for every newgroup a church starts, the church willgain an average of 10 in attendance? Didyou know that churches that start newgroups average more in baptisms? Didyou know that proportionally every newgroup a church start yields hundreds ofdollars more in tithes and oerings eachyear? Did you know that a lost or un-churched person is more likely to attenda new group than an older, established

group?What if every church in Kansas-

Nebraska started at least one new groupevery year? You do the math. In Kansas-

Nebraska we have over 400 churches. If

every one of those churches started justone new group, that would mean 400new Bible study groups, approximately800 new leaders and an additional4,000 people in Bible study each week.Some churches could and should startmore. Some churches will not succeedin starting any at all. Could you makea commitment to start at least one newgroup in your church? Would your classbe a catalyst to help start a new groupin your church?

Healthy churches grow. Join in startinga new groups movement in our world.Decide today and sign up at www.groupsmatter.com. For more informa-tion or helps in beginning a new group,contact Marie Clark, KNCSB Bible Study& Discipling Team Leader. She maybe reached at 800-984-9154 or [email protected].

[Adapted from a www.sundayschool-leader.com blog by Sean Keith, Sunday/

Discipleship Strategist for the LouisianaBaptist Convention.]

by Marie Clark

KNCSB Goal: $215,000Supporting Kansas-Nebraska Missions Causes

50% to Your Association

50% to KS-NE Missions Causes

LvngTHE GREATCommission

I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. Phil. 4:13

Viola Webb Associational& State Missions Offering


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kncsb on mission

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JUNE2014

Kansas-Nebraska Campers on Mission are busy serving the Lord in various places thissummer.The group gathered at Webster Conference Center, Salina, Kan., for a work project and thespring rally held May 3-5.

One of the COMs major projects at WCC was to pour a new sidewalk leading from theparking area to the motel.

After leaving WCC, COM members headed to southeast Kansas for a work project at WeirBaptist Church, 12 miles southwest of Pittsburg.Upcoming Campers on Mission events are:n June 3-5 COM National Rally at Glorieta Conference Center, Glorieta, N.M.n June 22-28 Work project at New Life Baptist Church, Independence, Kan.n Aug. 10-16 Work project at Alpha Christian Childrens Home, Perry, Kan.n Sept. 26-28 Kansas-Nebraska Campers on Mission Fall Rally at Weir Baptist Camp.

New KNCSB Event Reaches Teen Boys

The Challenge, a new KNCSB event, helped teen boys learnhow to become men of character. It was held May 2-3 atWebster Conference Center. (Submitted photo)

Dont just let God save yoursoul. Let Him build you into aman of character.

That is what Jon Randles

told nearly 80 participants inThe Challenge, a new KNCSBevent for teen boys. It was heldMay 2-3 at Webster ConferenceCenter, Salina, Kan.

Theme verse for The Chal-lenge was Be watchful. Standrm in the faith. Act like men.Be strong. (I Corinthians 16:13)

Throughout the weekendRandles urged the group to rst

accept Christ as their Savior andthen to develop a strong faith.He challenged each young manto be a life breather.

Wherever you go you are alife breather or a death breather.Whats in a man comes out of aman, Randles said.

A total of 22 decisions forChrist were recorded during theweekend:nSalvation 3nAssurance of salvation 6nRededications 8nCandidates for baptism 2nOther decisions 3

Jason Waller led the groupin worship. He is a Christianrecording artist and is worshippastor at CrossPoint Churchin Salina. Read more at hp://jasonwallermusic.com/

Breakout session during The

Challenge focused on incor-porating Christ into outdoorsports, technology and otherareas of interest to young men.

Casey Ingold led a breakoutsession on turkey hunting. He isan avid outdoorsman and pas-tor of Covenant Baptist Church,Topeka, Kan.

Helping young men un-derstand what becoming a manis vital in our culture today,Ingold said. Through a variety

of interests/topics, Challengeoers a venue for men to imparta vision of biblical manhoodto the young men who aend.I think it is very important tohelp these guys understandmanhood is not dened bywhat you do but who you are,how and why you do what youdo.

During his session, Ingold

shared three marks of bibli-cal manhood from Raising aModern Day Knight, by RobertLewis:1. Reject passivity2. Accept responsibility3. Lead courageously

That is what makes a boy aman, Ingold continued.

While at Challenge, Ingoldmet a young man who hadrecently lost his father.

I was able to connect withT, encourage him and hisyouth pastor who was doing aphenomenal job. This was a cru-cial time in Ts life. He neededto know there were men thereto love him and lead him. Hefound that at Challenge. I gavehim one of my turkey decoysand a turkey hunting DVD andurged him to contact me if I

could ever take him hunting.I watched T play andlaugh and soak in a healthyvision of manhood as he wassurrounded by Christ-followingfriends and men, hearing truthand being loved on the wholeway. If Challenge was just forT, it was exponentially worth

every minute and every dollar.Conference participants were

urged to put the 2015 event on

their calendars and invite theirfriends. It will be held May 1-2at Webster Conference Center.

Information will be posted athp://justforyouth.com/jfy/events.

Senior Adult Christmas Event to Be Held in BransonA Senior Adult Christmas

Celebration will be held Nov.11-13 in Branson, Mo.

LifeWay Christian Resourcesis sponsoring the event. It willbe held at the Chateau on theLake Resort and ConventionCenter on the south edge ofBranson.

The registration fee willinclude admission to suchBranson aractions as the DixieStampede and Jonah at theSight and Sound Theater.

James Biesiadecki will be thefeatured speaker. He is pastorof First Baptist Church, Bartles-ville, Okla.

Wade Daniel will be thefeatured musician. He is min-ister of music at First Baptist,Bartlesville.

The event also will include aconcert by renowned Christianmusician Guy Penrod.

Find more information athp://lfwy.co/1pH7PtK

KNCSB Annual MeetingOct. 13-14, 2014CrossPoint Church, Hutchinson, Kan.

Information will be posted by mid-summer on the KNCSB Web site at http://www.kncsb.org/ministry/annual_meeting

KNCSB ON MISSION


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KNCSB ON MISSION

JUNE

2014

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Busy Summer UnderwayAt Weir Baptist Camp

Bethel Cabin, the second new cabin at Weir Baptist Camp,was completed in June 2013. The new cabin can accommo-

date 38 people. This brings the camps sleeping capacity to189 people. (Photo by Sue Marcum)Weir Baptist Camp

continues its long

history of reach-

ing people and

helping them grow

in Christ.

(This article includes informa-tion from the Southeast KansasBaptist Association newsleer.)

Weir Baptist Camp, 12 milessouthwest of Pisburg, Kan.,continues to grow and improveto reach people for Christ evenmore eectively.

The past year saw two majoraccomplishments:

nBethel Cabin, the second

new cabin, was completed intime for Pre-Teen Camp in June2013. The new cabin can accom-modate 38 people. This bringsthe camps sleeping capacity to189 people.

nAn addition was con-structed on the southeast cornerof the Dining Hall. It consistsof the clean-up area with a newdishwasher, sta restroom and

a storage area.Weir Baptist Camp playedhost to seven weeks of camp inthe summer of 2013.

Aendance was up for the2013 camps with a total of 312campers registered.

Thirty-seven children weresaved and 12 rededicated theirlives to Christ. Three madedecisions to follow Christ inbaptism and 15 other decisions

were recorded.Along with the Southeast

Kansas Baptist camps, WeirBaptist Camp hosted twoother groups in the summerof 2013.

One of these camps wasthe KOAM Encampment,sponsored by Regular Baptistsin Kansas and Missouri. Thisfamily camp aracted 158people, making it the largest

Weir Baptist Camp is the home of a new church. Triple CCowboy Church began in summer 2013. It meets on Sun-

day nights in the Tabernacle at the camp. (Below) Planscall for constructing a dock and a shade pavilion at theboating lake on the east side of the property at Weir Camp.(Photos by Eva Wilson)

2013 camp.Champions Running Camp,

a Christian sports camp,came back for the fourth yearand ended the 2013 summercamps.

Summer 2013 saw anothersignicant event at Weir BaptistCamp. Triple C Cowboy Churchwas launched and meets on

Sunday nights in the Tabernacleat the camp.

The church started outmeeting on the rst and thirdSunday nights. It began meetingweekly in September 2013.

Les Green is the pastor.First Baptist Church in nearbyCherokee is the sponsoringcongregation.

Weir Baptist Camp continuesto see more groups coming inthe non-summer months.

Fall 2013 saw a return visitby Kansas-Nebraska Camperson Mission. The group held itsfall rally and a two-week workproject there.

Kansas-Nebraska COM alsoworked at the camp in late May2013 and planned a return visitin late May 2014. Weir Baptist

Camp is on the groups list ofannual work projects.

The Kansas-Nebraska Camp-ers on Mission 2014 fall rallywill be held Sept. 26-28 at thecamp.

Other fall 2013 and win-ter 2014 events at the campincluded:

nCarthage, Mo., Hispanicmens camp

n Southeast Kansas BaptistAssociation teen girls camp

nSoutheast Kansas Minister/Spouse Christmas dinner

With two new cabins com-pleted, aention is now focus-ing on other improvements,said Delbert Callaway, campmanager.

Plans call for nishing thedock at the shing lake and

constructing a new dock at theboating lake on the east side ofthe camp property.

Callaway also wants to con-struct shade pavilions at bothlakes.

Southeast Kansas Associa-tion 2014 summer camps willsee some slight changes. Someage groups will be combined,and four weeks of camp will beheld instead of ve. Camp dates

are:nJune 9-13 Senior High

CampnJune 16-20 Junior High

Camp for grades 6-8.nJune 23-27 Childrens

Camp for grades 3-5nJune 30 Day Camp for 4

year-olds and kindergartenersnJuly 1-2 Kingdom Kids

Camp for grades 1-2

Thank you for supporting the Cooperative Program

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June

20

14

Happy Birthday to

You is usually receivedwith a huge smileand glistening eyes.To Mildred, its justa reminder that Godhas not answered herprayers to go home...heaven. May 19marked 101 years ofher life on earth. We

celebrated her 100 witha huge party whereshe enjoyed seeing her

family and a few remaining friends. Butin this past year she fell, resulting in notbeing able to walk on her own, and herstamina and physical strength has beenlost. But her heart beats on. A coupletimes a week she asks why God is not tak-ing her home. The only answer I have isthat there is still someone who needs to beencouraged by her, who needs to experi-ence the love of God through her. I mean,its what you say when you dont knowwhat to say, right? During one of ourmoments last week, Mildred told me, ...it ust doesnt seem ri ht for lile babies to

Gods Perfect Timing

Debbie EbleKNCSB Womens Leadership, Fit 4 Him Consultant

The long awaitedsummer is here! And

along with it all ofour favorite outdoorpursuits: gardening,ballgames, long walks,swimming, bicycling,the list is endless.However, most ofthose pursuits takesome level of ath-leticism. Did you keepyourself active enough

all winter to be prepared? If not, dont despair,

its never too late to get in shape!The great thing about summer tness is you

dont have to belong to a facility to exercise. Youjust need to begin! God designed the humanbody to move every single day! It doesnt haveto be a gym-style workout, but you need toMOVE!

Do you have a child or a grandchild? Qualitytime out of doors with a child is PRICELESS!Not only is it an opportunity for building rela-tionship..because you will be amazed at what

your child may share with you during your walkor bike ride.but it is an investment in yourown physical, mental and emotional health.

Make it intentional, schedule time for exercise

Keep Your Eye on the Goal!every day. Movement is essential to overallhealth. Once intentional exercise becomes a partof your life, you wont want to give it up. So ourgoal is MOVEMENT every day, summer, fall,winter, spring, and to be the best reection of

Jesus that we can be, for the time that God hasalloed to us in this present body.

In Pauls writing about the future resurrectedbody, he said, if there is a natural body, there isalso a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:44 Andsince our spiritual body is what never dies, itstands to reason that we need to pay even moreaention to moving that every day, right? Alongwith daily physical movement, we need dailyspiritual movement. Scheduled, intentional timeevery day to connect with our Creator, Healer,Comforter, Savior, the Sovereign God of the uni-verse creates spiritual movement. Wow.whata privilege, what an opportunity, what a sourceof strength and power! When our hope and trustis in God we soar on wings like eagles; we willrun and not grow weary, we will walk and notbe faint Isaiah 40:31

Whether it is physical or spiritual, movement isnecessary for health and vitality.

It has been remarked that lifes aim is an act,not a thought. Act now, move now, glorify Godnow. I urge you therefore, brethren, by the

mercies of God, to present your bodies a livingand holy sacrice, acceptable to God, which isyour spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1

die, and me live. But Ive trusted God till

now, and I guess Ill just keep on trustinghim. Wow! Simply faith. Maybe Im theone who needed to be encouraged by her!

One of her favorite passages is probablyone of your favorite too:

The LORD is my shepherd; there isnothing I lack. He lets me lie down ingreen pastures; He leads me beside quietwaters. He renews my life; He leads mealong the right paths for His names sake.

Even when I go through the darkest valley,I fear no danger, for You are with me; Yourrod and Your stathey comfort me. Youprepare a table before me in the presenceof my enemies; You anoint my head withoil; my cup overows. Only goodness andfaithful love will pursue me all the days ofmy life, and I will dwell in the house of theLORD as long as I live. Psalm 23

Father, will you continue to useMildred in my life as well as all those whocare for her and visit her, until you call herhome. Amen

ShiggaionMari

Debra BondsWWW Life Session Leader

We have talked about stepping out of our comfort zone. Hopefullyyou have begun to take this step. Remember, sometimes we haveto go back to the beginning, dispel some myths and get rid of somewrong thinking about sex and intimacy that comes from informationwe have gathered, both good and bad.

We have to forgive others and ourselves so we can begin to heal andget to that rightful place in marriage. Then we will begin to enjoywhat God created and intended for us. Satan wants us to sele forless and oers us counterfeits. Dont fall for it!

When you think of the male and female bodies and their intricatemake up, we are an awesome creation of God! God made us unique,

male and female, and we t together as one. God did that for us! Forour pleasure! God created sex to be enjoyed between husband andwife in pleasure for each other, not as a tool for control or manipula-tion.

We best be careful to not misuse the tools God has blessed us with.Give God the glory in everything you do and watch the return heblesses you with even in sexual intimacy with your spouse!

Now to

who is able to doHim

MORE

IMMEASURABLY

than all we OR

ASK

IMAGINEHIS POWERaccording to

that is at work within us,

GLORYbeHIMtoin inandCHURCHthe CHRIST JESUS

for ever and ever!GENERATIONSallthroughout

Amen!

By Sarah AlexanderKNCSB Women 4 Him Team

MORE. Have you ever thought about what MORE God hasfor you? At WWW 2014, women from across Kansas and Nebraskawill join together at Webster Conference Center in Salina, Kansas, tocelebrate all that God has to oer. Wonderful Weekend for Women

brings women together to enjoy worship, Bible study, topical break-out sessions, and tons of wild, wacky, wonderful girl fun!

We are so excited to have Angie Smith leading us as we study GodsWord, and Camala Nuer leading us in musical worship. Aendeeswill also be privileged to hear from a special guest missionary, andenjoy a variety of amazing breakout sessions, led by women from ourown convention.

Be sure to check out www.angiesmithonline.com for more informa-tion on our featured speaker. WWW information will be arriving inchurches beginning in June. You will also be able to download con-ference information and materials from www.knwomen.com

Make plans today for your ladies only retreat September 12-13,2014, with special Girls Night In activities on Thursday evening.You wont want to miss this celebration of MORE.

Keeping Intimacy Alive:Back to the Beginning

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WCC

Update

n The WCC Board of Directors approved the 2014-2018 Strategic Planfor WCC at their May Board Meeting.n Melinda Wolfgang, WCC Ofce Mangager, has resigned to move with

her husband to Colorado. Our loss is someone elses gain. We will missyou Melinda but wish you well in Colorado.n Emily Goetz has been hired as the new WCC Ofce Manager and is

now aboard the team.n A new liner has been installed and other improvements to the drain

system for the swimming pool. It is now complete and awaiting summerswimmers.n Campers on Mission poured a new sidewalk from the parking lot to the

motel units in May.n Lights along the walkway from the swimming pool to the Dining Hall

are now being installed.n WCC participated in the Greater Salina Community Foundation Match

Madness Campaign, and WCCs endowment fund was increased by $700and a matching check of $308 was received for immediate capital improve-ment projects.n User Days and revenues are ahead of the 2013 pace for the rst four

months of 2014.

n Please pray for all the children, youth and sponsors who will attendcamps at WCC this summer. Camps run from the last week of May throughthe rst week of August.n The 2014 Matching Challenge Grant for the Dining Hall expansion

project to increase seating to 500 is gaining momentum. As of mid-May$12,636.51 has been received.n The Matching Challenge Grant for moving the Picnic Pavilion to a

new location and upgrading this facility is doing well also. As of mid-May$2,945.00 has been received.n Send Matching Challenge Grant contributions to Webster Conference

Center, 5410 SW 7th Street, Topeka, KS 66606-2398 and indicate whichgrant to which your gift should be applied.TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!

Thank you for your continued support of this mission facility as wecontinue to reach people for Christ and train believers for the work ofthe ministry! The WCC Staff

Kansas and Nebraska Southern Baptists arein partnership with all Southern Baptists

through the Cooperative Program.

Church Seeks Bi-Vocational PastorMill Creek Baptist Church, McFarland, Kan., is seeking a bivocational pastor.McFarland is a town of 255 people located between Topeka and Manhattan.The church has 20 active members and several non-members.

For more information or to submit a resume, contact Sally Morrill at [email protected]. She is a member of the pastor search committee.

Church Seeks Bi-Vocational PastorCalvary Baptist, Clay Center, KS is seeking a bi-vocational pastor for a verysmall, traditional, conservative Southern Baptist church. Salary is $1,000per month; no parsonage. Committee will not accept resumes from any di-vorced man who has remarried, regardless of circumstances (1 Timothy 3).Send resume to [email protected] or PO Box 83, ClayCenter, KS 67432.

Church Gives Sacrificiallyfor Native American Work

Our hearts were broken when wefound out that on Dec. 31, 2013, RonGoombi was defunded by the North

American Mission Board.Ron and his wife, Alpha, are on thefront lines of ministry with poverty,alcoholism and suicide rates skyrocket-ing among Native Americans in EasternNebraska. The need has never beenmore critical to reach Natives with thelife-changing Good News of Jesus Christ.Something had to be done. But what cana church do that is really a mission itself?Gods answer: March Mission EmphasisMonth.

I have to say that at North ParkChurch, Columbus, and Fremont itstough to look into the faces of peoplewith so much need and talk about giv-ing. I include that in this article becauselike Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:1, I want youto know and be encouraged by the gracegiven to our churches. God seemed to besaying, Just do it (I think He wrote acommercial for Nike once).

The missions focus would be All Na-tions Ministries and specifcally Rev. Ronand Alpha Goombi. Ron and Alpha are

Native American church planter mis-sionaries in Eastern Nebraska. Ron isalso pastor of All Nations Baptist Churchin Macy, Neb., a church they planted in2007.

At each weekend service in March afew words were shared about Ron andAlphas work and the challenges NativeAmericans are facing. Included in eachweekend worship folder was a tri-fold

North Park Baptist Church, Columbus,

Neb., and its campus in Fremont held

a missions emphasis in March that

focused on the ministry of Ron Goombi(right) and his wife, Alpha. The Goombis

are Native American church planters in

Nebraska. The North American Mission

Board recently eliminated their position.

During the month-long emphasis, the

North Park churches collected money

to help the Goombis continue their

ministry. With Ron Goombi is Pastor Lyn

Hansen. (Submitted photo)

brochure describing All Nations Minis-tries and information about Ron, Alpha

and family.The highlight of missions month came

Friday evening March 21 when Ron andAlpha personally shared details of theirministry and brought a moving message.Alpha led worship and gave a very pow-erful testimony. God was faithful andHis people were generous: $1,725.32 wasraised in support of their ministry.

by Lyn Hansen, Pastor

A Panoramic Summer ChallengeWalk just outside your front door, and

look slowly in every direction. Youreviewing a mission feld. God chose itfor you when you moved in. Its easy towave at neighbors as you drive by or sayhi when you walk the dog, but willyou make a plan to shine for Jesus withyour actions and words this summer?

See each neighbor with the eyes ofGodas people He loves, who needto know His loveeven the neighbor

who doesnt mow his grass. Loving ourneighbor is the second great command-ment (Romans 13:9-10). Try this two-steppanoramic summer challenge.

nPrayer walk your personal missionfeldyour block, subdivision, apart-ment building or dorm hallway. If youlive in a rural setting, you may need toprayer-drive! Prayer-walking simplymeans you pray silently and specifcallyas you stroll and observe. Do it often.Make a list of addresses, and add namesas you meet people. Learn pet names.Discover needs. Involve your entire fam-ily. Ask God to give you opportunities toshow His love and share about Him.

nPanoramic Neighborhood Grill-Out. Host a neighborhood barbeque.

Email or hand-deliver an invitation toeach home on your list. Ask them tobring something to grill, a side dish toshare, and a lawn chair. Create a relaxed,fun atmosphere with great Christianmusic and toys for kids. Use nametagsand enjoy getting to know each person.Whether its a small or large group, havea great time. In your conversation, inviteeach individual to your church if theydont have one.

A panoramic grill-out project could bea great church-wide project, too. Selecta weekend and challenge every churchmember to invite their neighbors overwith the intention of getting to knowthem and inviting them to church.

Our Southern Baptist Convention hasabout ten thousand awesome vocationalmissionaries across North America andin countries around the world, butyoure the missionary God called to yourneighborhood.

Now get out the grill!

Diana Davis is an author andcolumnist based in Pensacola FL. Her

husband, Steve, is vice president of SBCsNorth American Mission Board, South

Region. www.dianadavis.org

Documents

Baptist Digest June 2014